October 12, 2009

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Nancy Fullerton!

730 years ago
1279

Religion
The Nichiren Shōshū branch of Buddhism was founded in Japan, when Nichiren inscribed the Dai Gohonzon.

330 years ago
1679

Died on this date
William Gurnall, 62 or 63. English clergyman. Rev. Gurnall was an Anglican minister was known for his three-volume work The Christian in Complete Armour (1655-1662), collections of sermons and lectures.

210 years ago
1799

Aviation
Jeanne Geneviève Labrosse became the first woman to jump from a balloon with a parachute, successfully descending from an altitude of 3,000 feet (900 metres) over France.

160 years ago
1849

South Americana
The city of Manizales, Colombia, was founded by "The Expedition of the 20."

130 years ago
1879

Disasters
A major fire, “The Great Conflagration,” destroyed most of the business district in Shediac, New Brunswick, causing an estimated $90,000 worth of damage.

125 years ago
1884

Baseball
The Milwaukee Grays (also known as the Cream Citys) of the Union Association defeated the Baltimore Monumentals 5-2 before a crowd of 4,000 at Wright Street Grounds in Milwaukee in what turned out to be their final game. After starting the season in the Northwestern League, the Grays transferred to the Union Association in late September to replace the departed Wilmington Quicksteps. Managed by Tom Loftus, their UA record was 8-4--the best career record of any major league team. The Union Association folded in January 1885.

100 years ago
1909

Baseball
World Series
Pittsburg Pirates 0 @ Detroit Tigers 5 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

George Mullin pitched a 5-hitter and the Pirates made 6 errors as the Tigers shut out the Pirates 5-0 before 17,036 fans at Bennett Park.

90 years ago
1919

Football
Wisconsin professional
Racine 6 @ Green Bay Packers (5-0) 76

80 years ago
1929

Football
CRU
ORFU
Toronto (2-0) 6 @ Camp Borden (0-3) 1
Sarnia (2-0) 21 @ University of Toronto II (0-2) 5
Twin Cities (2-1) 26 @ St. Michael's College (1-1) 2
Windsor (2-0) 12 @ Hamilton (0-2) 5

ARU
University of Alberta (1-1) 8 @ Calgary (3-0) 10

Johnny Thompson rushed 5 yards for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter to help the Tigers defeat U of A at Mewata Stadium. Mr. Fenerty scored the U of A touchdown in the 4th quarter after the recovery of a fumbled punt on the Calgary 3-yard line.

Canadian university
Saskatchewan (2-0) 13 @ Manitoba (0-1) 11

Jim Campbell returned a fumble 10 yards for a touchdown and Mickey McNab returned an interception for a TD in the 2nd quarter as U of S took an 11-0 halftime lead, but it took 2 punt singles by Mr. Campbell in the 4th quarter to break an 11-11 tie as U of S edged U of M at Wesley Field in Winnipeg. Red Currie scored a touchdown in each of the 3rd and 4th quarters for Manitoba, and added a punt single.

Baseball
World Series
Chicago Cubs 8 @ Philadelphia Athletics 10 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Down 8-0 after 6½ innings, the Athletics scored 10 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning and defeated the Cubs before 29,921 fans at Shibe Park. Chicago center fielder Hack Wilson contributed to the big inning when he lost a couple of balls in the sun.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Ben Wright and Eric Snowden, on ABC

Literature
The Red Plot Against America by Robert Stripling, an investigator with the U.S. House of Representatives Un-American Activities Committee, was published by Bell.

War
Chinese Nationalist government leaders fled Canton for Chungking as Communist forces approached the city.

Diplomacy
The Norwegian Parliament awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to U.K. nutrition expert and former United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Lord Boyd Orr.

The U.S. State Department sent a circular telegram on China to U.S. diplomatic missions, emphasizing the "need for full exchange of views prior [to] any definitive or independent steps" toward recognition of the Communist government.

U.S. President Harry Truman named Mrs. Eugenie Anderson as U.S. envoy to Denmark, making her the first woman appointed to a U.S. ambassadorial post.

Politics and government
East German Socialist leader Otto Grotewohl became Minister President of the German Democratic Republic, heading an 18-member cabinet. Communist leader Walter Ulbricht was named Deputy Minister President. Mr. Grotewohl's government issued a program stressing friendship with the U.S.S.R., increased trade with Eastern Europe, and recognition of the Oder-Neisse border with Poland.

Labour
The International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union agreed with West Coast U.S. shippers on a jointly-financed welfare and insurance fund, with employers paying 55% and workers 45%.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): La Montaña--José Guardiola

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Mack the Knife--Bobby Darin (2nd week at #1)
2 Put Your Head on My Shoulder--Paul Anka
3 Mr. Blue--The Fleetwoods
4 Sleep Walk--Santo & Johnny
5 ('Til) I Kissed You--The Everly Brothers
6 Teen Beat--Sandy Nelson
7 Poison Ivy--The Coasters
8 The Three Bells--The Browns
9 Just Ask Your Heart--Frankie Avalon
10 Lonely Street--Andy Williams

Singles entering the chart were We Got Love by Bobby Rydell (#67); Oh! Carol by Neil Sedaka (#73); Running Bear by Johnny Preston (#83); If You Don't Want My Lovin' by Carl Dobkins, Jr. (#87); I Don't Know by Ruth Brown (#92); Goodbye Charlie by Patti Page (#94); Dance with Me by the Drifters (#97); The Story of Our Love by Johnny Mathis (#98); and There Comes a Time by Jack Scott (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 Mack the Knife--Bobby Darin (3rd week at #1)
2 ('Til) I Kissed You--The Everly Brothers
3 Broken-Hearted Melody--Sarah Vaughan
4 Living Doll--Cliff Richard and the Drifters
--David Hill
5 Morgen--Ivo Robic and the Song-Masters
6 Teen Beat--Sandy Nelson
7 The Battle of Kookamonga--Homer and Jethro
8 Caribbean--Mitchell Torok
9 The Three Bells--The Browns
10 Battle Hymn of the Republic--The Mormon Tabernacle Choir with the Philadelphia Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were Got the Feeling by Fabian (#33, charting with its other side, Come on and Get Me); In the Mood by the Ernie Fields Orchestra (#43); Oh! Carol by Neil Sedaka (#47); If I Give My Heart to You by Kitty Kallen (#54); and Goodbye Charlie by Patti Page (#57).

War
The United Nations Security Council Subcommittee on Laos ended a month-long study on the Laotian conflict, and returned to New York to prepare a report on charges that North Vietnam had armed and led the Pathet Lao revolt.

Algerian nationalist sources in Cairo reiterated that the Algerian Provisional Government demanded both talks on a cease-fire and French pledges for Algerian self-determination after peace had been restored.

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly elected Ceylon and Ecuador to fill Security Council seats to be vacated by Canada and Panama.

Politics and government
At the national congress of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance in Peru, a group of leftist radicals were expelled from the party; they later formed APRA Rebelde.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Circuit Court of Appeals ruling voiding the murder conviction of Robert Goldsby, a Negro, on the ground that Negroes were systematically excluded from juries in Carroll County, Mississippi, where he had been tried.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the contempt of court conviction of Orion Sherwood, a pacifist who had violated a federal court order barring him from sailing into the Eniwetok-Bikini proving ground to protest U.S. nuclear tests.

Football
CFL
IRFU
Ottawa (5-6) 28 @ Montreal (4-7) 12
Toronto (4-7) 7 @ Hamilton (9-2) 20

WIFU
Winnipeg (10-3) 27 @ Saskatchewan (1-12) 14
Calgary (7-7) 41 @ Edmonton (8-5) 23



ORFU
Sarnia (5-4) 16 @ Kitchener-Waterloo (6-4) 6

Hal Ledyard and J.B. Smith scored touchdowns for the Golden Bears in their win over the Dutchmen. Ed Vernes converted one of the touchdowns and added a field goal. Rommie Loudd scored the K-W touchdown.

40 years ago
1969

Died on this date
Julius Saaristo, 78. Finnish javelin thrower. Mr. Saaristo won several Finnish national championships in the 1910s. At the 1912 Summer Olympic Games in Stockholm, he won a gold medal in the two-handed javelin throw, and a silver medal in the conventional javelin throw. Mr. Saaristo died of throat cancer.

Sonja Henie, 57. Norwegian figure skater and actress. Miss Henie won 10 straight women's world championships (1927-1936); six straight European championships (1931-1936); and three straight Olympic gold medals (1928, 1932, 1936). She moved to the United States in 1936 to pursue an acting career, and became an American citizen several years later. Miss Henie's movies included Sun Valley Serenade (1941). She developed leukemia in the mid-1960s, and died of it while on a flight from Paris to Oslo.

Space
Just a day after the liftoff of Soyuz 6, the U.S.S.R. launched Soyuz 7, with a crew of Commander Anatoly Filipchenko, Flight Engineer Vladislav Volkov, and Research Cosmonaut Viktor Gorbatko . Its mission was apparently to conduct tests for building an orbital space laboratory.

Protest
Rioting between Protestants and police and British troops in Belfast concluded with 3 people reported killed, 53 injured, and 50 arrested. The British army flew in replacements, who raided homes, seizing gasoline and ammunition; three men were arrested. Although British troops were ordered to return sniper fire and "shoot to hit," a mob of Protestant extremists gathered, and more shots were heard.

Disasters
12 hours of earthquakes in northwestern Greece toppled 12 buildings, but injured only 2 people.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (9-2) 21 @ Saskatchewan (10-3) 38
Winnipeg (3-9-1) 15 @ Calgary (8-5) 16

Ron Lancaster threw 2 touchdown passes to Bobby Thompson and another to Hugh Campbell in Saskatchewan’s win at Taylor Field in Regina. Former Ottawa defensive back Larry Degraw returned a Bill Van Burkleo punt 75 yards for a touchdown. Jim Mankins scored both of Ottawa's touchdowns on passes from Russ Jackson.

Backup quarterback Bill Redell rushed 11 yards for a touchdown in the 4th quarter, and Larry Robinson's convert provided the winning margin as the Stampeders edged the Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium. Fullback Butch Pressley scored the Blue Bombers' touchdown.

NFL
Pittsburgh (1-3) 7 @ New York (3-1) 10
Los Angeles (4-0) 27 @ San Francisco (0-3-1) 21
Dallas (4-0) 24 @ Atlanta (1-3) 17
Cleveland (3-1) 27 @ New Orleans (0-4) 17
Green Bay (3-1) 28 @ Detroit (2-2) 17
St. Louis (2-2) 17 @ Washington (2-1-1) 33
Minnesota (3-1) 31 @ Chicago (0-4) 0

AFL
Houston (3-2) 0 @ Kansas City (4-1) 24
Oakland (4-0-1) 24 @ Denver (2-3) 14
New York (3-2) 21 @ Cincinnati (3-2) 7

Baseball
World Series
New York Mets 2 @ Baltimore Orioles 1 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

2-out singles by Ed Charles, Jerry Grote, and Al Weis in the top of the 9th inning gave the Mets their win over the Orioles at Memorial Stadium. Donn Clendenon hit a solo home run in the 4th inning to give New York an early lead and Mets’ starting pitcher Jerry Koosman had a no-hitter going through 6 innings, but singles by Paul Blair and Brooks Robinson in the 7th inning tied the score. Mr. Koosman gave up just the 2 hits in 8 2/3 innings, and Ron Taylor came in to get the final out.





30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Bobby Brown--Frank Zappa (6th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): We Don't Talk Anymore--Cliff Richard

#1 single in France (IFOP): Aline--Christophe

Abominations
Cuban dictator Fidel Castro addressed the United Nations and called on the United States and other wealthy "imperialists" to pay $300 billion over 10 years to develop poor countries. "If there are no resources for development, there will be no peace," he warned. Mr. Castro wanted the fund to be run by the UN with every country, from the Maldives to China, enjoying an equal vote in its distribution. Diplomats from western industrial countries regarded the proposal as impractical and speculated that Mr. Castro was playing to his audience from backward nations. Mr. Castro insisted that he was not speaking for Cuba but as chairman of the 92 nations who professed to be non-aligned and who had met in Havana in September.

Disasters
Typhoon Tip, the largest and most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded, reached a worldwide record-low sea-level pressure of 870 mbar (25.69 inHg) in the western Pacific Ocean.

Football
CIAU
British Columbia (5-2) 29 @ Calgary (3-4) 12

Baseball
World Series
Baltimore Orioles 8 @ Pittsburgh Pirates 4 (Baltimore led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Kiko Garcia batted 4 for 4 with a double, triple, and 4 runs batted in, and Benny Ayala hit a 2-run home run to help the Orioles beat the Pirates before 50,848 fans at Three Rivers Stadium. Scott McGregor pitched a 9-hit complete game victory.





25 years ago
1984

Terrorism
A bomb exploded at the Conservative Party conference in Brighton in a direct attack on the British Government. Four people were killed and many others seriously injured, including two senior Cabinet ministers. The blast tore apart the Brighton Grand Hotel where members of the Cabinet had been staying.

Diplomacy
The four nations of the Contradora group--Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela--said that they would revise their draft peace plan for Central America to meet U.S. concerns about adequate verification and control mechanisms to ensure Nicaraguan compliance.

Politics and government
Democratic Party U.S. presidential candidate Walter Mondale demanded that Vice-President George Bush apologize for saying in the debate the previous night with Democratic candidate Geraldine Ferraro that the Democrats had suggested that the Marines killed in a terrorist attack in Lebanon in 1983 had "died in shame."

Economics and finance
The U.S. Labor Department reported that prices paid to producers for finished goods declined 0.2% in September, the first time in 8 years that the index had declined for two consecutive months.

Football
CIAU
St. Francis Xavier (3-2) 32 @ St. Mary's (1-4) 20 (OT)

Gabran Milarvic's 38-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining in regulation time at Huskies Stadium in Halifax tied the score 17-17, and the X-Men outscored the Huskies 15-3 in overtime, which consisted of two 10-minute halves.



Baseball
World Series
San Diego Padres 2 @ Detroit Tigers 5 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Marty Castillo’s 2-run home run capped a 4-run 2nd inning as the Tigers defeated the Padres at Tiger Stadium. The Padres tied a World Series record by walking 11 batters. The Tigers left 14 men on base, and the Padres 10.



20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Ehtaa tavaraa (80-luvun tykki)--Bat & Ryyd (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Sweet Surrender--Wet Wet Wet (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Carmen Cavallaro, 76. U.S. musician. Mr. Cavallaro was a pianist who specialized in light music, performing with several big bands before leading his own band.

Jay Ward, 69. U.S. animator and producer. Mr. Ward created and produced animated television programs featuring such cartoon characters as Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Dudley Do-Right. He died of renal cancer.

Joe Foy, 46. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Foy was a third baseman with the Boston Red Sox (1966-1968); Kansas City Royals (1969); New York Mets (1970); and Washington Senators (1971), batting .248 with 58 home runs and 291 runs batted in in 716 games. Mr. Foy's career got off to a promising start, but was eventually derailed by heavy drinking and drug use. He died of a heart attack.

Politics and government
Roland Antoniewicz, leader of a group loyal to Marxist-Leninist principles, denounced the decision by the Socialist Workers Party in Hungary to transform itself from a communist into a socialist party as "treason."

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Wilt Chamberlain, 63. U.S. basketball player. A star at the University of Kansas, "Wilt the Stilt" (he was over 7 feet tall at a time when that was rare) began his National Basketball Association career with the Philadelphia Warriors, with whom he scored 100 points in one game in 1962. He moved with the Warriors to San Francisco, and then was traded back to Philadelphia, to the expansion 76ers. Mr. Chamberlain was criticized for failing to lead his team to an NBA title, but he finally succeeded in leading the 76ers to the NBA championship in 1966-67. He was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, and played on another championship team there in 1971-72. In the 1970s Mr. Chamberlain bragged about having had sex with 20,000 women, but later admitted that it would have been better to have sex with one woman a thousand times. I don't know how many "relationships" Wilt Chamberlain had, but I do know this: he was reported to have died alone.

World events
The army of Pakistan ousted the elected government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif just hours after Mr. Sharif had dismissed the head of the army, General Pervez Musharraf. Mr. Sharif's regime was viewed by many Pakistanis as corrupt and incompetent, and Mr. Sharif had apparently been taking steps to strengthen his control over the government, including the army. The bloodless coup was completed within a few hours. Mr. Sharif and several other leaders were put under arrest.

Europeana
The former Autonomous Soviet Republic of Abkhazia declared its independence from Georgia.

Society
The United Nations declared the birth of a baby boy in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina as the symbolic 6 billionth resident on Earth to highlight concerns about population growth.

Baseball
National League Championship Series
New York 2 @ Atlanta 4 (Atlanta led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Greg Maddux allowed 5 hits and 1 run--earned--in 7 innings, outduelling Masato Yoshii, as the Braves beat the Mets before 44,172 fans at Turner Field.