July 13, 2009

1,070 years ago
939

Died on this date
Leo VII. Roman Catholic Pope, 936-939. Leo VII took office as Pope on January 3, 936, succeeding John XI. Legend has it that Pope Leo died of a heart attack while having sex with his mistress. He was succeeded by Pope Stephen VIII.

760 years ago
1249

Britannica
Alexander III was crowned King of Scots at Scone.

610 years ago
1399

Died on this date
Elizabeth Bonifacia, 3 weeks. Polish royal family member. Princess Elizabeth Bonifacia, the first child of Queen Jadwiga and King Władysław, was reportedly born prematurely, and was followed in death by her mother four days later.

280 years ago
1729

Born on this date
John Parker. U.S. soldier. Captain Parker was the leader of the volunteer militia known as the Minutemen in the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. He died on September 17, 1775.

150 years ago
1859

Born on this date
Sidney Webb. U.K. economist and politician. Professor Webb was one of the most prominent socialist theorists and activists in Britain in the late 19th and early 20th century. He joined the Fabian Society in 1884 three months after its founding, and helped to found the London School of Economics in 1895. Professor Webb and his wife Beatrice were members of the Labour Party, and Sidney was first elected to the House of Commons in 1922. He was raised to the peerage as Baron Passfield in 1929, and served as Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (1929-1930) and Secretary of State for the Colonies (1929-1931) in the cabinet of Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. As Colonial Secretary, Baron Passfield issued the Passfield White Paper in 1930, increasing restrictions on Jewish immigration to Palestine. The Webbs spent their later years acting as propagandists for the U.S.S.R., deliberately turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed under the Soviet dictatorship of Josef Stalin. Baron Passfield died on October 13, 1947 at the age of 88.

120 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Stan Coveleski. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Coveleski, born Stanislaus Kowalewski, played with the Philadelphia Athletics (1912); Cleveland Indians (1916-1924); Washington Nationals (1925-1927); and New York Yankees (1928), compiling a record of 215-142 with an earned run average of 2.89 in 450 games. He had five seasons of 20 or more wins, and led the American League in earned run average in 1923 (2.76) and 1925 (2.84) and in winning percentage in 1925 (.800). Mr. Coveleski was 3-2 in 5 World Series games, with his wins all coming in 1920, as the Indians defeated the Brooklyn Robins 5 games to 2 for their first World Series championship. His brother Harry was also a major league pitcher, winning 81 games from 1907-1918. Stan Coveleski was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969, and died on March 20, 1984 at the age of 94.

Baseball
In the American Association, left fielder Tip O’Neill went 4 for 4 with 3 bases on balls, scored 5 runs, and drove in 4, as the St. Louis Browns routed the Baltimore Orioles 25-5.

100 years ago
1909

Baseball
At Nicollet Park in Minneapolis, Irv Young of the Minneapolis Millers pitched both games of an American Association doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers. He gave up just 4 hits in winning the opener 1-0, and hit a home run in the 5th inning for the game’s only run. In the second game, Mr. Young gave up just one hit, that in the 9th inning, winning 5-0.

90 years ago
1919

Born on this date
Hau Pei-tsun. 13th Premier of the Republic of China, 1990-1993. General Hau, a member of the Kuomintang (KMT), began his military career in 1938, and eventually served as Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of China Armed Forces from 1981-1989. As Prime Minister, he was tough on crime and promoted increased industrialization, but he resigned as Prime Minister after the KMT did poorly in the 1992 parliamentary election. Gen. Hau was expelled from the KMT for his support of New Party candidates in the 1995 election, and was the vice presidential running mate of independent candidate Lin Yang-kang, who finished third in the 1996 presidential election. Gen. Hau rejoined the Kuomintang in 2005.

Aviation
The British dirigible R34 landed in Norfolk, England, completing the first airship return journey across the Atlantic Ocean in 182 hours of flight.

Baseball
Boston Red Sox’ pitcher Carl Mays quit the mound after 2 innings, blaming his teammates for lack of support in the field, and refused to come back and pitch. The Red Sox were trailing the Chicago White Sox 4-0 in the 2nd inning at Comiskey Park in Chicago when Mr. Mays was hit in the head by a throw, intended to go to second base, from catcher Wally Schang. The White Sox won 14-9, and Mr. Mays deserted the team after the game and took a train to Boston. Red Faber was the winning pitcher despite allowing 13 hits and 9 runs--8 earned--in 6 1/3 innings.

