August 19, 2012

200 years ago
1812

War
In a War of 1812 naval battle, the U.S. frigate USS Constitution defeated the U.K. frigate HMS Guerriere, earning the Constitution the nickname "Old Ironsides"--although she had wooden sides.

110 years ago
1902

Born on this date
Ogden Nash. U.S. poet. Mr. Nash was known for his light verse and unconventional rhymes in a career spanning 40 years. He frequently appeared on radio and television, and spoke on college campuses. Mr. Nash died on May 19, 1971 at the age of 68 of complications from Crohn's disease aggravated by a lactobacillus infection transmitted by improperly prepared coleslaw.

75 years ago
1937

Baseball
In a Pacific Coast League game between the San Diego Padres and Sacramento Solons at Edmonds Field in Sacramento, umpire Jack Powell was arrested on the field during the 6th inning for drunkenness. The arrest was made after Mr. Powell had called a Sacramento runner out at second base in the 5th inning although the San Diego second baseman had dropped the ball. The Padres won the game 8-6, and the Solons protested the game.

70 years ago
1942

War
Allied troops landed at Dieppe, on the French coast northwest of Paris, sustaining heavy casualties. About 4,100 of the 6,100-man landing force were killed, wounded or captured by Nazi forces. About 1,000 of those killed were Canadians; Germany sustained 591 casualties. Evidence has now come to light revealing the possible actual purpose of the raid.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Her Last Adventure, starring Arlene Francis and Lloyd Bridges



50 years ago
1962

At the movies
Dilemma, directed by Peter Maxwell, and starring Peter Haliday, Ingrid Hafner, and Patricia Burke, opened in theatres in the United Kingdom.



Died on this date
Ida Irga, 75. U.S. murder victim. Mrs. Irga was sexually molested and strangled in Boston, becoming the fifth victim of the Boston Strangler.

Mike Wilson, 74. U.S. baseball executive. Mr. Wilson was president of the Cleveland Indians.

Baseball
The New York Yankees routed the Kansas City Athletics 21-7 before 29,274 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City despite giving up 3 consecutive home runs in the 7th inning. Elston Howard hit 2 home runs and batted in 8 runs for the Yankees, while Mickey Mantle hit a grand slam and batted in 7 runs, and Bill Skowron drove in 4. Gino Cimoli, Wayne Causey, and Billy Bryan hit consecutive homers for the Athletics in the 7th inning. Ralph Terry (18-10) pitched a complete game victory despite allowing 11 hits and 6 earned runs.

Rocky Colavito hit a home run in each game for the Detroit Tigers as they split a doubleheader with the Chicago White Sox, losing the first game 11-5 and winning the second game 8-3 before 36,495 fans at White Sox Park. Verle Tiefenthaler made his major league debut as a relief pitcher with the White Sox in the second game, allowing 2 hits and 2 runs--earned--in 2/3 inning, walking 1 batter and striking out 1.

Hank Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves and Willie McCovey of the San Francisco Giants each drove in 3 runs with a pair of home runs as the Braves beat the Giants 13-8 before 20,005 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Milwaukee's Lee Maye and San Francisco's Felipe Alou each hit a 3-run homer, and Del Crandall added a solo homer for the Braves.

Don Demeter singled with 1 out in the top of the 9th inning, advanced to second base on a single by Clay Dalrymple, and scored from there on a single by Ruben Amaro to break a 2-2 tie as the Philadelphia Phillies edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 before 15,680 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Chris Short (7-7), who pitched 2.1 innings in relief of starting pitcher Dennis Bennett, was credited with the win. Mr. Bennett allowed 9 hits and 2 earned runs in 5.2 innings, and drove in the first 2 Philadelphia runs with his first major league home run, in the 5th inning.

Frank Howard led off the top of the 9th inning with a home run and Willie Davis hit a 3-run inside-the-park homer later in the inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for 5 runs to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 before 27,973 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Don Drysdale (22-6) pitched a 3-hit complete game victory and didn't allow an earned run. Joey Jay (18-10), who carried a 1-0 lead into the 9th, was charged with the loss.

