December 28, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Heather Pick!

400 years ago
1612

Space
Galileo Galilei became the first astronomer to observe the planet Neptune, although he mistook it for a fixed star when it appeared in conjunction with Jupiter in the night sky.

180 years ago
1832

Politics and government
John C. Calhoun, who had been Vice-President of the United States of America under Presidents John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson since 1825, resigned his office because of differences with Mr. Jackson, becoming the first U.S. Vice-President to resign.

110 years ago
1902

Born on this date
Mortimer Adler. U.S. philosopher. Mr. Adler, one of the best-known American philosophers of the 20th century, wrote such books as How to Read a Book (1940); Great Ideas from the Great Books (1961); and How to Think About the Great Ideas (2000). He died on June 28, 2001 at the age of 98.

Football
The Syracuse Athletic Club blanked the New York Philadelphians 5-0 at Madison Square Garden in New York to win the first game of American professional football to be played indoors.

100 years ago
1912

Transportation
The first municipally-owned streetcars began running in San Francisco.

90 years ago
1922

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Stan Lee! The creator of Marvel comics was born Stanley Lieber in New York City.

80 years ago
1932

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Harry Howell! Mr. Howell played 21 seasons (1952-73) in the National Hockey League and another 3 seasons (1973-76) in the World Hockey Association as a defenseman. Mr. Howell's first 17 seasons were spent with the New York Rangers; he won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman fo 1966-67, becoming not only the last player to win the trophy before the league expanded to 12 teams, but the last to win it before Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins began winning it every year. Mr. Howell was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979. His brother Ron played 4 games with the Rangers in the mid-1950s, but was better known for hs 12-year career as a halfback in the Canadian Football League.

Happy Birthday, Nichelle Nichols! Miss Nichols became one of the first Negro actresses to portray a character of authority on a television series when she played Lt. Uhura in Star Trek (1966-1969). She continued to play the role in several movies.

Dorsey Burnette. U.S. musician. Mr. Burnette, along with his brother Johnny, was a rockabilly performer in the 1950s and 1960s. His best known hit singles were Tall Oak Tree and Hey Little One, both from 1960. Mr. Burnette died of a heart attack on August 19, 1979 at the age of 46, the day after performing at a benefit show for the Arthritis Society in Oxnard, California.

75 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Maurice Ravel, 62. French composer. One of the greatest of French composers, Mr. Ravel's works included Pavane pour une infante défunte (1899); Daphnis et Chloé (1909-1912); Boléro (1928) and Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (1929-1930).

60 years ago
1952

Died on this date
Fletcher Henderson, 55. U.S. musician. Mr. Henderson was a pianist, bandleader, and composer, but was best known as an arranger in the 1920s and 1930s for bandleaders such as Isham Jones and Benny Goodman.

Football
NFL
Championship
Detroit 17 @ Cleveland 7

Bobby Layne rushed 2 yards for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter and Doak Walker rushed 67 yards for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter as the Lions defeated the Browns before 50,934 fans at Municipal Stadium to win the NFL championship for the first time since 1935. Pat Harder converted both Detroit touchdowns. Down 14-0, the Browns cut the deficit in half when Chick Jagade rushed 7 yards for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter, converted by Lou Groza. The Browns later had a first down on the Detroit 5-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs. In the 4th quarter, Cleveland’s Ken Carpenter fumbled a punt, the Lions recovered, and Mr. Harder kicked a 36-yard field goal to close the scoring. Mr. Layne, the Lions’ quarterback, completed 7 of 9 passes for 68 yards and rushed 9 times for 47 yards. Cleveland quarterback Otto Graham completed 20 of 35 passes for 191 yards. Mr. Jagade rushed for 104 yards on 15 carries, while Mr. Walker led the Lions with 97 yards on 10 carries.

50 years ago
1962

Died on this date
Kathleen Clifford, 75. U.S. actress. Miss Clifford was a stage actress in vaudeville and on Broadway, as well as cinema. Her movies included When the Clouds Roll By (1919) and Richard the Lion-Hearted (1923). Miss Clifford chose to retire from movie acting when sound was introduced into motion pictures, shortly after she appeared in Excess Baggage (1928).

40 years ago
1972

Died on this date
John Heiskell, 100. U.S. journalist. Mr. Heiskell edited the Arkansas Gazette daily newspaper from 1902 until his death. A Democrat, he was appointed to fill the United States Senate vacancy in Arkansas caused by the death of Jeff Davis and served from January 6-29, 1913.

War
After 11 days of constant bombing by the United States in Operation Linebacker II, North Vietnam agreed to resume peace talks in Paris.

Politics and government
North Korean dictator Kim Il-sung, who was already Prime Minister and General Secretary of the Workers' Party, became the first President of North Korea.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Heartbreaker--Dionne Warwick (2nd week at #1)

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley (5th week at #1)

20 years ago
1992

Died on this date
Pudlo Pudlat, 76. Canadian artist. Mr. Pudlat was the first Inuit artist to have a one-person show at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

Sal Maglie, 75. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Maglie pitched in the major leagues with the New York Giants (1945, 1950-1955); Cleveland Indians (1955-1956); Brooklyn Dodgers (1956-1957); New York Yankees (1957-1958); and St. Louis Cardinals (1958), compiling a record of 119 wins and 62 losses for a winning percentage of .657. After his rookie year, he jumped to the Mexican League in 1946 and was one of several players who was banned from returning to the major leagues. The ban was lifted in 1949, and he returned to the Giants in 1950; Mr. Maglie led the National League that year in earned run average and winning percentage. In 1951 Mr. Maglie and teammate Larry Jansen tied for the NL lead in wins with 23 as the Giants made a late charge to defeat the Dodgers in a 3-game playoff to win the NL pennant. He was known as "The Barber" for giving "close shaves," i.e., pitching inside to hitters, often close to their chins. Mr. Maglie was born and died in Niagara Falls, New York.