May 30, 2008

225 years ago
1783

Journalism
The Pennsylvania Evening Post, the first daily newspaper in the United States, began publication.

160 years ago
1848

Canadiana
Fredericton, New Brunswick was incorporated as a city.

140 years ago
1868

Americana
Memorial Day, then known as Decoration Day, was observed for the first time after Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic had issued General Order Number 11 on May 5, 1868, designating May 30 as a memorial day “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.”

125 years ago
1883

Baseball
It was a busy and confusing Decoration Day of American Association baseball. As part of a unique Memorial Day doubleheader‚ the Cincinnati Red Stockings played in two different cities. The Red Stockings started a 9:30 a.m. game at New York's Polo Grounds‚ losing 1-0 to the Metropolitans‚ then travelled by train to Philadelphia where they fared better‚ scoring twice in the final frame and beating the Athletics 10-8 in 11 innings. The Red Stockings played the Athletics in Philadelphia the previous day. The Metropolitans‚ after beating Cincinnati in the a.m. game‚ whipped the Columbus Buckeyes 12-5 in an afternoon game. (This was on the western diamond of the original Polo Grounds on 110th Street‚ just north of the Polo Grounds. At the same time on the eastern diamond‚ the New York Gothams of the National League were playing a doubleheader against the Detroit Wolverines‚ splitting 2-5 and 4-8. Between games of the New York-Detroit doubleheader‚ the first of which started at 10 a.m.‚ was a game between Yale and Princeton to decide the college championship). Columbus was the loser on the day‚ dropping an a.m. game in Philadelphia 8-5. Meanwhile‚ the Cleveland Blues of the National League lost 3-1 to the Beaneaters in Boston in the morning‚ then travelled to Providence to beat the Grays 5-2. The Buffalo Bisons lost to Providence 4-2 in the morning‚ then took the train to Boston to lose 2-1 in the afternoon. The Chicago White Stockings had the easiest of the day's doubleheaders‚ feasting on the Philadelphia Quakers 15-8 and 22-4. In the second game‚ the White Stockings scored 7 runs in the 1st inning and 9 runs in the 5th as Mike Kelly‚ Fred Pfeffer‚ and Tommy Burns made 3 hits apiece.

100 years ago
1908

Born on this date
Mel Blanc. U.S. cartoon voice and actor. Mr. Blanc provided the voices for too many cartoon characters (mainly for Warner Brothers Loonie Tunes) to mention here. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Barney Rubble are just a few of the characters whose voices came from Mel Blanc. Mr. Blanc was also a member of Jack Benny’s supporting cast; he played Mr. Benny’s long-suffering violin teacher, and also played a Mexican in a frequently-repeated sketch known as "Si-Sy." He died on July 10, 1989 at the age of 81.

Baseball
In the first game of a Memorial Day doubleheader in Boston‚ Cy Young threw a near-perfect game‚ beating the Washington Nationals 6-0. Jerry Freeman's 5th inning single gave Washington its only hit and baserunner. Jesse Tannehill, making his first appearance since the previous August, started for the Red Sox in game 2, but he left in the 5th inning with a 2–2 score. The Red Sox later in the day suspended him without pay. Tex Pruiett relieved and was less effect than Mr. Tannehill, taking the loss in a 7-4 game.

80 years ago
1928

Americana
President Calvin Coolidge, speaking at Memorial Day exercises on the Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, said: "The worldwide interests of the United States, aside from the dictates of humanity, make us view with peculiar disfavour, not only any danger of being in war ourselves, but any danger of war among other nations. Our investments and trade relations are such that it is almost impossible to conceive of any conflict anywhere on earth which would not affect us injuriously...Whether so intended or not, any nations engaging in war would thereby necessarily engage in a course prejudicial to us." The President also spoke on behalf of a stronger navy.

Protest
At Belgrade, Yugoslavia, one demonstrator was killed, and students and police were injured, when mounted guards attempted to break up fresh street demonstrations against the Treaty of Nettuno (signed on July 18, 1925 by the Italian and Yugoslav governments, regarding both nations' claims to Dalmatia and the Adriatic islands), following demonstrations during the weekend there and in Dalmatia.

Crime
Negroes at Slater, Missouri lynched one of their race who in a gambling game had slain a black fellow worker.

At Prague, Czechoslovakia, journalist and politician John Michalko was sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of the naturalized American girl Margit Voerdesmart of New York.

Disasters
In Pittsburgh, the National Elimination Balloon Race began with several casualties. Lieutenant Paul Evert of Langley Field, Virginia was killed when the Army 3 was struck by lightning. Walter Morton, aide on the Goodyear V, was found dead near Youngwood, Pennsylvania, having made a free jump from the balloon when it was believed also to have been struck by lightning.

Auto racing
Louis Meyer won the Indianapolis 500 for the first time, with an average speed of 99.482 miles per hour.



75 years ago
1933

Died on this date
Burley Byers, 55. U.S. baseball player. On June 17, 1899, Mr. Byers, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, played his only major league game as a shortstop with the Louisville Colonels. He went 0 for 3 at bat, and made 2 putouts, 1 assist, and 2 errors in the field.

