May 5, 2010

800 years ago
1210

Born on this date
Afonso III. King of Portugal, 1248-1279. Afonso III succeeded his older brother Sancho, and enacted political and economic reforms that enable him to enjoy a peaceful internal reign, with military campaigns against the Moors and Castilians. Afonso III died on February 16, 1279 at the age of 68, and was succeeded on the throne by his brother Denis.

750 years ago
1260

Asiatica
Kublai Khan became ruler of the Mongol Empire, 20 days after being proclaimed Great Khan by the kuraltai (Mongol great council).

370 years ago
1640

Politics and government
King Charles I of England dissolved the Short Parliament.

250 years ago
1760

Died on this date
Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers, 39. U.K. politician. Mr. Ferrers inherited his title from his insane uncle at the age of 25, and lived a lifestyle of debauchery. On January 18, 1760, he shot an old family steward named Johnson, who died the next day. Lord Ferrers was convicted in April of murder, and was hanged.

170 years ago
1840

Politics and government
The U.S. Democratic National Convention opened at the Assembly Rooms in Baltimore.

150 years ago
1860

Italiana
Giuseppe Garibaldi set sail from Genoa, leading the expedition of the Thousand to conquer the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and giving birth to the Kingdom of Italy.

120 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Christopher Morley. U.S. writer. Mr. Morley was a journalist, novelist, essayist and poet. His novels included Thunder on the Left (1925) and Kitty Foyle (1939). Mr. Morley was a contributing editor of Saturday Review of Literature. He was a Sherlock Holmes enthusiast and helped to found the Baker Street Irregulars, New York's famous Sherlock Holmes society, as well as writing In Memoriam Sherlock Holmes, the introduction to the 1930 omnibus edition The Complete Sherlock Holmes. Mr. Morley died on March 28, 1957 at the age of 66.

110 years ago
1900

War
Private Richard Thompson of Ottawa was awarded one of only seven Queen's Scarves, knitted by Queen Victoria, for his gallantry in the Boer War.

100 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Eugene O'Neill, Jr.. U.S. scholar. Mr. O'Neill, the son of playwright Eugene O'Neill, was a classicist and philosopher who taught at several universities. He was a heavy drinker, and committed suicide by slitting his wrist and ankle with a razor on September 25, 1950 at the age of 40.

Abominations
Vancouver Mayor L.D. Taylor proclaimed his support for female suffrage at the founding meeting of the British Columbia Political Equality League (BCPEL), led by the Vancouver and Victoria branches.

Auto racing
AAA
Championship Car Series
Ray Harroun led from start to finish and won the 200-mile Atlanta Speedway Trophy race at Atlanta Motordrome, a 2-mile dirt track; it was the first race of the season, and the first of four Atlanta Races that month. Lewis Strang finished second, Louis Cliquot third, and Johnny Aitken fourth in the 4-car field.

90 years ago
1920

Crime
Authorities in Braintree, Massachusetts arrested Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti for the April 15, 1920 armed robbery of the Slater and Morrill Shoe Company in Braintree, and the murders of the guard and paymaster.

80 years ago
1930

Baseball
The Boston Red Sox scored 9 runs in the 5th inning as they routed the Cleveland Indians 18-3 at Fenway Park in Boston. The Red Sox amassed 23 hits, while winning pitcher Milt Gaston (1-1) allowed 7 hits in a complete game.

Lefty Gomez (1-1) went the distance and gave up 5 hits in his first major league start to outduel Red Faber (1-3) as the New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1 at Yankee Stadium.

75 years ago
1935

Baseball
In front of 30,000 fans at Braves Field, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Boston Braves 7-0. Dizzy Dean pitched the shutout and hit a home run. He walked Babe Ruth twice and then struck him out.

70 years ago
1940

War
Norwegian squads in Hegra Fortress and Vinjesvingen capitulated to German forces after all other Norwegian forces in southern Norway had laid down their arms. Three Allied destroyers, convoying disembarking troops from Norway, were destroyed by attacks from German aircraft.

