Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 July 27

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Today's featured article
Nick Adenhart (1986–2009) was an American right-handed baseball starting pitcher who played two seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In four career games, Adenhart pitched 18 innings and posted a win-loss record of 1–0, with nine strikeouts and a 6.00 earned run average (ERA). A graduate of Williamsport High School, Adenhart was highly touted as a high school prospect until an injury in his final game required Tommy John surgery. He was drafted by the Angels in the 14th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft, and began playing in their minor league system after the surgery was a success. He spent three full years in the minor leagues before making his major league debut on May 1, 2008. After appearing in three games, Adenhart spent the rest of 2008 in the minor leagues developing his skills, and in 2009 he earned a spot in the Angels' starting rotation. Just after pitching his first start of 2009, Adenhart was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. Both the Angels and the Salt Lake Bees, for whom Adenhart played in 2008, suspended their next games. There were many tributes to him over the course of the season, including his former teammates spraying champagne and beer on one of his jerseys after they clinched the 2009 American League West division championship. (more...) Recently featured: Giraffe – Georg Solti – Pham Ngoc Thao Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the Europa Point Lighthouse (pictured) at Gibraltar is the only lighthouse operated by Trinity House on continental Europe outside the United Kingdom? ... that 2012 Olympic shooter Georgina Geikie is nicknamed the "British Lara Croft"? ... that the Body of Proof episode "Letting Go" was about the fictional murder of an interracial couple in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia? ... that Olympic road cyclist Shara Gillow of Australia is following in the path of her father, who represented Zimbabwe in cycling at the 1980 Summer Olympics? ... that May Justus' 1963 book New Boy in School, a departure from her usual thematic focus on rural Appalachia, was "probably the first" book on racial desegregation for young readers? ... that it was at Tasitolu that East Timor declared its independence in 2002? ... that 2012 Olympic weightlifter Yuderqui Contreras became Pan American Champion and a Dominican Army officer in the same year? ... that Alaskan Inupiat bush pilot Ellen Paneok said an airstrip had to be cleared of polar bears before her airplane could land? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
At least 42 people are killed in clashes between rebels and Tajik government troops in Gorno-Badakhshan. Ghanaian President John Atta Mills (pictured) dies at the age of 68 and is succeeded by Vice President John Dramani Mahama. At least 116 people are killed and more than 250 others wounded in a string of bombings and attacks in Iraq. In golf, Ernie Els wins the Open Championship. In cycling, Bradley Wiggins becomes the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France. Pranab Mukherjee is elected President of India. Syrian defense minister Dawoud Rajiha and deputy defense minister Assef Shawkat are killed in a bomb attack on the Military Intelligence Directorate headquarters in Damascus. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
July 27: José Celso Barbosa Day in Puerto Rico 1778 – American Revolutionary War: French and British fleets fought to a standoff west of Ushant, which led to political disputes in both countries. 1916 – British mariner Charles Fryatt (pictured) was executed at Bruges, Belgium, after a court-martial found him to be a franc-tireur. 1919 – Red Summer: Race riots erupted in Chicago after a racial incident occurred on a South Side beach, leading to 38 fatalities and 537 injuries over a five-day period. 1921 – University of Toronto researchers led by Frederick Banting proved that the hormone insulin regulates blood sugar. 1949 – The de Havilland Comet, the world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production, made its maiden flight. 1953 – An armistice was signed to end hostilities in the Korean War, officially making the Division of Korea indefinite by creating an approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) wide demilitarized zone running across the Korean Peninsula. More anniversaries: July 26 – July 27 – July 28 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now July 27, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Rhodium, one of the rarest metals on Earth, in three states of processing: one gram in powder form, a one gram pressed cylinder, and a one gram argon arc remelted pellet. Rhodium is a chemically inert precious transition metal found as a free metal or in platinum- or nickel ores together with the other members of the platinum group metals.

Photo: Alchemist-hp

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