May 22, 2008

140 years ago
1868

Died on this date
Julius Plucker, 66. German mathematician/physicist. Dr. Plucker made fundamental contributions to the field of analytical geometry and was a pioneer in the investigations of cathode rays (eventually leading to the discovery of the electron), and also vastly extended the study of Lamé curves.

130 years ago
1878

Died on this date
Franz von Holstein, 52. German composer.

110 years ago
1898

Died on this date
Edward Bellamy, 48. American writer. Mr. Bellamy, a socialist, was best known for his novel Looking Backward: 2000-1887. In the novel, the main character awakens from a hypnotic trance in 2000 to find himself in a socialist utopia. Since he slept through the process, he has to be told what had happened by the other characters. This doesn’t exactly make for exciting reading, but the book created a sensation when it was published in 1888, and over 160 Nationalist Clubs, aka "Bellamy Clubs," were created to discuss and promote Mr. Bellamy’s ideas. A sequel, Equality, was published in 1897. Mr. Bellamy died of tuberculosis.

Baseball
A 9th inning scratch single by Brooklyn Superbas’ batter Fielder Jones broke up a no-hit effort by Chick Fraser of the Louisville Colonels, who won 3-0.

80 years ago
1928

Died on this date
E.J. Morrissey. U.S. aviator. Mr. Morrissey, an air mail pilot, was killed in a plane crash in fog at Richmond, Virginia.

Abominations
The British House of Lords passed the bill giving women the right to vote after reaching the age of 21.

Politics and government
The U.S. Senate Campaign Fund Committee was informed that the Anti-Hoover contest in Ohio cost over $50,000.

World events
At Bergen, Norway, King Haakon VII entertained the polar flyers Captain Sir George Herbert Wilkins and Lieutenant Carl Ben Eielson.

Disasters
34 children drowned when a launch capsized on the River Kuban in Russia, and 19 children died when a steamer burned on the River Dnieper.

Seven men died in an explosion in a coal mine at Kenvin, Kentucky. Four died in a cave-in in a copper mine at Kimberly, Nevada; and 17 died in a coal mine explosion at Yukon, West Virginia.

Baseball
Chicago White Sox' centre fielder Johnny Mostil handled 12 chances against the Cleveland Indians, equalling Happy Felsch's American League record, also made against Cleveland as the White Sox won 4-3. Mr. Mostil also legged it home from second base with the winning run on a wild pitch by George Uhle. Sam Langford had a home run and two doubles for Cleveland.

75 years ago
1933

Baseball
Joe Sewell of the New York Yankees struck out for the first time this season, a 3-0 win behind Lefty Gomez over the Cleveland Indians. Mr. Sewell struck out only three more times in 524 at bats that year.

70 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Harry Lumley, 57. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Lumley was an outfielder with the Brooklyn Superbas from 1904-1910. Mr. Lumley had an outstanding rookie season; he led the National League in triples and home runs, was in the top ten in doubles, and his .279 batting average was highest on the Brooklyn team, which hit .232. He was second in the league in runs batted in, and his runs scored were highest on his team. 1906 was Mr. Lumley’s best year, as his .324 average was nearly 100 points higher than the team average. It was third in the league, and his slugging average was tops in the league. He was second in the league in homers, third in the league in triples, and his 35 stolen bases were in the top ten in the league. Leg injuries slowed him down after that, and shortened his career. Mr. Lumley ran a cafe until 1937.

Baseball
The Brooklyn Dodgers announced contracts to install lights at Ebbets Field. The first night game was scheduled for June 15th.

Chicago White Sox pitcher Ted Lyons recorded his 200th career major league win, beating the Washington Nationals 9-2.

60 years ago
1948

Died on this date
Claude McKaye, 57. Jamaican-born U.S. author (Banjo; Home to Harlem).

50 years ago
1958

On television today
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower addressed the opening of Washington, D.C. station WRC in a demonstration of colour telecasting and the use of videotape.



At the movies
Ten North Frederick, directed by Philip Dunne, and starring Gary Cooper, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Diane Varsi, and Suzy Parker, opened in theatres.

Baseball
Ted Williams hit his 16th career major league grand slam to provide the Boston Red Sox with the winning margin in an 8-5 decision over the Kansas City Athletics. Mr. Williams’ 4th inning blast, off Jack Urban, tied him with Babe Ruth for second place on the career grand slam list.

40 years ago
1968

Protest
200 Negro youth gang members from Chicago and Detroit were sent home from the "poor people’s march" in Washington, D.C. for "beating whites."

Crime
H. Rap Brown, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Co-ordinating Committee (SNCC), was convicted in New Orleans Federal Court for violating the Federal Firearms Act, and sentenced to 5 years in prison and fined $2,000. A jury of 9 whites and 3 Negroes found him guilty of carrying a .30 calibre carbine on a plane trip from New Orleans to New York on August 18, 1967. Mr. Brown was released o $15,000 bond.