Diplomacy
Japanese Foreign Minister Arita stated that his government would soon sign an agreement with the U.K. and France to end the controversy over the Japanese blockade of Tientsin, China.

Politics and government
Norwegian refugees formed a government-in-exile in London.

A Gallup Poll U.S. presidential trial heat revealed that President Franklin D. Roosevelt would defeat U.S. Senator Robert Taft (Republican--Ohio) by 58%-42%.

Economics and finance
Dr. T.F. Tsiang appealed to the United States to help support the Nationalist Chinese currency.

60 years ago
1950

Asiatica
Bhumibol Adulyadej, 22, was crowned in Bangkok as King Rama IX of Thailand.

Diplomacy
In a note to the U.S.S.R. about the shooting down of an unarmed U.S. Navy patrol plane over the Baltic Sea in April, the United States denied that the plane had violated Soviet territory.

Medicine
The U.S. Armed Forces Epidemiology Board's Commission on Acute Respiratory Diseases reported that anti-histamine drugs were of no help in preventing or treating colds.

Dr. Walter Freeman, who had introduced brain surgery in the United States for mental illness, said that he would perform no more lobotomies or topectomies because they resulted in harmful after effects, such as epileptic seizures.

Economics and finance
South Africa, the world's leading gold producer, announced that it would not be bound by the International Monetary Fund's price limit of $35 per ounce.

The U.S. Senate voted a $250-million cut in the third-year Marshall Plan allocation proposed by the administration of President Harry Truman.

Business
U.S. President Truman presented Congress with a small business aid program, including federally-insured bank loans; creation of national investment companies to provide risk capital for small entrepreneurs; and broadening of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation's lending powers.

Disasters
The 1950 Red River Flood hit Manitoba as waves caused by 50-miles-per-hour winds broke through the dikes of Winnipeg, inundating the city, leaving one dead, and causing $100 million damage. One-third of the population were forced to flee their homes; 10,000 people evacuated the Red River valley south of Winnipeg. The evacuation ended on May 25, 1950.

Baseball
First baseman Tookie Gilbert hit a 3-run home run and a single in his major league debut with the New York Giants, but the Giants lost 5-4 to the Pittsburgh Pirates before 31,785 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

The Boston Braves scored 6 runs in the top of the 1st inning and coasted to a 13-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 12,260 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Winning pitcher Warren Spahn (4-1) pitched a 5-hitter, and batted 2 for 5 with 3 runs batted in, including the final 2 runs of the 1st inning.

Hank Sauer hit a 3-run home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game, and Randy Jackson led off the bottom of the 10th with a homer to give the Chicago Cubs a 7-6 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers before 10,134 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Marina--Rocco Granata and the International Quintet (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Cathy's Clown--The Everly Brothers

Disasters
The Federal Express, a 1,200-ton freighter, accidentally collided with two other heavier ships in the port of Montreal; the shock was brutal and sent the Federal Express down in less than 45 minutes. The 27 people on board, including 18 crew members, nevertheless escaped unharmed.

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)--Edison Lighthouse (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Mademoiselle Ninette--The Soulful Dynamics (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
Almost seven weeks after being ousted as Cambodia's head of state, Prince Norodom Sihanouk formed a government-in-exile in Peking (Beijing).

Environment
A U.S. federal grand jury in New Orleans indicted Chevron for polluting the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana after eight oil wells caught fire in February, causing the nation’s largest oil spill--500,000-800,000 gallons--which took a month to cap. Chevron was fined $1 million or $2,000 on each of 500 counts.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Boston 6 @ St. Louis 2 (Boston led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Baseball
The St. Louis Cardinals traded relief pitcher Bill Dillman to the Montreal Expos for relief pitcher Carroll Sembera. Mr. Dillman was 0-0 with an earned run average of 4.50 in 4 games with the Tulsa Oilers of the AAA American Association in 1970, while Mr. Sembera was 0-0 with an earned run average of 18.90 in 5 games with Montreal in 1970, and 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 2 games with the Buffalo Bisons of the AAA International League. He was assigned to Tulsa.

