September 12, 2011

220 years ago
1791

Franciana
The Papal States lost Avignon to the revolutionary France by vote of the National Constituent Assembly.

Politics and government
Sir Guy Carleton, Lord Dorchester was appointed Governor-in-Chief of Canada; he served from December 26, 1791-December 15, 1796.

150 years ago
1861

Died on this date
George N. Briggs, 65. U.S. politician. Mr. Briggs, a Whig, represented Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives (1831-1843) and was Governor of Massachusetts (1844-1851). He supported capital punishment and opposed the Mexican-American War. In 1861, Mr. Briggs was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to a diplomatic mission to the South American Granadine Confederation (roughly present-day Colombia and Panama), but before Mr. Briggs could take up his position he died eight days after accidentally being shot when his gun discharged after he dropped it.

130 years ago
1881

Died on this date
John "Chub" Sullivan, 25. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Sullivan was captain of the Worcester Worcesters (aka Brown Stockings) of the National League before falling fatally ill with tuberculosis in the spring of 1881. He died in Boston.

120 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Arthur Hays Sulzberger. U.S. journalist. Mr. Sulzberger published The New York Times from 1935-1961; he was succeeded as publisher by his son-in-law Orvil Dryfoos and eventually by his son Arthur Ochs Sulzberger. Arthur H. Sulzberger died on December 11, 1968 at the age of 77.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Ben Blue. Canadian-born U.S. comedian. Mr. Blue, born Benjamin Bernstein in Montreal, moved to Baltimore at the age of 9, and was in a touring company by the age of 15. He appeared on stage, screen, and television in a career spanning more than 60 years, often playing a dumb-bell with a goofy expression. Mr. Blue died on March 7, 1975 at the age of 73.

100 years ago
1911

Baseball
The New York Giants scored 4 runs in the top of the 8th inning to offset a 5-run 7th by the Boston Rustlers as they defeated the Rustlers 9-6 in the first game of a doubleheader before 10,000 fans at South End Grounds in Boston. New York center fielder Fred Snodgrass hit his first home run of the season, a 2-run blast in the 5th. Rube Marquard (20-6) got the win despite allowing 12 hits and 6 earned runs in 7 innings. The Giants scored 9 runs in the first 3 innings and coasted to an 11-2 win in the second game to complete the sweep. Fred Merkle led the New York attack with 2 home runs and a single, driving in 4 runs. New York manager John McGraw removed starting pitcher Christy Mathewson (23-12 from the game after 2 innings, but he was still credited with the win. Doc Crandall, who had pitched 3 scoreless innings of relief in the first game, allowed 2 runs in 7 innings in the second game to get credit for saves in both games. Boston starter Cy Young (3-2) allowed 8 hits and 9 runs in 2.2 innings. It was the only time that Mr. Mathewson and Mr. Young ever pitched against each other.

The Detroit Tigers scored 3 runs in the top of the 13th inning to break a 6-6 tie and defeat the Cleveland Naps 9-6 before 5,120 fans at League Park in Cleveland. Ty Cobb, Jim Delahanty, and George Moriarty each had 3 hits for the Tigers, with Mr. Moriarty driving in 4 runs.

90 years ago
1921

Academia
Université Laval's École supérieure de chimie (Higher School of Chemistry), developed by Swiss chemist Paul Cardinaux, opened, with 18 students.

75 years ago
1936

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Harry West, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Missing Three-Quarter

80 years ago
1941

War
The Ecuadorian government claimed that Peruvian troops had been repulsed with losses in an attack the previuous day on the Ecuadorian port at Porotillo in the Jubones River section of the border.

World events
Reports reaching Stockholm stated that German authorities were carrying our mass arrests in Norway to crush spreading opposition.

A Spanish freighter built to carry 28 passengers arrived in Brooklyn with 769 refugees from Nazi-occupied Europe.

