Saturday 27 December 2008

September 28, 2008

770 years ago
1238


War
Valencia, Spain, then under Muslim control, surrendered to the besieging King James I of Aragon, who shortly thereafter proclaimed himself King of Valencia.

470 years ago
1538


War
In the Ottoman–Venetian War, the Ottoman Navy scored a decisive victory over a Holy League fleet in the Battle of Preveza in northwestern Greece.

140 years ago
1868


War
Revolutionary forces led by General Francisco Serrano y Domínguez defeated Spanish government forces commanded by General Manuel Pavía in the Battle of Alcolea, forcing Queen Isabella II to leave Spain for exile in France.

90 years ago
1918


Died on this date
Freddie Stowers, 22
. U.S. soldier. Corporal Stowers, a Negro, was killed in a U.S. Army unit serving under French command in France, while leading a charge against a German machine gun nest. He wasn't decorated at the time, but an investigation led to Cpl. Stowers being awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor in 1991.

War
The Fifth Battle of Ypres began in northern France and southern Belgium. Milton F. Gregg of Mountain Dale, New Brunswick earned the Victoria Cross near Cambrai, France. Although wounded twice, he led his men against enemy trenches, personally capturing 12 machine-gun nests. In spite of his wounds he led a third attack on October 1.

80 years ago
1928


Married on this date
Prince Yasuhito Chichibu
, brother of Japanese Emperor Hirohito and heir presumptive to the throne, married Setsuko Matsudaira, daughter of the former Japanese Ambassador to the United States, in a ceremony at 10 A.M. Tokyo time.

Medicine
Alexander Fleming noticed a bacteria-killing mold growing in his laboratory in the basement of St Mary's Hospital in London, discovering what later became known as penicillin.

Defense
The Franco-British accord on naval limitation was rejected by the United States as a basis for discussion of limitation in identical notes delivered to the Foreign Offices in London and Paris.

Politics and government
The New York Republican State Convention opened in Syracuse. The Convention nominated Attorney General Albert Ottinger for Governor; U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom A.B. Houghton for U.S. Senator; and a full ticket.

Crime
In Philadelphia, Judge Kirkpatrick sentenced bootlegger Joel Kerper to 15 months in the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta and a $20,000 fine. Judge Kirkpatrick also ordered Mr. Kerper's $50,000 stock of liquors destroyed, his his new automobile forfeited to the government, and his property on Walnut Street temporarily padlocked. Mr. Kerper filled orders for alcoholic beverages supposedly dating from before the passage of the Volstead Act for socially prominent clients in eastern U.S. cities and their summer homes.

Religion
The Sacred Synod of Bishops of the Church of England agreed to use the revised prayer book, thus setting Parliament at defiance. The official announcement stated that "during the present emergency and until further order be taken," the bishops could not regard the use of the new prayer book as inconsistent "with loyalty to the principles of the Church of England."

Labour
Stevedore strikes in South Australia, with bombings, had caused the government to recruit volunteer constables armed with rifles at Port Adelaide and Melbourne.

70 years ago
1938


Died on this date
Bill Rollinson, 82
. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Rollinson, born William Winslow, was a catcher who played 1 game with the Washington Nationals of the Union Association in 1884, batting 0 for 3. He played a few games in each of several other independent leagues from 1879-1885.

Charles Duryea, 76. U.S. automobile executive. Mr. Duryea was the engineer of the first American gasoline-powered car that worked, which was given its first successful road test in Springfield, Massachusetts on September 20, 1893. He and his brother Frank founded the Duryea Motor Wagon Company in Springfield in 1896. The company ceased production in 1917.

Baseball
The Chicago Cubs were leading the Pittsburgh Pirates by 1/2 game as the teams played each other before 34,465 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The score was tied 5-5 with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning, and the umpires had made it clear that the game would be called because of darkness after 9 innings. Pittsburgh relief pitcher Mace Brown shook off a sign for a fastball and threw a curve, which Mr. Hartnett hit for a home run to give the Cubs a 6-5 win. The "Homer in the Gloamin'" was regarded as the deciding blow in the National League pennant race, which ended with the Cubs finishing 2 games ahead of the Pirates.

