May 24, 2009

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Lorraine Clark!

1,090 years ago
919

Politics and government
The nobles of Franconia and Saxony elected Henry the Fowler at the Imperial Diet in Fritzlar as king of the East Frankish Kingdom.

320 years ago
1689

Religion
The English Parliament passed the Act of Toleration, protecting dissenting Protestants but excluding Roman Catholics.

190 years ago
1819

Born on this date
Victoria. Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 1837-1901; Empress of India, 1876-1901. Victoria, the longest-serving monarch in British history (so far)--and the first in the history of Canada as a dominion--was born in Kensington Palace. Her predecessor on the throne, King William IV, had no children, and his niece Victoria, whose father had died when she was one year old, was next in line. She presided over an era known as "Pax Brittanica," and was succeeded by her eldest son, the Prince of Wales, who reigned as Edward VII.

130 years ago
1879

Born on this date
H. B. Reese. U.S. confectioner. Harry Burnett Reese worked for the Hershey Chocolate Company before founding the H. B. Reese Candy Company in 1923. Five years later, Mr. Reese created Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, which became his most popular item. He died on May 16, 1956, eight days before his 77th birthday.

Died on this date
William Lloyd Garrison, 73. U.S. journalist and social activist. Mr. Garrison supported the abolition of slavery in the United States, as editor of his newspaper The Liberator and through other means from the 1820s through the 1860s. In the 1870s, he prominently supported women's suffrage, which cost him much of his previous support. Mr. Garrison died after a long battle with kidney disease.

Baseball
The Providence Grays scored 10 runs in the first inning of a 17-1 rout of the Cincinnati Reds at Avenue Grounds in Cincinnati. 2 of the outs in the big inning came on attempted stolen bases.

125 years ago
1884

Baseball
Al Atkinson pitched a near-perfect no-hitter as the Philadelphia Athletics defeated the Pittsburgh Alleghenys 10-1 in an American Association game at Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia. The only man whom Mr. Atkinson failed to retire was the first batter of the game, Ed Smartwood. Mr. Atkinson hit Mr. Smartwood with a pitch. Mr. Smartwood stole second base, took third base on an out, and scored on a passed ball.

In the Union Association, the Boston Reds beat the St. Louis Maroons 8-1, snapping the Maroons' 20-game winning streak.

In the National League, Jim Whitney pitched his second shutout against the Philadelphia Quakers in 5 days and added 4 hits in a 13-0 win for the Boston Beaneaters.

The Providence Grays hammered the New York Maroons 19-5 at the Polo Grounds in New York. Winning pitcher Charlie Sweeney improved his record to 8-1, and helped his cause with 4 hits (including 3 doubles) and 4 runs. New York right fielder Mike Dorgan made 5 errors. The game was so bad that The New York Times reported that "the Siamese Embassy [staff] occupied the stockholder box and showed their knowledge by leaving in the middle of the game."

110 years ago
1899

Born on this date
Suzanne Lenglen. French tennis player. Miss Lenglen won 81 singles titles from 1914-1926, including 6 women's singles titles at Wimbledon. In late 1926-early 1927 she became the first major female star to turn professional, but she retired from competitive tennis after a brief tour. Miss Lenglen died of pernicious anemia on July 4, 1938 at the age of 39.

Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds edged the New York Giants 7-6 in 10 innings at League Park in Cincinnati. The winning run scored on a bases-loaded walk issued by Cy Seymour--his 13th walk of the game. Mr. Seymour failed to strike out a batter. His hitting--2 singles and 2 doubles--helped to keep the Giants in the game.

The Louisville Colonels scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Brooklyn Superbas at Eclipse Park in Louisville.

The Baltimore Orioles scored a run in the top of the 12th inning to break a 6-6 tie and defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 at Exposition Park in Pittsburgh.

100 years ago
1909

At the movies
Two Memories, a 3-minute drama directed by D.W. Griffith and starring Marion Leonard and David Miles, opened in theatres. The film marked the screen debuts of sisters Mary and Lottie Pickford.

Born on this date
Philip Blaiberg. S.A. medical patient. Dr. Blaiberg, a retired dentist, received a heart transplant in an operation performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town on January 2, 1968. He died on August 17, 1969 at the age of 60, as the longest-living recipient of a heart transplant to that time, having lived for 19 months and 15 days after the operation.

