October 16, 2008

130 years ago
1878

Politics and government
Robert Davis resigned as Premier of Manitoba after almost four years in office; he was succeeded by John Norquay.

120 years ago
1888

Baseball
World Series
St. Louis Browns 1 @ New York Giants 2 (New York led best-of-ten series 1-0)

Tim Keefe pitched a 3-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Silver King, who also gave up just 3 hits, before 4,876 fans at the Polo Grounds The Giants scored a run in the bottom of the 2nd inning, the Browns replied with a run in the top of the 3rd, and the Giants scored the winning run in the bottom of the 3rd. The American Association champion Browns made 5 errors, while the National League champion Giants made 4.

110 years ago
1898

Born on this date
William O. Douglas. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1939-1975. Justice Douglas was chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission from 1937-1939 and was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He served the longest term in that court’s history, making his mark as an advocate of civil liberties. Perhaps his best-known ruling was in Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), where he invented a so-called "right to privacy." Mr. Douglas appears to have been an earlier version of Bill Clinton: an inveterate womanizer who survived impeachment attempts, and whose life story was largely fabricated--with the added feature of being a heavy drinker. For more on this slimy individual, go here.

100 years ago
1908

Football
The Edmonton Rugby Foot-ball Club reorganized as the Edmonton Esquimaux (later Edmonton Eskimos).

80 years ago
1928

Politics and government
Franklin D. Roosevelt accepted the Democratic Party nomination for Governor of New York.

Religion
In Washington, a recommendation that the Episcopal Church incorporate in the Book of Common Prayer a special service for Independence Day was adopted in the House of Bishops by a margin of one vote, a week after being accepted by the House of Deputies without debate.

Disasters
70 people drowned in a collision near Taku between two coasting steamers of the China Merchant Steam Navigation Company.

70 years ago
1938

Ballet
Aaron Copland's Billy the Kid received its premiere performance at the Civic Opera House in Chicago.

60 years ago
1948

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): A Tree in the Meadow--Margaret Whiting (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 A Tree in the Meadow--Margaret Whiting (4th week at #1)
2 It's Magic--Doris Day
--Dick Haymes and Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
--Tony Martin
--Gordon MacRae
3 Twelfth Street Rag--Pee Wee Hunt and his Orchestra
4 You Call Everybody Darlin'--Al Trace and the Revelers
--The Andrews Sisters
--Jack Smith and the Clark Sisters
--Anne Vincent
5 My Happiness--The Pied Pipers
--Ella Fitzgerald
--Jon and Sondra Steele
6 Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue--Gordon MacRae and the Starlighters
--Jerry Murad's Harmonicats
--Jack Emerson
7 Cool Water--Vaughn Monroe and the Sons of the Pioneers
8 Maybe You'll Be There--Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
9 Love Somebody--Doris Day and Buddy Clark
10 Until--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were Say Something Sweet to Your Sweetheart by Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae with the Starlighters (#22); It's a Most Unusual Day, with versions by Ray Noble and his Orchestra; and Vera Lynn (#24); On a Slow Boat to China by the Kay Kyser Orchestra (#28); Cuanto la Gusta by Carmen Miranda and the Andrews Sisters (#32); and Ah But it Happens by Frankie Laine (#33). Say Something Sweet to Your Sweetheart was the B-side of Blue Bird of Happiness by Miss Stafford and Mr. MacRae, charting at #15 with the version by Art Mooney and his Orchestra.

War
Israeli-Egyptian clashes over Jewish road communications in the Negev desert flared into open fighting, in violation of the United Nations-supervised cease-fires.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman ordered an increase in the strength of U.S. military reserves.

Politics and government
The Philippine Justice Department outlawed the Communist Party.

The Finnish government eliminated the political police established by former Interior Minister Yrjo Leino.

Economics and finance
France announced a partial devaluation of the franc, setting dollar exchange rates at the median between the fixed official rate (214 francs per U.S. dollar) and the free market rate (313 francs per U.S. dollar).

Labour
The Canadian Labour Congress concluded a six-day convention in Toronto by re-electing anti-Communist A.R. Mosher as President.

