September 7, 2009

Married on this date
Happy Anniversary, Nicki Chang and Ken Powless!

1,150 years ago
859

Died on this date
Xuānzong, 49. Emperor of China, 846-859. Xuānzong, born Li Yi and later renamed Li Chen, was a ruler of the Tang dynasty, acceding to the throne upon the death of Emperor Wuzong. Xuānzong reversed his predecessor's persecution of Buddhists, but favoured certain alchemists who promised him immortality and gave him pills that resulted in him becoming easily angered and increasingly paranoid. Emperor Xuānzong died from alchemical elixir poisoning, and was succeeded on the throne by Yizong.

850 years ago
1159

Religion
The majority of cardinals elected as Pope Roland of Siena, who took the name Alexander III. A minority of cardinals elected Cardinal Octavian, who took the name Victor IV and became the German Emperor's antipope.

390 years ago
1619

Died on this date
Melchior Grodziecki, 37 (?). Polish clergyman; Marko Krizin, 29 or 30. Croatian clergyman. Frs. Grodziecki and Krizin were Roman Catholic priests who were martyred in the Hungarian city of Kassa at the instigation of Alvinczi, a Calvinist minister who also headed the City Council. The executions took place two days after Calvinist forces commanded by George Rákóczi had placed Kassa under siege. The two priests canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1995 and are regarded as martyrs by the Roman Catholic Church.

280 years ago
1729

Died on this date
William Burnet, 60-62. Dutch-born American politician. Mr. Burnet, the son of the future Bishop of Salisbury, moved to England with his parents when William III and Mary II acceded to the throne in the Glorious Revolution in 1688. He was once tutored by Isaac Newton, and like Sir Isaac, he took an interest in Bible prophecy, but adopted an erroneous understanding of the book of Daniel that led him to wrongly predict the return to Earth of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1790. Mr. Burnet was Governor of the Provinces of New York and New Jersey (1720-1728) and the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire (1728-1729). He insisted that the assembly of Massachusetts grant him a permanent salary, and was still involved in the dispute when he died, a week after his carriage had overturned and thrown him into water, apparently producing a fatal illness. Mr. Burnet was temporarily succeeded in his governorships by Lieutenant Governor William Dummer.

200 years ago
1809

Died on this date
Rama I, 72. King of Siam, 1782-1809. Rama I, born Thongduang and also known as Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok, founded the Rattanakosin Kingdom, and was the first monarch of the reigning Chakri dynasty of what is now Thailand. He acceded to the throne after defeating a rebellion which had deposed King Taksin of Thonburi. King Rama I's troops conducted a successful war against Burma in 1785-1786. Rama I died after a short illness, and was succeeded on the throne by his son Rama II.

190 years ago
1819

Born on this date
Thomas A. Hendricks. 21st Vice President of the United States of America, 1885. Mr. Hendricks, a Democrat, represented Indiana in the United States House of Representatives from 1851-1855 and in the Senate from 1863-1869. He was Governor of Indiana from 1873-1877. Mr. Hendricks was the vice presidential running mate of Democratic Party presidential nominee Samuel Tilden in the hotly-disputed election of 1876, and was elected as Grover Cleveland's running mate in 1884. He had been suffering from poor health for several years, and died in his sleep on November 25, 1885 at the age of 66, while on a trip home to Indianapolis. The vice presidency remained vacant for the rest of Mr. Cleveland's term in office.

140 years ago
1869

Canadiana
Prince Arthur (son of Queen Victoria) began his Royal Tour of New Brunswick, arriving at Shediac on board the HMS Dart. Travelling by train, he stopped at Petitcodiac and Sussex en route to Saint John, where he attended a Paris Crew sculling match.

120 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Bill Holden. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Holden was an outfielder with the New York Yankees (1913-1914) and Cincinnati Reds (1914), batting .211 with no home runs and 21 runs batted in in 79 games. He played more than 1,200 games in 13 seasons in the minor leagues (1911-1927), managing in the mainors in 1925 and 1927. Mr. Holden died on September 14, 1971, a week after his 82nd birthday.

