June 7, 2011

1,590 years ago
421

Married on this date
Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II married Aelia Eudocia at Constantinople.

670 years ago
1341

Died on this date
Al-Nasir Muhammad, 55-56. Sultan of Egypt and Syria, 1293-1294, 1299-1309, 1310-1341. Al-Nasir Muhammad first acceded to the throne upon the assassination of his brother al-Ashraf Khalil, but was under a regency and was deposed by Kitbugha. Al-Nasir Muhammad was restored to power in 1299, but was replaced while in Al Kark and after failing to remove Baibars al-Jashnakir and Salar, whom he feared would attempt to assassinate ore depose him. Baibars al-Jashnakir was forced to abdicate a year later, and Al-Nasir Muhammad was restored to the throne again. He increased his power, cracked down on corruption, and initiated public works. Al-Nasir Muhammad was succeeded by his son Saif ad-Din Abu-Bakr.

100 years ago
1911

Died on this date
Maurice Rouvier, 69. Prime Minister of France, 1887, 1905-1906. Mr. Rouvier was a member of the Republican Union who was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1871, and held several cabinet posts, including Minister of Finance, in various governments, while serving as Prime Minister of two short-lived governments. His second government was noted for passing a law on the separation of the churches and the state in December 1905.

90 years ago
1921

Crime
The body of a slain girl was found at the baseball park in Kingsport, Tennessee. To prevent the trail being confused for bloodhounds, police closed the ballpark, forcing the cancellation of that day’s Class D Appalachian League game between the Kingsport Indians and Knoxville Pioneers in what reportedly was the only game in professional baseball history cancelled because of a murder at the park.

75 years ago
1936

Died on this date
Lischia Edwards, 70. U.S. murder victim. Ms. Edwards was raped and strangled by Rainey Bethea in her residence, an upper-floor room in a house in Owensboro, Kentucky owned and occupied by the family of Emmett Wells. Mr. Bethea was hanged on August 14, 1936 in the last public execution to take place in the United States.

Labour
The Steel Workers Organizing Committee, a trade union, was founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Philip Murray was elected its first president.

Baseball
George Selkirk’s home run with 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 16th inning gave the New York Yankees a 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians before 35,000 fans at Yankee Stadium. Winning pitcher Red Ruffing had 3 hits, including a home run. Both Mr. Ruffing and losing pitcher Oral Hildebrand pitched complete games, but neither recorded a strikeout.

Six different Detroit Tigers each had 2 hits as they outlasted the Washington Nationals 10-8 before 10,000 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington in a game that was completed in 1 hour 58 minutes.

The St. Louis Browns broke open a close game with 4 runs in the top of the 9th inning as they defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 9-5 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

With runners on first and second base and none out in the bottom of the 9th inning, Brooklyn Dodgers' pitcher Tom Baker walked Chicago Cubs' center fielder Augie Galan intentionally; however, Mr. Baker then issued an unintentional base on balls to Ken O'Dea to force home Woody English with the winning run as the Cubs edged the Dodgers 4-3 before 11,076 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

70 years ago
1941

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): My Sister and I--Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra with Bob Eberly

Literature
The American Writers Congress chose Native Son by Richard Wright as the best American novel published since 1939.

War
British press dispatches from Cairo stated that large German troop-carrying and supply planes were landing in Syria. The Vichy French government was reported to have decided not to fight the French colonies held by the Free French forces of General Charles de Gaulle.

Defense
Uruguayan President Alfredo Baldomir told a Chilean journalist in Montevideo that Uruguay was prepared to offer bases for the defense of the Western Hemisphere.

Scandal
Former Democratic Party boss of Kansas City boss Tom Pendergast and former Missouri insurance superintendent R. Ernest O'Malley were sentenced to two-year prison terms for contempt of court growing out of a bribe case.

Labour
The White House revealed that U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was ready to commandeer the strike-bound North American Aviation plant in Inglewood, Califonria and use the Army to run it until the strike of 11,000 workers ended. The United Auto Workers of America's aviation division chief Richard Frankensteen said in a radio address that the walkout was a "wildcat strike" caused by Communists.

Disasters
The Prince Edward Island ferry Charlottetown sank off Liverpool, Nova Scotia after running aground in the fog.

Horse racing
Whirlaway, with Eddie Arcaro aboard, won the 73rd running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, New York in a time of 2:31 to become the fifth horse, and the fourth in the past 12 years, to win the Triple Crown. First prize money was $39,770. Robert Morris placed second.

Golf
Craig Wood won the U.S. Open at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas with a 4-over-par score of 284, 3 strokes ahead of Denny Shute. First prize money was $1,000.



