August 28, 2009

1,520 years ago
489

War
Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, defeated Odoacer at the Battle of Isonzo, forcing his way into Italy.

820 years ago
1189

War
Crusaders under Guy of Lusignan began the Siege of Acre in Israel.

400 years ago
1609

Exploration
Henry Hudson discovered Delaware Bay, the estuary outlet of the Delaware River.

400 years ago
1619

Politics and government
Ferdinand II, the King of Bohemia and Hungary, was unanimously elected Holy Roman Emperor.

300 years ago
1709

Indianica
Meidingnu Pamheiba was crowned King of Manipur.

270 years ago
1739

Died on this date
Agostino Accorimboni, 78. Italian composer. Mr. Accorimboni wrote 13 operas between 1768-1785, and composed other choral works. He died on August 13, 1818, 15 days before his 79th birthday.

260 years ago
1749

Born on this date
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. German writer and statesman. Mr. Goethe wrote fiction and non-fiction, including scientific treatises. He was best known for his two-part play Faust (1808/1832). Mr. Goethe was ennobled by Karl August, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, in 1782, and sat on the Duke's privy council, overseeing commissions and administrative reforms. Mr. Goethe died on March 22, 1832 at the age of 82.

220 years ago
1789

Space
William Herschel discovered Enceladus, a moon of Saturn.

190 years ago
1819

Died on this date
Charles Lennox, Duke of Richmond, 64. U.K. politician. Mr. Lennox was a lieutenant-colonel in the British Army and Member of Parliament for Sussex before succeeding his father as Duke of Richmond in 1806. He was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1807-1813, and participated in the Napoleonic Wars. The Duke of Richmond was appointed Governor of British North America in 1818, but served for just 13 months. He had set off on a summer tour of Canada, but was bitten in the hand by a pet fox at Sorel, Lower Canada; a few weeks later, the symptoms of rabies appeared, with pains in the throat and shoulders, and a fear of water. The Duke of Richmond died of rabies in a settler's cabin, on Chapman's farm, near Perth, Upper Canada, near the military settlement of Richmond, named in his honour. He was succeeded as Governor General by the Earl of Dalhousie.

160 years ago
1849

War
After a month-long siege, Venice, which had declared itself independent as the Republic of San Marco, surrendered to Austrian forces.

150 years ago
1859

Born on this date
Matilda Howell. U.S. archeress. Mrs. Howell won the Ohio state championship in 1881, and competed until 1907. She won gold medals in double national round, double Columbia round, and team round at the Summer Olympic Games in St. Louis in 1904. Mrs. Howell died on December 20, 1938 at the age of 79.

130 years ago
1879

War
Cetshwayo, last king of the Zulus, was captured by the British.

110 years ago
1899

Born on this date
James Wong Howe. Chinese-born U.S. cinematographer. Mr. Howe, born Wong Tung Jim, moved to the United States with his family at the age of 5. He began his career in Hollywood as a still photographer during the silent film era, and eventually became a cinematographer, working on more than 130 films from 1923-1975, acquiring the nickname "Low-Key Howe" for his use of dramatic lighting and deep shadows. Mr. Howe was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, winning for The Rose Tattoo (1955) and Hud (1963). He died on July 12, 1976 at the age of 76 after several years of declining health.

Charles Boyer. French-born U.S. actor. Mr. Boyer began his career in France, but achieved his greatest success after moving to Hollywood in the 1930s, usually playing romantic leads. He was nominated for Academy Awards for his starring performances in Conquest (1937); Algiers (1938); Gaslight (1944); and Fanny (1961). Mr. Boyer committed suicide with an overdose of Seconal on August 26, 1978, two days after the death of his wife, and two days before his 79th birthday.

Baseball
Jesse Burkett hit 2 inside-the-park home runs for the St. Louis Perfectos in a 14-12 loss to the Washington Senators at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis.

100 years ago
1909

World events
A group of mid-level Greek Army officers launched the Goudi coup, seeking wide-ranging reforms. The coup resulted in the appointment of Eleftherios Venizelos as Prime Minister.

Baseball
In the first game of a doubleheader at South Side Park in Chicago, Washington Nationals' pitcher Dolly Gray walked 8 White Sox in the 2nd inning, including 7 in a row. The resulting 6 runs were enough for a 6-4 victory for the White Sox, who managed just 1 hit against Mr. Gray, whose 1909 record fell to 3-13. Jim Scott pitched a 9-hit complete game victory to improve to 10-8. The White Sox scored single runs in the 8th and 9th innings to win the second game 2-1 to complete the sweep, with Frank Smith (22-15) pitching a 5-hitter to win over Doc Reisling (0-2), who pitched a 6-hitter.