Baseball
With the St. Louis Browns leading the Brooklyn Bridegrooms 4-2 in the 8th inning of an important American Association game at Union Grounds in Brooklyn when Browns’ owner Chris von der Ahe set up a row of lighted candles in front of the St. Louis bench, sending an unsubtle hint to umpire Fred Goldsmith that it was too dark to continue play. Mr. Goldsmith refused to take the hint and ordered play to continue, even after Brooklyn fans knocked over several candles with beer cups and started a small fire. St. Louis manager Charlie Comiskey refused to let his team take the field in the 9th inning, prompting a barrage of beer bottles and a forfeit win for the Bridegrooms.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Eddie Wilson. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Wilson played right field with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1936-1937), batting .317 with 4 home runs and 33 runs batted in in 88 games. He played 1,393 games in 13 seasons in the minor leagues from 1929-1941, with at least 66 home runs. Mr. Wilson died on April 11, 1979 at the age of 69.

Elia Kazan. Turkish-born U.S. theater and movie director. Born Elias Kazantzoglou in Istanbul, Mr. Kazan acted in and directed plays with the New York-based Group Theatre in the 1930s and 1940s and co-founded the Actors Studio in 1947. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for Gentleman's Agreement (1947) and On the Waterfront (1954). His other movies included A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945); A Streetcar Named Desire (1951); East of Eden (1955); Baby Doll (1956); A Face in the Crowd (1957); Splendor in the Grass (1961); and America, America (1963). Mr. Kazan died on September 28, 2003, three weeks after his 94th birthday.

Died on this date
Eugène Lefebvre, 30. French aviator. Mr. Lefebvre was regarded as the first "stunt pilot." He finished fourth in the first annual international competition for the Gordon Bennett Trophy on August 29, 1909, behind Glenn Curtiss, Louis Blériot, and Hubert Latham. Just nine days later, Mr. Lefebvre was killed when he crashed a new French-built Wright biplane during a test flight at Juvisy, south of Paris, becoming the first person to die while piloting a powered airplane, almost a year after Thomas Selfridge had become the first aircraft fatality as a passenger.

Baseball
The New York Highlanders scored 4 runs in the top of the 7th inning to break a 4-4 tie as they beat the Philadelphia Athletics 8-6 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. New York first baseman Hal Chase hit a 2-run home run in the 5th. Slow Joe Doyle pitched a 13-hit complete game to improve his 1909 record to 7-4, winning over Cy Morgan, who fell to 14-16.

Jim Delehanty batted 3 for 4 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Naps 7-4 at Bennett Park in Detroit. Ed Summers (17-7) pitched a 12-hit complete game, winning over Addie Joss (14-11), who hit his only major league home run, a 2-run blast in the 7th inning.

90 years ago
1919

Defense
The U.S.A.'s first transcontinental motor convoy, consisting of 81 U.S. Army vehicles, 37 officers, and 258 enlisted men, arrived in San Francisco after leaving Washington, D.C. and traversing 22 states and covering 3,251 miles, often on unpaved roads. The purpose of the convoy was to test state-of-the-art military vehicles designed to be sent to Europe, and to assess the capability of the U.S. Army to move across the country in the event of a national emergency. The convoy simulated a security crisis in which an "Asiatic enemy" was invading the nation. Among the participants was Lieutenant Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower.

80 years ago
1929

Died on this date
Frederic Weatherly, 80. U.K. songwriter. Mr. Weatherly, a lawyer by trade, wrote the lyrics to an estimated 3,000 songs, including Danny Boy and Roses of Picardy. He died after a short illness, 27 days before his 81st birthday.

Disasters
The Finnish steamship SS Kuru capsized and sank on Lake Näsijärvi near Tampere in Finland, with the loss of 136 of the 162 people aboard.

Baseball
Eight batters in a row collected hits in the 4th inning as the Chicago Cubs scored 7 runs on their way to a 13-6 win over the Boston Braves in the first game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Pat Malone pitched a 4-hitter to improve his 1929 record to 20-9 as the Cubs completed the sweep with a 9-2 win in the second game to extend their National League lead over the second-place Pittsburgh Pirates to 13 games.

