Back In the Day-The Day the Music Died

Back on this day February 3rd, the world lost a few great actors, a few legendary musicians, and gained a sporting goods line.

1876 - ALBERT SPALDING and his brother took their combined savings of $800 and started a sporting goods company.   They manufactured the first official baseball, tennis ball, basketball, golf ball AND football.

1959 - BUDDY HOLLY, RICHIE VALENS, and the BIG BOPPER died in a plane crash in Mason City, Iowa.

1991 - NANCY KULP ( Mrs. Hathaway on "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES") died of cancer at the age of 69.

1992 - Magnificent MARGE SCHOTT was suspended as Cincinnati Reds owner for one year for repeatedly using racial and ethnic slurs.  The suspension was lifted after eight months.

1992 - In Los Angeles, the federal trial began for four police officers charged with civil rights violations in the videotaped beatingof  RODNEY KING.

1995 - At the O.J. SIMPSON trial in Los Angeles, prosecution witness DENISE BROWN wept on the stand as she described the humiliation and abuse of her sister, NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON.

1996 - AUDREY MEADOWS (--Alice Kramden, on "THE HONEYMOONERS") died of lung cancer at the age of 69.

1998 - BRIAN CASHMAN was named general manager of the New York Yankees.  Cashman is responsible for building teams that won six American League Pennants and four World Series.

2003 - PHIL SPECTOR was arrested for the murder of B-movie star Lana Clarkson.  He says she committed suicide, or as he so tactfully puts it, she, quote, "kissed the gun." (--Spector's first trial ended in a hung jury. He was CONVICTED in his second trial, and sentenced to 19 years to life.) 2003 - PHIL SPECTOR was arrested for the murder of B-movie star Lana Clarkson.  He says she committed suicide, or as he so tactfully puts it, she, quote, "kissed the gun." (--Spector's first trial ended in a hung jury. He was CONVICTED in his second trial, and sentenced to 19 years to life.)

2006 - AL LEWIS, who played Grandpa Munster on "The Munsters", died at the age of 82.