60 years ago
1951

Died on this date
Oswald Pohl, 58. German war criminal. Obergruppenführer Pohl was head of the SS Wirtschafts- und Verwaltungshauptamt (Main Economic and Administrative Office) and the head administrator of the Nazi concentration camps, and thus a key figure in the genocide of European Jews during World War II. He was one of 18 SS members convicted in 1948 of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and was one of seven war criminals hanged on this day at Landsberg Prison in Landsberg am Lech, Bavaria, 23 days before his 59th birthday.

Paul Blobel, 56; Erich Naumann, 46; Otto Ohlendorf, 44; Werner Braune, 42. German war criminals. Standartenführer Blobel, SS-Brigadeführer Naumann, SS-Gruppenführer Ohlendorf, and SS-Obersturmbannführer Braune were members of the Einsatzgruppen (mobile death squads) during World War II, and were convicted in 1948 of crimes against humanity. They were hanged at Landsberg Prison.

War
U.S. forces in Korea approached Chorwon and Kumhwa, the southernmost points of the "iron triangle" above the 38th Parallel.

Diplomacy
The U.S.A. recognized Bolivia's new military regime.

Politics and government
Abdullah Yafi took office as Prime Minister of Lebanon following the resignation of Hussein Oueni.

Economics and finance
The West German government announced economic sanctions against Communist China in compliance with the United Nations embargo resolution.

50 years ago
1961

Baseball
The Baltimore Orioles traded outfielder Gene Stephens to the Kansas City Athletics for first baseman Marv Throneberry. Mr. Stephens was batting .190 with no home runs and 2 runs batted in in 28 games with the Orioles in 1961, while Mr. Throneberry was batting .238 with 6 home runs and 24 RBIs in 40 games with the Athletics.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Chirpy, Chirpy, Cheep, Cheep--Lally Stott

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Mata Au Hi Made--Kiyohiko Ozaki (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Qué Será (Che Sará)--José Feliciano (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Bruce Gardner, 32. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Gardner was a star pitcher at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles who followed advice to turn down a reported offer of $66,000 to sign with the Chicago White Sox immediately after high school in favour of attending the University of Southern California. He played in the Western Canada Baseball League in 1958 (Edmonton) and 1959 (Regina), and set a record at USC by compiling a won-lost record of 50-5 for his career. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Mr. Gardner for $12,000 in 1960 and assigned him to the Montreal Royals of the AAA International League for the last few weeks of the season, where he was 0-1 with an earned run average in 16 games. In 1961 Mr. Gardner was sent down to the Reno Silver Sox of the Class A California League, where he was 20-4 with a 2.82 ERA with what may have been the best minor league team of the 1960s. He was drafted into the U.S. Army shortly after, and injured his pitching arm when he fell off a truck. His baseball career never recovered, and he struggled for several more years in the minor leagues, finishing his five-year professional career with a record of 34-18 and a 4.01 ERA in 103 games, batting .248 with 1 home run and 21 runs batted in in 118 games. Despite being talented and apparently successful in many areas, Mr. Gardner remained bitter about not having signed with the White Sox after high school and losing out on his chance to pitch in the major leagues. He coached the Dorsey High junior varsity team to their league championship in 1971, and then, on the night of June 7, hopped the fence of his old playing field at USC and shot himself in the head near the pitcher's mound. His USC diploma was in his right hand, and his All-America plaque was nearby.

Politics and government
Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa agreed to send Social Affairs Minister Claude Castonguay to a conference of Ministers of Social Welfare taking place in Ottawa.

Law
The United States Supreme Court, in Cohen v. California, overturned the conviction of Paul Cohen for disturbing the peace, setting the precedent that vulgar writing was protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Crime
The Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Division of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service raided the Silver Springs, Maryland home of Ken Ballew for illegal possession of hand grenades.

Health
The World Health Organization reported that an epidemic of cholera had broken out among the estimated 4.7 million East Pakistani war refugees who had sought asylum in India.

Baseball
The Milwaukee Brewers traded outfielder Danny Walton to the New York Yankees for outfielder Bobby Mitchell and first baseman-outfielder Frank Tepedino. Mr. Walton was batting .203 with 2 home runs and 9 runs batted in in 30 games with the Brewers in 1971. Mr. Tepedino was hitless in 6 at bats in 6 games with the Yankees, while Mr. Mitchell was in the minor leagues to begin the season.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Being with You--Smokey Robinson (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Stars on 45--Stars on 45 (3rd week at #1)

World events
Israeli planes bombed a French-made nuclear reactor near Baghdad. The Israeli government of Prime Minister Menachem Begin believed the reactor was being used to build bombs for the purpose of attacking Israel. The strike was the first air strike against a nuclear plant.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Hamilton (1-0) 27 @ Montreal (0-1) 21
British Columbia (1-0) 20 @ Saskatchewan (1-1) 12