Howie Camnitz (22-5) and Babe Adams (9-1) were the respective winning pitchers as the Pittsburg Pirates swept a doubleheader from the Brooklyn Superbas 7-3 and 3-0 at Washington Park in Brooklyn.

90 years ago
1919

Baseball
Fighting a cold, Washington Nationals’ ace Walter Johnson (17-13) gave up 19 hits and lost 5-4 to the New York Yankees when second baseman Bucky Harris, playing his first major league game, allowed a pop fly by Duffy Lewis to fall among three players in the bottom of the 14th inning, and Wally Pipp scored the game-ending run before 8,000 fans in the first of 2 games at the Polo Grounds in New York. Mr. Harris batted 1 for 5 with a base on balls and 2 runs batted in, while making 4 putouts and 4 assists, and participating in a double play. Carl Mays (9-12) pitched an 11-hit complete game victory. George Mogridge (6-8) pitched a 6-hitter for the Yankees as they won the second game 5-3 before 10,000 fans at the Polo Grounds to complete the sweep. Washington shortstop Frank Ellerbe was made his major league debut in the second game, batting 1 for 3 with a base on balls, run, with 3 putouts and 5 assists.

Every man in the Philadelphia Phillies' lineup had at least 1 hit as they routed the New York Giants 14-2 at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. Center fielder Cy Williams was the only Philadelphia player without a run, but he had a single and double and 4 runs batted in. Brad Hogg pitched a 6-hitter to improve his 1919 record to 2-8, batting 2 for 4 with 2 doubles, a run, and an RBI.

80 years ago
1929

Baseball
Donie Bush resigned as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates and was replaced by coach Jewel Ens. The Pirates were second in the National League at the time with a record of 67-51.

75 years ago
1934

Baseball
The Philadelphia Athletics and New York Yankees split a doubleheader. Jimmie Foxx hit his 33rd home run of the season, a 2-run shot in the 8th inning, to help the Athletics win the opener 4-3. The Yankees won the second game 2-1, with the only Philadelphia run coming on Mr. Foxx’s 34th home run of the season.

70 years ago
1939

Baseball
Joe DiMaggio hit a grand slam, a 3-run home run, and a single, driving in 8 runs, to help the New York Yankees rout the Detroit Tigers 18-2 before 14,281 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, a day after the Yankees had beaten the Tigers 13-3.

60 years ago
1949

War
Communists took the Kansu Province capital of Lanchow in northwestern China.

Greek government forces completed the conquest of the Mount Grammos guerrilla stronghold, claiming 847 Communist casualties and an equal number of prisoners.

Politics and Government
A People's Congress in Mukden approved the creation of a "People's Government for the Northeast" to rule Manchuria.

The first Communist-sponsored World Youth Festival ended in Budapest as 10,000 delegates passed resolutions opposing the North Atlantic Treaty and promising to work for peace.

Religion
The Albanian government removed Orthodox Archbishop Christopher Kissi from office for "activity in favour of "Fascism" during the Italian occupation of Albania in World War II.

Baseball
The New York Yankees scored 6 runs in the 9th inning to defeat the Chicago White Sox 8-7 in the first game of a doubleheader before 38,135 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. It was a costly win for the Yankees, as outfielder Tommy Henrich fractured two vertebrae when he crashed into the wall going after a fly ball in the 1st inning. New York manager Casey Stengel rushed out to Mr. Henrich and told him to stay down; Mr. Henrich thought this was an indication that Mr. Stengel cared about the welfare of his players, until Mr. Stengel told him that he wanted time to warm up a pitcher to relieve starter Fred Sanford, who had faced just 2 batters, giving up a single and a double. Allie Reynolds improved his 1949 record to 13-4 as the Yankees completed the sweep with a 7-5 win in the second game, which was called after 8 innings. The Yankees lost first baseman Johnny Mize with a dislocated shoulder after he dove to make a putout in the 1st inning of the second game.

