June 8, 2012

1,380 years ago
632

Died on this date
Muhammad, 62 (?). Muslim prophet and founder. Muhammad is held by Muslims to be a true prophet of God, but if one reads both the Bible and the Qur'an, it's obvious that the God of the Bible is not the god of the Qur'an.

40 years ago
1972

Died on this date
Jimmy Rushing, 70. U.S. musician. Mr. Rushing was a jazz pianist and blues singer who performed with Walter Page's Blue Devils (1927-1929) and the bands of Bennie Moten (1929-1935) and Count Basie (1935-1950), earning a reputation as a great blues shouter. After Count Basie's band broke up in 1950, Mr. Rushing led his own band and performed with other artists.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Ein bißchen Frieden--Nicole (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Leroy “Satchel” Paige, 75. U.S. baseball pitcher. One of the greatest pitchers in history, Mr. Paige pitched in the Negro Leagues from 1926-1947. The major leagues didn't allow Negro players into their ranks until 1947, and Mr. Paige, although over 40 years of age, was still active. He joined the Cleveland Indians midway through the 1948 season at the age of 42, and made a major contribution to the club, winning 6 games and losing 1 as the Indians narrowly won the American League pennant and defeated the Boston Braves in the World Series. He pitched for the Indians through 1949, was out of the majors in 1950, and was with the St. Louis Browns from 1951-1953, compiling a major league record of 28-31, with 32 saves. New York Yankees' manager Casey Stengel named him to the AL All-Star team in 1952 and 1953, and he saw action in the 1953 All-Star game. At the age of 59, Mr. Paige became the oldest player in major league history when he pitched the first 3 innings of a game for the Kansas City Athletics against the Boston Red Sox on September 25, 1965. He didn't give up a run, and retired the last 7 batter he faced, leaving to a huge ovation from the fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City.

Diplomacy
In the first speech by an American president to a session of the combined British houses of Parliament, Ronald Reagan urged that the U.K. and U.S.A. and the world prepare a crusade for freedom by encouraging the spread of democracy into Communist countries. He also praised the British troops who were fighting in the Falkland Islands.

War
The Israeli army had moved 32 miles into Lebanon, and were within 15 miles of Beirut. Israel claimed to have shot down six Syrian fighter jets.

A surprise bombing raid by Argentine Skyhawks on the British supply ships Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram killed 48 British servicemen in the battle of Bluff Cove.

Disasters
A Brazilian airliner crashed into a mountain near Fortaleza during a rainstorm, killing all 137 people aboard.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Slice of Heaven--Dave Dobbyn with Herbs (4th week at #1)

Diplomacy
Pope John Paul II arrived in Warsaw to begin his third visit as pope to his native Poland, and conferred with Polish leader General Wojciech Jaruzelski.

10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
Signe Hasso, 91. Swedish-born U.S. actress. Miss Hasso began her career in her native country before going to Hollywood and apearing in such movies as The Story of Dr. Wassell (1944); The House on 92nd Street (1945); Where There's Life (1947); and A Double Life (1947). She made many appearances on television from the early 1950s through the mid-1980s.

Horse racing
Sarava won the 134th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in New York.

Tennis
Serena Williams of the U.S.A. defeated her older sister Venus to win the French Open women’s singles title.

Boxing
Lennox Lewis (40-2-1) retained his World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation world heavyweight title with a knockout of former world champion Mike Tyson (49-4) at 2:25 of the 8th round at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Saskatchewan (0-1) 6 @ Winnipeg (1-0) 22