September 29, 2008

430 years ago
1578

South Americana
The Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa was claimed by the Spaniards.

160 years ago
1848

War
The Battle of Pákozd, the first battle of the Hungarian Revolution, was fought to a stalemate between Hungarian and Croatian forces.

110 years ago
1898

Society
Canada held a national referendum on the prohibition of alcoholic beverages; with 278,380 for and 264,693 against, the government of Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier took no action in view of the close vote.

100 years ago
1908

Born on this date
Eddie Tolan. U.S. runner. Mr. Tolan, nicknamed the "Midnight Express," won gold medals in the men's 100- and 200-metre runs at the 1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, becoming the first non-European to be regarded as the world's fastest man. He died of kidney failure on January 31, 1967 at the age of 58.

Football
The Calgary Rugby Football Union, with several city and district teams, was founded in the offices of the Sovereign Life Insurance Company.

90 years ago
1918

War
Bulgaria signed the Armistice of Salonica. The Battle of St Quentin Canal took place in France, which led to the British Fourth Army making the first breach of the German defensive Hindenburg Line.

80 years ago
1928

Football
ARU
University of Alberta (0-1) 1 @ Edmonton (1-0) 5

Mr. Jones kicked a field goal, Eric Dolighan scored a rouge, and Mr. MacLennan kicked a single for the Eskimos as they beat the Golden Bears at Renfrew Park. It was the Eskimos' first game of senior football since dropping out after the 1924 season.

70 years ago
1938

Diplomacy
Germany was given permission from France, Italy, and Great Britain to seize the territory of Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. The meeting took place in Munich, and leaders from neither the Soviet Union nor Czechoslovakia attended. The agreement was signed on September 29, but wasn't announced until the following day.

60 years ago
1948

At the movies
The Saxon Charm, directed by Claude Binyon, and starring Robert Montgomery, Susan Hayward, John Payne, and Audrey Totter, opened in theatres in New York City.


Politics and government
The U.S. Justice Department refused to prosecute five scientists accused by the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities of espionage, claiming there was "absolutely no competent proof" of committee charges.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black stayed a temporary injunction barring U.S. Representative Lyndon Johnson from the ballot in the Texas U.S. Senatorial election, following Mr. Johnson's 41-vote victory over Coke Stevenson in the Democratic Party runoff primary.

Labour
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission ordered General Electric and the University of Chicago, which operated atomic reactors under government contract, not to recognize the Congress of Industrial Organizations United Electric Workers Union or the United Public Workers of America due to the "alleged Communist affiliation" of officials of both unions.

Baseball
Sibby Sisti singled home pinch runner Phil Masi with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to break a 3-3 tie as the Boston Braves edged the Brooklyn Dodgers 4-3 before 6,524 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to clinch their first National League pennant in 34 years. Johnny Sain pitched a 7-hit complete game victory to improve his 1948 record to 23-15.

Joe Gordon and Ken Keltner hit consecutive home runs in the 5th inning and consecutive run-scoring doubles in the 7th for the Cleveland Indians as they came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Chicago White Sox 5-2 before 13,559 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland and remain 2 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in the American League pennant race. Bob Feller pitched a 10-hit complete game victory to improve his record for the season to 19-14.

The Boston Red Sox scored 3 runs in the 3rd inning and Ellis Kinder scattered 11 hits in pitching a complete game victory as the Boston Red Sox beat the Washington Nationals 5-1 before 7,247 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

Hank Bauer hit his first major league home run--a 3-run blow with 2 out in the top of the 6th inning--as the New York Yankees came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Athletics 4-2 before 8,052 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. New York catcher Charlie Silvera batted 3 for 4 with a triple, 3 putouts, and an assist in his first major league game. Bob Porterfield allowed 10 hits and 2 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings to get the win. The Athletics loaded the bases with 1 out in the 9th, but Allie Reynolds entered the game in relief for New York and induced Hank Majeski to ground into a double play to end the game.

Hal Newhouser pitched a 6-hitter for his 20th win of the season and the Detroit Tigers scored 3 runs in the 1st inning and coasted to a 4-0 win over the St. Louis Browns before 1,878 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.

The London Majors scored 5 runs in the top of the 9th inning to defeat the Fort Wayne (Indiana) General Electrics 5-0 in the deciding game of the best-of-seven international sandlot series in Detroit.

50 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): It's All in the Game--Tommy Edwards (Best Seller--1st week at #1; Hot 100--1st week at #1)

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 It's All in the Game--Tommy Edwards (2nd week at #1)
2 It's Only Make Believe--Conway Twitty
3 Bird Dog--The Everly Brothers
4 Little Star--The Elegants
5 Rockin' Robin--Bobby Day
6 Summertime Blues--Eddie Cochran
7 Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare)--Domenico Modugno
8 Susie Darlin'--Robin Luke
9 Topsy II--Cozy Cole
10 My True Love--Jack Scott

Singles entering the chart were Fibbin' by Patti Page (#34); Just Young by Andy Rose (#37); There Goes My Heart by Joni James (#40); Hula Hoop Song by Teresa Brewer (#42); With Your Love by Jack Scott (#43); Call Me by Johnny Mathis (#45); Need You by Donnie Owens (#47); Count Every Star by the Rivieras (#50); Gualione by Perez Prado and his Orchestra (#51); Look Who's Blue by Don Gibson (#52); Hideaway by the Four Esquires (#53); When I Grow Too Old to Dream by Ed Townsend (#55); and Mexican Hat Rock by the Applejacks (#58).

