June 25, 2009

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Gail McGonigal!

250 years ago
1759

War
British Army Major General James Wolfe neared Québec City with 8,500 men and a fleet of 168 ships commanded by Admiral Charles Saunders.

100 years ago
1909

Golf
The third and fourth rounds of the U.S. Open were played at Englewood Golf Club in Englewood, New Jersey. Tom McNamara began the third round with a 4-stroke lead, but shot a 3-over-par 75, while George Sargent shot an even par 72 to move to within 2 strokes of Mr. McNamara. Mr. Sargent shot a 1-under-par 71 in the final round to finish with a 2-over-par total score of 290, 4 strokes ahead of Mr. McNamara, who shot a 5-over-par 77 in the final round. First prize money was $300.

90 years ago
1919

Labour
The Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council ended, effective 11 A.M. on June 26, the Winnipeg General Strike, which had begun on May 15, 1919. Many union ringleaders were convicted of seditious conspiracy and given prison terms.

Baseball
The Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals split a doubleheader at Fenway Park in Boston. The Nationals won the first game 8-3, collecting 9 hits and 5 walks off losing pitcher Babe Ruth. Clyde Milan collected 3 hits, and Sam Rice hit a home run off the Babe. Jim Shaw pitched a 6-hit complete game victory. Mr. Ruth moved to left field for the second game, and had 1 hit in 3 at bats as the Red Sox made the most of just 5 hits in beating Walter Johnson 1-0; Harry Hooper singled to lead off the bottom of the 1st inning, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Ossie Vitt, and scored the game's only run on a single by Amos Strunk. Sad Sam Jones pitched a 4-hit shutout. After the second game, Mr. Ruth demanded that Red Sox manager Ed Barrow either play him or pitch him, but not both.

The New York Yankees, trailing 3-0 after 5 1/2 innings, scored a run in the 6th inning, 2 in the 8th, and 1 in the 9th to defeat the Philadelphia Athletics 4-3 before 4,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York.

70 years ago
1939

Died on this date
Dick Seaman, 26. U.K. auto racing driver. Mr. Seaman, one of Adolf Hitler's favourite drivers, drove for Mercedes-Benz and won the German Grand Prix in 1938, finishing second in that year's Swiss Grand Prix. He was leading the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps when he crashed into a tree on lap 22, and died from burns several hours later.

Auto racing
German drivers Hermann Lang, Rudolf Hasse, and Manfred von Brauchitsch finished first, second, and third, respectively, in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, in a race marred by the death of Dick Seaman.

60 years ago
1949

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): (I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra (7th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra (4th week at #1)
--Burl Ives
--Bing Crosby
2 Again--Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
--Mel Torme
--Vic Damone
--Doris Day and the Mellomen
3 Some Enchanted Evening--Perry Como
--Bing Crosby
4 Forever and Ever--Russ Morgan and his Orchestra
--Perry Como
5 "A" You're Adorable (The Alphabet Song)--Perry Como with the Fontane Sisters
--Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae
6 Bali Ha'i--Perry Como
--Bing Crosby
7 Baby, it's Cold Outside--Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer
--Dinah Shore and Buddy Clark
--Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five
--Don Cornell and Laura Leslie
8 Careless Hands--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
--Bing Crosby
--Mel Torme
9 A Wonderful Guy--Margaret Whiting
10 Cruising Down the River--Russ Morgan and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were the version of Baby, it's Cold Outside by Don Cornell and Laura Leslie; The Four Winds and the Seven Seas by Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra (#31) and Everytime I Meet You by Perry Como (#40).

On the radio
Tales of Fatima, starring Basil Rathbone, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: Dead or Alive

Died on this date
Buck Freeman, 77. U.S. baseball player. John Frank Freeman began his major league career as a pitcher with the Washington Statesmen in 1891, posting a 3-2 record with an earned run average of 3.89 in 7 games. He played in the minor leagues for the next six years, returning to the major leagues as a right fielder with the Washington Senators (1898-1899); Boston Beaneaters (1900); and Boston Americans (1901-1907), batting .293 with 82 home runs and 713 runs batted in in 1,126 games. He led the National League in home runs in 1899 (25) and the American League in home runs in 1903 (13), and led the AL in runs batted in in 1902 (121) and 1903 (104). Mr. Freeman helped the Americans win the first modern World Series in 1903, batting .281 with no homers and 4 RBIs in 8 games as they beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5 games to 3. He played at least 728 games in at least 11 seasons in the minor leagues from 1891-1912, and was 4-12 with a 2.53 ERA in 19 games in the minors from 1892-1899.

