July 26, 2010

1,090 years ago
920

War
Forces of the Islamic emirate of Córdoba defeated Christian troops from Navarre and Léon in the Battle of Valdejunquera.

180 years ago
1830

World events
The July Revolution began in France in reaction to King Charles X issuing the July Ordinances the previous day, dissolving the Chamber of Deputies, suspending the liberty of the press, excluding the commercial middle class from future elections, and calling for new elections.

130 years ago
1880

Born on this date
Volodymyr Vynnychenko. Prime Minister of Ukrainian People's Republic, 1917-1918. Mr. Vynnychenko was a modernist writer who wrote short stories, novels, and plays, reflecting his involvement in the Ukrainian revolutionary milieu. He led the first government of independent Ukraine, serving as Chairman of the Directory from December 1918-February 1919. Mr. Vynnychenko resigned and spent the remainder of his life elsewhere in Europe, resuming his writing career. He died in France on March 6, 1951 at the age of 70.

120 years ago
1890

Protest
The Revolución del Parque took place in Buenos Aires, forcing President Miguel Ángel Juárez Celman's resignation.

90 years ago
1920

Born on this date
Laddie Boy. U.S. presidential dog. Laddie Boy was an Airedale Terrier owned by U.S. President Warren G. Harding (1921-1923). Laddie Boy was the first presidential dog to attract national press attention, and was a poster boy for animal welfare issues. After Mr. Harding's death in 1923, First Lady Florence Harding gave Laddie Boy to Secret Service agent Harry Barker. Laddie Boy was a beloved pet of the Barker family until his death on January 23, 1929 at the age of 8.

80 years ago
1930

Died on this date
Tommy Madden, 46. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Madden played left field with the Boston Beaneaters (1906) and New York Highlanders (1910), batting .250 (4 for 16) with no home runs or runs batted in in 5 games. He played at least 672 games in at least 7 seasons in the minor leagues (1906-1912). Mr. Madden died five days before his 47th birthday.

Baseball
The Chicago Cubs hit 5 home runs--3 by Hack Wilson--as they routed the Philadelphia Phillies 16-2 before 3,000 fans at National League Park in Philadelphia. Mr. Wilson’s home runs gave him 32 for the season. Gabby Hartnett and winning pitcher Pat Malone (12-6) hit the other Chicago homers. Losing pitcher Phil Collins (10-4) allowed 10 hits and 9 runs--7 earned--in 1.2 innings.

The Philadelphia Athletics scored 4 runs in the 1st inning and took a 7-0 lead in the 5th, and withstood a 2-run rally in the 8th and a 4-run rally in the 9th to defeat the Cleveland Indians 10-9 before 7,000 fans at League Park in Cleveland. The Indians had runners on first and third bases with 1 out in the 9th, but relief pitcher Eddie Rommel induced pinch hitter Joe Sewell to line out to second base and pinch hitter Bob Sees to ground out to shortstop to end the game. Winning pitcher George Earnshaw (14-6) allowed 13 hits and 9 earned runs in 8.1 innings.

The Detroit Tigers scored 5 runs in the first 2 innings and Liz Funk hit a grand slam to climax a 5-run 4th as they beat the New York Yankees 12-8 before 12,000 fans at Navin Field in Detroit. Earl Whitehill (9-9) allowed 11 hits and 3 earned runs in a complete game victory, while losing pitcher George Pipgras (10-11) allowed 5 hits and 5 runs--4 earned--in 1.2 innings.

70 years ago
1940

War
Italian planes bombed Gibraltar. British Royal Navy forces seized three Romanian vessels at Port Said, Egypt. The Japanese government adopted a document giving top priority to solving the "China incident" by blocking supplies reaching China through Indochina and other routes and to securing its own raw materials by pursuing a more aggressive policy in the Netherlands East Indies.

Diplomacy
The League of Nations announced that it would transfer its economic and financial departments to Princeton University in New Jersey. Joseph Avenol resigned as Secretary-General of the League of Nations, stating that current realities made his office unnecessary.

