On this day in 1983, Dave Winfield, an outfielder for the New York Yankees, was warming up and accidentally killed a seagull when he threw the ball. He was actually arrested for cruelty to animals after the game.

On August 4, 1983, Winfield, while warming up before the fifth inning of a game at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium, accidentally killed a seagull with a thrown ball. He doffed his cap in mock sorrow. Fans responded by hurling obscenities and improvised missiles. After the game, he was brought to the Ontario Provincial Police station on charges of cruelty to animals and was forced to post a $500 bond before being released. Quipped Yankees manager Billy Martin, “It’s the first time he’s hit the cutoff man.” The charges were dropped the following day.[5] For years afterward Winfield’s appearances in Toronto were greeted with loud choruses of boos, but he later became a fan favorite due to his outstanding play once he joined the Blue Jays.

I remember 1983 quite well, it was my first year in college, time seemed to stand still. Now I have two Nautica watches just so I can keep up with reality, let alone the internet.

You can find out more about this day in history at the History Channel, Those Were The Days, and InfoPlease.

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