June 29, 2009

350 years ago
1659

War
Ukrainian armies led by Ivan Vyhovsky defeated the Russian forcess led by Prince Trubetskoy in the Battle of Konotop in Ukraine.

160 years ago
1849

Born on this date
Pedro Montt. 14th President of Chile, 1906-1910. Mr. Montt, the son of President Manuel Montt, was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1876, becoming its President in 1885. He held two posts in the cabinet of President José Manuel Balmaceda, but participated in the revolution that overthrew him in 1891, and served as the revolutionary regime's Minister to the United States. Mr. Montt was an unsuccessful candidate for President in 1901, but was elected as the National Union candidate in 1906. He died in office in Bremen, Germany on August 16, 1910 at the age of 61, while undergoing medical treatment.

Sergei Witte. Prime Minister of Russia, 1905-1906. Mr. Witte was an econometrician who worked in railroad management for 20 years, and then served as Russia's Finance Minister from 1892-1903, putting the ruble on the gold standard in 1896. He served as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers from 1903-1905, a largely powerless office that was replaced by the position of Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister). Mr. Witte resigned after losing the confidence of Czar Nicholas II and remained a member of the State Council, but never again held administrative office. He died either of meningitis or a brain tumour on March 13, 1915 at the age of 65.

120 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Willie Macfarlane. U.K.-born U.S. golfer. Mr. Macfarlane moved from Scotland to the United States to pursue a professional career. He won 22 professional tournaments from 1916-1936, most notably the 1925 U.S. Open. Mr. Macfarlane died on August 15, 1961 at the age of 72.

100 years ago
1909

Died on this date
Charlie Cushman, 59. U.S. baseball manager and umpire. Mr. Cushman managed the Milwaukee Brewers of the Western Association (1890) and American Association (1891), compiling a 21-15 record in 1891. He worked 110 games as an umpire in the National League (1885, 1894, 1898); he was fired during the 1898 season because of a dispute with NL President Nicholas Young.

Baseball
The Pittsburg Pirates scored 4 runs in the 1st inning against Three Finger Brown and went on to defeat the Chicago Cubs 8-1 before 5,545 fans in the last major league game ever played at Exposition Park in Pittsburg. Lefty Leifield pitched a 7-hit complete game victory.

80 years ago
1929

Golf
The third and fourth rounds of the U.S. Open were played at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. Bobby Jones and Al Espinosa were tied for the lead with 6-over-par total scores of 294, necessitating a 36-hole playoff the next day.

Baseball
Babe Ruth drove in 3 runs with a pair of home runs and the Philadelphia Athletics made 4 errors as the Yankees beat the Athletics 7-5 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, dropping Mr. Grove's 1929 record to 12-2.

The Brooklyn Robins scored 2 runs in each of the 5th and 6th innings as they edged the Boston Braves 4-3 in the first game of a doubleheader at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. In the second game, the Braves scored 3 unearned runs in each of the 8th and 9th innings, but still lost 8-7 as the Robins completed the sweep. Johnny Morrison pitched a 9-hit complete game victory in the second game to improve his record for the season to 5-0, allowing just 1 earned run. Al Weston made his major league debut with the Braves in the second game, striking out as a pinch hitter to lead off the 5th.

60 years ago
1949

War
Three Nationalist Chinese B-24 bombers raided Shanghai, causing 155 civilian deaths and 445 injuries.

Defense
The last American troops sailed from South Korea, leaving only a military mission to advice the South Korean Army.

Politics and government
The Israeli Parliament endorsed the government's policies on boundaries, the return of Palestinian Arab refugees, and the status of Jerusalem.

The U.S. Joint Congressional Atomic Energy Committee issued a report exonerating the Atomic Energy Commission of security violations, noting that none of the 4,095 researchers granted "emergency clearance" by the AEC for nuclear work were found to have engaged in espionage.