60 years ago
1951

On the radio
Pete Kelly's Blues, starring Jack Webb, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Dr. Jonathan Budd

War
U.S. Marines pushed back Communist forces north of Inje in eastern Korea, making the deepest penetration of 1951 into North Korean territory.

Argentina ended its state of war with Germany.

Defense
General Charles de Gaulle reiterated his opposition to integrated Western European defense forces, warning that the identity of the French Army would be "suppressed."

Politics and government
General George C. Marshall resigned as U.S. Defense Secretary. U.S. President Harry Truman nominated Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Lovett to succeed him.

Boxing
Sugar Ray Robinson (129-2-2) regained the world middleweight title with a 10th-round technical knockout of Randy Turpin (41-3-1) before 61,437 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. Mr. Turpin had won the title from Mr. Robinson two months earlier on a 15-round decision in London, and had opened a gash over Mr. Robinson's left eye, but Mr. Robinson unleashed a savage barrage to end the fight in his favour.



50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Hello Mary Lou/Travelin' Man--Ricky Nelson (10th week at #1)

On the radio
Sherlock Holmes, starring Erling Lindahl and Einar Vaage, on Norsk Rikskringkasting (Norwegian State Broadcasting Corporation)
Tonight's episode: The Naval Treaty

Died on this date
Carl Hermann, 63. German physicist. Dr. Hermann was a professor of crystallography. With Charles-Victor Mauguin, he invented an international standard notation for crystallographic groups known as the Hermann–Mauguin notation or International notation. Dr. Hermann was imprisoned and sentenced to death during World War II for helping Jews to escape the Holocaust, but because of his prominence as a scientist, the sentence was never carried out.

Space
The United States launched the satellite Discoverer 30, whose mission was to test improvements of orbital period controls. The mission ended on September 14.

Baseball
Don Demeter batted 4 for 5 with 3 home runs, 4 runs, and 7 runs batted in to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 19-10 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers before 8,629 fans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The teams combined for 9 home runs. Losing pitcher Sandy Koufax (15-11) was knocked out of the game when the Phillies scored 9 runs in the 2nd inning, allowing 5 hits and 6 runs--all earned--in 1.1 innings in what may have been the worst start of his career Philadelphia starter John Buzhardt allowed 3 hits, 2 bases on balls, and 4 runs--all earned--in 1/3 inning; he was relieved by Chris Short (6-10), who allowed 9 hits and 6 earned runs in 7.2 innings to get the win.

Joe Gibbon (11-10) pitched a 3-hitter and Dick Stuart drove in all the runs with a pair of home runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates shut out the San Francisco Giants 3-0 before 9,539 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Losing pitcher Mike McCormick (12-15) allowed 6 hits and 3 earned runs in 8 innings.

40 years ago
1971

Died on this date
Walter Egan, 90. U.S. golfer. Mr. Egan was runner-up in the Western Amateur tournament three times, and won it in 1903. He was runner-up in the U.S. Amateur championship in 1901, and was a member of the American team that won the gold medal in the men's team competition at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, although he was eliminated in the first round of match play.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (3-3) 14 @ Toronto (6-2) 23
Calgary (7-1) 25 @ British Columbia (3-5) 10

Tom Wilkinson, out with injury since the final pre-season game, played his only regular season game as quarterback of the Lions. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 236 yards, including a 60-yard completion to Jim Young for the Lions' only touchdown, but left with a season-ending knee injury in the 3rd quarter.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Out Here on My Own--Nikka Costa (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Wordy Rappinghood--Tom Tom Club

#1 single in Ireland: A Bunch of Thyme--Foster and Allen

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Tainted Love--Soft Cell

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Tainted Love--Soft Cell (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 For Your Eyes Only--Sheena Easton
2 Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)--Ottawan
3 De Nederlandse Sterre Die Strale Overal!--Rubberen Robbie
4 Wordy Rappinghood--Tom Tom Club
5 The Old Calahan "Live"--BZN
6 Hold on Tight--Electric Light Orchestra
7 Why Tell Me, Why--Anita Meyer
8 P.S.--Dolly Dots
9 Who Let the Heartache In--Patricia Paay
10 Green Door--Shakin' Stevens