Wilbur Mills. U.S. politician. A member of the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas from 1939-1977, Mr. Mills chaired the House Ways and Means Committee (or, as it’s always referred to in the media, the Powerful House Ways and Means Committee) from 1958-1975. His career was marred by a scandal in 1974 when he was arrested while driving drunk in the company of a stripper who went by the name of Fanne Foxe. Mr. Mills died on May 2, 1992, 22 days before his 83rd birthday.

Canadiana
Maple Leaf Park opened in Hamilton, Ontario; a Coney Island-type amusement park, it failed to attract enough visitors, and closed a few years later.

Baseball
Under new manager Roger Bresnahan, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Giants 3-1 at the Polo Grounds in New York, as John Lush outduelled Christy Mathewson, ending Mr. Mathewson's 24-game winning streak against the Cardinals.

Solly Hofman's inside-the-park home run in the 11th inning enabled the Chicago Cubs to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 4-3 at Washington Park in Brooklyn.

90 years ago
1919

Labour
Drumheller, Alberta miners went on strike.

The government of Canada ordered postal workers back to work during the Winnipeg General Strike.

80 years ago
1929

Canadiana
Residents of Hamilton cheered at the unveiling of the United Empire Loyalist statue by Stanley March; it was a gift to the city from Stanley Mills.

Baseball
Roy Johnson scored on a sacrifice fly by Charlie Gehringer in the top of the 21st inning as the Detroit Tigers edged the Chicago White Sox 6-5 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. George Uhle pitched the first 20 innings for the Tigers and was credited with the win; Vic Sorrell picked up the save. Ted Lyons gave up 24 hits in going the distance for the White Sox. The game took 3 hours and 31 minutes to play, the longest game played at Comiskey Park to that point.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
Philo Vance, starring Jackson Beck
Tonight's episode: Hurdy Gurdy Murder

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Murder Through the Looking Glass , starring William Prince and Peter von Zerneck

Diplomacy
Speaking at the Foreign Ministers Conference in Paris, U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinsky urged a return to the system of four-power Allied rule in Germany established at the Potsdam Conference in 1945, including revival of the Allied Control Council and the Allied Berlin command. U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson immediately rejected the proposal.

Politics and government
A Czechoslovakian Communist Party congress, attended by all Cominform leaders, began in Prague.

Crime
Victor Reuther, United Auto Workers of America educational director and brother of union President Walter Reuther, was shot and seriously wounded by an unknown assailant in his Redford, Michigan home.

Energy
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Chairman David Lilienthal, testifying before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, admitted that part of the uranium oxide discovered to be missing from an AEC laboratory the previous February had not yet been accounted for.

Labour
West Berlin police drove Soviet security forces from elevated railway stations in the western zones after violence in the current railroad workers' strike caused two deaths and 1,000 injuries.

Baseball
In the American Association, Mickey McDermott of the Louisville Colonels defeated the St. Paul Saints 3-1, striking out the last 6 batters for an AA single-game record of 20.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Oui, oui, oui, oui--Jean Philippe (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Human Interest Story , starring Steve McQueen and Arthur Hill

Died on this date
John Foster Dulles, 71. U.S. politician. Mr. Dulles, a Republican, was the grandson of John W. Foster and nephew of Robert Lansing, U.S. Secretaries of State in the administrations of Presidents Benjamin Harrison (1892-1893) and Woodrow Wilson (1915-1920), respectively. Mr. Dulles became a lawyer specializing in international law. He was appointed by New York Governor Thomas Dewey in July 1949 to the U.S. Senate, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Democratic incumbent Robert Wagner, but was defeated in a special election four months later by Democratic candidate Herbert Lehman. Mr. Dulles became Secretary of State in the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953, and became known for his support of Cold War alliances and opposition to Communism, using the policy of "brinkmanship," which he defined as "the ability to get to the verge without getting into the war..." Mr. Dulles was a liberal Presbyterian, and supported the Federal (later National) Council of Churches. He died after a long battle with colon cancer, and less than six weeks after resigning as Secretary of State.

War
Laotian troops attacked 800 Communist Pathet Lao guerrillas entrenched near Xiengkwan after the guerrillas refused to be incorporated into the Laotian Army.

