August 17, 2011

150 years ago
1861

Died on this date
Alcée Louis La Branche, 54-55. U.S. politician and diplomat. Mr. La Branche, a Democrat, was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives (1831-1833) and was chosen as its Speaker in 1833. He was U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to the Republic of Texas (1837-1840), and represented Louisiana's 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1843-1845).

120 years ago
1891

Baseball
The Cincinnati Porkers of the American Association suspended operations for the rest of the season. They were replaced by the Milwaukee Brewers of the Western League.

110 years ago
1901

Died on this date
Edmond Audran, 61. French composer. Mr. Audran was a church organist who wrote sacred music, but was best known for comic operas that were successful in Paris and the West End of London, most notably La mascotte (1880). He died after several years of physical and mental illness.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Mikhail Botvinnik. U.S.S.R. chess player. Mr. Botvinnik was an an electrical engineeer and computer scientist who pioneered computer chess, and was world chess champion three times (1948-1957, 1958-1960, 1961-1963). He made significant contributions to the design of the World Chess Championship system after World War II and to the Soviet coaching system that produced world champions such as Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, and Vladimir Kramnik. Mr. Botvinnik worked on a computer program to help manage the Russian economy in his later years, and was active until shortly before his death from pancreatic cancer on May 5, 1995 at the age of 83.

Politics and government
Liberal candidate Calixte-Émile Therrien won a Quebec provincial by-election by acclamation in Sherbrooke; the by-election was necessitated by the appointment of Pantaléon Pelletier to the post of general agent of Quebec in London.

75 years ago
1936

Politics and government
The Union Nationale, led by Maurice Duplessis, won 76 of 90 seats in the Legislative Assembly in the Quebec Provincial Election, ending 39 straight years of Liberal Party government. The Liberals, led by Premier Adélard Godbout, won the remaining 14 seats. UN took 56.9% of the vote to 39.4% for the Liberals. In the most recent election, less than a year earlier, the Liberals had taken 47 seats to 42 for Union Nationale.

70 years ago
1941

War
German troops crossed the Dnieper River in Ukraine, while the Soviet Redd Army left Nikolaev and Krivoi Rog.

Abominations
The U.S.-owned former Danish steamship Sessa, carrying food and non-military supplies to the Icelandic government, was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of 24 of its 27-man crew.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt warned Japanese Ambassador to the United States Kichisaburo Nomura against further Japanese expansion in the southwestern Pacific. U.S. Representative John Dingell (Democrat--Michigan) said that if the Japanese government refused to permit Americans to leave Japan peacefully, the United States should put 10,000 Japanese in Hawaii in concentration camps.

The British government revealed that a joint U.K.-U.S.S.R. warning had been delivered to Iran to oust 3,000 German tourists and technicians in the country.

Labour
The U.S. National Defense Mediation Board, Navy Department, Maritime Commission, and Office of Production Management urged President Roosevelt to seize the strike bound Kearny, New Jersey yard of Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Company because of the company's refusal to accept the NDMB's recommendations.

Disasters
Three women were killed when 3,000 people rioted in an attempt to board a Hudson River excursion steamer in New York.

Baseball
The Brooklyn Dodgers swept a doubleheader from the Boston Braves 5-1 and 3-0 before 35,329 fans, the largest crowd of the year at Braves Field. Kirby Higbe pitched a complete game and had 4 hits off losing pitcher Jim Tobin to earn his 17th win of the season in the first game, while Whit Wyatt came within 2 outs of a perfect game in the second game, giving up just a single to Phil Masi with 1 out in the 9th inning.

The Philadelphia Phillies swept a doubleheader from the New York Giants 6-2 and 18-2 before 6,587 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Philadelphia center fielder Joe Marty had 2 hits in the first game and 5 in the second game, which was played in 1 hour 55 minutes.