War
A special United Nations Balkan Commission in Athens charged Bulgaria and Albania with continuing to lend large-scale aid to Greek guerrillas.

World events
The Indonesian government announced the execution of four Communists who had helped lead the Madiun revolt in September 1948.

Politics and government
Colonel Husni al-Za'im, running unopposed, was elected President of Syria, receiving 99.4% of the vote. A constitutional amendment was approved by 99.1% of voters.

The U.S. House of Representatives Un-American Activities Committee issued a report attacking the Amreican Slav Congress as a U.S.S.R.-directed Communist front.

Labour
Western military commanders in Berlin ordered 15,000 striking rail workers to return to work, offering them full wage payment in Western currency and threatening to cut off their unemployment relief if they refused to comply.

Baseball
The Brooklyn Dodgers outslugged the Pittsburgh Pirates 17-10 before 19,800 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, although the Pirates hit 5 home runs to the Dodgers' 4. Brooklyn first baseman Gil Hodges batted 5 for 6, hitting for the cycle with 2 homers, 4 runs, and 4 runs batted in. Ralph Branca allowed 12 hits, 5 bases on balls, and 10 earned runs, but still pitched a complete game victory to improve his 1949 record to 9-1.

The Philadelphia Phillies withstood a 3-run 9th-inning rally as they held on for a 6-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 5,681 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

Sibby Sisti hit a single, double, and home run, scoring 2 runs and driving in 3, to help the Boston Braves defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-6 before 25,847 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis.

A day after beating the St. Louis Browns 21-2, the Boston Red Sox scored 7 runs in the 3rd inning and coasted to a 13-2 win before 8,953 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Boston third baseman Johnny Pesky batted 4 for 5 with a triple, 2 runs, and a run batted in, while Al Zarilla added a single, triple, and home run, with 3 runs and 3 RBIs. Mel Parnell pitched a 9-hit complete game victory to improve his record for the season to 10-3. St. Louis shortstop Al Naples batted 1 for 4 with a double, making 1 putout and 5 assists in his first major league game.

The Detroit Tigers scored 5 runs in the first 2 innings and coasted to a 9-3 win over the New York Yankees before 23,023 fans at Yankee Stadium.

The Chicago White Sox scored a run in the top of the 8th to take a 6-5 lead, but the Philadelphia Athletics responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th and held on for a 7-6 win before 5,628 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Dick Fowler pitched a 10-hit complete game victory, allowing just 2 earned runs, to improve his 1949 record to 7-3.

The University of Texas defeated Wake Forest University 10-3 to win the College World Series. Jim Shamblin led the Texas attack with 5 hits, a CWS record.

50 years ago
1959

On television tonight
The Lawless Years, starring James Gregory, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Maxey Gorman Story

Died on this date
Charles Starkweather, 20. U.S. criminal. Mr. Starkweather was executed in the electric chair at Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln for the January 27, 1958 murder in Lincoln of Robert Jensen. Mr. Starkweather, accompanied by 14-year-old girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate, actually murdered 11 people from December 1, 1957-January 29, 1958, but the murder of Mr. Jensen was the only one for which he was tried.

Space
The United States launched the satellite Discoverer 4 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, with the purpose of testing equipment for carrying monkeys into space. The satellite failed to achieve orbit because of insufficient thrust from the Agena engine, and fell into the Pacific Ocean.

Defense
The U.S.S.R. formally called for the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in the Balkan and Adriatic areas.

Politics and government
Éamon de Valera was inaugurated as President of Ireland, a week after being elected.

Health
The United Nations Trusteeship Council issued reports disclosing that large parts of the population of Australian-administered New Guinea had been afflicted by a deadly disease known as "kuree," marked by convulsions and giggles.

Agriculture
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower vetoed two bills to support prices and limit the planting of wheat and tobacco, describing both as "backward."

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): The Ballad of John and Yoko--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)

At the movies
The Chairman, directed by J. Lee Thompson, and starring Gregory Peck, Anne Heywood, and Arthur Hill, opened in theatres.