Larry Doby doubled with 1 out in the bottom of the 11th inning and scored when shortstop Vern Stephens dropped second baseman Joe Gordon's throw to second base on a ground ball by Lou Boudreau, giving the Cleveland Indians a 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox before 73,982 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Bob Lemon (16-9) pitched a 5-hitter to win over Jack Kramer (4-7), who allowed 8 hits and 1 earned run in a complete game.

Nippy Jones hit 2 home runs in the first game and another in the second game to help the St. Louis Cardinals sweep a doubleheader from the Boston Braves 9-7 and 7-1 before 24,971 fans at Braves Field. Ted Wilks (10-3) and Max Lanier (1-3) were the respective winning pitchers; it was Mr. Lanier's first win since returning to the Cardinals after jumping to the Mexican League in 1946.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Living Doll--Cliff Richard and the Drifters (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
George W. Meyer, 75. U.S. songwriter. Mr. Meyer was a Tin Pan Alley songwriter who wrote the music to For Me and My Gal (1917), numerous patriotic songs during World War I, and many others.

Bohuslav Martinů, 68. Czech-born composer. Mr. Martinů was a violinist with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra who moved to Paris in 1923 to study composition. He moved to the United States in 1941, and back to Europe in 1953, dying in Switzerland. Mr. Martinů wrote 6 symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores, and numerous other orchestral, chamber, instrumental, and vocal works.

Raphael Lemkin, 59. Russian-born human rights activist. Mr. Lemkin practiced law in Poland in the 1920s and '30s, and barely escaped the country at the beginning of World War II. He made his way to Stockholm, and emigrated to the United States in 1941, joining the faculty of Duke University. Mr. Lemkin originated the term "genocide," and was responsible for the U.S.A. placing the draft resolution of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide before the General Assembly in 1948; the convention went into effect in 1951. Mr. Lemkin died of a heart attack.

Economics and finance
The Romanian government issued decrees for wage raises of 8%-25%, and reducing prices of more than 2,600 consumer goods.

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower vetoed a $1.2-billion public works appropriation bill.

Football
CFL
IRFU
Toronto (1-2) 6 @ Montreal (2-1) 24

Baseball
Art Ditmar pitched a 2-hitter to improve his 1959 record to 10-8 and helped his own cause by batting 2 for 4 with a home run and 3 runs batted in to lead the New York Yankees over the Washington Senators 4-0 before 15,202 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington. Billy Consolo and losing pitcher Camilo Pascual (12-10) had consecutive singles in the 2nd inning for the Washington hits.

Pete Runnels singled with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning and Dick Gernert followed with a home run to give the Boston Red Sox a 6-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles before 18,071 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Mr. Runnels batted 4 for 5 with a double and a run batted in, while Baltimore third baseman Brooks Robinson was 4 for 4 with a base on balls and an RBI.

The Chicago White Sox extended their lead over the Cleveland Indians in the American League to 2½ games with a 7-3 win over the Indians before 70,398 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Sherm Lollar’s 20th home run of the season, a 3-run blow in the 7th inning, put the game away. Bob Shaw (14-4) pitched a 7-hit complete game victory.

Eddie Yost led off the top of the 10th inning with a home run to break a 5-5 tie as the Detroit Tigers edged the Kansas City Athletics 6-5 before 10,459 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City.

Joe Cunningham doubled home Gino Cimoli and Don Blasingame with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 13,606 fans at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Don Newcombe (12-7) pitched an 8-hit complete game in taking the loss.

66,068 fans were in attendance at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to see Willie Mays bat 3 for 4 with a home run, double, 2 runs, and 3 runs batted in, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sam Jones (17-12) pitched an 8-hitter, while the Giants scored all their runs in the first 2 innings against Don Drysdale (15-10).

40 years ago
1969

Literature
At a press conference in New York, baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn announced the publication of The Baseball Encyclopedia, and held up a copy of the 6½-pound book.

War
A North Korean spokesman in Panmunjom said that all three crew members of the U.S. helicopter shot down over North Korea on August 17 were alive. Two men were reported to be seriously injured.

Society
A United States federal appeals court in New Orleans granted the administration of President Richard Nixon a delay of court-ordered desegregation of school districts in Mississippi in a case that civil rights lawyers warned could initiate a wave of requests for similar delays throughout the south. The court ruled, however, that districts must proceed toward integration before the end of the school year.

Law
The New Jersey chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit in a United States federal court charging that marijuana smoke was dangerous neither to the user nor society, and further, that marijuana should not be classed with heroin and other dangerous drugs.