Singles entering the chart were I'm So Glad to Be a Woman by Love Unlimited (#21); The Marvellous Marionettes by Doris D and the Pins (#26); On the Beat by the Brooklyn Bronx & Queens Band (#30); 'n Beetje Verliefd by André Hazes (#32); and It's Your Conscience by Deniece Williams (#34).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Endless Love--Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (5th week at #1)
2 Slow Hand--Pointer Sisters
3 Stop Draggin' My Heart Around--Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
4 Urgent--Foreigner
5 (There's) No Gettin' Over Me--Ronnie Milsap
6 Queen of Hearts--Juice Newton
7 Who's Crying Now--Journey
8 Lady (You Bring Me Up)--Commodores
9 Arthur's Theme (Best that You Can Do)--Christopher Cross
10 Step by Step--Eddie Rabbitt

Singles entering the chart were Tryin' to Live My Life Without You by Bob Seger (#61); Say Goodbye to Hollywood by Billy Joel (#70); Steal the Night by Stevie Woods (#82); You Saved My Soul by Burton Cummings (#83); In the Dark by Billy Squier (#85); Sausalito Summernight by Diesel (#86); (Want You) Back in My Life Again by the Carpenters (#88); You've Got a Good Love Coming by Van Stephenson (#89); Stay Awake by Ronnie Laws (#90); and Let's Dance (Make Your Body Move) by West Street Mob (#91).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Endless Love--Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (5th week at #1)
2 Queen of Hearts--Juice Newton
3 Slow Hand--Pointer Sisters
4 Stop Draggin' My Heart Around--Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
5 Urgent--Foreigner
6 Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe it or Not)--Joey Scarbury
7 Who's Crying Now--Journey
8 Lady--Commodores
9 (There's) No Gettin' Over Me--Ronnie Milsap
10 The Beach Boys Medley--The Beach Boys

Singles entering the chart were Tryin' to Live My Life Without You by Bob Seger (#47); Say Goodbye to Hollywood by Billy Joel (#67); You Saved My Soul by Burton Cummings (#87); and I'll Do Anything for You by Denroy Morgan (#89).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Endless Love--Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (4th week at #1)
2 Queen of Hearts--Juice Newton
3 Urgent--Foreigner
4 Slow Hand--Pointer Sisters
5 Jessie's Girl--Rick Springfield
6 Who's Crying Now--Journey
7 Lady (You Bring Me Up)--Commodores
8 (There's) No Gettin' Over Me--Ronnie Milsap
9 Stop Draggin' My Heart Around--Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
10 The Beach Boys Medley--The Beach Boys

Singles entering the chart were Tryin' to Live My Life Without You by Bob Seger (#51); Say Goodbye to Hollywood by Billy Joel (#59); Sausalito Summernight by Diesel (#86); In the Dark by Billy Squier (#87); Stay Awake by Ronnie Laws (#88); Aiming at Your Heart by the Temptations (#89); and No Time to Lose by the Tarney/Spencer Band (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Urgent--Foreigner
2 Sausalito Summernight--Diesel
3 Endless Love--Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
4 Fire and Ice--Pat Benatar
5 Gemini Dream--Moody Blues
6 In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins
7 Stop Draggin' My Heart Around--Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
8 Boy from New York City--The Manhattan Transfer
9 Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe it or Not)--Joey Scarbury
10 The Stroke--Billy Squier

