April 11, 2011

1,520 years ago
491

Politics and government
Flavius Anastasius, a favoured member of the imperial court, was named as Emperor of the Byzantine Empire, succeeding Zeno, who had died two days earlier.

770 years ago
1241

War
Mongol forces commanded by Batu Khan defeated Hungarian forces led by King Béla IV in the Battle of Mohi in Hungary.

150 years ago
1861

Died on this date
Francisco González Bocanegra, 37. Mexican poet. Mr. González was announced in February 1854 as the winner of a contest to write the lyrics to the Mexican national anthem. He died from typhus.

130 years ago
1881

Academia
Spelman College was founded in Atlanta as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, an institute of higher education for Negro women.

90 years ago
1921

On the radio
The first sports event to be broadcast took place at Motor Square Garden in Pittsburgh, as Pittsburgh Post sportswriter Florent Gibson called the 10-round lightweight bout between Johnny Dundee (154-40-41-13) and Johnny Ray (72-24-25-2) on Pittsburgh station KDKA. The Post gave Mr. Ray the decision, while the Pittsburgh Press gave Mr. Dundee the decision and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called it a draw.

Politics and government
Emir Abdullah established the first centralized government in the recently-created British protectorate of Transjordan.

Economics and finance
Iowa became the first U.S. state to impose a tax on cigarettes.

80 years ago
1931

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Chicago 2 @ Montreal Canadiens 4 (Best-of-five series tied 2-2)

Johnny Gagnon scored consecutive goals in the 2nd and 3rd periods to tie the score for the Canadiens, and Pit Lepine followed with 2 straight goals as the Canadiens completed their comeback from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Black Hawks at the Montreal Forum.

75 years ago
1936

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Harry West, on MBS
Tonight’s episode: Silver Blaze

Theatre
The Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart musical On Your Toes, featuring the ballet Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, opened at the Imperial Theatre in New York.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Detroit 3 @ Toronto 1 (Detroit won best-of-five series 3-1)

Pete Kelly scored the winning goal at 9:45 of the 3rd period at Maple Leaf Gardens to give the Red Wings their first Stanley Cup, in their 10th year in the NHL.

70 years ago
1941

War
German Panzer units broke through the Yugoslav line at Bitolj, menacing the U.K.-Greek left flank. German bombers attacked the English cities of Bristol and Coventry. The Hungarian Army marched into the Bacza area between the Danube and Tisa Rivers to take over the sections lost by Hungary in World War I.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a joint Congressional Monroe Doctrine Resolution stating that the United States would not recognize the transfer of any Western Hemisphere territory to a non-American power. Mr. Roosevelt cabled British Prime Minister Winston Churchill that the United States was extending its neutral "security zone" 1,000 miles into the Atlantic Ocean, barring German U-boat attacks west of 26 degrees longitude. President Roosevelt issued a proclamation, signed April 10, opening the Red Sea to American ships on the ground that it was no longer in the combat zone.

World events
The Iraqi government announced that a counter-coup led by former Regent Emir Abdul Illah had been put down by the Basra garrison.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Roosevelt created the Office of Price Administration (OPA) under Leon Henderson, to prevent runaway prices, profiteering, inflation, and speculative hoarding of materials and commodities, and to coordinate civilian consumption with defense needs.

Labour
Southern U.S. coal operators representing 13 associatons bolted the New York wage conference to form a new organization known as the Southern Coal Opeators' Wage Conference, and appealed for federal mediation in the 11-day soft coal strike.

60 years ago
1951

War
U.S. President Harry Truman fired General Douglas MacArthur, who was commander of United Nations military forces in Korea and of allied forces in Japan. Gen. MacArthur was replaced as commander of UN forces in Korea by Lieutenant General Matthew Ridgway.





The United Kingdom urged the United States to allow the People's Republic of China to participate in a Japanese peace treaty.

Society
South Carolina Governor James Byrnes signed a bill prohibiting the public wearing of Ku Klux Klan hoods and public cross-burnings in the state.

Journalism
The Argentine Congress authorized the expropriation of the oppositional newspaper La Prensa.

Britannica
The Stone of Scone, the stone upon which Scottish monarchs were traditionally crowned, was found on the site of the altar of Arbroath Abbey, and was returned by three unidentified men to its place in Westminster Abbey in London, from which it had been taken by Scottish nationalist students on December 25, 1950.