The New York Yankees scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning in both games as they swept a doubleheader from the Philadelphia Athletics 2-1 and 4-3 before 44,412 fans at Yankee Stadium. New York center fielder Joe DiMaggio was held hitless in both games, but scored the winning run in the first game when he drew a base on balls and stole second base. When Bill Beckmann threw a wild pitch, Mr. DiMaggio didn't stop at third base, and Mr. Beckmann dropped catcher Hal Wagner's throw to home plate for an error, allowing Mr. DiMaggio to score. Mr. Beckmann allowed just 4 hits in pitching a complete game, dropping his record for the season to 2-8, while winning pitcher Spud Chandler also pitched a 4-hitter, improving to 6-4. Joe Gordon led off the bottom of the 9th inning of the second game with his second home run of the game to give the Yankees their win. Lefty Gomez, who retired the Athletics on just 3 pitches in the top of the 9th, improved his 1941 record to 11-4 as he won the pitchers' duel over Phil Marchildon, who dropped to 8-10.

Ted Lyons won the pitchers' duel over Bob Feller as the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 8-2 in the first game of a doubleheader before 36,090 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Joe Kuhel beat relief pitcher Clint Brown's throw to home plate on a ground ball by Moose Solters with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the White Sox a 4-3 win in the second game to complete the sweep.

60 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Tales of Tomorrow, on ABC
Tonight's episode: A Child is Crying, starring Walter Abel, Peggy Allenby, and Shirley Egleston



At the movies
Iron Man, directed by Joseph Pevney, and starring Jeff Chandler, Evelyn Keyes, Stephen McNally, Rock Hudson, and Joyce Holden, opened in theatres in limited release.



Died on this date
Antonio Riva, 55. Chinese-born Italian military aviator. Capitano Riva, the son of an Italian merchant, was a flying ace in World War I, with seven confirmed and seven unconfirmed aerial victories. He was executed by a firing squad in Peking with Japanese citizen Ruichi Yamaguchi after being convicted of being involved in a plot to assassinate Chairman Mao Zedong and other high-ranking Communist officials on October 1,1950.

World events
Political exiles from the U.S.S.R. formed a Council for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia in Stuttgart to broadcast anti-Communist propaganda in to the Soviet Union. The group was led by former Russian President Alexander Kerensky.

Crime
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested six more secondary Communist Party U.S.A. leaders, including Pennsylvania district head Steve Nelson, on conspiracy charges.

The U.S. Senate Crime Investigating Committee held its last public session after 14 months of hearings on organized crime and its political ramifications.

Archaeology
U.S. explorer Wendell Phillips claimed in London that he had found the 3,000-year-old ruins of the Queen of Sheba's ancient capital under 70 feet of sand near Marib, Yemen.

Communications
American Telephone and Telegraph Company inaugurated transcontinental telephone service with a new $40-million microwave relay system.

Scandal
A U.S. grand jury in New York indicted eight gamblers and three Bradley University basketball players on bribery and conspiracy charges.

Economics and finance
U.S. Economic Stabilization Administration Director Eric Johnston approved a new Wage Stabilization Board policy of allowing wages to rise with the cost of living.

Disasters
A 130-miles-per-hour Caribbean hurricane swept Jamaica, causing 162 deaths and $50 million in property damage, and leaving 30,000 people homeless.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): Raindrops--Dee Clark

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): You Don't Know--Helen Shapiro (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Jack McCandless, 70. U.S. baseball player. Mr. McCandless was an outfielder with the Baltimore Terrapins (1914-1915), batting .217 with 5 home runs and 35 runs batted in in 128 games. He played 188 games in 3 seasons in the minor leagues (1916-1917, 1920), hitting .264 with 5 home runs.

Baseball
Joe Adcock hit a 2-run home run in the 8th inning to tie the score 6-6 and Al Spangler singled home Lee Maye with the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Milwaukee Braves a 7-6 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 12,451 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee, handing the Phillies their 20th consecutive loss, a major league record at the time. Philadelphia shortstop Bobby Malkmus batted 3 for 4 with 2 runs and 3 runs batted in.

