Today in Chicago History: Walter Payton becomes the NFL’s all-time leader rusher

Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Oct. 7, according to the Tribune’s archives.

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Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

High temperature: 87 degrees (2007)
Low temperature: 29 degrees (2001)
Precipitation: 1.39 inches (1930)
Snowfall: Trace (2000)

Chicago Bears' Walter Payton (34) comes in for a landing on top of a pile of teammates and New Orleans Saints on Oct. 7, 1984 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Bears won, 20-7. (Fred Jewell/AP) — Chicago Bears’ running back Walter Payton (34) comes in for a landing on top of a pile of teammates and New Orleans Saints on Oct. 7, 1984, at Soldier Field. Bears won, 20-7. (Fred Jewell/AP)

1984: Walter Payton caught a pitchout and ran 6 yards against the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field. That play pushed “Sweetness” ahead of Jim Brown, whose career total of 12,312 rushing yards had been the best ever in the NFL. Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka took Payton out of the game with 20 second left to play and 12,400 yards.

“When God said he would make a halfback or fullback, he might have said Gale Sayers or he might have said Jim Brown,” Ditka said after the game. “But when he said he would make the best football player who ever lived, he probably said two men: Jim Thorpe and Walter Payton.”

Payton’s record of 16,726 yards stood for 18 years until it was broken by current leader Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys.

The Chicago Tribune reports on Oct. 8, 1984, of the Cubs fall to the Padres the previous day during the National League Championship Series in San Diego. (Chicago Tribune)

Also in 1984: After being up 2-0 in the National League Championship Series, the Chicago Cubs lost to the San Diego Padres 6-3 in Game 5. The Padres became the first National League team to recover from being down two games to none to win the pennant.

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Cubs vs. San Diego Padres — the 1984 National League Championship Series

The Padres lost to the Detroit Tigers 4-1 in the 1984 World Series. The Cubs made it to the playoffs again in 1989, but lost 4-1 to the San Francisco Giants.

There are no librarians warning children or adults to keep quiet during the open house on Sept. 29, 1991, at the new Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St., Chicago. Instead, bands and choruses welcomed people for their first look at the nation's largest municipal library. (Walter Kale/Chicago Tribune) — There are no librarians warning children or adults to keep quiet during the open house on Sept. 29, 1991, at the new Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St., Chicago. Instead, bands and choruses welcomed people for their first look at the nation’s largest municipal library. (Walter Kale/Chicago Tribune)

1991: After an open house and a glamorous black-tie dinner, the Harold Washington Library Center officially opened to the public. An estimated 10,000 people visited the branch on its first day.

The Chicago White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3 at Fenway Park on Oct. 7, 2005, to sweep the American League Division Series. (Chicago Tribune)

2005: The Chicago White Sox swept the defending champion Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in the American League Division Series. It was the Sox’s 102nd win of the season.

Nineteen days later, the Sox won their first World Series since 1917.

Amber Mercier, left, and Leslee Hewlett, both of Chicago, receive water as the runners head east on West Jackson Boulevard at the marathon on Oct. 7, 2007. The race was cut short due to heat-related stresses, and one person died during the event. (José M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) — Amber Mercier, left, and Leslee Hewlett, both of Chicago, receive water as the runners head east on West Jackson Boulevard at the marathon on Oct. 7, 2007. The race was cut short because of heat-related stresses and one person died during the event. (José M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)

2007: The high temperature was 89 degrees, making it the hottest Chicago Marathon race to date. For the first time in Chicago Marathon history, officials cut the race short as hundreds of runners were treated for heat-related illnesses.

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