June 2, 2009

110 years ago
1899

Baseball
Nap Lajoie hit a home run in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at National League Park in Philadelphia.

The Cleveland Spiders blew a 10-0 lead and lost 11-10 to the Brooklyn Superbas.

100 years ago
1909

Politics and government
Commonwealth Liberal Party leader Alfred Deakin became Prime Minister of Australia for the third time.

90 years ago
1919

Terrorism
Anarchists simultaneously set off bombs in eight separate U.S. cities.

80 years ago
1929

Died on this date
Thomas Chipman McRae, 77. U.S. politician. Mr. McRae, a Democrat, was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives (1877-1879), and represented Arkansas' 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1885-1903). He was Governor of Arkansas (1921-1925), and was briefly special Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court (1925). Mr. McRae practiced law when he wasn't engaging in political activities.

75 years ago
1934

Baseball
Dizzy Dean won and his brother Paul relieved and picked up the save as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 13-4.

70 years ago
1939

Edmontonia
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Edmonton; Portage Avenue was renamed Kingsway Avenue in their honour.

Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds scored 4 runs in the 13th inning--3 of them on a home run by catcher Ernie Lombardi--to beat the Boston Bees 4-0 before 2,271 fans at National League Park in Boston. Whitey Moore pitched a 9-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Milt Shoffner, who pitched a 10-hit complete game.

The New York Yankees scored 7 runs in the top of the 1st inning en route to a 17-5 win over the Cleveland Indians before 8,000 fans at League Park in Cleveland. Tommy Henrich and Babe Dahlgren each drove in 4 New York runs, while Atley Donald pitched an 11-hit complete game, allowing 3 earned runs, to improve his 1939 record to 5-0. Losing pitcher Johnny Allen faced 7 batters, allowing 4 hits , 3 bases on balls, and 7 earned runs.

60 years ago
1949

World events
Suspected Soviet spy Gerhart Eisler arrived in East Germany following his release from a London prison to assume a professorship at the University of Leipzig.

Politics and government
Continuing the joint U.S. Congressional Atomic Energy Committee's investigation of Federal Bureau of Investigation operations, Senator Bourke Hickenlooper (Republican--Iowa) scored Atomic Energy Commission head David Lilienthal for hiring nuclear weapons workers without FBI clearance.

Energy
The joint U.S. Congressional Atomic Energy Committee reported the discovery of the remaining uranium oxide missing since February from an Atomic Energy Commission laboratory in Illinois. The material was found in the laboratory's "security burial ground."

Journalism
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission ended its eight-year ban on editorializing by radio stations, but warned that stations must present all sides of controversial questions.

Baseball
The Philadelphia Phillies tied a major league record with 5 home runs in one inning--the 8th--to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 12-3 rout over the Cincinnati Reds before 10,549 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Catcher Andy Seminick hit 2 of the 5 home runs--his second and third of the game. The other Phillies' home runs in the 8th inning were hit by right fielder Del Ennis, third baseman Willie "Puddin' Head" Jones, and pitcher Schoolboy Rowe. Mr. Jones added a triple that just missed being a home run, and shortstop Granny Hamner had a double, for a major league record 18 total bases in one inning. The 26 total bases tied a 20th century record for a single game.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored 3 runs in the top of the 14th inning to break a 4-4 tie as they defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 7-4 before 32,992 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

50 years ago
1959

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Echo, starring Ross Martin, Edward Kemmer, and Leslie Barrett



Politics and government
Indonesia's two major Muslim parties, the Masjumi and Nahddayul Ulama, prevented the Constituent Assembly from granting President Sukarno's demand for special powers to carry out his program of "guided democracy."

U.K. Prime Minister Harold Macmillan denied reports of Foreign Minister Selwyn Lloyd's possible ouster.

U.K. Minister of State for Colonial Affairs the Earl of Perth rejected requests by the Kabaka of Buganda for talks on ending the British protectorate over Buganda, a Ugandan enclave.

Galveston, Texas Probate Judge Hugh Gibson, agreeing that Louisiana Governor Earl Long (Democrat) was mentally ill and likely to cause injury to himself or other persons, ordered Gov. Long held in protective custody in Galveston's John Sealy Hospital until a formal hearing was arranged.

