May 1, 2009

840 years ago
1169

War
Norman mercenaries landed at Bannow Bay in Leinster, marking the beginning of the Norman invasion of Ireland.

470 years ago
1539

Died on this date
Isabella of Portugal, 35. Holy Roman Empress, 1526-1539. Isabella, a native of Lisbon, was the consort of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. She died in Toledo, Spain after giving birth to their sixth child.

250 years ago
1759

Business
Josiah Wedgwood founded the Josiah Wedgwood and Sons pottery company in England.

240 years ago
1769

Born on this date
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. U.K. military officer; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1828-1830, 1834. Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington was regarded as one of the greatest defensive commanders in history, and was famous for leading British forces to victory over the French forces of Emperor Napoleon I in the Battle of Waterloo (1815). He led the Tory (Conservative from 1834 on) Party in the House of Lords from 1828-1846, holding various cabinet posts. As Prime Minister, the "Iron Duke" oversaw the passage of the Catholic Relief Act 1829, but opposed the Reform Act 1832. He remained Commander-in-Chief of the British Army until his death from the effects of a stroke on September 14, 1852 at the age of 83.

125 years ago
1884

Baseball
Moses Fleetwood "Fleet" Walker, a catcher with the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association, became the first Negro to play in a major league baseball game in the United States.

100 years ago
1909

Society
Prohibition went into effect in Ontario; the sale of liquor became unlawful, except for medicinal, scientific, sacramental, and mechanical purposes. Prohibition was abolished in Ontario in 1927.

90 years ago
1919

World events
German troops entered Munich to quash the Bavarian Soviet Republic.

Society
Quebec's prohibition law went into effect; the law only applies to spirits--Quebeckers had approved the sale of light beer, cider and wines on April 10, 1919--but 90% of Quebec municipalities were already prohibiting the sale of hard liquor locally. For a time, Quebec was the only "wet" jurisdiction in North America; prohibition was abolished on May 1, 1921, when the Alcoholic Beverages Act created the Commission des liqueurs du Québec.

Labour
Building trades workers in Winnipeg struck over union recognition and collective bargaining; the lack of action led to the Winnipeg General Strike two weeks later. 2,000 building trades workers in Edmonton and Calgary started a sympathy strike to support their Winnipeg brothers.

80 years ago
1929

Disasters
The 7.2 Mw Kopet Dag earthquake shook the Iran–Turkmenistan border region with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing up to 3,800 people and injuring 1,121.

70 years ago
1939

Baseball
At Comiskey Park in Chicago, the Chicago White Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-1 in an exhibition game to benefit White Sox pitcher Monty Stratton, who had lost his lower left leg in a hunting accident after the 1938 season. Mr. Stratton, who tried to pitch in the game, received a new car and nearly $30,000 from the game. Dizzy Dean was the losing pitcher. In 1949 James Stewart played the White Sox ace in the movie The Stratton Story.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
Pat Novak For Hire, starring Jack Webb, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Rita Malloy

Politics and government
The governing Republican Socialist Unity Party won 28 of 56 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 6 of 9 seats in the Senate in the Bolivian general election, giving them a total of 70 of 138 seats (56 of 111 in the Chamber of Deputies, 14 of 27 in the Senate) in the National Congress. The results left the Revolutionary Left Party second with 25 of 138 seats, followed by the Liberal Party with 15.

Argentina's new Congress began its opening session, as President Juan Peron announced that all public services still in private hands, including transportation, communications, and power, would be nationalized.

Indianica
The princely state of Baroda, the largest in western India, merged with Bombay Province.

Religion
The Catholic Association for International Peace attacked "abdication of American principles" in U.S. policy toward China, demanding more aid for the Nationalist government.

Baseball
Elmer Valo of the Philadelphia Athletics became the first player in American League history to hit 2 bases-loaded triples in one game; he added 2 singles in 5 at bats, scoring 3 runs and driving in 7 as the Athletics defeated the Washington Nationals 15-9 in the first game of a doubleheader before 11,177 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Bobby Shantz made his major league debut as the third of four Philadelphia pitchers, allowing a hit and no runs in 2/3 inning. The Athletics scored 4 runs in the first 3 innings en route to a 7-3 win in the second game, which was called after 7 innings because of a Sunday curfew.