On television tonight
Peter Gunn, starring Craig Stevens, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Streetcar Jones



Music
Henry Mancini and musicians under his direction finished recording the album The Music from Peter Gunn in Hollywood.

Politics and government
France notified French Guinea of its separation from the French Union, following the territory's rejection of the new French constitution.

Education
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could not use "evasive schemes" to perpetuate racial segregation in public schools. Meanwhile, the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a restraining order blocking a plan to reopen high schools in Little Rock, Arkansas as private, segregated institutions.

Football
CFL
WIFU
Edmonton (5-4-1) 13 @ Winnipeg (8-2) 43
Saskatchewan (5-3-1) 22 @ British Columbia (0-10) 6

Charlie Shepard rushed for 109 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the Blue Bombers to their rout of the Eskimos before 18,595 fans at Winnipeg Stadium. Edmonton head coach Sam Lyle decided to rest most of his American starters and start Canadian players in their places, but the move backfired. Jackie Parker score both Edmonton touchdowns.

Jack Hill scored 3 touchdowns and 2 converts to lead the Roughriders over the Lions before 20,226 fans at Empire Stadium in Vancouver. Reg Whitehouse added the other Saskatchewan convert, and Larry Isbell punted for a single. George Herring completed a 29-yard pass to Sonny Homer for the B.C. touchdown on the second play of the 4th quarter.

Baseball
Little World Series
Montreal Royals (IL) 1 @ Minneapolis Millers (AA) 7 (Minneapolis won best-of-seven series 4-0)

The Millers scored 5 runs in the 3rd inning and coasted to victory at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington to complete the Series sweep. Winning pitcher Tom Borland retired 20 consecutive batters at one point. Outfielder Lu Clinton led the attack with a 3-run triple in the 3rd and a solo home run in the 4th.

40 years ago
1968

Died on this date
Bill Bridgeman, 51 or 52. U.S. aviator. Mr. Bridgeman served with the U.S. Navy during World War II and then became a civilian test pilot, setting altitude and speed records with Douglas Aircraft Company in the 1950s. He was a candidate for the U.S. Air Force Man in Space Soonest program until it was cancelled in 1958 and replaced by Project Mercury. Mr. Bridgeman was flying a routine air-taxi flight from Los Angeles to Santa Catalina Island when his Grumman Goose amphibian went down in the Pacific Ocean; his body was never found.

Politics and government
Voters in a Greek referendum approved the new constitution submitted by the ruling military junta to replace the 1952 charter. Final figures showed that 4,638,543 (91.7%) of the 5,048,981 votes cast were in favour of the new constitution.

Football
CFL
Toronto (6-3) 15 @ Winnipeg (2-8) 9
Saskatchewan (7-3-1) 35 @ Calgary (8-3) 38

Bill Symons rushed 16 times for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the Argonauts over the Blue Bombers before 17,000 fans at Winnipeg Stadium. Dave Raimey rushed 1 yard for the Winnipeg touchdown.

Peter Liske set a Western Football Conference single-game record with 553 yards passing, connecting with Gerry Shaw for the winning touchdown with less than 3 minutes remaining in the game as the Stampeders edged the Roughriders before 23,380 fans at McMahon Stadium. Herm Harrison led the Stampeders with 12 receptions for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns.

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Skateboard ("LA Run")--Magnum Bonum (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (3rd week at #1)

Politics and government
The South African Parliament elected John Vorster, who had recently resigned as Prime Minister, to the ceremonial office of President.

Labour
A four-day nationwide rail strike in the United States, which had shut down 70% of the nation's rail lines and led to the beginning of layoffs in the automobile industry, ended when the railway clerks union accepted a federal court order to go back to work, two days after U.S. President Jimmy Carter had invoked the Railway Labor Act.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Yé ké yé ké--Mory Kanté

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Hän--J. Karjalainen ja Mustat lasit

Died on this date
Charles Addams, 76. U.S. cartoonist. Mr. Addams was known for his macabre characters that became known as the Addams Family, serving as the inspiration for the television and movie series. His cartoons appeared in The New Yorker magazine from 1938 until his death.

Space
The U.S. space shuttle Discovery was launched from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida to begin the four-day mission STS-26, the first mission after the January 28, 1986 space shuttle Challenger disaster. The crew was Frederick Hauck, Commander; Richard Covey, Pilot; John Lounge, David Hilmers, and George Nelson, Mission Specialists.

Olympics
Four days after setting a world record of 10.49 seconds in the women's 100-metre run in Seoul, Florence Griffith-Joyner of the United States set a world record of 21.34 seconds in the women's 200-metre run.

Carolyn Waldo of Canada won a gold medal in synchronized swimming in Seoul.

10 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Tom Bradley, 80. U.S. politician. Mr. Bradley, a Democrat, was Mayor of Los Angeles from 1973-1993; he was the first Negro to hold the position, and the longest-serving mayor in the city's history. Mr. Bradley was a police officer in Los Angeles from 1940-1961, and a lawyer after that before entering politics. He was the Democratic Party candidate for Governor of California in 1982 and 1986, but lost both times.

Baseball
American League Division Series
Texas 0 @ New York 2 (New York led best-of-five series 1-0)
Boston 11 @ Cleveland 3 (Boston led best-of-five series 1-0)

National League Division Series
San Diego 2 @ Houston 1 (San Diego led best-of-five series 1-0)