Law
The Canadian Parliament passed a law imposing the death penalty for acts committed with intent to help the enemy.

Politics and government
U.S. Agriculture Secretary and Democratic Party vice presidential candidate Henry Wallace announced that he would resign or take a leave of absence without pay from his cabinet post once the election campaign began.

Economics and finance
A Gallup Poll reported that only 33% of Americans favoured increased federal government regulation of business, and that 75% felt there should be greater control of labour unions.

Baseball
Bob Feller earned his 16th win of the season, striking out 4 and walked none while hitting 2 doubles as the Cleveland Indians whipped the Washington Nationals 13-2 before 4,000 fans at League Park in Cleveland.

60 years ago
1950

War
The United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand pledged an undetermined number of troops for action in Korea.

Defense
The U.S. Senate lifted the legal limit on the size of the armed forces and extended for another year 295,000 enlistments due to expire within the next 12 months.

U.S. President Harry Truman signed the $1.22-billion authorization bill for second-year arms aid to non-Communist countries, including South Korea.

Society
The New York Times reported that U.S. troops had aroused much resentment among South Koreans by referring to Koreans as "gooks," a term applied to Pacific Islanders in World War II.

Politics and government
The U.S. Senate voted its approval of civil government for Guam, creating a unicameral legislature and granting American citizenship to the island's 28,000 inhabitants.

The West German Bundestag passed a resolution in favour of a federated Europe.

Protest
Business, industrial, and professional men and university students ended a three-day general strike in Guatemala when President Juan Jose Arevalo's government promised to end alleged suppression of election campaigning by opposition candidates.

Economics and finance
In his Mid-Year Economic Report to Congress, U.S. President Truman called for a large increase in indutrial production to meet the war threat, and warned that he would demand "complete economic mobilization" unless business, labour, and consumers "practice moderation."

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): He'll Have to Go--Jim Reeves (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Cedric Gibbons, 70. U.S. art director and production designer. Mr. Gibbons worked at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios from 1924-1956, and was credited with work on over 1,500 movies. He was one of the founding members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and designed the Oscar statuette. Mr. Gibbons was nominated for 39 Academy Awards, and won 11; he was inducted into the Art Directors Hall of Fame in 2005. Mr. Gibbons died after a long illness.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
British Columbia (1-0-1) 49 @ Montreal (0-2-1) 7
Saskatchewan (0-1) 6 @ Ottawa (1-0) 20

40 years ago
1970

Died on this date
Robert Taschereau, 73. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, 1963-1967; Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, 1940-1963. Justice Taschereau, a native of Quebec City, was the son of Quebec Premier Louis-Alexandre Taschereau and grandson of Supreme Court Puisne Justice Jean-Thomas Taschereau. A Liberal, he represented Bellechasse in the Quebec Legislative Assembly (1930-1936), and succeeded his former law partner, Lawrence Cannon, on the Supreme Court of Canada, succeeding Patrick Kerwin as Chief Justice. Justice Taschereau and fellow Supreme Court Puisne Justice Roy Kellock conducted the Royal Commission to Investigate the Facts Relating to and the Circumstances Surrounding the Communication, by Public Officials and Other Persons in Positions of Trust of Secret and Confidential Information to Agents of a Foreign Power (1946), prompted by the revelation of former U.S.S.R. embassy cipher clerk Igor Gouzenko of a Soviet spy ring in Canada. Justice Taschereau served as acting Governor General of Canada from the death of Georges Vanier on March 5, 1967 until the installation of Roland Michener on April 17, 1967. Justice Taschereau retired on September 1, 1967.

Diplomacy
King Hussein of Jordan agreed to the Middle East peace proposal that had been proposed by U.S. Secretary of State William Rogers. Jordan stated that her position was "similar to Egypt’s," which was taken to mean that it, too, was unconditional. Syria rejected the formula, but informed sources believed the rejection was for propaganda purposes, noting that Egyptian President Gamal Nasser had spoken of Syrian agreement with his policy. Mr. Rogers’ proposal called for a 90-day standstill cease-fire between Israel and Egypt, with negotiations conducted by Gunnar Jarring, Sweden’s Ambassador to the U.S.S.R., who had tried to bring the sides together before.