Don Padgett, Johnny Mize, and Jimmy Brown each had 3 hits for the St. Louis Cardinals as they edged the Cincinnati Reds 8-7 before 1,081 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Reds had runners on first and third bases with 2 out in the 9th inning, but pinch hitter Dick West, making his major league debut, grounded into a force play at second base to end the game. Joe Cascarella, the third of four Cincinnati pitchers, allowed 3 hits and 1 run--earned--in 1 inning, with 1 strikeout and no bases on balls in the 143rd and last game of his 5-year major league career. Cincinnati pinch hitter Dusty Cooke was hit by a pitch in the 6th inning in the 608th and last game of his 8-year major league career.

Birdie Tebbetts batted 3 for 5 and hit his only home run of the season--a grand slam in the 6th inning--to help the Detroit Tigers rout the St. Louis Browns 12-0 before 5,000 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. George Gill pitched an 8-hit shutout to improve his 1938 record to 12-9. St. Louis shortstop Sig Gryska played his first major league game, batting 1 for 4, making 1 putout and 3 assists.

Thornton Lee allowed 16 hits and 11 earned runs, but managed a complete game victory to improve his record for the season to 13-11 as the Chicago White Sox beat the Clevland Indians 14-11 before 1,500 fans at League Park in Cleveland. The White Sox scored 5 runs in both the 1st and 5th innings, and every man in the Chicago lineup had at least 1 hit and scored at least 1 run, and every Chicago player except Luke Appling drove in at least 1 run. Oscar Grimes made his major league debut with the Indians, making an out as a pinch hitter in the 9th inning.

60 years ago
1948


At the movies
Louisiana Story, a docu-drama commissioned by the Standard Oil Company, directed by Robert Flaherty, and starring Joseph Boudreaux, Lionel Le Blanc, and E. Bienvenu, opened in theatres.



Defense
The defense ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg agreed in Paris to establish a Permanent Defense Organization for Western Europe.

Politics and government
The Pakistani government began a round up of Communist leaders.

Economics and finance
The International Monetary Fund approved a $6-million loan to Czechoslovakia for food purchases; t was the first IMF loan made to a Communist government.

Football
IRFU
Hamilton (1-4) 6 @ Montreal (2-3) 36

50 years ago
1958


Died on this date
Jimmy Reece, 28
. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Reece competed in the USAC championship series, and raced in the Indianapolis 500 six times from 1952-1958, with a best finish of sixth in 1958. He was killed in a crash on the last lap of a race at Trenton Speedway in Trenton, New Jersey.

Politics and government
Voters in a referendum in France approved the Gaullist constitution by a 4-1 margin.

Baseball
Little World Series
Montreal Royals 2 @ Minneapolis Millers 3 (Minneapolis led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Tom Hurd entered the game in relief in the 8th inning and worked out of a bases-loaded jam and then pitched a scoreless 9th inning to preserve the victory at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington.

40 years ago
1968


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Harper Valley P.T.A.--Jeannie C. Riley

#1 single in France: Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Azzurro--Adriano Celentano (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Help Yourself--Tom Jones (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Hey Jude--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Hey Jude--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Hey Jude--The Beatles

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Hey Jude--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)
2 Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin
--Sandie Shaw
3 Rain and Tears--Aphrodite's Child
4 I've Gotta Get a Message to You--The Bee Gees
5 Don't You Cry for a Girl--The Shoes
6 Dong-Dong-Di-Ki-Di-Gi-Dong--Golden Earrings
7 I Say a Little Prayer--Aretha Franklin
8 Street Fighting Man--The Rolling Stones
9 On the Road Again--Canned Heat
10 Ich Bau' Dir Ein Schloss--Heintje

Singles entering the chart were Girl of Independent Means by the Honeybus (#34); Lucy Brown is Back in Town by Shocking Blue (#36); Need Your Love So Bad by Fleetwood Mac (#37); and Window of My Eyes by Cuby + Blizzrds (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Hey Jude--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)
2 Harper Valley P.T.A.--Jeannie C. Riley
3 1,2,3, Red Light--1910 Fruitgum Company
4 Hush--Deep Purple
5 People Got to Be Free--The Rascals
6 I've Gotta Get a Message to You--The Bee Gees
7 The Fool on the Hill--Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
8 You're All I Need to Get By--Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
9 Fire--The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
10 Magic Bus--The Who

