July 28, 2013

150 years ago
1863

Born on this date
Ed Carfrey. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Carfrey was a shortstop with the Philadelphia Athletics (1890), batting .250 (1 for 4) with no home runs or runs batted in in his only game, on April 19, 1890. He played 3 years in the minor leagues (1894-1896), and with various semi-professional teams in the 1880s and '90s. Mr. Carfrey was an ironworker in Philadelphia when he wasn't playing baseball. He died on October 2, 1921 at the age of 58.

Canadiana
An imperial statute defined the boundaries of British Columbia.

130 years ago
1883

Transportation
A record 10.9 kilometres of track were laid in one day for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Laird Cregar. U.S. actor. Mr. Cregar, who seldom weighed less than 300 pounds as an adult, played "heavies" in plays and films. He was perhaps best known for his supporting role in the film noir This Gun for Hire (1942) and his starring roles in The Lodger (1944) and Hangover Square (1945). During the filming of the latter, Mr. Cregar went on a crash diet, which put a strain on his system. He suffered a heart attack after abdominal surgery, and died on December 9, 1944 at the age of 31.

80 years ago
1933

Diplomacy
Diplomatic relations between the U.S.S.R. and Spain were established.

75 years ago
1938

Disasters
The Pan American Airways Martin M-130 flying boat Hawaii Clipper, en route from Guam to Manila with 6 passengers and 9 crew members, disappeared. It was the first loss of an airliner in the trans-Pacific China Clipper service, which had been inaugurated as an airmail service in 1935 and had begun carrying passengers in 1936.

70 years ago
1943

War
Canadian troops captured the town of Agira, Italy after five days of hard and costly fighting against heavily dug-in German troops. The U.S. 7th Army drove toward the northern flank of the German line in Sicily, capturing Pollina, Castelbuono, and Gangi. The U.K. Royal Air Force bombed Hamburg, causing a firestorm that killed 42,000 German civilians.

Diplomacy
Uruguay renewed relations with the U.S.S.R.

Politics and government
The Italian cabinet ordered the dissolution of the National Fascist Party and abolished the Fascist Grand Council and the special tribunals for national defense.

Protest
Dispatches from Berne told of rioting and demonstrations in several Italian cities, with the rioters demanding peace, and socialists in Milan demanding a general strike.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced the end of coffee rationing and promised early increases in sugar allowances.

Disasters
A hurricane struck the Texas Gulf Coast, killing 13 people and causing an estimated $10 million in damage.

60 years ago
1953

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Dance, starring John Baragrey, Katharine Bard, and June Walker



40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Do You Love Me?--Sharif Dean (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am!)--Gary Glitter

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Daisy a Day--Jud Strunk
2 The Morning After--Maureen McGovern
3 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
4 My Love--Paul McCartney & Wings
5 Heaven is My Woman's Love--Col Joye
6 The Twelfth of Never--Donny Osmond
7 Suzie Darling--Barrie Crocker
8 Get Down--Gilbert O'Sullivan
9 You are the Sunshine of My Life--Stevie Wonder
10 Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy--Bette Midler

Singles entering the chart were Delta Dawn by Helen Reddy (#37) and The Free Electric Band by Albert Hammond (#39).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Bad, Bad Leroy Brown--Jim Croce (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Bad, Bad Leroy Brown--Jim Croce
2 Yesterday Once More--Carpenters
3 Smoke on the Water--Deep Purple
4 Shambala--Three Dog Night
5 Natural High--Bloodstone
6 Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy--Bette Midler
7 Get Down--Gilbert O'Sullivan
8 Touch Me in the Morning--Diana Ross
9 Diamond Girl--Seals and Crofts
10 Money--Pink Floyd