Jack Rothrock tripled home 3 runs with none out in the bottom of the 9th inning to complete a 4-run rally, giving the Boston Red Sox a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Browns before 3,500 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Red Ruffing (7-22), who doubled in the first Boston run and scored on the game-winning hit, pitched a 7-hit complete game to win over General Crowder (13-14), who allowed 9 hits.

Al Simmons batted 3 for 4 with a home run, 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 3 runs batted in to help the Philadelphia Athletics defeat the Cleveland Indians 5-1 in the first game of a doubleheader at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Lefty Grove (20-4) pitched a 9-hitter to win over Jake Miller (12-11), who also pitched a 9-hitter. Lou Fonseca, Ed Morgan, and Johnny Hodapp hit solo home runs in the 9th inning as the Indians won the second game 4-0, as Willis Hudlin (15-12) pitched an 8-hitter to outduel Rube Walberg (17-10).

60 years ago
1949

Died on this date
José Clemente Orozco, 65. Mexican artist. Mr. Orozco was a caricaturist and painter who was a major figure in the Mexican Mural Renaissance, specializing in political murals, promoting the interests of peasants and workers.

Diplomacy
The Bolivian government charged Argentina with supporting rightist rebels in southern Bolivia.

Politics and government
The West German Bundestag officially opened in Bonn, electing Christian Democratic Party leader Erik Koehler President of lower house.

U.S. President Harry Truman issued an executive order transferring the administration of Guam from the Navy to the Interior Department.

Economics and finance
Organization for European Economic Cooperation members agreed in Paris to form a $284-million pool, from which countries with balance of payments difficulties could obtain extra credit.

Representatives of the U.S.A., U.K., and Canada began talks in Washington on means of alleviating the sterling area's dollar crisis. British Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Stafford Cripps emphasized in an opening statement that the U.K. sought no "charitable aid or any direct assistance other than that contemplated through the Marshall Plan."

Swimming
A six-man Egyptian team set a relay record by swimming the English Channel in 11 hours 11 minutes.

Baseball
Allie Reynolds walked the first 3 batters and gave up a 2-run single to Bobby Doerr, but that was all that he and the New York Yankees allowed as they came back to beat the Boston Red Sox 5-2 before 66,875 fans at Yankee Stadium, moving 2½ games ahead of the second-place Red Sox in the American League pennant race, as Mr. Reynolds improved his 1949 record to 15-4. Joe Page came into the game in the 8th inning to save the game for Mr. Reynolds, striking out 4 of the 5 batters he faced. Bobby Brown hit a home run for the Yankees, and Billy Johnson added 2 triples.

Marty Marion singled home Solly Hemus with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to conclude a 2-run rally as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Chicago Cubs 3-2 before 19,454 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Howie Pollet (18-8) pitched a 12-hit complete game to outduel Doyle Lade (4-5), who allowed 8 hits.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Un Telegrama--Monna Bell (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 The Three Bells--The Browns (3rd week at #1)
2 Sleep Walk--Santo & Johnny
3 Sea of Love--Phil Phillips with the Twilights
4 I'm Gonna Get Married--Lloyd Price
5 Red River Rock--Johnny and the Hurricanes
6 ('Til) I Kissed You--The Everly Brothers
7 Broken-Hearted Melody--Sarah Vaughan
8 Lavender-Blue--Sammy Turner
9 What'd I Say (Parts I and II)--Ray Charles and his Orchestra
10 I Want to Walk You Home--Fats Domino

Singles entering the chart were I'm a Hog for You by the Coasters (#71); Lonely Street by Andy Williams (#72); Mr. Blue by the Fleetwoods (#75); The Battle of Kookamonga by Homer and Jethro (#76); Come on and Get Me by Fabian (#77); Battle Hymn of the Republic by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with the Philadelphia Orchestra (#78); Where by the Platters (#82); Breaking Up is Hard to Do by Jivin' Gene and the Jokers (#83); Teen Beat by Sandy Nelson (#84); The Shape I'm In by Johnny Restivo (#87); You were Mine by the Fireflies (#97); and You Better Know It by Jackie Wilson (#100). I'm a Hog for You was the B-side of Poison Ivy, charting at #34.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 Caribbean--Mitchell Torok
2 The Three Bells--The Browns
3 Broken-Hearted Melody--Sarah Vaughan
4 Mona Lisa--Conway Twitty
5 Red River Rock--Johnny and the Hurricanes
6 ('Til) I Kissed You--The Everly Brothers
7 Sleep Walk--Santo & Johnny
8 Lonely Boy--Paul Anka
9 Robbin' the Cradle--Tony Bellus
10 Here Comes Summer--Jerry Keller

