July 16, 2010

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Carmen Reyes Zubiaga!

220 years ago
1790

Americana
The Residence Act, which stipulated that the President select a site on the Potomac River as the permanent capital of the United States, following a 10-year temporary residence in Philadelphia, was signed into law.

130 years ago
1880

Born on this date
Kathleen Norris. U.S. authoress. Mrs. Norris wrote 93 novels, short stories, and newspaper columns, using her fiction to promote family and moralistic values, such as the sanctity of marriage, the nobility of motherhood, and the importance of service to others. She died on January 18, 1966 at the age of 85.

100 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Gordon Prange. U.S. historian. Dr. Prange taught at the University of Maryland from 1937 until his death from cancer, except for the period from 1942-1951, when he served in the military during World War II and in the postwar military occupation of Japan as Chief Historian of Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) in Japan General Douglas MacArthur's staff. Dr. Prange specialized in the history of World War II, especially the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. His two-part article Tora! Tora! Tora! (1963), originally published in Reader's Digest and then expanded into the book At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor (1981), served as the basis for the movie Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970). Dr. Prange died on May 15, 1980 at the age of 69.

Aviation
John Robertson Duigan made the first flight of the Duigan pusher biplane, the first aircraft built in Australia. It took off in Victoria under its own power, and flew 24 feet.

90 years ago
1920

Baseball
The New York Giants hit 3 triples and scored 7 runs in the top of the 17th inning against Earl Hamilton to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-0 before 4,000 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Rube Benton (4-10) went the distance, allowing 9 hits in pitching the shutout. Mr. Hamilton (3-5) allowed 15 hits and 7 earned runs in 16.1 innings.

The Chicago White Sox swept a doubleheader from the Washington Nationals 4-1 and 8-5 at American League Park in Washington. The White Sox scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning to break a 1-1 tie as Red Faber (12-6) outduelled Walter Johnson (8-10) in the first game, and the White Sox won the second game when Shoeless Joe Jackson hit a grand slam in the top of the 9th inning to put the White Sox ahead.

Joe Dugan singled home Tilly Walker and Frank Welch with 1 out in the bottom of the 8th inning to provide the deciding runs for the Philadelphia Athletics as they edged the Cleveland Indians 6-5 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

George Sisler batted 3 for 4 with a home run, a base on balls, and 2 stolen bases to lead the St. Louis Browns to a 5-2 win over the New York Yankees before 20,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. Winning pitcher Bill Bayne (2-0) held the Yankees hitless until the 7th inning, and finished with a 6-hitter.

75 years ago
1935

Technology
The first parking meters were installed in Oklahoma City.

70 years ago
1940

War
German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler ordered the invasion of Britain to be prepared for mid-August, and directed the Luftwaffe to secure air superiority over the English Channel.

Diplomacy
Spanish dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco said that Spanish control of Gibraltar and expansion in Africa was Spain's prime mission. Spain severed diplomatic relations with Chile for allegedly tolerating anti-Nationalist propaganda.

Nationalist Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek spurned a British proposal to mediate the Sino-Japanese War.

U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull issued a statement opposing the British closing of the Burma Road.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill transferring 6,450 acres of Hawaii National Park to the War Department to use as a bombing target range.

Finland announced the complete demilitarization of the Aland Islands.

Politics and government
At the Democratic National Convention at Chicago Stadium, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced through Senator Alben Barkley that he did not wish a third term as President, and released all convention delegates committed to him. The statement, which clearly left Mr. Roosevelt open to a draft, touched off a long floor demonstration virtually assuring him of the nomination.

60 years ago
1950

Abominations
During the Battle of Taejon, North Korean soldiers massacred U.S. Army Chaplain Rev. Herman Felhoelter, 37 and 30 unarmed, critically wounded American soldiers. U.S. Army Medic Captain Linton Buttrey was the sole survivor.

War
Israel said that it could send no troops for Korea since it remained technically at war with the Arabs.

The U.S.S.R. said in a note to the U.S.A. that it would not discuss the question of Japanese World War II prisoners in the Soviet Union any further.

