On this date in...

1787...New York's Independent Journal begins publishing the Federalist Papers, a series of articles calling for the ratification of the Constitution.

1858...Teddy Roosevelt – the only native New Yorker to become President of the United States – is born on East 20th Street.

1878...The Manhattan Savings Institution at Broadway and Bleecker Street is the site of the greatest bank robbery of the 19th century. Thieves break in, crack the safe and make off with almost $3 million.

1884...The Dakota apartments open on West 72nd Street – so far uptown that skeptics say it might as well be in the Dakota Territory.

1904...The New York City subway opens, as the first IRT train heads from City Hall up to 145th Street.

1986...Two days after staving off elimination with an extra-innings victory for the ages, the New York Mets win the second World Series title in their history by defeating the Boston Red Sox, 8-5, in Game 7 at Shea Stadium.

1989...Jane Pauley announces she is leaving NBC's iconic "Today Show" after 13 years as host.