Auto racing
Canadian-American Challenge Cup
Denis Hulme of New Zealand captured his second straight victory with a win at Edmonton International Speedway. Peter Gethin finished second.

USAC
Al Unser won the Indy 150 on a road course at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Indiana; it was Mr. Unser’s third win of the season. Mark Donohue finished second and Gordon Johncock third.

Baseball
The San Diego Padres scored 5 runs in the 1st inning and 2 in the 2nd en route to a 16-2 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies before 5,208 fans at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Every San Diego starter had at least 1 hit, including Pat Dobson (7-10), who pitched a 7-hit complete game victory, while doubling home 2 runs and scoring the final San Diego run in the 6th.

Johnny Bench drove in 7 runs on 3 consecutive home runs and a single as the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 12-5 before 40,202 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Mr. Bench, who hit all of his homers off Steve Carlton (5-14), now had 33 home runs and 95 runs batted in for the season. Wayne Simpson (14-2) allowed 6 hits and 5 runs--3 earned--in 7.1 innings to get the win.

Orlando Cepeda drove in 7 runs on 3 consecutive home runs and a single as the Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 8-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 39,189 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Mr. Cepeda’s first 2 homers were solo shots, but the third was a grand slam. Glenn Beckert of the Cubs batted 2 for 3 in the first game, and then had 5 straight hits in the second game as the Cubs took a 5-0 lead in the 1st inning and held on to earn a split with a 7-6 win. Chicago center fielder Jim Hickman homered in both games.

Joe Morgan singled with 1 out in the top of the 10th inning and Jim Wynn followed with a home run to break a 4-4 tie as the Houston Astros defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 before 40,131 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Pirates had runners on second and third bases with 2 out in the bottom of the 10th, but Fred Patek grounded out to pitcher Fred Gladding to end the game.

Boog Powell drove in 6 runs with a grand slam and a bases-loaded single to lead the Baltimore Orioles to an 11-1 rout of the Minnesota Twins before 35,294 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. He now led the American League in runs batted in with 86. The only run off winning pitcher Dave McNally (13-7) came on a home run by losing pitcher Jim Perry (15-8), who allowed 12 hits and 3 runs--earned--in 6+ innings.

Tony Conigliaro drove in 4 runs with a pair of 2-run home runs, while Carl Yastrzemski added a 2-run homer and George Thomas a solo homer for the Boston Red Sox as they beat the Milwaukee Brewers 12-5 before 29,117 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

Billy Cowan singled with 1 out in the bottom of the 11th inning and scored from first base on a 2-out double by Jarvis Tatum to give the California Angels an 11-10 win over the Washington Senators before 11,775 fans at Anaheim Stadium. The Angels led 5-0 after 1 inning, but the Senators came back, led by first baseman Mike Epstein, who batted 4 for 4 with 2 home runs, 2 bases on balls, and 3 runs. Washington left fielder Frank Howard was 3 for 6 with a home run, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Non so che darei--Alan Sorrenti (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Xanadu--Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Xanadu--Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Use it Up and Wear it Out--Odyssey

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Late at Night--Maywood (3rd week at #1)
2 Xanadu--Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra
3 Midnite Dynamos--Matchbox
4 Relight My Fire--Dan Hartman
5 Theme from New York, New York--Frank Sinatra
6 Power--The Temptations
7 Ik Weet Niet Hoe--Benny Neyman
8 Emotional Rescue--The Rolling Stoens
9 Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time--Spinners
10 Could You Be Loved--Bob Marley & the Wailers