U.S. Senate Republican Party leader Everett Dirksen (Illinois) announced after a White House meeting that President Dwight D. Eisenhower would not withdraw Lewis Strauss's controversial nomination as Secretary of Commerce.

Protest
Paraguayan police arrested more than 100 dissident members of President Alfredo Stroessner's Colorado Party for condemning police brutality against student demonstrations.

Olympics
The U.S. State Department denounced the International Olympic Committee's refusal to recognize the Nationalist Chinese Olympic Committee as "a clear act of political discrimination."

Baseball
Don Mossi pitched a 4-hitter and drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly to win the pitchers' duel over Duke Maas as the Detroit Tigers shut out the New York Yankees 2-0 before 42,268 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Mr. Maas allowed just 1 hit and 1 earned run in 4 innings, but 3 bases on balls and an error contributed to the scoring. Mr. Maas and relievers Bobby Shantz and Jim Coates allowed just 3 hits.

The game between the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles at Comiskey Park in Chicago was delayed for 30 minutes by a swarm of gnats over the field. Groundskeepers tried bug spray to no avail, but a smoke bomb attached to the framework of the fireworks mechanism did the trick. The Orioles won 3-2 before 12,482 fans, with Hoyt Wilhelm pitching a 7-hitter to improve his 1959 record to 8-0.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Yoake no Scat--Saori Yuki (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Mama--Jean Jacques (3rd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston (3rd week at #1)
2 Oh Happy Day--The Edwin Hawkins Singers
3 Love (Can Make You Happy)--Mercy
4 The River is Wide--The Grassroots
5 Grazing in the Grass--The Friends of Distinction
6 Pinball Wizard--The Who
7 More Today than Yesterday--The Spiral Starecase
8 Where's the Playground Susie--Glen Campbell
9 Morning Girl--Neon Philharmonic
10 Gitarzan--Ray Stevens

Singles entering the chart were Spinning Wheel by Blood, Sweat & Tears (#74); Color Him Father by the Winstons (#75); Let Me Love You by Ray Charles (#81); I Can't Quit Her by the Arbors (#85); I Turned You On by the Isley Brothers (#87); Moody Woman by Jerry Butler (#90); Sincerely by Paul Anka (#91); My Pledge of Love by the Joe Jeffrey Group (#92); Yesterday, When I was Young (Hier Encore) by Roy Clark (#93); Funny Feeling by the Delfonics (#94); Rainy Jane by Neil Sedaka (#95); My Cherie Amour by Stevie Wonder (#97); But it's Alright by J.J. Jackson (#98); Why I Sing the Blues by B.B. King (#99); and The Popcorn by James Brown (#100). But it's Alright was a re-release of a single that had been a hit in 1966; it had been released on Calla Records, with Boogaloo Baby as the other side; the 1969 release was on Warner Brothers Records, with Ain't Too Proud to Beg as the B-side.

On the radio
The Challenge of Space, on Springbok Radio
Tonight’s episode: Women Must Wait

Politics and government
The French Communist party told its supporters not to vote in the June 15 presidential runoff election between Georges Pompidou and Alain Poher. The party’s decision was tantamount to assuring the election of Mr. Pompidou.

Disasters
74 Americans were lost when the Australian aircraft carrier Melbourne collided with the U.S. destroyer Frank E. Evans during night maneuvers in the South China Sea, cutting the destroyer in half. The American ship was acting as part of the carrier’s screen and was changing station from ahead of the Melbourne to the rear for rescue duty. The bow section of the destroyer sank immediately, but the stern remained afloat and was towed by the carrier to the U.S. naval station at Subic Bay, Philippines. The carrier suffered no casualties. 44 other warships participated in the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization exercise.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Zimbabwe Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Chiquitita--ABBA (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Il Carrozzone--Renato Zero (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Sunday Girl--Blondie (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Sunday Girl--Blondie (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Bright Eyes--Art Garfunkel
2 I Want You to Want Me--Cheap Trick
3 When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman--Dr. Hook
4 Does Your Mother Know--ABBA
5 Some Girls--Racey
6 Pop Muzik--M
7 Casanova--Luv'
8 Happiness--Pointer Sisters
9 Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday--Boney M.
10 Juliana--Kinderen Van Nederland

