May 11, 2012

200 years ago
1812

Died on this date
Spencer Perceval, 49. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1809-1812. Mr. Perceval, a Tory, was shot in the chest as he entered the House of Commons in London by a merchant named John Bellingham who believed that he had been unjustly imprisoned in Russia and whose demands for compensation had been rebuffed. Mr. Perceval remains the only British Prime Minister to have been assassinated (so far).

125 years ago
1887

Horse racing
Montrose, with I. Lewis up, won the 13th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:39 1/4. Jim Gore placed second and Jacobin finished third.

120 years ago
1892

Horse racing
Azra, with Alonzo Clayton up, won the 18th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:41 1/2. Huron placed second and Phil Dwyer finished third; they were the only other horses in the race.

100 years ago
1912

Born on this date
Foster Brooks. U.S. comedian. Mr. Brooks was best known for playing the character of a "Loveable Lush" in nightclub and television appearances in the 1960s and '70s. He frequently appeared on The Dean Martin Show and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, receiving an Emmy Award nomination for the former in 1974. Mr. Brooks died of heart failure on December 20, 2001 at the age of 89.

75 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Afonso Costa, 66. Prime Minister of Portugal, 1913-1914, 1915-1916, 1916, 1917. Mr. Costa was the leader of the Portuguese Republican Party and the subsequent Democratic Party faction. Following the proclamation of the First Republic in 1910, he was Minister for Justice in the provisional government of President Teófilo Braga. He served four brief terms as Prime Minister during a period of political instability, and was known for taking measures to establish a separation of church and state. Mr. Costa went into exile in Paris following a military coup d'état led by Sidónio Pais in December 1917, and never again lived in Portugal, although he led the Portuguese delegation at the Paris Peace Conference from March-June 1919, and signed the Treaty of Versailles on behalf of Portugal. He refused subsequent offers to lead the Portuguese government, and died in Paris.

50 years ago
1962

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Young Man's Fancy, starring Alex Nicol and Phyllis Thaxter

40 years ago
1972

Died on this date
Suds Sutherland, 78. U.S. baseball pitcher. Harvey Sutherland was 6-2 with an earned run average of 4.97 in 13 games with the Detroit Tigers in 1921, batting .407 (11 for 27) with 7 runs batted in in 17 games. He played 10 seasons in the minor leagues (1914-1927), compiling a 131-111 record, mainly in the Pacific Coast League. Mr. Sutherland was 22-7 with the Tacoma Tigers of the Northwest League in 1916, and 21-17 with a 2.68 ERA with the Portland Beavers of the PCL in 1920.

Lynn King, 64. U.S. baseball player. Mr. King was an outfielder with the St. Louis Cardinals (1935-1936, 1939), batting .208 with no home runs and 21 runs batted in in 175 games. He played at least 1,344 games in 12 seasons in the minor leagues (1931-1946), with his best season being 1938, when he hit .316 with 3 homers, 11 triples, 25 doubles, and 54 RBIs.

Danny Schell, 44. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Schell was an outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies (1954-1955), batting .281 with 7 home runs and 33 runs batted in in 94 games. He hit .298 with 145 home runs and 733 RBIs in 1,157 games in 10 seasons in the minor leagues (1948-1958). Mr. Schell worked with an automotive parts company after his baseball career, and died of a heart attack.

Economics and finance
A referendum in Ireland resulted in voters approving entry into the European Economic Community effective January 1, 1973. The margin of approval was better than 4-1.

Law
A U.S. federal appeals court overturned the contempt of court citations of the “Chicago 7” defendants and their lawyers and ordered new trials. The citations had been handed out by Judge Julius Hoffman in 1970 after a trial in which five of the defendants had been convicted of crossing state lines to incite rioting during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968.

Disasters
The British cargo ship Royston Grange and Liberian oil tanker Tien Cheung collided and burst into flames at the entrance to the River Plate channel off Argentina, burning to death all 75 aboard the Royston Grange and 9 crewmen on the Tien Cheung.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Boston 3 @ New York 0 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Boston defenseman Bobby Orr scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player. Gerry Cheevers earned the shutout in goal for the Bruins at Madison Square Garden as they won the Stanley Cup for the second time in three years.

Boxing
George Foreman (36-0) knocked out Argentine heavyweight champion Miguel Angel Paez (48-16-13) at 2;29 of the 2nd round to win the Pan-American heavyweight title at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena.



Baseball
The San Francisco Giants traded center fielder Willie Mays to the New York Mets for pitcher Charlie Williams and $50,000. Mr. Mays, in his 20th year with the Giants, was batting .184 with no home runs and 3 runs batted in in 19 games with San Francisco in 1972. Mr. Williams was 3-2 with an earned run average of 4.50 in 5 games with the Tidewater Tides of the AAA International League in 1972; his contract was assigned to the Phoenix Giants of the AAA Pacific Coast League.

