May 22, 1972: The 1st Home Video Game System

May 22, 1972: The Magnavox Odyssey is released. It is the 1st home video game system.

It would be followed in 1977 by the Atari Video Computer System (VCS, later rebranded as the 2600), in 1979 by Mattel Intellivision, and in 1982 by the Atari 5200 SuperSystem and ColecoVision. Games for personal computers and later mobile systems like Nintendo GameBoy would lead to improved graphics.

Eventually, individual games would become legends, and even obsessions: Grant Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Halo, and the Arkham series of games involving DC Comics' superhero Batman.

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May 22, 1972 was a Monday. Screenwriter Max Brooks was born on that day, the son of comedian-director Mel Brooks and his wife, actress Anne Bancroft.

Football was out of season. The NHL season ended 11 days earlier, when the Boston Bruins beat the New York Rangers for the Stanley Cup. The NBA season ended 4 days before that, when the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks for the title.

Only 5 Major League Baseball games were scheduled for that day:

* The Montreal Expos beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-3 at Jarry Park in Montreal. This was the only game in the east of North America.

* The Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers, 7-6 at Arlington Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Arlington, Texas. Tom Egan doubled home the winning run in the top of the 12th inning.

* The Houston Astros beat the San Diego Padres, 7-0 at San Diego Stadium. Larry Dierker pitched a 4-hit shutout.

* The San Francisco Giants beat their arch-rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, 9-8 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Dave Kingman hit 2 home runs.

* And the Oakland Athletics beat the California Angels, 6-3 at the Oakland Coliseum. Catfish Hunter outpitched Nolan Ryan. Reggie Jackson went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and 3 RBIs.