Today in History - History - February 20th

1971Bruin Phil Esposito is NHL's quickest to score 50 goals in a season

1994Pope John Paul II demands juristic discrimination of homosexuals

1997SF Giants Barry Bonds signs record $22.9M 2 year contract

19784th People's Choice Awards: John Wayne & Barbra Streisand win (Motion Picture) and James Garner & Mary Tyler Moore win (TV)

199133rd Grammy Awards: Another Day in Paradise, Mariah Carey

1959The Avro Arrow program to design and manufacture supersonic jet fighters in Canada is cancelled by the Diefenbaker government amid much political debate.

1960Jimi Hendrix, rock and roll guitarist, plays his first gig.

1938UK Foreign Sec Eden resigns, says PM Chamberlain appeased Germany

1988Peter Kalikow purchases NY Post from Rupert Murdoch for $37.6 million

1810Andreas Hofer, Tyrolean patriot and leader of rebellion against Napoleon's forces, executed.

1942Phil Esposito, Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, NHL center/GM (Bruins, Rangers)

1963Charles Barkley, Leads Alabama, NBA forward (Phoenix, Rockets, Oly-gold-96)

1967Kurt Cobain, Aberdeen Washington, rock vocalist (Nirvana)

1951Gordon Brown, Giffnock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, British Labour Prime Minister (2007—10)

1887Vincent Massey, Toronto Ontario, Governor General of Canada

1988Rihanna, Barbadian singer

1989Police violence victim Rodney King (23) weds Crystal Lynnette Waters

1977World No. 1 tennis player Arthur Ashe (33) weds photographer Jeanne Moutoussamy in New York City

1907Henri Moissan [Ferdinand-Frederic-], chemist (Nobel 1906), dies at 54

1966Chester W Nimitz, US admiral (WW II), dies at 80