The Detroit Tigers scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the New York Yankees 5-4 before 25,000 fans at Navin Field in Detroit. The Yankees had scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th to take a 4-3 lead.

The Cleveland Indians scored a run in the bottom of the 8th inning to break a 4-4 tie and defeat the Washington Nationals 5-4 at Dunn Field in Cleveland. Stan Coveleski allowed 10 hits and 2 earned runs in pitching a complete game victory on his 30th birthday, and drove in 2 runs with a pair of singles, improving his 1919 record to 12-4.

Ken Williams doubled home 3 runs in the 6th inning and Joe Gedeon singled home the deciding run in the 7th for the St. Louis Browns as they edged the Philadelphia Athletics 4-3 in the first game of a doubleheader at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Browns scored a run in the bottom of the 11th to win the second game 5-4 to complete the sweep.

75 years ago
1934

Baseball
Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees became the first major league player to hit 700 career home runs when he connected against Tommy Bridges of the Detroit Tigers at Navin Field in Detroit. It was his 14th home run of the season, and helped the Yankees to a 4-2 win. Mr. Ruth paid a boy $20 for the ball. Yankees’ first baseman Lou Gehrig singled in his first at bat, but had to be helped off the field after a lumbago seizure. Jack Saltzgaver replaced him.

70 years ago
1939

Music
Frank Sinatra made his first recordings with the Harry James band, singing Melancholy Mood and From the Bottom of My Heart.

60 years ago
1949

At the movies
The Great Gatsby, directed by Elliott Nugent, and starring Alan Ladd and Betty Field, opened in theatres.

Literature
Congress on Trial by James MacGregor Burns, a critique of the U.S. legislative system, was published in New York by Harper.

Politics and government
The Italian Chamber of Deputies approved Italy's membership in the Council of Europe.

Religion
In a move aimed against the Communist governments of Eastern Europe, Pop Pius XII ordered the excommunication of all Roman Catholics belonging to the Communist Party or otherwise.

Law
The Georgia Supreme Court ruled that Negroes must be admitted to juries in counties with a substantial Negro population.

Society
Connecticut Governor Chester Bowles signed a law banning racial discrimination in all state and federal housing projects.

Economics and finance
In a nationwide radio address, U.S. President Harry Truman explained his recent request for increased government spending, and set a $300-billion national income as his economic goal.


50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Diana--Paul Anka (10th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Lonely Boy--Paul Anka
2 The Battle of New Orleans--Johnny Horton
3 Personality--Lloyd Price
4 Waterloo--Stonewall Jackson
5 Lipstick on Your Collar--Connie Francis
6 Tiger--Fabian
7 Dream Lover--Bobby Darin
8 Tallahassee Lassie--Freddy Cannon
9 My Heart is an Open Book--Carl Dobkins, Jr.
10 A Boy Without a Girl--Frankie Avalon

Singles entering the chart were My Wish Came True by Elvis Presley (#39); Thank You Pretty Baby by Brook Benton (#76); Katy Too by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two (#87); Tennessee Stud by Eddy Arnold (#88); To a Soldier Boy by the Tassels (#93); I'm Coming Home by Marv Johnson (#94); Rockin' in the Jungle by the Eternals (#95); Dedicated to the One I Love by the Shirelles (#96); Little Girl by Ritchie Valens (#97); Bells, Bells, Bells (The Bell Song) by Billy and Lillie (#98); I Still Get Jealous by Joni James (#99); and On an Evening in Roma by Dean Martin (#100). My Wish Came True was the B-side of A Big Hunk o' Love, charting at #25.

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

Singles entering the chart were What'd I Say (Parts I and II) by Ray Charles and his Orchestra (#31); It was I by Skip and Flip (#42); and Angel Face by Jimmy Darren (#59).

Died on this date
Nick Kahl, 80. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Kahl was a second baseman who batted .215 with no home runs and 21 runs batted in in 40 games with the Cleveland Naps in 1905. He played at least 1,261 games in at least 13 seasons in the minor leagues from 1902-1915.