Singles entering the chart were Loves Me Like a Rock by Paul Simon with the Dixie Hummingbirds (#72); Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting by Elton John (#75); That Lady (Part 1) by the Isley Brothers (#77); My Maria by B.W. Stevenson (#86); Future Shock by Curtis Mayfield (#87); Loving Arms by Dobie Gray (#88); A Million to One by Donny Osmond (#89); and It's Forever by the Ebonys (#93).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Bad, Bad Leroy Brown--Jim Croce
2 Yesterday Once More--Carpenters
3 Monster Mash--Bobby (Boris) Pickett and the Crypt Kickers
4 Shambala--Three Dog Night
5 Smoke on the Water--Deep Purple
6 Will it Go Round in Circles--Billy Preston
7 Kodachrome--Paul Simon
8 Playground in My Mind--Clint Holmes
9 Get Down--Gilbert O'Sullivan
10 Give Me Love--(Give Me Peace on Earth)--George Harrison

Singles entering the chart were Loves Me Like a Rock by Paul Simon with the Dixie Hummingbirds (#89); Gypsy Man by War (#91); Spending My Time by Chad Allan (#94); Love You Easy by Greg Missler (#96); Sittin' Waitin' by Riverson (#97); Morning Town Ride by the Irish Rovers (#98); Make My Life a Little Bit Brighter by Chester (#99); and Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting by Elton John (#100).

Calgary's Top 10
1 The Morning After--Maureen McGovern
2 Will it Go Round in Circles--Billy Preston
3 Playground in My Mind--Clint Holmes
4 Swamp Witch--Jim Stafford
5 Bad, Bad Leroy Brown--Jim Croce
6 Touch Me in the Morning--Diana Ross
7 It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference--Tom Middleton
8 Glamour Boy--The Guess Who
9 Kodachrome--Paul Simon
10 Get Down--Gilbert O'Sullivan
Pick hit of the week: Live and Let Die--Wings

Music
600,000 fans attended the Watkins Glen Summer Jam at Watkins Glen International Raceway in New York state. It was the largest crowd ever to attend such a festival in the United States. Performing artists at the 12-hour concert included The Band, The Grateful Dead, and The Allman Brothers Band.

Space
The Skylab 2 mission began when the crew of Alan Bean, Jack Lousma, and Owen Garriott lifted off from Cape Kennedy, Florida. The mission was scheduled for 58 days, with the assignment to study the physiology of man in space, the physics of the sun, and the resources of the Earth.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
Canada's top 30
1 Every Breath You Take--The Police
2 Baby Jane--Rod Stewart
3 Never Gonna Let You Go--Sergio Mendes
4 Hot Girls in Love--Loverboy
5 1999--Prince
6 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)--Eurythmics
7 Wanna Be Startin' Something--Michael Jackson
8 Maniac--Michael Sembello
9 Stand Back--Stevie Nicks
10 Is There Something I Should Know--Duran Duran
11 Come Dancing--The Kinks
12 Change--Tears for Fears
13 Wishing--A Flock of Seagulls
14 China Girl--David Bowie
15 It's a Mistake--Men at Work
16 I'm Still Standing--Elton John
17 Rock and Roll is King--Electric Light Orchestra
18 Human Touch--Rick Springfield
19 Video Kids--Prototype
20 Total Eclipse of the Heart--Bonnie Tyler
21 Moonlight Shadow--Mike Oldfield
22 Stop in the Name of Love--The Hollies
23 She Works Hard for the Money--Donna Summer
24 Best Years of Our Lives--Mens Room
25 Our House--Madness
26 All This Love--Debarge
27 Electric Avenue--Eddy Grant
28 The Haunting--The Front
29 Tell Her About It--Billy Joel
30 Take Me to Heart--Quarterflash

Law
The Polish parliament approved amendments to the penal code that were aimed at the control of political dissent. Prison terms were established for participation in banned organizations or for organizing or leading illegal protests. Another amendment broadened the censorship law.

Defense
The United States House of Representatives voted 228-195 to ban all aid to rebels opposing the Sandanista government of Nicaragua after many members concluded that the U.S.-backed Contra insurgents had not succeeded in interdicting arms from Nicaragua to Salvadoran rebels. Cuban dictator Fidel Castro said that Cuba would withdraw its advisers from Nicaragua as part of a comprehensive withdrawal of other advisers.

