July 27, 2010

240 years ago
1770

Died on this date
Robert Dinwiddie, 77 or 78. U.K. politician. Mr. Dinwiddie, a native of Glasgow, was Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (1751-1758), and was credited with beginning the military career of George Washington, who was sent as the leader of an eight-man expedition to warn French forces to leave Ohio County in the winter of 1753-1754. Mr. Dinwiddie left Virginia in January 1758, and spent his remaining years in England.

140 years ago
1870

Born on this date
Hilaire Belloc. French-born U.K. writer. Mr. Belloc wrote books and poems on a number of topics; his writing was heavily influenced by his Roman Catholic beliefs. He died on July 16, 1953, 11 days before his 83rd birthday.

130 years ago
1880

War
Afghan forces led by Mohammad Ayub Khan defeated the British Army in the Battle of Maiwand.

120 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Benjamin Miessner. U.S. radio engineer and inventor. Mr. Miessner received more than 200 patents, and invented the cat's whisker detector--used to receive radio waves in crystal sets--and musical instruments such as the electronic organ and electric piano. He died on March 25, 1976 at the age of 85.

Armas Taipale. Finnish athlete. Mr. Taipale won gold medals in the conventional discus throw and two-handed discus throw at the 1912 Summer Olympic Games in Stockholm and a silver medal at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp. He won three Finnish titles in discus throw and two in shot put. He competed in Greco-Roman wrestling in the Nordic Games, and also played soccer. Mr. Taipale died on November 9, 1976 at the age of 86.

Baseball
In the American Association, the Brooklyn Gladiators were leading the Columbus Buckeyes 13-8 in the 8th inning at Long Island Park when they ran out of baseballs and were forced to forfeit the game.

110 years ago
1900

War
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany gave the order to act ruthlessly towards the rebels: "Mercy will not be shown, prisoners will not be taken. Just as a thousand years ago, the Huns under Attila won a reputation of might that lives on in legends, so may the name of Germany in China, such that no Chinese will even again dare so much as to look askance at a German." For years afterwards, "Hun" would be a disparaging name for Germans.



Labour
400 weavers began a strike at Dominion Cotton Mills in Magog, Quebec in protest against the company's decision to postpone the remittance of pay from Friday to Monday.

90 years ago
1920

Born on this date
Henry D. "Homer" Haynes. U.S. comedian and musician. Mr. Haynes, a country and jazz guitarist, performed with Kenneth "Jethro" Burns as the country music comedy duo Homer and Jethro from 1936 until Mr. Haynes' death from a heart attack on August 8, 1971, 11 days after his 51st birthday. The duo recorded more than 50 albums, and won a Grammy Award in 1959 for Best Comedy Performance – Musical for The Battle of Kookamonga, a spoof of Johnny Horton's hit The Battle of New Orleans. They were inducted as a duo into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Baseball
Ray Chapman singled home pinch runner Ray Caldwell with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 5-4 win over the Washington Nationals in the first game of a doubleheader at Dunn Field in Cleveland. The Nationals scored 9 runs in the 2nd inning on their way to a 19-6 win in the second game. Every Washington starter had at least 1 hit in the second game. Tony Faeth, the third of four Cleveland pitchers, allowed 5 hits and 3 runs--2 earned--in 6.1 innings, walking 4 batters and striking out 4, and throwing a wild pitch, making 2 assists, and batting 0 for 2 with a base on balls and a run in the 19th and last game of his 2-year major league career.

80 years ago
1930

Baseball
The Chicago Cubs were leading the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 before 11,000 fans at Redland Field with runners on second and third bases and none out in the top of the 6th inning, and Ken Ash was brought in to pitch for the Reds. He threw one pitch to Charlie Grimm, and Mr. Grimm hit into a triple play. Mr. Ash was removed for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 6th, and the Reds rallied for 4 runs. They held on for a 6-5 win, and Mr. Ash (1-0) was credited with the victory and a full inning pitched.

Glenn Wright and Al Lopez each hit home runs in both games to help the Brooklyn Robins sweep a doubleheader from the Philadelphia Phillies 10-6 and 9-6 before 25,000 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Chuck Klein hit 2 home runs for the Phillies in the first game, while Denny Sothern hit 2 for the Phillies in the second game.