Economics and finance
Heavy trading hit the New York Stock Exchange as a "peace scare" arose followng Gen. MacArthur's dismissal.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 2 @ Toronto 3 (OT) (Toronto led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Sid Smith scored the winning goal for the Maple Leafs at 5:51 of overtime at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Rochester 78 @ New York 71 (Rochester led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Arnie Risen scored 27 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to lead the Royals over the Knickerbockers before 5,000 fans at 69th Regiment Armory. Vince Boryla led New York scoring with 20 points.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Romantica--Robertino (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, hosted by John Newland, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Confession, starring Donald Pleasance, Adrienne Corri, and Robert Raglan



Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Coming, Mama, starring Eileen Heckart, Don DeFore, and Madge Kennedy

Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper, starring John Williams, Donald Woods, and Edmon Ryan



Music
Bob Dylan made his first professional appearance, opening for John Lee Hooker at Gerde's Folk City in Greenwich Village in New York City. Mr. Dylan sang House of the Rising Sun and Song to Woody, his tribute to Woody Guthrie.

Crime
The war crimes trial of former German Nazi official Adolf Eichmann began in Jerusalem.

Diplomacy
West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer arrived in Washington for his first state visit since John F. Kennedy had become President of the United States.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
St. Louis 112 @ Boston 121 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Bill Russell scored 30 points and grabbed 38 rebounds to lead the Celtics as they defeated the Hawks before 13,909 fans at Boston Garden for their third straight NBA championship and fourth in the previous five years. Cliff Hagan led St. Louis with 26 points and Bob Pettit added 24. It was the Hawks' fourth trip to the finals during the same period, and they haven't been to the finals since.



Baseball
Ted Kluszewski drove in 5 runs with home runs in each of the first 2 innings and Eli Grba (1-0) pitched a 6-hit complete game victory as the expansion Los Angeles Angels played their first major league game, defeating the Baltimore Orioles 7-2 before 37,352 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The Angels scored all their runs in the first 2 innings, with Mr. Kluszewski's second homer coming off John Papa, who was facing his first major league batter, in relief of starter Milt Pappas (0-1). Mr. Papa then struck out Bob Cerv to end the 2nd inning and left for a pinch hitter.



Pedro Ramos (1-0) gave up just 3 singles and drove in 2 runs with a single of his own as the Minnesota Twins, formerly the Washington Senators, played their first regular season game under their new name, upsetting the New York Yankees 6-0 before 14,607 fans at Yankee Stadium. Whitey Ford took the loss for the Yankees, who were playing their first game under new manager Ralph Houk.

Ray Herbert (1-0) allowed Carl Yastrzemski’s first major league hit but outduelled Bill Monbouquette (0-2) and singled home the game's first 2 runs as the Kansas City Athletics defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-2 before 10,277 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Mr. Yastrzemski batted 1 for 5, was caught stealing, and made 1 putout and 1 assist in left field in his first major league game, while Boston leadoff hitter Chuck Schilling was 2 for 4 with a base on balls, 3 assists, and an error at second base. Kansas City shortstop Dick Howser was 1 for 5 with a double, making 2 putouts and 2 assists in his major league debut.

40 years ago
1971

Golf
Charles Coody shot a 2-under-par 70 in the final round to win the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia with a 9-under-par score of 279, 2 strokes ahead of Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus. Mr. Miller was leading by 2 strokes with 3 holes remaining, but failed to hold the lead despite shooting 4-under-par 68 for the round. First prize money won $25,000.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Boston 5 @ Montreal 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
New York 4 @ Toronto 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Chicago 6 @ Philadelphia 2 (Chicago won best-of-seven series 4-0)
St. Louis 1 @ Minnesota 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Bobby Orr scored 3 goals for the Bruins, becoming the first defenseman to record a hat trick in a Stanley Cup game, as 18,904 fans booed the action at the Montreal Forum.

Rookie Darryl Sittler scored both Toronto goals at Maple Leaf Gardens, his first in Stanley Cup play, in the Maple Leafs' loss to the Rangers. For the Rangers, it was their first playoff win on the road since 1958.

The Black Hawks’ win at the Spectrum was the last for Vic Stasiuk as head coach of the Flyers after three seasons.