Chick Keating, 67. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Keating was a shortstop with the Chicago Cubs (1913-1915) and Philadelphia Phillies (1926), batting .089 with no home runs or runs batted in in 30 games. He played in at least 1,612 games in 14 seasons in the minor leagues from 1910-1925. Mr. Keating died 26 days before his 68th birthday.

Diplomacy
The Organization of American States approved a meeting of OAS foreign ministers to deal with tensions in the Caribbean area involving plots against the regimes of Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic.

Outer Mongolian Prime Minister Yumzhagin Tsedenbal appealed for recognition by the U.S.A. and admission to the United Nations as steps toward ending his country's isolation from the Western world.

World events
French President Charles de Gaulle issued an amnesty freeing 5,000 suspected nationalists from Algerian internment camps.

Politics and government
Northern Irish Prime Minister Viscount Brookeborough rejected Ireland's unity offer, calling it a "takeover bid."

Labour
New York lawyer Bartley Crum told the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Labor-Management Practices that Teamsters union intermediaries had offered him a bribe if he would help pack the court-appointed Teamsters board of monitors in favour of Teamsters President James Hoffa.

Baseball
The Boston Red Sox completed a 5-game sweep of the New York Yankees with a 13-3 win before 22,064 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Gene Stephens of the Red Sox came in as a pinch runner for Ted Williams in the 6th inning, and when the Red Sox batted around, hit a grand slam later in the inning.

Frank Robinson batted 4 for 5 with 2 home runs, a double, 4 runs, and 3 runs batted in to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-5 before 12,073 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

Warren Spahn pitched a 6-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Sam Jones and Eddie Mathews hit a 2-run home run in the 3rd inning to provide the necessary scoring as the Milwaukee Braves shut out the San Francisco Giants 3-0 before 35,286 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

40 years ago
1969

Died on this date
Pat French, 75. U.S. baseball player. Mr. French was an outfielder who played 3 games with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1917, batting 0 for 2 with no home runs or runs batted in. He batted .230 in 42 games with the Portland Eskimos of the Class B New England League in 1926.

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched the unmanned probe Luna 15 toward the moon, just three days before the scheduled liftoff of the American manned Apollo 11 mission. It was widely believed that Luna XV was an attempt by the Soviet Union to upstage Apollo 11 by having the probe land, scoop up rock and soil samples, and return to earth before Apollo 11

Politics and government
Italian Prime Minister Mariano Rumor accepted a mandate to form a new government within the previous centre-left coalition formula.

Protest
A group of young demonstrators--doctors, nurses, medical students, and supporters--interrupted the opening of the annual meeting of the American Medical Association with a 25-minute protest against the AMA’s conservative policies.

Baseball
Dave McNally improved his 1969 record to 13-0 as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-3 before 18,868 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Tony Conigliaro hit 2 home runs for the Red Sox, and Boston outfielder Reggie Smith extended his hitting streak to 20 games.

The Washington Senators scored 5 runs in the 1st inning and held on to defeat the New York Yankees 5-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 31,700 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington. Jim Shellenback pitched a 6-hitter and batted 2 for 4 with a run and a run batted in, while Frank Howard batted 3 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBIs as the Senators won the second game 10-1 to complete the sweep.



The Minnesota Twins scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and 3 in the 9th as they overcame a 4-0 deficit and defeated the Seattle Pilots 5-4 before 26,123 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington.

Jerry Koosman pitched a 7-hitter to win the pitching matchup over Jerry Robertson as the New York Mets edged the Montreal Expos 4-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 40,653 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. The Mets scored 5 runs in the 4th inning as they overcame a 6-2 deficit, and a run in each of the 7th and 8th innings to win the second game 9-7 to complete the sweep. Tommie Agee led the New York attack in the second game, batting 3 for 4 with a base on balls, 2 home runs, 4 runs, and 4 runs batted in.

Ken Holtzman pitched a 4-hitter for the Chicago Cubs as they shut out the Philadelphia Phillies 6-0 in the first game of a doubleheader before 34,913 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Jim Colborn made his major league debut as Chicago's starting pitcher in the second game, allowing 7 hits and 3 runs--all earned--in 5 1/3 innings, walking 4 batters and striking out 1, getting the win as the Cubs won 6-4 to complete the sweep.