Singles entering the chart were Upside Down by Diana Ross (#28); The Other Side of the Sun by Janis Ian (#31); Gimme Some Lovin' by the Blues Brothers (#33); This World of Water by New Musik (#34); Niño Del Sol by George Baker (#35); and You Got What it Takes by Bobby Thurston (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 It's Still Rock and Roll to Me--Billy Joel (2nd week at #1)
2 Magic--Olivia Newton-John
3 Little Jeannie--Elton John
4 Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time--Spinners
5 Shining Star--Manhattans
6 Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)--Paul McCartney & Wings
7 Steal Away--Robbie Dupree
8 Tired of Toein' the Line--Rocky Burnette
9 Take Your Time (Do it Right) Part 1--The S.O.S. Band
10 The Rose--Bette Midler

Singles entering the chart were You Better Run by Pat Benatar (#72); You'll Accomp'ny Me by Bob Seger (#82); He's So Shy by the Pointer Sisters (#83); First Time Love by Livingston Taylor (#84); Don't Misunderstand Me by the Rossington Collins Band (#85); No Night So Long by Dionne Warwick (#86); Wango Tango by Ted Nugent (#87); (Call Me) When the Spirit Moves You by Touch (#89); First...Be a Woman by Lenore O'malley (#90); Mirage by Eric Troyer (#92); and Shiver and Shake by the Silencers (#96).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 It's Still Rock and Roll to Me--Billy Joel (3rd week at #1)
2 The Rose--Bette Midler
3 Magic--Olivia Newton-John
4 Little Jeannie--Elton John
5 Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time--Spinners
6 Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)--Paul McCartney & Wings
7 Tired of Toein' the Line--Rocky Burnette
8 Shining Star--Manhattans
9 Let's Get Serious--Jermaine Jackson
10 Take Your Time (Do it Right) Part 1--The S.O.S. Band

Singles entering the chart were You'll Accomp'ny Me by Bob Seger (#68); You Better Run by Pat Benatar (#71); He's So Shy by the Pointer Sisters (#73); Don't Misunderstand Me by the Rossington Collins Band (#74); No Night So Long by Dionne Warwick (#89); Shiver and Shake by the Silencers (#90); (Call Me) When the Spirit Moves You by Touch (#92); and Whatever You Decide by Randy Vanwarmer (#95).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 It's Still Rock and Roll to Me--Billy Joel (3rd week at #1)
2 Funkytown--Lipps Inc.
3 Magic--Olivia Newton-John
4 Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time--Spinners
5 Shining Star--Manhattans
6 Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)--Paul McCartney & Wings
7 The Rose--Bette Midler
8 Tired of Toein' the Line--Rocky Burnette
9 Little Jeannie--Elton John
10 In America--The Charlie Daniels Band

Singles entering the chart were You'll Accomp'ny Me by Bob Seger (#70); You Better Run by Pat Benatar (#82); Don't Misunderstand Me by the Rossington Collins Band (#83); Years from Now by Dr. Hook (#84); No Night So Long by Dionne Warwick (#87); Who'll Be the Fool Tonight by the Larsen-Feiten Band (#88); I Hear You Now by Jon and Vangelis (#96); (Call Me) When the Spirit Moves You by Touch (#98); The Breaks (Part 1) by Kurtis Blow (#99); and Backstrokin' by Fatback (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 It's Still Rock and Roll to Me--Billy Joel
2 Funkytown--Lipps Inc.
3 Little Jeannie--Elton John
4 The Rose--Bette Midler
5 Misunderstanding--Genesis
6 Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)--Paul McCartney & Wings
7 Echo Beach--Martha & the Muffins
8 Against the Wind--Bob Seger
9 We Live for Love--Pat Benatar
10 I'm Alive--Electric Light Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were Boulevard by Jackson Browne (#89); Years from Now by Dr. Hook (#95); Stand by Me by Mickey Gilley (#96); Boppin' with the Blues by the Powder Blues Band (#98); and All Out of Love by Air Supply (#100).

Olympics
Daley Thompson of Great Britain won the decathlon, while fellow Britons Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe finished first and second, respectively, in the men’s 800 metre run at the Summer Olympics in Moscow.