Horse racing
Citation won the International Gold Cup at Belmont Park, New York.

Football
IRFU
Toronto (4-4-1) 6 @ Ottawa (7-1) 41

WIFU
Calgary (10-0) 8 @ Saskatchewan (2-8) 7

Chick Chikowsky scored a touchdown for the Stampeders, converted by Fred Wilmot, while Keith Spaith punted for 2 singles as they edged the Roughriders at Taylor Field in Regina. Sully Glasser scored the Saskatchewan touchdown, with Gabe Patterson adding a convert and a single.

50 years ago
1958

Died on this date
Robert Redfield, 60. U.S. anthropologist. Dr. Redfield was an expert in Latin American ethnography who taught at the University of Chicago from 1927 until his death. He increasingly adopted an interdisciplinary approach to his work in books such as The Little Community (1956).

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. launched a "strong protest" against alleged violations of Soviet Far Eastern territory by U.S. aircraft.

French Prime Minister Charles de Gaulle informed Guinean Prime Minister Sekou Toure that France would delay her recognition of Guinea until the new government had demonstrated its ability to rule.

Defense
U.K. First Sea Lord Mountbatten, visting the U.S.A. for talks with Admiral Arleigh Burke, disclosed British plans to launch a nuclear-powered submarine by 1961 and to form a permanent Far Eastern carrier force stationed at Singapore.

Scandal
Sponsors dropped the NBC television quiz show Twenty-One, which was under grand jury investigation for prearrangement of contest results. Dotto had been abruptly cancelled two months earlier, beginning the quiz show scandals.

Baseball
Nippon Series
Yomiuri Giants 4 @ Nishitetsu Lions 6 (Yomiuri led best-of-seven series 3-1)

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin (4th week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Hey Jude/Revolution--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)
2 Harper Valley P.T.A.--Jeannie C. Riley
3 Help Yourself--Tom Jones
4 I've Gotta Get a Message to You/Kitty Can--The Bee Gees
5 Do it Again--The Beach Boys
6 Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin
7 Dream a Little Dream of Me--Mama Cass
8 Classical Gas--Mason Williams
9 1,2,3, Red Light--1910 Fruitgum Company
10 Street Fighting Man/No Expectations--The Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were Those were the Days/Make it Go by Sandie Shaw (#33); The Lion Sleeps Tonight by the Love Machine (#36); and Mothers and Fathers by Jonne Sands (#39).

At the movies
The Boston Strangler, directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, and George Kennedy, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
Ellis Kinder, 54. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Kinder played with the St. Louis Browns (1946-1947); Boston Red Sox (1948-1955); St. Louis Cardinals (1956); and Chicago White Sox (1956-1957), compiling a record of 102-71 with 102 saves and an earned run average of 3.43. His best season was 1949, when he was 23-6 with 6 shutouts. He moved to the bullpen in 1951 and was the best relief pitcher in the American League for the next four years. Mr. Kinder, a heavy drinker, died after undergoing open-heart surgery.

Defense
Soviet Premier Aleksei Kosygin and other Soviet officials signed in Prague a treaty giving the U.S.S.R. the right to station troops in Czechoslovakia "temporarily."

Politics and government
Alderman Ivor Dent was elected Mayor of Edmonton in the municipal election, finishing more than 7,000 votes ahead of opponents Reg Easton and Les Bodie.

Protest
Kingston, Jamaica was rocked by the beginning of the Rodney riots, the day after the Jamaican government's decision to bar university lecturer and Black Power activist Walter Rodney from returning from a conference in Montreal to his teaching position at the University of the West Indies.

U.S. runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave the Black Power salute during the medal ceremony following the men's 200-metre run at the Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City (see also here). Mr. Smith had won the gold medal and Mr. Carlos the bronze.

Hockey
NHL
Jim Dorey made his first National Hockey League game a memorable one. The Toronto Maple Leafs' defenceman set NHL records for penalties and penalty minutes for both a single game and a period in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Maple Leaf Gardens. After picking up 4 minutes in penalties on 2 minors in the first period, Mr. Dorey amassed 44 penalty minutes in the second period, on 7 penalties: 2 minors, 2 majors, 2 10-minute misconducts, and a game misconduct. His NHL records have since been erased, but they still stand as team records.

