People's Republic of China
Oct 1 People's Republic of China proclaimed by Mao Zedong (National Day)
- Oct 1 Publication of poetry volume "Annie Allen" by Gwendolyn Books, - 1950 Pulitzer Prize for poetry and first African American recipient of a Pulitzer [1]
- Oct 1 Republic of China (Taiwan) forms on island of Formosa
- Oct 2 For first time in 41 years pennant races in both MLB leagues are decided on the final day of the season; (AL) Yankees upend rival Boston Red Sox, 5-3; (NL) Dodgers beat the Phillies, 9-7 for 97-57 record; Cardinals 96-58
- Oct 2 USSR recognizes People's Republic of China
- Oct 3 WERD, 1st black-owned radio station, opens in Atlanta
- Oct 4 American Contract Bridge League votes 58½% to keep blacks out
- Oct 4 United Nations' permanent NYC headquarters is dedicated
Bobby Jones's Rare Disease
Oct 5 Sportswriter Robert Ruark first reports golfing great Bobby Jones's rare spinal disease (syringomyelia) which prevent him from playing any form of golf again
- Oct 5 WBNS TV channel 10 in Columbus, OH (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Oct 5 WOR (now WWOR) TV channel 9 in NY-Secaucus, NY (IND) begins
- Oct 6 Iva Toguri D'Aquino (Tokyo Rose) sentenced to 10 years & $10,000 fine
Mutual Defense Assistance Act
Oct 6 US President Harry Truman signs Mutual Defense Assistance Act (for NATO)
- Oct 7 German Democratic Republic formed from Russian occupation zone (National Day). Wilhelm Pieck becomes 1st president, Otto Greatwohl 1st premier
- Oct 9 Baseball World Series: NY Yankees beat Brooklyn Dodgers, 10-6 at Ebbets Field for 4 games to 1 series victory; starts Yankees record run of 5 straight titles
- Oct 9 English ballerina Margot Fonteyn debuts in America with her performance in Tchaikovsky's "The Sleeping Beauty" at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York
- Oct 10 3rd NHL All-Star Game, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: All-Stars beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-1
- Oct 11 Costa Rica abolishes its army (decree 249)
- Oct 13 "Touch & Go" opens at Broadhurst Theater NYC for 176 performances
- Oct 14 14 US Communist Party leaders convicted of sedition
- Oct 14 Chinese Red army occupies Canton
Charles TKOs Valentino
Oct 14 Ezzard Charles TKOs Pat Valentino in 8 for heavyweight boxing title
- Oct 15 Administration of territory of Manipur taken over by Indian government
- Oct 15 Tripura accedes to Indian union
- Oct 16 Red Byron in an Oldsmobile finishes 16th in the Wilkes 200 at North Wilkesboro Speedway to win NASCAR Strictly Stock C'ship in the inaugural season of pro stock car racing in the United States
- Oct 16 WDAF TV channel 4 in Kansas City, MO (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Oct 19 A's trade 2nd baseman Nellie Fox to White Sox for Joe Tipton
- Oct 20 Eugenie Anderson becomes 1st woman US ambassador (to Denmark)
Huxley Congratulates Orwell
Oct 21 Author of "Brave New World" Aldous Huxley writes to congratulate George Orwell on his new novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four"
- Oct 22 200 killed in train derailment near Nowy Dwor Poland
- Oct 22 Emile Zatopek runs world record 10,000m (29:21.2)
- Oct 24 Construction begins on the United Nations headquarters in New York
- Oct 26 US President Harry Truman increases minimum wage from 40 cents to 75 cents
- Oct 28 Georges Bidault elected president of France
- Oct 29 White Sox trade Joe Tipton to A's for Nellie Fox
Lost in the Stars
Oct 30 "Lost in the Stars" by Maxwell Anderson and Kurt Weill, based on the novel "Cry the Beloved Country" by Alan Paton opens at Music Box Theater NYC for 281 performances
- Oct 31 Dutch Nazi Henri 'Hakkie' Holdert, director of Amsterdam paper De Telegraaf and member of the SS, sentenced to 12 years imprisonment
- Oct 31 Marc Blitzstein's musical drama "Regina", based on Lilian Hellman's play "The Little Foxes" opens at 46th St Theater, NYC; runs for 56 performances, winning 2 Tony Awards
- Oct 31 WOC (now KWQC) TV channel 6 in Davenport, IA (NBC) 1st broadcast
Admirals
Aviators
Gangsters
Generals
Industrialists
Suffragists