Bobby Rousseau and Charlie Burns scored for the North Stars to lead them to the win over the Blues at Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington. Mr. Rousseau had scored only 4 goals during the regular season.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Gioca Jouer--Claudio Cecchetto (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce Musical Theatre (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: This Ole House--Shakin' Stevens (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): This Ole House--Shakin' Stevens (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): This Ole House--Shakin' Stevens (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Vienna--Ultravox
2 Don't Stop the Music--Yarbrough & Peoples
3 In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins
4 Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce Music Theatre
5 It's a Love Thing--The Whispers
6 Angel of Mine--Frank Duval & Orchestra
7 Ik Heb Zo Waanzinnig Gedroomd--Kinderen Voor Kinderen
8 Without Your Love--Roger Daltrey
9 One Night Affair--Spargo
10 Houtochdiekop--Dingetje

Singles entering the chart were Chanson D'amour by BZN (#23); (Walk Me Out in the) Morning Dew by Long John Baldry (#29); How 'bout Us by Champaign (#33); and Puntje D'rin, Puntje D'ruit! by De Slijpers (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
2 Rapture--Blondie
3 The Best of Times--Styx
4 Woman--John Lennon
5 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
6 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
7 Crying--Don McLean
8 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood
9 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
10 Don't Stand So Close to Me--The Police

Singles entering the chart were Since I Don't Have You by Don McLean (#71); Medley by Stars on 45 (#76); Ai No Corrida (I-No-Ko-ree-da) by Quincy Jones (#81); That Didn't Hurt Too Bad by Dr. Hook (#83); One More Chance by Diana Ross (#85); Lately by Stevie Wonder (#86); Winning by Santana (#87); Seduced by Leon Redbone (#89); and Heaven in Your Arms by Dan Hartman (#93).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
2 Rapture--Blondie
3 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
4 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
5 Woman--John Lennon
6 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
7 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
8 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
9 Don’t Stand so Close to Me--The Police
10 What Kind of Fool--Barbra Streisand (Duet with Barry Gibb

Singles entering the chart were Medley by Stars on 45 (#73); Since I Don’t Have You by Don McLean (#79); Winning by Santana (#83); Ai No Corrida (I-No-Ko-ree-da) by Quincy Jones (#86); Shotgun Rider by Delbert McClinton (#87); Fool in Love with You by Jim Photoglo (#90); Playing with Love by Shot in the Dark (#95); and Seven Year Ache by Rosanne Cash (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Rapture--Blondie (2nd week at #1)
2 Woman--John Lennon
3 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
4 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
5 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
6 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
7 Celebration--Kool & The Gang
8 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
9 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
10 The Best of Times--Styx

Singles entering the chart were Medley by Stars on 45 (#78); Since I Don't Have You by Don McLean (#79); But You Know I Love You by Dolly Parton (#85); Ai No Corrida (I-No-Ko-ree-da) by Quincy Jones (#86); and Make That Move by Shalamar (#89).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Celebration--Kool & the Gang (3rd week at #1)
2 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
3 Rapture--Blondie
4 A Little in Love--Cliff Richard
5 Wasn’t That a Party--The Rovers
6 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
7 Crying--Don McLean
8 Woman--John Lennon
9 The Best of Times--Styx
10 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood

Singles entering the chart were Living Inside Myself by Gino Vannelli (#38); High School Confidential by Rough Trade (#40); Time Out of Mind by Steely Dan (#43); Too Much Time on My Hands by Styx (#44); Take it on the Run by REO Speedwagon (#46); Mister Sandman by Emmylou Harris (#47); Just the Two of Us by Grover Washington, Jr. (#49); and Blessed are the Believers by Anne Murray (#50).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood (2nd week at #1)
2 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
3 You Better You Bet--The Who
4 Somebody's Knockin'--Terri Gibbs
5 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
6 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
7 I Can't Stand It--Eric Clapton and his Band
8 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
9 Rapture--Blondie
10 Time Out of Mind--Steely Dan

Singles entering the chart were Watching the Wheels by John Lennon (#21); Her Town Too by James Taylor and J.D. Souther (#25); and Too Much Time on My Hands by Styx (#27).

Died on this date
Caroline Gordon, 85. U.S. authoress. Miss Gordon was a native of Kentucky whose short stories and 10 novels were often set in the southern United States in the 1930s and '40s. She won a Guggenheim Fellowship for her first novel, Penhally (1931), and the O. Henry Award for the short story Old Red (1934). Miss Gordon spent her final years in Mexico, where she died after surgery, six weeks after suffering a stroke.

Protest
More than 50 police officers were injured and more than 20 people arrested in riots by Negro youths in the Brixton area of south London following the arrest of a Negro man.

Politics and government
12 days after being shot by John Hinckley, U.S. President Ronald Reagan returned to the White House.

