1. In 1783, the first recorded prison break in the United States took place in New York City. Twenty-nine prisoners climbed out of their cells at the old New York City Jail on Pearl Street and escaped. The event was a major embarrassment to the city, and an investigation ensued.

2. In 1829, James Fenimore Cooper's novel "The Spy: A Tale of the Neutral Ground" was published by Wiley & Halsted in New York City. The book, which was set during the American Revolution, became one of Cooper's most popular works, and helped to establish him as a leading American writer.

3. On April 8, 1896, the opening of the first subway line in New York City took place. The line, which ran from City Hall to West 145th Street, had 28 stations and was operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT). The subway system would go on to become one of the most extensive and iconic transportation networks in the world.

4. In 1947, Jackie Robinson made his Major League Baseball debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the color barrier in professional baseball. Robinson played first base and went 0-for-3 at the plate, but his presence on the field marked a historic moment in American sports history.

5. On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth's longstanding record. The milestone came during a game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and was a moment of great celebration for baseball fans across the country. Aaron finished his career with 755 home runs, a record that would stand until Barry Bonds broke it in 2007.