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Events on Wednesday 16 April 1947 4
1947 – presentKareem Abdul-JabbarThe Captain6-time NBA MVP and champion; famous for his unstoppable "Skyhook" shot.
1947 – presentKareem Abdul-JabbarBasketball player, activist, author, b. 1947Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (b. Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., 1947) — the NBA all-time leading scorer for 39 years (38,387 points), six NBA championships, a record six MVP awards, three consecutive NCAA titles at UCLA, and a second life as a bestselling author, activist and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.
1947Kareem Abdul-Jabbar born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is born as Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. in Harlem, New York City, to Ferdinand Sr. (a transit police officer and jazz musician) and Cora Lillian.
1947Texas City disasterAmmonium nitrate ship explodes in the port of Texas CityOn 16 April 1947, the French-registered ship SS Grandcamp exploded while loaded with about 2,300 tons of ammonium nitrate in Texas City harbour. The blast and the fires that followed, including a second ship explosion, killed at least 581 people. It is the deadliest industrial accident in US history.