Ted Williams singled in a run in the 3rd inning and hit a grand slam off Spec Shea in the 6th to help the Boston Red Sox rout the New York Yankees 11-2 before 54,328 fans at Yankee Stadium in a game that was called because of rain after 8 innings. Mel Parnell allowed 6 hits in pitching a complete game victory to improve his 1949 record to 3-0, while Allie Reynolds allowed 6 hits and 5 runs--all earned--in 3 innings to take the loss. Mickey Witek singled as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 3rd in his only appearance as a Yankee and the 581st and last game of his 7-year major league career.

Johnny Lipon and Vic Wertz drew bases on balls, and Dick Wakefield drove them home with his first home run of the season as the Detroit Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning and held on to edge the Cleveland Indians 3-2 before 53,486 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Hal Newhouser pitched an 8-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Bob Lemon, who allowed just 2 hits, with the other being a single by Mr. Lipon in the 3rd.

Steve Souchock singled home Floyd Baker with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning for what proved to be the deciding run as the Chicago White Sox held on to defeat the St. Louis Browns 7-6 in the first game of a doubleheader before 10,459 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The White Sox led 6-1 after 7 1/2 innings, but the Browns rallied for 2 runs in the 8th and 3 in the 9th, and had the bases loaded with 2 out, but Marino Pieretti relieved Bob Kuzava and struck out Jerry Priddy to end the game. The same thing almost happened in th second game, when the White Sox led 14-3 going in to the bottom of the 9th, but the Browns rallied for 8 runs and had a runner on third base with 2 out when Randy Gumpert struck out Al Zarilla to end the game, preserving a 14-11 Chicago victory. Gus Zernial and Cass Michaels each drove in 4 runs for Chicago, while Mr. Kuzava was credited with the win despite allowing the first 6 of the St. Louis runs in the 9th inning. Fred Bradley started on the mound for the White Sox in the second game, allowing 4 hits and 3 runs--all earned--in 2+ innings, walking 3 batters and striking out none in the 9th and last game of his 2-year major league career.

Pinch hitter Sibby Sisti singled home Marv Rickert and Connie Ryan with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Boston Braves a 6-5 win over the New York Giants in the first game of a doubleheader before 33,402 fans at Braves Field. Bobby Thomson's solo home run off Warren Spahn with 2 out in the top of the 9th had given the Giants a 5-4 lead. Johnny Antonelli allowed 6 hits and 2 runs--1 earned--in 8+ innings and batted 1 for 4 to get his first major league win as the Braves won the second game 4-2 to complete the sweep.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): It Doesn't Matter Anymore--Buddy Holly (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Fritz Henrich, 59. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Henrich was an outfielder who batted .211 with no home runs and 4 runs batted in in 36 games with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1924, and hit .301 with 4 home runs in 37 games with the Williamsport Grays of the Class B New York-Pennsylvania League that year. He died a week before his 60th birthday.

War
87 guerrilla invaders, mostly Cubans, surrendered without resistance to Panamanian troops in the village of Nombre de Dios, in response to appeals by Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro.

Diplomacy
Guinean President Sekou Toure and Ghanaian Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah signed an agreemetn in Conakry proclaiming a Union of Independent African States.

Communist China accused "Indian expansionists" of holding the Dalai Lama in order to force China to renounce its position on Tibet.

Charging that opposition to her appointment from Senator Wayne Morse (Independent--Oregon) had "poisoned the necessary climate of goodwill," Claire Boothe Luce submitted her resignation as U.S. Ambassador to Brazil.

Transportation
Streetcars in Ottawa were replaced by buses.

Labour
A settlement was reached in a three-week strike against the U.S. Rubber Company by 26,000 United Rubber Workers union members.

Boxing
Floyd Patterson (35-1) retained his world heavyweight title with a knockout of Brian London (22-5) at 51 seconds of the 11th round at Fairgrounds Coliseum in Indianapolis.