Politics and government
Uganda National Movement leaders announced the formation of a Ugandan Freedom Movement to circumvent the ban imposed two days earlier by British Governor Sir Frederick Crawford.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. and U.K. signed a five-year trade agreement in Moscow providing for a one-third expansion of trade between the two countries during the first year.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Real Thing--Russell Morris (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Sorry Suzanne--The Hollies

#1 single in France: Le métèque--Georges Moustaki (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Tutta mia la città--Equipe 84 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston (3rd week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)--Peter Sarstedt (4th week at #1)
2 The Real Thing--Russell Morris
3 Goodbye--Mary Hopkin
4 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
5 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)--The 5th Dimension
6 Galveston--Glen Campbell
7 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
8 Sorry Suzanne--The Hollies
9 Gitarzan--Ray Stevens
10 Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da/While My Guitar Gently Weeps--The Beatles

Singles entering the chart were Get Back/Don't Let Me Down by the Beatles (#19); Israelites by Desmond Dekker and the Aces (#31); Mercy by Ohio Express (#34); Move in a Little Closer, Baby by Mama Cass (#35); and Good Times (Better Times) by Cliff Richard (#40).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Israelites--Desmond Dekker and the Aces
2 Get Back--The Beatles featuring Billy Preston
3 The Boxer--Simon & Garfunkel
4 Goodbye--Mary Hopkin
5 Suzanne--Herman Van Veen
6 5th Symphony Beethoven--Ekseption
7 Let the Sun Shine In--Marva Hodge & the Moody Sec
8 Harlem Shuffle--Bob and Earl
9 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
10 Seasons in the Sun--The Fortunes

Singles entering the chart were Oh Happy Day by the Edwin Hawkins Singers (#20); Je t'aime... moi non plus by Jane Birkin avec Serge Gainsbourg (#31); There's a Baby by Boots (#34); Souldrummers by Ray Barretto (#35); The Champ by the Mohawks (#38); and That was Only Yesterday by Spooky Tooth (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston
2 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)--The 5th Dimension
3 Love (Can Make You Happy)--Mercy
4 Hair--The Cowsills
5 Oh Happy Day--The Edwin Hawkins Singers
6 It's Your Thing--The Isley Brothers
7 Atlantis--Donovan
8 The Boxer--Simon & Garfunkel
9 Gitarzan--Ray Stevens
10 These Eyes--The Guess Who?

Singles entering the chart were Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down by the Temptations (#43); See by the Rascals (#61); So I Can Love You by the Emotions (#75); Love Man by Otis Redding (#77); Love Me Tonight by Tom Jones (#79); Color Him Father by the Winstons (#80); I Can Sing a Rainbow/Love is Blue by the Dells (#82); Good Morning Starshine by Oliver (#83); Good Morning Starshine by Strawberry Alarm Clock (#87); I Want to Take You Higher by Sly & the Family Stone (#89); Let's Dance by Ola and the Janglers (#93); Baby, I Love You by Andy Kim (#95); Too Experienced by Eddie Lovette (#97); Here We Go Again by Nancy Sinatra (#98); and Memphis Underground by Herbie Mann (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston
2 Love (Can Make You Happy)--Mercy
3 Hair--The Cowsills
4 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)--The 5th Dimension
5 These Eyes--The Guess Who?
6 Oh Happy Day--The Edwin Hawkins Singers
7 The Boxer--Simon & Garfunkel
8 Gitarzan--Ray Stevens
9 It's Your Thing--The Isley Brothers
10 Atlantis--Donovan

Singles entering the chart were Love Me Tonight by Tom Jones (#59); Tomorrow Tomorrow by the Bee Gees (#61); No Matter What Sign You Are by Diana Ross and the Supremes (#66); I Threw it All Away by Bob Dylan (#71); Hushabye by Jay and the Americans (#73); Without Her by Herb Alpert (#81); You Don't Need Me for Anything Anymore by Brenda Lee (#82); Some Velvet Morning by the Vanilla Fudge (#85); Color Him Father by the Winstons (#87); Good Morning Starshine by Strawberry Alarm Clock (#91); Listen to the Band by the Monkees (#92); Brown Arms in Houston by Orpheus (#94); It's in Your Power by Joe Odom (#95); Why I Sing the Blues by B.B. King (#96); I Can't Quit Her by the Arbors (#97); Sincerely by Paul Anka (#99); and I Need You Now by Ronnie Dove (#100). Listen to the Band was the B-side of Someday Man, which had peaked at #80 on May 17, and was now off the chart.

