July 18, 2009

620 years ago
1389

War
France and England agreed to the Truce of Leulinghem, inaugurating a 13-year peace, the longest period of sustained peace during the Hundred Years' War.

110 years ago
1899

Died on this date
Horatio Alger, 67. U.S. author. Mr. Alger was best known for his many novels for boys, the best known of which was Ragged Dick (1867-1868). His name is usually associated with "rags-to-riches" stories, although his novels typically involved the main character performing an act of bravery or honesty that resulted in some improvement in his circumstances.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Mohammed Daoud Khan. 1st President of Afghanistan, 1973-1978; Prime Minister of Afghanistan, 1953-1963. Mr. Daoud held various cabinet posts before serving as Prime Minister. He was forced to resign as a result of deteriorating relations with Pakistan. 10 years later, Mr. Daoud seized power from his cousin and brother-in-law King Zahir in a bloodless coup and proclaimed a republic, with himself as President. In the late 1970s, Mr. Daoud decided to diminish Afghan relations with the U.S.S.R. and pursue friendlier relations with the West. In what was called the Saur Revolution, a coup by members of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) deposed Mr. Daoud, 68, and assassinated him and most of the members of his family on April 28, 1978.

Andrei Gromyko. U.S.S.R. politician. Mr. Gromyko was Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Soviet Union from 1957-1985 and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 1987-1988. He died on July 2, 1989, 16 days before his 80th birthday.

Harriet Nelson. U.S. actress and singer. Mrs. Nelson, born Peggy Louis Snyder, began her performing career as Harriet Hilliard and acted in several movies, but was best known as the wife of bandleader Ozzie Nelson. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, which also featured the Nelsons' sons David and Ricky, was a popular series on radio from 1944-1954 and on television from 1952-1966. Mrs. Nelson died on October 2, 1994 at the age of 85.

90 years ago
1919

Died on this date
Jim Hart, 64. U.S. baseball manager. Mr. Hart managed the Louisville Colonels (1885-1886) and Boston Beaneaters (1889), compiling a record of 202-174-7. He was president of the Chicago White Stockings/Colts in the early-mid-1890s, and spent some time in England in the 1890s helping to manage three teams in a fledgling baseball league there. Mr. Hart died eight days after his 64th birthday.

Baseball
Babe Ruth’s third grand slam of the season, in the 9th inning off relief pitcher Fritz Coumbe, capped a 5-run rally as the Boston Red Sox edged the Cleveland Indians 8-7 at Dunn Field in Cleveland. Mr. Ruth finished the game with 2 home runs and 6 runs batted in; the homers were his 12th and 13th of the season, an American League record for a single season. Cleveland manager Lee Fohl was fired after the game and replaced by center fielder Tris Speaker, whose first move was to send Mr. Coumbe to the minor leagues.

Lefty Williams pitched a 4-hit shutout to improve his 1919 record to 16-6 as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Washington Nationals 3-0 before 10,000 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

80 years ago
1929

Society
A plebiscite in Prince Edward Island sustained the prohibition of alcoholic beverages.

Boxing
Tommy Loughran (92-14-8) retained his New York State Athletic Commission world light heavyweight title with a 15-round unanimous decision over James J. Braddock (36-6-6) at Yankee Stadium in New York.



75 years ago
1934

Baseball
The Cleveland Indians rallied for 3 runs in the 9th inning against Lefty Gomez to edge the New York Yankees 15-14. The teams set an American League record with 22 players hitting safely.

70 years ago
1939

Died on this date
J. Louis Comiskey, 56. U.S. baseball executive. Mr. Comiskey was the owner of the Chicago White Sox.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
Murder By Experts, hosted and narrated by John Dickson Carr, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Creeper

Died on this date
Vítězslav Novák, 78. Czech composer. Mr. Novák was known for his patriotic works, including tone poems and cantatas.

Francisco Javier Arana Castro, 43. Guatemalan military officer and head of state. Colonel Arana was a member of the three-man junta that toppled President Federico Ponce Vaides in October 1944. Col. Arana was head of state and government from October 20, 1944-March 15, 1945, and was Chief of the Armed Forces until his death in a shootout with supporters of President Juan José Arévalo, two days after he had threatened to launch a coup.

World events
A small force led by supporters of Jacobo Árbenz intercepted the convoy of armed forces chief Francisco Javier Arana Castro, who was returning from a meeting in Guatemala City with President Juan José Arévalo. A shootout ensued, resulting in three deaths, including Col. Arana, whose supporters rose up in revolt, but asked for negotiations the next day.