Protest
A city-arranged truce in Pittsburgh that suspended work on several major construction projects after Negroes protested what they saw as discriminatory hiring practices led to demonstrations by white construction workers, who chanted "We want work!" and "Wallace in ‘72!"

Baseball
Tony Conigliaro's 3-run home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th inning enabled the Boston Red Sox to defeat the Kansas City Royals 9-8 before 23,359 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Kansas City second baseman Jerry Adair hit a single, triple, and home run in 4 at bats, driving in 4 runs.

Pinch hitter Curt Motton led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a single and scored on a 2-out bunt single by Chico Salmon to give the Baltimore Orioles a 4-3 win over the Seattle Pilots before 8,118 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

Jim Northrup batted 6 for 6 with 2 home runs, and his second homer, a 2-run shot onto the Tiger Stadium roof following a walk to Norm Cash with 2 out in the bottom of the 13th inning, gave the Detroit Tigers a 5-3 win over the Oakland Athletics before 11,638 fans.

Ferguson Jenkins pitched a 5-hitter to improve his 1969 record to 18-11 and batted 1 for 3 with a run, while Billy Williams and Jim Hickman hit home runs to help the Chicago Cubs defeat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 before 29,092 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago, increasing their lead in the National League East Division pennant race to 2½ games over the idle New York Mets.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored a run in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the score, and Steve Huntz led off the bottom of the 10th with his first major league home run to give the Cardinals a 2-1 win over the Houston Astros before 13,754 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Mudcat Grant (7-10) pitched a scoreless 10th inning to get the win, while St. Louis starter Steve Carlton allowed 6 hits and no earned runs in 8 innings, with 10 strikeouts. Don Wilson (16-9) pitched a 5-hitter in taking the loss.

Frank Linzy (12-6) pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief to get the win and scored the winning run when he led off the bottom of the 8th inning with a single and scored on a 1-out double by Ron Hunt to break a 3-3 tie as the San Francisco Giants edged the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 before 5,555 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Dick Allen and Deron Johnson hit home runs off San Francisco starter Ray Sadecki, while Billy Champion (4-7) pitched a 10-hit complete game defeat. The Giants remained ½ game ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the National League West Division pennant race.

Hank Aaron drove in 6 runs with a 2-run home run in the 1st inning and a grand slam in the 7th to lead the Atlanta Braves over the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2 before 10,767 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The Pirates had 14 hits against Atlanta pitchers George Stone (11-8) and Paul Doyle, but left 10 runners on base.

The Montreal Expos scored 4 runs in the 7th inning and 2 in the 8th as they came from a 5-3 deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-5 before 16,557 fans at Dodger Stadium. Claude Raymond (3-3), the Expos' first Canadian player, pitched 4 innings of 2-hit scoreless relief to get his first win since joining the team recently from the Atlanta Braves. Ty Cline led off the game with a home run, the 6th and last of his major league career. Former Dodger Ron Fairly hit a 2-run homer in the 8th.

30 years ago
1979

Terrorism
The day after the murders of Lord Louis Mountbatten and 18 British soldiers in separate events by Irish Republican Army terrorists in separate events, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher made a quick trip to Northern Ireland "to demonstrate that we care." She visited several army and police bases.

Diplomacy
After two days of talks in China with Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Deng Xiaoping, U.S. Vice-President Walter Mondale told a news conference that the friendship between the United States and China was "not directed against anyone," and that the U.S.A. sought improved relations with both China and the U.S.S.R.

War
A temporary cease-fire went into effect between Iranian government troops and Kurdish rebels.

Energy
U.S. Energy Secretary Charles Duncan told the governors of nine northeastern states that he would establish a 10-million-barrel reserve of home heating oil in the region to help insure adequate supplies for the follwoing winter.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (0-7) 1 @ Winnipeg (2-5) 30
Toronto (4-3) 13 @ Edmonton (5-0-2) 28
Calgary (5-2) 17 @ British Columbia (6-1-1) 18

Winnipeg quarterback Dieter Brock threw 2 touchdown passes to Mike Holmes and another to rookie Walt Passaglia before 25,159 at Winnipeg Stadium. Saskatchewan quarterback Tom Clements, playing what turned out to be his last game with the Roughriders, was pulled at halftime in favour of Larry Dick.