Singles entering the chart were Put Your Head on My Shoulder by Paul Anka (#28); You were Mine by the Fireflies (#38); The Mummy by Bob McFadden (#44); The Battle of Kookamonga by Homer and Jethro (#45); Plenty Good Lovin'/You're Gonna Miss Me by Connie Francis (#48); Young as We Are by Sal Mineo (#49); Somethin' Else by Eddie Cochran (#50); Lonely Street by Andy Williams (#54); Tres Chic by the Sheiks (#56); Living Doll by Cliff Richard and the Drifters (#57); Joey's Song by Bill Haley and his Comets (#58); and The Blessings of Love by Anita Bryant (#60).

Died on this date
Maurice Duplessis, 69. Canadian politician. Mr. Duplessis was the leader of the Union Nationale party and was Premier of Quebec from 1936-1939 and from 1944 until his death. He opposed Communism, trade unions, and Canadian involvement in World War II. His government favoured private enterprise and the entry of foreign (largely American) foreign capital )while refusing federal funds to support education), and kept taxes low, while building roads and bridges (at least in areas that had voted UN). The Union Nationale under Duplessis engaged in the typical Quebec practices of extortion, vote-buying, and ballot box-stuffing. The Roman Catholic church hierarchy supported Mr. Duplessis' government in return for subsidies for church schools and charities. The Padlock Law of 1937 authorized police to lock premises from which Communist activity was allegedly conducted. Jehovah's Witnesses were fined and imprisoned for distributing literature on the street. Wilson Ewin, a Baptist evangelist, also served time in prison in Quebec under Duplessis for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mr. Duplessis died in Schefferville, Quebec, and was succeeded as premier by Paul Sauve. 50 years after his death, Maurice Duplessis continues to be the subject of scholarly debate.

Diplomacy
The Arab League Council meeting in Casablanca called for continuation of the U.A.R.'s Suez Canal blockade of Israel and tightening of the Arab economic boycott of Israel.

Returning to the United States after his tour of Western European capitals, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower reported that "every troublesome little problem" within the Western alliance had been "talked out" and settled.

Defense
The Big Four (U.S.A., U.S.S.R., U.K., France) announced the formation of a new 10-nation disarmament committee, to function outside the United Nations.

Religion
The National Council of Churches reported that U.S. church membership had risen to a record 109,557,741 in 1958, a gain of 5% from 1957.

Environment
In a report to the International Oceanographic Congress meeting in New York, geologist Rhodes Fairbridge said that worldwide studies indicated that ocean levels had risen 45 feet within a few centuries about 6,000 years ago and had obliterated many human communities.

Sport
The third Pan American Games concluded in Chicago, with the U.S.A. leading the medal count with 121 gold, 72 silver, and 52 bronze.

Football
CFL
IRFU
Toronto (1-3) 3 @ Hamilton (4-0) 37

WIFU
British Columbia (4-3) 35 @ Saskatchewan (0-6) 17
Edmonton (3-3) 16 @ Calgary (4-2) 10

ORFU
Detroit (0-4) 10 @ Sarnia (4-0) 39

A Civic Stadium record crowd of 24,345 saw the Tiger-Cats make good use of both their quarterbacks in routing the Argonauts. Bernie Faloney completed 12 of 16 passes, while Tom Dublinski was 9 for 14. The two combined for 349 yards passing. Mr. Dublinski threw touchdown passes to Zeno Karcz and Paul Dekker; Mr. Faloney threw a touchdown pass to Ron Howell. Running back Gerry McDougall completed a touchdown pass to Tommy Grant, and Ed Bell scored the other Hamilton touchdown on a return of a blocked punt. Steve Oneschuk converted 4 of the touchdowns and added a field goal. Cookie Gilchrist’s 30-yard field goal accounted for the Toronto scoring.