Singles entering the chart were (There's) No Gettin' Over Me by Ronnie Milsap (#42); Love on a Two Way Street by Stacy Lattisaw (#44); Arthur's Theme (Best that You Can Do) by Christopher Cross (#47); The Night Owls by Little River Band (#49); and Draw of the Cards by Kim Carnes (#50).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Queen of Hearts--Juice Newton (2nd week at #1)
2 Lady (You Bring Me Up)--Commodores
3 Hold on Tight--Electric Light Orchestra
4 Fire and Ice--Pat Benatar
5 Who's Crying Now--Journey
6 Stop Draggin' My Heart Around--Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
7 Urgent--Foreigner
8 The Break Up Song (They Don't Write 'em)--Greg Kihn Band
9 Endless Love--Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
10 Thirsty Ears--Powder Blues

Singles entering the chart were My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) by Chilliwack (#24); The Night Owls by Little River Band (#29); and Tube Snake Boogie by ZZ Top (#30).

Died on this date
Eugenio Montale, 84. Italian writer. Mr. Montale wrote lyrics, poetry, and prose translations. He was awarded the 1975 Nobel Prize laureate in Literature "for his distinctive poetry, which, with great artistic sensitivity, has interpreted human values under the sign of an outlook on life with no illusions." Mr. Montale served as a Senator for Life from 1967 until his death from a cerebral vasculopathy.

Americana
Elizabeth Ward, representing Arkansas, was crowned Miss America 1982 at the annual pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.



Auto racing
USAC
Gold Crown Series
Larry Rice won the 100-mile Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis; it was his only win in an Indy car. Rich Vogler finished second and Garry Bettenhausen third in the 26-car field.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (7-2-1) 26 @ Montreal (1-9) 10
Saskatchewan (6-4) 32 @ Winnipeg (5-4) 25

CIAU
Saskatchewan (1-1) 5 @ Calgary 25

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Holiday Rap--MC Miker G & Deejay Sven (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Jim Shilling, 72. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Shilling was a second baseman who played 31 games with the Cleveland Indians and 11 games with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1939, batting .282 with no home runs and 16 runs batted in. He played in the minor leagues from 1935-1942 and 1946-1948, batting .291 with 101 home runs.

Music
The Manhattan Transfer performed in a concert bowl setting at the Edmonton Coliseum in what was, if I'm not mistaken, their last Edmonton appearance. The group apologized for the venue, but it was the only one available that fit their schedule. This blogger was in attendance, and paid $22 for the ticket.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (3-8) 29 @ Montreal (2-9) 28

Dean Dorsey's 38-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining in regulation time climaxed a 21-point 4th-quarter rally and gave the Rough Riders their win over the Alouettes before 11,399 fans at Olympic Stadium and ended their 8-game losing streak. It proved to be their last win under head coach Joe Moss.

Baseball
The Minnesota Twins fired manager Ray Miller and replaced him with coach Tom Kelly. The Twins were seventh and last in the American League West Division with a record of 59-80.

Bill Buckner hit 2 home runs and Jim Rice added another as the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 7-2 before 42,024 fans at Yankee Stadium.

Terry Steinbach hit a home run in his first major league at bat to help the Oakland Athletics to a 9-3 win over the Cleveland Indians before 11,019 fans at Cleveland Stadium. Winning pitcher Mike Witt improved his record for the season to 18-8.

Harold Baines singled home Daryl Boston with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Chicago White Sox a 3-2 win over the California Angels before 11,609 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

The Seattle Mariners scored 3 runs in the top of the 10th inning to break a 1-1 tie and defeat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 before 22,169 fans at Royals Stadium. Mark Langston (12-11) pitched a 9-hit complete game victory.

Tom Nieto singled home Wayne Krenchicki with 2 out in the top of the 11th inning to break a 3-3 tie and give the Montreal Expos a 4-3 win over the St.Louis Cardinals before 26,381 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. The Cardinals scored all their runs on a home run by starting pitcher Bob Forsch in the 2nd inning.

The Chicago Cubs scored 2 runs in the top of the 10th inning to break a 7-7 tie and held on to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-8 before 15,664 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. Jim Morrison hit 2 home runs for the Pirates.

