May 23, 2009

Married on this date
Happy Anniversary, Polly and Maurice Pratt!

400 years ago
1609

Americana
The Second Virginia Charter was ratified.

180 years ago
1829

Music
A patent for the accordion was granted to Cyrill Demian in Vienna.

90 years ago
1919

Business
The first Dominion grocery store opened in Toronto; it was founded by Americans Robert Jackson and William Pentland.

80 years ago
1929

At the movies
The Cocoanuts, directed by Robert Florey and Joseph Santley, and starring the Marx Brothers, received its premiere screening in New York City.



Aviation
The first non-stop flight from Winnipeg to Edmonton was made in 6 hours and 48 minutes; meanwhile, Canada's first airborne wedding took place in a bi-plane over Regina.

Baseball
Pinch hitter Cedric Durst singled in a run, and Mark Koenig followed with a single to drive in 2 runs for the New York Yankees as they scored 3 in the 9th inning and held on to defeat the Boston Red Sox 7-6 at Fenway Park in Boston. The Red Sox scored a run in the bottom of the 9th and had the potential tying run on third base with 2 out, but Ira Flagstead grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

The Philadelphia Athletics swept a doubleheader from the Washington Nationals, winning both games by 9-8 scores. The Nationals scored 8 runs in the first 2 innings of the first game, only to see the Athletics come back. Howard Ehmke, the fourth pitcher used by the Athletics, was the winner. Rube Walberg went the distance to win the second game. Washington third baseman Ossie Bluege hit a home run in each game.

Carl Lind singled home Ed Morgan with 2 out in the bottom of the 12th inning to complete a 3-run rally for the Cleveland Indians as they defeated the St. Louis Browns 5-4 in the first game of a doubleheader at League Park in Cleveland. The Browns had scored 2 runs in the top of the 12th to take a 4-2 lead. The Browns withstood a 4-run 9th-inning rally to win the second game 7-5. Oscar Melillo paced the St. Louis attack in the second game by hitting for the cycle, with 2 runs and 3 runs batted in.

75 years ago
1934

Lefty Grove allowed 5 early runs before settling down, and hit a single in the 9th inning to help the Boston Red Sox come back to beat the Cleveland Indians 7-5.

70 years ago
1939

Disasters
The U.S. Navy submarine USS Squalus sank off the coast of New Hampshire during a test dive, causing the death of 24 sailors and two civilian technicians. The remaining 32 sailors and one civilian naval architect were rescued the following day.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and George Spelvin (Wendell Holmes), on MBS
Tonight's episode: Dr. Winthrop's Notorious Carriage

Died on this date
W.W. Hansen, 39. U.S. physicist. Dr. William Webster Hansen was one of the founders of microwave electronics, including the development of radar. Four days before his 40th birthday he died of berylliosis and fibrosis of the lungs, caused by inhaling the beryllium used in his research.

Literature
The novel Beulah Land by H.L. Davis was published in New York by William Morrow & Company.

Diplomacy
The Allied Council of Foreign Ministers convened in Paris for the sixth time since the end of World War II, and adopted an agenda including the problem of German unity; the status of Berlin; and the Austrian peace treaty.

Politics and government
The Western occupying powers approved the Basic Law and established a new German state, the Federal Republic of Germany.

Labour
The "Hollywood Ten" screenwriters and directors who had been dismissed from their jobs for refusing to tell the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities whether or not they were Communists filed suit in Los Angeles against 10 film producers.

General Motors announced a second 2c hourly wage cut for 273,000 workers under a union contract tied to the cost-of-living index.

Boxing
Joey Maxim (65-16-4) won a 15-round unanimous decision over Gus Lesnevich (61-13-5) to win the vacant National Boxing Association world light heavyweight title before 6,931 fans at Cincinnati Gardens.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): (Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I--Elvis Presley (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters (9th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Die Gitarre und das Meer--Freddy Quinn (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): (Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I/I Need Your Love Tonight--Elvis Presley (4th week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Kansas City--Wilbert Harrison
2 The Happy Organ--Dave "Baby" Cortez
3 Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)--Edward Byrnes & Connie Stevens
4 Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)--The Impalas
5 Quiet Village--Martin Denny
6 The Battle of New Orleans--Johnny Horton
7 A Teenager in Love--Dion and the Belmonts
8 Dream Lover--Bobby Darin
9 Only You (Loin de Vous)--Franck Pourcel's French Fiddles
10 Pink Shoe Laces--Dodie Stevens