Bobby Richardson batted 3 for 5 with 3 runs and a run batted in for the New York Yankees as they defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-3 before 25,532 fans at Yankee Stadium. Winning pitcher Bill Stafford (10-6) carried a shutout into the 9th inning, but the White Sox rallied for 3 runs and had runners on first and third bases with 2 out, but relief pitcher Luis Arroyo retired pinch hitter Bob Roselli on a fly ball to center field to end the game.

Bubba Phillips led off the bottom of the 14th inning with a base on balls and scored on a bases-loaded walk to Ken Aspromonte with 2 out to give the Cleveland Indians a 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox before 4,456 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Bill Daily, the third of four Cleveland pitchers, allowed 1 hit and no runs in 4 innings, walking 1 batter and striking out 3, making 1 putout, and striking out in his only plate appearance in his major league debut.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)--Raiders (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Sweet Hitch-Hiker--Creedence Clearwater Revival (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Wilhelm List, 91. German military officer. Generalfeldmarschall List commanded forces during World War II in the invasions of Poland, France, Yugoslavia, and Greece. He was commander of Army Group A in the offensive in southern Russia in the summer of 1942, but was removed from command by Fuehrer Adolf Hitler on September 9, 1942 after the offensive stalled, and never returned to active duty. Generalfeldmarschall List was convicted of war crimes by a U.S. tribunal and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1948. He was released, ostensibly for health reasons, in December 1952, and lived for almost 19 more years until his death.

Horace McMahon, 65. U.S. actor. Mr. McMahon played heavies in numerous movies in the 1930s and '40s, but became known for playing Lieutenant Monaghan in the play (1949) and movie (1951) Detective Story. He played Lt. Mike Parker in the television series Naked City (1958-1963), receiving an Emmy Award nomination in 1962. Mr. McMahon died from a heart ailment.

Baseball
Burt Hooton of the Tacoma Tigers tied a Pacific Coast League record for a 9-inning game when he struck out 19 batters as the Tigers won 5-1 at home over the Eugene Emeralds.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: I Wanna Be a Cowboy--Boys Don't Cry

#1 single in Switzerland: Lessons in Love--Level 42 (3rd week at #1)

Baseball
Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds made his 3,562nd and final appearance as a major league player, striking out as a pinch hitter against Goose Gossage as the Reds lost 9-5 to the San Diego Padres before 27,175 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin hit his first major league home run against San Diego starting pitcher LaMarr Hoyt, who was the winner despite allowing 5 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Manny Trillo led off the top of the 9th inning with a double, advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Terry Francona to break a 1-1 tie and give the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 win over the Montreal Expos before 20,272 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Rick Honeycutt allowed 2 hits in 8 innings to win the pitchers' duel over Vida Blue as the Los Angeles Dodgers blanked the San Francisco Giants 2-0 before 49,496 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Ernie Whitt led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a home run to give the Toronto Blue Jays an 8-7 win over the Texas Rangers before 38,413 fans at SkyDome in Toronto. Oddibe McDowell hit 2 homers for the Rangers, who led 5-0 after 3 1/2 innings.

The Chicago White Sox beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 before 19,064 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago, as Steve Carlton picked up his first win in the American League and the 320th of his major league career.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)--Crystal Waters (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)--Crystal Waters (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): La Zoubida--Lagaf' (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (6th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (2nd week at #1)
2 Now that We Found Love--Heavy D and the Boyz
3 Driver's Seat--Sniff 'n' the Tears
4 Burbujas de Amor--Juan Luis Guerra y 4;40
5 Send Me an Angel--Scorpions
6 Baila Me--Gipsy Kings
7 You Could Be Mine--Guns N' Roses
8 Always There--Incognito featuring Jocelyn Brown
9 Danca Tago-Mago--Kaoma
10 Baila Mi Rumba--Rumba Tres

