Today’s Historical Events and Birthdays

On June 22, 1986, Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona scored the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal during the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals against England in Mexico City. This goal gave Argentina a 1-0 lead, followed by another goal from Maradona, securing a 2-1 victory over England. Argentina later went on to defeat West Germany 3-2, winning the World Cup trophy.

In history, several significant events occurred on June 22:

• 1815: Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated for the second time as Emperor of France.
• 1938: American boxer Joe Louis retained his heavyweight title by knocking out German Max Schmeling in a rematch at New York’s Yankee Stadium.
• 1941: Nazi Germany commenced Operation Barbarossa, a major invasion of the Soviet Union.
• 1944: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, commonly known as the ‘GI Bill,’ aiding veterans with education, unemployment benefits, and loans.
• 1945: The Battle of Okinawa concluded with an Allied victory.
• 1970: President Richard Nixon signed an extension of the Voting Rights Act, reducing the voting age to 18.
• 1977: John N. Mitchell, a former U.S. attorney general, began his prison sentence for involvement in the Watergate cover-up.
• 1981: Mark David Chapman pleaded guilty to murdering John Lennon.
• 1992: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against hate crime laws that infringed on free speech, as seen in R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul.
• 2009: A deadly Metro train crash in Washington, D.C., resulted in nine fatalities and dozens of injuries.
• 2011: Mob boss James ‘Whitey’ Bulger was captured in California after 16 years of eluding arrest.
• 2012: Jerry Sandusky was convicted of sexually assaulting 10 boys over 15 years, leading to a sentence of 30 to 60 years in prison.
• 2022: A powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan killed 1,000 people and injured 1,500 others.
• 2025: The U.S. targeted Iran’s nuclear program with bunker buster bombs and cruise missiles.

Celebrating birthdays today:

• Actor Klaus Maria Brandauer turns 83.
• Musician-producer Peter Asher is 82.
• Musician-producer Todd Rundgren is 78.
• Actor Meryl Streep is 77.
• Actor Lindsay Wagner celebrates her 77th.
• Sen. Elizabeth Warren turns 77.
• Singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper is 73.
• Actor Bruce Campbell turns 68.
• Environmental activist Erin Brockovich is 66.
• Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff is 66.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler is 64.
• Actor Amy Brenneman turns 62.
• Actor Mary Lynn Rajskub is 55.
• Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner is 55.
• Actor Donald Faison celebrates his 52nd year.
• Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey turns 48.
• Golfer Dustin Johnson is 42.
• Singer Dinah Jane celebrates her 29th birthday.
• Actor Sean Kaufman is 26.