War
Chinese Communists announced the start of a new southward offensive in Kiangsi and Hunan provinces.

Politics and government
Brooklyn Dodgers’ baseball star Jackie Robinson testified before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities, stating that American Negroes would fight the U.S.S.R. if necessary, but would remain "stirred up" until full racial equality was achieved.

U.S. Representative Hugh Scott (Pennsylvania) announced his forthcoming resignation as Republican National Committee chairman.

Crime
Former U.S. Army Captain Kathleen Nash Durant, convicted in the Hesse jewel theft case, was freed from a federal prison in Alderson, West Virginia after serving one-third of a five-year sentence.

Economics and finance
Countries in the British sterling area agreed to cut their purchases of dollar goods by 25% during the current fiscal year in support of Britain's action.

Oil
Iran announced an agreement with the Anglo-American Oil Company providing for extension of the company's drilling concession through 1991 in exchange for higher royalty payments.

Labour
Japan's National Railway Corporation dismissed 14 workers for their Communist affiliations.

Baseball
After testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee, Jackie Robinson sole home plate for the second run of the game as the Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 before 25,595 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Joe Hatten pitched a 5-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Bob Rush; Mr. Hatten didn't strike out a batter.

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored all their runs in the 8th inning as they overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 before 4,068 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Murry Dickson pitched a 7-hit complete game victory to improve his 1949 record to 4-11.

Mike Garcia pitched a 6-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Mickey McDermott, who allowed 7 hits, as the Cleveland Indians edged the Boston Red Sox 1-0 before 34,632 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Lou Boudreau led off the bottom of the 5th inning with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored the game's only run on a double by Jim Hegan.

The Philadelphia Athletics erupted for 5 runs in the top of the 10th inning to break an 8-8 tie and defeat the Detroit Tigers 13-8 before 9,356 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.

Catfish Metkovich singled home Bud Souchock and Fred Hancock with 2 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to conclude a 3-run rally as the Chicago White Sox defeated the New York Yankees 6-5 before 32,968 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The Yankees had scored 2 runs in the top of the 10th to take a 5-3 lead.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Personality--Lloyd Price (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Venus--Frankie Avalon (5th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Die Gitarre und das Meer--Freddy Quinn (13th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Dream Lover--Bobby Darin (4th week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Battle of New Orleans--Johnny Horton (8th week at #1)
2 Lonely Boy--Paul Anka
3 Lipstick on Your Collar--Connie Francis
4 Waterloo--Stonewall Jackson
5 Personality--Lloyd Price
6 Tiger--Fabian
7 Bobby Sox to Stockings--Frankie Avalon
8 What a Diff'rence a Day Makes--Dinah Washington
9 There Goes My Baby--The Drifters
10 I Only Have Eyes for You--The Flamingos

Singles entering the chart were My Wish Came True by Elvis Presley (#76); Angel Face by Jimmy Darren (#81); Thank You Pretty Baby (#87)/With All of My Heart (#91) by Brook Benton; Crackin' Up by Bo Diddley (#88); Sleep Walk by Santo & Johnny (#94); Linda Lu by Ray Sharpe (#95); A Lover's Hymn by the Fontane Sisters (#96); Jine the Cavalry by Mitch Miller and his Orchestra (#100); and Broken-Hearted Melody (also #100)/Misty (also #100) by Sarah Vaughan.

Defense
The Indonesian government named Colonel R. Eddy Martidinata as Navy chief of staff.

Archaeology
Sewer repair workers in Piraeus (the seaport for Athens) discovered three statues, one from the 6th century B.C., believed to be the oldest life-size bronze figure ever recovered.

Energy
The Canadian government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker announced that it would create a National Energy Board, with powers over oil, natural gas, and electricity pricing and supply.

Agriculture
A new Farm Credit Act in Canada replaced the old Canada Agricultural Loan Act, which dated back to 1927. A new corporation, the Farm Credit Corporation, was to replace the Canadian Farm Loan Board.

