September 16, 2008

Born on this date
Happy birthday, Cheryl Eli!

120 years ago
1888

Born on this date
Frans Eemil Sillanpää. Finnish author. Mr. Sillanpää was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1939 "for his deep understanding of his country's peasantry and the exquisite art with which he has portrayed their way of life and their relationship with Nature." His best-known novel was Nuorena nukkunut (The Maid Silja/Fallen Asleep While Young) (1931). Mr. Sillanpää died on June 3, 1964 at the age of 75.

W. O. Bentley. U.K. engineer. Walter Owen Bentley raced cars and motorcycles in his youth, and designed aircraft and automobile engines, but was best known for the automotive firm Bentley Motors Limited, which he founded in 1919. He sold the firm to Rolls-Royce Limited in 1931, and was later employed as a designer for Lagonda, Aston Martin, and Armstrong Siddeley. Mr. Bentley died on August 13, 1971 at the age of 82.

100 years ago
1908

Business
General Motors was formed in Flint, Michigan by William Durant.

90 years ago
1918

Exploration
Vilhjalmur Stefansson returned to Vancouver, British Columbia from his Canadian Arctic Expedition, begun in 1913.

80 years ago
1928

Died on this date
Walk Miller. U.S. boxing manager. Mr. Miller was shot to death and had his skull fractured at his health camp near Eddyville, New York.

75 years ago
1933

Died on this date
George Gore, 76. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Gore, nicknamed "Piano Legs," was an outfielder for 14 seasons in the major leagues, 13 of which were spent in the National League with the Chicago White Stockings (1879-1886); New York Giants (1887-1889, 1891-1892) and the St. Louis Browns (1892). He played with the New York Giants of the Players League in 1890. Mr. Gore batted .301 with 46 home runs and 618 runs batted in in 1,310 games. He led the NL in 1880 with a batting average of .360 and a slugging average of .463, and led the league in runs in 1881 and 1882. He made 368 errors in his major league career, 346 in the National League--records that still stand. As was the case with many other players of his time, Mr. Gore's career and life were undone by drink and women.

70 years ago
1948

War
An Arab-Jewish artillery duel broke out in Jerusalem after several days of intermittent small arms and mortar exchange. United Nations mediator Folke Bernadotte left Rhodes for Jerusalem in an attempt to preserve the city's cease-fire.

The U.S. Army's Judge Advocate General's Department reduced the life prison sentence for war crimes of Ilse Koch, wife of a Buchenwald concentration camp commandant, to four years, because of a lack of proof of atrocities committed during World War II. The ruling prompted widespread protest in Germany and the United States.

Labour
The U.S. Army hired longshoremen to load military vessels during the current West Coast dock strike, bringing charges of strikebreaking from the International Longshoremen and Warehousemen's Union.

Disasters
79 seamen were rescued from three foundering vessels in a North Atlantic hurricane.

60 years ago
1958

On television tonight
Colgate Theatre, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Fountain of Youth, starring Dan Tobin, Rick Jason, and Joi Lansing

This was written and directed by Orson Welles, and was a pilot for a proposed anthology series that was never made. It won the Peabody Award for 1958.



Diplomacy
Lebanese Foreign Minister Charles Malik was elected president of the United Nations General Assembly as it opened its 13th annual session in New York.

Jamaican Chief Minister Norman Manley, concluding a 10-day visit to the United Kingdom, said that he would advise West Indians not to emigrate to Britain unless there were greater job opportunities.

Defense
Official sources in Rabat disclosed that the United States had agreed in principle to withdraw her forces from five Moroccan bases, but wanted to delay the evacuation for at least seven years.

