July 28, 2011

440 years ago
1571

Asiatica
La Laguna encomienda, known today as the Philippine province of Laguna, was founded by the Spaniards as one of the oldest encomiendas (provinces) in the country.

270 years ago
1741

Died on this date
Antonio Vivaldi, 63. Italian composer. Mr. Vivaldi was one of the most prominent composers of the Baroque era. His best-known work was The Four Seasons (1725).

190 years ago
1821

South Americana
José de San Martín declared the independence of Peru from Spain.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Freddie Fitzsimmons. U.S. baseball pitcher, coach, and manager. "Fat Freddie" played with the New York Giants (1925-1937) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1937-1943), compiling a record of 217-146 with an earned run average of 3.51, and batting .200 with 14 home runs and 103 runs batted in in 513 games. He won 20 games in 1928, and led the National League in winning percentage in 1930 (19-7, .731) and 1940 (16-2, .889). Mr. Fitzsimmons helped the Giants win the World Series in 1933 and played on three other NL championship teams (1936, 1937, 1941), but was 0-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 4 career World Series games. He was also one of the best-fielding pitchers of his time, and held the major league career record for double plays for pitchers from 1938-1964. Mr. Fitzsimmons was released by the Dodgers in late July 1943, and as promptly hired by the Philadelphia Phillies as their non-playing manager, leading the team, renamed the Blue Jays in 1944, through the 1945 season, compiling a record of 105-181. He was a pitching coach with the Dodgers in 1940, and with four other major league teams from 1948-1960 and 1966, helping the Giants win the World Series in 1954. Mr. Fitzsimmons died of a heart attack on November 18, 1979 at the age of 78.

Rudy Vallée. U.S. singer and actor. Mr. Vallée was a clarinetist and saxophonist before achieving success as a crooner from the late 1920s through the late 1930s, often singing through a megaphone, which became his trademark. He had a hit single in 1931 with an early version of As Time Goes By, and it became a hit again upon its re-release in 1943. Mr. Vallée's movies included The Vagabond Lover (1929) and The Palm Beach Story (1942). He made a brief comeback as a singer in the late 1960s, and died on July 3, 1986, 25 days before his 85th birthday.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Ann Doran. U.S. actress. Miss Doran was a character actress in plays, films, and television programs in a career spanning more than 70 years. She was best known for playing James Dean's mother in the movie Rebel Without a Cause (1955). Miss Doran died on September 19, 2000 at the age of 89.

80 years ago
1931

Baseball
The Chicago White Sox scored 11 runs on 12 hits in the 8th inning as they came back from a 12-3 deficit to beat the New York Yankees 14-12 before 8,000 fans at Yankee Stadium.

With 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 9th inning, Nick Cullop doubled, Harvey Hendrick was intentionally walked, and Tony Cuccinello singled home Mr. Cullop to give the Cincinnati Reds a 5-4 win over the Brooklyn Robins before 1,000 fans at Redland Field.

Rogers Hornsby doubled home a run and scored on Footsie Blair's home run as the Chicago Cubs scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to break a 3-3 tie and defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 before 8,000 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Charlie Root (12-8) pitched a 7-hitter to outduel Phil Collins (4-11), who allowed 7 hits and 6 earned runs.

Sparky Adams led off the bottom of the 8th inning with an infield single, advanced to second base on an error, and scored from third base on an outfield fly by Jake Flowers for the only run as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Boston Braves 1-0 before 17,900 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Pop Haines (9-2) pitched an 8-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Tom Zachary (8-6), who allowed 6 hits and no earned runs.

75 years ago
1936

Baseball
Lou Gehrig hit a 3-run home run, 2 doubles, and a single as the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 16-6 before 16,000 fans at Navin Field in Detroit. Goose Goslin of the Tigers hit an inside-the-park home run in the 6th inning when New York center fielder Myril Hoag and right fielder Joe DiMaggio were both knocked unconscious when they collided as they dove for the ball. Mr. DiMaggio played the next day, but then collapsed with a blood clot in his brain; Mr. Hoag finished the inning, but missed the rest of the season.

"Bullfrog" Bill Dietrich pitched a 10-hit complete game victory and batted 4 for 6 with a run and 3 runs batted in as the Chicago White Sox routed the Philadelphia Athletics 19-6 at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored an unearned run in the top of the 10th inning to defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers 9-8 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

Mel Ott batted 3 for 5 with 2 home runs, 3 runs, and 6 runs batted in as the New York Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 11-3 to complete the sweep of a doubleheader before 13,375 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. The Giants scored all their runs in the 1st inning as they won the first game 5-1.

Dolph Camilli hit 2 home runs, including a 2-run blast with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to end the game, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 5-3 before 4,000 fans at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. Mr. Camilli's second homer climaxed a 4-run 9th-inning rally.