The Oakland Athletics released pitcher Tony Pierce. Mr. Pierce had compiled a record of 4-6 with an earned run average of 3.25 in 66 games with the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics in 1967-1968, but hadn't pitched since June 21, 1968.

Sonny Siebert (2-1) pitched a 3-hitter and doubled and scored as part of a 5-run 6th inning as the Boston Red Sox shut out the Milwaukee Brewers 6-0 before 6,780 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Gene Brabender (1-4) took the loss.

Tommy John (2-5) pitched a 6-hitter to outduel Dean Chance (1-3) as the Chicago White Sox edged the Cleveland Indians 2-1 before 2,993 fans at White Sox Park. The teams tied an American League record by turning 9 double plays, 5 by the Indians.

Dave Duncan batted 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and a run batted in to help the Oakland Athletics defeat the New York Yankees 11-3 before 4,737 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Catfish Hunter (5-2) pitched a 6-hit complete game victory and batted 1 for 3 with a base on balls, a run, and a run batted in. Bert Camapaneris led off the bottom of the 1st inning with his first home run of the season, and Oakland scored 6 runs in the 8th to put the game away.

The San Diego Padres scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th inning to complete a comeback from a 7-0 1st-inning deficit as they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 11-8 before 4,382 fans at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia.

The Atlanta Braves scored 7 runs in the 2nd inning en route to a 12-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates before 9,199 fans at Atlanta Stadium. Clete Boyer hit 2 home runs and drove in 4 runs for the Braves, while Hank Aaron added his 10th homer of the season. Bob Robertson homered for the Pirates.

Rich Robertson (2-2) pitched an 8-hit complete game to outduel Bill Stoneman (1-5) as the San Francisco Giants beat the Montreal Expos 4-1 before 9,513 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Adolfo Phillips led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a home run to ruin Mr. Roberton's bid for a shutout.

Sandy Vance (2-1) and Fred Norman combined for a 6-hit shutout as the Los Angeles Dodgers blanked the New York Mets 6-0 before 24,321 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Nolan Ryan (2-2) took the loss.



Wayne Simpson (5-1) pitched a 3-hitter to outduel Steve Carlton (1-4) as the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 before 11,697 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Bobby Tolan and Lee May hit home runs for the Reds, while Dick Allen homered for the Cardinals to open the scoring in the 2nd inning.

Larry Dierker (5-2) pitched a 4-hitter to outduel Ferguson Jenkins (2-4) as the Houston Astros defeated the Chicago Cubs 3-1 before 15,758 fans at the Astrodome. Mr. Dierker threw 104 pitches in a complete game, while Mr. Jenkins, who also went the distance, allowed 9 hits and threw 136 pitches. Norm Miller hit a home run for the Astros, while Ron Santo homered for the Cubs.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Got You--Split Enz (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Runaway--Chanels (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Rapper's Delight--Sugarhill Gang (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Weekend--Earth and Fire (2nd week at #1)

Terrorism
SAS commandos raided the Iranian embassy in London, killing five of the Iranian Arabs who had seized the embassy on May 30. 19 hostages were freed, but one died and two were wounded in the crossfire. One terrorist was arrested.

Politics and government
Rev. Robert Drinan, a U.S. Representative (Democrat--Massachusetts) and the only Roman Catholic priest in Congress, was barred from seeking a new term by Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, superior general of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in Rome. The order was supposedly issued by Pope John Paul II. Rep. Drinan said that he accepted the order with "regret and pain," and said of his 10 years in Congress, where he was considered one of the most liberal members, "I can think of no other activities more worthy of the involvement of a priest and a Jesuit."