Economics and finance
Bolivian President Hernan Siles Zuazo said that emergency help was needed to prevent the economic collapse of his country, charging that the dumping of Soviet tin had deprived Bolivia of most of its dollar income.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): The Sounds of Silence--Simon & Garfunkel (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Delilah--Tom Jones (15th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 1,2,3, Red Light--1910 Fruitgum Company
2 You Keep Me Hangin' On--The Vanilla Fudge
3 Harper Valley P.T.A.--Jeannie C. Riley
4 Light My Fire--Jose Feliciano
5 Hush--Deep Purple
6 Born to Be Wild--Steppenwolf
7 I've Gotta Get a Message to You--The Bee Gees
8 Magic Bus--The Who
9 The Fool on the Hill--Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
10 Baby, Come Back--The Equals

Singles entering the chart were Street Fighting Man by the Rolling Stones (#60); Bang-Shang-A-Lang by the Archies (#62); Per-So-Nal-Ly by Bobby Paris (#69); All Along the Watchtower by the Jimi Hendrix Experience (#72); Over You by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (#78); I Met Her in Church by the Box Tops (#79); Down on Me by Big Brother and the Holding Company (#81); Tomboy by Ronnie Dove (#83); Fly Me to the Moon by Bobby Womack (#84); Visions of Vanessa by the Witness, Inc. (#85); You Got the Love by Professor Morrison's Lollipop (#86); Listen Here by Eddie Harris (#87); Girl from the North Country by Tom Northcott (#90); Didn't Know the Time by the Staccatos (#93); Down Here on the Ground by Lou Rawls (#94); Ice in the Sun by the Status Quo (#95); Alfie by Eivets Rednow (#96); Don't Change Your Love by the Five Stairsteps and Cubie (#97); The Mule by the James Boys (#98); Fool for You by the Impressions (#99); and Since You've Been Gone by Ramsey Lewis (#100).

On television tonight
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Peter Cushing and Nigel Stock, on BBC 1
Tonight's episode: The Dancing Men

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, on NBC

Former U.S. Vice President and current Republican Party U.S. presidential candidate Richard Nixon made the most famous cameo appearance in the history of the program.



Died on this date
Henry Bostick, 73. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Bostick, born Henry Lipschitz, played 2 games at third base with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1915, batting 0 for 7 with 1 bases on balls and 2 runs batted in, making 2 assists in the field. He played 95 game with the Topeka Jayhawks of the Class A Western League that year, batting .224 with no home runs.

War
Nigerian forces claimed the Biafran city of Owerri in what the army described as its "final offensive" against the secessionist state.

Communications
A two-tier postal service, with different rates for first class and second class, went into effect in the United Kingdom.

Labour
Joe Cronin, President of Major League Baseball's American League, fired umpires Al Salerno and Bill Valentine, effective immediately. Mr. Cronin claimed the two were poor umpires, but they claimed that they were being fired for trying to form a union of AL umpires, who were more poorly paid than their counterparts in the National League. Mr. Salerno had been at second base, and Mr. Valentine at third base for the previous day's game in Cleveland between the Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles. Mr. Salerno worked in 1,110 games in the American League from 1961-1968, while Mr. Valentine worked in 947 games from 1963-1968. Former major league pitcher Bill Kunkel and current basketball referee Jake O'Donnell were called up from the minor leagues to replace them.

Disasters
28 soldiers were killed when their truck plunged over a cliff into the Kali River in northern Uttar Pradesh, India.

Boxing
Buster Mathis (27-1) won a 10-round unanimous decision over Dick Wipperman (32-14-1) in a heavyweight bout at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

Football
CIAU
Pre-season
Alberta (2-0) 32 @ Waterloo 12

Dan McCaffery returned an interception 42 yards to set up a field goal while playing defensive back in the 1st half, and then rushed for 2 touchdowns while playing quarterback in the 2nd half to help the Golden Bears beat the Warriors before 8,500 fans at Waterloo Stadium. Ludwig Daubner rushed 9 times for 82 yards, including a 1-yard run for a touchdown to open he scoring. After Dave Benbow's 10-yard field goal made the score 10-0 in the 2nd quarter, Hart Cantelon returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown, and Mr. McCaffery rushed for a 2-point convert to give Alberta an 18-0 halftime lead. The Warriors scored 2 unconverted touchdowns late in the game. Unlimited blocking on punt returns and the 2-point converts were new practices adopted in Canadian university football in 1968.