70 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Edward Beale McLean, 52. U.S. publisher. Mr. McLean owned and published The Washington Post from 1916-1933. He purchased the Hope Diamond in 1911, and his family thereafter suffered several tragedies. Mr. McLean was declared insane in 1933 and was committed to a psychiatric hospital, where he died of a heart attack.

Married on this date
U.S. composer David Rose, 31, married U.S. actress Judy Garland, 19, in Las Vegas.

War
U.S. Senator Burton K. Wheeler (Democrat--Montana) denounced War Secretary Henry Stimson's "treason" remarks as part of " a well-organized and carefully planned smear campaign by warmongers to silence opposition to war." 11 Senators defended Sen. Wheeler.

Diplomacy
Finland severed relations with the United Kingdom. U.S. Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles pledged that the United States Treasury Department "will grant prompt clearance for Japanese vessels clearing from U.S. ports."

Defense
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the first supplemental appropriations bill for $8 billion and sent it to the Senate.

Politics and government
U.S. Representative Joseph Martin (Republican--Massachusetts) warned that the United States might become a dictatorship after the present war unless it prepared now for the postwar crisis.

Economics and finance
The Netherlands East Indies cancelled trade agreements, under which Japan was to receive about 1.8 million tons of oil, and froze Japanese banking assets.

Labour
Unarmed Canadian soldiers dispersed pickets at the National Steel Car Company in Hamilton after the Congress of Industrial Organizations called a strike to obtain bargaining rights.

60 years ago
1951

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): If--Perry Como; Jo Stafford (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Come On-A My House--Rosemary Clooney (Best Seller--1st week at #1; Disc Jockey--1st week at #1); Too Young--Nat "King" Cole (Jukebox--4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Too Young--Nat "King" Cole (6th week at #1)
2 Jezebel--Frankie Laine
3 My Truly, Truly Fair--Guy Mitchell
--Vic Damone
4 How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford
5 Sweet Violets--Dinah Shore
6 On Top of Old Smoky--The Weavers and Terry Gilkyson
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
7 The Loveliest Night of the Year--Mario Lanza
8 Come On-A My House--Rosemary Clooney
--Kay Starr
9 Mister and Mississippi--Patti Page
–-Dennis Day
10 Rose, Rose, I Love You--Frankie Laine

Singles entering the chart were I Wish I had Never Seen Sunshine by Les Paul and Mary Ford (#28); Ballin' the Jack by Danny Kaye (#29); The Morningside of the Mountain, with versions by Tommy Edwards and Paul Weston and his Orchestra (#31); and Oceans of Tears by Kay Starr and Tennessee Ernie (#34).

War
British Commonwealth forces in Korea were merged into a new Commonwealth Division under General A.J.H. Cassels.

World events
Former SS commando leader Otto Skorzeny returned to West Germany, following the expiration of charges against him.

Economics and finance
In compliance with the United Nations resolution, Chile embargoed the shipment of strategic materials to the People's Republic of China.

Baseball
Clyde Vollmer drove in the tying run in the 15th inning and then hit a grand slam with 2 out in the 16th off Bob Feller to give the Boston Red Sox an 8-4 win over the Cleveland Indians before 23,199 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Mickey McDermott (6-5) pitched all 16 innings to earn the win for the Red Sox over Bob Feller (15-4), the last of four Cleveland pitchers.

Marlin Stuart (3-0) allowed 9 hits and 3 rune--all earned--in 7.2 innings and batted 2 for 4 with a double and 2 runs to help the Detroit Tigers defeat the Philadelphia Athletics 6-5 before 1,546 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. The Athletics scored a run in the 8th and 2 in the 9th, and had Bobby Shantz on second base with 1 out, but Hal White retired Pete Suder and Joe Astroth to end the game.

Andy Seminick led off the 5th inning with a double and scored from third base on a 2-out single by Richie Ashburn for the only run as the Philadelphia Phillies edged the Chicago Cubs 1-0 before 10,806 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Russ Meyer (8-8) pitched a 7-hitter to outduel Cal McLish (2-4).

Jackie Robinson and Duke Snider hit run-scoring outfield flies in the 9th inning for the Brooklyn Dodgers as they overcame a 2-1 deficit and edged the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 before 32,792 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Cardinals had runners on first and second bases with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th, but Hal Rice popped out to first base to end the game. Ralph Branca (8-2) allowed 9 hits and 2 runs--1 earned--in 8 innings to outduel Cloyd Boyer (1-4), who allowed 8 hits and 2 earned runs in a complete game.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Well I Ask You--Eden Kane (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Lawless Years, starring James Gregory, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Mad Dog Coll Story: Part 1

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Get it On--T. Rex

Died on this date
Lawrence Moore Cosgrave, 80. Canadian military officer and diplomat. Colonel Cosgrave, a native of Toronto, served with the Canadian Army in World War I, and was blinded in one eye. He served with the Canadian Trade and Commerce Department between the world wars, and was Canadian Military Attache to Australia, for the South West Pacific Area, during World War II. Col. Cosgrave was the Canadian representative at the official surrender of Japan, and signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on behalf of Canada aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. He worked for the Canadian Commrece Department after the war, holding various consular posts. Col. Cosgrave died in Knowlton, Quebec, a month before his 81st birthday.

