May 9, 2011

340 years ago
1671

Crime
Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempted to steal England's Crown Jewels from the Tower of London.

220 years ago
1791

Died on this date
Francis Hopkinson, 53. U.S. author, musician, artist, politician, and judge. Mr. Hopkinson wrote satires in pamphlets; designed the American flag; and signed the Declaration of Independence as a delegate from New Jersey. He played the harpsichord and wrote songs, becoming the first American-born composer to commit a song to paper (My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free (1759)). Mr. Hopkinson served as judge of the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania from 1789 until his death from an apoplectic seizure.

110 years ago
1901

Politics and government
The first Parliament of Australia opened in the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne.

Baseball
Earl Moore (2-2) of the Cleveland Blues gave up 2 unearned runs but no hits through 9 innings against the Chicago White Stockings, and the game was tied 2-2. Sam Mertes and Dutch Hartman hit singles in the 10th inning for the White Stockings, and they scored 2 runs to win 4-2. Jack Katoll (2-1) pitched a 6-hit complete game victory. Rain threatened for most of the game and was falling by the 10th inning, and only 400 fans were in attendance at League Park in Cleveland.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored a run in the bottom of the 8th inning and 3 in the 9th to overcome a 6-3 deficit and defeat the Detroit Tigers 7-6 before 1,000 fans at Lloyd Street Grounds in Milwaukee. Bill Reidy pitched the first 8 innings for Milwaukee before being lifted for a pinch hitter; Bert Husting (2-1) pitched a scoreless 9th inning and doubled in a run in the winning rally. Frank Owen (1-1) allowed 14 hits and 7 earned runs in a complete game loss. The game was played in 1 hour 45 minutes.

100 years ago
1911

Literature
The works of Gabriele D'Annunzio were placed in the Index of Forbidden Books by the Vatican.

80 years ago
1931

Died on this date
Albert Michelson, 78. German-born U.S. physicist. Dr. Michelson moved to the United States with his parents at the age of 2. He taught at the U.S. Naval Academy before teaching at Clark University and then at the University of Chicago. Dr. Michelson was known for his work on measuring the speed of light and especially for the Michelson–Morley experiment with Edward Morley (1887). Dr. Michelson became the first American to win a Nobel Prize in a science when he was awarded the 1907 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his optical precision instruments and the spectroscopic and metrological investigations carried out with their aid."

Horse racing
Mate, with George Ellis up, won the 56th running of the Preakness Stakes before 40,000 fans at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 1:59. Twenty Grand placed second, about a ength behind. The race took place a week before the Kentucky Derby, the last time until 2020 that the Preakness was the first of the Triple Crown races to be run.



75 years ago
1936

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

Abominations
Fascist Italy annexed Ethiopia.

70 years ago
1941

Theatre
The Drama League of New York awarded the Delia Austian Medal for the most distinguished performance of the season to Paul Lukas for his starring performance in Watch on the Rhine.

War
The German submarine U-110 is captured by the Royal Navy; on board was the latest Enigma machine which Allied cryptographers later used to break coded German messages. Between 300-400 British Royal Air Force bombers attacked the German cities of Bremen and Hamburg on the night of May 8-9. Japanese fliers raided the Chungking district in China in the second major air attack of the year.

Abominations
Nazi authorities extended the Nuremberg laws to France, forbidding Jews to engage in any business that would bring them into contact with "Aryans."

Defense
Japan announced that conferences had started in Tokyo with Germany and Italy to discuss questions relating to cooperation under the Axis Pact. The U.S. Maritime Commission announced that U.S. merchant ships would begin operating to the Red Sea area soon, and that service to China would be increased. U.S. Attorney General Robert Jackson ordered seizure of I.G. Farben-industrie's funds held by National City Bank of New York to force the chemical trust's appearance in court in answer to an antitrust indictment.

Diplomacy
The French-Thai peace conference ended in Tokyo with a treaty stating that any future dispute between Thailand and French Indochina would be mediated by Japan.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator George Aiken (Republican--Vermont) predicted that some form of state socialism would grow out of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's emergency powers.

Agriculture
The U.S. Agriculture Department estimated that 1941 winter wheat production would total 633,105,000 bushels.

Boxing
Billy Soose (32-4) won a controversial 15-round unanimous decision over Ken Overlin (122-29-6) at Madison Square Garden in New York to win the New York State Athletic Commission world middleweight championship.

60 years ago
1951

Music
U.S. President Harry Truman performed an impromptu concert on a piano made of materials from all United Nations countries, presented to him as part of National Music Week festivities.