The Atlanta Braves released pitcher Steve Barber. He was 1-0 with an ERA of 5.74 in 5 games in 1972, batting .200 (1 for 5).

The Cincinnati Reds released pitcher Joe Gibbon. He was 0-0 with an ERA of 54.00 in 2 games with Cincinnati in 1972, with no plate appearances.

The Texas Rangers scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st inning and Bill Gogolewski (2-1) allowed just 2 hits and 1 earned run in 7.1 innings to outduel Jim Palmer (2-3) as the Rangers upset the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 before 6,040 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Mr. Palmer allowed just 4 hits and 2 runs--both earned--in 8 innings, striking out 9 batters. Paul Blair's home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 7th inning provided the only Baltimore run.

Tommy Harper, Luis Aparicio, and Reggie Smith, the top third of the batting order, batted a collective 6 for 13 with 4 runs and 7 runs batted in to lead the Boston Red Sox to an 8-1 rout of the California Angels before 5,262 fans at Anaheim Stadium in a game that was completed in 1 hour 55 minutes. Mr. Harper was 3 for 5 with a triple, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs, and Mr. Smith hit a solo home run. Bob Montgomery added 3 hits for the Red Sox. Ray Culp (2-3) pitched a 9-hit complete game victory, while Andy Messersmith (2-4) allowed 6 hits and 6 runs--all earned--in 6 innings to take the loss.

The San Francisco Giants scored all their runs in the first 3 innings as they beat the Montreal Expos 6-2 before 7,161 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Ron Bryant (1-2) pitched a 12-hit complete game victory, striking out 7 batters and walking none, and doubled home Garry Maddox with the final San Francico run. Montreal starting pitcher Steve Renko (1-3) allowed 6 hits and 4 runs--all earned--in 1.2 innings to take the loss.

Ed Kranepool led off the bottom of the 5th inning with a home run and Duffy Dyer scored from third base on an errant pickoff throw by Bill Singer with 2 out in the inning to provide the necessary scoring for the New York Mets as they edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in the first game of a twi-night doubleheader before 20,433 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Tom Seaver (5-1) allowed 5 hits and 1 earned run in 8+ innings to outduel Mr. Singer (2-3), who allowed 5 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings. Willie Davis and Willie Crawford hit solo home runs in the 4th inning and Mr. Crawford tripled to begin a 4-run 7th as the Dodgers won the second game 6-4. Tommy John (3-2) allowed 10 hits and 4 runs--2 earned--in 7.1 innings to get the win over Jim McAndrew (1-1), who allowed 7 hits and 6 runs--all earned--in 6+ innings.

Terry Harmon led off the bottom of the 12th inning with a base on balls and scored from second base on a 2-out single by Greg Luzinski to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-5 win over the San Diego Padres before 9,224 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

Marty Martinez singled home Ted Sizemore from third base with none out in the bottom of the 9th inning to conclude a 3-run rally as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Houston Astros 4-3 before 7,859 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. After Ted Simmons and Donn Clendenon began the inning with consecutive singles, Mr. Sizemore bunted for a single, but pitcher Jerry Reuss made a throwing error, allowing Messrs. Simmons and Clendenon to score and Mr. Sizemore to go to third base. Wade Blasingame relieved Mr. Reuss to pitch to Mr. Martinez. Rick Wise (3-2) pitched a 10-hit complete game victory, allowing 3 earned runs, while Mr. Reuss (2-2) allowed 8 hits and 3 earned runs in 8+ innings.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Oh Julie--Shakin' Stevens (10th week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Vancouver 4 @ New York Islanders 6 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-0)

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room)--Paul Lekakis (5th week at #1)

Politics and government
Candidates supported by President Corazon Aquino swept to victory in legislative elections in the Philippines.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
Edmonton 3 @ Detroit 2 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-1)

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): 9700-Irma--DJ Konnat

Politics and government
Former Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos emerged with a slim lead in voting for President of the Philippines; he had the support of outgoing President Corazon Aquino. Former judge and runner-up Miriam Defensor Santiago had made corruption a major issue and had said, “Many, if not all, of my presidential opponents are certifiable idiots.” Former first lady Imelda Marcos was among the unsuccessful candidates, receiving about 10% of the vote.

10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
Joseph Bonanno, 97. Italian-born U.S. gangster. Mr. Bonanno headed one of New York City’s five original crime families from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Hockey
Men’s World Championship
Final
Slovakia 4 Russia 3

It was the first world title for Slovakia.