On this day in history 24 December
1999: Opening of St Peter's Holy Door by Pope John Paul II in approach of 3rd millennium.
1990: Expos trade Tim Raines to White Sox for Ivan Calderon & Barry Jones.
1992: US President George H. W. Bush pardons Caspar Weinberger for Iran-contra affair.
1969: Curt Flood writes to baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn refusing to accept the Cardinals.
1996: Ballon d'Or: Borussia Dortmund's German sweeper Matthias Sammer is named best football player in Europe ahead of PSV.
2001: "Time Magazine" names New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani 'Person of the Year', for leadership after 9/11 attacks.
1985: Ballon d'Or: Juventus' French midfielder Michel Platini is named Europe's best football player for the 3rd consecutive time.
1989: Panama's dictator, Manual Noriega, seeks asylum at Vatican embassy.
1990: Saddam Hussein says Israel will be Iraq's 1st target.
1974: Former US astronaut John Glenn join the Senate for Ohio.