Singles entering the chart were Weekend Love by Golden Earring (#33); Hanging on the Telephone by Blondie (#34); Tell it All About Boys by Dolly Dots (#37); and Unknown Destination by Massada (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Hot Stuff--Donna Summer
2 Reunited--Peaches & Herb
3 Love You Inside Out--Bee Gees
4 We are Family--Sister Sledge
5 Goodnight Tonight--Wings
6 Just When I Needed You Most--Randy Vanwarmer
7 Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)--The Jacksons
8 In the Navy--Village People
9 The Logical Song--Supertramp
10 Love is the Answer--England Dan and John Ford Coley

Singles entering the chart were Days Gone Down (Still Got the Light in Your Eyes) by Gerry Rafferty (#68); One Way or Another by Blondie (#69); People of the South Wind by Kansas (#74); Up on the Roof by James Taylor (#79); Married Men by Bette Midler (#85); Wasn't it Good by Cher (#88); and Kiss in the Dark by Pink Lady (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Hot Stuff--Donna Summer
2 Reunited--Peaches & Herb
3 We are Family--Sister Sledge
4 Love You Inside Out--Bee Gees
5 Heart of Glass--Blondie
6 Just When I Needed You Most--Randy Vanwarmer
7 Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)--The Jacksons
8 The Logical Song--Supertramp
9 In the Navy--Village People
10 Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)--G.Q.

Singles entering the chart were Days Gone Down (Still Got the Light in Your Eyes) by Gerry Rafferty (#62); One Way or Another by Blondie (#68); People of the South Wind by Kansas (#73); Up on the Roof by James Taylor (#76); Head First by the Babys (#82); Married Men by Bette Midler (#84); Since I Don't Have You by Art Garfunkel (#85); Wasn't it Good by Cher (#88); You're My Weakness by Faith Band (#90); and Morning Dance by Spyro Gyra (#95).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Reunited--Peaches & Herb (2nd week at #1)
2 Goodnight Tonight--Wings
3 In the Navy--Village People
4 Heart of Glass--Blondie
5 Hot Stuff--Donna Summer
6 Love You Inside Out--Bee Gees
7 Blow Away--George Harrison
8 Knock on Wood--Amii Stewart
9 He's the Greatest Dancer--Sister Sledge
10 Take Me Home--Cher

Singles entering the chart were Shadows in the Moonlight by Anne Murray (#86); Born to Be Alive by Patrick Hernandez (#91); Does Your Mother Know by ABBA (#92); Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind & Fire (#93); Shakedown Cruise by Jay Ferguson (#94); Shine a Little Love by Electric Light Orchestra (#96); No Time to Lose by the Tarney/Spencer Band (#97); I Wish I Could Fly (Like Superman) by the Kinks (#98); Heart of the Night by Poco (#99); and Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Joe Jackson (#100).

Died on this date
Robert Carson, 69. U.S. actor. Mr. Carson, the older brother of actor Jack Carson, played minor roles--often uncredited--in numerous movies and television programs from the 1930s through the 1970s. He died six days before his 70th birthday.

Jim Hutton, 45. U.S. actor. Mr. Hutton began his movie career in the U.S. Army in 1956, appearing in over 40 training films. He appeared in movies such as Where the Boys Are (1960); Period of Adjustment (1962); and Walk, Don't Run (1966), but was better known for his work in television, which included co-starring in the detective series Ellery Queen (1975-1976). Mr. Hutton died of liver cancer, two days after his 45th birthday.

Religion
Pope John Paul II arrived in Poland to begin a nine-day visit, his first time back in his native land since becoming pope in 1978. It was also the first visit by a pope to a Communist country. Arriving in Warsaw, the pontiff was greeted by hundreds of thousands of Poles along the road from the airport. He met with Edward Gierek, leader of Poland’s Communist Party, and pledged the Roman Catholic Church to "serve the people in the temporal dimension of their life and existence." According to The New York Times, the statement was considered a challenge to the Communist authorities who had insisted that the Church restrict itself to spiritual matters and leave temporal matters to the state. A pontifical mass was held in Warsaw’s Victory Square and was broadcast live on nationwide television.