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston
2 The Boxer--Simon & Garfunkel
3 Hair--The Cowsills
4 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)--The 5th Dimension
5 Gitarzan--Ray Stevens
6 Hawaii 5-0--The Ventures
7 Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)--Peter Sarstedt
8 Time is Tight--Booker T. & the M.G.'s
9 Sweet Cherry Wine--Tommy James and the Shondells
10 Tricia Tell Your Daddy--Andy Kim
Pick hit of the week: I'm a Drifter--Bobby Goldsboro

War
Two days after bombing Port Harcourt, two Biafran aircraft bombed Benin, reportedly destroying several Nigerian fighter planes, killing 6 people, and setting an oil refinery on fire.

Boxing
Bob Foster (35-4) retained his world light heavyweight title with a technical knockout of Andy Kendall (26-5-5) at 1:15 of the 4th round at Eastern States Coliseum in West Springfield, Massachusetts.



30 years ago
1979

Died on this date
Ernest Bullock, 88. U.K. musician and composer. Sir Ernest was the organist at Exeter Cathedral (1917-1928) and Westminster Abbey (1928-1941) before teaching at several academies. He wrote church music, including organ pieces and vocal works.

Politics and government
Five Democratic Congressmen announced that they were organizing a campaign to dump President Jimmy Carter as the Democratic presidential candidate for 1980, and to draft Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy.

The Florida Senate voted 21-19 to reject the Equal Rights Amendment, the fourth time they had rejected the ERA. The proposal, approved by 35 states, had to be ratified by 38 states by June 30, 1982 in order to become part of the United States Constitution.

Abominations
The last 48 bodies from the People's Temple in Jonestown, Guyana were buried in a common grave in Oakland, California. Most of the bodies, all unidentified, were those of children who were among the 913 who died in mass suicides and murders on November 18, 1978. Few people attended the memorial service.

World events
As tensions between Islamists and liberals increased, Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini accused his secular critics of being enemies of Islam.

Economics and finance
The proposed United States federal budget passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 202-196 after liberal Democrats accepted a Senate compromise of $350 million in additional funds for social programs.

Sport
In the final round of group matches during the 1979 Benson & Hedges Cup cricket tournament at New Road, Worcester, England, Somerset County captain Brian Rose declared the innings closed after one over in their match against Worcestershire County in order to protect his club's qualification for the tournament's quarter-finals. Although Mr. Rose's move was within the rules, he was condemned for exercising poor sportsmanship for throwing the match; he was ejected from the Test and County Cricket Board, and the rules were later changed to ban declarations in professional one-day cricket.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Seattle 92 @ Washington 82 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

The SuperSonics outscored the Bullets 43-30 in the 2nd half as they evened the series before 19,035 fans at Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Gus Williams led Seattle with 23 points, while Dennis Johnson added 20. Bobby Dandridge led Washington scorers with 21 points, with Elvin Hayes adding 20.



25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 30 (CHED)
1 Oh Sherrie--Steve Perry
2 Time After Time--Cyndi Lauper
3 Let's Hear it for the Boy--Deniece Williams
4 The Reflex--Duran Duran
5 Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)--Phil Collins
6 Sister Christian--Night Ranger
7 I'll Wait--Van Halen
8 You Might Think--The Cars
9 Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin'--Jermaine Jackson
10 Love Somebody--Rick Springfield
11 No More Words--Berlin
12 Authority Song--John Cougar Mellencamp
13 It Ain't Enough--Corey Hart
14 The Heart of Rock and Roll--Huey Lewis and the News
15 Head Over Heels--The Go-Go's
16 The Longest Time--Billy Joel
17 It's a Miracle--Culture Club
18 Rock You Like a Hurricane--Scorpions
19 Distant Early Warning--Rush
20 Magic--The Cars
21 Who's That Girl--Eurythmics
22 Love Will Show Us How--Christine McVie
23 Self Control--Laura Branigan
24 You Can't Get What You Want--Joe Jackson
25 Dancing in the Dark--Bruce Springsteen
26 Wouldn't it Be Good--Nik Kershaw
27 They Don't Know--Tracey Ullman
28 Hold Me Now--Thompson Twins
29 High on Emotion--Chris De Burgh
30 Young Thing, Wild Dream--Red Rider

Dancing in the Dark was the first of seven straight top 10 hits from Mr. Springsteen's album Born in the U.S.A.. The B-side, Pink Cadillac, didn't appear on the album, but was a hit for Aretha Franklin a year later.