Politics and government
The New Democratic Party, led by Ed Schreyer, won a plurality of seats in the Legislative Assembly in the Manitoba provincial election for the first time, taking 28 out of 57 seats, one short of a majority. The NDP total was an increase of 17 from the most recent election in 1966. The governing Progressive Conservatives, led by Premier Walter Weir, dropped from 31 seats to 22, while the Liberals, led by Robert Bend, dropped from 14 to 5. Social Credit leader Jacob Froese retained his seat, and independent candidate Gordon Beard was elected in Churchill. It wasn't immediately known who would form the government, but Liberal MLA Laurent Desjardins (St. Boniface) soon announced his intention to sit as an "independent Liberal," supporting the NDP, thus allowing Mr. Schreyer to form a government.

A Canadian Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development White Paper recommended full citizenship for Canadian Indians and the abolition of Indian treaties.

Commissioners André Laurendeau and Davidson Dunton tabled the final reports of the Canadian Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism in the House of Commons in Ottawa.

Tennis
At the All-England tournament, 41-year-old Pancho Gonzales defeated 25-year-old Charlie Pasarelli in the longest match in Wimbledon history. The early-round match took 112 games to complete and lasted 5 hours and 12 minutes. Play began on June 24, but the match was suspended because of darkness.

Baseball
The New York Mets (14) and Philadelphia Phillies (13) set a National League record with 27 strikeouts for the first 9 innings of a game. The Phillies won 6-5 in 10 innings before 27,814 fans at Shea Stadium in New York, as rookie catcher Dave Watkins tripled with 2 out and scored on a single by Johnny Briggs. Mr. Watkins also hit his first major league home run in the game. Lowell Palmer struck out 9 for the Phillies in 4 1/3 innings, while Nolan Ryan struck out 10 for the Mets in 6 1/3 innings.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored 5 runs in the 4th inning en route to an 8-1 win over the Montreal Expos in the first game of a doubleheader before 28,819 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Tim McCarver led the St. Louis attack, batting 4 for 4 with a double, home run, base on balls, 2 runs, and 3 runs batted in. Bob Gibson pitched a 9-hit complete game victory to improve his 1969 record to 10-4, and batted 2 for 5 with a double, run, and RBI. In the second game, Phil Gagliano doubled home Mr. McCarver with 1 out in the top of the 8th to break a 3-3 tie, and the Cardinals put the game away in the 9th, as Lou Brock hit a solo home run and Mike Shannon added a 3-run homer as the Cardinals won 8-3 to complete the sweep. Mr. McCarver was 2 for 3 in the second game, with 2 bases on balls and 2 runs. Mudcat Grant, who had started the season with the Expos, pitched a 5-hit complete game victory, and batted 1 for 3.

Frank Howard hit a 3-run home run in the top of the 1st inning and Del Unser came to bat as a pinch hitter in the 7th and hit a 3-run homer to help the Washington Senators defeat the Baltimore Orioles 11-8 before 11,130 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Washingon third baseman Hank Allen batted 2 for 4 with a base on balls, stolen base, and 4 runs.

Sonny Siebert pitched a 3-hitter and batted 2 for 3 with a home run, double, and 2 runs to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a doubleheader before 30,401 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The Indians scored 5 runs in the 3rd inning en route to a 7-3 win in the second game. Bill Lee, the third of four Boston pitchers, allowed 2 hits and 1 run--earned--in 4 innings, with 3 bases on balls and 5 strikeouts, while striking out in his only plate appearance in his first major league game.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Lay Your Love on Me--Racey (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kimi no Asa--Satoshi Kishida (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Born to Be Alive--Patrick Hernández (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Dave Fleischer, 84. U.S. animator. Mr. Fleischer and his older brother Max owned Fleischer Studios, producing and driecting cartoons featuring characters such as Betty Boop and Popeye. Dave left the company at the end of 1941 and produced two Academy Award-nominated cartoons for Columbia Pictures in 1942, but failed to achieve subsequent success. He worked with Universal Studios in the 1950s and '60s as an adviser on technical matters. Dave Fleischer died of a stroke, 19 days before his 85th birthday.

Philippe Halsman, 73. Latvian-born U.S. photographer. Mr. Halsman, a Jew, was hiking in the mountains of the Austrian Tyrol with his father Morduch on December 13, 1928, when Morduch Halsman fell to his death. Philippe was convicted in 1929 of murder--later reduced to manslaughter--in a verdict widely believed to be related to Austrian anti-Semitism. Philippe Halsman was pardoned by Austrian President Wilhelm Miklas in 1930, and moved to France, and eventually, to the United States. He became known for his portraits, including those of famous people such as John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill. Mr. Halsman's photographs appeared on the covers of 101 issues of Life magazine.