Baseball
The Chicago White Sox traded pitcher Don Rudolph and outfielder Lou Skizas to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Del Ennis. Mr. Rudolph was 0-0 with an earned run average of 0.00 and 1 save in 4 appearances with Chicago in 1959, while Mr. Skizas was batting .077 (1 for 13) with no home runs or runs batted in in 8 games. Mr. Ennis batted .333 (4 for 12) with no home runs and 1 RBI in 5 games with the Reds, who had acquired him from the St. Louis Cardinals after the 1958 season.

Pinch hitter Tito Francona hit a 3-run home run off Zack Monroe with 2 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees before 36,682 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. The Yankees had broken a 1-1 tie in the top of the 10th when Tony Kubek singled home Bobby Richardson. Cal McLish pitched a 7-hit complete game victory to improve his 1959 record to 3-0.

Harmon Killebrew hit his second solo home run of the game with 2 out in the top of the 10th inning to break a 3-3 tie as the Washington Senators edged the Detroit Tigers 4-3 before 1,863 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Camilo Pascual pitched an 8-hit complete game to win the pitchers' duel over Jim Bunning, who pitched a 9-hit complete game, falling to 0-3 for the season.

39-year-old Early Wynn pitched a 1-hitter, struck out 14 batters, and hit a double and home run to give the Chicago White Sox a 1-0 win over the Boston Red Sox before 13,022 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Mr. Wynn's home run led off the bottom of the 8th inning, enabling him to win the pitchers' duel over Tom Brewer, who allowed just 5 hits in pitching a complete game. Pete Runnels singled with 1 out in the top of the 1st inning for the only Boston hit.

The Kansas City Athletics scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 before 10,343 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City.

Bobby Gene Smith batted 3 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 runs batted in to help the St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 before 18,950 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Dick Stuart's 2-run home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning made the score close.

Wally Post hit a solo home run and Carl Sawatski doubled home 2 runs as the Philadelphia Phillies scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning to overcome a 2-1 deficit and defeat the Chicago Cubs 4-2 before 9,054 fans at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Jim Owens pitched a 4-hit complete game victory.

Jerry Lynch drove in 3 runs with a pair of home runs to help the Cincinnati Reds defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 before 11,143 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

Bob Schmidt hit a 3-run home run in the top of the 5th inning to open the scoring as the San Francisco Giants took a 6-0 lead after 5 1/2 innings and held on to defeat the Milwaukee Braves 6-4 before 16,900 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. The Braves rallied for a run in the 6th and 3 in the 8th.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells

A current single, which had just dropped out of the Billboard top 40, was First of May by the Bee Gees.

Died on this date
Gary Wilson, 90. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Wilson was a second baseman with the Boston Americans in 1902, batting .182 (2 for 11) with no home runs and 1 run batted in in 3 games. He played at least 14 seasons in the minor leagues from 1897-1910.

Ella Logan, 59. U.K.-born U.S. actress and singer. Miss Logan, born Georgina Allan in Glasgow, began as a band singer in music halls, making her first appearance in London's West End at the age of 20. She moved to the United States in the 1930s, appearing in Broadway shows and several movies, including The Goldwyn Follies (1938). Miss Logan entertained Allied troops in Europe and Africa during World War II, and returned to the United States, where she achieved her greatest success, starring in the Broadway production of the musical Finian's Rainbow (1947). Miss Logan performed in nightclubs in the 1950s and '60s.

War
The United States command in Vietnam reported no significant enemy shellings.

World events
Moscow celebrated May Day without a military demonstration. The demilitarized celebration was copied by all Soviet satellites except East Germany.

Politics and government
Major James Chichester-Clark, 46, succeeded Terence O'Neill as leader of the Unionist party and Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. A moderate, he said he would "certainly do my best" to calm the violence that had arisen between the Protestant majority and Roman Catholic minority populations.

Academia
Both houses of the United States Congress sped up the investigation of campus disorders. Attorney General John Mitchell called upon educators to use arrests and prosecutions to "end minority tyranny," and Assistant Attorney General William Rehnquist condemned "the new barbarians" on the campus.

Abominations
James Foreman, director of the National Black Economic Development Council, launched a campaign in New York demanding $500 million in reparations from American churches and synagogues for past injustices to Negroes with a manifesto calling religious institutions "another form of government in this country."