40 years ago
1972

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: School's Out--Alice Cooper (2nd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Puppy Love--Donny Osmond (3rd week at #1)
2 Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast--Wayne Newton
3 Red Back on the Toilet Seat--Slim Newton
4 Long Haired Lover from Liverpool--Little Jimmy Osmond
5 The Candy Man--Sammy Davis, Jr. with the Mike Curb Congregation
6 (Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All--The 5th Dimension
7 Sylvia's Mother--Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
8 Beautiful Sunday--Daniel Boone
9 Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)--The Hollies
10 Nice to Be with You--Gallery

Singles entering the chart were Boppin' the Blues by Blackfeather (#23); Here Come the Aussies by the Australian Cricket Team 1972; Conquistador by Procol Harum (with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra) (#29); Run to Me by the Bee Gees (#37); Come What May by Vicky Leandros (#38); and You by Matt Flinders (#39).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Alone Again (Naturally)--Gilbert O'Sullivan (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Alone Again (Naturally)--Gilbert O'Sullivan (2nd week at #1)
2 Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)--Looking Glass
3 (If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right--Luther Ingram
4 I'm Still in Love with You--Al Green
5 Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)--The Hollies
6 School's Out--Alice Cooper
7 Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast--Wayne Newton
8 How Do You Do--Mouth and MacNeal
9 The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.--Donna Fargo
10 Hold Your Head Up--Argent

Singles entering the chart were Burning Love by Elvis Presley (#71); You Wear it Well by Rod Stewart (#72); Freddie's Dead by Curtis Mayfield (#84); Use Me by Bill Withers (#86); Tight Rope by Leon Russell (#88); A Sunday Kind of Love by Lenny Welch (#97); Feel Alright by Cargoe (#98); Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile) by Van Morrison (#99); and It's Too Late by Bill Deal and the Rhondels (#100). Freddie's Dead was a vocal version of an instrumental theme that Mr. Mayfield had written for the movie Superfly (1972). Mr. Mayfield apparently didn't care for the movie's attitude toward drugs, so he put an anti-drug message into the song when he wrote the lyrics. The B-side of Tight Rope was This Masquerade. which became a major hit for George Benson in 1976.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Alone Again (Naturally)--Gilbert O'Sullivan
2 How Do You Do--Mouth and MacNeal
3 Daddy Don't You Walk so Fast--Wayne Newton
4 Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)--Looking Glass
5 School's Out--Alice Cooper
6 Hold Her Tight--The Osmonds
7 Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)--The Hollies
8 Coconut--Nilsson
9 Sealed with a Kiss--Bobby Vinton
10 You Don't Mess Around with Jim--Jim Croce

Singles entering the chart were Honky Cat by Elton John (#90); Dream No. 2 by Ken Tobias (#92); Play Me by Neil Diamond (#93); Summer Sun by Jamestown Massacre (#94); Geronimo's Cadillac by Michael Murphey (#95); Don't Send Someone by Pinky (#97); Garden Party by Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band (#99); and Why by Donny Osmond (#100).

Calgary’s Top 10
1 Wild Eyes—Stampeders (4th week at #1)
2 Alone Again (Naturally)—Gilbert O’Sullivan
3 Coconut--Nilsson
4 Some Sing, Some Dance—Pagliaro
5 Beautiful Sunday--Daniel Boone
6 Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast—Wayne Newton
7 Hold Her Tight--The Osmonds
8 Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)—The Hollies
9 Concrete Sea--Terry Jacks
10 Black & White--Three Dog Night
Pick hit of the week: Play Me--Neil Diamond

World events
Almost two weeks after Ugandan dictator Idi Amin had announced the expulsion of Asians with British, Indian, and Pakistani passports, he told a rally that 23,000 Asians holding Ugandan citizenship would have to join the exodus. On August 22, Mr. Amin rescinded the order for those with Ugandan citizenship.

Disasters
At least 463 people had been killed in South Korea’s worst rains and floods in almost half a century.

Boxing
Carlos Monzon (77-3-9) retained his world middleweight title with a technical knockout of Tom Bogs (63-5-1) in the 5th round at Idraetsparken in Copenhagen. Mr. Bogs was knocked down 3 times in the 5th round.

Football
CFL
Montreal (2-1) 25 @ Hamilton (1-3) 23

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
Edmonton’s top 10 (CFRN)
1 Abracadabra—Steve Miller Band
2 Eye in the Sky—Alan Parsons Project
3 American Music—Pointer Sisters
4 Take it Away—Paul McCartney
5 If the Love Fits Wear It—Leslie Pearl
6 Hard to Say I’m Sorry—Chicago
7 Love or Let Me Be Lonely—Paul Davis
8 Love Will Turn You Around—Kenny Rogers
9 Hold Me—Fleetwood Mac
10 Blue Eyes—Elton John

Died on this date
Fritz Crisler, 83. U.S. football, basketball, and baseball coach. Mr. Crisler was head football coach at the University of Minnesota (1930-1931, Princeton University (1932-1937), and the University of Michigan (1938-1947). While at Michigan he developed two-platoon football, using separate units of players for offense and defense. In 18 seasons his teams won 116 games, lost 32, and tied 9. He retired as a coach after coaching the University of Michigan Wolverines to a 10-0 record in 1947, culminating with a 49-0 win over the University of Southern California Trojans in the 1948 Rose Bowl and a national championship. Mr. Crisler was head basketball coach at Princeton from 1932-1934, and the Tigers compiled a record of 32-11. His record as a baseball coach was a more modest 22-25. Mr. Crisler served as the University of Michigan's director of athletics from 1941-1968.