Labour
Italian seamen's unions ordered their 50,000 members to halt a 40-day walkout that had paralyzed Italian shipping and tied up major Italian liners in home or foreign ports.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): In the Ghetto--Elvis Presley

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)--Zager and Evans
2 Crystal Blue Persuasion--Tommy James and the Shondells
3 The Ballad of John and Yoko/Old Brown Shoe--The Beatles
4 Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town--Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
5 Good Morning Starshine--Oliver
6 Let Me--Paul Revere and the Raiders
7 Along Came Jones--Ray Stevens
8 Baby, I Love You--Andy Kim
9 Quentin’s Theme--The Charles Randolph Greane Sounde
10 Polk Salad Annie--Tony Joe White

Singles entering the chart were Goo Goo Barabajagal (Love is Hot) by Donovan with the Jeff Beck Group (#25); Honky Tonk Women by the Rolling Stones (#27); I'm Free by the Who (#28); Willie and Laura Mae Jones by Dusty Springfield (#29); and Clean Up Your Own Back Yard by Elvis Presley (#30).

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)--Zager and Evans
2 The Ballad of John and Yoko--The Beatles
3 Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town--Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
4 Crystal Blue Persuasion--Tommy James and the Shondells
5 Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston
6 Let Me--Paul Revere and the Raiders
7 Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet--Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus
8 Medicine Man (Part I)--Buchanan Brothers
9 Israelites--Desmond Dekker and the Aces
10 Bad Moon Rising--Creedence Clearwater Revival

Ottawa's Top 20
1 In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)--Zager and Evans
2 Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet--Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus
3 Ruby, Don’t Take your Love to Town--Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
4 The Ballad of John and Yoko--The Beatles
5 Spinning Wheel--Blood, Sweat & Tears
6 Good Morning Starshine--Oliver
7 Good Old Rock 'n Roll--Cat Mother and the All Night News Boys
8 Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)--Neil Diamond
9 Baby, I Love You--Andy Kim
10 One--Three Dog Night
11 In the Ghetto--Elvis Presley
12 Polk Salad Annie--Tony Joe White
13 Quentin’s Theme--The Charles Randolph Greane Sounde
14 Crystal Blue Persuasion--Tommy James and the Shondells
15 Don’t Wake Me Up in the Morning, Michael--Peppermint Rainbow
16 Theme from 'A Summer Place'--The Ventures
17 The Days of Sand and Shovels--Bobby Vinton
18 Laughing--The Guess Who
19 My Pledge of Love--The Joe Jeffrey Group
20 My Sentimental Friend--Herman’s Hermits

Died on this date
Mary Jo Kopechne, 28. U.S. secretary. Miss Kopechne was one of the "Boiler Room Girls" who worked on the campaign of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy (New York) for the 1968 Democratic Party U.S. presidential nomination. She was devastated by his assassination in June 1968, but eventually worked on the campaigns of other Democratic politicians. Miss Kopechne attended a party in honour of the Boiler Room Girls on Chappaquiddick Island, at the east end of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, and accepted the offer of Sen. Ted Kennedy (Democrat--Massachusetts), Robert Kennedy's younger brother, to drive her to catch the last ferry to Edgartown, where she was staying. They left the party at 11:15 P.M. Sen. Kennedy drove his car off an unlit bridge, and the car landed on its roof in Poucha Pond. Sen. Kennedy extricated himself from the car, and left Miss Kopechne behind, where she died from apparent suffocation. Sen. Kennedy neglected to inform authorities of the accident until the car and Miss Kopechne's body were discovered the next morning. Miss Kopechne died eight days before her 29th birthday.

Space
Apollo 11 continued its journey to the Moon. To follow the mission in real time, go to Apollo 11 in Real Time.

For more on this date, see The Days of Apollo 11.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Silly Games--Janet Kay

World events
Francisco Urcoyo Maleanos fled Nicaragua just a day after replacing Anastasio Somoza Debayle as the country’s President. Mr. Urcoyo’s flight was apparently the result of U.S. pressure on Mr. Somoza to keep his agreement on a transfer of power. The National Guard crumbled, leaving power to the Sandanista rebel junta.

Economics and finance
The price of gold rose above $300 an ounce for the first time, as the world financial markets reacted with uncertainties over U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s energy program and potential changes in his cabinet.

Politics and government
U.S. President Jimmy Carter named Hamilton Jordan his White House chief of staff. Mr. Jordan ordered senior White House and cabinet-level appointees to conduct evaluations of their staffs to clear "dead wood."

Football
CFL
Toronto (1-1) 18 @ Hamilton (0-2) 11
Winnipeg (0-2) 7 @ Calgary (1-0) 35

Winnipeg receiver Joe Poplawski, winner of the Schenley Award as Most Outstanding Rookie in 1978, broke his ankle early in the Blue Bombers' loss to the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium and was lost for the rest of the season.