Disasters
The last car of a train bound for Oryakhovo, north of Sofia, Bulgaria, derailed, killing 25 and injuring 28.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 4 @ St. Louis 0 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Serge Savard scored the winning goal at 12:34 of the 1st period, Dick Duff scored his 3rd and 4th goals of the series, and Rogie Vachon made 29 saves for the shutout in goal as the Canadiens blanked the Blues at St. Louis Arena.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Boston 104 @ Los Angeles 117 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Jerry West scored 39 points and Johnny Egan added 23 to help the Lakers beat the Celtics before 17,553 fans at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Wilt Chamberlain scored just 13 points for the Lakers, but grabbed 31 rebounds. Sam Jones led the Celtics with 25 points.

Baseball
The night after Jim Maloney had pitched a no-hitter for the Cincinnati Reds against the Houston Astros, Don Wilson of the Astros pitched his second career major league no-hitter, striking out 13 and driving in the last run with a sacrifice fly as the Astros shut out the Reds 4-0 before 4,042 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. John Noriega pitched a scoreless 9th inning in relief for Cincinnati, walking a batter and striking out 2 in his major league debut.

Pinch runner Ron Brand scored on a sacrifice fly by Coco Laboy in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Montreal Expos a 3-2 win over the New York Mets before 7,741 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Donn Clendenon and Mack Jones provided the other Montreal runs with solo home runs. Roy Face pitched 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief to get his first win in a Montreal uniform, while Don Cardwell allowed 7 hits and 3 earned runs in pitching a complete game defeat, dropping to 0-4 for the season.



Vada Pinson doubled home 2 runs as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning and drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the 9th to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-3 before 7,043 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Nelson Briles pitched a 6-hitter to get his first win of the season.

Tony Gonzalez hit a 2-run home run in the top of the 8th inning to enable the San Diego Padres to defeat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 before 5,854 fans at Atlanta Stadium.

Don Sutton pitched a 1-hitter and had 2 hits of his own to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers over the San Francisco Giants 5-0 before 8,193 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Jim Davenport broke up Mr. Sutton's bid for a no-hitter when he doubled with 1 out in the 8th inning.

Duke Sims' 3-run home run climaxed a 4-run 9th inning as the Cleveland Indians beat the New York Yankees 6-2 before 7,170 fans at Yankee Stadium.

Ken McMullen and Frank Howard each hit 2-run home runs to help the Washington Senators edge the Boston Red Sox 7-6 before 10,396 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington. Tony Conigliaro drove in 3 Boston runs with a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly.

Denny McLain pitched a 3-hitter and Bill Freehan hit a 2-run home run in the 5th inning to provide the scoring as the Detroit Tigers shut out the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 before 15,731 fans at Tiger Stadium. Losing pitcher Jim Palmer allowed 2 hits and 2 earned runs in 7 innings.

Dave Boswell and Joe Grzenda combined to pitch a 5-hitter and Charlie Manuel drove in 2 runs to help the Minnesota Twins defeat the Seattle Pilots 4-1 before 6,485 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington.

Chuck Harrison singled to lead off the bottom of the 12th inning, stole second base, and scored on a 2-out single by Joe Foy as the Kansas City Royals edged the Chicago White Sox 5-4 before 9,642 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. The Royals had tied the game with 2 out in the 9th when pinch hitter Hawk Taylor singled home Jackie Hernandez.

Lew Krausse hit Tom Satriano with a pitch with the bases loaded and 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to force Jim Fregosi home with the winning run as the California Angels beat the Oakland Athletics 3-2 before 5,492 fans at Anaheim Stadium. California starting pitcher Rudy May was 2 outs away from a shutout, when Tommie Reynolds singled and Reggie Jackson hit a 2-run home run, prompting California manager Bill Rigney to bring in Hoyt Wilhelm from the bullpen to relieve Mr. May.

30 years ago
1979

Died on this date
Ayatollah Moteza Mortahari. Ayatollah Mortahari, a member of Iran's ruling Revolutionary Council, was assassinated by Islamic guerrillas opposed to "fanatic mullahs."

War
Chinese Deputy Premier Deng Xiaoping told United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim in Beijing that China would attack Vietnam again if Hanoi "continues its provocations."