The Boston Red Sox scored 7 runs in the top of the 5th inning to take a 9-2 lead, but the St. Louis Browns scored 8 in the bottom of the 8th and held on to win 10-9 in the first game of a doubleheader before 4,000 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Red Sox had runners on second and third bases with 1 out in the 9th, but Cedric Durst was thrown out at home plate on a ground ball by Phil Todt, and pinch hitter Jack Rothrock was retired to end the game. Alex Metzler hit a 3-run home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th to give the Browns a 9-6 win in the second game to complete the sweep. Mr. Metzler's homer was his only home run of the season and the 9th and last of his major league career. Mr. Todt's second home run of the game began a 3-run rally in the top of the 9th to tie the game 6-6. Goose Goslin hit a pair of 2-run homers for the Browns. Earl Webb homered for Boston in both games.

75 years ago
1935

Baseball
The Philadelphia Athletics defeated former teammate Lefty Grove and the Boston Red Sox 7-6 in 15 innings in the first game of a doubleheader at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Mr. Grove pitched a complete game, allowing 21 hits and 7 runs--5 earned--in 14 2/3 innings. Wes Ferrell pitched a 3-hit shutout to win the pitchers' duel over Johnny Marcum as the Red Sox won the second game 2-0 in a game that was played in 1 hour 45 minutes.

The Chicago Cubs swept a doubleheader from the Cincinnati Reds 9-8 and 12-1 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, outhitting the Reds 20-5 in the second game.

Curt Davis pitched an 8-hit shutout as the Philadelphia Phillies blanked the Boston Braves 5-0 at Braves Field in a game that was played in 1 hour 38 minutes. Losing pitcher Ben Cantwell allowed 7 hits and 5 runs--4 earned--in 7 innings to drop to 2-14 for the season.

70 years ago
1940

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'll Never Smile Again--Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (vocal refrain by Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers)

This marked the introduction of Billboard's 10-position "National List of Best Selling Retail Records."

On the radio



At the movies
The cartoon A Wild Hare, featuring the first appearance of Bugs Bunny, was released. Bugs was being hunted by Elmer Fudd.



60 years ago
1950

War
U.S. President Harry Truman told the press that he was not even considering use of the atomic bomb in Korea.

Diplomacy
Jacob Malik of the U.S.S.R. announced that he would take his turn in August as United Nations Security Council Chairman, thus ending the Soviet boycott of the Council since January 13.

Exiled diplomats of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania appealed to the United States to seek a UN investigation of "genocidal mass deportations" carried out in their homelands by the Soviets.

Journalism
Iran barred Western and all other foreign correspondents from Azerbaijan Province to "avoid provocation to the Russians."

Agriculture
The U.S. Agriculture Department agreed to buy Cuba's entire reserve stock of sugar (600,000 short tons) in order to discourage hoarding.

Baseball
Del Ennis drove in 7 runs with a bases-loaded double in the 7th inning and a grand slam in the 8th as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 13-3 before 7,343 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Curt Simmons (14-5) pitched a 7-hit complete game victory.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored 12 runs in the last 3 innings as they routed the Brooklyn Dodgers 13-3 before 16,607 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Enos Slaughter drove in 5 runs for the Cardinals, and Chuck Diering drove in 4. Cloyd Boyer (3-2) pitched a 9-hit complete game victory.

Snuffy Stirnweiss singled home Sherm Lollar from second base with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the St. Louis Browns a 3-2 win over the New York Yankees before 3,768 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Al Widmar (5-6) pitched an 8-hitter to outduel Tommy Byrne (11-5), who also allowed 8 hits, while walking 9 batters.

Former major league star Kirby Higbe threw a 7-inning no-hitter for the Minneapolis Millers as they defeated the Columbus Red Birds 3-1 in an American Association game at Red Bird Stadium.

50 years ago
1960

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Nereo Bolzon!

Boxing
Mike DeJohn (40-7-1) defeated Dick Richardson (28-11-2) in a heavyweight bout at Coney Beach Arena in Porthcawl, England when Mr. Richardson was disqualified in the 8th round for a flagrant head bout. Mr. Richardson was knocked down 3 times in the 1st round, and the fight thereafter reportedly degenerated into a half-boxing, half-wrestling contest. When the disqualification was announced, Mr. Richardson's supporters hurled chairs, bottles, rain-soaked newspapers, and other debris into the ring. Mr. DeJohn had won a 10-round decision over Mr. Richardson in London almost eight months earlier.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Calgary (1-1) 30 @ Toronto (1-0) 51

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Up Around the Bend/Run Through the Jungle--Creedence Clearwater Revival (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Keiko no Yume wa--Yoru Hiraku (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Un Rayo De Sol--Los Diablos (9th week at #1)

On the radio
The Challenge of Space, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: The Dead Planet

Died on this date
Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, 81. Prime Minister of Portugal, 1932-1968. Mr. Salazar founded and led the Estado Novo (New State), the authoritarian party that ruled Portugal from 1932-1974. He ran a conservative and nationalist regime, using censorship and a secret police to quell opposition; among the restrictions imposed by Mr. Salazar’s regime was the licensing of cigarette lighters. Mr. Salazar distanced himself from Fascism and Nazism, keeping Portugal officially neutral during World War II, while secretly helping the Allies. He suffered a stroke that partially paralyzed him in September 1968, and, while in a coma, was replaced by Marcello Caetano. Afterward, Mr. Salazar’s doctors and colleagues continued to keep him shielded from the news, fearing that the shock might kill him; he was never told that he had been replaced.