12,566 fans at Taylor Field in Regina saw Don Vicic, Urban Henry, Ed Vereb, Willie Fleming, and Don Vassos score touchdowns for the visiting Lions. Vic Kristopaitis converted all 5 B.C. touchdowns. Doug Killoh and Ron Dundas scored touchdowns for the Roughriders. Both were converted by Reg Whitehouse, who added a field goal.

Quarterback Don Getty completed 12 of 18 passes for 221 yards to lead the Eskimos to victory in the first Labour Day game between the teams to be played in Calgary, and the only one played at Mewata Stadium. 17,200 fans were on hand to witness the beginning of a tradition that ran through 1963, and after a five-year interruption, resumed in 1969. Johnny Bright and Normie Kwong scored Edmonton touchdowns; Tommy-Joe Coffey added 1 convert and a field goal. Rookie Calgary quarterback Joe Kapp scored the Stampeders’ lone major on a 5-yard rush. It was a sloppy game, as Calgary lost 5 of 6 fumbles, and Edmonton 2 of 3.

Ernie White scored 5 touchdowns and a convert to lead the Golden Bears over the Raiders at Labatt Park.

Baseball
At Comiskey Park in Chicago, baseball competition in the Pan American Games finished with Venezuela winning the gold medal, Puerto Rico the silver, and U.S.A. the bronze. Lou Brock of the United States finished the tournament 1 for 10. Dominican Republic outfielder Rico Carty so impressed scouts that he was reportedly offered 9 contracts, and signed them all. He eventually signed for real with the Milwaukee Braves in December 1959.

Don Buddin, Jerry Casale, and Pumpsie Green hit consecutive home runs off Bob Turley in the 2nd inning to help the Boston Red Sox defeat the New York Yankees 12-4 before 19,995 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Mr. Casale allowed 9 hits and 4 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, but got the win to improve his 1959 record to 10-8.



Billy O’Dell (9-10) pitched a 4-hitter to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 7-0 win over the Washington Senators in the first game of a doubleheader before 14,210 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The Senators erupted for 7 runs in the top of the 10th to break a 1-1 tie as they won the second game 8-1. Brooks Robinson had led off the bottom of the 9th with a home run to send the game into extra innings. Fred Valentine played the first 7 innings in right field for the Orioles, batting 0 for 3 and making 1 putout in his major league debut. Willy Miranda played the 9th inning at shortstop for the Orioles in the first game, with no fielding chances, and entered the second game as a pinch runner for Gus Triandos in the 7th inning; it was the 824th and last game of Mr. Miranda's 9-year major league career.

Jimmy Piersall singled home Jack Harshman and Ray Webster to conclude a 3-run 9th-inning rally as the Cleveland Indians came back from a 12-4 deficit and defeated the Detroit Tigers 15-14 in the first game of a doubleheader before 28,041 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. The teams combined for 7 home runs--4 by the Tigers--with Eddie Yost hitting 2 homers for Detroit, and Rocky Colavito hitting his 40th of the season for Cleveland. The Indians did it again in the second game, with Vic Power scoring Tito Francona with a sacrifice fly to conclude another 3-run 9th-inning rally as the Indians won 6-5 to complete the sweep. Mike Garcia, who had started on the mound for Cleveland and allowed 3 hits and 5 runs--all earned--in just 1+ inning, pitched a scoreless 9th inning in the second game and was credited with the win, improving to 3-5 for the season.

The Chicago White Sox scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning, which held up for a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Athletics in the first game of a doubleheader before 26,368 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Billy Pierce (13-13) allowed 5 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings to outduel Ned Garver (9-12), who allowed 8 hits and 2 earned runs in a complete game. Ted Kluszewski, Al Smith, and Jim Rivera hit home runs in a 6-run 3rd inning and Mr. Kluszewski added another homer in the 6th as the White Sox came back from a 4-0 deficit to win 13-7 and complete the sweep, remaining 4½ games ahead of the Indians in the American League pennant race. Evans Killeen, the fifth and last Kansas City pitcher in the second game, allowed 1 hit and 1 run--earned--with 3 bases on balls and 1 strikeout in 1 inning in his major league debut.

