June 12, 2009

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Genevieve Morrow!

580 years ago
1429

War
On the second day of the Battle of Jargeau, Joan of Arc led the French army in their capture of the city and of the English commander, William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk.

190 years ago
1819

Born on this date
Charles Kingsley. U.K. clergyman and author. Rev. Kingsley was a Church of England priest who promoted "Christian socialism" and Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in works such as the children's novel The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby (1863). He also wrote historical novels, such as Hypatia (1853) and Westward Ho! (1855). Rev. Kingsley died on January 23, 1875 at the age of 55.

130 years ago
1879

Born on this date
Charles D. Richards. Canadian politician and judge. Mr. Richards, a native of Southampton, New Brunswick, was a Conservative who represented York (1920-1925, 1930-1933) and Fredericton (1925-1930) in the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, and served as the province's Premier from 1931-1933. He left politics when he was appointed to the Supreme Court of New Brunswick in 1933, serving as Chief Justice from 1946 until his retirement in 1955. Mr. Richards died on September 15, 1956 at the age of 77.

125 years ago
1884

Born on this date
Otto Knabe. U.S. baseball player and manager. Mr. Knabe was a second baseman who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1905, 1916); Philadelphia Phillies (1907-1913); Baltimore Terrapins (1914-1915); and Chicago Cubs (1916), batting .247 with 8 home runs and 365 runs batted in in 1,285 games. He also managed the Federal League Terrapins in 1914-1915, compiling a record of 131-177-6-1. Mr. Knabe died from a stroke on May 17, 1961 at the age of 76.

120 years ago
1889

Disasters
In the United Kingdom's worst rail disaster of the 19th century, 80 people were killed and 260 injured near Armagh in what is now Northern Ireland.

110 years ago
1899

Born on this date
Arthur "Weegee" Fellig. Austro-Hungarian-born U.S. photojournalist. Mr. Fellig moved with his family to New York City in 1909. He became known as a press photographer in the 1930s and '40s, often the first photographer at the scenes of crimes and disasters. Mr. Fellig died on December 26, 1968 at the age of 69.

Fritz Albert Lipmann. German-born U.S. biochemist. Dr. Lipmann began his career in Germany, but fled to the United States in 1939. He was awarded a share of the 1953 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for his discovery of co-enzyme A and its importance for intermediary metabolism." Dr. Lipmann died on July 24, 1986 at the age of 87.

Business
W.C. Van Horne resigned as president of the Canadian Pacific Railway in favour of Thomas Shaughnessy. Mr. Van Horne continued to serve as chairman of the board of directors.

Disasters
A tornado struck New Richmond, Wisconsin and vicinity, killing 117 people and injuring about 200.

100 years ago
1909

Canadiana
Bobtail Reserve in Alberta was surrendered to the Crown.

90 years ago
1919

Golf
Walter Hagen shot a 6-over-par 77 to finish a stroke ahead of Mike Brady in an 18-hole playoff to win the U.S. Open at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Massachusetts. First prize money was $475.

70 years ago
1939

Golf
Byron Nelson shot a 1-over-par 70 to finish 3 strokes ahead of Craig Wood in a second playoff round to win the U.S. Open at Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. First prize money was $1,000.



Baseball
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was dedicated in Cooperstown, New York.

The New York Yankees were in Kansas City, where they played an exhibition game at Ruppert Stadium against their' top farm team, the Kansas City Blues of the American Association. Lou Gehrig, who had last played on April 30 and had pulled himself from the lineup on May 2, played 3 innings at first base for the Yankees, and reportedly struggled mightily in the field. The next day he checked into the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for tests; on June 19, it was revealed that Mr. Gehrig was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

60 years ago
1949

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

Died on this date
Ollie Marcelle, 53. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Marcelle, nicknamed "Ghost," was a third baseman with six teams in the Negro Leagues from 1918-1931, batting (according to Seamheads) .305 with 22 home runs and 396 runs batted in in 733 games. He was regarded as a brilliant defensive third baseman. Mr. Marcelle's career was hampered and shortened by his hot temper, which reportedly included an incident after the 1927 season in which teammate Frank Warfield bit Mr. Marcelle's nose off during a fight, resulting in Mr. Marcelle playing with a piece of tape over his nose. Mr. Marcelle died in poverty.

