October 17 in History

Each year, Mulligan Day is celebrated on October 17, and for those that may not be familiar with the term “mulligan,” it is a word that is used in the sport of golf to describe a player getting a second chance to perform a move or action. We are willing to bet that golf just may be the only sport that would even allow such a thing to occur!  The term finds its origins of widespread use back in the early 1940s, and there is some speculation about how it was derived. 

According to the United States Golf Association (USGA), there are three different stories explaining that the term derived from the name of a Canadian golfer, David Mulligan, one-time manager of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, who played golf in the 1920′s. A different, later, etymology gives credit to John A. “Buddy” Mulligan, a locker room attendant at Essex Fells C.C., New Jersey, in the 1930′s. Yet another story, according to author Henry Beard, another story states that the term comes from Thomas Mulligan, a minor Anglo-Irish aristocrat and a passionate golfer born in 1793. However, the most widely accepted origin story for “mulligan” is when Canadian golfer David Mulligan made a mistake during a game and retook his shot.

Mulligan Day was created as a chance for individuals to take the day as an opportunity to give themselves a second chance or a do-over if something in their lives perhaps didn’t go their way. Maybe you have broken ties with a friend or loved one, or maybe you gave up trying a certain craft or sport; today is the day to get up, possibly mend some fences, and try things again.

1091 – The London Tornado of 1091 destroyed many buildings and killed two people.

1860 – First Open (Golf) Championship (referred to in the US as the British Open).

1919 – Radio Corporation of America (RCA) incorporated.

1931 – Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion.

1956 – The first commercial nuclear power station is officially opened in Sellafield, Cumbria, England.

1956 – Donald Byrne and Bobby Fischer played a game of chess labeled The Game of the Century. Fischer beat Byrne.

1958 – An Evening With Fred Astaire premiered; it was one of the first “special” programs on television and won nine Emmy Awards.

#1 Hit October 17, 1960 – October 23, 1960: The Drifters – Save the Last Dance for Me

#1 Hit October 17, 1964 – October 30, 1964: Manfred Mann – Do Wah Diddy Diddy

1965 – The 1964/65 New York World’s Fair closed. Over 51 million people attended the event.

1966 – All of NBC’s news programming began airing in full color.

#1 Hit October 17, 1970 – November 20, 1970: The Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There

1973 – OPEC imposed an oil embargo against several Western countries.

1979 – The Department of Education Organization Act was signed into law, creating the US Department of Education and the US Department of Health and Human Services.

1979 – Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize.

#1 Hit October 17, 1981 – November 6, 1981: Christopher Cross – Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)

#1 Hit October 17, 1987 – October 23, 1987: Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam – Lost in Emotion

1989 (Earthquake) The Lome Prieta earthquake interrupted Game 3 of the World Series

#1 Hit October 17, 1998 – November 13, 1998: Barenaked Ladies – One Week

2005 – The Colbert Report premiered on Comedy Central

2007 – Storm Chasers debuted on The Discovery Channel

2008 – Ghost Adventures premiered on The Travel Channel

#1 Hit October 17, 2020 – October 23, 2020: Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat) – Jawsh 685, Jason Derulo and BTS