On June 13, 1990, “Dick Tracy” the movie premiered in Woodstock, the birthplace of the comic’s creator, Chester Gould. Although stars like Warren Beatty and Madonna were not present, an officer named Dick Tracy from Chicago attended the premiere.
Weather records for June 13 in the Chicago area show a high of 95 degrees set in 1956, a low of 40 degrees in 1985, and significant precipitation of 4.64 inches recorded in 1976. In 2022, there was trace snowfall on this date.
In 1888, the Lincoln Park Zoo acquired its first elephant, an 8-year-old female later named “Duchess,” for $3,000. The purchase also included other animals like a camel and a tiger, obtained from the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Today, most new additions to the zoo are through noncommercial means.
On June 13, 1940, the Chicago Cubs triumphed over the Boston Red Sox with a score of 10-9 during the inaugural Hall of Fame Game in Cooperstown, New York. The match, watched by 3,500 spectators, was shortened to seven innings due to rain. In 2008, similar weather conditions disrupted a game involving the Cubs and San Diego Padres.
In 1957, Enos “Country Boy” Slaughter of the New York Yankees was involved in a notable baseball brawl against the Chicago White Sox. The altercation began after a close pitch from Art Ditmar, culminating in a clash between Slaughter and Sox first baseman Walt “Moose” Dropo. Observers unofficially favored Slaughter in their post-fight assessments.
The Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home parade took place on June 13, 1986, in Chicago. This nearly five-hour event gave 200,000 Vietnam War veterans a platform to commemorate their service, 11 years after the conflict ended.
Ryne Sandberg, the Cubs second baseman, announced his retirement on June 13, 1994. Citing internal issues and a desire to spend more time with his family, Sandberg left with $15 million still on his contract. After resolving personal matters, he returned in 1996, contributing significantly to the team’s success before his death in July 2025 due to relapsed prostate cancer.
On this day in 1997, the Chicago Bulls celebrated their fifth NBA championship win at the United Center.
Finally, in 2006, former Chicago City Clerk James Laski received a two-year prison sentence for bribery related to the Hired Truck Program. He served approximately one year.