Robby Thompson hit a grand slam in the 4th inning and doubled home another run in the 5th as the San Francisco Giants beat the Atlanta Braves 11-2 before 11,142 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Terry Puhl walked with the bases loaded to force in the go-ahead run and Billy Hatcher followed with a 2-run single as the Houston Astros scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning to beat the San Diego Padres 5-3 before 11,319 fans at Jack Murphy-San Diego Stadium.

20 years ago
1991
Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Hay Wrap--The Saw Doctors

At the movies
Until the End of the World, directed and co-written by Wim Wenders, and starring William Hurt and Solveig Dommartin, received its premiere screening in Germany. The film proved to be one of the biggest box office flops of its time.



Space
The U.S. space shuttle Discovery, with a five-man crew led by Commander John Creighton, launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida to begin the six-day mission STS-48.



Albertana
The world's largest tepee was erected in Medicine Hat.

Scandal
Canadian Senator Michel Cogger (Progressive Conservative--Lauzon, Quebec) was charged in Montreal with accepting illegal benefits from industrialist Guy Montpetit and Japanese investors; Mr. Montpetit was charged on September 17, 1991 with giving a $212,000 payment.

Former British Columbia Premier Bill Vander Zalm was charged in Victoria with breach of trust in connection with the sale of the Fantasy Gardens theme park.

Baseball
The Cleveland Indians barely withstood a 3-run rally in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 before 20,401 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The Indians led 6-2 after 8½ innings, and Tom Kramer made his major league debut on the mound in relief of Charles Nagy (9-12). Mr. Kramer promptly surrendered a double to Cal Ripken, Jr., a double to Sam Horn, and a base on balls to Randy Milligan. Steve Olin then relieved Mr. Kramer and allowed Messrs. Horn and Milligan to score, and the bases were loaded with 1 out, but Mike Devereaux grounded into a double play to end the game. It was also the major league debut for Wayne Kirby, who played the final 2 innings in left field for Cleveland, without a plate appearance or fielding chance.

The Boston Red Sox scored 2 runs in each of the 1st, 5th, and 7th innings as they beat the New York Yankees 7-2 before 19,312 fans at Yankee Stadium.

The Milwaukee Brewers broke a 0-0 tie with a run in the bottom of the 6th inning and 6 in the 7th to blank the Detroit Tigers 7-0 before 9,835 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Chris Bosio (11-10) allowed 4 hits in 6 innings to get the win.

The Texas Rangers edged the Minnesota Twins 4-3 before 17,974 fans at Arlington Stadium as Nolan Ryan (10-6) became the second major league pitcher (after Don Sutton) to win at least 10 games in 20 different seasons. Jack Morris allowed 5 hits and 4 earned runs in pitching a complete game defeat, dropping to 16-11 for the season.

The Chicago White Sox scored 3 runs in the top of the 8th, but the California Angels came back with 4 in the bottom of the 8th to beat the White Sox 7-4 before 26,447 fans at Anaheim Stadium.

Mariano Duncan drove in 3 runs with a pair of home runs to help the Cincinnati Reds defeat the San Francisco Giants 7-3 before 15,923 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Hal Morris also homered for the Reds, while Matt Williams homered for the Giants.

Felix Jose drew a base on balls with the bases loaded, forcing in Ray Lankford with the game's only run in the bottom of the 6th inning, as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 before 21,412 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Ken Hill (9-9) won the pitchers' duel over Doug Drabek (13-13).

Darryl Strawberry hit a 3-run home run and Kal Daniels added a solo homer two batters later as the Los Angeles Dodgers scored 4 runs in the top of the 10th inning to break a 2-2 tie and beat the Houston Astros 6-2 before 10,146 fans at the Astrodome.

10 years ago
2001

Business
Ansett Australia, Australia's first commercial interstate airline, collapsed due to increased strain on the international airline industry, leaving 10,000 people unemployed.