Politics and government
Former Central Intelligence Agency director George H.W. Bush announced his candidacy for the 1980 Republican party presidential nomination.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to end the Carter Administration's program of giving $250 million in federal aid to cities with high unemployment.

Adventure
Scotsman Kenneth Kerr left St. John's, Newfoundland attempting to row across the Atlantic Ocean; he had to be rescued halfway across when his boat capsized.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Montreal 1 @ Boston 2 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-1)
New York Islanders 1 @ New York Rangers 3 (Rangers led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Brad Park scored on a spectacular end-to-end rush with 3:12 remaining in regulation time to break a 1-1 tie as the Bruins edged the Canadiens at Boston Garden.



25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): 99 Luftballons--Nena (5th week at #1)

World events
Syria seized three Israeli officials who had crossed Syrian lines in northern Lebanon, charging that the three were "saboteurs who tried to infiltrate the area held by our forces..." The officials were members of Israel's informal embassy in Lebanon.

Politics and government
Former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale won the Tennessee primary in the contest for the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States in the November 1984 election. Rev. Jesse Jackson scored his first primary win, taking 67% of the vote in the District of Columbia.

Economics and finance
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau started the Sport Select baseball pool, meeting the opposition of the provinces and major league baseball.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
Montreal 1 @ New York Islanders 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
Edmonton 3 @ Minnesota 1 (Edmonton won best-of-seven series 4-0)

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Like a Prayer--Madonna (8th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals (7th week at #1)
2 Looking for Freedom--David Hasselhoff
3 Like a Prayer--Madonna
4 Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney
5 The Look--Roxette
6 Das Phantom der Oper--Alexander Goebel & Luzia Nistler
7 The Way to Your Heart--Soulsister
8 You Got It--Roy Orbison
9 Straight Up--Paula Abdul
10 Listen to the Voices--Labi Siffre

Singles entering the chart were The Look; Straight Up; I Don't Want a Lover by Texas (#13); Ordinary Lives by the Bee Gees (#26); Hey Music Lover by S'Express (#28); and He's a Man by Mandy Winter (#30).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Like a Prayer--Madonna
2 The Look--Roxette
3 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals
4 Girl You Know it's True--Milli Vanilli
5 Eternal Flame--Bangles
6 Walk the Dinosaur--Was (Not Was)
7 Second Chance--Thirty Eight Special
8 Diamond Mine--Blue Rodeo
9 Stand--R.E.M.
10 Love Makes No Promises--Candi

Singles entering the chart were This is Your Land by Simple Minds (#75); I Drove All Night by Cyndi Lauper (#81); Cry by Waterfront (#87); Buffalo Stance by Neneh Cherry (#90); How'm I Gonna Sleep by Tim Finn (#93); Satisfied by Richard Marx (#96); Good Thing by Fine Young Cannibals (#97); and I'll Be You by the Replacements (#99).

Died on this date
Patrice Tardif, 84. Canadian politician. Mr. Tardif, a member of the Union Nationale, represented Frontenac in the Quebec Legislative Assembly (1935-1939, 1944-1952), and represented De la Vallière in the Legislative Council (1952-1968).

Movies
Disney-MGM Studios opened at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
Philadelphia 3 @ Montreal 1 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 1-0)

10 years ago
1999

Discovered dead on this date
George Mallory. U.K. mountaineer. Mr. Mallory took part in the first three English expeditions to Mount Everest in the 1920s. He and climbing partner Sandy Irvine disappeared on the northeast ridge during their attempt to ascend Mt. Everest on June 8 or 9, 1924, just over a week before Mr. Mallory's 38th birthday. Mr. Mallory's body was discovered by the Mallory and Irvine Research Expedition, which had set out to search for their remains.



War
NATO forces bombed a bridge in Serbia as a bus was crossing it, killing more than 30 people. Rev. Jesse Jackson met with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in an attempt to obtain the release of three U.S. soldiers who had been captured on March 31 by Serbian forces.

Horse racing
Charismatic, a 31-1 long shot, with Chris Antley up, won the 125th running of the Kentucky Derby before 151,051 fans at Churchill Downs in Louisville, finishing a neck ahead of Menifee in 2:03.29. A $2 ticket paid $64.60 to win, the third-highest payoff in Derby history.