Literature
The New York Herald Tribune listed Point of No Return by John P. Marquand as the best-selling fiction book, and Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Carey as the best-selling non-fiction book for the second straight month.

Academia
The University of California at Berkeley required the faculty to take a loyalty oath to the U.S. government and forswear membership in subversive organizations.

Baseball
Gil Hodges hit a grand slam and a solo homer and drove in 8 runs, and Billy Cox added 2 home runs and 6 RBIs to help the Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds 20-7 before 24,020 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Grady Hatton hit a grand slam for the Reds in the 5th inning, an inning in which the teams combined for a National League record 15 runs (10 for the Dodgers).

Vern Stephens batted 4 for 4 with a base on balls, home run, 3 runs, and 4 runs, and Bobby Doerr drove in 5 runs with a double and homer for the Boston Red Sox as they routed the Chicago White Sox 15-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 33,387 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Mr. Stephens added 3 RBIs as the Red Sox scored 5 runs in the last 2 innings to win the second game 7-5 to complete the sweep.

Bob Lemon pitched a 6-hitter and batted 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 runs batted in to lead the Cleveland Indians over the New York Yankees 6-0 in the first game of a doubleheader before 77,543 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Mike Garcia pitched a 3-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Tommy Byrne as the Indians completed the sweep with a 3-1 win in the second game, which was called because of rain with 1 out and a runner on first base in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Hal Newhouser pitched a 4-hitter and drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 9-0 win over the Washington Nationals in the first game of a doubleheader before 42,488 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Detroit third baseman George Kell batted 3 for 3 with a double, base on balls, and a run batted in. Lloyd Hittle, the second of three Washington pitchers, allowed 8 hits and 5 runs--all earned--with 7 bases on balls and a strikeout in 6 1/3 innings. Johnny Groth doubled home Paul Campbell and Mr. Kell with the bases loaded and 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Tigers a 6-5 win in the second game to complete the sweep. Clyde Vollmer had doubled in 2 runs in the top of the 9th to give the Nationals a 5-4 lead. Mr. Kell batted 3 for 4 with a double, base on balls, and 3 runs. The results pulled the second-place Tigers to within 3 games of the first-place Yankees in the American League.

The St. Louis Browns scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to overcome a 4-2 deficit and defeat the Philadelphia Athletics 6-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 7,393 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Athletics scored 2 runs in each of the 8th and 9th innings to win the second game 13-10. Pete Suder led the Philadelphia attack in the second game, batting 5 for 6 with a home run, 2 doubles, 3 runs, and 5 runs batted in, while Elmer Valo was 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 bases on balls, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): (Now and Then There's) A Fool Such As I/I Need Your Love Tonight--Elvis Presley (5th week at #1)

Crime
Steven Truscott, 14, was taken to the police station in Goderich, Ontario for questioning regarding the rape and murde of 12-year-old Lynne Harper, whose death had occurred three days earlier. Nearly three hours later he was taken to the local Royal Canadian Air Force base for a medical examination. Dr. Addison, the Truscott family doctor, and Dr. Brooks, an RCAF medical officer, found lesions on Mr. Truscott's penis, and both doctors thought the lesions were the result of a rape. Police executed a search warrant at the Truscott home, and found Steven's red trousers, which he had worn on the night of the crimes, freshly washed and hanging alone in the cellar. His crepe-soled shoes, which he had been believed to have been wearing the night of the murder, were missing, and were never found. The Crown Prosecutor decided to charge Steven Truscott with murder, and the local Juvenile and Family Court judge gave permission for him to be lodged in the county jail.

War
Premier Ferhat Abbas of the Algerian Provisional Government gained the backing of Yugoslavian officials for his offer to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the Algerian rebellion in a neutral country.

Diplomacy
Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with the Dominican Republic.

Economics and finance
Major Japanese shipping firms suspended all trips to South Korea, and Agriclture Minister Kunio Miura warned Japanese fishermen against entering South Korea's disputed 60-mile territorial fishing zone.

Olympics
The U.S. State Department announced that U.S. visas would be granted to any bona fide athletes sent by the People's Republic of China to the 1960 Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley, California.