Music
This blogger was in attendance as the Go-Go's made their only Edmonton appearance at Northlands Coliseum. I won tickets to the concert, and I still have the Go-Go's beach towel that was part of the package. The Payolas were the opening act and received a negative response from the audience--because they really weren't very good--despite having a current top 5 hit, Eyes of a Stranger.

War
It was announced that Iranian troops had killed or wounded more than 50 Iraqi soldiers and damaged an Iraqi oil terminal near the head of the Persian Gulf. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein warned that foreign ships using ports in Iran were in danger of being attacked by Iraqi planes.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (1-5) 25 @ Toronto (4-2-1) 35

Condredge Holloway completed 18 of 27 passes for 267 yards and 5 touchdowns to lead the Argonauts past the Rough Riders before 38,258 fans at Exhibition Stadium. Bob Bronk caught 2 of Mr. Holloway’s touchdown passes, with the others going to Cedric Minter, Martin Cox, and Leo Gray. Mr. Holloway also rushed 6 times for 40 yards. Ottawa’s Skip Walker rushed 14 times for 72 yards and 2 touchdowns. Peter Stenerson of the Rough Riders led all receivers with 125 yards on 8 receptions, while teammate Bruce Walker caught 9 for 99 and a 2-point convert.

Baseball
Phil Niekro, a last minute starter, improved his record for the season to 11-3 as the Atlanta Braves edged the Montreal Expos 5-4. Rookie Pascual Perez was scheduled as the starting pitcher for the Braves, but he got lost driving to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): It's a Sin--Pet Shop Boys (4th week at #1)

Crime
Michael Ryan, 27, shot and killed 16 people in the English town of Hungerford in Berkshire before turning the gun on himself.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Abba-esque--Erasure (9th week at #1)

Died on this date
George McIlraith, 84. Canadian politician. A Liberal, Mr. McIlraith was the Member of Parliament in the House of Commons for Ottawa West from 1940-1968 and Ottawa Centre from 1968-1972. In the governments of Prime Ministers Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau, he served as Minister of Transport (1963-1964); Minister of Public Works (1965-1968); and Solicitor General (1968-1970), as well as acting minister in several other portfolios. From 1964-1967 Mr. McIlraith was the government's House of Commons leader in charge of parliamentary strategy. Mr. McIlraith was appointed to the Senate by Mr. Trudeau in 1972 and served there until 1983.

Politics and government
At the Republican National Convention in Houston, U.S. President George Bush and Vice-President Dan Quayle were renominated with no dissenting votes.

Canadian constitutional negotiators announced a plan for a redesigned Senate and House of Commons. The proposed new Senate would have 62 members: 6 from each province and 1 from each territory. The House of Commons would have 42 more members, adding MPs from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, and guaranteeing Quebec 25% of the representation.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the merchandise trade deficit had narrowed to $6.59 billion in June.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (4-3) 20 @ Hamilton (4-3) 21

Paul Osbaldiston’s 33-yard field goal on the last play of regulation time gave the Tiger-Cats the win over the Blue Bombers before 20,932 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Troy Westwood had given the Blue Bombers a 20-18 lead with a 49-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, with 1:48 remaining. Orville Lee rushed 1 yard for a Hamilton touchdown in the 1st quarter, while quarterback Damon Allen rushed 1 yard for the other Hamilton TD late in the 3rd quarter. Winnipeg quarterback Matt Dunigan completed 30 of 46 passes for 333 yards, but the only touchdown he produced came on a 21-yard pass to Eric Streater in the 1st quarter. Winnipeg running back Robert Mimbs, who had led the CFL in rushing yardage in 1990 and 1991, carried 8 times for 25 yards in what turned out to be his last game as a Blue Bomber. After 7 games he had 392 yards—fourth in the league—but was replaced by rookie Michael Richardson.

Baseball
Bret Boone made his major league debut, batting 1 for 4 and driving in a run while playing second base for the Seattle Mariners in a 10-8 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Mr. Boone thus became the first third-generation major league player, after grandfather Ray Boone and father Bob.