Soccer
FIFA
World Cup
Final @ Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
Uruguay 2 Brazil 1

Juan Alberto Schiaffino scored in the 66th minute and Alcides Ghiggia scored in the 79th minute as Uruguay overcame a 1-0 deficit to defeat the host Brazilians in one of the biggest upsets in soccer history (see video). Friaça scored in the 47th minute to open the scoring before 200,854 fans, eight of whom died from heart attacks.



Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds swept a doubleheader from the New York Giants 16-4 and 11-10 in 12 innings before 15,872 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. The teams combined for 7 home runs in the first game and 5 in the second game. Ted Kluszewski hit 2 homers for the Reds in the first game, and Joe Adcock homered twice for the Reds in the second game, while New York catcher Wes Westrum hit a home run in each game. New York relief pitcher Clint Hartung homered in the first game, and New York starter Dave Koslo hit his third and last major league home run in the second game.

The Chicago Cubs swept a double header from the Philadelphia Phillies 8-0 and 10-3 before 35,710 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago to knock the Phillies out of a tie for first place in the National League, falling 1/2 game behind the St. Louis Cardinals. Chicago shortstop Roy Smalley hit a home run in each game.

The Cleveland Indians scored 5 runs in the top of the 1st inning, but the Boston Red Sox responded with 4 in the bottom of the 1st and went on to win 13-10 in the first game of a doubleheader before 33,009 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Phil Marchildon, the second of four Boston pitchers, allowed 1 hit and 1 run--earned--in 1.1 innings, walking 2 batters and striking out none in his only game in a Boston uniform, and the 185th and last game of his 9-year major league career. The Indians scored 5 runs in the last 2 innings to win the second game 8-4. Boston first baseman Walt Dropo hit 2 home runs and drove in 4 runs in the first game, and hit a 3-run homer in the 9th inning of the second game.

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool--Connie Francis

#1 single in Italy: Scandalo al sole (The Theme from "A Summer Place")--Percy Faith and his Orchestra (11th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Milord--Dalida (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Good Timin'--Jimmy Jones (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Alley-Oop--The Hollywood Argyles
--Dante and the Evergreens
2 I'm Sorry--Brenda Lee
3 Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool--Connie Francis
4 Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel)--Roy Orbison
5 A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around and Fall in Love)--Dinah Washington & Brook Benton
6 Because They're Young--Duane Eddy and the Rebels
7 Mule Skinner Blues--The Fendermen
8 Cathy’s Clown--The Everly Brothers
9 When Will I Be Loved--The Everly Brothers
10 Please Help Me, I'm Falling--Hank Locklin

Singles entering the chart were In the Still of the Night by Dion and the Belmonts (#91); My Love by Nat King Cole & Stan Kenton (#92); There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving #2 The Ballad of Francis Powers by Red River Dave (#95); Pardon Me by Billy Bland (#96); Theme from Adventures in Paradise by Jerry Byrd (#97); Too Young to Go Steady by Connie Stevens (#98); That's When I Cried by Jimmy Jones (#99); One Boy by Joanie Sommers (#100); and I Shot Mr. Lee by the Bobettes (also #100). Theme from Adventures in Paradise, as the title indicates, was a version of the theme from the television series.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel)--Roy Orbison
2 Walk - Don't Run--The Ventures
3 Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini--Brian Hyland
4 Tell Laura I Love Her--Ray Peterson
5 Feel So Fine--Johnny Preston
6 Image of a Girl--The Safaris with the Phantom's Band
7 Mule Skinner Blues--The Fendermen
8 I'm Sorry--Brenda Lee
9 Mission Bell--Donnie Brooks
10 It's Now or Never--Elvis Presley

Singles entering the chart were No by Dodie Stevens (#39); The Twist by Chubby Checker (#44); Bye Bye Johnny by Chuck Berry (#47); and Honest I Do by the Innocents (#49).

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Campbell Milton!