Singles entering the chart were White Room by Cream (#70); Lalena by Donovan (#74); Puffin' on Down the Track by Hugh Masakela (#75); A Little Less Conversation by Elvis Presley (#77); Do the Choo Choo by Archie Bell & the Drells (#81); Up-Hard by Willie Mitchell (#87); Horse Fever by Cliff Nobles & Co. (#94); Court of Love by the Unifics (#96); Sunday Sun by Neil Diamond (#99); and Soul Drippin' by the Mauds (#100). A Little Less Conversation was a version of the song Mr. Presley performed in the movie Live a Little, Love a Little (1968).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Revolution--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)
2 Harper Valley P.T.A.--Jeannie C. Riley
3 I've Gotta Get a Message to You--The Bee Gees
4 1,2,3, Red Light--1910 Fruitgum Company
5 Happy Feeling--The Happy Feeling
6 On the Road Again--Canned Heat
7 Do it Again--The Beach Boys
8 Down at Lulu's--Ohio Express
9 Magic Bus--The Who
10 Sunshine of Your Love--Cream
Pick hit of the week: Over You--Gary Puckett and the Union Gap

Energy
British Columbia Premier W. A. C. Bennett opened Dr. Gordon M. Shrum Powerhouse at the $485- million Peace River hydro-electric project in Hudson Hope, B.C.

Disasters
19 people were killed in a fireworks factory explosion in Madras, India.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (5-3-1) 30 @ Montreal (3-5) 20
Hamilton (4-4) 31 @ Edmonton (4-6-1) 7

Russ Jackson completed touchdown passes of 6 and 26 yards to Margene Adkins and recently-acquired linebacker Jerry Campbell returned a fumble 3 yards for another TD to help the Rough Riders beat the Alouettes before 15,000 fans at Autostade.

Allen Smith rushed for 2 touchdowns and Willie Bethea rushed 2 yards for another TD as the Tiger-Cats easily beat the Eskimos before 21,500 fans at Clarke Stadium. Former Eskimo star Tommy-Joe Coffey, in his first regular season game back in Edmonton since being traded in 1967, scored 3 converts, 3 field goals, and a single. Recently-acquired quarterback Corey Colehour threw his first CFL touchdown pass, an 11-yard strike to Garry Lefebvre for the only Edmonton major score.

CIAU
WCIAA
Manitoba (0-1) 6 @ Alberta (1-0) 42

Middle linebacker Dave Wray blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown, and defensive back Dale Schulha returned a fumble 75 yards for the next touchdown as the Golden Bears took a 14-0 1st-quarter lead and routed the Bisons at Varsity Stadium in Edmonton before a stadium record crowd of 7,213. Gil Mather's 74-yard punt return set up Ludwig Daubner's 1-yard touchdown rush, with Dave Benbow's third convert giving the Golden Bears a 21-0 halftime lead. Terry Lampert threw 2 touchdown passes to Ron Finch in the 3rd quarter, both converted by Mr. Benbow. Backup quarterback Dan McCaffery completed a 41-yard pass to Mr. Mather, and then rushed 5 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the game, with no convert attempted. Val Schneider scored the other Alberta point on a 58-yard punt single.

Baseball
Joe Pepitone led off the top of the 9th inning with a home run to break a 3-3 tie as the New York Yankees rallied for 4 runs in the last 3 innings to defeat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 before 25,534 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. New York first baseman Mickey Mantle popped out to shortstop Rico Petrocelli in the top of the 1st, and was replaced at first base by Andy Kosco in the bottom of the 1st in the 2,401st and last game of his 18-year Hall of Fame career. Rocky Colavito struck out as a pinch hitter for the Yankees to end the 7th inning in the 1,841st and last game of his 14-year major league career.



Jack Fisher pitched a no-hitter for 6 1/3 innings, but was the losing pitcher as the California Angels edged the Chicago White Sox 1-0 before 8,344 fans at Anaheim Stadium. The only run scored in the bottom of the 7th inning when Jay Johnstone led off with a base on balls, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Jim Fregosi, and scored on a single by Roger Repoz. Marty Pattin pitched 7 scoreless innings to get the win.

Mike Epstein tripled home Ed Stroud with 1 out and scored on a single by pinch hitter Hank Allen with 2 out as the Washington Senators scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning to defeat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 before 18,393 fans at Tiger Stadium. Denny McLain started on the mound for Detroit and allowed 2 hits in 7 innings, leaving with a 1-0 lead and also batting 2 for 2; Don McMahon relieved him and took the loss. Jon Warden relieved Mr. McMahon and allowed 1 hit in 1/3 inning in the 28th and last game of his major league career.