Society
The South African government imposed a ban on mixed marriages between whites and non-whites, the first step in the Nationalist Party's apartheid program. The South African Citizenship Act also went into effect, suspending the automatic granting of citizenship to Commonwealth immigrants.

Protest
Clashes between Negroes and whites in Washington, D.C. caused three injuries and five arrests after the U.S. Interior Department ordered the desegregation of six government-owned swimming pools.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Harry Truman won his first major legislative victory in the current session of Congress when the House of Representatives passed his public housing bill, already approved by the Senate.

Business
Montgomery Ward's fall catalogue appeared with price cuts of up to 40% from the previous year.

Labour
5,000 United Auto Workers of America ended a 71-day strike at the Bendix Aviation Corporation in South Bend, Indiana by accepting an agreement, calling for a study of disputed working conditions.

Baseball
The Boston Red Sox blew a 7-0 lead and lost 9-7 to the New York Yankees before 29,563 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Joe DiMaggio, playing just his second game of the season after missing the first 69 games because of a foot injury, hit 2 home runs and batted in 5 runs to lead the Yankee comeback. His 2-run homer in the 8th inning off Earl Johnson broke a 7-7 tie.

Hal Newhouser pitched a 6-hit shutout to improve his 1949 record to 10-6 as the Detroit Tigers blanked the Cleveland Indians 6-0 in the first game of a doubleheader before 65,243 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. In the second game, the Tigers scored 7 runs in the 5th inning to overcome a 2-0 deficit, but the Indians scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th to win 8-7. The game ended when pinch hitter Bob Lemon doubled home Bob Kennedy and Mickey Vernon with the bases loaded, and Thurman Tucker scored the winning run on an error by Detroit left fielder Pat Mullin.

Ned Garver pitched a 5-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Billy Pierce, who also pitched a 5-hitter, as the St. Louis Browns edged the Chicago White Sox 1-0 before 2,726 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Dick Kokos singled home John Sullivan in the top of the 8th inning for the only run.

Ralph Kiner, featured on the cover of the current issue of The Saturday Evening Post, drove in 5 runs with a grand slam and a double to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 9,003 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Diana--Paul Anka (8th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 The Battle of New Orleans--Johnny Horton (5th week at #1)
2 Personality--Lloyd Price
3 Lonely Boy--Paul Anka
4 Dream Lover--Bobby Darin
5 Lipstick on Your Collar--Connie Francis
6 Tallahassee Lassie--Freddy Cannon
7 Kansas City--Wilbert Harrison
8 Quiet Village--Martin Denny
9 Along Came Jones--The Coasters
10 A Teenager in Love--Dion and the Belmonts

Singles entering the chart were Just a Little Too Much by Ricky Nelson (#63); The Quiet Three by Duane Eddy and the Rebels (#67); Till There was You by Anita Bryant (#85); Sweet Someone by Eddie and Betty (#87); The Five Pennies by Dodie Stevens (#89); See You in September by the Tempos (#90); Kissin' Time by Bobby Rydell (#93); Beach Time by Roger Smith (#94); Here Comes Summer by Jerry Keller (#98); Happy Vacation by Jackie Lee (#99); and The Way I Walk by Jack Scott (#100). The Five Pennies was the other side of Yes-Sir-ee, charting at #79.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 The Battle of New Orleans--Johnny Horton (7th week at #1)
2 Personality--Lloyd Price
3 Frankie/Lipstick on Your Collar--Connie Francis
4 Waterloo--Stonewall Jackson
5 Tallahassee Lassie--Freddy Cannon
6 Bongo Rock--Preston Epps
7 Kansas City--Wilbert Harrison
8 Lonely Boy--Paul Anka
9 Crossfire--Johnny and the Hurricanes
10 My Heart is an Open Book--Carl Dobkins, Jr.

