May 20, 2011

225 years ago
1786

Died on this date
Pierre Bonwah. New Brunswick crime victim. Mr. Bonwah, a Maliseet Indian, was shot dead in his canoe on the Saint John River, over a dispute about missing hogs. A trial the next month in Fredericton found Loyalist settlers David Nelson and William Harboard guilty of murder, and Mr. Nelson was hanged.

Canadiana
St. John's Island--later renamed Prince Edward Island--achieved political separation from Nova Scotia.

Politics and government
Governor Thomas Carleton’s official title was changed to that of Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick and Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, while his brother Sir Guy Carleton, became Governor-in-Chief of British North America.

150 years ago
1861

Americana
Five weeks after the beginning of the Civil War, North Carolina voted to secede from the Union.

120 years ago
1891

Died on this date
Jim Fogarty, 27. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Fogarty played, mostly in the outfield, for the Philadelphia Quakers of the National League from 1883-1889 and the Philadelphia Quakers of the Players League in 1890, batting .246 in 751 games. He led NL batters in bases on balls in 1887 with 82 and in stolen bases with 99 in 1889. Baseball statistics guru Bill James rates Mr. Fogarty as one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball history. Mr. Fogarty managed the PL Quakers for 16 games in 1890, compiling a record of 7-9. He died of tuberculosis in San Francisco.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Doris Fleeson. U.S. journalist. Miss Fleeson worked for various newspapers, including the New York Daily News (1927-1943). She and her then-husband John O'Donnell wrote the column Capital Stuff (1933-1942) while she was at the paper's Washington bureau. Miss Fleeson was a war correspondent for Woman's Home Companion (1943-1945), returning to Washington in 1945 to write a political column for the Boston Globe and Washington Evening Star. The column was picked up by Bell Syndicate in 1945 and distributed across the country, making Miss Fleeson the first woman in the United States to have a nationally-syndicated political column. The column was published in about 100 newspapers at its peak in 1960. Miss Fleeson died of complications from a stroke on August 1, 1980 at the age of 69.

Max Euwe. Dutch chess player and executive. Mr. Euwe was a mathematician and computer science professor who won 12 Dutch championships from 1921-1955, and was world champion (1935-1937). He was granted the title of international grandmaster in 1950, and was President of Fédération Internationale des Échecs (International Chess Federation) (FIDE) (1970-1978). Mr. Euwe wrote more than 70 books on chess; he died of a heart attack on November 26, 1981 at the age of 80.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Gardner Fox. U.S. writer. Mr. Fox wrote several thousand stories under his own name and various pseudonyms for comic books--mainly Detective Comics--and pulp fiction magazines, and also wrote novels. He died on December 24, 1986 at the age of 75.

Annie M. G. Schmidt. Dutch authoress and playwright. Miss Schmidt wrote in various genres, but was best known for her children's books, especially the Jip and Janneke series. With her health declining, Miss Schmidt decided to take her own life, and died of cardiac arrest after consuming pills on May 21, 1995, the day after her 84th birthday.

Milt Gabler. U.S. record producer. Mr. Gabler ran a used record store before founding Commodore Records in 1937, and had success with that label before joining Decca Records in 1941. He produced recordings of artists such as Billie Holiday, Louis Jordan, the Weavers, and Bill Haley and his Comets. Mr. Gabler's experience in selling used records enabled him to be a pioneer in reissuing old recordings. He was the uncle of comedian and actor Billy Crystal, who inducted Mr. Gabler into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Mr. Gabler died on July 20, 2001, two months after his 90th birthday.

Oddities
What appeared to be a game-winning hit in a New England League game in Lynn, Massachusetts, was overruled by the umpire because outfielders had lost sight of the ball in fog. With Lynn leading Fall River 5-4 in the top of the 7th inning, a Fall River batter named Weaver hit a fly ball to the outfield with a man on base, and both runners came around to score to give Fall River a 6-5 lead. After a dispute, umpire Walsh disallowed the runs, called the game, and ordered that the score revert to the 6th inning with Lynn winning 5-4.