Carl Hampton, 21. U.S. Negro protester. Mr. Hampton, leader of a Negro militant organization, was shot and killed by police in Houston, Texas in an exchange of gunfire that wounded four other people.

Protest
200 young Negroes in Houston held a rally near the site of the death of Carl Hampton several hours earlier.

Diplomacy
American officials said that under the terms of Secretary of State William Rogers’ cease-fire proposal, the Jordanian government would be responsible for controlling the activities of Palestinian commandos. In Amman, spokesmen for the commandos announced that they would never go along with the Jordanian government’s decision to accept the truce.

Baseball
Lou Boudreau, Earle Combs, Jesse Haines, and Ford Frick were inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. In the annual Hall of Fame game, the Montreal Expos beat the Chicago White Sox 10-6.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Locomotion--Ritz (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Funkytown--Lipps Inc. (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, 60. Shah of Iran, 1941-1979. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi acceded to the throne upon the abdication of his father Reza Shah Pahlavi following an Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran. Mohammad Reza Shah modernized his country, but was ruthless in suppressing dissent, and he was forced to abdicate in January 1979. The Islamic revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini abolished the monarchy. The Shah was granted asylum in Egypt, and died in an Egyptian military hospital near Cairo when his circulatory system collapsed as the result of a long battle with lymphatic cancer.

25 years ago
1985

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Everytime You Go Away--Paul Young
2 Raspberry Beret--Prince and the Revolution
3 Shout--Tears for Fears
4 You Give Good Love--Whitney Houston
5 A View to a Kill--Duran Duran
6 Would I Lie to You?--Eurythmics
7 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free--Sting
8 Voices Carry--’Til Tuesday
9 Glory Days--Bruce Springsteen
10 Sussudio--Phil Collins

Track and field
Steve Cram of Britain broke countryman Sebastian Coe’s 1981 world record in the mile when he was timed in 3 minutes 46.3 seconds, nearly a second faster, at the Grand Prix meet at Bislett Stadium in Oslo.

Football
CFL
Montreal (3-1) 15 @ British Columbia (4-0) 28

Keyvan Jenkins rushed 24 times for 133 yards and 3 touchdowns and Roy Dewalt passed for 285 yards and a touchdown to Ron Robinson to lead the Lions to victory before 48,281 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. Montreal quarterback Turner Gill passed 3 yards to Nick Arakgi for the Concordes’ first score just 2:22 into the game, and Rich Thomaselli rushed 5 yards for the Concordes’ last major with 37 seconds left in the 2nd quarter.

The Toronto Argonauts placed quarterback Condredge Holloway on the 60-day injured list, two days after tearing knee ligaments in his team’s 35-10 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

20 years ago
1990

At the movies
Presumed Innocent, starring Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, and Raúl Juliá, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
Bobby Day, 60. U.S. musician. Mr. Day, born Robert Byrd, was a pianist and singer who was a member of the Hollywood Flames, but was best known for his solo singles Little Bitty Pretty One (1957) and Rockin' Robin/Over and Over (1958). Rockin' Robin reached #2 on the Billboard pop chart, while both sides of the single reached #1 on the rhythm and blues chart. Mr. Day died of cancer.

World events
A group of Negro Muslim rebels, complaining that the government had impoverished the country, seized the parliament building in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and took Prime Minister Arthur Robinson and other cabinet members and officials hostage. Mr. Robinson was shot in the leg.

Protest
On the 18th day of the standoff between Quebec provincial police and Mohawk Warrior militants at the Kanesatake reserve near Oka, Quebec, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney made his first public statement on the situation, declaring that "native peoples over decades and centuries have not been well-treated by Canada and Canadians. I believe we have a lot of work to do in that area." His government of Canada announced that it had purchased some of the disputed land from a private citizen and was negotiating with the village of Oka to purchase much of the rest. The government of Quebec offered to remove most of its force and to allow Mohawk participation in the investigation of the July 11 shooting of a Surete du Quebec officer--but only if the Warriors would agree to turn in their weapons and dismantle the barricades they had set up. Mohawk leaders rejected the proposal because it did not include a guarantee of amnesty for natives who had defended the blockade.