Singles entering the chart were Back in the U.S.A. by Chuck Berry (#43); There is Something on Your Mind by Big Jay McNeely and Band (#45); Since You've Been Gone by Clyde McPhatter (#51); A Big Hunk o' Love/My Wish Came True by Elvis Presley (#52); Ciao, Ciao Bambina by Jacky Noguez and his Musette Orchestra (#55); and Just a Little Too Much/Sweeter than You by Ricky Nelson (#56).

At the movies
Two preview screenings of Anatomy of a Murder took place in Marquette, Michigan, where the movie was filmed. The courtroom drama, directed by Otto Preminger and starring James Stewart, was filmed in Marquette. The novel was written by Robert Traver, whose real name was John Voekler. Mr. Voekler, who had just been appointed to the bench in 1959, was the defense lawyer in the real-life case upon which the novel and movie were based. The bar where the actual murder took place was also the crime scene in the film.

Movies
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a New York state ban on an exhibition of the French film L'Amant de lady Chatterley (Lady Chatterley's Lover) (1955) violated the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment's "basic guarantee of freedom to advocate ideas."

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. First Deputy Premier Frol Kozlov formally opened a Soviet Exhibition of Science, Technology and Culture in New York.

The Dominican Republic charged that "maneuvering" by Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro was "part of a continental conspiracy organized by international Communism."

Politics and government
Returning to Jakarta from a 68-day world tour, Indonesian President Sukarno said that he would act as "a democrat" to resolve the crisis over efforts to carry out his plan for "guided democracy."

Iraqi Communists announced the formation of a United National Front with the National Democratic and Kurdish Democratic Parties.

Protest
South African police arrested 41 Africans in Durban after clashes between police and women picketing segregated municipal beer halls.

Labour
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that the government "security risk" program for defense plant workers had no legal basis.

40 years ago
1969

Died on this date
Ted McGrew, 89. U.S. baseball player, umpire, and scout. Mr. McGrew was an infielder who played at least 996 games in at least 12 seasons in the minor leagues from 1901-1912. He umpired 440 games in the National League (1930-1931, 1933-1934), and worked in the International League in 1932. Mr. McGrew worked as a scout for various major league teams in later years, and was responsible for the discovery of players such as Pee Wee Reese and Alvin Dark. Mr. McGrew died five days after his 89th birthday.

Moise Tshombe, 49. Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1964-1965. Mr. Tshombe was elected President of the republic of Katanga when that province broke away from the Belgian Congo in 1960; he favoured continued ties with Belgium. The United Nations intervened and eventually forced Katanga to submit to Congolese rule. Mr. Tshombe fled to Northern Rhodesia and then to Spain, but returned to Congo in 1964 to serve as Prime Minister in a new coalition government. In 1965 he was dismissed by President Joseph Kasavubu, and in 1967 Joseph Mobutu, who had staged a successful coup against Mr. Kasavubu a year earlier, charged Mr. Tshombe with treason. Mr. Tshombe fled to exile in Spain, and he was sentenced to death in absentia. On June 30, 1967, a plane in which Mr. Tshombe was travelling was hijacked to Algeria. He was jailed and then kept under house arrest, and died of a heart attack.

Space
The United States launched Biosatellite 3 from Cape Kennedy, Florida, carrying an astromonk named Bonny. The satellite was scheduled for a 30-day mission of biological research.

Abominations
The first worship service in the White House to be led by a rabbi began with a Christian hymn that the largely Jewish gathering could not sing, but Rabbi Louis Finkelstein said that he was not surprised nor upset by the hymn.

Protest
Policemen in Buenos Aires used tear gas to disperse 150 demonstrators shortly before New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller arrived on his fact-finding mission. More than 15,000 uniformed and plainclothes policemen were mobilized for the visit.

Disasters
About 150 people were injured when 10 cars of a Seaboard Coast Line train carrying 600 passengers went off the tracks in Glenn Dale, Maryland. 6 of the passengers were reportedly seriously injured, and one man died of a heart attack.

