July 10, 1943: The Allied Invasion of Sicily

July 10, 1943: Operation Husky begins, as the Allies invade the island of Sicily. This begins the liberation of Fascist-controlled Italy.

As had already happened in North Africa the preceding November -- and with many of the same troops -- and would happen the following June in France, this was an amphibious operation with air cover. By August 17, Sicily was secured, as all Axis forces on the island either evacuated, or were captured before they could. The Allied progress so rattled the Fascist national government that it removed its own founder, Benito Mussolini, from power.

On September 3, the Allies invaded Italy proper, as Salerno, Calabria and Taranto. Chancellor Adolf Hitler got so scared, he diverted 1/5th of the entire German Army from the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union to southern Europe, fighting the Allies in Italy, Yugoslavia and Greece. It did him no good: On June 4, 1944, Rome was liberated. Two days later, the Allies invaded "Fortress Europe" at Normandy.

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July 10, 1943 was a Saturday. Tennis legend Arthur Ashe was born. And these baseball games were played:

* The New York Yankees swept a doubleheader from the Chicago White Sox, 9-2 and 8-3 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Ernie "Tiny" Bonham went the distance to win the opener. Charles Wensloff went the distance to win the nightcap.

* A doubleheader was split at the Polo Grounds. The Chicago Cubs won the 1st game, 10-4. The New York Giants won the 2nd game, 9-2. Giants player-manager Mel Ott went 2-for-6 with a home run and 3 walks over the 2 games.

* The Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 23-6 at Ebbets Field. Yes, that's baseball, not football. The Dodgers scored 10 runs in the 1st inning, and another 10 in the 4th. They only got 1 home run, from Al Glossop. Billy Herman went 3-for-4 with a walk and 7 RBIs. Red Barkley went 3-for-5 with a walk and 4 RBIs. Augie Galan went 2-for-3 with 2 walks and 4 RBIs.

* The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Boston Braves, 6-0 at Braves Field in Boston. Howie Pollet pitched a 4-hit shutout. Stan Musial went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

* The Cincinnati Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-2 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

* The Washington Senators beat the Cleveland Indians, 4-0 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Early Wynn pitched a 4-hit shutout. He would later help the Indians win 2 Pennants.

* The Philadelphia Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers, 6-1 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. (It was renamed Tiger Stadium in 1961.)

* The Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Browns, 6-3 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Browns' bullpen and defense collapsed in the top of the 10th inning, allowing 3 runs.