Former Los Angeles Ram quarterback Vince Ferragamo made his Canadian Football League debut with the Alouettes in their loss to the Tiger-Cats at Olympic Stadium. Also making his CFL debut was Montreal defensive end Grover Covington. Montreal fullback Mike Murphy, in his first appearance with the Alouettes after four years with the Ottawa Rough Riders, suffered a career-ending severed achilles tendon.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Live to Tell--Madonna (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): J'aimie Le Vie--Sandra Kim (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Wonderful World--Sam Cooke (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Holding Back the Years--Simply Red

#1 single in the U.K.: Spirit in the Sky--Doctor and the Medics

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Live to Tell--Madonna

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Live to Tell--Madonna
2 On My Own--Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald
3 Greatest Love of All--Whitney Houston
4 I Can’t Wait--Nu Shooz
5 Why Can’t This Be Love--Van Halen
6 West End Girls--Pet Shop Boys
7 There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)—Billy Ocean
8 Something About You—Level 42
9 All I Need is a Miracle--Mike & the Mechanics
10 Be Good to Yourself--Journey

Singles entering the chart were Modern Woman by Billy Joel (#47); Glory of Love by Peter Cetera (#59); Hyperactive by Robert Palmer (#79); All the Love in the World by the Outfield (#80); School's Out by Krokus (#86); I Stiil Want You by the Del Fuegos (#87); Feel the Heat by Jean Beauvoir (#89); and The Best of Me by David Foster and Olivia Newton-John (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Greatest Love of All--Whitney Houston
2 Live to Tell--Madonna
3 A Different Corner—George Michael
4 The Power of Love--Jennifer Rush
5 West End Girls--Pet Shop Boys
6 If You Leave--Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
7 What Have You Done for Me Lately--Janet Jackson
8 On My Own—Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald
9 Addicted to Love--Robert Palmer
10 Let’s Go All the Way--Sly Fox

Singles entering the chart were Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins (#90); Underground by David Bowie (#92); What Does it Take by Honeymoon Suite (#94); Has Anyone Ever Written for You by Stevie Nicks (#95); Tuff Enuff by the Fabulous Thunderbirds (#96); Ain’t Nobody Ever Loved You by Aretha Franklin (#97); and Like No Other Night by 38 Special (#99).

Because of a change in format, Toronto radio station CHUM scrapped its top 50 weekly singles chart, which had been a tradition since May 27, 1957. The final #1 single on the CHUM chart was Live to Tell by Madonna.

Horse racing
Danzig Connection, with Chris McCarron aboard, won the 118th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, New York, in a time of 2:29 4/5, finishing 1¼ lengths ahead of Johns Treasure. First prize money was $338,640. For trainer Woody Stephens, it was his fifth straight win in the Belmont Stakes, a record.



Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (1-0) 35 Montreal (0-1) 10 @ Saint John
British Columbia (1-0) 41 @ Saskatchewan (0-1) 21

The game in Saint John was the first CFL game to be played in Atlantic Canada. Montreal tight end Nick Arakgi broke his neck and was out for the rest of the season.

Baseball
University of Arkansas third baseman Jeff King was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates as the first choice in the major league amateur draft. Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson was chosen in the 4th round by the Kansas City Royals.

20 years ago
1991

Environment
The Philippine volcano Mount Pinatubo erupted, generating an ash column 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) high.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Chicago 104 @ Los Angeles Lakers 96 (OT) (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Michael Jordan scored 29 points--6 in overtime--as the Bulls overcame a 13-point 4th-quarter deficit to defeat the Lakers before 17,506 fans at Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California.



10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Víctor Paz Estenssoro, 93. President of Bolivia, 1952-1956, 1960-1964, 1985-1989. Mr. Paz, an independent socialist before co-founding the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (Revolutionary Nationalist Movement) in 1941, ran for President eight times and was elected four times. His 1951 victory was annulled by a military junta led by Hugo Ballivián, and his 1964 victory was interrupted by the 1964 Bolivian coup d'état. Mr. Paz went into a long exile after being deposed in 1964, and controversially supported the military dictatorship of Hugo Banzer (1971-1978), but was elected for the final time in 1985, and retired after serving another term as President.

Betty Neels, 91. U.K. authoress. Miss Neels was a nurse before embarking on a literary career at the age of 60, publishing at least 134 romantic novels from 1969 until her death.

Politics and government
The Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Tony Blair, captured its second straight majority in the U.K. general election, taking 412 of 659 seats in the House of Commons. The Labour majority was 167 seats, down slightly from the previous 179-seat majority in 1997. The Conservatives, led by William Hague, won 166 seats, and the Liberal Democrats, led by Charles Kennedy, were third with 52 seats.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Colorado 4 @ New Jersey 0 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Adam Foote opened the scoring with 1:58 remaining in the 1st period and added 2 assists in the 2nd period as the Avalanche evened the series before 19,0404 fans at Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford. Patrick Roy made 24 saves for his second shutout of the series, while Martin Brodeur made just 14 saves in the Colorado goal.