Singles entering the chart were Winter in July by Bomb the Bass (#23); Beat of Zen by Sonic Surfers featuring Prhyme (#27); Eenmaal in Je Leven by Koos Alberts (#30); Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (#32); The Wild Places '91 by Duncan Browne (#34); I Say Yeah by Secchi featuring Orlando Johnson (#36); and Let the Beat Hit 'Em by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (4th week at #1)
2 Every Heartbeat--Amy Grant
3 It Ain't Over 'til it's Over--Lenny Kravitz
4 Summertime--D.J. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
5 Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)--Roxette
6 Temptation--Corina
7 P.A.S.S.I.O.N.--Rythm Syndicate
8 I'll Be There--Escape Club
9 Wind of Change--Scorpions
10 3 A.M. Eternal--The KLF

Singles entering the chart were Romantic by Karyn White (#52); Gett Off by Prince and the New Power Generation (#66); Kiss Them for Me by Siouxsie & the Banshees (#78); I'm Not Your Puppet by Hi-C (#80); Power Windows by Billy Falcon (#84); Wishing on the Same Star by Keedy (#86); The Beat is Hot by B.G. the Prince of Rap (#89); Face the Music by RTZ (#90); When Love Cries by Donna Summer (#92); and After the Summer's Gone by PC Quest (#93).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (3rd week at #1)
2 Every Heartbeat--Amy Grant
3 P.A.S.S.I.O.N.--Rythm Syndicate
4 Fading Like a Flower--Roxette
5 Temptation--Corina
6 It Ain't Over 'til it's Over--Lenny Kravitz
7 Right Here, Right Now--Jesus Jones
8 The Promise of a New Day--Paula Abdul
9 I'll Be There--Escape Club
10 Crazy--Seal

Singles entering the chart were Romantic by Karyn White (#66); Till Somebody Loves You by Henry Lee Summer (#77); That's the Way Love Goes by Young M.C. (#82); Running Back to You by Vanessa Williams (#86); After the Summer's Gone by PC Quest (#88); and Face the Music by RTZ (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (3rd week at #1)
2 Fading Like a Flower--Roxette
3 It Ain't Over 'til it's Over--Lenny Kravitz
4 Superman's Song--Crash Test Dummies
5 Something to Talk About--Bonnie Raitt
6 The Motown Song--Rod Stewart (with the Temptations)
7 Learning to Fly--Tom Petty
8 Every Heartbeat--Amy Grant
9 Crazy--Seal
10 The Rhythm of Your Love--Glass Tiger

Singles entering the chart were Love...Thy Will Be Done by Martika (#80); Lies by EMF (#84); Days of Youth by the Kite (#88); My Name is Not Susan by Whitney Houston (#90); Jet City Woman by Queensryche (#92); Wherever R U by Spunkadelic (#93); By My Side by INXS (#98); and The Real Love by Bob Seger (#99).

Crime
Taxi driver Wade Frankum shot seven people to death and injured six others in Sydney, Australia before turning the gun on himself.

10 years ago
2001

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (2-5) 13 @ Calgary (3-4) 37
British Columbia (4-3) 35 @ Edmonton (3-4-0-1) 17

The Eskimos jumped out to a 17-0 lead, but the Lions came back with 35 unanswered points. Damon Allen threw 3 touchdown passes for the Lions, and Robert Drummond rushed for 2 more B.C. touchdowns. Edmonton quarterback Jason Maas threw 2 touchdown passes to Ed Hervey. Running back Rod Smart, who had attracted attention in the XFL for wearing the words "He Hate Me" on the back of his jersey, played as a kick returner for the Eskimos in this game at Commonwealth Stadium, wearing just his surname and the number 20 on the back of his jersey. It was his only CFL game.

Baseball
Jeff Frye became the second Toronto Blue Jay to hit for the cycle, scoring 2 runs and driving in 3, as the Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 11-3 before 22,384 fans at SkyDome in Toronto. Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez hit 2 solo home runs and a double.