Terrorism
North Atlantic Treaty Organization commander General Alexander Haig was unhurt following an assassination attempt. A bomb exploded near his car in Casteau, Belgium, and damaged a security car driving behind the general's limousine. Gen. Haig said that he believed he would have been killed if the bomb had exploded a split second earlier.

Defense
U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko warned the United States Senate that rejection or amendment of the SALT-II arms limitation treaty would mean "the end of negotiations."

25 years ago
1984

Space
The United States space shuttle Discovery was scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on its maiden voyage, but a failure in its backup navigating computer forced a one-day postponement about 30 minutes before scheduled liftoff time.

Diplomacy
Rev. Jesse Jackson flew from Panama to El Salvador, where he met with President Jose Napoleon Duarte. Rev. Jackson then went to Cuba, where he was greeted at the airport in Havana by Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Defense
The United States Senate voted 88-1 to delete $21 million in additional military aid for rebels seeking to overthrow the Sandanista government of Nicaragua. The House of Representatives had already taken similar action. House Speaker Tip O'Neill said that the Senate's action "should bring to a close U.S. support for the war in Nicaragua."

Economics and finance
The major banks in the United States raised their prime interest rate from 12.5% to 13%, the highest level since October 1982. President Ronald Reagan said he could see "no excuse" for the increase.

20 years ago
1989

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (0-1) 7 @ Saskatchewan (1-0) 37

The Roughriders routed the Blue Bombers in the first Canadian Football League game to be played at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Charlie English, 89. U.S. baseball player. Mr. English was a third baseman with the Chicago White Sox (1932-1933); New York Giants (1936); and Cincinnati Reds (1937), batting .287 with 1 home run and 13 runs batted in in 50 games. He played at least 2,032 games in 18 seasons in the minor leagues from 1931-1949, and was the Texas League Player of the Year in 1934, when he batted .326 with 10 home runs in 147 games with the Galveston Buccaneers.

War
Fighting between Hezbollah terrorists and Lebanese and Israeli forces continued, with 10 civilians--8 Lebanese and 2 Israelis--killed, and many injured.

Scandal
Dave Stupich, a former minister in the New Democratic Party cabinet of British Columbia Premier Mike Harcourt, pled guilty in Vancouver to fraud and running an illegal lottery scheme; "bingogate" involved the use of money raised by a charity bingo to fund the NDP.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Bill Clinton urged Congress to reform Medicare and Social Security to ensure the programs' solvency. He also urged Congress to reform campaign financing, pass a "bill of rights" for members of health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and increase the minimum wage.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
San Antonio 78 @ New York 77 (San Antonio won best-of-seven series 4-1)

San Antonio's Avery Johnson made a field goal with 47 seconds remaining in regulation time to give his team the lead, and New York's Latrell Sprewell, who led all scorers with 35 points, missed a last-second field goal attempt, allowing the Spurs to edge the Knickerbockers before 19,763 fans at Madison Square Garden for their first National Basketball Association championship. Tim Duncan led San Antonio scorers with 31 points and added 9 rebounds and 2 assists, and was named the Finals' Most Valuable Player, averaging 27.4 points per game and 14 rebounds per game.



Football
CFL
Pre-season
Hamilton (1-0) 31 @ Toronto (0-1) 10

Baseball
Rookie Jose Jimenez (not the astronaut) pitched a no-hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals, defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 1-0 before 45,540 fans at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix. Arizona pitcher Randy Johnson struck out 14 batters, with his last strikeout, of Eric Davis for the second out of the 9th inning, the 2,500th of Mr. Johnson's major league career. The next batter, Thomas Howard, broke his bat swinging at a pitch from Mr. Johnson, but the ball landed for a single to drive home Darren Bragg, who had walked to open the inning, with the game's only run, as Mark McGwire was thrown out at third base to end the inning.



Jesse Orosco of the Baltimore Orioles made his 1,015th career major league relief appearance, breaking Kent Tekulve's record, but the Orioles lost 9-8 to the New York Yankees when Shane Spencer hit a home run off Mike Timlin in the 9th inning to break an 8-8 tie before 47,936 fans at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Ivan Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez each hit 2 home runs and drove in 5 runs to help the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 14-4 before 30,490 fans at the Kingdome in Seattle. Melvin Buch, the third and last Seattle pitcher, allowed 11 hits and 8 runs--all earned--in 3 1/3 innings, walking 2 batters and striking out 2 in the 18th and last game of his 2-year major league career.