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Tu--Umberto Tozzi (12th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Three Times a Lady--Commodores (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Three Times a Lady--Commodores (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Boogie Oogie Oogie--A Taste of Honey (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 You're the Greatest Lover--Luv' (3rd week at #1)
2 Follow Me--Amanda Lear
3 You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
4 The Eve of the War--Jeff Wayne
5 Lay Love on You--Luisa Fernandez
6 Grease--Frankie Valli
7 Three Times a Lady--Commodores
8 I'm Gonna Love You Too--Blondie
9 Rasputin/Painter Man--Boney M.
10 Dancing in the City--Marshall, Hain

Singles entering the chart were Summer Night City by ABBA (#17); Don't Look Back by Boston (#19); Hopelessly Devoted to You by Olivia Newton-John (#21); Dreadlock Holiday by 10cc (#29); and It's Raining by the Darts (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Boogie Oogie Oogie--A Taste of Honey
2 Kiss You All Over--Exile
3 Three Times a Lady--Commodores
4 Hopelessly Devoted to You--Olivia Newton-John
5 An Everlasting Love--Andy Gibb
6 Hot Blooded--Foreigner
7 Grease--Frankie Valli
8 Summer Nights--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
9 Don't Look Back--Boston
10 Fool (If You Think it's Over)--Chris Rea

Singles entering the chart were Straight On by Heart (#78); Sharing the Night Together by Dr. Hook (#81); Change of Heart by Eric Carmen (#86); One Nation Under a Groove (Part 1) by Funkadelic (#89); and Got to Have Loving by Don Ray (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Three Times a Lady--Commodores (4th week at #1)
2 Grease--Frankie Valli
3 Hot Blooded--Foreigner
4 An Everlasting Love--Andy Gibb
5 Hopelessly Devoted to You--Olivia Newton-John
6 Boogie Oogie Oogie--A Taste of Honey
7 You Needed Me--Anne Murray
8 Hot Child in the City--Nick Gilder
9 Miss You--The Rolling Stones
10 Love Will Find a Way--Pablo Cruise

Singles entering the chart were Badlands by Bruce Springsteen (#90); Blame it on the Boogie by Mick Jackson (#95); Themes from the Wizard of Oz by Meco (#96); Lights by Journey (#97); Ease on Down the Road by Diana Ross and Michael Jackson (#99); and Peggy Sue by the Beach Boys (#100).

War
The Nicaraguan National Guard announced that it had retaken the city of Leon from Sandanista Liberation Front guerrillas.

Disasters
An earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck Iran, killing as many as 15,000 people. Almost all the buildings in the town of Tabas, southeast of Tehran, crumbled to rubble in 90 seconds, burying alive 70% of the town's 12,000 people.

Football
CFL
Toronto (3-7) 14 @ Winnipeg (6-4) 19

The Blue Bombers held on to defeat the Argonauts at Winnipeg Stadium. The loss was the sixth in a row for the Argonauts, who dropped to 3-7 on the season. It was the first game as head coach of the Argonauts for Bud Riley, who had replaced the fired Leo Cahill six days earlier. Mr. Riley had been head coach of the Blue Bombers for four seasons before being fired after the 1977 season.

CIAU
Mount Allison (1-0) 13 St. Francis Xavier (0-1) 8
Acadia (1-0) 42 New Brunswick (0-1) 0
St. Mary's (1-0) 23 Prince Edward Island (0-1) 14
McGill (2-0) 53 Concordia (0-2) 0
Quebec @ Trois Rivieres (0-2) 7 @ Queen's (1-0) 46
York (1-1) 17 McMaster (0-2) 16
Waterloo (1-1) 34 Guelph (0-2) 7
Western Ontario (2-0) 28 Windsor (1-1) 21
Bishop's (1-1) 24 Ottawa (1-1) 16
Manitoba (0-3) 3 @ British Columbia (2-1) 59

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Life Begins at Forty--Dave and the Dynamos (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Sunshine Reggae--Laid Back (2nd week at #1)

War
U.S. naval vessels off the coast of Lebanon began to bombard anti-government positions inside Syrian-controlled territory, an attack in support of Lebanese forces.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (6-4) 19 @ Calgary (5-4) 14