Boxing
Larry Holmes (37-0) retained his World Boxing Council world heavyweight title with a unanimous 15-round decision over Trevor Berbick (18-2-1) at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Former world heavyweight champion Joe Louis was in attendance at ringside, and died the next day.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Preliminary Round
New York Islanders 6 @ Toronto 1 (New York won best-of-five series 3-0)
Philadelphia 0 @ Quebec 2 (Philadelphia led best-of-five series 2-1)
Los Angeles 3 @ New York Rangers 10 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-1)
St. Louis 5 @ Pittsburgh 4 (St. Louis led best-of-five series 2-1)
Boston 3 @ Minnesota 6 (Minnesota won best-of-five series 3-0)
Calgary 5 @ Chicago 4 (2 OT) (Calgary won best-of-five series 3-0)
Montreal 2 @ Edmonton 6 (Edmonton won best-of-seven series 3-0)
Buffalo 5 @ Vancouver 3 (Buffalo won best-of-series 3-0)

The Oilers’ win at Northlands Coliseum was their first win at home in a Stanley Cup game, and completed their first Stanley Cup series win. The Oilers had finished in 14th place in the overall NHL standings during the regular season, and their sweep of the 3rd-place Canadiens was considered one of the biggest upsets in playoff history.





Willi Plett scored at 15:17 of the 2nd overtime period at Chicago Stadium to complete the Flames’ sweep of the Black Hawks.

Michel Goulet scored at 9:48 of the 3rd period at Le Colisee to break a 0-0 tie between the Nordiques and Flyers, as Dan Bouchard earned the shutout in goal.

Bernie Federko’s goal with 4:06 remaining in the 3rd period was the winning score as the Blues edged the Penguins at Civic Arena in Pittsburgh.

25 years ago
1986

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that prices paid by producers for finished goods had fallen 1.1% in March, the third straight monthly decline.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Deep Deep Trouble--The Simpsons (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Walker Cooper, 76. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Cooper was a catcher with the St. Louis Cardinals (1940-1945, 1956-1957); New York Giants (1946-1949); Cincinnati Reds (1949-1950); Boston and Milwaukee Braves (1950-1953); Pittsburgh Pirates (1954); and Chicago Cubs (1954-1955), batting .285 with 173 home runs and 812 runs batted in in 1,473 games. He and his brother Mort, a pitcher, formed an effective battery and helped the Cardinals win the World Series in 1942 and 1944.

Terrorism
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced that it would give $15 million in compensation to families of victims of the 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing; 80 lawsuits had already been settled for over $10 million.

Economics and finance
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney protested the U.S. challenge of a Free Trade Tribunal ruling for Canadian pork producers in a letter to President George Bush.

The United States Labor Department reported that producer prices for finished goods had declined 0.3% in March.

Labour
The Ontario Provincial Parliament passed the Employee Wage Protection Program, giving workers up to $5,000 in owed wages and termination pay if the company goes bankrupt. The bill was retroactive to October 1, 1990.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Hartford 1 @ Boston 6 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-2)
New Jersey 4 @ Pittsburgh 2 (New Jersey led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Buffalo 3 @ Montreal 4 (OT) (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Washington 5 @ New York Rangers 4 (OT) (Washington led best-of-seven series 3-2)

10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Harry Secombe, 79. U.K. entertainer. Sir Harry, a native of Wales, was a comedian, singer, and actor who was best known as a member of the cast of the radio comedy program The Goon Show (1951-1960). He played Mr. Bumble in the movie Oliver! (1968) and starred in the television comedy program The Harry Secombe Show (1968-1973). Sir Harry presented religious programs on television in later years, and died of prostate cancer after years of declining health.

Diplomacy
U.S. Ambassador to China Joseph Prueher presented a letter to Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan stating that the United States was "very sorry" that Chinese pilot Wang Wei had died in the April 1 collision between a Chinese fighter plane and a U.S. spy plane, and that the U.S. plane had landed in Chinese territory on the island of Hainan without permission. The language of the letter was sufficient to end the impasse between the countries. The spy plane and its 24-member crew had been held in Chinese custody since the crash.

Disasters
43 people were crushed to death in a stampede of fans at the Soweto Derby football match between the Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg. The stadium had a capacity of 60,000, but at least 30,000 more people tried to get in, and security was inadequate.



Soccer
Australia established a record for the largest score in an international match when they routed American Samoa 31-0 in a qualifying match for the 2002 World Cup before 3,000 fans at International Sports Stadium in Coffs Harbour, Australia. Archie Thompson led Australia with 13 goals, and David Zdrilic scored 8.