Joe Koppe doubled with 1 out and nobody on base in the top of the 9th inning and Dave Philley followed with a home run to break a 4-4 tie as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 before 5,624 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

40 years ago
1969

Died on this date
Everett Dirksen, 73. U.S. politician. Mr. Dirksen, a Republican, represented Illinois' 16th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1933-1949, and represented Illinois in the Senate from 1951 until his death from lung cancer, serving as Senate Republican leader from 1957 until his death. Mr. Dirksen was known for his mellifluous voice (his spoken word recording Gallant Men reached #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart early in 1967 and won a Grammy Award), and a talent for compromise and conciliation.

Bill Seinsoth, 22. U.S. baseball player. A high school star from Arcadia, California, Mr. Seinsoth went to the University of Southern California, where he led the Trojans to the 1968 College World Series championship and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. In 1969 the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Mr. Seinsoth in the first round, and he reported to their class A California League team at Bakersfield. Gradually recovering from the effects of a severe beaning the year before, he hit .276 with 10 home runs and 37 runs batted in in 80 games with the Bakersfield Dodgers. Mr. Seinsoth was being groomed by the Dodgers to eventually replace Wes Parker as the Los Angeles first baseman. He died the day after sustaining serious injuries in a highway accident while driving to Los Angeles to watch his old USC friend O.J. Simpson play for the Buffalo Bills in a pre-season game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Terrorism
The Brazilian kidnappers of U.S. Ambassador Burke Elbrick freed the 61-year-old diplomat after hearing that the 15 political prisoners whose release they had demanded had arrived in Mexico City and had been given asylum there. The story of this incident was told in the movie Four Days in September (1997).

Abominations
The Canadian House of Commons passed the Official Languages Act, giving French and English equal status in the government of Canada. The practical effect of the Act, which went into force two days later, was to restrict advancement in the federal civil service to residents of Quebec, especially those from Montreal.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (5-2) 15 @ Toronto (5-1) 34

Dave Raimey scored 3 touchdowns, with Mel Profit scoring the other Toronto major, as the Argonauts beat the Roughriders at CNE Stadium. Dave Mann added 3 converts, 2 field goals, and a single. Saskatchewan touchdowns were scored by flanker Hugh Campbell and backup quarterback Bubba Wyche.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Bobby Brown--Frank Zappa

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): El Lute--Boney M. (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Je l'aime à mourir--Francis Cabrel

Television
The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) began broadcasting.

War
Zimbabwe Rhodesian forces ended three days of attacks on Mozambican troops and Patriotic Front guerrilla bases deep in Mozambique.

Diplomacy
In a 4-minute televised statement, U.S. President Jimmy Carter said that relations with the Soviet Union would be "adversely affected" unless the U.S.S.R. respected U.S. concern about the brigade of 2,000-3,000 Soviet troops that had recently been discovered to be in Cuba.

Defense
U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced that the MX missile would be deployed in a "racetrack" scheme of circular roadways. 10,000 miles of roads and railroads would be constructed in the project.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the national unemployment rate had risen to 6% in August, the highest level in more than a year. Many economists considered this evidence that the economy had entered a recession six months earlier. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that producer prices rose by 1.2% in August, the largest monthly increase since January.

Disasters
Hurricane David ended its eight-day rampage, as several metropolitan areas in the northeastern United States, including New York City, reported major power failures and flooded streets and highways.

Baseball
Toby Harrah led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a home run, and singled home Rick Manning with 2 out to conclude a 6-run rally--aided by 2 Toronto errors--as the Cleveland Indians came back from an 8-0 deficit to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-8 before 4,222 fans at Cleveland Stadium. Rico Carty hit a grand slam for Toronto to climax a 6-run 5th inning as the Blue Jays took a 6-0 lead; Sandy Wihtol then relieved starting pitcher Rick Waits and allowed 4 hits and 2 runs--both earned--with 1 strikeout in 1 inning in his first major league game.

The Detroit Tigers defeated the New York Yankees 6-0 before 28,943 fans at Tiger Stadium behind the pitching of Jack Billingham, who allowed 4 hits in 6 1/3 innings in relief of starter Bruce Robbins to improve his 1979 record to 10-6. Mr. Robbins left the game after being hit by a ball off the bat of Bobby Murcer. Losing pitcher Ken Clay, who dropped to 1-7, was removed after Champ Summers singled to lead off the 3rd inning, and Jim Kaat pitched for the Yankees through the 6th inning. Roger Slagle then entered the game on the mound for the Yankees, and retired all 6 men he faced in the 7th and 8th innings. It turned out to be Mr. Slagle’s only major league appearance; his story is told in the book Once Around the Bases by Richard Tellis (1998).

Gary Roenicke led off the 7th inning with a home run to break a 1-1 tie as the Baltimore Orioles edged the Boston Red Sox 2-1 before 33,222 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Eddie Murray led off the 4th with a home run to open the scoring, and Jim Rice homered with 2 out in the bottom of the 4th for the Boston run. Jim Palmer, Sammy Stewart (8-5) and Don Stanhouse combined for a 7-hit victory, with losing pitcher Bruce Rainey (5-5) allowing 9 hits and 2 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings.

Barry Foote doubled home Jerry Martin from first base with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 10,359 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Mr. Foote was involved in a couple of bizarre plays in the 4th inning. With 1 out in the top of the inning, Garry Maddox singled, and Larry Bowa grounded to Chicago second baseman Steve Dillard, who missed an attempted tag and threw wildly past first base. Mr. Foote, the Chicago catcher, was backing up the play and tagged out Mr. Maddox, who was under the impression that Mr. Dillard had already tagged him out. In the bottom of the 4th, Mr. Foote doubled home Larry Biittner and Steve Ontiveros to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead; the ball got stuck in the Cubs' bullpen, and the Phillies argued that Mr. Ontiveros shouldn't have been allowed to score. Dennis Lamp (11-8) pitched an 11-hit complete game victory.

Garry Thomasson scored Steve Garvey with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 9th inning to break a 5-5 tie as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 before 33,937 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Rafael Santo Domingo made his major league debut with the Reds, drawing a base on balls as a pinch hitter in the 5th inning.

Aided by an error by Richie Hebner and a passed ball by Alex Trevino, the Pittsburgh Pirates scored 2 runs in the top of the 14th inning to break a 4-4 tie as they defeated the New York Mets 6-4 before 8,290 fans at Shea Stadium in New York.

The St. Louis Cardinals withstood a 2-run 9th inning rally and held on to defeat the Montreal Expos 5-4 before 19,782 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis, dropping the Expos 2 games behind the Pirates in the National League East Division pennant race. Dave Cash singled with 2 out in the 9th, but Andre Dawson, as he did so often in such situations, struck out to end the game.

25 years ago
1984

World events
The funeral of Soviet deputy prime minister Leonid Konstandov was nationally televised from Red Square in Moscow. It struck some observers that the elaborate ceremony may have been used as an occasion to give attention to some of the pallbearers. If so, it appeared that Politburo member Mikhail Gorbachev was placed in the most prominent position.

Diplomacy
Foreign ministers of the four Contadora countries--Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela--concluded two days of meetings with a call for disarmament on Central America. The appeal was included in a revised version of the group’s peace plan for the region, but Nicaragua’s foreign minister pronounced it unacceptable while Nicaragua was under attack.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate continued at a steady 7.4%.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (3-7) 25 @ Winnipeg (8-2) 65

The Blue Bombers scored touchdowns on 6 straight possessions in jumping out to a 42-10 lead at halftime. Willard Reaves carried 22 times for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns, and caught one of Tom Clements’ 5 touchdown passes. John Hufnagel relieved Mr. Clements in the third quarter and threw 2 more touchdown passes. James Murphy caught 7 passes for 197 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Jeff Boyd caught 4 for 111 and 3 touchdowns. Jerome Erdman caught the other touchdown pass, while Trevor Kennerd added 9 converts and 2 singles. Ottawa’s Dave Newman caught 1 touchdown pass from starting quarterback J.C. Watts and another from backup Joe Adams. Waymon Alridge also caught a touchdown pass from Mr. Adams. 26, 187 were in attendance at Winnipeg Stadium to see the Blue Bombers amass 677 yards in net offense. The Blue Bombers also recorded 8 quarterback sacks.

