July 19, 2011

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Chris Walker and Chris Woods!

1,300 years ago
711

War
Umayyad forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeated the Visigoths led by King Roderic in the Battle of Guadalete in southern Iberia.

310 years ago
1701

Diplomacy
Representatives of the Iroquois Confederacy signed the Nanfan Treaty in Albany, New York, ceding a large territory north of the Ohio River to England. Colonial Governor John Nanfan signed on behalf of King William I.

240 years ago
1771

Born on this date
Thomas Talbot. U.K.-born Canadian politician. Colonel Talbot, a native of Dublin, was a military officer before immigrating to Canada and founding the community of Port Talbot in what is now Elgin County, Ontario in 1803. The original Port Talbot was burned by Ameican raiders in 1814 and never rebuilt. 26,000 settlers were in the area by 1826 and 50,000 by 1837, with Col. Talbot ruling as a despot. He died on February 5, 1853 at the age of 81.

190 years ago
1821

Britannica
King George IV was crowned at Westminster Abbey in London. Queen Caroline was physically prevented from attending the ceremony, despite making a strenuous effort to do so.

90 years ago
1921

Society
The prohibition of manufacture, importation, and sale of liquor took effect in Ontario.

75 years ago
1936

Baseball
The Cleveland Indians and Washington Nationals split a doubleheader before 18,000 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington, with the Indians winning the opener 11-3 and the Nationals the nightcap 9-5. Bob Feller made his major league debut on the mound for the Indians in the 8th inning of the second game, giving up 2 hits and 2 bases on balls, while striking out 1 and holding the Nationals without a run.

Red Ruffing pitched a 10-hit complete game for his 12th win of the season and hit his 5th home run of the season as the New York Yankees beat the St. Louis Browns 10-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 36,700 fans at Yankee Stadium. The Browns overcame a 4-0 deficit after 2 innings to win the second game 5-4. New York first baseman Lou Gehrig homered in each game, giving him 28 for the season. During the doubleheader, actor Joe E. Brown presented rookie New York left fielder Joe DiMaggio with the award as the Most Valuable Player in the Pacific Coast League for 1935, which Mr. DiMaggio had earned as a member of the San Francisco Seals.

Every man in the lineup had at least 1 hit for the Chicago White Sox as they beat the Philadelphia Athletics 11-5 in the first game of a doubleheader at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. The White Sox scored 9 runs in the last 3 innings. Zeke Bonura batted 4 for 5 with a triple, 3 runs, and 3 runs batted in as the White Sox completed the sweep with an 8-2 win in the second game.

70 years ago
1941

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Daddy--Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye (vocal refrain by the Kaye Choir) (3rd week at #1)

War
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill began using the two-finger "V for Victory" sign. German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler issued secret orders to the Kriegsmarine not to attack American merchant ships except within the internationally-accepted blockade zone around the British isles. A Gallup Poll reported that 45% of a cross-section of people in Who's Who in America questioned in a survey favoured war against the Axis, compared with 21% of the general public.

Chinese authorities announced that Communist army units had attacked Nationalist troops at three places in the province of Shantung and two places in southeast Shansi.

World events
Bolivian President Enrique Penaranda de Castillo proclaimed a state of siege because of the discovery of subversive activities directed by the German legation.

Americana
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the average American lived 62.5 years.

Labour
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt named a six-man committee chaired by Mark Etherridge to investigate complaints of discrimination against Negroes who were seeking defense and government employment.

60 years ago
1951

War
U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson issued a statement in Washington affirming that United Nations forces would not be withdrawn from Korea "until a genuine peace has been firmly established."

Radio
Brazilian President Getulio Vargas signed a decree authorizing the government to suspend radio broadcasting whenever necessary for "security" reasons.

Politics and government
In the first Spanish cabinet shuffle since 1946, Generalissimo Francisco Franco appointed a new cabinet more acceptable to the United States, including nine Monarchists, three members of the fascist Falange, and four technical experts.

Oil
U.S. Special Ambassador Averell Harriman persuade the Iranian government to resume negotiations with Britain on the issue of oil nationalization.

Economics and finance
The U.S.A. approved the establishment of a Japanese trade agency in Washington.

50 years ago
1961

Space
NASA's Mercury-Redstone 4 mission, with Gus Grissom aboard, was scrubbed for the second straight day.

War
Tunisia imposed a blockade on the French naval base at Bizerte; the French captured the entire town four days later.

Politics and government
U.S. President John F. Kennedy addressed Berlin and other issues at a news conference in Washington.



Football
CFL
Pre-season
White defeated Green 13-7 in the first of two Saskatchewan Roughriders intrasquad games, this one before 4,000 fans in Saskatoon.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Eagle Rock--Daddy Cool (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Yokohama Tasogare--Hiroshi Itsuki

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Another Day--Paul McCartney (2nd week at #1)

World events
A group of leftist army officers deposed Sudanese President Major General Jafir Muhammad Nimeri and seized control of the government.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Hamilton (0-3) 9 @ Montreal (1-3) 20
British Columbia (1-3) 22 @ Ottawa (2-2) 20
Edmonton (3-1) 24 @ Saskatchewan (1-2) 21



30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Stars on 45--Stars on 45 (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Roger Doucet, 62. Canadian singer. Mr. Doucet, a native of Montreal, was famous for singing O Canada before Montreal Canadiens' hockey games at the Montreal Forum, and made highly-regarded recordings of national anthems of various countries. Mr. Doucet died of a brain tumour.



Diplomacy
French President François Mitterrand privately showed U.S. President Ronald Reagan a dossier revealing that the Soviets had been stealing American technological research and development.

Environment
Ontario Hydro closed down the Douglas Point and Rolphton nuclear power stations due to leaks in the Douglas boiler, sending radioactive heavy water into Lake Huron, and flooding in the boiler room of the Rolphston reactor, northwest of Ottawa.

Disasters
Hailstones the size of tennis balls fell near Toronto, causing millions of dollars worth of damage.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (2-1) 28 @ Winnipeg (2-1) 38

The Blue Bombers led 3-0 after the 1st quarter and exploded for 32 points in the 2nd quarter, taking a 32-0 lead before Warren Moon connected with Brian Kelly for a 64-yard touchdown pass to get the Eskimos on the scoreboard. Trevor Kennerd's field goal gave Winnipeg a 35-7 halftime lead, and the Eskimos put Tom Wilkinson in at quarterback for the second half. By reducing the Blue Bombers' margin of victory to 10 points, the Eskimos gave themselves a chance to outscore the Blue Bombers over the course of their 2 regular season games against each other, which would break a tie for home field advantage for a playoff game should they be tied at the end of the season. This turned out to be the Eskimos' only loss of 1981.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Papa Don't Preach--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): J'aimie le Vie--Sandra Kim (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): The Edge of Heaven--Wham! (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Lady in Red--Chris de Burgh (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Papa Don't Preach--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Invisible Touch--Genesis

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Invisible Touch--Genesis
2 Sledgehammer--Peter Gabriel
3 There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)—-Billy Ocean
4 Nasty--Janet Jackson
5 Holding Back the Years—-Simply Red
6 Danger Zone--Kenny Loggins
7 Who's Johnny--El DeBarge
8 Glory of Love--Peter Cetera
9 No One is to Blame—-Howard Jones
10 Love Touch--Rod Stewart

Singles entering the chart were Dancing on the Ceiling by Lionel Richie (#39); Oh, People by Patti LaBelle (#77); Money's Too Tight by Simply Red (#79); If Looks Could Kill by Heart (#81); Anotherloverholenyohead by Prince and the Revolution (#83); Two of Hearts by Stacey Q (#85); One Way Love by TKA (#86); Missionary Man by Eurythmics (#87); What Does it Take by Honeymoon Suite (#89); and Somebody Like You by 38 Special (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Who's Johnny--El DeBarge
2 I Can't Wait--Nu Shooz
3 Sledgehammer--Peter Gabriel
4 On My Own—-Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald
5 No One is to Blame—-Howard Jones
6 There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)—-Billy Ocean
7 Invisible Touch--Genesis
8 Live to Tell--Madonna
9 Crush on You--The Jets
10 Holding Back the Years—-Simply Red

Singles entering the chart were Dancing on the Ceiling by Lionel Richie (#69); Missionary Man by Eurythmics (#94); Before I Go by Starship (#96); Love of a Lifetime by Chaka Khan (#97); and No Promises by Icehouse (#98).

Football
CFL
Montreal (0-3) 20 @ British Columbia (3-1) 27

This was probably the best game in the brief career of Alouettes' quarterback Brian Ransom, who suffered a serious injury after the season and never returned to the CFL.

20 years ago
1991

Football
CFL
British Columbia (1-1) 26 @ Winnipeg (1-1) 23 (OT)



Baseball
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr., playing his 1,500th consecutive game, hit his 20th home run of the season--becoming the 8th player in major league history to accomplish the feat in each of his first 10 full seasons--as the Orioles beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1 before 39,384 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

The Detroit Tigers handed the Kansas City Royals the worst loss in their history, routing them 17-0 before 30,587 fans at Royals Stadium. Bill Gullickson (12-5) was the winning pitcher over Tom Gordon (5-8). Scott Livingstone made his major league debut for the Tigers at third base, batting 3 for 5 with 4 runs, a run batted in, 1 putout, and 1 assist.

10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Judy Clay, 62. U.S. singer. Miss Clay, born Judith Guions, was a soul and gospel singer in the 1960s on her own and with the Sweet Inspirations. Miss Clay was a Negress, and she and white singer Billy Vera were a pioneer interracial singing duo, recording several duets from 1967-1970, including Storybook Children and Country Girl, City Man, which achieved middling chart success. Miss Clay died from complications following a car accident.

Baseball
The Arizona Diamondbacks shut out the San Diego Padres 3-0 before 22,184 fans at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego in the completion of a game that had been suspended after 2 innings the previous night because of a power failure. Curt Schilling had pitched the first 2 innings for the Diamondbacks, but Randy Johnson (12-5) finished the game, and set a major league record by striking out 16 batters in 7 innings of relief. The old record for strikeouts in a single game by a relief pitcher had been set by Walter Johnson of the Washington Nationals in 1913. The Padres' only hit was a single by Wiki Gonzalez with 2 out in the 8th inning.