Today in Chicago History: Michael Jordan — wearing a Bulls No. 23 jersey

Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan in uniform in 1984. (AP)

Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area Oct. 26, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Front page flashback: Oct. 27, 2005

The Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros on Oct. 26, 2005, to win the team's third World Series. (Chicago Tribune)

2005: The Chicago White Sox won their first World Series in 88 years.

“They completed their stunning run in a manner that mirrored their amazingly successful season, riding the pitching of Freddy Garcia and the bullpen to a 1-0 victory over Houston and completing a four-game sweep of the 2005 World Series,” Tribune reporter Mark Gonzales wrote.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

High temperature: 84 degrees (1963)
Low temperature: 22 degrees (1942)
Precipitation: 2.18 inches (2019)
Snowfall: 1.9 inches (1957)

The Chicago Theatre opened as a movie house at 175 N. State St. on Oct. 26, 1921. (Chicago Tribune)

1921: Balaban & Katz’s Chicago Theatre opened. It was said to be the largest and finest of its kind in the world, with seating for 5,000 people.

The first film shown was a silent one: “The Sign on the Door,” starring Norma Talmadge.

“In early architectural renderings, the theater at 175 N. State St. had been labeled the Ambassador or the Capitol,” the Tribune’s Richard Christiansen wrote in 2001. “Fortunately, those were dropped. Chicago prevailed, and the six-story vertical sign that spells out the name has become one of the city’s enduring icons.”

S.R. Crown Hall, the 19th new building to be constructed since the Illinois Institute of Technology launched its expansion program in 1943, was dedicated on April 30, 1956. At the ceremony were, from left: Jay Doblin, director of the Institute of Design; Dr. John T. Rettaliata, president of the school; Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, head of the architecture department and designer of the building; and Irving and John Crown, whose family contributed to the building. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) — S.R. Crown Hall, the 19th new building to be constructed since the Illinois Institute of Technology launched its expansion program in 1943, was dedicated on April 30, 1956. At the ceremony were, from left: Jay Doblin, director of the Institute of Design; Dr. John T. Rettaliata, president of the school; Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, head of the architecture department and designer of the building; and Irving and John Crown, whose family contributed to the building. Editors note: this historic print shows hand painting and crop marks. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

1939: Armour Institute of Technology and Lewis Institute announced they would merge to form Illinois Institute of Technology.

Michael Jordan (23), right, plays his first regular season game as a Chicago Bull on Oct. 26, 1984, against the Washington Bullets at the Chicago Stadium. (Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune) — Michael Jordan, right, plays his first regular-season game as a Chicago Bull on Oct. 26, 1984, against the Washington Bullets at Chicago Stadium. (Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune)

1984: Wearing a No. 23 Chicago Bulls jersey for the first time — in front of 13,913 fans at Chicago Stadium — Michael Jordan scored 16 points in his NBA debut, a 109-93 victory against the Washington Bullets. Also there? The San Diego Chicken.

An unused ticket from the game sold at auction in 2022 for $468,000.

Volponi, a 43-1 longshot ridden by jockey José Santos, is all alone as he wins the Breeders' Cup Classic by 6½ lengths on Oct. 26, 2002, at Arlington Park. (Jim Prisching/Chicago Tribune)

2002: Arlington Park hosted a sold-out crowd of 46,118 for the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships — the first ever held in the Midwest.

You may like

'I Was an NFL Referee For 24 years - There Was One Team I Refused to Officiate'

NFL star Matthew Judon sparks controversy after it's revealed he lives with multiple baby mamas w...