Died on this date
Albert Kesselring, 74. German military officer. Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring served with the Bavarian Army (1904-1918); Reichswehr (1918-1933); and Luftwaffe (1933-1945), serving in both world wars and becoming one of Germany's most decorated officers. He commanded air forces in the invasions of Poland, France, and the U.S.S.R., as well as the Battle of Britain. In 1947, Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring was convicted at Nuremburg of war crimes for ordering the murder of 335 Italian civilians in the Ardeatine massacre in 1944, and for inciting and ordering his troops to kill civilians in reprisals against the Italian resistance movement. He was sentenced to death by firing squad, but the sentence was soon commuted to life imprisonment. Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring was released from prison in 1952 on grounds of ill health because of a cancerous growth in his throat, but he lived until his death from a heart attack.

John P. Marquand, 66. U.S. author. Mr. Marquand wrote six spy novels featuring the character Mr. Moto (1935-1957), but was perhaps better known for writing about the New England upper class in novels such as The Late George Apley (1937) and H.M. Pulham, Esquire (1940). Mr. Marquand died of a heart attack in his sleep.

40 years ago
1970

Died on this date
Douglas Clyde "Peahead" Walker, 71. U.S. baseball player and football coach. Mr. Walker played at least 974 games as an infielder with eight teams in 12 seasons in the minor leagues (1921-1932), hitting 29 home runs. He was the head coach at Wake Forest University (1937-1950), accumulating a record of 79 wins and 47 losses. He spent the 1951 season as an assistant coach at Yale University, and then came to Canada as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes from 1952-1959. In 8 seasons under Mr. Walker the Alouettes compiled a record of 65-57-1, making the playoffs in the last 7 seasons, finishing in first place in the IRFU 4 times, and representing the east in the Grey Cup from 1954-1956, losing to the Edmonton Eskimos in all 3 games. Mr. Walker produced some of the highest-scoring, most entertaining teams in Canadian football history, but was undone by his failure to appreciate the value of Canadian players. He holds the modern CFL record for the greatest number of continuous years as head coach of the same team without winning a Grey Cup. He was fired the day after the Alouettes were humiliated 43-0 by the Ottawa Rough Riders in the IRFU semi-final of 1959. After his CFL days, Mr. Walker worked as a scout with the New York Giants of the NFL. He died from a stroke.

Society
The United States Justice Department announced that it would send 100 lawyers and other officials to the southern states, starting August 17 and continuing through to October, to hear complaints of discrimination and seek to avert disturbances in the course of the court-ordered drive to desegregate schools.

Terrorism
New York City Police Commissioner Howard Leary and four of his associates told the U.S. Senate Permanent Investigations Subcommittee that bombings in the city had reached "gigantic proportions," noting that there had been twice as many explosive devices set off in the past 17 months as in the preceding eight years.

Economics and finance
Canada’s unemployment rate was reported to have continued a five-month rise in June when it jumped to 6.6%, the highest rate in nine years.

Labour
British Home Secretary Reginald Maudling declared a state of emergency to deal with strikes at U.K. ports. Within 10 minutes of returning from her trip to Canada, Queen Elizabeth II signed the proclamation allowing the government special powers to deal with major disruptions to daily life.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Toronto (3-0) 42 @ British Columbia (0-3) 25

Baseball
Lee May single home Tony Perez from second base with 1 out in the top of the 9th inning to break a 2-2 tie as the Cincinnati Reds edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 before 48,846 fans in the first major league game at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. Mr. Perez hit the first home run in the new park, while Willie Stargell later hit a home run for the Pirates. The Pirates first wore their new uniforms of stretchable cotton and nylon.

Ken Holtzman (9-8) of the Chicago Cubs gave up just 2 hits and 2 runs--both unearned, in the 3rd inning--but the Cubs lost 2-1 to the Houston Astros before 18,466 fans at the Astrodome. A long drive by Billy Williams of the Cubs in the 9th inning, with Glenn Beckert on second base, hit a speaker and dropped foul, and he struck out for the first out of the inning. Jim Hickman then walked, Ron Santo flied out to right field, and Johnny Callison singled home Mr. Beckert, with Mr. Hickman going to third base. Pinch hitter Paul Popovich then struck out to end the game. Don Wilson (3-4) allowed 4 hits in 8.1 innings to get the win.

