In support of the 160,000 Allied troops invading Normandy on this day, major league baseball decides to suspend all scheduled games and leave stadiums across the country quiet for the solemn occasion.
"I have two sons over there," said Frank Shaugnessy, President of the International league to the Herald-Journal. "When the invasion is announced I won't have much interest in baseball. I'm going to church and then home and I believe a lot of other people will feel that way."
"I am suggesting to my clubs that they postpone the game if the announcement comes early enough, suspend the contest if word comes after play has started."
Of course, when it came to the national pastime, not everyone agreed — in the days leading up to the invasion there were calls from both players and commissioners to let the big leaguers play ball.
"I'm open for suggestions on what to do," said Commissioner K. M. Landis, "but as far as I know churches, theaters, banks, department stores will all be open on invasion day, and I don't see why baseball should shut down for the day."
In the end, however, the troops won out, and all major league baseball games — along with all fights and horse races — were suspended in tribute of the troops' courageous war-ending victory.
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