Boxing
Jose Napoles (61-4) retained his world welterweight title in a rematch against former champion Curtis Cokes (55-11-3) when Mr. Cokes retired after the 10th round at Monumental Plaza de Toros México in Mexico City. Mr. Napoles had taken the title from Mr. Cokes on April 18, 1969 with a 13-round knockout in Inglewood, California.





Baseball
Lowell Palmer pitched a 3-hitter for his first major league win and the Philadelphia Phillies did all their scoring in the top of the 1st inning as they shut out the Montreal Expos 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader before 27,169 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Philadelphia center fielder Larry Hisle batted 3 for 3 with a base on balls, double and a run batted in. Losing pitcher Jerry Robertson allowed 8 hits and 2 earned runs in 8 innings. Jerry Johnson pitched a 10-hit complete game victory as the Phillies won the second game 5-1 to complete the sweep.

The Cincinnati Reds scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game and then scored the winning run on a bases-loaded single by Chico Ruiz in the 10th to defeat the San Francisco Giants 7-6 before 16,658 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

On Billy Williams Day at Wrigley Field in Chicago, the Cubs’ outfielder played in his 895th and 896th consecutive games, breaking Stan Musial’s National League record, as the Cubs swept the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 and 12-1 before 41,060 fans. Mr. Williams batted 1 for 4 with a run in the first game and 4 for 5 with a single, double, 2 triples, 3 runs, and 3 runs batted in in the second game.

The Atlanta Braves scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning to overcome a 3-1 deficit and defeat the Houston Astros 4-3 before 29,221 fans at the Astrodome.

Al Kaline's 2-run single climaxed a 3-run 2-out 9th-inning rally as the Detroit Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 in the first game of a doubleheader before 32,643 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Pinch hitter Frank Robinson singled home Andy Etchebarren with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th to give the Orioles a 4-3 win in the second game. Dave Leonhard pitched 6 1/3 innings of 3-hit scoreless relief in the second game to improve his 1969 record to 6-0, while Detroit starter Earl Wilson faced just 1 batter, leaving the game with a bruised right arm after being hit by Don Buford's line drive, which went for a single.

The Washington Senators scored 3 unearned runs in the bottom of the 9th inning as the result of 2 errors to defeat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 28,631 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington. The Senators overcame a 3-0 1st-inning deficit with 6 runs in the 2nd en route to an 11-4 win in the second game to complete the sweep.

The Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins split a doubleheader before 16,738 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, with the Royals winning the opener 7-2, and the Twins taking the second game 12-2. After flying out his first time at bat in the first game, Minnesota right fielder Tony Oliva followed with 8 straight hits in the doubleheader, including 5 for 5 in the second game, with 2 home runs and 5 runs batted in. In the first game, Wally Bunker pitched an 11-hit complete game victory, while Danny Morris, the fourth and last Minnesota pitcher, pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits, walking 1, and striking out 1, in the 6th and last game of his 2-year major league career.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Hallelujah--Milk & Honey (9th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Pop Muzik--M (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Born to Be Alive--Patrick Hernandez (14th week at #1)

Died on this date
Lowell George, 34. U.S. musician. Mr. George played several instruments and was a member of the rock groups the Factory and the Mothers of Invention before co-founding the group Little Feat, which he led from 1970-1979. He left the group to perform as a solo artist, and was tour to promote his first solo album when he died in his hotel room in Arlington, Virginia of a heart attack caused by a cocaine overdose, exacerbated by obesity.

Diplomacy
In Nicaragua, both moderate and leftist opponents of President Anastasio Somoza rejected American proposals to end the country’s civil war, aimed at installing a government more conservative than the provisional Sandanista junta.

Scandal
U.S. Congressman Charles Diggs (Democrat--Michigan) admitted to a House of Representatives ethics hearing that he used federal funds to pay over $40,000 in personal bills. He agreed to repay the amount and accepted censure in return for an end to the investigation.