Willard Reaves rushed 3 yards for a touchdown just 1:53 into the game and Trevor Kennerd converted and added 4 field goals as the Blue Bombers defeated the Stampeders before 26,198 fans at McMahon Stadium. The touchdown was set up when Paul Bennett intercepted a pass by Calgary quarterback Bernard Quarles and returned it 58 yards to the Calgary 11-yard line. Norman Gibbs and Nickie Hall shared the quartebacking for the Blue Bombers; it was the only starting assignment of Mr. Gibbs' CFL career. Mr. Gibbs completed just 3 of 10 passes for 38 passes, while Mr. Hall completed just 6 of 17 passes for 116 yards. Safety Darrell Moir scored the Stampeders' only touchdown on a 29-yard interception return in the 2nd quarter.



20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Girl You Know It's True--Milli Vanilli (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Bob Trice, 62. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Trice played with the Philadelphia and Kansas City Athletics (1953-1955), becoming the first Negro player in the team's history. He compiled a record of 9-9 with an earned run average of 5.80 in 26 games, batting .288 with a home run and 6 runs batted in in 27 games. Mr. Trice played in the Negro National League before being signed by the Athletics. He was 16-3 with the St. Hyacinthe Athletics of the Class C Provincial League in 1952, and 21-10 with the Ottawa Athletics of the AAA International League in 1953. Mr. Trice played with the Mexico City Reds of the Mexican League after his major league career ended.

Politics and government
Noting that 1988 Democratic Party U.S. presidential nominee Michael Dukakis had been photographed riding in a tank, U.S. Vice-President and Republican Party presidential candidate George Bush commented that Mr. Dukakis "cannot fool" voters by "knocking American defense for 10 years and then riding around in a tank for 10 minutes."

Olympics
The Games of the XXIV Olympiad officially opened in Seoul, South Korea.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (7-4) 36 @ British Columbia (5-6) 32



Baseball
Tom Browning pitched a perfect game for the Cincinnati Reds as they edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 before 16,591 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. It was the first perfect game in the major leagues since Mike Witt of the California Angels threw one against the Texas Rangers on September 30, 1984. Losing pitcher Tim Belcher pitched a 3-hit complete game. The only run scored with 2 out in the bottom of the 6th inning when Barry Larkin doubled, Chris Sabo hit an infield single, and Mr. Larkin scored on an error by Los Angeles third baseman Jeff Hamilton.



Gregg Jefferies singled home Keith Miller with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the New York Mets a 4-3 win over the Montreal Expos before 43,331 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Mr. Miller had led off the inning as a pinch hitter by reaching first base on an error by Montreal shortstop Luis Rivera.

The San Francisco Giants scored all their runs in the 6th inning as they defeated the Houston Astros 5-4 before 14,344 fans at the Astrodome.

Jose DeLeon and Todd Worrell combined to pitch a 6-hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals as they shut out the Chicago Cubs 3-0 before 15,771 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Kelly Gruber doubled home Pat Borders with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Toronto Blue Jays a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Indians before 30,276 fans at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Cleveland center fielder Joe Carter batted 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, a triple, and a run batted in.

The Boston Red Sox scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning and 5 in the 5th as they beat the New York Yankees 7-4 before 35,226 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

Luis Salazar, whose 2 errors had contributed to a go-ahead run by the Baltimore Orioles in the top pf the 9th inning, led off the bottom of the 9th with a single and then had to endure an 18-minute rain delay before Fred Lynn came to bat and hit a 2-run home run to give the Detroit Tigers an 8-7 win over the Orioles before 21,001 fans at Tiger Stadium.

Mark Gubicza pitched a 2-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Bob Welch as the Kansas City Royals blanked the Oakland Athletics 3-0 before 33,881 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mr. Welch allowed just 4 hits in pitching a complete game, but they included a 2-run double by Kevin Seitzer in the 8th inning to open the scoring, and a home run by Danny Tartabull in the 9th.

10 years ago
1998

Hockey
New members of the International Hockey Hall of Fame were announced: players Michel Goulet, Peter Stastny, and Roy Conacher; builder Monsignor Athol Murray; and media members Howie Meeker and Yvon Pedneault.