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Major Events of October 1921: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from October 1921 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of October 1921: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Oct 1921 New York Yankees World Series Begins: The 18th World Series commences, marking a historic moment in baseball history as the first series to be played entirely in the Polo Grounds stadium in New York.
  • 02 Oct 1921 Babe Ruth Sets Home Run Record: New York Yankees baseball legend Babe Ruth hit his record-breaking 59th home run, setting a remarkable milestone in Major League Baseball history that would stand for years to come.
  • 03 Oct 1921 William Howard Taft Becomes Chief Justice: William Howard Taft, who previously served as the 27th President of the United States, was sworn in as the 10th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. This unique achievement made Taft the only person in American history to have held both the presidency and the highest judicial position in the country. His appointment to the Supreme Court came after his presidential term and represented a distinguished continuation of his public service career.
  • 04 Oct 1921 London Unemployment Protest Erupts in Riots: A peaceful march of 10,000 unemployed people in London descended into chaos when protesters attempted to deviate from the planned route. After trying to climb the Admiral Nelson monument, police forcefully intervened, leading to widespread rioting in Trafalgar Square and surrounding areas.
  • 05 Oct 1921 First Radio Broadcast of World Series Baseball: The first radio broadcast of a baseball World Series game was made by Pittsburgh station KDKA, marking a groundbreaking moment in sports media and broadcasting history. The broadcast was heard on multiple commercial and amateur stations throughout the eastern United States, revolutionizing how Americans experienced live sporting events.
  • 06 Oct 1921 International PEN Founded: International PEN, a global organization dedicated to promoting literature and defending freedom of expression, was established in London. The organization brings together writers from around the world to foster literary exchange, protect writers' rights, and advocate for freedom of speech.
  • 07 Oct 1921 U.S. Army Demonstrates Advanced Artillery Technology: The U.S. Army conducted a groundbreaking public demonstration of military technological innovation, showcasing a new flashless explosive powder that would render night artillery fire invisible. Additionally, they unveiled a massive 16-inch diameter cannon capable of firing artillery shells an unprecedented distance of 20 miles, signaling significant advancements in military weaponry.
  • 08 Oct 1921 First Live Radio Broadcast of a Football Game: KDKA radio station in Pittsburgh's Forbes Field conducted the first live broadcast of an American football game, covering the University of Pittsburgh Panthers' victory over the University of West Virginia Mountaineers with a score of 21-13.
  • 09 Oct 1921 Babe Ruth's Historic World Series Home Run: On this day, Babe Ruth hit his first World Series home run in a remarkable game that was also the only Sunday game ever pitched by Carl Mays, marking a significant moment in baseball history.
  • 10 Oct 1921 Federation of Central America Established: The Federation of Central America was formally established, uniting Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The federation's capital was set in Tegucigalpa, representing a significant political consolidation effort in the region during the early 20th century.
  • 11 Oct 1921 Anglo-Irish Peace Talks Begin in London: The Anglo-Irish peace negotiations commenced in London, with key British political figures including Prime Minister David Lloyd George, Austen Chamberlain, and Lord Birkenhead participating in critical discussions aimed at resolving the long-standing conflict between Britain and Ireland.
  • 12 Oct 1921 Uneventful Day in 1921: While no specific significant historical events were documented on October 12, 1921, this does not diminish the broader historical context of the early 1920s. This period was characterized by post-World War I reconstruction, emerging global political tensions, and significant social and technological transformations.
  • 13 Oct 1921 Treaty of Kars Signed: The Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the Soviet Socialist Republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia signed the Treaty of Kars, formally establishing and demarcating borders between Turkey and the South Caucasus states. This diplomatic agreement was crucial in stabilizing regional geopolitical relations after the tumultuous period following World War I and the Russian Revolution.
  • 14 Oct 1921 U.S. Military Technological Advancement and Sino-Japanese Territorial Tensions: On October 14, 1921, the U.S. Army showcased significant military technological innovations. They publicly demonstrated a groundbreaking 16-inch diameter cannon capable of firing artillery shells up to 20 miles (32 km), representing a major leap in long-range artillery capabilities. Simultaneously, they tested a novel flashless explosive powder designed to render night artillery operations less detectable, enhancing strategic military advantages. In parallel diplomatic developments, China firmly rejected Japan's territorial demands regarding Shantung province (now Shandong), signaling rising tensions in East Asian geopolitical relations. This rejection highlighted the complex power dynamics and territorial disputes characteristic of the early 20th-century international landscape.
  • 15 Oct 1921 Major US Railroad Workers Strike Planned: Railroad workers across the United States were ordered to go on strike by multiple labor unions, including the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, the Order of Railway Conductors, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and the Switchmen's Union of North America. The strike was strategically planned in phases: the first 750,000 workers were set to walk off the job on October 30 at 6:00 AM local time, with an additional 1,250,000 workers expected to join in November.
  • 16 Oct 1921 Babe Ruth Defies Baseball Commissioner's Ban: Baseball superstar Babe Ruth, along with teammates Bob Meusel and Bill Piercy, boldly challenged Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw M. Landis by participating in an unauthorized exhibition baseball game against the Polish Nationals of Buffalo. Despite the threat of suspension, Ruth hit a home run, and his team won 4-2. Two other teammates, Carl Mays and Wally Schang, chose to withdraw from the game after Landis issued his order. The game was played at Buffalo's minor league International League park, which had initially hesitated to host the controversial match.
