1. On April 12, 1861, the first shots of the American Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. This event, although not directly tied to New York history, would eventually lead to the recruitment of thousands of soldiers from New York to fight in the war.

2. In 1927, the famous Harlem Globetrotters basketball team played their first game in Hinckley, Illinois. The team, which was originally founded as the "Savoy Big Five" in Chicago, would go on to become one of the most recognized and beloved sports teams in the world.

3. On April 12, 1934, the legendary New York Yankee, Babe Ruth, played in his first game of the season. Ruth, who was nearing the end of his career, would go on to hit just 22 home runs in the 1934 season, far below his usual numbers.

4. In 1955, the world-famous Pola Negri, a Polish-American actress, made her final appearance in a film entitled "The Moon is Blue". Negri, who was known for her roles in over 70 films, lived most of her life in New York City and passed away in San Antonio, Texas in 1987.

5. On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to ever travel into space. This event, which marked a major milestone in the history of human achievement, was watched by people all around the world, including those in New York City.