The San Diego Padres edged the Atlanta Braves 1-0 before 6,456 fans at San Diego Stadium, as Joe Niekro pitched a 6-hitter to outduel his brother Phil, who allowed 7 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings. Nate Colbert doubled to lead off the bottom of the 4th inning and scored the only run on a 2-out single by Ivan Murrell.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Pop Muzik--M

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Pop Muzik--M (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Honesty--Billy Joel

Terrorism
Four Palestinian guerrillas seized the Egyptian embassy in Ankara, Turkey and took 19 hostages. Two security guards were killed as the gunmen stormed the building, and a hostage died after jumping from a top floor window. The Palestinians said that they were members of a radical splinter group called the Eagles of the Palestinian Revolution. They demanded the release of two guerrillas in Egypt, and asked Turkey to denounce the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The Palestine Liberation Organization disavowed any connection with the guerrillas, and helped to mediate negotiations.

Defense
The U.S. State Department announced that it was recommending the sale of an additional $1.2 billion in military equipment to Saudi Arabia to enable the Saudis to continue modernizing their paramilitary national guard. Officials said that United States "arms sales to Saudi Arabia have been conducted without regard to any deal or links to the Saudi decisions on oil." The U.S.A. had been assisting the Saudis in upgrading their national guard since 1972.

Aviation
The United States government lifted its ban on DC-10 flights after ordering the manufacturer--the McDonnell Douglas Company--to redesign vital components of the aircraft within two years.

Disasters
Spain’s worst hotel fire killed at least 80 when the Hotel Corona de Aragon in Saragossa went up in flames.

25 years ago
1984

Politics and government
Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, Democratic party candidate for Vice-President of the United States, said that she didn’t believe that President Ronald Reagan was a "good Christian" because his policies were unfair to the poor. Of course, one could make a similar comment about Mrs. Ferraro’s support for abortion.

Football
CFL
Calgary (1-2) 13 @ Edmonton (2-1) 40

The Eskimos overcame an early 13-3 deficit to defeat the Stampeders (1-2) 40-13 at Commonwealth Stadium. Matt Dunigan threw 3 touchdown passes to Brian Kelly and one to Chris Woods, and Larry Cowan rushed for another Eskimo touchdown. For Mr. Kelly, the scores gave him 8 touchdowns in the first 3 games of the season. The touchdown by Mr. Woods in the second quarter was not only his first in the CFL, but the first Eskimo touchdown of 1984 to be scored by anyone other than Brian Kelly. Mr. Cowan’s touchdown was the first of his CFL career. Mr. Dunigan’s performance earned him recognition as the CFL’s offensive star of the week, while offensive tackle Hector Pothier was chosen lineman of the week. It was a very entertaining game, thanks to Eskimo head coach Jackie Parker’s use of trick plays on offense.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Minä olen muistanut--Kim Lönnholm (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Liberian Girl--Michael Jackson

Oddities
A lone pilot who said he was unconscious most of the way survived a 1,000-mile airplane flight and crash. Thomas Root, a lawyer from Washington, D.C., took off alone from Washington National Airport at 6:33 A.M. in a single-engine Cessna, destined for a business meeting in North Carolina. He radioed at 8:30 A.M. that he was having trouble breathing, put the plane on automatic pilot, and apparently became unconscious. The Cessna fell into the ocean near Eleuthera Island, where Mr. Root emerged from the plane and swam to rescuers as it sank.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (0-1) 15 @ Edmonton (1-0) 20

The Eskimos won their 18th straight season opener, defeating the Lions at Commonwealth Stadium. Jerry Kauric accounted for all the Edmonton scoring with 6 field goals and 2 singles. B.C. running back Tony Cherry scored the game’s only touchdown.

10 years ago
1999

Diplomacy
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak met with King Abdullah II of Jordan in Aqaba.

Politics and government
Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire withdrew from the contest for the Republican party nomination for President of the United States for 2000, and from the party as well, changing his party designation to independent. Sen. Smith’s defection reduced the Republican majority in the Senate to 54-45.

Protest
Most businesses in Tehran were closed as a result of clashes between police and students protesting the closing of a moderate newspaper on July 7.

Baseball
Major League All-Star Game @ Fenway Park, Boston
National League 1 @ American League 4

Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox struck out the first 4 National League batters, and 5 of the 6 he faced in 2 innings of work to earn Most Valuable Player honours as the AL won before 34,187 fans.