80 years ago
1931

Born on this date
Ken Boyer. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Boyer was a third baseman who played in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals (1955-1965); New York Mets (1966-1967); Chicago White Sox (1967-1968); and Los Angeles Dodgers (1968-1969), batting .287 with 282 home runs and 1,141 runs batted in in 2,034 games. He was the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1964, when he hit .295 with 24 home runs, scored 100 runs, and led the league with 119 RBIs as the Cardinals won the World Series. He hit just .222 in the 1964 World Series, but hit 2 home runs, scored 5 runs, and batted in 6. Mr. Boyer managed the Cardinals from 1978-1980, compiling a record of 166-190-1. He died of cancer on September 7, 1982 at the age of 51. Mr. Boyer’s brother Clete was a third baseman with the Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves from 1955-1971, and another brother, Cloyd, pitched with the Cardinals and Athletics from 1949-1955.

Died on this date
Ernest Noel, 99. U.K. politician. Mr. Noel, a Liberal, represented the Scottish riding of Dumfries Burghs (1874-1886). As a Liberal Unionist, he was an unsuccessful candidate in the elections of 1886 and 1892.

70 years ago
1941

War
German paratroopers attacked British forces on Crete. British troops in Iraq seized Falluja, an important bridgehead on the Euphrates River, about 35 miles west of Baghdad.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia as director of the Office of Civilian Defense. A Gallup Poll reported that 52% of American voters questioned in a survey said that they favoured convoys for ships carrying war materials to Britain, as compared to 41% in April.

Politics and government
The Chilean government arrested 32 members of the Socialist Vanguard (Nazi) Party on charges of plotting a second putsch against the government.

The Viet Minh was founded in the village of Pac Bo, with the goal of seeking independence for Vietnam from the French Empire.

Americana
U.S. President Roosevelt announced that Thanksgiving would be restored to its traditional date--the last Thursday in November--because moving it up a week had not improved business.

Journalism
The Saturday Evening Post dropped its isolationist editorial stance and backed U.S. President Roosevelt's policy on Europe.

Baseball
Backup shortstop George Jumonville of the Philadelphia Phillies came to bat as a pinch hitter with the Phillies trailing the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0, and hit his only major league home run in his final major league at bat, helping his team come back for a 6-4 win in 11 innings before 1,084 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis.

Frank McCormick's 3-run home run with 1 out climaxed a 6-run bottom of the 9th inning and gave the Cincinnati Reds a 9-6 win over the Boston Braves before 2,310 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

Relief pitcher Bill Caster's error on a ball hit by Charlie Keller with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning allowed Tommy Henrich to score from second base and give the New York Yankees a 10-9 win over the St. Louis Browns at Yankee Stadium. The Browns led 8-5 in the 8th inning, but New York catcher Bill Dickey hit a 3-run home run to tie the score.

60 years ago
1951

On the radio
Mr. Moto, starring James Monks, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: A Force Called X07

This was the first episode of the series.

Died on this date
Frank Olin, 91. U.S. baseball player and industrialist. Mr. Olin was an outfielder with four major league teams (1884-1885), batting .316 with 1 home run in 49 games. He founded the ammunition firm that eventually became the Olin Corporation in East Alton, Illinois in 1892. Mr. Olin acquired the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1931 and retired in 1944, shortly after combining his companies into Olin Industries.

Baseball
Richie Ashburn had 4 hits in each game as the Philadelphia Phillies swept a doubleheader from the Pittsburgh Pirates 17-0 and 12-4 before 36,166 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

The Chicago Cubs swept a doubleheader from the Boston Braves 4-3 and 5-4 before 42,088 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago, as Dutch Leonard pitched 2 innings of relief in each game to get credit for both wins, improving his 1951 record to 3-0. The Cubs scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning of the second game to complete the sweep.