Sport
Cliff Thorburn of Canada beat Alex Higgins 18-16 to take the 1980 Embassy World Snooker Championship professional ranking snooker tournament at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England, becoming the first player from outside the British Isles to win.

25 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): We are the World--USA for Africa (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): We are the World--USA for Africa

#1 single in Switzerland: We are the World--USA for Africa

On the radio
The Stories of Sherlock Holmes, starring Graham Armitage and Kerry Jordan, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: The Man Who Came in from the Fog

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan attended a wreath-laying ceremony and made a speech at a military cemetery in Bitburg, West Germany, and the site of the Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen. The visit drew worldwide condemnation because 49 members of the Waffen SS were buried there.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
Quebec 2 Philadelphia 1 (OT) (Quebec led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Vogue/Keep It Together--Madonna

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Vattene Amore--Amedeo Minghi; Mietta (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Vogue--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Le temps des Yéyés--Les Vagabonds (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Vogue--Madonna (4th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 The Power--Snap! (4th week at #1)
2 Vogue--Madonna
3 Kingston Town--UB40
4 Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International
5 Infinity (1990's... Time for the Guru)--Guru Josh
6 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles
7 Oh Pretty Woman--Gary Moore featuring Albert King
8 What "U" Waitin'....."4"?--Jungle Brothers
9 Save Me--Fleetwood Mac
10 Better World--Rebel MC

Singles entering the chart were Se Bastasse Una Canzone by Eros Ramazzotti (#26); Help Me by BZN (#28); Loaded by Primal Scream (#33); Louise by Clouseau (#34); Natural Thing by Innocence (#37); and Die Kleine Deur Naar 't Paradijs by Henk Wijngaard (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (3rd week at #1)
2 I Wanna Be Rich--Calloway
3 How Can We Be Lovers--Michael Bolton
4 Vogue--Madonna
5 All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You--Heart
6 Don't Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
7 Whip Appeal--Babyface
8 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
9 What it Takes--Aerosmith
10 Alright--Janet Jackson

Singles entering the chart were I'll Be Your Shelter by Taylor Dayne (#56); Hold On by En Vogue (#61); The Downeaster "Alexa" by Billy Joel (#82); Cradle of Love by Billy Idol (#83); "B" Girls by Young and Restless (#84); Love Is by Alannah Myles (#88); Blues Before and After by the Smithereens (#94); and Counting the Days by Joey Kid (#95). Cradle of Love was from the movie The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Nothing Compares to U--Sinead O’Connor (2nd week at #1)
2 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
3 I Wanna Be Rich--Calloway
4 How Can We Be Lovers--Michael Bolton
5 Whip Appeal--Babyface
6 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
7 Without You--Motley Crue
8 Here and Now--Luther Vandross
9 All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You--Heart
10 What it Takes--Aerosmith

Singles entering the chart were I'll Be Your Shelter by Taylor Dayne (#54); Love Is by Alannah Myles (#66); Notice Me by Nikki (#68); Cradle of Love by Billy Idol (#72); Dare to Fall in Love by Brent Bourgeois (#73); Shake by Andrew Ridgely (#75); Club at the End of the Street by Elton John (#81); Girls Nite Out by Tyler Collins (#85); Only My Heart Talkin' by Alice Cooper (#87); and Sittin' in the Lap of Luxury by Louie Louie (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Nothing Compares to U--Sinead O’Connor
2 Lover of Mine--Alannah Myles
3 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
4 How Can We Be Lovers--Michael Bolton
5 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
6 This Old Heart of Mine--Rod Stewart with Ronald Isley
7 I’ll Be Your Everything--Tommy Page
8 The Heart of the Matter--Don Henley
9 All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You--Heart
10 Blue Sky Mine--Midnight Oil

Singles entering the chart were Do You Remember? by Phil Collins (#71); Cradle of Love by Billy Idol (#75); Deadbeat Club by the B-52's (#79); Jealous Again by the Black Crowes (#81); The Downeaster "Alexa" by Billy Joel (#83); U Can't Touch This by MC Hammer (#85); Ooh Lala by Perfect Gentlemen (#88); Sending All My Love by Linear (#91); Mr. Cab Driver by Lenny Kravitz (#93); and Getting Away with It by Electronic (#95).

