December 31, 1972 (Sunday)
- Died: Roberto Clemente, 38, star of the Pittsburgh Pirates, killed along with five other people while on an errand of mercy to earthquake victims in Managua. At 9:22 pm, his DC-7 crashed into the Atlantic shortly after takeoff from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Clemente's body was never found. Clemente was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1973.
- The barangay system was created in the Philippines by decree Number 86 of President Ferdinand Marcos.
- Born: Joey McIntyre, American actor and singer, in Needham, MA
- Another leap second (23:59:60) was added to end of the year, making 1972 the only year to have two leap seconds, and thus the longest year in human history.
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Famous quotes containing the word december:
“Work—work—work,
In the dull December light,
And work—work—work,
When the weather is warm and bright—
While underneath the eaves
The brooding swallows cling
As if to show me their sunny backs
And twit me with the spring.”
—Thomas Hood (1799–1845)