{"id":859417,"date":"2026-10-15T09:27:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T09:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/859417\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T09:27:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T09:27:23","slug":"today-in-chicago-history-the-bulls-win-their-nba-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/859417\/","title":{"rendered":"Today in Chicago History: The Bulls win their NBA debut"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here\u2019s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area Oct. 15, according to the Tribune\u2019s archives.<\/p>\n

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Flashback: Oct. 15, 1971<\/p>\n

\"NuttingNutting Associates, based in Mountain View, California, was producing about 40 Computer Space cabinets in 1972, according to the Tribune-owned Palo Alto Times. (Peninsula Times Tribune)<\/p>\n

1971: The world\u2019s first coin-operated video arcade game \u2014 Computer Space<\/a> \u2014 was exhibited at the Music Operators of America<\/a> convention inside the Sherman House Hotel. The pre-Asteroids shooting game frustrated players but sold 1,500 units, according to the National Museum of Play.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a great game.<\/a> All my friends loved it,\u201d Computer Space creator Nolan Bushnell<\/a> told the Tribune in 1981. \u201cBut all my friends were engineers \u2026 I decided what was needed was a simpler game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bushnell and Ted Dabney then founded Atari<\/a>, which introduced Pong<\/a> in 1972. After he sold Atari, Bushnell bought a group of pizza and arcade restaurants. Today, we know them as Chuck E. Cheese<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n

High temperature: 88 degrees (1947)
\nLow temperature: 28 degrees (1876)
\nPrecipitation: 1.66 inches (1967)
\nSnowfall: None<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Chicago White Sox beat the New York Giants 4-2 on Oct. 15, 1917, to capture the World Series. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

1917:\u00a0The Chicago White Sox\u00a0won the World Series<\/a> in Game 6 when the New York Giants left home plate uncovered and Eddie Collins dashed home with third baseman Heinie Zimmerman chasing him. It was the team\u2019s second championship. Its third arrived\u00a088 years later<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1921: The Tribune, sued for libel by the city of Chicago, won the case<\/a>, which set precedent protecting the media\u2019s right<\/a> to criticize government.<\/p>\n

\"LenLen Chappell of the Chicago Bulls tips away a rebound from San Francisco’s Nate Thurmond as Tom Meschery and Jerry Sloan watch during the Bulls’ home opener Oct. 18, 1966, at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)<\/p>\n

1966: The Chicago Bulls won their first-ever game<\/a> 104-97 against the Hawks at St. Louis. Three days later Jerry Sloan scored 26 points<\/a> as they won their home opener 119-116 over the San Francisco Warriors at the International Amphitheatre. Starting lineup: Bob Boozer and Don Kojis at forwards, Len Chappell at center, Guy Rodgers and Sloan at guards. Coach: John \u201cRed\u201d Kerr.<\/p>\n

\"ExteriorExterior of the Six Corners Sears store at the intersection of Irving, Cicero and Milwaukee in Chicago on July 13, 2018. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

2018: Sears<\/a> filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.<\/p>\n

Sears timeline: Rise, fall and restructuring of a Chicago icon over 130 years<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The last man standing while such storied Chicago competitors as Wieboldt\u2019s, Montgomery Ward and Carson Pirie Scott fell by the wayside, Sears survived the Great Depression, adapted as its shoppers traded catalogs for downtown department stores and followed customers to suburban shopping malls. But it faltered as discounters, specialty chains and online merchants wooed consumers away in recent decades, and it never seemed to find the niche that would bring them back.<\/p>\n

Sears closed its last Illinois store<\/a> at Woodfield in 2021.<\/p>\n

\"FormerFormer ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore leaves U.S. Dirksen Courthouse after being sentenced to two years in prison July 21, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

2019: Exelon Utilities CEO Anne Pramaggiore<\/a> abruptly retired amid a wide-ranging federal investigation that included lobbying activities in Illinois. On Oct. 30, she stepped down as chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.<\/p>\n

Pramaggiore was among the \u201cComEd Four\u201d \u2014 which also included former ComEd contract lobbyist Michael McClain; ex-ComEd executive John Hooker; and Jay Doherty, who worked as a lobbyist for ComEd for 30 years and was president of the City Club of Chicago civic forum \u2014 who were part of an elaborate scheme to funnel more than $1.3 million and other perks to associates of House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for help with the utility\u2019s ambitious legislative agenda.<\/p>\n

The four were found guilty<\/a> on all counts in May 2023. Pramaggiore was sentenced<\/a> in July 2025 to two years in federal prison and assessed a $750,000 fine.<\/p>\n

Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n

Subscribe to the free\u00a0Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a> stay current with Today in Chicago History<\/a> and follow us on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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