Mark Billman, 28. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Billman died in hospital an hour after crashing on the 79th lap of the Indianapolis 500. His left arm was torn off, and both his legs were broken. It took rescue workers 20 minutes to get him out of the car. He placed 30th in the race.

Lester Spangler, 27. U.S. auto racing driver; Monk Jordan. U.S. auto mechanic. Mr. Spangler, the driver, and Mr. Jordan, his riding mechanic, were killed in a crash on the 132nd lap of the Indianapolis 500. Their car hit that driven by Malcolm Fox head-on at 100 miles per hour, ejecting Messrs. Spangler and Jordan. Mr. Spangler placed 26th in the race.

Auto racing
Louis Meyer won the Indianapolis 500 for the second time, with an average speed of 104.162 miles per hour, a record at the time.



Baseball
Dale Alexander of the Boston Red Sox suffered a career-shortening injury when he twisted his knee sliding into home in the second game of a doubleheader loss to the Philadelphia Athletics. The first baseman underwent a new therapy‚ diathermy‚ which led to third degree burns‚ gangrene and the near loss of his leg. The previous year’s batting champion hit just .281 in 1933, and left the major leagues with a career mark of .331. He continued his career in the minor leagues. The Athletics won 7-3 behind the relief pitching of Lefty Grove‚ then 11-8 in 12 innings‚ with Mr. Grove throwing scoreless 10th and 11th innings. Lloyd Brown went all the way for the Red Sox before tiring and walking 3 and giving up a pair of singles in the 12th.

Detroit outfielder John Stone became the first major leaguer to collect 6 long hits in a regulation length doubleheader‚ as he banged out 4 doubles and 2 home runs for the Tigers in a split with the St. Louis Browns. National Leaguers Chick Hafey and Mel Ott had collected 6 long hits‚ but their games ran more than regulation length. The Tigers took the opener‚ 8-6‚ then dropped the second game 3-1.

70 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Raden Sutomo, 49. Indonesian nationalist. Dr. Sutomo, a key founder of the nationalist movement Boedi Oetomo, espoused the radical idea that Islam detracted from nationalism. He became leader of the nationalists when Sukarno’s radical rhetoric led to his internment. Dr. Sutomo advocated a dual program of social welfare and political progress. Under his auspices, and despite police surveillance, his study clubs worked to increase literacy, and establish schools and cooperatives. In 1931, he established the Indonesian People’s Party (P.B.I.), a group looked upon with suspicion by the Dutch government. Four years later, the BO and the PBI merged to form Parindra with Dr. Sutomo as chairman.

Auto racing
Floyd Roberts started from the pole position and led 92 laps as he won the Indianapolis 500 with an average speed of 117.200 miles per hour, a record at the time. Defending champion Wilbur Shaw finished second.



Baseball
The largest crowd in Yankee Stadium history‚ 83‚533‚ saw Red Ruffing end Lefty Grove's 8-game winning streak in a 10-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox. 6,000 fans were turned away‚ and 511 were given refunds because there was no place to sit. The Yankees also took the second game of the doubleheader 5-4‚ in a game made famous for a fight between Yankees’ outfielder Jake Powell and Boston player-manager Joe Cronin. The brawl started when Boston pitcher Archie McKain hit Mr. Powell with a pitch in the stomach. Mr. Powell's charge to the mound was intercepted by Mr. Cronin and the two pummelled each other for 2-3 minutes. Mr. Cronin and Mr. Powell were ejected, but continued the fight in the area beneath the stands‚ until they were separated by Yankee players. Both players were fined and suspended for 10 days.

Rudy York hit his third grand slam of the month to help the Detroit Tigers beat the St. Louis Browns 10-9 in the first game of a Memorial Day doubleheader.

60 years ago
1948

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and Alfred Shirley, on MBS
Tonight’s episode: A Case of Identity

Disasters
A dike holding the Columbia River broke, causing a flood that destroyed Vanport, Oregon within minutes, only five years after the city was built. 15 people died and tens of thousands were left homeless.

50 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Who's Sorry Now--Connie Francis (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
Harbor Command, starring Wendell Corey
Tonight's episode: Lover's Lane Bandits

Died on this date
Pat O'Connor, 29. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. O'Connor drove in the Indianapolis 500 from 1954-1958, finishing 8th in 1955 and 1957. He started 5th in 1958, but was killed in a 15-car crash on the first lap.

War
Unidentified American soldiers killed in World War II and the Korean War were buried in a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Aviation
The Douglas DC-8 jet, a rival to the Boeing 707, made its maiden flight.

Auto racing
Jimmy Bryan won the Indianapolis 500, which was marred by the death of Pat O'Connor in a 15-car crash on the first lap.



Baseball
Chicago Cubs’ outfielder Walt Moryn hit 3 home runs in the seond game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field as the Cubs swept the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 and 10-8. Mr. Moryn hit an RBI double in game 1 in the 9th inning to tie‚ and then scored the winning run. In game 2, Moose hit back-to-back home runs with Ernie Banks in the 4th and Chuck Tanner in the 7th‚ and his 2-run homer in the 9th tagged Sandy Koufax with his first loss of the season.

