1. On April 3, 1860, the first Pony Express began in St. Joseph, Missouri. Although the Pony Express did not run through New Jersey, it was an important part of American communication history, delivering mail across the country in record time.

2. In 1947, on April 3, the first game was played at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York between the Dodgers and the Boston Braves. Ebbets Field was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers until 1957 when they moved to Los Angeles, but the stadium was an important part of New Jersey sports history, as many fans from the state traveled across the Hudson River to watch the games.

3. On April 3, 1975, Frank Robinson became the first African American manager in Major League Baseball history when he managed the Cleveland Indians in their first game of the season. Robinson, who was born in Texas, played for the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, and California Angels during his career, but his impact on baseball extended far beyond the field.

4. In 1921, on April 3, the first NJ auto show was held at Newark's Armory. The event showcased the latest models from over 100 manufacturers and was lauded as a great success. New Jersey has long been a hub of automobile manufacturing and distribution in the United States, and the annual auto show is still a popular event.

5. On April 3, 1981, the New Jersey Legislature approved a bill that would impose a 5-cent deposit on all beverage containers sold in the state. The bill aimed to reduce litter and promote recycling, and it remains in effect to this day. New Jersey was one of the first states in the country to implement a bottle deposit law, and the law has since been adopted by many other states.