Politics and government
The French government of Prime Minister Georges Pompidou survived a parliamentary effort to overthrow it with 11 votes to spare after a censure motion was introduced by Francois Mitterand, leader of the Federation of the Democratic and Socialist Left.

Disasters
The nuclear-powered U.S. Navy submarine USS Scorpion sank with 99 men aboard, 400 miles southwest of the Azores.

A chartered helicopter on its way from Disneyland to Los Angeles crashed in Paramount, California, killing 23.

Seven schoolchildren and a teacher drowned when their canoe capsized in the Tamaya River near Pucallpa, Peru.

Baseball
Don Drysdale of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched his third straight shutout, 2-0 over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Pittsburgh Pirates' slugger Willie Stargell hit 3 home runs and just missed a fourth in a 13-6 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago. He also hit a single, and a double which bounced off the railing on the left field fence back onto the playing field.

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Wuthering Heights--Kate Bush

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Southpaw--Pink Lady (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Stayin' Alive--Bee Gees (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Bjarne Brustad, 83. Norwegian violinist and composer.

Diplomacy
Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev concluded his three-day visit to China.

Protest
Clashes between police and demonstrators began in 28 cities in Peru.

World events
The Soviet Union condemned the rescue of 2,500 Europeans from the Zairian town of Kolwezi by French and Belgian troops two days earlier. The Europeans were trapped as a result of fighting between Zairian troops and secessionist rebels.

Religion
The United Presbyterian Church voted against the ordination of practicing homosexuals, in spite of the recommendation in favour of ordination by a 19-member church task force that had spent 15 months studying the question.

Golf
Nancy Lopez won her second straight tournament and third of the year, winning the LPGA Classic in Jamesburg, New Jersey in a playoff after posting a three-round score of 210. First prize money was $15,000.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
Finals
Winnipeg 5 @ New England 3 (Winnipeg won best-of-seven series 4-0)

20 years ago
1988

Died on this date
Giorgio Almirante, 74. Italian politician. A cabinet minister in the Fascist government of Benito Mussolini, Mr. Almirante was a cabinet minister in the government of the Italian Social Republic, the Nazi-supported administration in northern Italy after the fall of Mr. Mussolini. Mr. Almirante was one of the founders of (in 1946), and the most important figure in the Italian Social Movement (MSI). Mr. Almirante was elected to parliament in 1948, and remained in the chamber until his death.

Politics and government
Janos Kadar, who had ruled Hungary since 1956, was removed from power. Mr. Kadar, general secretary of the Socialist Workers (Communist) Party, lost his position during the party’s first national conference in three decades. Mr. Kadar and seven allies lost their seats on the Politburo, delegates also replaced about 40% of the Central Committee. Mr. Kadar was succeeded by Karoly Grosz, an apparatchik who had served as Premier since 1987.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Edmonton 6 @ Boston 3 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
Atlanta 116 @ Boston 118 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-3)

10 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Fred Hatfield, 73. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Hatfield, an infielder, played for five major league teams in nine seasons from 1950-1958. He hit .242 for his career, with 25 home runs. His main "contribution" as a player was taunting Jimmy Piersall with "nuthouse" insults from the dugout when the formerly-institutionalized Mr. Piersall came to bat. After his playing career, Mr. Hatfield spent a number of years as a manager in the minor leagues, sandwiched around five years as head coach at Florida State University (1964-1968). He managed the AA Montgomery Rebels to the Southern League championship in 1973.

John Derek, 71. U.S. actor. Mr. Derek was known for his roles in Knock on Any Door (1949); All the King’s Men (1949); and Saturday’s Hero (1951). He was better known for his succession of wives, who included Ursula Andress, Linda Evans, and finally, Bo Derek.

War
Irish voters overwhelmingly approved a peace accord to end sectarian strife. Those in Northern Ireland voted 71% in favour, indicating the approval of a majority of Protestants; 94% of voters in the Republic of Ireland approved the agreement.

Scandal
In a victory for independent counsel Kenneth Starr, a U.S. judge ruled that Secret Service agents could be forced to testify about President Bill Clinton’s relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Politics and government
98 Republicans in the United States House of Representatives joined Democrats to block a conservative move to reform welfare law.

Basketball
NBA
Western Conference
Finals
Utah 109 @ Los Angeles Lakers 98 (Utah led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Baseball
The New York Mets acquired catcher Mike Piazza from the Florida Marlins in exchange for outfielder Preston Wilson, pitcher Ed Yarnall, and a player to be named later. Mr. Piazza spent a week with Florida after being traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers.