I went back and figured out the release date for Python 2.2a1.
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index af4d43a..aa0ab81 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -775,6 +775,7 @@
 
 
 What's New in Python 2.2a1?
+Release date: 18-Jul-2001
 ===========================
 
 Core