Baseball
Nippon Series
Yomiuri Giants 9 @ Hankyu Braves 4 (Yomiuri led best-of-seven series 2-1)

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Are You Old Enough--Dragon (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Tomei Ningen--Pink Lady (2nd week at #1)

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

Died on this date
Dan Dailey, 62. U.S. actor. Mr. Dailey was known for his appearances in musical films such as Mother Wore Tights (1947); When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948); and There's No Business Like Show Business (1954). He died from complications following hip replacement surgery.

Religion
Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, Archbishop of Krakow, was named to succeed Pope John Paul I, who had died on September 28 after just 33 days in office. The new pope, who took the name John Paul II, became the first non-Italian pope since the death of Adrian VI in 1523.

Politics and government
The Progressive Conservatives won 9 of 15 seats in by-elections for the Canadian House of Commons. The governing Liberals of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau lost 5 seats. In the Manitoba riding of St. Boniface, PC candidate Jack Hare was elected, while Lorne Reznowski, who had been elected leader of the federal Social Credit Party five months earlier, finished fourth with only 1,204 votes (2.76%), leading to his resignation as party leader four months later.

Hockey
WHA
Indianapolis 4 @ Quebec 0

Wayne Gretzky, in his third game as a member of the Indianapolis Racers, scored his first professional point, assisting on a goal by Rich Leduc as the Racers shut out the Nordiques at Le Colisee.

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: I'm Still Standing--Elton John

On the radio
The Stories of Sherlock Holmes, starring Graham Armitage and Kerry Jordan, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: Fog Over London

Died on this date
George Liberace, 72. U.S. musician. Mr. Liberace, the elder brother of pianist Lee Liberace, served on his brother's television program in the 1950s as violin accompanist and orchestral arranger; the partnership ended after the commercial and critical failure of the movie Sincerely Yours (1955). George Liberace was a restaurateur, music publisher, and television station manager in later years, and died of leukemia.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (8-6) 23 @ Ottawa (7-6) 42
British Columbia (9-4) 16 @ Calgary (7-6) 25

The Rough Riders scored 3 touchdowns in the 2nd quarter to take a 27-1 halftime lead as they beat the Blue Bombers before 25,642 fans at Lansdowne Park. Rookie Mariet Ford scored the first touchdown when Dave Newman faked as if to field a punt, only to have Mr. Ford take the ball at his own 9-yard line and return it 101 yards for the score. Ottawa quarterback J.C. Watts rushed 1 yard for a TD and handed off to Skip Walker for an 8-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds remaining in the 1st half. Mr. Watts rushed 5 yards for a touchdown and threw a 21-yard TD pass to Pat Stoqua in the 3rd quarter. John Hufnagel started at quarterback for Winnipeg and completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Boyd in the 3rd quarter. Backup QB Norman Gibbs rushed 1 yard for a Winnipeg touchdown in the 4th quarter and passed to Willard Reaves for a 2-point convert, and handed off to Mr. Reaves for a 4-yard TD with 1:30 remaining in the game. Mr. Watts completed 12 of 23 passes for 295 yards, while Messrs. Hufnagel and Gibbs completed 22 of 40 passes for 334 yards. Mr. Walker rushed 16 times for 78 yards, while Mr. Reaves rushed 10 times for 41 yards. Ottawa fullback Jim Reid gained 100 yards on just 2 pass receptions; Joe Poplawski led Winnipeg receivers with 4 receptions for 91 yards.

The Calgary defense made 3 interceptions, recovered 2 B.C. fumbles, and held the Lions without an offensive touchdown as the Stampeders won before 24,013 fans at McMahon Stadium. Calgary safety Darrell Moir made the game's first interception, returning the ball 54 yards to set up an 8-yard touchdown pass to Mike Levenseller 4:40 into the game. B.C. defensive back Melvin Byrd scored the Lions' only touchdown later in the quarter on a 106-yard interception return. Calgary cornerback Ray Odums put the game away with a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown with 54 seconds remaining in the game. J.T. Hay converted both Calgary touchdowns and added 2 field goals and a single, while Mike McTague punted for wind-aided singles of 70 and 78 yards, and the Stampeders added a safety touch. Lui Passaglia kicked 3 field goals and a convert for B.C.

