CAMILLE BOHANNON

The original Instrument of Surrender of Japan’s surrender to the
Allied Forces in World War II is shown at an exhibition held by
the Japanese Foreign Ministry,

From Left: Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer

On September 1, 1972, in what’s billed as the “Match of the Century,”
American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer defeated Russian the
World Chess Boris Spassky during Championship in Reykjavik,
Iceland.

In the world’s most publicized title match ever played, Fischer,
a 29-year-old Brooklynite, became the first American to win
the competition since its inception in 1866. The victory also
marked the first time a non-Russian had won the event in 24
years.

Bobby Fischer’s grave in Reykjavik.

ED DANAHUE

After fire destroyed his well two months after it found oil along
Oil Creek, Pennsylvania, Edwin L. Drake rebuilt at the original
site. Drake, right, stands with his friend Peter Wilson of Titusville.

On August 26, 1939, the first televised Major League baseball
game was broadcast on station W2XBS, the station that was
to become WNBC-TV. Announcer Red Barber (below) called
the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn
Dodgers at Ebbits Field in Brooklyn, New York.

In 1939, the World’s Fair—which was being held in New York,
became the catalyst for the historic broadcast. The television
was one of the fair’s prize exhibits, and organizers believed
that the Dodgers-Reds doubleheader on August 26 was the
perfect event to showcase America’s grasp on the new
technology.