This Day In History

September 17

1787

The Constitution was completed and signed by a majority of the delegates attending the constitutional convention in Philadelphia.

1862

The bloodiest day in U.S. military history occurred at the Battle of Antietam when more than 23,000 were killed or wounded.

1908

Lt. Thomas Selfridge, a passenger in a plane piloted by Orville Wright, became the first airplane fatality when the craft crashed.

1920

The American Professional Football Association—a precursor of the NFL—was formed in Canton, Ohio.

1980

Anastasio Somoza Debayle, former president of Nicaragua, was assassinated in Paraguay.

1994

Heather Whitestone of Alabama became the first deaf Miss America.

2004

Barry Bonds became the third baseball player to hit 700 career home runs, joining Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth.