April 14, 2010

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Laura O’Leary!

1,940 years ago
70

War
Titus, son of Roman Emperor Vespasian, surrounded Jerusalem with four Roman legions.

150 years ago
1860

Communications
The first pony express rider reached his destination of San Francisco. He had left St. Joseph, Missouri on April 3.

150 years ago
1870

Born on this date
Tom Niland. U.S. baseball player. "Honest Tom" was an outfielder with the St. Louis Browns (1896), batting .176 with no home runs and 3 runs batted in in 18 games. He played at least 9 seasons in the minor leagues from 1891-1906, and died on April 30, 1950, 16 days after his 80th birthday.

130 years ago
1880

Baseball
Bank Street Grounds in Cincinnati, which seated 3,490, opened with an exhibition game between the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals.

120 years ago
1890

Diplomacy
The Pan-American Union was founded by the First International Conference of American States in Washington, D.C.

110 years ago
1900

Franciana
The Exposition Universelle opened in Paris.

100 years ago
1910

Baseball
William Howard Taft became the first U.S. President to throw out the first ball, as he did the honours at the Washington Nationals’ home opener at American League Park. The Nationals defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 3-0 before 14,000 fans, as Walter Johnson (1-0) struck out 9 and gave up just 1 hit, a ground-rule double by Home Run Baker. Losing pitcher Eddie Plank (0-1) allowed 13 hits.

The New York Highlanders and Boston Red Sox opened the season in front of 25,000 fans at Hilltop Park in New York. The game was called because of darkness with the score tied 4-4 after 14 innings. Jumbo Jim Vaughn went the distance for the Highlanders, while Boston starter Ed Cicotte was relieved in the 8th by Smoky Joe Wood. The Red Sox wore lace collars, the last major league team to do so.

Frank Smith (1-0) gave up just 1 hit--a single by Ray Demmitt--as the Chicago White Sox opened their season with a 3-0 win over the St. Louis Browns at South Side Park in Chicago.

90 years ago
1920

Baseball
Babe Ruth, playing center field, played his first game with the New York Yankees, getting 2 hits, but allowing 2 runs to score when he dropped a fly ball in the 8th inning, as the Yankees lost 3-1 to the Athletics at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Wally Pipp hit a home run for the Yankees, while Cy Perkins homered for the Athletics. Scott Perry (1-0) was the winning pitcher over Bob Shawkey (0-1).

Stan Coveleski (1-0) outduelled Allen Sothoron (0-1) as the Cleveland Indians sent 20,000 fans home happy from Dunn Field with a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Browns.

The defending World Series champion Cincinnati Reds defeated the Chicago Cubs 7-3 before 24,822 fans at Redland Field. Winning pitcher Dutch Ruether (1-0) batted 2 for 3 with a run batted in, while losing pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander (0-1) batted 2 for 3 with a triple and 2 RBIs.

George Gibson, the first Canadian major league manager, made a successful debut as his Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 in 10 innings at Robison Field in St. Louis. Babe Adams (1-0) was the winning pitcher.

75 years ago
1935

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Leigh Lovell, on NBC

Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds sold first baseman Johnny Mize to the St. Louis Cardinals for $55,000.

70 years ago
1940

War
British Royal Marines landed in Namsos, Norway, north of Trondheim, initiating a two-pronged attack in preparation for a larger force to arrive two days later. Because of Germany's quick success in invading and occupying Norway, U.S. defense officials were reportedly concerned about the U.K.'s ability to defend the Atlantic Ocean. Reports from Tokyo claimed that Japan would use force to prevent the Netherlands East Indies from falling into the hands for a third power.

Politics and government
Kenneth Simpson, Republican Party national committeeman from New York, said that he would fight to keep his position in the face of the challenge posed by supporters of New York City District Attorney Thomas Dewey as the party's 1940 candidate for President of the United States, and would campaign statewide himself.

Baseball
In the longest game ever played at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, Carlos Bernier hit a home run in the 18th inning to give the Hollywood Stars a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels in a Pacific Coast League game.

60 years ago
1950

Died on this date
Albert Dunstan, 67. Australian politician. Sir Albert, a member of the Country Party, was first elected to the Victoria Legislative Assembly in 1920. He was Deputy Premier of Victoria (March-May 1932), and became Premier of Victoria in 1935 when, in a deal involving gambler John Wren, he withdrew the Country Party from the governing coalition with United Australia Party leader and Premier Stanley Argyle. Sir Albert was Premier from 1935-1945--except for four days in 1943--and also held the offices of Solicitor General and Treasurer.

Frances Ford Seymour, 42. Canadian-born U.S. socialite. Miss Seymour, a native of Brockville, Ontario, was married to millionaire lawyer George Tuttle Brokaw from 1931 until his death in 1935. She married actor Henry Fonda in 1936, and the couple were parents of actors Jane and Peter Fonda. The marriage was reportedly troubled, and Mrs. Fonda committed suicide, 10 days after her 42nd birthday, by cutting her throat with a razor blade while she was a patient at a sanatorium in Beacon, New York. Many years later, Jane Fonda examined old medical records and discovered that her mother had been sexually abused as a child.

Defense
The U.S. Navy cleared Commander George Peckham, former executive officer of the USS Missouri, of blame for the battleship's grounding near Old Point Comfort, Virginia on January 17, 1950.

Politics and government
Nicholas Plastiras replaced Sophocles Venizelos as Greek Prime Minister in a centrist coalition cabinet drawn from the three parties with a combined parliamentary majority.

Replying to U.S. President Harry Truman's review of his first five years in office, Republican Party National Chairman Guy Gabrielson charged that Mr. Truman had lost the Cold War in Asia; imposed a record peacetime tax rate; encouraged socialism; was responsible for "nearly five million unemployed" during the nation's greatest prosperity; covered up for Communists in the government; and was responsible for wasteful farm surpluses.

Protest
A mob in Hamburg threatened to attack a woman testifying for the prosecution in the trial of Veit Harlan, who had been charged with crimes against humanity for directing the anti-Semitic movie Jud Süß (1940).

Agriculture
Argentina offered farmers 20% higher prices for grain, and called for a 25% acreage increase in wheat and 50% in corn. The move was seen as preparation for increased grain sales to Europe following the end of the Marshall Plan.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Syracuse 77 @ Minneapolis 91 (Minneapolis led best-of-seven series 2-1)

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Marina--Rocco Granata and the International Quintet (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): My Old Man's a Dustman--Lonnie Donegan (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Underworld Bank, with guest stars Virginia Vincent, Peter Falk, and Thomas Mitchell

Theatre
The musical Bye Bye Birdie, directed and choreographed by Gower Champion, and starring Dick Van Dyke, Chita Rivera, Paul Lynde, and Dick Gautier, opened at the Martin Beck Theatre on Broadway in New York.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 4 @ Toronto 0 (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-0)

Jean Beliveau scored 2 goals, with Doug Harvey and Henri Richard also scoring, as the Canadiens became the first, and so far, only team to win five straight Stanley Cups. The game marked the end of the 18-year Hall of Fame NHL career of Henri’s older brother, Maurice "Rocket" Richard.



Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds opened the season with a 9-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, and Eddie Sawyer promptly resigned as manager of the Phillies. He had managed the club from 1948-1952--winning a pennant in 1950--and had returned to the position in 1958.

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Let it Be--The Beatles (6th week at #1)

Space
The Apollo 13 spacecraft swung behind the Moon and successfully fired its rocket to put it on course for a return to Earth. This blogger woke up a little after 1 A.M. MST, turned on the radio, and heard about the Apollo 13 crisis. CBC left covering it shortly after, with a promise to return. I stayed up waiting for coverage to return, but went back to bed after hearing a brief newscast at 5 A.M.





War
Civil war between Yemeni republican forces and royalist rebels ended when Saudi Arabia agreed to recognize the republican regime and cease supplying arms to the royalists.

Defense
U.S. President Richard Nixon nominated Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Thomas Moorer to succeed General Earl Wheeler as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The U.S. State Department announced that agreement had been reached on the fundamentals of a new five-year agreement covering U.S. military bases in Spain.

Politics and government
Clifford Dupont was sworn in as President of the self-proclaimed Rhodesian republic.

Law
U.S. President Nixon nominated Harry Blackmun of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court of the United States. The U.S. Senate had rejected Mr. Nixon’s previous nominees, Clement Haynsworth and Harrold Carswell.

Economics and finance
U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Roy Jenkins submitted a politically and economically "cautious" budget to Parliament. The budget eased credit restraints and reduced taxes by $528 million U.S. per year, mostly for those in lower income brackets.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
New York 2 @ Boston 3 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Minnesota 3 @ St. Louis 6 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Baseball
The Atlanta Braves scored 8 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning to take an 8-0 lead, but lost 15-11 to the San Francisco Giants before 11,350 fans at Atlanta Stadium. San Francisco center fielder Ken Henderson batted 4 for 4 with 2 bases on balls and 4 runs, and hit a grand slam in the 9th inning to break an 11-11 tie. Left fielder Steve Whitaker struck out in all 5 of his at bats, but did drive in a run with a sacrifice fly.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Got You--Split Enz

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Okuru Kotoba--Kaientai (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Rapper's Delight--Sugarhill Gang (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): It's a Real Good Feeling--Peter Kent

Movies
The Academy Awards for 1979 were presented at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. The winners included: Picture--Kramer vs. Kramer; Director--Robert Benton (Kramer vs. Kramer); Actor--Dustin Hoffman (Kramer vs. Kramer); Actress--Sally Field (Norma Rae); Supporting Actor--Melvyn Douglas (Being There); Supporting Actress--Meryl Streep (Kramer vs. Kramer); Foreign Language Film--The Tin Drum.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Preliminary Round
Pittsburgh 2 @ Boston 6 (Boston won best-of-five series 3-2)

Baseball
Dave Collins tripled with 2 out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning, driving in 3 runs to complete a 5-run rally, giving the Cincinnati Reds a 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants before 10,296 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

25 years ago
1985

Died on this date
Robin Henry, 68. Canadian engineer. A graduate of Carnegie Tech University in Pittsburgh, Mr. Henry spent many years with Schlumberger Oil. He was this blogger’s uncle.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Boston 7 Montreal 6 (Best-of-five series tied 2-2)
Winnipeg 5 Calgary 3 (Winnipeg won best-of-five series 3-1)

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Vattene Amore--Amedeo Minghi; Mietta (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Enjoy the Silence--Depeche Mode (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Le temps des Yéyés--Les Vagabonds (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Vogue--Madonna

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 The Power--Snap!
2 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor
3 Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International
4 Daar Gaat Ze--Clouseau
5 Infinity (1990's... Time for the Guru)--Guru Josh
6 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton
7 Oh Pretty Woman--Gary Moore featuring Albert King
8 Enjoy the Silence--Depeche Mode
9 Fortune Fairytales--Loïs Lane
10 The Healer--John Lee Hooker featuring Carlos Santana & the Santana Band

Singles entering the chart were Vogue by Madonna (#17); Kingston Town by UB40 (#28); The Brits 1990 - Dance Medley by the Brits (#29); The Beat is Technotronic by MC B. featuring Daisy Dee (#30); Save Me by Fleetwood Mac (#31); Bloedend Hart - Live by De Dijk (#36); and Blauwe Plekken by Herman Van Veen (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I'll Be Your Everything--Tommy Page
2 Don't Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
3 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
4 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor
5 Love Will Lead You Back--Taylor Dayne
6 I Wanna Be Rich--Calloway
7 Here and Now--Luther Vandross
8 Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic
9 Forever--Kiss
10 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles

Singles entering the chart were Baby, it's Tonight by Jude Cole (#74); Heaven is a 4 Letter Word by Bad English (#80); Ooh La La (I Can't Get Over You) by Perfect Gentlemen (#84); Spin That Wheel by Hi Tek 3 featuring Ya Kid K (#92); Get a Life by Soul II Soul (#94); Dub Be Good to Me by Beats International (#95); Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode (#96); and Nicety by Michel'le (#98).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Love Will Lead You Back--Taylor Dayne
2 I’ll Be Your Everything--Tommy Page
3 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
4 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
5 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles
6 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
7 Nothing Compares to U--Sinead O’Connor
8 Here and Now--Luther Vandross
9 Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic
10 Forever--Kiss

Singles entering the chart were Vogue by Madonna (#42); Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe (#53); Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode (#62); Baby, It's Tonight by Jude Cole (#68); Cruising for Bruising by Basia (#70); Always and Forever by Whistle (#82); All that Glitters Isn't Gold by Cover Girls (#85); You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) by Jimmy Somerville (#89); and The Ballad of Jayne by L.A. Guns (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins (4th week at #1)
2 Love Will Lead You Back--Taylor Dayne
3 Escapade--Janet Jackson
4 Lover of Mine--Alannah Myles
5 Every Little Tear--Paul Janz
6 I Go to Extremes--Billy Joel
7 Blue Sky Mine--Midnight Oil
8 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
9 I’ll Be Your Everything--Tommy Page
10 Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic

Singles entering the chart were Alright by Janet Jackson (#77); I Wanna Be Rich by Calloway (#79); I'll See You in My Dreams by Giant (#81); Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode (#83); Baby, It's Tonight by Jude Cole (#85); 7 O'Clock by London Quireboys (#87); Lambada by Kaoma (#91); Cruel Crazy Beautiful World by Johnny Clegg and Savuka (#93); and Monday Morning by Skydiggers (#95).

Died on this date
Olabisi Onabanjo, 63. Nigerian politician. Mr. Onabanjo was Governor of the state of Ogun from 1979-1983.

Thurston Harris, 58. U.S. singer. Mr. Harris was a rhythm and blues singer who was the lead singer for the group that was eventually known as the Rivingtons before embarking on a solo career. His biggest hit was Little Bitty Pretty One, which reached #6 on the Billboard Top 100 singles chart in the fall of 1957. Mr. Harris's other singles included Do What You Did (1958); Over and Over (1958); and Runk Bunk (1959). He died of a heart attack.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Chicago 3 @ Minnesota 5 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
Calgary 3 @ Los Angeles 4 (2 OT) (Los Angeles won best-of-seven series 4-2)
Edmonton 4 @ Winnipeg 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

10 years ago
2000

Terrorism
A blast in the airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killed 40 people.

Diplomacy
A meeting of 40 heads of government from backward nations concluded in Havana with a speech by Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, who called the economic gulf between rich and poor nations "the new apartheid."

Defense
The Russian Duma voted 228-131 to ratify the START II nuclear arms reduction treaty, which the U.S.A. had ratified in 1996. Under the treaty, both countries agreed to reduce the number of their nuclear warheads to a maximum of 3,500 by 2007, about half the current levels.

Crime
Kenneth Noye, 52, was convicted of murder for the 1996 "road rage" slaying of Stephen Cameron alongside the M25 motorway in England.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Labor Department reported that consumer prices had risen 0.7% in March, high by recent measurements. U.S. investors, fearful that the Federal Reserve Board would raise interest rates to check inflation, sold heavily. The Dow-Jones Industrial Average fell 617.78 points, a record one-day point drop, to 10305.77. The Nasdaq fell 355.49 points to 3321.29. A month earlier, the Nasdaq had stood at a record 5048.62.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
Buffalo 1 @ Philadelphia 2 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Baseball
Mike Piazza hit 2 home runs, a double, and 2 singles, driving in 4 runs to lead the New York Mets to an 8-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 12 innings before 20,725 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. Mr. Piazza's second homer, a 2-run blast, climaxed a 4-run 12th inning for the Mets.