Edmonton quarterbacks Tom Wilkinson (4) and Warren Moon (2) combined to throw 6 interceptions, but Mr. Wilkinson threw touchdown passes to Waddell Smith, John Konihowski, and Tom Scott as the Eskimos finally prevailed over the Argonauts before 42,778 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Mr. Scott’s touchdown came when he took a short swing pass, hurdled a diving Argonaut tackler, and had a clear path to the end zone. Peter Muller scored the lone AToronto touchdown on a pass from Tony Adams.

30,018 fans at Empire Stadium in Vancouver saw backup quarterback Joe Paopao move the Lions 81 yards in the last 33 seconds, ending the game with a 12-yard touchdown pass to veteran Jim Young on the last play of the game. The other B.C. touchdown came on a pass from Jerry Tagge to Terry Bailey. Willie Burden ran 5 yards for a Stampeder touchdown in the first quarter, and John Hufnagel threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Willie Armstead in the fourth quarter to give Calgary a 17-12 lead, just 27 seconds after a Lui Passaglia field goal had given the Lions a 12-10 lead. So many fans went onto the field after the winning touchdown that the convert wasn’t attempted.

Baseball
The Los Angeles Dodgers released pitcher Andy Messersmith, ending his 12-year major league career with a record of 130-99 and an earned run average of 2.86 in 344 games.

25 years ago
1984

Politics and government
Walter Mondale, Democratic party candidate for President of the United States, received the endorsements of Rev. Jesse Jackson and three dozen other Negro leaders after agreeing to bring more Negroes into his campaign. Mr. Mondale also received the endorsement of John Anderson, an independent candidate for President in 1980.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): If You Don't Know Me by Now--Simply Red (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Lambada--Kaoma (2nd week at #1)

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Right Here Waiting--Richard Marx
2 So Alive--Love and Rockets
3 Batdance--Prince
4 The End of the Innocence--Don Henley
5 Cold Hearted--Paula Abdul
6 On Our Own--Bobby Brown
7 Toy Soldiers--Martika
8 Don't Wanna Lose You--Gloria Estefan
9 Rock 'N' Roll Duty--Kim Mitchell
10 Hangin' Tough--New Kids on the Block

Singles entering the chart were Mixed Emotions by the Rolling Stones (#43); What am I Gonna Do with These Hands by Andrew Cash (#79); Just Wanna Hold by Mick Jones (#82); Love in an Elevator by Aerosmith (#84); Miss You by 54-40 (#86); Miss You Much by Janet Jackson (#87); This One by Paul McCartney (#89); Listen to Your Heart by Roxette (#91); and Still Cruisin' by the Beach Boys (#93).

Music
The Beach Boys’ album Still Cruisin' was released on Capitol Records. The album contained some new songs--including the title track, a current single--as well as being padded with several old songs. Brian Wilson contributed one new track, In My Car. It was the last new Beach Boys album to be widely issued on vinyl as well as cassette and compact disc.

Died on this date
Joseph Alsop, 78. U.S. journalist. Mr. Alsop was a reporter with the New York Herald Tribune in the mid-1930s before moving to Washington and writing a daily nationally-syndicated column with Robert E. Kintner. The partnership was ended when both men entered service in World War II. Mr. Alsop and his younger brother Stewart combined to write the thrice-weekly column Matter of Fact for the Herald Tribune from 1945-1958, with Joseph travelling around the world to report on foreign affairs, and Stewart remaining in Washington. After the brothers ended their journalistic partnership, Joseph remained the sole author of Matter of Fact, and moved to The Washington Post until his retirement in 1974. He was known as a conservative Republican, although he had ties to U.S. Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, both Democrats. Joseph Alsop was a closeted sodomite whose activities in a Moscow hotel room in 1957 had been photographed by the Soviet secret police KGB, and became known to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Football
CFL
Calgary (5-3) 34 @ Hamilton (5-3) 22

Baseball
The New York Mets edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 before 38,820 fans at Dodger Stadium as Frank Viola outduelled Orel Hershiser in the first matchup of defending Cy Young Award winners in major league history.

20 years ago
1999

Space
The Russian mission Soyuz TM-29 ended as the space station Mir was vacated by its last crew--Russian cosmonauts Viktor Afanasyev and Sergei Avdeyev, and French spacionaut Jean-Pierre Haigneré--after the Russian government decided to abandon the aging station because of funding problems.

Football
CIS
Pre-season
Alberta (0-1) 0 Saskatchewan (1-0) 21 @ Lloydminster