Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on July 29, according to the Tribune’s archives.
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.
Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
- High temperature: 99 degrees (1913)
- Low temperature: 50 degrees (1984)
- Precipitation: 1.58 inches (1989)
- Snowfall: None
1829: The Potawatomi, Ottawa and Chippewa ceded to the state more than 3,000 square miles in northern Illinois as part of the Treaty of Prairie du Chien.
1963: After finishing in a three-way tie at 280, Arnold Palmer, 23-year-old Masters champ Jack Nicklaus and U.S. Open champ Julius Boros treated Chicagoland fans to a dream playoff for the Western Open championship at Beverly.
When Palmer won the 18-hole playoff, members of his “Army” felt it was only fair. After all, Palmer had lost to Boros in a playoff for the Open title. And he fizzled to a final-round 73 in the Western to fall back into a tie with Nicklaus, who sizzled with 66, and Boros, who shot 67.
“There shouldn’t even be a playoff,” said Nicklaus after 72 holes. “This man sitting next to me should never have shot 73.”
Palmer, a model of gracious restraint throughout his poor fourth round, wordlessly punctuated Nicklaus’ remark. Palmer snapped one of his woods across his knee, then deposited both pieces of the club in his locker.
1988: Chicago Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe stole home. He became the first Cubs pitcher to do so since Jim “Hippo” Vaughan in 1919.
2016: Former Bolingbrook police Sgt. Drew Peterson was given an additional 40 years in prison for trying to hire someone to kill the prosecutor who put him behind bars for killing his third wife.
2021: The Chicago Cubs traded first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees. Cubs fans did not get a chance to say goodbye — Rizzo was not in the starting lineup for a 7-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
Also in 2021: Despite opposition from Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill transitioning the Chicago Public Schools school board from mayoral-appointed board members to a fully elected governing body in 2026.
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