Scandal
The United States Justice Department announced that it was ending an inquiry into illegal drug activities on Capitol Hill in Washington and would not bring charges against any members of Congress. Two people, including a former page, had previously pled guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine to people employed on Capitol Hill.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (2-1) 44 @ Ottawa (1-3) 4

Jim Germany scored 2 touchdowns and Warren Moon quarterbacked an effective offense ass the Eskimos routed the Rough Riders at Lansdowne Park in the best game they played under head coach Pete Kettela. Rookie Matt Dunigan saw his first regular season CFL action at quarterback for the Eskimos, completing a 51-yard bomb to Waddell Smith and handing off to Mr. Germany for a 1-yard touchdown run a few plays later. It was the first touchdown produced by Mr. Dunigan, and the 71st and last of Mr. Germany's CFL career.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Gimme Hope Jo’anna--Eddy Grant (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Yé ké yé ké--Mory Kanté (2nd week at #1)

Law
In a free vote, the Canadian House of Commons rejected a government resolution and five amendments in an abortion bill.

Politics and government
Paddy Ashdown, MP for Yeuvil, was elected leader of Britain's new Social and Liberal Democrat Party.

Disasters
Both houses of the United States Congress approved bills to provide relief to drought-stricken areas of the country, including a grant of up to $100,000 to farmers who had lost at least 35% of their crops. The similar bills would be reconciled in a conference committee. Rain in July had eased the drought somewhat.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (2-1) 21 @ Toronto (2-1) 26

20 years ago
1993

Diplomacy
Andorra joined the United Nations.

Football
CFL
Toronto (0-4) 36 @ Calgary (4-0) 39

Doug Flutie completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Keyvan Jenkins with less than a minute remaining in regulation time, and Mark McLoughlin converted and then kicked a 38-yard field goal to win the game as the Stampeders edged the Argonauts before 25,210 fans at McMahon Stadium. Mr. Flutie completed 34 of 52 passes for 477 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Baseball
Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Seattle Mariners led off the bottom of the 7th inning with a home run off Willie Banks of the Minnesota Twins before 30,413 fans at the Kingdome in Seattle to tie a major league record by homering in his eighth straight game. The record was set by Dale Long of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1956 and tied by Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees in 1987. Mr. Griffey's record-tying homer was his team's only run as the Twins won 5-1, with Mr. Banks allowing 3 hits in 7 innings to get the win.

Coincidentally, Mr. Mattingly hit a home run and 2 singles to help the Yankees defeat the Detroit Tigers 12-7 before 37,508 fans at Tiger Stadium. Detroit third baseman Travis Fryman hit for the cycle, batting 5 for 5 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 4 runs batted in.

Errors by Mike Devereaux and Cal Ripken, Jr. allowed Paul Molitor to score the winning run with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Toronto Blue Jays edged the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 before 50,523 fans at SkyDome in Toronto.

The Florida Marlins scored a run in the top of the 9th inning to break a 3-3 tie, but the New York Mets scored 2 in the bottom of the 9th to win 5-4 before 24,377 fans at Shea Stadium in New York.

Darren Daulton drove in 6 runs with a grand slam and a triple to help the Philadelphia Phillies overcome an early 4-0 deficit and defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 14-6 before 46,346 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

Don Slaught doubled to lead off the bottom of the 9th inning and beat first baseman Derrick White's throw to home plate on a ground ball by Al Martin to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3-2 win over the Montreal Expos before 13,470 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. Joe Siddall made his major league debut with the Expos, entering the game in the 9th inning as the catcher.

Tom Candiotti allowed 5 hits and 1 run in 8 1/3 innings to win the pitchers' duel over Bud Black as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the San Francisco Giants 2-1 before 46,025 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. San Francisco catcher Jim McNamara batted 0 for 3 and made 3 putouts in the 34th and last game of his 2-year major league career.

10 years ago
2003

Scandal
J.P. Morgan and Citigroup, the two largest banks in the United States, agreed to pay nearly $300 million in fines and penalties to settle charges that they had aided Enron in deceiving investors as to its financial health, even while performing no transactions that were technically illegal.