July 4, 2009

290 years ago
1719

Born on this date
Michel-Jean Sedaine. French playwright. Mr. Sedaine was known for his librettos for opéras comiques. He died on May 17, 1797 at the age of 77.

210 years ago
1799

Born on this sate
Oscar I. King of Sweden and Norway, 1844-1859. Oscar I acceded to the throne upon the death of his father Charles XIV. He instituted liberal reforms and improved ties between Sweden and Norway. King Oscar I's health declined in the 1850s, and he became paralyzed in 1857. He died on July 8, 1859, four days after his 60th birthday, and was succeeded by his son Charles XV.

150 years ago
1859

Born on this date
Mickey Welch. U.S. baseball pitcher. "Smiling Mickey," born Michael Walsh, pitched with the Troy Trojans (1880-1882) and New York Gothams and Giants (1883-1892), compiling a record of 307-210 with an earned run average of 2.71. He appeared in 565 games as a pitcher and 59 games as an outfielder. Mr. Welch had nine seasons of 20 or more wins, and was the third pitcher in major league history to record 300 career wins. He batted .224 with 12 home runs and 202 runs batted in in 607 games. Mr. Welch died on July 30, 1941, 26 days after his 82nd birthday, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973.

130 years ago
1879

War
The Zululand capital of Ulundi was captured by British troops and burned to the ground, ending the war and forcing King Cetshwayo to flee.

Baseball
5,000 turned out in Philadelphia to watch two women’s teams, the New York Blue Stockings and Philadelphia Red Stockings, play for the "Championship of the United States." The Blue Stockings won 36-24 in a game that was cut short when the crowd got out of control.

125 years ago
1884

Americana
In Paris, the Statue of Liberty was presented to the United States.

90 years ago
1919

Aviation
The British dirigible R34 flew over Notre Dame Bay and St. John's Newfoundland, two days after leaving East Fortune, Scotland to make the first transatlantic crossing, bound for Mineola, New York. Meanwhile, the Handley-Page bombing biplane piloted by Vice-Admiral Mark Kerr departed Harbour Grace, Newfoundland on an attempted nonstop flight to New York to welcome the dirigible.

Boxing
The world heavyweight title changed hands when Jack Dempsey (49-4-8) beat defending champion Jess Willard (24-6-2) to a bloody pulp and won a 3-round technical knockout at Bay View Park Arena in Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Willard, who hadn’t fought in 3 years, was knocked down 7 times in the 1st round, and was saved from a knockout when the whistle (there was no bell used for the fight) sounded at the count of 7. Mr. Dempsey thought he’d won the fight; he started to leave the ring, and the crowd started to mob him, but the referee informed him that the fight wasn’t over. After a less eventful 2nd round, Mr. Dempsey resumed the attack in the 3rd round, closing Mr. Willard’s right eye and knocking out six of his teeth. Fans started to scream at the referee to stop the bout. Mr. Willard’s corner threw two towels into the ring 30 seconds after the end of the round, and a new champion’s hand was raised. A special stadium was built for the fight that could seat 80,000, but only about 45,000 showed up in 110-120 F. heat.





Baseball
In the Pacific Coast League, Babe Pinelli of the San Francisco Seals took advantage of a rookie Seattle Rainiers’ catcher who was tipping off pitches by the way he held his glove, and went 6 for 6, with 3 home runs (including 2 grand slams) and 12 runs batted in as the Seals won 22-10.

70 years ago
1939

Weather
The overnight temperature at Fort Ross, Northwest Territories dropped to 10 F., one of the lowest July temperatures ever recorded in Canada.

Religion
Vietnamese "prophet" Huỳnh Phú Sổ founded Hòa Hảo Buddhism.

Baseball
61,808 were in attendance at Yankee Stadium in New York to pay tribute to Lou Gehrig on the occasion of The Iron Horse’s retirement. The Yankees split a doubleheader with the Washington Nationals, losing 3-2 and winning 11-1. The ceremony for Mr. Gehrig took place between games. His speech began with the memorable words, "Fans‚ for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." Mr. Gehrig’s number 4 was retired, making him the first major league player so honoured.



The Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Athletics combined for a record 54 runs as the Red Sox swept a doubleheader 17-7 and 18-12 before 22,030 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Jim Tabor of the Red Sox hit one home run in the first game, and 3 (including 2 grand slams) in the second game.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
Murder By Experts, hosted and narrated by John Dickson Carr, on MBS
Tonight's episode: Two Coffins to Fill

Died on this date
François Brandt, 74. Dutch rower and clergyman. Mr. Brandt was a member of the Dutch teams that won a gold medal in the coxed pair competition at the 1900 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, and a bronze medal in the eight event. He later became a civil engineer and then a bishop in the Liberal Catholic Church.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R., Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Finland signed an interlocking one-year agreement covering $56.4 million worth of trade in food, timber, coal, and sugar.

Baseball
The New York Yankees extended the Boston Red Sox’ losing streak to 8 games as they swept a doubleheader 3-2 and 6-4 before 63,876 fans at Yankee Stadium. The second game, which was interrupted by a 48-minute rain delay, was called because of darkness after 7½ innings.

Willard Marshall had 3 singles and a double, and Buddy Kerr batted in 4 runs to help the New York Giants defeat the Boston Braves 11-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 22,754 fans at Braves Field. Alvin Dark singled home 2 runs with 2 out to climax a 4-run 9th-inning rally as the Braves won the second game 8-7. Tommy Holmes had hit a 2-run home run earlier in the inning.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Personality--Lloyd Price (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Venus--Frankie Avalon (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Die Gitarre und das Meer--Freddy Quinn (11th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Dream Lover--Bobby Darin (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Battle of New Orleans--Johnny Horton (6th week at #1)
2 Personality--Lloyd Price
3 Lonely Boy--Paul Anka
4 Dream Lover--Bobby Darin
5 Waterloo--Stonewall Jackson
6 Tallahassee Lassie--Freddy Cannon
7 Lipstick on Your Collar--Connie Francis
8 Kansas City--Wilbert Harrison
9 Frankie--Connie Francis
10 Bobby Sox to Stockings--Frankie Avalon

Singles entering the chart were What'd I Say (Part 1) by Ray Charles and his Orchestra (#64); Just a Little Too Much (#67)/Sweeter than You (#73) by Ricky Nelson; Ten Thousand Drums by Carl Smith (#85); Bei Mir Bist du Chon by Louis Prima and Keely Smith (#86); Here Comes Summer by Jerry Keller (#87); Half-Breed by Marvin Rainwater (#93); Sweet Someone by Eddie and Betty (#94); Little Bitty Johnny by Travis and Bob (#96); On an Evening in Roma (Sott’er Celo De Roma) by Dean Martin (#97); Ragtime Cowboy Joe by David Seville and the Chipmunks (#99); See You in September by the Tempos (#100); and Tennessee Stud by Eddy Arnold (also #100).

Americana
U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon officially opened the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

Sport
Harvard University won the Grand and Thames Challenge Cups at the Royal Henley Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, England.

Tennis
Brazil's Maria Bueno defeated American Darlene Hard to win the women's singles title at Wimbledon, England.

Baseball
The Washington Senators scored 8 runs in the first 3 innings en route to a 10-6 win over the New York Yankees in the first game of a doubleheader before 31,126 fans at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won the second game 7-0, as Bob Turley took a no-hitter into the 9th inning, only to allow a single by pinch hitter Julio Becquer to lead off the inning. Mr. Turley finished with a 1-hit shutout.

Cal McLish pitched a 5-hitter to win the pitching matchup over Frank Lary and improve his 1959 record to 10-3 as the Cleveland Indians beat the Detroit Tigers 6-1 in the first game of a doubleheader before 35,799 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Indians scored 3 runs in the top of the 11th inning to break a 3-3 tie and won the second game 6-3 to complete the sweep. Mudcat Grant, the second of five Cleveland pitchers in the second game, hit his first major league home run, a 3-run blast in the 8th inning. Dick Brodowski, the fourth Cleveland pitcher, faced 1 batter in the 10th inning and walked him; it was the 72nd and last game of his 6-year major league career.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Hair--The Cowsills (3rd week at #1)

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 The Ballad of John and Yoko/Old Brown Shoe--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)
2 Let Me--Paul Revere and the Raiders
3 I Threw it All Away--Bob Dylan
4 Medicine Man (Part I)--Buchanan Brothers
5 Crystal Blue Persuasion--Tommy James and the Shondells
6 My Pledge of Love--The Joe Jeffrey Group
7 Good Morning Starshine--Oliver
8 One--Three Dog Night
9 Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet--Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus
10 Baby, I Love You--Andy Kim

Singles entering the chart were Laughing by the Guess Who (#25); Quentin's Theme by the Charles Randolph Grean Sounde (#26); Happy Together by Hugo Montenegro, his Orchestra and Chorus (#28); Good Old Rock 'n Roll by Cat Mother and the All Night News Boys (#29); and Soul Deep by the Box Tops (#30).