The Los Angeles Dodgers scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning to break a 1-1 tie and defeat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 before 6,095 fans at Atlanta Stadium. The Braves scored a run in the bottom of the 9th and had runners on first and second bases with 2 out, but pinch hitter Deron Johnson struck out to end the game.

Ron Santo, Willie Smith, and Adolfo Phillips hit home runs for the Chicago Cubs as they edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 before 10,940 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Ferguson Jenkins allowed 11 hits in pitching a complete game in reaching the 20-win mark for the second straight season. Pittsburgh center fielder Matty Alou batted 4 for 4 with a double, run, and run batted in.

The Houston Astros scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning and defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 before 21,502 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Houston catcher Dave Adlesh batted 3 for 3 with a base on balls, making 7 putouts, in the 106th and last game of his 6-year major league career.

30 years ago
1978


On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: All for Love

Died on this date
John Paul I, 65
. Roman Catholic Pope, 1978. John Paul I, born Alberto Luciani, was ordained a priest in 1935, becoming a bishop in 1958 and a cardinal in 1973. He was known for his writings, which expressed Roman Catholic teaching in a way that could be understood by common people. Cardinal Luciani was elected on the fourth ballot of the conclave to determine a successor to Pope Paul VI, and took the name John Paul I, in honour of his predecessors John XXIII and Paul VI. He declined a coronation in favour of a papal inauguration, wearing a mitre instead of a tiara. Pope John Paul I was found in bed early in the morning of September 29, dead of an apparent heart attack. A Vatican doctor determined that the pontiff had died late on the night of September 28, 33 days into his papacy, and two weeks before his 66th birthday. Pope John Paul had reportedly issued orders hours before his death to dismiss certain shady individuals associated with the Vatican, and those orders were never carried out by his successor, John Paul II. Conspiracy theories abound concerning the amazingly timely death of Pope John Paul I.

Politics and government
Defense Minister P.W. Botha took office as Prime Minister of South Africa, succeeding John Vorster, who had resigned because of ill health.

Energy
The World Energy Conference opened in Banff, Alberta.

Football
CIAU
Alberta (3-1) 15 @ Manitoba (0-4) 7

Rick Paulitsch rushed for a touchdown in each half and the Bisons committed 7 turnovers as the Golden Bears won before about 50-75 fans on a cold, wet afternoon at Pan-Am Stadium in Winnipeg.

25 years ago
1983


Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. leader Yuri Andropov rejected U.S. President Ronald Reagan' proposal to reduce the number of intermediate-range missiles scheduled for deployment in Europe. Mr. Andropov blamed the U.S. for the loss of all 269 people aboard Korean Air Lines Flight 007 when it had been shot down over Soviet air space on September 1, saying that the commercial airliner had been sent on a spy mission.

20 years ago
1988


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): The Only Way is Up--Yazz and the Plastic Population (2nd week at #1)

Baseball
With 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 16th inning, Carmelo Martinez drew a base on balls and Mark Parent followed with a home run to give the San Diego Padres a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers before 22,596 fans at Jack Murphy-San Diego Stadium. Orel Hershiser started on the mound for Los Angeles and pitched 10 scoreless innings, allowing just 4 hits as he extended his scoreless inning streak to 59, 1/3 inning more than previous major league record holder Don Drysdale, who had accomplished the feat in 1968.

Dion James doubled with 1 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 17th inning and pinch hitter Andres Thomas followed with a single to score Mr. James with the winning run as the Atlanta Braves edged the Houston Astros 4-3 before 2,822 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. It was the last major league game for Houston pitcher Jeff Heathcock and pinch hitter Steve Henderson, and for Atlanta pinch runner Jerry Royster and pinch hitter Jim Morrison.

Jimmy Key pitched a 2-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Bruce Hurst as the Toronto Blue Jays edged the Boston Red Sox 1-0 before 34,873 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The only run, unearned, was scored in the top of the 8th inning when Rob Ducey led off with a base on balls, stole second base with 1 out and advanced to third base on a throwing error by Boston catcher Rich Gedman, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kelly Gruber. Mr. Hurst pitched a 5-hit complete game.

Bob Milacki pitched a 3-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Lee Guetterman as the Baltimore Orioles shut out the New York Yankees 2-0 before 15,737 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

10 years ago
1998


Health
Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Quebec officially took control of Canada's $350-million-a-year blood system from the Canadian Red Cross.

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