Baseball
The San Francisco Giants defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 before 20,595 fans at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia in a game called because of rain in the top of the 6th inning. The Giants scored a run in the top of the 6th to make the score 4-0; Richie Ashburn singled in the bottom of the 6th for the Phillies’ first hit of the game, and the Phillies scored a run and had the bases loaded with none out when the game was called; under the rules then in place, the partial inning was erased from the records when the game was called, leaving Mr. McCormick with a 5-inning no-hitter.

Pinch hitter Norm Larker singled home 2 runs and Jim Gilliam followed with a sacrifice fly as the Los Angeles Dodgers scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning to break a 6-6 tie and defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-6 before 27,970 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

Pinch hitter George Crowe scored Bill White with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 12,884 fans at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

The Chicago Cubs scored 3 runs in each of the first 2 innings and held on to defeat the Milwaukee Braves 9-7 before 11,873 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Lee Walls and Ernie Banks hit consecutive home runs to open the scoring for Chicago.

Don Mossi pitched a 6 hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Jim Bronstad as the Detroit Tigers defeated the New York Yankees 3-1 before 41,891 fans at Yankee Stadium.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Joe Engel, 76. U.S. baseball pitcher and executive. Mr. Engel played with the Washington Nationals (1912-1915, 1920); Cincinnati Reds (1917); and Cleveland Indians (1919), compiling a record of 17-23 with an earned run average of 3.38 in 102 games. He scouted for the Nationals and then took over operations, and eventually ownership, of the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern Association, where he was known for his colourful promotions. Mr. Engel was given the 1960 King of Baseball award for service to professional baseball.

War
At the Vietnam War peace talks in Paris, hopes that the new "revolutionary provisional government," which had replaced the National Liberation Front, would be willing to deal with the South Vietnamese government in Saigon were dashed, as the new foreign minister, Mrs. Hguyen Thi Binh, called for "complete victory.

Baseball
Al Spangler batted 3 for 5 with 2 home runs, 3 runs, and 4 runs batted in to help the Chicago Cubs defeat the Atlanta Braves 12-6 before 27,671 fans at Atlanta Stadium. Ron Santo also homered for the Cubs, while Hank Aaron hit a 3-run homer for the Braves. Garry Hill started on the mound for Atlanta, allowing 6 hits and 4 runs--all earned--with a base on balls and 2 strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings, taking the loss in his only major league game.

Lee May singled home Pete Rose with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Cincinnati Reds a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals before 6,472 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

Pinch hitter Carl Taylor singled home Manny Sanguillen with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to break a 3-3 tie as the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Houston Astros 4-3 before 14,260 fans at the Astrodome. Jim Bunning pitched a 9-hit complete game victory, allowing 1 earned run.

Johnny Briggs’ first home run of the season, leading off the game, stood as the game’s only run as the Philadelphia Phillies edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 before 13,846 fans at Dodger Stadium. Grant Jackson pitched a 7-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Bill Singer, who allowed just 4 hits.

Ron Fairly, playing his first game in a Montreal uniform since being traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers the day before, singled home Gary Sutherland with the winning run in the top of the 9th inning and scored on a triple by Mack Jones as the Montreal Expos scored 3 runs to break a 1-1 tie and defeat the San Diego Padres 4-1 before 3,513 fans at San Diego Stadium.

Jim Shellenback pitched a 7-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over George Lauzerique as the Washington Senators defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-1 before 6,092 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington. Washington right fielder Hank Allen opened the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the 1st inning; it was his only home run of the season, and the sixth and last of his 7-year major league career.

30 years ago
1979

Died on this date
Bill Brenzel, 69. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Brenzel was a catcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1932) and Cleveland Indians (1934-1935), batting .198 with no home runs and 19 runs batted in in 76 games. He played in 1,396 games in 17 seasons in the minor leagues from 1927-1946, batting .269 with 24 home runs.

Aviation
Bryan Allen, an American, became the first person to cross the English Channel in a man-powered flying machine, earning the second Kremer prize. Sitting on a bicycle seat, Mr. Allen pedalled the 70-pound Gossamer Albatross across the channel in 2 hours and 55 minutes. Mr. Allen supplied about 1/3 of the horsepower during the nonstop flight, which covered about 25 miles. An official of the Royal Aeronautical Society called Mr. Allen’s feat "a tremendous achievement."