Baseball
Dwight Gooden pitched a 1-hitter and struck out 11 as the New York Mets blanked the Chicago Cubs 10-0. Keith Moreland’s slow roller in the 5th inning, which third baseman Ray Knight fielded, but couldn’t get out of his glove, was the only Chicago hit.

Dave Bergman’s 3-run home run in the 10th inning gave the Detroit Tigers a 7-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Tigers trailed 4-0 in the 8th before coming back to tie the score.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): London Nights--London Boys (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Every Day (I Love You More)--Jason Donovan

Disasters
A United States Navy report concluded that the April 19 explosion in the Number Two 16-inch gun turret of the battleship USS Iowa that had killed 47 men was "probably" deliberately caused by Gunner’s Mate Second Class Clayton Hartwig, who was suicidal and had an interest in explosives. The report offered no motive, but conjectured that Mr. Hartwig had placed a detonating device in with gunpowder and the powder exploded as it was being rammed into the gun tube during a firing exercise. Investigators found evidence of foreign chemical elements in the gun tube. Mr. Hartwig’s family denounced the report and demanded a Congressional investigation. The incident was the subject of a dissenting report, media criticism, and years of litigation.

10 years ago
1999

World events
Bishop Carlos Belo of East Timor, co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996, fled to Australia as pro-Indonesia militias seized 7,000 refugees at or near his home and drove them away in trucks. Thousands fled to the Indonesian province of West Timor. The violence occurred as a result of overwhelming voter support for East Timorese independence in a referendum days earlier.

Scandal
Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros pled guilty to lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, acknowledging that payments he had made to an ex-mistress were much higher than the $60,000 figure he had given to the FBI in 1992 and 1993, during background checks related to his nomination to the cabinet. The guilty plea, to a misdemeanor, was part of an agreement with independent counsel David Barrett. Mr. Cisneros would pay a $10,000 fine but would not go to jail. The plea closed an investigation that cost more than $9 million.

Business
Viacom, the world’s largest cable television network company, announced that it planned to buy CBS Corporation, which owned CBS Television. The acquisition would be accomplished in a $41 billion stock transaction, and Viacom would assume a $1.4 billion debt. Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone was to head the combined firm, which would retain Viacom as a name.

Disasters
The 6.0-Mw Athens earthquake affected the area with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), killing 143 people, injuring 800–1,600, and leaving 50,000 homeless.

Baseball
The Chicago Cubs scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 5th inning and held on to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader before 33,040 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Steve Trachsel allowed 4 hits and 1 earned run in 8 innings to improve his 1999 record to 6-16, outduelling Ron Villone, who allowed 3 hits and 2 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings to drop to 7-6. The Reds hit 6 home runs--3 by Greg Vaughn, 2 by Aaron Boone, 1 by Mike Cameron--as they won the second game 10-3.

The Florida Marlins scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 before 13,644 fans at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, as two Canadians opposed each other as starting pitchers. British Columbia’s Ryan Dempster started for the Marlins, allowing 4 hits and no runs in 7 innings, while Quebec’s Eric Gagne, in his major league debut, started for the Dodgers, allowing 2 hits and no runs in 6 innings, and batted 1 for 2. The Dodgers scored in the 9th and had a runner on first base with 2 out, but Todd Hollandsworth flied out to left field to end the game.

Pinch hitter Howard Battle singled home Otis Nixon with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Atlanta Braves a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals before 35,095 fans at Turner Field in Atlanta.

Ken Caminiti singled home Craig Biggio and Mtt Mieske with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to break a 6-6 tie as the Houston Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-6 before 12,934 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

The Arizona Diamondbacks scored 7 runs in the 6th inning as they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 11-9 before 14,204 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. The teams combined for 7 home runs, 4 by Arizona.

The Anaheim Angels scored 6 runs in each of the 4th and 8th innings as they routed the Chicago White Sox 14-1 before 16,867 fans at Edison International Field of Anaheim.