Baseball
World Series
Baltimore Orioles 5 @ Philadelphia Phillies 0 (Baltimore won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Scott McGregor pitched a 5-hitter for the shutout, while Eddie Murray hit 2 home runs and batted in 3 runs, and Rick Dempsey homered, doubled, and scored 2 runs before 67,064 fans at Veterans Stadium in the last World Series game to be played in the afternoon. The Orioles scored all their runs from the 2nd through the 5th innings. Charlie Hudson, who was removed after yielding Mr. Dempsey's double to lead off the top of the 5th, gave up 4 hits and 5 runs--all earned--in absorbing his second loss of the series. Mr. Dempsey was named the series' Most Valuable Player. The atttendance was the largest at a World Series game since 1964. Baltimore pitcher Jim Palmer achieved the distinction of being a member of all three Orioles' World Series championship teams: 1966, 1970, and 1983.



20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Desire--U2

#1 single in Switzerland: Hand in Hand--Koreana (5th week at #1)

On television tonight
Glory Enough for All: Part I, on CBC

This two-part made-for-television movie about the discovery of insulin was directed by Eric Till and starred R.H. Thomson as Frederick Banting and Robert Wisden as Charles Best.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (9-6) 35 @ Hamilton (7-8) 29
British Columbia (7-8) 25 @ Saskatchewan (10-5) 28
Edmonton (10-5) 32 @ Calgary (5-10) 29

Sean Salisbury completed 21 of 33 passes for 426 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead the Blue Bombers over the Tiger-Cats before 14,106 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

Tom Burgess passed for 349 yards and 2 touchdowns, with the second, for 21 yards to Ray McDonald late in the game, enabling the Roughriders to defeat the Lions before 27,649 fans at Taylor Field in Regina, clinching a playoff spot for Saskatchewan for the first time in 12 years.

The Eskimos trailed the Stampeders 28-17 in the 4th quarter before 29,430 fans at McMahon Stadium when quarterback Damon Allen led them to 2 late touchdowns, scoring the winning TD on a 1-yard rush with 47 seconds remaining, as the Eskimos snapped a 2-game losing streak.

Baseball
World Series
Oakland Athletics 0 @ Los Angeles Dodgers 6 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Orel Hershiser pitched a 3-hit shutout and made 3 hits of his own, scoring a run in the 3rd inning and doubling in a run in the 4th, before 56,051 fans at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers scored 5 runs in the 3rd inning, 3 on a home run by Mike Marshall. Storm Davis started on the mound for Oakland and gave up 8 hits and 6 runs--all earned--in 3 1/3 innings. Oakland left fielder Dave Parker had 3 singles in 4 at bats, the only hits off Mr. Hershiser. Mr. Hershiser became the first pitcher since Art Nehf of the New York Giants in 1924 to make 3 hits in a World Series game.



10 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Milo Savage, 74. U.S. boxer. Mr. Savage, born George Jethro Ware, was a middleweight who compiled a record of 50-46-3 in a professional career from 1945-1963, with one final fight in 1970. He was ranked as high as #2 among contenders for the world middleweight title in the 1950s, and lost a pair of decisions to former world champion Gene Fullmer in 1958 and 1959.

Diplomacy
David Trimble and John Hume were named recipients of the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize for brokering the Northern Ireland peace accord.

World events
Former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet was arrested in London on a warrant from Spain requesting his extradition on murder charges.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (11-4-1) 34 @ Saskatchewan (5-11) 31

Paul Osbaldiston's fourth field goal of the game, a 31-yard kick on the last play of regulation time, gave the Tiger-Cats their win over the Roughriders before 21,893 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. The Tiger-Cats had tied the game with 9:43 remaining on an 8-yard touchdown rush by Ronald Williams, converted by Mr. Osbaldiston.