1. On October 8, 1972, the Atlanta Braves played their final game at the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, which had been their home since 1966. The stadium was demolished in 1997 and replaced by Turner Field, which served as the team's home until 2016.

2. On October 8, 1983, Atlanta resident Alice Hawthorne was killed in a terrorist attack at the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. Hawthorne was one of 241 Americans, mostly military personnel, who died in the bombing.

3. On October 8, 2005, the Georgia Bulldogs football team upset the then-#5 ranked Tennessee Volunteers 27-14 in Athens. The game was highlighted by a 65-yard touchdown run by Georgia's Thomas Brown, who finished the day with 99 yards rushing.

4. On October 8, 1864, Union General William T. Sherman ordered his troops to burn Atlanta as part of his "March to the Sea" campaign. The destruction of the city, including its industrial infrastructure and key buildings, is considered a turning point in the Civil War.

5. On October 8, 2012, the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Denver Broncos 27-21 on Monday Night Football. The victory improved the Falcons' record to 2-3 on the season, and they went on to finish with a 13-3 record and clinch the top seed in the NFC playoffs.