January 1st


1899: Spanish rule ends in Cuba. Spain hasn’t had a decent shortstop since.


1908: For the first time, a ball is dropped in New York City's Times Square to signify the start of the New Year. New Yorkers had already been marking the event by publicly urinating in Times Square for decades.


1986: Aruba becomes independent of Curaçao, though it continues to show up for the happy hour drink specials at the Hilton.