July 4, 2020
William McKinley was the United States president in 1899. But vice president Garret Hobart died in office. Significant on two fronts. First… Hobart College was not named for him. And second… Theodore Roosevelt replaced him. Roosevelt became president when McKinley was shot and killed in Buffalo two years later.
1899 also brought the first death in a motor vehicle accident.
We ended a war with Spain and started one in the Philippines.
The Bronx zoo opened. Cal stole the Stanford Axe for the first time.
And it was a good year for Hollywood. Born in 1899 were Fred Astaire, James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. And you can toss in Al Capone.
Also in 1899… the Rochester Bronchos played in the newly formed International League. One of only six baseball teams playing in the same city in the same league continuously that predate the 20th century. You might know the others. The Cubs, Reds, Phillies, Pirates and Cardinals. Pretty good company.
So Rochester will be without professional baseball for the first time since 1899. That’s kind of a big deal.
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