Religion
The Southern Baptist Convention in the United States chose Rev. Adrian Rogers as their new president. The election of Rev. Rogers, a believer in biblical inerrancy, represented a victory for conservative forces in the 13.1 million-member denomination over liberal forces.

Economics and finance
The United States Senate voted 52-41 to lift economic sanctions against Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, delivering a stinging rebuke to the foreign policy of President Jimmy Carter.

The new Conservative government in Great Britain presented a budget to Parliament which reduced government spending and personal income taxes while imposing large increases in sales taxes and interest rates.

Hockey
Bobby Orr, Harry Howell, and Henri Richard were elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Ottawa (0-1) 20 @ Montreal (1-0) 36
British Columbia (1-0) 32 @ Edmonton (0-1) 27

This blogger attended his first game at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, and saw the British Columbia Lions defeat the Edmonton Eskimos 32-27 in the first pre-season game for both teams. It was an entertaining game (unusual for pre-season). The Eskimos used four quarterbacks--Tom Wilkinson; Bruce Lemmerman; Warren Moon; and rookie Charlie Weatherbie--and all but Moon were impressive. The rookie who made the biggest impression was wide receiver Brian Kelly, who made some spectacular long gains. It was the first game for Mr. Kelly--and the last for George McGowan, the greatest Eskimo receiver of the 1970s.

Baseball
The Detroit Tigers, fifth in the American League East Division with a record of 27-26, fired manager Les Moss. After coach Dick Tracewski handled the team for 2 games (winning both), former Reds’ skipper Sparky Anderson was hired as the Tigers’ permanent manager. In their first game under Mr. Tracewski, the Tigers scored 5 runs in the 5th inning of a 9-2 win over the Oakland Athletics before 16,278 fans at Tiger Stadium. Detroit designated hitter Rusty Staub batted 2 for 3 with a home run, double, 2 bases on balls, and 3 runs batted in. Pat Underwood pitched a 6-hit complete game victory to improve his major league career record to 2-0.

The New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds tied a National League record for runs in an inning (set 30 years earlier to the day) before 9,805 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. The Reds scored 5 in the top of the 6th inning, and the Mets came back with 10 in the bottom of the inning, winning 12-6.

Nino Espinosa pitched a 6-hitter and didn't walk a batter to win the pitchers' duel over Rick Williams as the Philadelphia Phillies shut out the Houston Astros 4-0 before 34,177 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The Phillies made just 3 hits, but made the most of 5 bases on balls and a hit batsman, with Mike Schmidt's 2-run home run in the 5th inning providing the necessary scoring.

Andre Thornton singled home Bobby Bonds to climax a 3-run rally in the bottom of the 9th inning, giving the Cleveland Indians an 11-10 win over the California Angels before 9,945 fans at Cleveland Stadium. Toby Harrah hit a 2-run home run for the Indians, and Mr. Bonds followed with a single, stealing second base prior to Mr. Thornton brought him home with his fourth run batted of the game. California designated hitter Brian Downing batted 4 for 5 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs.

The Chicago White Sox scored 7 runs in the 2nd inning and 2 in the 3rd as they beat the Baltimore Orioles 12-4 before 17,137 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

Buddy Bell singled home Leon Roberts with the bases loaded and 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning, climaxing a 3-run rally and giving the Texas Rangers a 7-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers before 15,743 fans at Arlington Stadium. Mr. Bell batted 4 for 5 with a home run, 2 runs, and 3 runs batted in, while Milwaukee center fielder Gorman Thomas drove in 4 runs with 3 doubles.

25 years ago
1984

Politics and government
The Lebanese parliament approved Premier Rashid Karami and his "national unity" cabinet. Parliament rejected Mr. Karami’s request to govern by decree, but granted him emergency powers for nine months.

