The year 1989 (MCMXCIX) on the Gregorian Calendar began and ended on a Sunday. The Chinese Zodiac for 1989 was the Year of the Snake.
During the year, George H. W. Bush became the 41st President of the United States, Nintendo released the Game Boy in North America, and a World Series game between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics was interrupted by a major earthquake in San Fransisco.
Serial killer Ted Bundy was executed in Florida. The first of 24 satellites of the GPS infrastructure were placed into orbit. Wayne Gretzky became the all time highest scorer in the NHL. Sports Illustrated Magazine published allegations that baseball player Pete Rose was involved sports gambling. Ron Brown was elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee becoming the first African American to chair a major American political party. The fist full episode of The Simpsons premiered on FOX, and the first episode of Seinfeld aired. The Los Angeles city council banned the sale and possession of semi-automatic weapons. The Sega Genesis was released to compete with Nintendo.
In world news, students in China protested at Tiananmen Square and the Velvet Revolution took place in Czechoslovakia.
January 1989
- January 20: George H.W. Bush took office as President, following President Reagan.
February 1989
- February 14: In Iran the Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against Salman Rushdie for writing the novel Satanic Verses.
- February 15: After nine years of war the Soviet Union announced that the remainder of it's troops had left Afghanistan.
March 24 1989
March 24: The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill happens in Prince William Sound in Alaska and leaked 11 million gallons of crude into the ocean.
March 1989
- March 11: COPS makes its debut on the FOX Network.
April 1989
- April 21: Chinese students begin protests at Tiananmen Square against the Communist government for Democratic reform. The protest would last until June 4 when government troops cleared the protesters.
May 1989
May 13: 400 students began a hunger strike in Tiananmen Square.
June 4, 1989
China's army takes over Tiananmen Square, killing hundreds of demonstrators and losing several of their own.
August 1989
October 17 1989
October 17: A 6.9 Earthquake originating on the San Andreas Fault caused much damage and killing 63 people in San Francisco. The Earthquake disrupted the World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics. It also left the Bay Area without water for a few days.
October 15 1989
October 15: Wayne Gretzky scored his 1851st point passing Gordie Howe at the top of the NHL's all time scorers list.
October 17, 1989
A 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit the San Francisco Bay Area, interrupting a World Series game between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A's
October 1989
- October 5: The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso receives the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent ways of dealing with China.
December 20 1989
December 20: Operation Just Cause was launched as the United States sent troops into Panama to end the Manuel Noriega government.
December 1989
- December 6: Marc Lepine shoots 14 women at a school in Montreal in what is now known at the Montreal Massacre.
Famous Birthdays
- Jan. 15: Alexei Cherepanov - New York Rangers
- Feb. 24: Trace Cyrus - Musician
- Mar. 16: Peaches Geldof - Model
- May 05: Chris Brown - Musician
- Jul. 23: Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter
- Oct. 11: Michelle Wie - Golfer
- Dec. 13: Taylor Swift - Musician
- Dec. 22: Jordin Sparks - American Idol Winner
Famous Deaths
- Jan. 07: Hirohito - Japanese Emperor
- Jan. 23: Salvador Dali - Painter
- Jan. 24: Ted Bundy - Serial Killer
- Apr. 12: Sugar Ray Robinson - Boxer
- Apr. 26: Lucille Ball - I Love Lucy
- Jul. 03: Jim Backus - Mr. Magoo Voice
- Dec. 22: Samuel Beckett - Playwright
Music Chart Toppers
- Jan. 07: Poison - Every Rose Has It's Thorn
- Jan. 14: Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
- Jan. 21: Phil Collins - Two Hearts
- Feb. 04: Sheriff - When I'm with you
- Feb. 11: Paula Abdul - Straight Up
- Mar. 04: Debbie Gibson - Lost in Your Eyes
- Mar. 25: Mike and The Mechanics - The Living Years
- Apr. 01: The Bangles - Eternal Flame
- Apr. 08: Roxette - The Look
- Apr. 15: Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy
- Apr. 22: Madonna - Like a Prayer
- May 13: Bon Jovi - I'll Be There for You
- May 20: Paula Abdul - Forever Your Girl
- Jun. 03: Michael Damian - Rock On
- Jun. 10: Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings
- Jun. 17: New Kids On The Block - I'll Be Loving You
- Jun. 24: Richard Marx - Satisfied
- Jul. 01: Milli Vanilli - Baby Don't Forget My Number
- Jul. 08: Fine Young Cannibals - Good Thing
- Jul. 15: Simply Red - If you don't know...
- Jul. 22: Martika - Toy Soldiers
- Aug. 05: Prince - Batdance
- Aug. 12: Richard Marx - Right Here Waiting...
- Sep. 02: Paula Abdul - Cold Hearted
- Sep. 09: New Kids on the Block - Hanging Tough
- Sep. 16: Gloria Estefan - Don't Wanna Lose You
- Sep. 23: Milli Vanilli - Girl I'm gonna...
- Oct. 07: Janet Jackson - Miss You Much
- Nov. 04: Roxette - Listen to Your Heart
- Nov. 11: Bad English - When I see You Smile
- Nov. 25: Milli Vanilli - Blame it on the Rain
- Dec. 09: Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire
- Dec. 23: Phil Collins - Another Day in Paradise Billboard: Historical Billboard Charts
Top Box Office Movies
62nd Academy Awards
- Presented on: March 26, 1990
- Best Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
- Lead Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot
- Lead Actress: Jessica Tandy in Driving Miss Daisy
- Best Director: O.Stone for Born on the Fourth of July
- Best Documentary: Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt RopesofSilicon: Complete Oscar winners list
Championship Teams
Top Athletes
Nobel Laureates
References
Fast Facts
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