War
In the United Nations' biggest air raid of the Korean War, 312 planes attacked 100 Communist planes grounded at the Sinuiju air base in extreme northwestern Korea. North Korea charged that United Nations germ warfare in Korea had caused an epidemic of 3,500 cases of smallpox--10% fatal--from January-April 1951.

Defense
U.S. President Truman appointed General Matthew Ridgway, Gen. Douglas MacArthur's successor as Far Eastern commander, to the four-star rank of full general.

Politics and government
The Panamanian Congress voted to oust President Arnulfo Arias and install Vice President Alcibiades Arosemena as his successor, following Mr. Arias' attempt to assume dictatorial powers.

Health
The American Psychiatric Association reported that 8 million-12 million Americans had nervous or mental disorders and that one million mental patients had been treated in 1,000 U.S. institutions in 1949.

Oil
The Iranian government of Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh rejected an Anglo-Iranian Oil Company application under the 1933 Anglo-Iranian oil treaty for arbitration of the oil nationalization dispute.

Labour
The United Nations Economic and Social Council's Special Committee of Experts on Slavery reported that slavery still "exists in the world today" and other forms of involuntary servitude "appear to be growing" in some areas.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Are You Sure--The Allisons (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on NBC
Tonight's episode: You Can't Trust a Man, starring Polly Bergen, Joe Maross, and Frank Albertson

Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Mr. George, starring Virginia Gregg, Howard Freeman, and Lillian Bronson



Television
U.S. Federal Communications Commission chairman Newton Minow addressed the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Washington, and described the program output of television as a "vast wasteland," deploring the quantity of violence and mediocrity on television shows and warning that station licenses would not be renewed automatically, but that public hearings would be held in the local community to determine whether that community believed the station had been serving the public interest. He said, "You must provide a wider range of choices, more diversity, more alternatives. It is not enough to cater to the nation’s whims--You must also serve the nation’s needs. The people own the air...I believe in the people’s good sense and good taste, and I am not convinced that the people’s taste is as low as some of you assume."





Diplomacy
U.S. Vice President Lyndon Johnson left Washington for a tour of Asian nations to reassure them of U.S. support against Communist aggression.

Crime
Former professional football quarterback George Ratterman, an independent candidate for sheriff of Campbell County, Kentucky, woke up in bed at the Glenn Hotel in Newport with stripper Juanita Hodges, aka April Flowers, at 2:45 A.M., several hours after having his drink drugged with chloral hydrate, in an attempt to blackmail him and force him to drop from the race. Mr. Ratterman was charged with soliciting prostitution, but the plot, initiated by nightclub owner Tim Carinci, unravelled after a blood sample taken from Mr. Ratterman proved that he had been drugged. Publicity from the botched frame-up attempt catapulted Mr. Ratterman to victory in the November 1961 election.

Disasters
At least 185 people were killed when a typhoon struck East Pakistan.

Baseball
Baltimore Orioles’ first baseman Jim Gentile became the third player in major league history--after Tony Lazzeri in 1936 and Jim Tabor in 1939--to hit grand slams in consecutive innings, connecting against Pedro Ramos of the Minnesota Twins in the 1st inning and against Paul Giel on the first pitch in the 2nd inning before 4,514 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. Mr. Gentile added a sacrifice fly to give him 9 runs batted in as the Orioles won 13-5s.

Hank Bauer's 2-run single climaxed a 4-run rally for the Kansas City Athletics in the bottom of the 8th inning as they overcame a 4-1 deficit to defeat the New York Yankees 5-4 before 13,623 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City.

40 years ago
1971

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Chicago 2 @ Montreal 4 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-1)

The Black Hawks took a 2-0 lead at the Montreal Forum, but the Canadiens came back with goals by Pete Mahovlich, Yvan Cournoyer (set up by a spectacular rush by Terry Harper) and Frank Mahovlich.



30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Sarà perché ti amo--Ricchi e Poveri (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Vienna--Ultravox (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Stars on 45--Starsound

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Stars on 45--Starsound

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Stand and Deliver--Adam and the Ants

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Angel of Mine--Frank Duval & Orchestra (2nd week at #1)
2 Can You Feel It--The Jacksons
3 Making Your Mind Up--Bucks Fizz
4 Without Your Love--Roger Daltrey
5 Vienna--Ultravox
6 Chanson D'Amour--BZN
7 One Night Affair--Spargo
8 How 'bout Us--Champaign
9 You Better You Bet--The Who
10 9 to 5--Dolly