Myril Hoag, 63. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Hoag was an outfielder with the New York Yankees (1931-1932, 1934-1938); St. Louis Browns (1939-1941); Chicago White Sox (1941-1942, 1944); and Cleveland Indians (1944-1945), batting .271 with 28 home runs and 401 runs batted in in 1,020 games, and played 11 seasons in the minor leagues (1926-1930, 1933, 1946-1951). He helped the Yankees win World Series in 1932, 1937, and 1938, batting .320 with 1 homer and 3 RBIs in 8 World Series games. Mr. Hoag died of emphysema.

War
The U.S. Army command in South Vietnam announced that U.S. servicemen returning to America from the area would be tested for heroin use.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (0-1) 20 @ Toronto (1-0) 21

Don Jonas, who had been one of Toronto's quarterbacks the year before, was almost successful in beating his old team at CNE Stadium. This was the first CFL regular season game for a number of Argonauts, including Joe Theismann, Greg Barton, Leon McQuay, Jim Stillwagon, and Zenon Andrusyshyn.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): More than Words--Extreme (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)--Crystal Waters (2nd week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Wind of Change--Scorpions (4th week at #1)
2 Bobby Brown--Frank Zappa
3 The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher
4 Jesus Loves You--Bow Down Mister
5 Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee La Da Da)--Crystal Waters
6 Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)--Roxette
7 Sailing on the Seven Seas--OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)
8 The One and Only--Chesney Hawkes
9 Senza una donna (Without a Woman)--Zucchero & Paul Young
10 Last Train to Trancentral--The KLF

Singles entering the chart were No Woman No Cry by Bingoboys (#20); I Wanna Sex You Up by Color Me Badd (#26); and Naked Love (Just Say You Want Me) by Quartz & Dina Carroll (#28).

Baseball
Dennis Martinez pitched a perfect game--becoming the first player from Nicaragua to do so--as the Montreal Expos blanked the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 before 45,560 fans at Dodger Stadium. Ron Hassey, who had caught Len Barker's perfect game with the Cleveland Indians in 1981, became the first major league player to catch two perfect games. The Expos scored 2 unearned runs in the 7th inning as a result of 2 errors by Los Angeles shortstop Alfredo Griffin. Losing pitcher Mike Morgan allowed just 4 hits in pitching a complete game. The Sunday afternoon game was televised in Canada on TSN.



Dave Hollins hit a solo home run with 2 out in the top of the 1st inning to open the scoring, but Kevin Mitchell homered to lead off the bottom of the 2nd and Matt Williams homered to lead off the bottom of the 6th as the San Francisco Giants edged the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 before 36,268 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Bud Black allowed 4 hits in 6 2/3 innings to win the pitchers' duel over Tommy Greene, who allowed 7 hits in 7 innings.

The San Diego Padres scored 2 unearned runs in the bottom of the 6th inning and Andy Benes allowed just 5 hits and no bases on balls in 8 innings to improve his 1991 record to 5-10 as the Padres blanked the New York Mets 2-0 before 25,090 fans at Jack Murphy-San Diego Stadium. Losing pitcher Frank Viola allowed just 4 hits in 7 innings as he dropped to 11-7.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored 8 runs in the first 3 innings and coasted to an 11-2 win over the Minnesota Twins before 47,524 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. Jaime Navarro allowed 10 hits in pitching a complete game victory, while Minnesota starter Jack Morris allowed 9 hits and 8 runs--all earned--in 2 2/3 innings.

10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
John Easton, 68. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Easton was an outfielder who played 4 games with the Philadelphia Phillies (1955, 1959), batting 0 for 3, with all his appearances coming as a pinch runner or pinch hitter. He batted .311 with 15 home runs and 116 runs batted in in 216 games in 3 seasons in the minor leagues (1957-1959), and won the Eastern League batting title in 1958, hitting .321 with the Williamsport Grays. Mr. Easton was an electrical engineer after his baseball career ended, and died of melanoma.

Music
The Eagles played the first-ever concert at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Swimming
Australian Ian Thorpe became the first swimmer to win six gold medals at a single World Championship meeting.

Football
CFL
Toronto (1-3) 50 @ Saskatchewan (2-2) 24



Baseball
Trailing the Houston Astros 7-2 with 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 9th inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for 7 runs to win 9-8 before 32,977 fans in the first of 2 games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The game ended when Brian Giles hit a grand slam off Billy Wagner. Vinny Castilla hit 3 home runs and drove in 5 runs for the Astros. The Astros scored 4 runs in each of the 3rd and 9th innings as they won the second game 12-4 before 38,295 fans.>