On this day: January 1
Ellis Island Opens: America’s New Year’s Gate of Hope and Fear
On January 1, 1892, Ellis Island officially opened in New York Harbor, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most consequential immigration gateways in modern history.
The “blood rain” over Italy
In early January 1801, residents across parts of Italy reported a phenomenon so disturbing that it immediately ignited fear
Both Chester FC full-backs break legs in same match
On 1 January 1966, in a rare and grim incident, Chester FC’s two full-backs suffered broken legs during the same fixture. The injuries left the club short-handed and highlighted the physical risks of 1960s lower-league football.
Wojciech Szczęsny Seen Smoking in Arsenal Changing Room After Match
Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny was reported to have been smoking in the dressing-room showers after an FA Cup match on January 1, 2015, an incident that prompted internal disciplinary action and public discussion about player conduct.
Pearl Harbor Concerns Move the 1942 Rose Bowl to North Carolina
After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, authorities banned large West Coast gatherings; the 1942 Rose Bowl was relocated from Pasadena to Durham, North Carolina, where Duke University's stadium hosted the game on January 1, 1942.
Roy Riegels’ Wrong-Way Run in the 1929 Rose Bowl
In the January 1, 1929 Rose Bowl, California center Roy Riegels picked up a fumble and ran 65 yards toward his own goal before being stopped near the end zone—an error that changed the game’s momentum and remains one of college football’s most infamous plays.
Hitler’s New Year’s Warning
On January 1, 1939, Adolf Hitler delivered a New Year’s address that, in hindsight, reads less like political rhetoric and more like a blunt prelude to catastrophe.
Sidney Crosby and the NHL’s First Winter Classic: A Snowy New Year’s Day, 2008
On January 1, 2008, the Pittsburgh Penguins faced the Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium in the NHL’s inaugural Winter Classic, played in heavy snow. Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning shootout goal as the Penguins prevailed in the outdoor, weather-draped spectacle.