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 The Ballad of John and Yoko--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)
2 Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston
3 Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet--Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus
4 Medicine Man (Part I)--Buchanan Brothers
5 Bad Moon Rising--Creedence Clearwater Revival
6 Seattle--Perry Como
7 Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town--Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
8 Spinning Wheel--Blood, Sweat & Tears
9 Rhythm of the Rain--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
10 In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)--Zager and Evans

Died on this date
Henri Decoin, 79. French film director. Mr. Decoin was a national champion swimmer and a sportswriter before directing films in various genres, from His Highness Love (1931) through Nick Carter va tout casser (1964).

Diplomacy
India and Pakistan signed a final agreement of their long-standing Rann of Kutch boundary dispute; a series of maps defining the 320-mile border was approved in Islamabad.

Politics and government
Robert L. Bennett, the only American Indian in the 20th Century to head the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, resigned his post. Mr. Bennett, an Oneida who had been appointed by President Lyndon Johnson, submitted his resignation over what he termed the indifference toward his people from the administration of President Richard Nixon.

Education
The National Education Association, the U.S.A.’s largest group of teachers and school administrators, voted overwhelmingly to insist that President Richard Nixon restore the September deadline for desegregation of all southern school districts.

Disasters
A severe storm from Lake Erie pounded northern Ohio; the storm and the floods that followed killed at least 41 people.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Are 'Friends' Electric?--Tubeway Army

World events
Algerian President Chadli Benjedid freed former President Ahmed Ben Bella after 14 years of house arrest. Mr. Ben Bella had been a hero of Algeria’s fight for independence and President from 1963-1965 until he was overthrown and arrested by Houari Boumedienne, who succeeded him as President. Mr. Benjedid became President in February 1979.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Toronto (2-2) 18 @ Ottawa (2-2) 13
Saskatchewan (1-3) 10 @ Winnipeg (1-3) 16

25 years ago
1984

Died on this date
Jimmie Spheeris, 34. U.S. musician. Mr. Spheeris was a singer-songwriter who recorded several albums in the early 1970s. He was killed when the motorcycle he was riding was hit by a drunk driver.

World events
Units of the reconstituted Lebanese army began to move through Beirut to take over positions from the rival militia units that had taken control of the city in February.

Baseball
Phil Niekro became the ninth pitcher in major league history to record 3,000 career strikeouts when he struck out 5 in leading the New York Yankees to a 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers before 39,240 fans at Arlington Stadium.



20 years ago
1989

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev and French President Francois Mitterand began two days of talks in France.

Politics and government
Poland’s new bicameral parliament convened, with the independent trade union Solidarity holding almost half the seats. Premier Mieczyslaw Rakowski and his cabinet tendered their resignations, but agreed to stay on until parliament elected a president who would appoint a new premier.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Toronto (2-0) 23 @ Ottawa (0-2) 11
Saskatchewan (2-1) 13 @ British Columbia (2-0) 30

Baseball
Tom Browning of the Cincinnati Reds came within 3 outs of his second career perfect game, but gave up a double to Dickie Thon leading off the 9th inning as the Reds held on for a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 14,636 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. John Franco relieved Mr. Browning with 1 out in the 9th and induced a double play ball to get the save.

10 years ago
1999

War
NATO representatives and Russian officials began two days of talks in Moscow to work out details for the deployment of 3,600 Russian soldiers in the Yugoslavian province of Kosovo.

Diplomacy
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited U.S. President Bill Clinton in Washington, and promised to restore a cease-fire in Kashmir, which had been occupied by Islamic militants.

Tennis
Lindsay Davenport, an American, won her first Wimbledon singles title, defeating seven-time champion Steffi Graf of Germany 6-4 and 7-5. Pete Sampras won his sixth men’s singles title, defeating fellow American Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.