904 – Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher
1732 – Paris churchyard of Saint-Medard closed after Jansenistic ritual
1900 – Boers under Joubert beat British at Spionkop Natal, 2,000 killed
1936 – 1st players elected to Baseball Hall of Fame: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson
1940 – Australian Championships Women’s Tennis: Nancye Wynne Bolton wins her 2nd Australian singles titles; beats Thelma Coyne 5-7, 6-4, 6-0
1944 – World War II: The Battle of Cisterna takes place in central Italy.
1959 – ‘The Great Smog’ hits London, many die of chest and lung-related illnesses
1966 – US male Figure Skating championship won by Scott Allen
1968 – Australian Championships Women’s Tennis: American Billie Jean King beats home favourite Margaret Court 6-1, 6-2 for her 13th Grand Slam singles title
2012 – 59th NHL All-Star Game, Scotiabank Place, Ottawa: Team Chara beats Team Alfredsson, 12-9; Marián Gáborík, NY Rangers, LW