Billy Cox batted a combined 5 for 8 with 4 runs and 5 runs batted in to help the Brooklyn Dodgers sweep a doubleheader from the Cincinnati Reds 10-3 and 14-4 before 29,427 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

Ed Lopat (7-0) pitched an 8-hit complete game and hit a solo home run to help the New York Yankees defeat the St. Louis Browns 7-3 before 29,018 fans at Yankee Stadium.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Runaway--Del Shannon (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Where the Boys Are--Connie Francis (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Babysitter-Boogie--Ralf Bendix (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Dutch Top 40): Wheels--The String-A-Longs (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Blue Moon--The Marcels (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Runaway--Del Shannon (3rd week at #1)
2 Mother-in-Law--Ernie K-Doe
3 A Hundred Pounds of Clay--Gene McDaniels
4 Daddy’s Home--Shep and the Limelites
5 Blue Moon--The Marcels
6 Breakin’ in a Brand New Broken Heart--Connie Francis
7 Mama Said--The Shirelles
8 Running Scared--Roy Orbison
9 You Can Depend on Me--Brenda Lee
10 Travelin’ Man--Ricky Nelson

Singles entering the chart were I Feel So Bad (#49)/Wild in the Country (#73) by Elvis PresleyYou Always Hurt the One You Love by Clarence Henry (#71); Tossin’ and Turnin’ by Bobby Lewis (#75); The Boll Weevil Song by Brook Benton (#76); It Keeps Rainin’ by Fats Domino (#79); Count Every Star by Donnie and the Dreamers (#83); Summertime by the Marcels (#85); Who Else But You by Frankie Avalon (#88); Heart and Soul by the Cleftones (#94); Ronnie by Marcy Joe (#98); and My Kind of Girl by Matt Monro (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Moody River--Pat Boone
2 Travelin' Man/Hello Mary Lou--Ricky Nelson
3 Little Devil--Neil Sedaka
4 Louisiana Mama--Gene Pitney
5 She Wears My Ring--Jimmy Bell
6 Everyday--Bobby Lee
7 Runaway--Del Shannon
8 Hello Walls--Faron Young
9 The Rebel - Johnny Yuma--Johnny Cash
10 Triangle--Janie Grant

Singles entering the chart were Barbara-Ann by the Regents (#26); Ring of Fire by Duane Eddy (#31); The Boll Weevil Song by Brook Benton (#37); Tonight I Fell in Love by the Tokens (#40); The Bilbao Song by Andy Williams (#42); The Battle's O'er by Andy Stewart (#44); The Ballad of Widder Jones by George Hamilton IV (#46); Rama Lama Ding Dong by the Edsels (#47); Tragedy by the Fleetwoods (#48); I Fall to Pieces by Dodie Stevens (#49); and It Keeps Rainin' by Fats Domino (#50).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 Travelin' Man/Hello Mary Lou--Ricky Nelson (2nd week at #1)
2 Moody River--Pat Boone
3 Little Devil--Neil Sedaka
4 She Wears My Ring--Jimmy Bell
5 Louisiana Mama--Gene Pitney
6 Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)--The Coasters
7 The Rebel - Johnny Yuma--Johnny Cash
8 I Feel So Bad/Wild in the Country--Elvis Presley
9 Triangle--Janie Grant
10 Runaway--Del Shannon

Singles entering the chart were Barbara-Ann by the Regents (#32); Pick Me Up on Your Way Down by Pat Zill (#35); I'm a Fool to Care by Joe Barry (#36); Lil' Ole Me by Cornbread and Jerry (#37); The Boll Weevil Song by Brook Benton (#38); The Writing on the Wall by Adam Wade (#39); and The Bilbao Song by Andy Williams (#40).

On television tonight
The Roaring 20's, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Right Off the Boat: Part 2

Protest
A mob of whites attacked the bus carrying the Freedom Riders when it arrived in Montgomery, Alabama. At least 20 people were beaten in street fighting that lasted two hours. Among those beaten was John Siegenthaler, special representative of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy ordered his brother Bobby, the U.S. Attorney General, to "take all necessary steps." Attorney General Kennedy sent 400 armed U.S. marshals to Montgomery under the direction of Deputy Attorney General Byron White. Alabama Governor John Patterson, who could hear the violence from his office, finally proclaimed martial law in Montgomery after marshals had to throw tear gas bombs to beat back a mob threatening an integrationist rally at a church.