25 years ago
1985

Football
CFL
Toronto (2-2) 35 @ Hamilton (0-3) 10

Geoff Townsend caught 2 touchdown passes for the Argonauts, one each from Condredge Holloway and Mark Casale. Mr. Casale, who went into the game at quarterback when Mr. Holloway was injured in the 2nd quarter, also threw touchdown passes to Terry Greer and Kerry Taylor. Hamilton quarterback Ken Hobart rushed 22 yards for the lone Tiger-Cat major with 50 seconds remaining. 17,566 were in attendance at Ivor Wynne Stadium.



20 years ago
1990

Scandal
The U.S. House of Representatives rejected by a vote of 390-38 a motion, supported largely by Republicans, to expel Rep. Barney Frank (Democrat--Massachusetts) from the House for using his office improperly to assist male prostitute Steven Gobie by fixing parking tickets and attempting to influence parole officers to end Mr. Gobie’s probation on felony charges. A motion in the House to censure Mr. Frank was rejected 287-141, but a motion to reprimand Mr. Frank passed 408-18. Mr. Frank apologized for his conduct, attributing it in part to his efforts prior to 1987 to conceal his homosexuality.

Law
U.S. President George Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (2-1) 46 @ Ottawa (1-2) 50

This blogger, along with Dave Ward, Warren Sinclair, and Richard Greene, was among the 26,411 at Lansdowne Park on a beautiful night to see the highest-scoring regulation time loss in Eskimo history. At the time it was the second-highest scoring game in CFL history. Former Eskimo quarterback Damon Allen threw 5 touchdown passes, 4 of them in the first 19 minutes, as the Rough Riders held leads of 23-0, 30-3, and 43-20 before the Eskimos mounted a furious comeback. Mr. Allen completed just 10 of 22 passes, but for 273 yards. He also rushed 5 times for 89 yards. Another former Eskimo, Stephen Jones, caught 3 passes for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns. Reggie Barnes scored on a 74-yard pass reception, while Ken Evraire and David Conrad also caught touchdown passes. Mr. Conrad also rushed for a touchdown, while Mr. Barnes rushed 16 times for 129 yards. Tracy Ham completed 21 of 36 passes for 411 yard and 3 touchdowns, but also gave up 4 interceptions. Reggie Taylor caught 5 for 112 and 2 touchdowns, while Keith Wright caught the other Eskimo touchdown pass. Mr. Ham rushed 8 times for 62 yards and a touchdown, with Blake Marshall also scoring on a 1-yard run. Mr. Conrad caught Mr. Allen’s 5th touchdown pass to make the score, after the convert, 43-20 with 4:23 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Mr. Ham promptly brought the Eskimos back, hitting Mr. Wright with a 23-yard scoring pass. Mr. Ham then rushed 7 yards for a touchdown with 40 seconds remaining in the quarter, and the Ottawa lead was reduced to 43-34. Mr. Ham then completed a pass to Mr. Taylor, who broke away for a 57-yard touchdown at 2:11 of the 4th quarter, reducing the lead to 43-41. Ray Macoritti kicked his third field goal of the game at 5:19 to give the Eskimos a 44-43 lead. Henry "Gizmo" Williams fumbled at the end of a long punt return, and the Rough Riders recovered and then drove for the winning touchdown, scored by Mr. Conrad on a 2-yard rush with 5:41 remaining. The Rough Riders conceded a safety touch, and a long pass from Mr. Ham to Mr. Williams was intercepted by Troy Wilson with 50 seconds remaining. Mr. Wilson made 2 interceptions and recovered 2 Edmonton fumbles. A sidelight to the game was one of those nauseating marriage proposals that appeared on the scoreboard. I loudly advised her to turn him down--and they turned out to be sitting right behind us.



10 years ago
2000

World events
George Speight, leader of the rebels who had recently held the Fijian parliament hostage for two months, was arrested, along with hundreds of his followers, by the military.

Law
A U.S. federal judge approved a $1.25-billion settlement between Swiss banks and more than a half-million plaintiffs who alleged the banks had hoarded money deposited by Holocaust victims.

Disasters
France launched two separate investigations of the previous day’s crash of a Concorde that had killed 113 people. Both Air France and British Airways suspended their Concorde flights.