Singles entering the chart were Rain in May by Max Werner (#29); What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted by Dave Stewart (guest vocals Colin Blunstone) (#32); It's a Real Good Feeling by Peter Kent (#33); In the Heat of the Night by Vanessa (#34); Morning Train by Sheena Easton (#38); and Love Can Break Your Heart by Powerplay (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton (2nd week at #1)
2 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
3 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
4 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
5 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
6 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
7 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
8 Living Inside Myself--Gino Vannelli
9 Sukiyaki--A Taste of Honey
10 I Can't Stand It--Eric Clapton and his Band

Singles entering the chart were Nobody Wins by Elton John (#71); Modern Girl by Sheena Easton (#81); Arc of a Diver by Steve Winwood (#82); Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe it or Not) by Joey Scarbury (#85); You're So Easy to Love by Tommy James (#86); Almost Saturday Night by Dave Edmunds (#87); Lovin' the Night Away by the Dillman Band (#88); and Next Time You'll Know by Sister Sledge (#90). As the title indicates, Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe it or Not) was the theme from the television series.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton (4th week at #1)
2 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
3 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
4 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
5 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
6 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
7 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
8 Her Town Too--James Taylor and J.D. Souther
9 Rapture--Blondie
10 Somebody’s Knockin’--Terri Gibbs

Singles entering the chart were Nobody Wins by Elton John (#77); Modern Girl by Sheena Easton (#83); Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Phoebe Snow (#86); Elvira by the Oak Ridge Boys (#89); and Two Hearts by Stephanie Mills (with Teddy Pendergrass) (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton (3rd week at #1)
2 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
3 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
4 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
5 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
6 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
7 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
8 Rapture--Blondie
9 Too Much Time on My Hands--Styx
10 Somebody's Knockin'--Terri Gibbs

Singles entering the chart were Nobody Wins by Elton John (#81); What Cha Gonna Do for Me by Chaka Khan (#86); Paradise by Change (#87); Two Hearts by Stephanie Mills featuring Teddy Pendergrass (#89); and Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Phoebe Snow (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton (2nd week at #1)
2 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
3 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood
4 Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce
5 You Better You Bet--The Who
6 I Missed Again--Phil Collins
7 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
8 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
9 Wasn’t That a Party--The Rovers
10 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes

Singles entering the chart were Hold On by Ian Thomas (#45); Give a Little Bit More by Cliff Richard (#48); The Waiting by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#49); and This Little Girl by Gary U.S. Bonds (#50).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 You Better You Bet--The Who (2nd week at #1)
2 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
3 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
4 I Missed Again--Phil Collins
5 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
6 Watching the Wheels--John Lennon
7 Too Much Time on My Hands--Styx
8 Time Out of Mind--Steely Dan
9 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
10 Somebody's Knockin'--Terri Gibbs

Singles entering the chart were Beatles Medley by Stars on 45 (#23); and What are We Doin' in Love by Dottie West (with Kenny Rogers) (#28).

Died on this date
Nelson Algren, 72. U.S. author. Mr. Algren, born Nelson Ahlgren Abraham, was a Chicago-based writer who wrote about "down and out" people in novels such as The Man with the Golden Arm (1949) and A Walk on the Wild Side (1956).

Margaret Lindsay, 70. U.S. actress. Miss Lindsay was best known for her supporting performances in movies such as Jezebel (1938); The House of the Seven Gables (1940); and Scarlet Street (1945). She died of emphysema.

Soccer
English FA Cup Final @ Wembley Stadium, London
Manchester City 1 Tottenham 1

Tommy Hutchison opened the scoring for Manchester City in the 30th minute, but scored an own goal in the 79th minute. The game was replayed five days later.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Calgary 3 @ Minnesota 5 (Minnesota won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Brad Palmer scored the winning goal for the North Stars with 5:51 remaining in regulation time as they defeated the Flames at Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Boston 94 @ Houston 71 (Boston led best-of-seven series 2-1)

The Celtics took advantage of the Rockets' poor shooting to take a 17-point lead in the 2nd quarter and coasted to an easy win before 16,121 fans at the Summit. Cedric Maxwell led Boston scorers with 19 points, while Moses Malone of the Rockets led all scorers with 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.



25 years ago
1986

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
New York Rangers 1 @ Montreal 3 (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-1)



20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher (2nd week at #1)

Energy
The National Energy Board of Canada gave TransCanada Pipelines the green light for a $2.6 billion line into the United States, plus 15 export licenses for 1.6 trillion cubic feet of gas. Ottawa, Ontario

Environment
The Canadian federal and provincial governments unveiled a 5-year, $100-million plan to combat ground-level ozone, a harmful component of city smog.

10 years ago
2001

Disasters
129 football fans at Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, Ghana died when, following a controversial decision by the referee, police fired tear gas into the crowd to quell unrest at the end of a football match, resulting in a stampede of fans.