World events
Four days after the South Korean government had been deposed by a military coup, President Posun Yung resigned, but resumed his post at the junta's urging in order to preserve diplomatic relations with other nations. The junta formed a cabinet of military men with Lt. Gen. Chang Do Young, Army Chief of Staff and leader of the junta, as its head. The junta banned labour groups and political parties.

Diplomacy
Former U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, United Auto Workers President Walter Reuther, and Johns Hopkins University President Milton Eisenhower sent a telegram to Cuban dictator Fidel Castro offering as private citizens to raise funds for 500 U.S. tractors to be sent to Cuba "not as a response to a demand for political ransom but out of common humanity." Three days earlier, Mr. Castro had offered to exchange 1,214 rebels captured in the Bay of Pigs invasion in April for 500 U.S. tractors.

War
Peace talks between France and the Algerian Provisional Government began in Evian-les-Bains, France. As the talks began, France unilaterally declared a 30-day cease-fire in their civil war in Algeria as a gesture of goodwill. This was rejected by the rebels on the ground that any cease-fire must be the result of bilateral negotiations.

Horse racing
Carry Back, winner of the Kentucky Derby, won his second straight Triple Crown race when, with J. Sellers up, he captured the 86th running of the Preakness Stakes before 32,211 fans at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 1:57 3/5. Globemaster placed second and Crozier finished third in the 9-horse field. First prize money was $126,200.



Baseball
Dick Ellsworth (1-3) gave up just 3 hits, but it took Ed Bouchee’s game-ending home run leading off the bottom of the 9th inning to break up a scoreless pitching duel between Mr. Ellsworth and Larry Jackson (0-3), giving the Chicago Cubs a 1-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals before 9,103 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Mr. Jackson allowed 5 hits. Jimmie Schaffer made his major league debut as the St. Louis catcher, batting 1 for 3--singling in his first at bat--and making 3 putouts and an assist.

Jackie Jensen singled home Tom Brewer from second base with 2 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 4-3 win over the Detroit Tigers before 10,085 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

Vic Power singled to lead off the bottom of the 8th inning, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Willie Kirkland, and scored on a double by John Romano to break a 3-3 tie as the Cleveland Indians edged the New York Yankees 4-3 before 8,431 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. With 2 out and nobody on base in the 9th, Tony Kubek tripled, but pinch hitter Hector Lopez lined out to right field to end the game. New York right fielder Roger Maris hit a solo home run in the 3rd inning--his 6th homer of the season--and added a sacrifice fly in a 2-run 8th inning.

40 years ago
1971

Died on this date
Ephraim Elrom, 58. Israeli diplomat. Mr. Elrom, Israel's consul general to Turkey, had been kidnapped on May 17 from his home in Istanbul by four armed Turkish terrorists, who demanded that "all revolutionary guerrillas under detention" in the country be released by the evening of May 20 or Mr. Elrom would be killed. The Turkish government rejected the demand and began an intensive search for Mr. Elrom and his kidnappers. His body was found on May 23 in an apartment near the Israeli consulate.

World events
After a 10-day trial, a court in Leningrad convicted nine Jews of anti-Soviet activity and sentenced them to prison camp terms ranging from one to 10 years.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
2 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
3 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
4 Watching the Wheels--John Lennon
5 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
6 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
7 Sweetheart--Franke & the Knockouts
8 I Love You--Climax Blues Band
9 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
10 Being with You--Smokey Robinson

The only single entering the chart was What are We Doin' in Love by Dottie West (with Kenny Rogers) (#20).