Oil
Oil ministers of the OPEC nations, meeting in Geneva, agreed to an increase in the price of oil per barrel from $18 U.S. to $21 U.S. Iraq had demanded a greater increase.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the gross national product had slowed to a 1.2% annual growth rate during the second quarter of 1990, a signal to some economists that the country was moving toward recession.

Football
CFL
Calgary (2-0-1) 54 @ Saskatchewan (1-2) 16
Winnipeg (2-1) 23 @ British Columbia (1-1-1) 24

Danny Barrett completed 18 of 26 passes for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the Stampeders to victory before 26,731 fans at Taylor Field in Regina, who had been soaked in a pre-game storm. Saskatchewan quarterbacks Kent Austin and Jeff Bentrim combined to throw 5 interceptions.

A mistake on the scoreboard contributed to the Lions’ win in front of 34,622 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. The Blue Bombers were trailing 21-9 in the 4th quarter when backup quarterback Danny McManus competed a 73-yard touchdown pass to Eric Streater with 2:16 remaining. Trevor Kennerd’s convert made the score 21-16. Mr. Kennerd’s kickoff went through the B.C. end zone without being touched; according to the rule, referee Jacques Decarie awarded no single point and placed the ball on the Lions’ 25-yard line. However, a point was mistakenly put up on the scoreboard, which now showed the Lions leading 21-17. The Blue Bombers quickly got the ball back, and Mr. McManus completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Rick House. Mr. Kennerd converted, and the scoreboard showed Winnipeg ahead 24-21. Winnipeg head coach Mike Riley asked the field judge if the scoreboard was correct, and field judge said yes. Mr. Riley asked the same of the line judge and was told no. With 46 seconds remaining and the Lions in possession of the ball, the scoreboard was altered to read 23-21. Backup quarterback Rickey Foggie moved the Lions in position for Lui Passaglia to kick the game winning field goal from 42 yards on the last play. If the Blue Bombers had been sure of the score a few minutes earlier, they may have chosen to try for a 2-point convert on their final touchdown.



10 years ago
2000

Society
90 Chinese migrants who had arrived in British Columbia by boat in 1999 were returned to China to face jail and fines in their homeland.

Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer vetoed an anti-abortion bill that provided exceptions for rape and incest--as long as the rape was reported to police within seven days--because he said that the seven-day requirement was too restrictive.

Health
The U.K.’s Labour government announced the most radical reorganization of the National Health Service since its beginning in 1948.

Music
Johnny Rivers performed after the Edmonton Trappers' baseball game at Telus Field. I missed most of it, but I got there in time to hear the last few songs.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (2-2) 29 @ British Columbia (2-2) 13

The Eskimos, down 10-1 after the 1st quarter, rallied for 21 straight points behind quarterback Nealon Greene, who, in his first start of the season, threw touchdown passes to Terry Vaughn and Kez McCorvey. The play that put the game away came with about 9 minutes remaining and the Eskimos leading 22-13, when Donnie Ashley of the Eskimos returned a missed field goal attempt 116 yards for a touchdown. B.C.’s only touchdown came on the last play of the 1st quarter on a 3-yard pass from Damon Allen to Jimmy Cunningham. Former Eskimo Jon Baker kicked a 43-yard field goal to give the Lions an early 3-0 lead, but was replaced later in the game by veteran Lui Passaglia. 23,714 fans were at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.



Baseball
The Chicago Cubs scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning to overcome a 3-1 deficit and defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 before 30,722 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

The Arizona Diamondbacks scored at least 2 runs in each of the last 6 innings as they routed the St. Louis Cardinals 17-5 before 42,963 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Losing pitcher Rick Ankiel (7-6) allowed 6 hits and 6 runs--all earned--in 4.2 innings, walking 2 batters and striking out 10. Mark Thompson, the third of four St. Louis pitchers, allowed 4 hits and 4 runs--all unearned--in 1 inning, with no walks or strikeouts, and a wild pitch in the 94th and last game of his 7-year major league career.

Adrian Beltre hit a grand slam and drove in 6 runs and Joey Cora added 2 homers, a double, and 5 RBIs to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 16-11 before 40,724 fans at Coors Field in Denver. Colorado right fielder Larry Walker batted 4 for 4 with a home run, double, base on balls, 5 runs, and 2 RBIs.

The Toronto Blue Jays scored 5 runs in the 7th inning as they beat the Seattle Mariners 7-2 before 40,398 fans at Safeco Field in Seattle to give Jim Fregosi his 1,000th win as a major league manager.