Byron Browne hit a grand slam with 1 out in the top of the 9th inning to enable the Philadelphia Phillies to defeat the San Diego Padres 10-7 before 6,938 fans at San Diego Stadium. Ollie Brown hit a 3-run home run for the Padres in the 1st inning.

Billy Grabarkewitz led off the bottom of the 8th inning with a home run to break a 1-1 tie as the Los Angeles Dodgers scored 2 runs and beat the New York Mets 3-1 before 32,619 fans at Dodger Stadium. Bill Singer (6-3) pitched a 6-hitter to outduel Jim McAndrew (4-8), who allowed 8 hits in a complete game.

George Scott scored Carl Yastrzemski with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers before 20,484 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The teams combined to hit 6 home runs, 2 by Boston left fielder Billy Conigliaro.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (Hot Press): Crying--Don McLean

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Brock Ralph!

Politics and government
The U.S. Republican National Convention at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit named former California Governor Ronald Reagan as the party's 1980 U.S. presidential nominee. Mr. Reagan received 97.44% of the vote on the first ballot.



Disasters
The nationwide death toll in the United States from a heat wave lasting several weeks passed 700. President Jimmy Carter ordered that nearly $7 million in emergency funds be made available to Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, and Louisiana.

Football
CFL
Toronto (2-0) 20 @ Winnipeg (0-2) 17
Edmonton (2-0) 21 @ Saskatchewan (0-2) 6

Mark Jackson completed 16 of 25 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown pass to Bob Gaddis, and rushed 6 times for 51 yards to lead the Argonauts to victory before 20,980 at Winnipeg Stadium. Dieter Brock completed 29 of 45 for 336 yards and a touchdown to Rick House for the Blue Bombers.

Jim Germany rushed 16 times for 73 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Eskimos coasted to victory before 22,145 at Taylor Field in Regina. Saskatchewan quarterbacks Danny Sanders and Tom Rozantz completed just 7 of 29 passes for 97 yards and 3 interceptions. The Roughriders made just 5 first downs and 118 yards net offense.

Baseball
The Houston Astros placed ace pitcher J.R. Richard, suffering from a "dead arm," on the 21-day disabled list. He had a record of 10-4 with an earned run average of 1.89, but had removed himself early from games 10 times.

25 years ago
1985

Died on this date
Wayne King, 84. U.S. musician. Mr. King played saxophone with Paul Whiteman's orchestra before founding his own orchestra in 1927, and recording hit singles such as Dream a Little Dream of Me (1931) and Maria Elena (1941).

Heinrich Böll, 67. German author. Mr. Böll was awarded the 1972 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his writing which through its combination of a broad perspective on his time and a sensitive skill in characterization has contributed to a renewal of German literature."

Baseball
Major League All-Star Game @ Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis
National League 6 American League 1

Ozzie Virgil of the Philadelphia Phillies singled home 2 runs in the 5th inning and Willie McGee of the St. Louis Cardinals doubled home 2 in the 9th for the NL before 54,960 fans. LaMarr Hoyt of the San Diego Padres gave up just 1 unearned run in 3 innings and was named the game’s most valuable player.





20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): The Point of Lover's Night--TM Network

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Verdammt, Ich Lieb' Dich--Matthias Reim (9th week at #1)

Died on this date
Sidney Torch, 82. U.K. musician. Mr. Torch, born Sidney Torchinsky, was a pianist and organist who conducted orchestras and bands--especially those associated with the British Broadcasting Corporation--and composed theme music for BBC programs.

Politics and government
The parliament of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic declared state sovereignty over the territory of the Ukrainian SSR.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average closed at 2,999.75, an all-time high. It topped 3,000 during the course of the day.

Journalism
An Ontario provincial court judge in Ottawa threw out charges against Global television reporter Doug Small in the 1989 federal budget leak case.

Disasters
An earthquake whose epicentre was 55 miles north of Manila struck the Philippines, killing more than 600 people and leaving more than 2,600 homeless.