Flashback:<\/strong> June 13, 1990<\/p>\n 1990:<\/strong> \u201cDick Tracy\u201d<\/a> the movie, starring Warren Beatty and Madonna, premiered in Woodstock \u2014 the hometown of the comic strip\u2019s creator Chester Gould<\/a>. Though the movie stars were not in attendance, a Chicago police officer named Dick Tracy was.<\/p>\n Weather records <\/strong>(from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n 1888:<\/strong> For the sum of $3,000<\/a>, the Lincoln Park Zoo bought an 8-year-old female elephant \u2014 the zoo\u2019s first \u2014 later named \u201cDuchess,\u201d one camel, one lioness, one Bengal tiger, two leopards, one zebu, one llama and one ibex from the Barnum & Bailey Circus.<\/p>\n Today, the zoo does not sell any animals, and nearly all acquisitions are noncommercial.<\/p>\n 1940:<\/strong> The Chicago Cubs faced the Boston Red Sox in the inaugural Hall of Fame Game<\/a> in Cooperstown, New York. The Cubs defeated the Red Sox 10-9 in a seven-inning game that was shortened by rain as 3,500 fans looked on. Ironically, the traditional game\u2019s effort in 2008 \u2014 Cubs vs. San Diego Padres \u2014 was also upended by rain.<\/p>\n 1957:<\/strong> Most baseball fights produce a little shoving, occasional hugging, some dancing and pulled powderpuff punches. This one was an exception. The benches cleared after New York Yankees pitcher Art Ditmar threw close to the White Sox\u2019s Larry Doby \u2014 and some big-time punching followed.<\/p>\n In the center of things was veteran Yankee outfielder Enos Slaughter, who broke into baseball with some pretty tough guys playing for the old St. Louis Cardinals\u2019 Gashouse Gang. Never one to walk away from a rumble, Slaughter went after the biggest opponent he could find, Sox first baseman Walt \u201cMoose\u201d Dropo, a 6-foot-5-inch, 240-pound former college tight end. When peacemakers finally pried apart Slaughter and Dropo, Slaughter had his jersey ripped, but Dropo had taken the more telling punches.<\/p>\n Unofficial grandstand judges awarded Slaughter the decision. Once again, the Yankees had bested the Sox.<\/p>\n 1986:<\/strong>\u00a0A nearly\u00a0five-hour parade<\/a>\u00a0dedicated to Vietnam veterans marched through downtown Chicago \u2014 11 years after the war ended.<\/p>\n 1994:<\/strong> Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg<\/a> retired, saying he wanted to devote more time to his family and adding that he had \u201clost the edge it takes\u201d to play.<\/p>\n After resolving matters in his personal life and remarrying, the future Hall of Famer returned<\/a> to the Cubs after the 1995 season and hit 25 home runs with 92 RBIs in his comeback year.<\/p>\n Sandberg, who unveiled a statue<\/a> of his likeness outside Wrigley Field in June 2024, announced in December of that year that his prostate cancer had relapsed<\/a> and spread to other organs. He died<\/a> in July 2025.<\/p>\n 1997:<\/strong> The Bulls won their fifth NBA championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2006:<\/strong> Former Chicago City Clerk James Laski was sentenced<\/a> to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty<\/a> earlier to one count of bribery in the federal probe of the city\u2019s Hired Truck Program. He served about one year<\/a> in prison.<\/p>\n Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n Subscribe to the free\u00a0Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a> stay current with Today in Chicago History<\/a> and follow us on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t![\"Chester](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ctc-l-Chester-Gould-1952-CT0135899526.jpg\")
Chester Gould, whose cartoon Dick Tracy is familiar to millions, with a drawing and roller skates on Feb. 13, 1952, he planned to send to Veronica Tracey, 12. (Louis Paus\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"In](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CTC-L-CHICAGO-CUBS-COOPERSTOWN-1940-01.jpg\")
In a rain-shortened game on June 13, 1940, at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York, the Chicago Cubs beat the Boston Red Sox 10-9. The Cubs hit four home runs, including a “three-run clout” by Bob Collins. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CTC-L-SPT_OBIT-SLAUGHTER_190404271.jpg\")
The New York Yankees’ Enos “Country Boy” Slaughter walks to the showers with a torn uniform after a fight at Comiskey Park on June 13, 1957. (Chicago Tribune archive)<\/p>\n![\"Eleven](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CTC-L-aj-7-vietnam-parade_189345815.jpg\")
Eleven years after the war ended, 200,000 Vietnam veterans finally got a chance to proudly display their colors during the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home parade on June 13, 1986, in Chicago. (Anne Cusack\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Just](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CTC-L-CUBS-RYNE-SANDBERG-RETIRES-1994-01.jpg\")
Just eight months after another No. 23 \u2014 Michael Jordan \u2014 said goodbye to Chicago, Cubs infielder Ryne Sandberg abruptly announced his retirement on June 13, 1994, despite $15 million remaining on his contract. Sandberg cited burnout and the desire to spend more time with his family as factors in his decision. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ctc-l-bulls-champs-1997-5th.jpg\")
The Bulls’ Michael Jordan acknowledges the crowd after the team’s fifth NBA Championship, June 13, 1997, at the United Center in Chicago. (Nuccio DiNuzzo\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ctc-l-James-Laski.jpg\")
Former Chicago City Clerk James Laski listens while his attorney talks with reporters following Laski’s arraignment on charges stemming from the Hired Truck Program at the federal courthouse on Feb. 13, 2006. (David Klobucar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n