TODAY IN HISTORY: Sonny Bono dies
In 1920, the Boston Red Sox sold pitcher-outfielder Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000.
In 1922, Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton died aboard his ship.
In 1925, Nellie Taylor Ross became governor of Wyoming, the first U.S. woman to serve as governor of a state.
In 1940, FM Radio was demonstrated for the first time by American inventor Edwin Howard Armstrong.
In 1943, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the War Measures Act, a statute that confers emergency powers on the federal cabinet.
In 1956, actress Grace Kelly announced her engagement to Prince Rainier of Monaco.
In 1964, during a tour of the Holy Land, Pope Paul VI met with Patriarch Athenagoris of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It was the first meeting of the heads of the two churches in more than 500 years.
In 1971, Paul and Jacques Rose, Francis Simard, and Bernard Lortie, members of Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ), were charged with the kidnapping and non-capital murder of Quebec Labour Minister Pierre Laporte. When convicted, Paul Rose was sentenced to two life terms in prison, Francis Simard to life imprisonment, Bernard Lortie to 20 years, and Jacques Rose to eight years.
In 1973, U.S. airlines began scanning passengers with electronic devices, a practice now routine at major airports.
In 1984, John Lennon's postumous single “Nobody Told Me” was released. The song, originally written for Ringo Starr, would reach No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard pop charts.
In 1988, Madonna filed for divorce from actor Sean Penn.
In 1998, Republican Congressman Sonny Bono died after hitting a tree while skiing in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. He was 62. With his ex-wife Cher, he formed the duo “Sonny and Cher” in 1963. Their first hit was the chart-topping “I Got You Babe” in 1965. Nineteen other chart records followed including “The Beat Goes On.” He also penned “Bang Bang,” a solo hit for Cher, which reached No. 2 on the charts. The couple had a hit variety series from 1971-1974.
In 2000, the U.S. government decided to return six-year-old Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez to his father in Cuba. He was plucked from the Atlantic Ocean on Nov. 25 after a boat smuggling Cubans to the U.S. sank.
In 2004, Britney Spears’ 55-hour marriage to childhood friend Jason Alexander was annulled.
In 2004, after 14 years of denials, Pete Rose publicly admitted that he'd bet on baseball while he was manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
In 2006, at least 76 Muslim pilgrims were killed and 62 injured when a hotel building collapsed in the holy city of Mecca at the beginning of the annual hajj in Saudi Arabia.
In 2009, Canada beat Sweden 5-1 to capture the World Jr. Hockey Championship for a fifth straight year. It was Canada's 15th gold at the world juniors, tying Russia/Soviet Union for the all-time lead.
In 2011, second baseman Roberto Alomar and pitcher Bert Blyleven were selected for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.