25 years ago
1984

Politics and government
Former U.S. Vice-President Walter Mondale was nominated on the first ballot at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco as the party’s candidate for President of the United States. Mr. Mondale received 2,191 of the 3,933 votes cast; Senator Gary Hart received 1,200.5 votes, and Reverend Jesse Jackson got 465.5 votes. Sen. Hart, who asked that the nomination be made unanimous, appeared to leave the door open to another bid for the nomination in the future.

Crime
In what may have been the worst mass murder in United States history, James Huberty, a gun collector who had recently lost his job, shot 21 people to death and wounded 18 others in and near a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro, California. Mr. Huberty’s motive was unknown. He carried three guns into the restaurant at about 4 P.M. and ordered everyone to lie down. He shot anyone who moved inside the restaurant and shot others who were outside. Many of the victims were children. The nightmare lasted about 77 minutes before Mr. Huberty was fatally felled by a single shot fired by Charles Foster, a member of the police SWAT team.

20 years ago
1989

Died on this date
Donnie Moore, 35. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Moore was a relief pitcher with the Chicago Cubs (1975, 1977-1979); St. Louis Cardinals (1980); Milwaukee Brewers (1981); Atlanta Braves (1982-1984); and California Angels (1985-1988), posting a record of 43-40 with 89 saves and an earned run average of 3.67 in 416 games. He was named to the American League team for the All-Star Game in 1985, a year in which he pitched in 57 games, posting an 8-8 record with 31 saves and a 1.92 ERA. Mr. Moore shot himself after shooting and critically injuring his wife Tonya as their 10-year-old son watched. Mr. Moore had been the ace relief pitcher with the California Angels several years earlier, but his career unravelled after he gave up a home run to Dave Henderson of the Boston Red Sox in game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series when the Angels were just one strike away from winning the pennant. An Angel win would have given them the series 4 game to 1. Instead, the Red Sox scored another run off Mr. Moore in the 11th inning to win game 5 in Anaheim and the last 2 games in Boston to win the ALCS 4 games to 3. Mr. Moore never got over his game 5 failure, saying about the home run pitch to Mr. Henderson, "I’ll think about that until the day I die." His most recent position had been with the Omaha Royals of the American Association, but the Royals had released him on June 12, 1989 after he had posted a 1-2 record with a 6.39 ERA in 7 games.

Rebecca Schaeffer, 21. U.S. actress. Miss Schaeffer co-starred in the television comedy series My Sister Sam (1986-1988) and appeared in the movie Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989). She was fatally shot in the doorway of her Los Angeles apartment building by a stalker named Robert Bardo, who was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Politics and government
U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev, addressing the Central Committee of the Communist Party, called for "a flow of fresh blood" within the party, and warned that he was ready to purge more party leaders.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the merchandise trade deficit had widened in May to $10.24 billion.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (2-0) 42 @ British Columbia (0-2) 37



10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Woody Davis, 86. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Davis had a 0-0 record with an earned run average of 1.50 in 2 games with the Detroit Tigers in 1938. He compiled a record of 50-55 with a 5.15 ERA in 190 games in 7 seasons in the minor leagues from 1934-1940.

Diplomacy
The summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and U.S. President Bill Clinton at Washington and Camp David concluded with Mr. Barak setting a 15-month deadline for achieving peace in the Middle East. He said he was prepared to make "painful compromises" with Syria over the Golan Heights.

War
Two United States soldiers were killed in a vehicle accident, becoming the first Americans killed since the U.S. entered the breakaway Yugoslavian province of Kosovo.

Baseball
The New York Yankees celebrated Yogi Berra Day before 41,930 fans at Yankee Stadium with a 6-0 win over the Montreal Expos as David Cone pitched a perfect game. Don Larsen, who had pitched a perfect game for the Yankees in the 1956 World Series, was on hand for the festivities.



Russ Davis singled home John Mabry with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Seattle Mariners an 8-7 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks before 44,705 fans at Safeco Field in Seattle. Arizona led 6-0 after 3 1/2 innings.

Frank Catalanotto singled to lead off the 10th inning and scored on a sacrifice squeeze bunt by Brad Ausmus to break an 8-8 tie as the Detroit Tigers edged the Cincinnati Reds 9-8 before 26,657 fans at Cinergy Field in Cincinnati. The Tigers led 6-0 after 2 1/2 innings, but allowed 8 straight runs before scoring 2 in the 7th to tie the score.