393274 05: A vintage photo and practice bat belonging to legendary ballplayer Herman “Babe” Ruth sit on a table August 15, 2001 during a press conference to announce a public initiative to honor Ruth in Boston, MA. Ruth led the 1918 Red Sox to a World Series, but was traded the following year to the rival New York Yankees. Since then the Red Sox have gone 82 seasons without another championship. The drought has become known locally as the “Curse of the Bambino.” The public initiative to honor Ruth is also designed to lift the curse. Red Sox management have never honored Ruth and will not participate in the September ceremony. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
Today is Friday, Jan. 3, the third day of 2025. There are 362 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On Jan. 3, 1920, Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold the contract of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees, beginning a championship era for the Yankees and decades of heartache for Red Sox fans. (The Red Sox would ultimately break the “curse” in 2004, winning their first World Series in 86 years.)
Also on this date:
In 1777, Gen. George Washington’s army routed British troops in the Battle of Princeton, New Jersey.
In 1861, more than two weeks before Georgia seceded from the Union, the state militia seized Fort Pulaski at the order of Gov. Joseph E. Brown.
In 1977, Apple Computer was incorporated in Cupertino, California, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Mike Markkula (MAHR’-kuh-luh) Jr.
In 1990, ousted Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega surrendered to U.S. forces, 10 days after taking refuge in the Vatican’s diplomatic mission.
In 2022, a jury in San Jose, California, convicted Elizabeth Holmes of duping investors into believing that her startup company Theranos had developed a revolutionary medical device that could detect diseases and conditions from a few drops of blood.
Today’s Birthdays:
- Musician Stephen Stills is 80.
- Musician John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) is 79.
- Actor-director Mel Gibson is 69.
- Basketball Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller is 61.
- Former NFL quarterback Eli Manning is 44.
- R&B singer Lloyd Polite, Jr. is 39.
- Actor Florence Pugh is 29.
- Environmental activist Greta Thunberg is 22.