40 years ago
1968

At the movies
Hasta el viento tiene miedo (Even the Wind is Afraid) (The Wind of Fear), written and directed by Carlos Enrique Taboada, and starring Marga Lopez, Maricruz Olivier, Alicia Bonet, Norma Lazareno, and Renata Seydel, opened in theatres in Mexico.



Died on this date
Charles "Chubby" Power, 80. Canadian politician. Mr. Power, from Quebec, had a Parliamentary career that ran 51 years. He sat in the House of Commons from 1917-1955, and in the Senate from 1955 until his death.

World events
French President Charles De Gaulle returned to Paris from his country home and, assured of Army support, dissolved the National Assembly. He blamed Communists for the chaos involving mass demonstrations, and called for new parliamentary elections for June 23 and 30.

Auto racing
Bobby Unser won the Indianapolis 500 for the first time, at an average speed of 169.507 miles per hour. The purse was $809,627. This was the second and last Indianapolis 500 in which the turbine engine was allowed; it was subsequently outlawed by rule changes. One of the drivers using a turbine engine, Joe Leonard, was leading the race with 9 laps to go, when a broken fuel pump ended his race. The same problem knocked the other turbine driver, Art Pollard, out at the same time.



Baseball
The New York Yankees and Washington Senators split a Memorial Day doubleheader‚ with the Yankees winning the first game 13-4‚ and the Senators the second game 6-2. In the first game‚ New York first baseman Mickey Mantle batted 5-for-5 with 2 home runs and 5 runs batted in; he sat out the second game. Mr. Mantle's last 5-for-5 game had been on May 24‚ 1956.

30 years ago
1978

Law
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in two separate cases that lawyers could not solicit cases for personal gain, but that they could do so when they represented non-profit organizations, or when they volunteered their services.

World events
U.S. President Jimmy Carter denounced Cuban and Soviet actions in Africa in his address to the two-day meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) heads of government in Washington. Cuba continued to deny charges that Cuban forces had been involved in the recent rebel invasion of the Zairian province of Shaba. The Zairian Red Cross reported that 720 people, including 132 foreigners, had been killed in fighting between Zairian troops and secessionist guerrillas in the town of Kolwezi in Shaba earlier in the month. There were an estimated 40,000 Cuban soldiers and advisers in Africa, mainly in Angola and Ethiopia.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Washington 120 @ Seattle 116 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Charles Johnson scored 3 quick field goals in overtime to help the Bullets defeat the SuperSonics before a playoff record 39,457 fans at the Kingdome. Seattle guard Dennis Johnson led all scorers with 33 points.



Baseball
In his first major league start for the St. Louis Cardinals‚ Silvio Martinez hurled a 1-hit 8-2 victory over the New York Mets. Steve Henderson homered in the 7th inning for the lone New York hit.

25 years ago
1983

Died on this date
Alfred Gruenther, 84. U.S. general. General Gruenther was the youngest Major General in World War II and later served as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe from 1953-1956.

Diplomacy
In the final statement of the Williamsburg summit, the leaders pledged to further the economic recovery by resisting protectionism and by encouraging development of new technologies. High interest rates and budget deficits in the United States were criticized by the other leaders as major factors in the economic difficulties. The leaders supported an increase in the resources of the International Monetary Fund to help developing countries deal with their mounting debts. The nations represented at the summit were the United States, Canada, Britain, Japan, Italy, France, and West Germany.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): The Flame--Cheap Trick

Died on this date
Ella Raines, 67. U.S. actress. Among Miss Raines’ movies were The Suspect (1944); Hail the Conquering Hero (1944); Phantom Lady (1944); Brute Force (1947); and Impact (1949).

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan and U.S.S.R. leader Mikhail Gorbachev continued their summit in Moscow. Mr. Gorbachev proposed that the size of the NATO and Warsaw Pact forces be gradually reduced to about 500,000 on each side, or an approximate 50% cut. Progress was reported after the meeting on reducing long-range nuclear weapons. In a speech at a monastery and at a meeting with Soviet dissidents, President Reagan returned to the theme of human rights. The Reagans were guests of the Gorbachevs at a state dinner that evening.

World events
France’s Defense Minister said that several commandos who had rescued 23 French hostages from Melanesian separatist guerrillas on the island of New Caledonia on May 5 had committed "acts contrary to military duty."

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Finals
Boston 79 @ Detroit 78 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

10 years ago
1998

Defense
Pakistan conducted an underground test in the Kharan Desert; it was reported to be a plutonium device with yield of 20 kiloton TNT equivalent.

Disasters
A 6.5 Mw earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, killing at least 4,000 people, destroying more than 30 villages, and leaving 45,000 people homeless in the Afghan provinces of Takhar and Badakhshan.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference
Finals
Washington 2 @ Buffalo 0 (Washington led best-of-seven series 3-1)