Crime
A court in El Salvador found five national guardsmen guilty of the 1980 murders of three American nuns and an American lay worker.

Politics and government
The United States House of Representatives approved $61.75 million in emergency military aid to El Salvador, but rejected further financing through the Central Intelligence Agency of Nicaraguan rebel groups, popularly known as "Contras."

Baseball
The Detroit Tigers defeated the California Angels 5-1 at Anaheim Stadium to improve to 35-5, the best start in major league history. The win was the Tigers' 17th straight on the road, setting an American League record and tying the major league record set by the 1916 New York Giants. Winning pitcher Jack Morris improved to 9-1, allowing 4 hits. Alan Trammell and Lance Parrish hit home runs for the Tigers.

The Oakland Athletics edged the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 to improve to 20-24, just 2½ games out of first place in the weak West Division of the American League. Just an hour after the game, the Athletics fired manager Steve Boros for being "too nice," and replaced him with coach Jackie Moore.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Minä olen muistanut--Kim Lönnholm (2nd week at #1)

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

Journalism
A jury at the Court in London awarded £600,000 in damages to Sonia Sutcliffe, estranged wife of serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, better known as the Yorkshire Ripper. Mrs. Sutcliffe had sued the satirical magazine Private Eye for libel for accusing her of attempting to profit from her association with Mr. Sutcliffe. Private Eye appealed the excessive amount of the award, which was £100,000 more than the largest award previously given in Britain for libel. The award was later reduced to £60,000.

Baseball
Johnny Ray batted 3 for 5 with a double, 2 runs, and 4 runs batted in to help the California Angels defeat the New York Yankees 11-4 before 19,144 fans at Yankee Stadium. The Angels put the game away with 5 runs in the 9th inning off Lee Guetterman, ending Mr. Guetterman's scoreless inning streak at 30 2/3.

The Minnesota Twins outscored the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 in the 1st inning and went on to win 10-4 before 27,138 fans at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Kirby Puckett led the Minnesota attack, batting 4 for 6 with a double, 2 runs, and 3 runs batted in. Toronto starting pitcher Mike Flanagan lasted just 1/3 inning, allowing 5 hits and 5 runs--all earned--in taking the loss.

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored 3 runs in the top of the 14th inning to break a 1-1 tie as they defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-1 before 5,896 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. David Justice made his major league debut in right field for Atlanta, batting 1 for 5, and making 3 putouts.

Tim Raines led off the game with a base on balls, stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hubie Brooks for the game's only run as the Montreal Expos edged the San Francisco Giants 1-0 before 9,889 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Kevin Gross pitched a 5-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Don Robinson.

10 years ago
1999

War
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands indicts Slobodan Milošević and four others for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Kosovo.

Scandal
Lawrence Dallaglio resigned as England's Rugby Football Union captain, following allegations in News of the World that he had admitted to using and dealing in hard drugs. The charges, denied by Mr. Dallaglio, were dropped three months later, but the RFU fined him £15,000 for bringing the game into disrepute, on top of legal costs amounting to £10,000.

Baseball
Cliff Floyd singled in a run, and Kevin Millar followed with a 3-run inside-the park home run as the Florida Marlins scored 4 runs with 2 out in the top of the 9th to defeat the Chicago Cubs 7-5 before 31,987 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The teams combined to hit 6 home runs.

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Atlanta Braves 10-7 before 14,913 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. The first 9 Milwaukee runs--all earned--were scored in 2 2/3 innings against Tom Glavine, the most runs the Atlanta ace ever gave up in a game.

The Toronto Blue Jays scored 10 runs in the 7th inning of a 12-6 win over the Detroit Tigers before 13,038 fans at Tiger Stadium.