Singles entering the chart were Along Came Jones by the Coasters (#61); The Class by Chubby Checker (#69); Graduation's Here by the Fleetwoods (#71); Lonely Boy (#77)/Your Love (#90) by Paul Anka; Waterloo by Stonewall Jackson (#79); The Five Pennies by Dodie Stevens (#83); White Lightning by George Jones (#85); Pointed Toe Shoes by Carl Perkins (#86); La Plume de Ma Tante by Hugo and Luigi (#88); Eternally by Thomas Wayne with the DeLons (#93); Velvet Waters by the Megatrons (#96); I Only Haves Eyes for You by the Flamingos (#98); Judy by David Seville (#99); Jack o' Diamonds by Ruth Brown (#100); and The Wonder of You by Ray Peterson (also #100).

On the radio
The Sign of Four: Part 2, starring Richard Hurndall as Sherlock Holmes and Bryan Coleman as Dr. Watson, on BBC

Sherlock Holmes' vanskeligste sak, starring Fridtjof Mjoen as Sherlock Holmes, Arne Bang-Hansen as Dr. Watson, and Jon Lennart Mjoen as Arthur Conan Doyle, on Norsk Rikskringkasting (Norwegian State Broadcasting Corporation)

World events
Amman sources disclosed the arrest of General Sadek Sharah, second in command of Jordan's armed forces, on charges of plotting to overthrow King Hussein.

Defense
The U.S.S.R. warned in notes to the U.S.A. and West Germany that American efforts "to hasten the nuclear and missile rearmament" of North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries "entails consequences extremely dangerous" for the outcome of the current Geneva foreign ministers conference.

Literature
U.S.S.R. Premier Nikita Khrushchev, in a speech to delegates of the Soviet Writers Union, ordered an end to the campaign against "revisionism" in literature, asserting that the "revisionists have suffered full defeat."

Education
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower released a report by his Science Advisory Committee, urging as a "minimal goal" that the U.S. annual investment of about $18 billion in education be doubled.

Health
In a report to the U.S. Senate Government Operations Committee, Sen. Hubert Humphrey (Democrat--Minnesota) called for an international campaign through the World Health Organization to learn more about the effects of radioactivity and fallout.

Baseball
The Washington Senators erupted for 6 runs in the top of the 11th inning to break a 4-4 tie as they beat the Boston Red Sox 10-4 before 10,606 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

The New York Yankees scored 11 runs in the first 3 innings and coasted to a 13-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles before 15,787 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Mickey Mantel batted 3 for 3 with a home run, double, 2 bases on balls, 3 runs, and 2 runs batted in, while Elston Howard was 3 for 5 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs for New York. Don Larsen allowed 7 hits and 3 runs--all earned--in 7 innings to get the win and improve his 1959 record to 4-0, while batting 3 for 3 with a double, a base on balls, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. Baltimore leadoff hitter Willie Tasby hit 2 home runs and drove in 4 runs.

The Cleveland Indians lost to the Detroit Tigers, but remained in first place in the American League, ½ game ahead of the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers and Indians combined to hit 6 home runs as the Tigers won 6-4 before 5,864 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland.

The Kansas City Athletics amassed 21 hits as they embarrassed the White Sox 16-0 before 12,416 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. Hector Lopez hit a double, triple, and home run, scoring 3 runs and driving in 4, while Dick Williams hit 3 doubles, scoring 4 runs and batting in 3. Bud Daley pitched a 4-hitter, while batting 2 for 5 with 3 RBIs.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Get Back/Don't Let Me Down--The Beatles with Billy Preston (3rd week at #1)
2 In the Ghetto--Elvis Presley
3 Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet--Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus
4 Goodbye--Mary Hopkin
5 Badge--Cream
6 Hawaii Five-O--The Ventures
7 Heather Honey--Tommy Roe
8 Bad Moon Rising/Lodi--Creedence Clearwater Revival
9 Day is Done--Peter, Paul and Mary
10 Happy Heart--Andy Williams

Singles entering the chart were One by Three Dog Night (#25); Oh Deed I Do by Elyse Weinberg (#26); Early Morning by the Collectors (#27); Israelites by Desmond Dekker and the Aces (#29); and It's Never Too Late by Steppenwolf (#30).