  • 17 Oct 1921 Soviet Russia Grants Crimean Independence: In a notable diplomatic move, Soviet Russia officially agreed to recognize the independence of Crimea. This decision represented an early stage of geopolitical negotiations in the region, setting a precedent for future territorial discussions in the post-World War I era.
  • 18 Oct 1921 U.S. Senate Ratifies Post-World War I Peace Treaties: The U.S. Senate officially ratified peace treaties with Germany, Austria, and Hungary, concluding the United States' formal diplomatic resolution following World War I. The treaties were passed with a decisive vote of 66 to 20, signaling the nation's commitment to post-war reconciliation and international diplomacy.
  • 19 Oct 1921 Assassination of Portuguese Prime Minister: On October 19, 1921, a tragic political assassination occurred in Lisbon, Portugal, where Prime Minister António Granjo and the Republic's founder and first president, António Machado Santos, were brutally murdered along with other government officials. This event, known as the 'Bloody Night', represented a significant moment of political instability in the young Portuguese Republic.
  • 20 Oct 1921 Treaty of Ankara Concludes Franco-Turkish War: On October 20, 1921, the French Third Republic and the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey signed the Treaty of Ankara, formally ending the Franco-Turkish War. This diplomatic agreement marked a significant moment in the post-World War I period, establishing diplomatic relations and defining territorial boundaries between France and the emerging Turkish state led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
  • 21 Oct 1921 Historic Presidential Speech Against Lynching: President Warren G. Harding delivered the first speech by a sitting U.S. president condemning lynching in the Deep South, marking a significant moment in the civil rights movement and challenging racial violence.
  • 22 Oct 1921 German Cabinet Resigns Over Silesian Territorial Dispute: Germany's cabinet resigned following the League of Nations' decision to partition part of Silesia and award territory to Poland. This event highlighted the ongoing territorial tensions in Central Europe after World War I and the complex geopolitical negotiations of the interwar period.
  • 23 Oct 1921 Green Bay Packers' Historic First NFL Game: On October 23, 1921, the Green Bay Packers played their inaugural National Football League (NFL) game, securing a narrow 7-6 victory over the Minneapolis team. This match marked the beginning of what would become one of the most storied franchises in professional American football history. The Packers, founded earlier that year, demonstrated their competitive spirit from the very start with this hard-fought win.
  • 24 Oct 1921 Selection of World War I Unknown Soldier: On October 24, 1921, in a solemn and symbolic ceremony at Chalons-sur-Marne, France, Sergeant Edward Younger was tasked with selecting the Unknown Soldier to represent the unidentified fallen soldiers of World War I. From four unidentified remains, Younger chose one to be honored as a powerful memorial to the anonymous sacrifices made during the war. This Unknown Soldier would later be interred in prestigious national memorials, becoming a poignant symbol of remembrance and national mourning.
  • 25 Oct 1921 London Unemployment March Leads to Rioting: A peaceful march of 10,000 unemployed individuals in London escalated into rioting, despite being initially escorted by 500 policemen who were managing side traffic. This event highlighted the social tensions and economic challenges facing Britain in the post-World War I era.
  • 26 Oct 1921 Chicago Theatre Opens: The historic Chicago Theatre, an iconic landmark in downtown Chicago, officially opened its doors, marking a significant moment in the city's entertainment and architectural history. Located in the Loop district, this grand movie palace would become a symbol of early 20th-century entertainment culture.
  • 27 Oct 1921 Uneventful Day in 1921: While no specific major historical events were recorded for October 27, 1921, this period was part of the interwar years following World War I. The world was experiencing significant geopolitical shifts, economic recoveries, and social transformations during this time.
  • 28 Oct 1921 First Gubernatorial Recall Election in the United States: On October 28, 1921, North Dakota made history by conducting the first gubernatorial recall election in the United States. The incumbent governor, Lynn Frazier, faced a unique political challenge when voters were given the opportunity to remove him from office through this unprecedented democratic process. This event marked a significant moment in American political history, demonstrating the power of direct democratic accountability.
  • 29 Oct 1921 Sacco and Vanzetti Second Trial: The second trial of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti takes place in Boston, Massachusetts. These Italian-born anarchists were controversial defendants in a highly publicized murder case that highlighted issues of immigration, political ideology, and potential judicial bias in early 20th-century America.
  • 30 Oct 1921 Major United States Railroad Workers Strike: On October 30, 1921, a massive labor demonstration erupted across the United States as approximately 750,000 railroad workers initiated a nationwide strike, representing the first wave of what was expected to be a two-million-worker industrial action. This strike highlighted growing tensions between labor unions and railroad management, reflecting the complex industrial relations and workers' rights struggles of the early 20th century.
  • 31 Oct 1921 Historic College Football Upset: In a stunning upset, the Centre College American football team defeated Harvard University 6–0, breaking Harvard's impressive five-year winning streak. This game would become legendary in college football history, subsequently referred to as 'football's upset of the century' for decades to follow.