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The 1940s began with the H.W. Kastor & Sons agency launching radio's first big-money quiz show, "Pot o' Gold," for Tums, a product of Lewis Howe Co.
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May 27 British and Allied forces begin the evacuation of Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo) during WW
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May 27 World War II: In the Le Paradis massacre, 97 soldiers from a Royal Norfolk Regiment unit are shot after surrendering to German troops.
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December 7: Attack on Pearl Harbor
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June 22, 1944 - The G.I. Bill of Rights is signed into law, providing benefits to veterans.
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April 1, 1946 - Four hundred thousand mine workers begin to strike, with other industries following their lead.
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Attendance figures soared in 1947 and, with the war over, more people were able to visit their favorite ballparks. Seven teams set attendance records, and seven other teams lost attendance from the year before.
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MLB tore down its color barrier in 1947. In April, Jackie Robinson joined the National League’s Brooklyn Dodgers, and proved himself to be one of the best players in the majors. Jackie could hit well, he stole lots of bases (even home), and was a defensive asset.
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Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1947 were: Jack Chesbro, Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, Frank Chance, Rube Waddell, Ed Walsh, Jesse Burkett, “Iron Man” Joe McGinnity, Tommy McCarthy, Eddie Plank, and Clark Griffith.
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1947 was a year of upsets for the armed forces’ football teams. Army, who had won all championships since ’44, was stopped by Columbia. West Point also had their incredible 32-game winning streak snapped by Columbia.
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In 1949, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship was won by the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
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Coached by Adolph Rupp in an eight-team tournament, they defeated the Oklahoma A&M Cowboys, 46-36, in the finals.
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In the first year the Association was known as the NBA, George Mikan and the Minneapolis Lakers won the Championship.
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“Sugar” Ray Robinson held his welterweight title, only having to defend it once, against the Cuban Kid Gavilan in Philadelphia.
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Ike Williams held onto his lightweight championship versus Mexico’s Enrique Bolanos and Chicago’s Freddie Dawson.
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On March 1, 1949, long-reigning champion Joe Louis, still undefeated, formally announced his retirement from the National Boxing Association. He had defended his title 25 times over the course of 12 years, making him one of the busiest champions of all time.