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston (2nd week at #1)
2 Hair--The Cowsills
3 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)--The 5th Dimension
4 In the Ghetto--Elvis Presley
5 Gitarzan--Ray Stevens
6 These Eyes--The Guess Who?
7 Goodbye--Mary Hopkin
8 The Boxer--Simon & Garfunkel
9 Pinball Wizard--The Who
10 Where's the Playground Susie--Glen Campbell

On the radio
Squad Cars, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: Case of Clumsy Crooks

Beyond Midnight, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: Little Happenthatch

Died on this date
Jimmy McHugh, 74. U.S. songwriter. Mr. McHugh, with various partners, wrote the music for more than 500 songs from the 1920s through the 1950s. His songs included I Can't Give You Anything but Love; I'm in the Mood for Love; and On the Sunny Side of the Street. Mr. McHugh was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

World events
A United States Air Force sergeant at a British air base north of London, who was put to bed four hours earlier "under the influence of drink," flew off alone in a four-engine C-130 transport plane and presumably crashed at sea.

Baseball
Mickey Stanley hit a grand slam and Mickey Lolich set a team single-game record with 16 strikeouts as the Detroit Tigers beat the California Angels 6-3 before 25,990 fans at Tiger Stadium. Mr. Lolich pitched a 4-hitter to improve his 1969 record to 6-1, while Andy Messersmith took the loss, dropping to 0-4.

The San Francisco Giants blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 before 8,217 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, as Pirates' rookie first baseman Al Oliver tied a major league record with 3 errors in one inning. The Giants scored 2 runs in the 4th inning, which started with an error by Pittsburgh third baseman Richie Hebner, and continued with Mr. Oliver's errors, resulting in the runs being unearned. Rich Robertson pitched a 5-hitter for his only major league shutout.

Lou Brock led off the game with a single, stole second base, advanced to third on a ground out, and scored on a single by Curt Flood for what turned out to be the only run of the game as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 before 26,563 fans at Dodger Stadium. Steve Carlton pitched a 5-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Alan Foster, who allowed 3 hits in 8 innings.

Dick Selma pitched a 2-hitter for the Chicago Cubs as they shut out the San Diego Padres 6-0 before 7,936 fans at San Diego Stadium. Billy Williams hit a 2-run home run, and Ernie Banks had a double and 3 RBIs.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Bright Eyes--Art Garfunkel (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Carlos Antonio Herrera Rebollo. Salvadoran politician. Mr. Herrera, El Salvador's Minister of Education, was assassinated by guerrillas with the Communist movement FMLN.

Terrorism
Three were killed and 13 injured when a bomb exploded outside Jerusalem. Israeli warplanes retaliated against Palestine Liberation Organization-occupied areas of southern Lebanon.

Politics and government
The West German Bundestag elected Karl Carstens, 64, a Christian Democrat and ex-Nazi, President of the Federal Republic of Germany. Nationwide demonstrations took place in opposition to the choice.

Scandal
Bert Lance, former director of the United States Office of Management and Budget, and three of his business associates, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta on charges that they had conspired to obtain $20 million in loans for their own benefit from at least 41 banks from 1970-1978. The grand jury alleged in the 33-count indictment that Mr. Lance and his associates continued the conspiracy after Mr. Lance entered the administration of President Jimmy Carter. Mr. Lance resigned his office in September 1977 after allegations of financial irregularities were made against him. The other men named in the indictment were Georgia businessman Thomas Mitchell; former banker Richard Carr; and former director of First Calhoun National Bank Jackson Mullins.

Baseball
Pinch hitter Pat Kelly hit a 3-run home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Baltimore Orioles a 5-2 win over the Boston Red Sox before 29,400 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

Jim Kaat hit Steve Kemp with a pitch with the bases loaded and 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to force home Mark Wagner, giving the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 win over the New York Yankees before 21,671 fans at Yankee Stadium. The Tigers had scored 2 runs in the 8th to tie the score 3-3, with the rally beginning with 2 out and nobody on base.