Theatre
This blogger attended a performance of Stewart Lemoine's play Planet of the Lost Swing Babes at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton. The play was part of the Edmonton Teen Festival. Andrea House was a particular standout in the cast.

Politics and government
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev condemned the previous day’s decision of the Latvian parliament in favour of independence from the U.S.S.R.

Horse racing
Unbridled, with Craig Perret aboard, won the 116th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:02. Summer Squall placed second and Pleasant Tap third.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Finals
Washington 0 @ Boston 3 (Boston led best-of-seven series 2-0)

10 years ago
2000

Died on this date
Bill Musselman, 59. U.S. basketball coach. Mr. Musselman played at Wittenberg College in Ohio and began his coaching career at an early age. He was an assistant coach (1964-65) and head coach (1965-71) at Ashland University in Ohio, compiling a record of 109-20 in his first five. Mr. Musselman then was head coach at the University of Minnesota (1971-75); he compiled a record of 61-32, but the team was placed on probation by the National Collegiate Athletic Association after he left because of more than 100 rule violations. Mr. Musselman then coached the San Diego Sails of the American Basketball Association to begin the 1975-76 season, but the team folded with a record of 3-8; he then took over as head coach of the Virginia Squires, and compiled a record of 4-22 before being fired in January 1976. Mr. Musselman finally got a head coaching opportunity in the National Basketball Association with the Cleveland Cavaliers (1980-82), compiling a record of 29-57 in two separate terms; and the Minnesota Timberwolves (1989-91), leading them to a record of 51-113 as the team's first head coach. He also coached in the Western Basketball Association and Continental Basketball Association at various times, and returned to the college ranks as head coach at the University of Southern Alabama (1995-1997), leading the Jaguars to a 32-25 record, 23-7 in his second season. Mr. Musselman finished his coaching career as an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers (1997-2000). He died of heart and kidney failure, more than six months after suffering a stroke.

Edmontonia
Work crews began demolishing the grandstand at Clarke Stadium. This blogger picked up a couple of pieces as souvenirs. While walking through the stadium I also met a man named Gilbert Stanford, which started a friendship that continues to this day.

Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern announced that they had dropped their demand that paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland disarm, provided that they put their weapons beyond use.

Disasters
Three children in Barrie, Ontario died when they hid inside a trunk and suffocated.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
Detroit 2 @ Colorado 4 (Colorado won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Dallas 5 @ San Jose 4 (Dallas led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Baseball
Tom Lasorda was named manager of the United States Olympic team, to compete at Sydney in September.

With 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 9th inning, Brad Fullmer singled, Jose Bautista drew a base on balls, and Darrin Fletcher singled home Mr. Fullmer to give the Toronto Blue Jays an 11-10 win over the Cleveland Indians before 19,191 fans at SkyDome in Toronto. The teams combined to hit 7 home runs. The Indians outhit the Blue Jays 20-13, with Cleveland catcher Einar Diaz batting 5 for 5 with 3 doubles, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in.

Pinch hitter Mike Lamb singled home Ivan Rodriguez with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Texas Rangers a 17-16 win over the Oakland Athletics before 38,949 fans at the Ballpark in Arlington. The Rangers scored 5 runs in the 2nd to take a 5-0 lead, but the Athletics took a 15-7 lead in the top of the 7th. All 18 starters scored at least 1 run, tying an American League record. The Rangers outhit the Athletics 21-16, and the teams combined to hit 6 home runs.