Radio
The spring ratings for radio stations in the Edmonton area were released. The weekly circulation figures (with figures from the fall of 1980 in parentheses) were:

CHED (630 AM)---447,200 (475,900)
CFCW (790 AM)---308,000 (273,900)
CFRN (1260 AM)--283,300 (234,000)
CJCA (930 AM)---263,300 (342,400)
CHQT (1110 AM)--194,600 (220,600)
CBX (740 AM)----127,000 (120,700)
CIRK (97.3 FM)--117,800 (69,600)
CKXM (100.3 FM)- 90,000 (83,400)
CKRA (96.3 FM)-- 84,700 (96,700)

Morning show figures, for listeners 7 years of age and older, from 6 A.M.-10 A.M., for the full market area, were:

CHED (630 AM)---52,700 (48,300)
CJCA (930 AM)---35,000 (40,100)
CHQT (1110 AM)--29,200 (33,100)
CFRN (1260 AM)--12,700 (11,900)
CIRK (97.3 FM)-- 9,700 (3,100)
CKRA (96.3 FM)-- 6,000 (8,600)
CKXM (100.3 FM)--3,400 (5,300)

Several Edmonton-area stations didn't subscribe to the ratings service, including CBC FM (90.9 FM); CHFA (680 AM); CKER (1480 AM); CKO (102.9 FM); CKST (1070 AM); and CKUA (580 AM/94.9 FM).

Baseball
The Oakland Athletics traded first baseman Dave Revering, outfielder Mike Patterson, and minor league pitcher Chuck Dougherty to the New York Yankees for first baseman Jim Spencer and pitcher Tom Underwood. Mr. Revering was batting .230 with 2 home runs and 10 runs batted in in 31 games for Oakland in 1981, while Mr. Patterson was hitting .348 with no homers and 1 RBI in 12 games with Oakland. Mr. Dougherty was 3-3 with a 3.80 earned run average in 8 games with the San Jose Missions of the Class A California League in 1981; he was assigned to the Fort Lauderdale Yankees of the Class A Florida State League. Mr. Spencer was hitting .143 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs in 25 games with New York in 1981, while Mr. Underwood was 1-4 with a 4.41 earned run average in 9 games with New York.

Cincinnati Reds’ relief pitcher Doug Bair hit a 3-run home run in the top of the 9th inning to provide insurance runs for the Reds as they beat the Chicago Cubs 10-7 before 5,914 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Mr. Bair's only major league homer gave the Reds a 10-5 lead, but he allowed 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th and was relieved by Tom Hume, who struck out Hector Cruz with the bases loaded to end the game.

Pinch hitter Rick Monday led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a home run off Tug McGraw (1-4) to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 50,917 fans at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles right fielder Pedro Guerrero batted 4 for 4 with a home run, 2 doubles, and 2 runs batted in. Steve Howe (4-1) allowed 1 hit in 3 scoreless innings of relief to get the win.

Dave Winfield reached first base on an error by shortstop Rance Mulliniks to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning and scored from third base on a bases-loaded single by Graig Nettles with 1 out to give the New York Yankees a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals before 27,912 fans at Yankee Stadium. Mr. Mulliniks had just entered the game when he made his error. Newly-acquired Dave Revering drew an intentional walk as a pinch hitter for the Yankees in the bottom of the 10th and remained in the game at first base, making 1 putout in the 11th.

In the Pacific Coast League, Edmonton Trappers’ shortstop Todd Cruz was back in the lineup after spending the previous day in court. Mr. Cruz had been arrested in the downtown Hudson’s Bay Store in the wee hours of May 19 when police found him with a number of watchers strapped to his arms. He wanted to make a pre-game apology over the public address system on May 20, but the idea was nixed by team management. During his first time at bat, a fan shouted, "What time is it?" The Trappers’ parent team, the Chicago White Sox, were scheduled to be in Edmonton the next day for an exhibition game against the Trappers, and White Sox’ co-owner Eddie Einhorn was in the press box at Renfrew Park .

25 years ago
1986

Weather
It reached 82 F. in Edmonton.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Calgary 3 @ Montreal 5 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-1)

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kiss--Princess Princess

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Punaista ja makeaa--Popeda (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Joyride--Roxette (7th week at #1)

Personal
It was a beautiful day in New Brunswick, and this blogger spent an enjoyable Victoria Day appreciating Loyalist history in Saint John before taking a train to Fredericton Junction and then a bus to Fredericton.