Crime
The United States House of Representatives Select Committee on Assassinations issued its first report, in line with previous assertions that the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 was probably the result of conspiracy.

25 years ago
1984

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan, on a visit to Ireland, received an honourary doctorate of law from the University of Galway. He then visited Ballyporeen, where his great-grandfather Michael Regan was baptized in 1829. At a state banquet, Irish Prime Minister Garret FitzGerald said that the Irish people wanted the problems of Central America to be resolved peacefully by the people of the region.

Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann said that his government was eager to begin talks with the United States, but he expressed concern that the visit of U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz was a "publicity stunt."

Terrorism
Police in Amritsar, Punjab, India surrounded the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine that was being held by Sikh militants. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi warned that the government would not yield to violence and terrorism.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): The Look--Roxette (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Mike DeJohn, 57. U.S. boxer. Mr. DeJohn, born Michael Di Gianni, was a heavyweight, and the youngest of six boxing brothers. He compiled a record of 46-12-1 in a professional career from 1951-1963, and was a ranked contender for the world title in the late 1950s, fighting opponents such as Sonny Liston, Eddie Machen, Zora Folley, and Nino Valdes.

Politics and government
Foreign Minister Sousuke Uno was elected president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and on the same day, was elected Prime Minister. He succeeded Noboru Takeshita, who had resigned because of his involvement in the Recruit company scandal, which involved donations by the company to politicians in exchange for political favours. Mr. Uno said that he would seek reforms to clean up Japanese politics.

Religion
This blogger was among those in attendance as "Christian" comedian and alleged expert on Satanism Mike Warnke spoke at Central Pentecostal Tabernacle in Edmonton. A handful of protesters were outside, including one man in apparent Satanic garb, claiming that Mr. Warnke was telling lies. I believed Mr. Warnke's story in those days, but after he was exposed by Jon Trott and Mike Hertenstein in the magazine article (1992) and book (1993) Selling Satan, I became more sympathetic with the protesters.

Labour
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate had dropped one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.1% in May.

Baseball
Center fielder Eric Davis hit for the cycle and batted in 6 runs to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the San Diego Padres 9-4 before 29,277 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. It was the fourth straight multi-hit game for Mr. Davis.

Junior Felix his an inside-the-park grand slam in the top of the 9th inning off Bob Stanley to help the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Boston Red Sox 7-2 before 33,584 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

The Minnesota Twins hammered the Chicago White Sox 8-0 before 13,205 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago, handing the White Sox their record 10th straight home loss. Allan Anderson allowed 6 hits in 7 innings to get the win over Melido Perez. Jack Hardy, the third and last Chicago pitcher, allowed 5 hits and 4 runs--all earned--in 4 innings, walking 1 batter and striking out 2 in his fifth and last major league game.

10 years ago
1999

War
President Martti Ahtisaari of Finland and Russian envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin presented a proposal supported by major Western nations to Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade. The revised plan required that the Serbs leave the province of Kosovo, and it provided for protection by an international force for ethnic Albanian refugees returning to their homes. The plan dropped NATO’s previous support for a referendum by the Kosovars on their future, and it restricted the international force in Kosovo.

Politics and government
In a national parliamentary election, South African voters kept the African National Congress in power, thereby assuring that its leader, Thabo Mbeki, would succeed the retiring Nelson Mandela as the nation’s president. The ANC received 2/3 of the vote. Election issues included political corruption and high crime and unemployment rates.

Baseball
Outfielder Josh Hamilton became the first high school player in six years to be the first player drafted in the major league free agent draft; he was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Mark Grace singled home a run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning and Sammy Sosa followed with a 3-run home run to give the Chicago Cubs a 9-8 win over the San Diego Padres before 28,742 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Cubs had scored 4 in the 8th to tie the score 5-5, but the Padres had responded with 3 runs in the top of the 9th on a pair of homers to take an 8-5 lead.

The Arizona Diamondbacks set a team record with 20 hits in routing the Montreal Expos 15-2 before 5,395 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Steve Finley led the attack, batting 4 for 6 with 3 doubles, a triple, 2 runs, and 4 runs batted in.