Bill Travers and Don Aase each pitched 6-hit complete games, but Mr. Travers won the pitchers' duel as the Milwaukee Brewers edged the California Angels 1-0 before 8,408 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. With 2 out in the bottom of the 7th, Paul Molitor singled and advanced to second base on a single by Sal Bando, Gorman Thomas was walked to load the bases, and Mr. Molitor scored on a wild pitch.

Al Oliver hit 3 home runs, scoring 3 runs, and driving in 4 to lead the Texas Rangers over the Minnesota Twins 7-2 before 17,909 fans at Arlington Stadium. Mike Jorgensen also homered for the Rangers, and Ferguson Jenkins pitched a 6-hit complete game victory.

Mike LaCoss pitched a 3-hitter and singled and scored a run, winning the pitchers' duel over Vida Blue as the Cincinnati Reds shut out the San Francisco Giants 5-0 before 21,080 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Johnny Bench led off the 2nd inning with a home run to open the scoring, and Dave Collins hit his first homer in a Cincinnati uniform--a 2-run blast--later in the inning.

25 years ago
1984

Baseball
Fernando Valenzuela outduelled Steve Carlton as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0. Mr. Valenzuela allowed just 3 hits while striking out 15.

Dan Petry improved his record to 7-1 in pitching the Detroit Tigers to a 4-2 win over the California Angels before 41,205 at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim. The win put the Tigers' record at 34-5, the best start in major league history. It was the 16th straight road win for the Tigers, tying a record set by the 1912 Washington Nationals.

20 years ago
1989

Died on this date
Karl Koch, 23. West German computer hacker. Mr. Koch was one of several hackers involved in selling hacked information from United States military computers to the Soviet secret police force KGB. He confessed to authorities under an amnesty from prosecution, but was found burned to death outside his car. Mr. Koch's death was ruled a suicide, but many believe he was murdered.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 2 @ Calgary 3 (Calgary led best-of-seven series 3-2)

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Owen Hart, 34. Canadian wrestler. Mr. Hart, the youngest member of a famed wrestling family from Calgary, wrestled with various promotions, winning several world titles. 16 days after his 34th birthday, Mr. Hart fell 78 feet to his death from a cable in the rafters of Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri when an equipment malfunction occurred as he was being lowered into the ring in the Over the Edge pay-per-view event. His widow brought a suit against the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) for endangering his life in pursuit of television ratings.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference Finals
Buffalo 5 Toronto 4

Baseball
The Anaheim Angels scored 4 runs in the top of the 10th inning to defeat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4-0 before 22,522 fans at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Chuck Finley allowed 3 hits in 9 innings to get the win. Tampa Bay starter Ryan Rupe allowed only Darin Erstad's leadoff single in the 7th inning, but was removed after 9 innings, and reliever Roberto Hernandez blew the game, allowing 3 hits and a base on balls, 4 runs--3 earned-- in 2/3 inning.

The Baltimore Orioles scored 10 runs in the first inning on their way to a 15-6 win over the Texas Rangers before 40,516 fans at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore center fielder Brady Anderson set an American League record and tied a major league record when he was hit by a pitch twice in the same inning.

Damon Buford hit a 3-run home run in the 5th inning and Jason Varitek followed with a solo homer for the Boston Red Sox to help them defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-8 before 28,559 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The Blue Jays scored 3 runs in the 9th and had a runner on second base when Homer Bush flied out to end the game. Pedro Martinez allowed 8 hits and 3 runs--2 earned-- in 6 innings to get the win, improving his 1999 record to 9-1.

The New York Yankees rallied for 4 runs in the top of the 9th inning to tie the score, and Chad Curtis hit a solo home run with 1 out in the top of the 10th to break a 7-7 tie as the Yankees edged the Chicago White Sox 8-7 before 22,845 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

Down 4-1 in the 8th inning, the Milwaukee Brewers scored 5 runs in the 8th and 7 in the 9th to defeat the Montreal Expos 13-4 before 8,225 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Down 4-0 to Curt Schilling and the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Mets rallied for 5 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to win 5-4 before 34,950 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. John Olerud singled home Luis Lopez to end the game.

Dante Bichette's 3-run home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th concluded a 4-run rally for the Colorado Rockies as they beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-6 before 46,299 fans at Coors Field in Denver.