- Oct 1 Watergate cover-up trial opens in Washington, D.C.
- Oct 1 "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" horror film premieres in director Tobe Hooper's hometown, Austin, Texas in the US
Event of Interest
Oct 1 US Computer scientist Gary Kildall presents the prototype of his CP/M operating system in his backyard toolshed
Gary Kildall
Baseball Record
Oct 2 Future Baseball Hall of Fame right fielder Hank Aaron hits his final home run as a member of the Atlanta Braves, in a 13-0 drubbing of the Cincinnati Reds; Aaron's 733rd career HR on his last NL at bat
Hank Aaron
- Oct 3 Watergate crinimal trial begins
Contract of Interest
Oct 3 39-year old Frank Robinson becomes MLB’s first African-American manager when he signs as player-manager for Cleveland Indians; agrees to 1-year contract estimated at $180,000
Frank Robinson
Event of Interest
Oct 3 Future Basketball Hall of Fame guard Jerry West (“Mr. Clutch”) retires after 14 NBA seasons with the LA Lakers; West has 25,192 career points; averages 29.1 ppg in 153 playoff games
Jerry West
Album Release
Oct 4 John Lennon releases "Walls & Bridges" album featuring No. 1 single "Whatever Gets You thru the Night"
John Lennon
- Oct 5 Guildford pub bombing by the IRA leaves 5 dead and 65 injured.
- Oct 6 "Mack & Mabel" opens at Majestic Theater NYC for 66 performances
- Oct 6 Brazilian McLaren driver Emerson Fittipaldi finishes 4th in the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen to win his second Formula 1 World Drivers Championship by 3 points from Clay Ragazzoni
- Oct 7 German Democratic Republic amends constitution
- Oct 8 Franklin National Bank collapses due to fraud and mismanagement; at the time it was the largest bank failure in the history of the United States.
- Oct 9 Race riot in Boston due to "bussing"
- Oct 9 Washington Capitals 1st NHL game, losing 6-3 to NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden Wash Caps begin a 37 game road losing streak
- Oct 9 MLB National League Championship: Los Angeles Dodgers beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 3 games to 1
- Oct 9 MLB American League Championship: Oakland Athletics beat Baltimore Orioles, 3 games to 1
- Oct 10 A's Mike Andrews files $25 million lawsuit against Charlie Finley
- Oct 10 Canadian John Hathaway begins 2-yr ride of 50,600 miles
Election of Interest
Oct 10 Labour Party led by Harold Wilson wins UK general election
Harold Wilson
- Oct 10 US Gen George Brown's speech deplores Jewish influence in US over his treatment during the 1973 World Series
- Oct 10 The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and its political wing the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) founded at the Spa Hotel in the village of Lucan near Dublin
- Oct 12 1st time Wash Caps are shutout as they are beat 6-0 by Minnesota
- Oct 14 8th Country Music Association Award: Charlie Rich
- Oct 15 National Guard mobilizes to restore order in Boston school busing
- Oct 15 Nobel prize for chemistry awarded to Paul J Flory (macro molecules)
- Oct 15 Washington Capitals 1st NHL tie, playing LA Kings to 1-1 tie
- Oct 16 As' Ken Holtzman, who hasn't batted all season, belts 3rd inning home run in Game 4 & gets the win, 5-2
- Oct 17 "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" closes at Playhouse NYC after 1065 per
- Oct 17 NBA New Orleans Jazz begin a 28 game road losing streak
- Oct 17 Washington Capitals 1st NHL home victory, beating Chicago 4-3
- Oct 17 Oakland A's beat LA Dodgers, 4 games to 1 in 71st World Series makes A's only team other than Yanks to win 3 straight series
- Oct 18 1st NBA game at Market Square Arena - Pacers beat Spurs 129-121
- Oct 18 Andre van de Louw appointed Mayor of Rotterdam
- Oct 18 Wings (Country Hams) release "Walking in the Park with Eloise"
Event of Interest
Oct 18 Chicago Bull Nate Thurmond becomes 1st in NBA to complete a quadruple double-22 pts, 14 rebounds, 13 assists & 12 blocks
Nate Thurmond
Event of Interest
Oct 19 Australian tennis star Evonne Goolagong wins her first WTA Tour Championship; beats Chris Evert 6-3, 6-4 in the final at the Los Angeles Sports Arena
Chris Evert
- Oct 20 1st broadcast of "Derrick" on ZDF
- Oct 20 Bard's presentation of "Richard III" opens at Lincoln Center NYC
- Oct 21 1st Islander shut-out opponent-Billy Smith 5-0 vs Caps
- Oct 22 Yanks trade Bobby Murcer to Giants for Bobby Bonds
- Oct 23 Chicago Cubs trade 6-time MLB All Star outfielder Billy Williams to Oakland A's for second baseman Manny Trillo and 2 pitchers
- Oct 23 Lake Isaac in Cleveland Metroparks' Big Creek Reservation dedicated
- Oct 24 Billy Martin named AL Manager of Year (Texas Rangers)
- Oct 25 US Air Force fires 1st ICBM
Event of Interest
Oct 25 Dmitri Shostakovich' 15th String Quartet premieres in Leningrad
Dmitri Shostakovich
- Oct 25 Wings release single "Junior's Farm"
- Oct 26 Cleveland Coliseum opens for NBA's Cavaliers & MISL's Crunch
- Oct 27 French runner Chantal Langlacé sets female world marathon record (2:46:24) in Neuf-Brisach, France
- Oct 28 1st time 2 Islanders hat trick in same game-MacMillian & Westfall
- Oct 28 Luna 23 launched (landing on Moon)
- Oct 28 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
- Oct 29 Law bans discrimination of sex or marital status in credit application
Event of Interest
Oct 30 California Angel Nolan Ryan throws fastest recorded pitch (100.9 MPH)
Nolan Ryan
- Oct 30 Catfish Hunter is named AL Cy Young Award
Boxing Title Fight
Oct 30 "The Rumble in the Jungle": Muhammad Ali KOs George Foreman in the 8th round in Kinshasa, Zaire; regains world heavyweight boxing title with famous "rope-a-dope" tactic
Muhammad Ali