Economics and finance
The G7 summit of the world’s leading industrial democracies--United States; Canada; Japan; France; Great Britain; West Germany; Italy--concluded with an agreement to cut ceilings on oil imports through 1985. The U.S.A. agreed to limit imports to 8.5 million barrels per day. The other nations had yet to determine their limits. The G7 agreed to increase investment in new energy technologies. Canada was represented at the summit by Prime Minister Joe Clark; it was his first major international event since taking office.

Labour
The administration of President Jimmy Carter presented a plan to help end strikes by independent truckers in the United States. The plan met three of the truckers’ most important demands: permission for automatic pass-through of higher diesel fuel costs to shippers; support for federal legislation to establish uniform national weight-and-length standards for trucks; and an effort to achieve equitable allocation of available fuel supplies to truckers.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Edmonton (2-2) 53 @ Saskatchewan (1-2) 20

Gregg Butler and Emilio Fraietta each returned a punt for a touchdown to help the Eskimos beat the Roughriders at Taylor Field in Regina. Artificial turf had been installed in Taylor Field for 1979, and linebacker Ian Bryans became the first of several Eskimos over the years to suffer serious injuries playing on that surface. Mr. Bryans suffered a knee injury that put him out for the season, and he never played again. The game also marked the final appearance in Edmonton uniforms for veterans Charlie Turner (offensive tackle) and John Farlinger (safety).

25 years ago
1984

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. offered to begin talks with the U.S.A. in the fall on banning weapons in outer space. The U.S. State Department said that it was willing, but wanted talks broadened to include other weapons systems.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the Index of Leading Economic Indicators fell 0.1% in May.

Football
In the first game of the Canadian Football League regular season, the Calgary Stampeders upset the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24-17 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, providing Steve Buratto with a win in his first game as a CFL head coach. It was the first CFL regular season game ever played in June.

Baseball
Pete Rose of the Montreal Expos played in his 3,309th major league game, breaking Carl Yastrzemski’s major league record, as the Expos defeated Mr. Rose’s former (and future) team, the Cincinnati Reds, 7-3. Mr. Rose went 0 for 5 in the game.

The Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers split a doubleheader. The Twins won the opener 5-3 as Andre David, in his first major league plate appearance, hit his only major league home run, a two-run blast against Tigers’ ace Jack Morris. Kirk Gibson hit 2 two-run homers and Chet Lemon and Ruppert Jones each hit one as the Tigers won the second game 7-5.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Minä olen muistanut--Kim Lönnholm (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): All I Want is You--U2 (2nd week at #1)

Personal
This blogger attended a University of Western Ontario alumni social at University House on the University of Alberta campus, and enjoyed meeting UWO President George Pedersen, among others.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (0-2) 16 @ Toronto (1-0) 17
British Columbia (1-0) 25 @ Calgary (0-1) 7

The Argos' win over the Blue Bombers was the first football game ever played at SkyDome.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Allan Carr, 62. U.S. theatre and movie producer. Mr. Carr, born Allan Solomon, won a Tony Award for producing the musical La Cage aux Folles (1984), and was co-writer and co-producer of the movie Grease (1978). He won the first Golden Raspberry Award for producing Can't Stop the Music (1980). Mr. Carr was probably best known for producing spectacular parties and promotional events; he produced the 61st Academy Awards ceremony in 1989, but the negative reaction virtually ended his career. He died of liver cancer.

Karekin I, 66. Syrian-born Armenian religious leader. Karekin I, born Neshan Sarkissian, was Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church from 1994-1999. He died of cancer shortly after appointing archbishop Karekin Nersessian as his successor, taking the name Karekin II.

World events
Abdullah Ocalan, leader of the Kurdish rebellion in Turkey, was convicted of treason by a Turkish court and sentenced to death. Mr. Ocalan had told the court that if he were spared the death penalty he would use his influence among the Kurds to end the conflict with the government. Mary Robinson, United Nations high commissioner for human rights, criticized the trial for lack of due process.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Calgary (2-0) 34 @ Saskatchewan (0-2) 24