October 17 Birthday
On October 17, 1989, an earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area during the warmup for Game 3 of the World Series. 63 people died. The Bay Bridge partially collapsed. The Marina District, built on landfill, suffered extensive damage. The World Series was delayed for ten days. The quake was broadcast live — ABC's Al Michaels was doing a pre-game segment and said, "I'll tell you what — we're having an earth—" before the feed cut out. The earthquake's timing — during a nationally televised sporting event — meant millions saw the damage in real time. Arthur Miller, born this day in 1915, wrote Death of a Salesman (1949), which won the Pulitzer Prize. He was married to Marilyn Monroe for five years. He was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1956 and refused to name names. His play The Crucible (1953) used the Salem witch trials as an allegory for McCarthyism. People born on October 17 fall under the zodiac sign of Libra. The birthstone is Opal and the birth flower is Marigold. Historical events on October 17 include 1933: Albert Einstein arrives in the United States as a refugee from Nazi Germany, 1989: Loma Prieta earthquake (6.9) strikes during World Series in San Francisco, 1979: Mother Teresa awarded Nobel Peace Prize. Famous people born on October 17 include Arthur Miller (1915), Rita Hayworth (1918), Eminem (1972).