Diplomacy
United States Senators Howard Baker (Republican--Tennessee) and Charles Percy (Republican--Illinois) urged President Ronald Reagan to meet regularly with U.S.S.R. leader Konstantin Chernenko.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Eternal Flame--Bangles

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Ibiza--Amnesia (3rd week at #1)

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Rock On--Michael Damian
2 Forever Your Girl--Paula Abdul
3 Soldier of Love--Donny Osmond
4 Pop Singer--John Mellencamp
5 Everlasting Love--Howard Jones
6 Satisfied--Richard Marx
7 I Won't Back Down--Tom Petty
8 Real Love--Jody Watley
9 Good Thing--Fine Young Cannibals
10 Patience--Guns n' Roses

Singles entering the chart were Hard Sun by Indio (#73); Harry Houdini by Kan Kan (#75); Wildfire by the Nylons (#78); Keep Each Other Warm by Barry Manilow (#79); Don't Say You Love Me by Billy Squier (#85); We Can Last Forever by Chicago (#87); and Toy Soldiers by Martika (#91).

Died on this date
Lou Monte, 72. U.S. singer. Born Louis Scaglione, Mr. Monte had a string of Italian-themed novelty hit singles in the 1950s and '60s, including Darktown Strutters' Ball (1954); Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey (1960); and Pepino the Italian Mouse (1962).

Diplomacy
United States Vice-President Dan Quayle, on a visit to Central America, met with Guatemalan President Vinicio Serezo, and before leaving the country, charged that Nicaragua was still exporting terrorism. Mr. Quayle described Nicaragua, Panama, and Cuba as an anti-democratic axis. Mr. Quayle also visited Honduras and met with President Jose Azcona.

U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev received an enthusiastic public reception upon arriving in Bonn, West Germany. He met with Chancellor Helmut Kohl and President Richard von Weizsaecker. At a banquet, Mr. Gorbachev welcomed NATO’s proposal for a reduction in conventional arms in Europe, bur reiterated Soviet support for a complete elimination of nuclear weapons in Europe.

Politics and government
Argentinian President Raul Alfonsin announced his resignation effective June 30. Economic figures that day showed that inflation of 309,907% had been recorded since Mr. Alfonsin became president in 1983.

Environment
U.S. President George Bush presented a plan to Congress to revise the Clean Air Act in order to blunt the adverse effects of acid rain, encourage the use of alternative fuels for automobiles, and reduce levels of tailpipe emissions and gasoline vapour levels.

Economics and finance
Figures released by the government of Argentina showed that an inflation rate of 309,907% had been recorded since Raul Alfonsin had taken office as President in 1983.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
J.F. Powers, 81. U.S. author. James Farl Powers was a Roman Catholic who expressed his faith through short stories and novels from the 1940s through the 1990s. His works included Prince of Darkness and Other Stories (1947); The Presence of Grace (1956); and Morte d'Urban (1962).

War
The first NATO troops entered the Yugoslavian province of Kosovo, to find out to their surprise that Russian troops had already entered the Kosovar capital of Pristina. The Russian role had not been agreed to, and the Russians’ appearance created international tension.

Politics and government
Texas Governor George W. Bush announced that he was seeking the Republican party nomination for President of the United States in 2000, and that he embraced a philosophy of "compassionate conservatism." He promised to cut taxes and urged Americans to realize that they were responsible for their actions.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Dallas 2 @ Buffalo 1 (Dallas led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Joe Nieuwendyk scored both goals for the Stars as they edged the Sabres before 18,595 fans at Marine Midland Arena.



Baseball
Ed Sprague hit a 2-run home run in the 1st inning and singled home Adrian Brown with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 9-8 win over the Kansas City Royals before 29,569 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Edgar Renteria singled home Willie McGee with the bases loaded and 2 out in the bottom of the 14th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals an 8-7 win over the Detroit Tigers before 47,716 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis.

The San Francisco Giants amassed 22 hits, 5 by second baseman Jeff Kent (including a home run and 2 doubles) in beating the Seattle Mariners 15-11 before 35,625 fans at the Kingdome in Seattle. Every man in the San Francisco lineup had at least one hit and one run. Rafael Carmona, the fifth of six Seattle pitchers, allowed 5 hits and 2 runs--1 earned--in 1 1/3 innings--with 1 base on balls and no strikeouts in the 81st and last game of his 4-year major league career.