Major events of 1908
• The first Model T was introduced by Henry Ford.
• Construction of the Titanic begins in Belfast, Ireland.
• SOS becomes the standard radio distress symbol.
• Mother's Day is celebrated for the first time.
• In New York's Times Square, the ball drops for the first time to signal the start of New Year's Day.
• An earthquake and tsunami combined to kill more than 70,000 people in southern Italy and Sicily.
More Coverage Stories Curses aside, let's just look ahead Our Cubs all-century team Major events of 1908 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' turns 100 bull; Countries in the Middle East begin the first petroleum production.bull; Japanese immigration to the U.S. is forbidden.bull; A Frenchman, Henri Farman, pilots the first passenger flight.bull; The IV Olympic Games are held in London and women compete for the first time. Among the 24 sports: tug of war, rugby and polo.bull; William Howard Taft defeats William Jennings Bryan for the U.S. presidency.bull; Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, two longtime bank robbers, are reported killed in Bolivia.bull; Thomas Edison forms the Motion Picture Patents Co., with goals of controlling production, raising admission prices and cooperating with censorship bodies.Notable births: baseball announcer Red Barber, English actor John Mills, actor Rex Harrison, author Louis L'Amour, actor Buddy Ebsen, actress Bette Davis, journalist Edward R. Murrow, actor James Stewart, author Ian Fleming, comedian Milton Berle, future White Sox manager Al Lopez, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey.Source: infoplease.comU.S. presidents since 1908 They never got the chance to invite the Cubs to the White House.Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09)William Taft (1909-13)Woodrow Wilson (1913-21)Warren Harding (1921-23)Calvin Coolidge (1923-29)Herbert Hoover (1929-33)Franklin Roosevelt (1933-45)Harry Truman (1945-53)Dwight Eisenhower (1953-61)John Kennedy (1961-63)Lyndon Johnson (1963-69)Richard Nixon (1969-74)Gerald Ford (1974-77)Jimmy Carter (1977-81)Ronald Reagan (1981-89)George H.W. Bush (1989-93)Bill Clinton (1993-2001)George W. Bush (2001-2009)face="arial" size="2"> National League Team Won Lost % won GB CUBS 99 55 .643 New York Giants 98 56 .636 1 Pittsburgh Pirates 98 56 .636 1 Philadelphia Phillies 83 71 .539 16 Cincinnati Reds 73 81 .474 26 Boston Doves 63 91 .409 36 Brooklyn Superbas 53 101 .344 46 St. Louis Cardinals 49 105 .318 50 American League Detroit Tigers 90 63 .588 Cleveland Naps 90 64 .584 .5 WHITE SOX 88 64 .579 1.5 St. Louis Browns 83 69 .546 6.5 Boston Red Sox 75 79 .487 15.5 Philadelphia Athletics 68 85 .44 22 Washington Senators 67 85 .441 22.5 New York Highlanders 51 103 .331 39.51908 stats leaders American League National LeagueBatting avg. Ty Cobb, Detroit .324 Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh .354Home runs Sam Crawford, Detroit 7 Tim Jordan, Brooklyn 12RBI Ty Cobb, Detroit 108 Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh 109Wins Ed Walsh, White Sox 40 Christy Mathewson N.Y. Giants 37ERA Addie Joss, Cleveland 1.16 Christy Mathewson N.Y. Giants 1.43Strikeouts Ed Walsh, White Sox 269 Christy Mathewson N.Y. Giants 259Source: baseball-reference.comBooks published in 1908"Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz" by Frank L. Baum"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth GrahameFast facts about 1908U.S. unemployment: 8 percentU.S. population: 88.7 millionCost of a first-class stamp: 2 centsSugar: 4 cents a pound Eggs: 14 cents a dozen Coffee: 15 cents a pound U.S. flag: 45 starsPopulation of Las Vegas: 30Average wage (not minimum): 22 cents per hourU.S. homes with a telephone: 8 percentU.S. homes with a bathtub: 14 percentThe first electric-powered washing machine, The Mighty Thor, was introduced by the Hurley Co. of Chicago.Cellophane was invented and marketed as a stain-proof table cloth.Source: newsvine.com; infoplease.com; inventors.about.com 512410Construction of the Titanic begins in Belfast, Ireland.