October 23, 2013

125 years ago
1888

Born on this date
Onésime Gagnon. Canadian politician. Professor Gagnon, a native of Saint-Léon-de-Standon, Quebec, was a law professor at Université Laval (1942-1958). A Conservative, he represented Dorchester in the Canadian House of Commons (1930-1935) serving briefly as Minister Without Portfolio (1935). He unsuccessfully campaigned for the leadsership of the Quebec Conservative Party in 1933, but was elected to the Quebec Legislative Assembly in 1936 as a Union Nationale candidate, representing Matane (1936-1958), serving in the cabinet of Premier Maurice Duplessis as Minister of Fisheries (1936-1939) and Treasurer (1944-1958). Prof. Gagnon left his academic post and provincial politics to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, serving from February 14, 1958 until his death in office, 23 days before his 73rd birthday. He was succeeded by Paul Comtois.

120 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Gummo Marx. U.S. actor and talent agent. Milton Marx was the fourth of the five Marx Brothers, and was part of their vaudeville act until the time of World War I, when he entered the United States Army, and was replaced in the act by his younger brother Zeppo. After the war, Gummo became a successful businessman, and served as an agent representing various people in show business, including his brother Groucho. He died on April 21, 1977 at the age of 83.

Died on this date
Alexander of Battenberg, 36. Prince of Bulgaria, 1879-1886. Alexander Joseph was the second son of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine by the latter's morganatic marriage with Countess Julia von Hauke, and a nephew of Czar Aleksandr II of Russia. The Bulgarian Grand National Assembly, on Czar Aleksandr's recommendation, elected Alexander Joseph as prince of the newly-autonomous principality. He proved to be a capable soldier and sound diplomat, but a union with Eastern Rumelia led to a military plot that forced his abdication, and he retired to private life.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Gordie Drillon. Canadian hockey player. Mr. Drillon, a native of Moncton, New Brunswick, played left wing with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1936-1942 and the Montreal Canadiens in 1942-43, scoring 294 points on 155 goals and 139 assists in 311 games. He won the Art Ross Trophy in 1937-38 as the NHL's leading scorer with 26 goals and 26 assists in 48 games, and remains the most recent member of the Maple Leafs to win that trophy. Mr. Drillon also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy that year as the league's most gentlemanly player, and made the NHL's first All-Star team in that and the following season. He made the second All-Star team in the 1941-42 season. Mr. Drillon was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975 and died on September 23, 1986 at the age of 72.

Baseball
The New York Giants and Chicago White Sox continued their post-season exhibition tour, with the Giants winning 6-3 in Sioux City, Iowa.

90 years ago
1923

Baseball
Little World Series
Baltimore Orioles' owner and manager Jack Dunn suspended pitcher Chief Bender and catcher Lena Styles indefinitely because of his disgust at their conduct at a banquet for the International League champion Orioles and their Little World Series opponents, the American Association champion Kansas City Blues, the previous night.

75 years ago
1938

Radio
Canadian singers and orchestras produced A Musical Portrait of Canada, the first major Canadian broadcast heard around the world.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Sunday, Monday, or Always--Bing Crosby and the Ken Darby Singers (7th week at #1)

Married on this date
Former U.K. Prime Minister David Lloyd George, 80, married Frances Stevenson, 55, his secretary since 1911.

War
The British cruiser HMS Charybdis and destroyer HMS Limbourne were lost to enemy action in the English Channel off the French coast. After 11 days of street fighting, Soviet troops took the key city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine. U.K. troops in Italy forced German troops to retreat at the Trigno River, taking three towns along a 50-mile front. 230 Allied planes dropped 130 tons of bombs on Bougainville Island, temporarily putting the airports at Kahili and Kara out of commission.

World events
Charters of Jewish and Masonic societies were withdrawn in the Argentine province of Entre, while the student organization Federacion Universitaria Argentina was outlawed in Buenos Aires as "communistic."

Economics and finance
U.S. War Production Board acting Chairman Charles Wilson reported that September war production was "disappointing" except for a 6% increase in four-motored bombers.

Football
WCASRFL
Winnipeg RCAF (5-0) 34 @ Regina (2-4) 24

Johnny Lake, Al Olsen, Cliff McFayden, Jim Berry, Don Durno, and Sammy Lavitt scored touchdowns for the Bombers as they beat the All-Services Roughriders at Parc de Young. Mr. Lake added 3 converts and Mr. Gellers 1 convert. Ken Charlton scored 3 touchdowns for the Roughriders, while Joe Turner added a touchdown and single. George Cullen converted 3 of the Regina touchdowns.

60 years ago
1953

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Hey Joe!--Frankie Laine

40 years ago
1973

Scandal
Charles Alan Wright, attorney for U.S. President Richard Nixon, told U.S. federal district court Judge John Sirica that Mr. Nixon would obey a court order and turn over tapes of White House conversations, including those related to the June 1972 break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. The House of Representatives began to consider impeachment proceedings against Mr. Nixon.

A U.S. federal grand jury in New York indicted U.S. Representative Frank Brasco (Democrat--New York) of Brooklyn on charges of conspiring to receive $27,500 in illegal payoffs in 1968 from a Bronx trucking concern led by an alleged member of the Mafia.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: I'm Still Standing--Elton John (2nd week at #1)

Terrorism
241 men, mostly U.S. Marines, were killed when a bomb detonated by the driver of a truck exploded at 6:22 A.M. at the headquarters building occupied by U.S. troops in Beirut. The truck driver was apparently affiliated with a fundamentalist Isamic sect. Two minutes later, another bomb exploded at the French paratroop barracks two miles away, killing 58 French soldiers in the multinational peacekeeping force. The two terrorists were also killed.

World events
The hardline Communist regime that had assassinated Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and seized power four days earlier predicted that the island would be invaded by its neighbours in the eastern Caribbean area. The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) sent an "urgent, formal request" to the United States to help "restore order and democracy" in Grenada.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (8-6) 20 @ Toronto (10-4) 19
Edmonton (8-7) 15 @ Winnipeg (9-6) 33

Backup quarterback Prince McJunkins, who had relieved starter J.C. Watts to begin the 2nd half, completed a 4-yard touchdown pas to Skip Walker with 2 seconds remaining, and Gerry Organ's convert gave the Rough Riders the victory before 36,526 fans at Exhibition Stadium. 2 touchdowns by Cedric Minter had helped Toronto to a 19-7 lead after 3 quarters, but Mr. Walker, who rushed 22 times for 145 yards, ran 33 yards for a touchdown at 2:25 of the 4th quarter. A 2-point convert attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Rough Riders trailing 19-13. Toronto kicker Hank Ilesic appeared to have given his team a 7-point lead with a single on a wide 38-yard field goal attempt with less than 3 minutes remaining. The scoreboard read 20-13 in favour of Toronto and the ball was placed at the Ottawa 35-yard line after the kick, but it was later ruled that the ball had ticked the upright on its way through the end zone, resulting in a dead ball and no single point. However, the ball in that case should have been put in play from the 25-yard line.

John Hufnagel completed 18 of 28 passes for 373 yards and 2 touchdowns to Joe Poplawski, and Trevor Kennerd added 2 converts, 6 field goals, and a single as the Blue Bombers beat the Eskimos before 24,206 fans at Winnipeg Stadium on a rainy Sunday afternoon to clinch second place in the Western Division for the third straight season. James Murphy of the Blue Bombers led all receivers with 168 yards on 7 receptions. Tom Scott scored the only Edmonton touchdown on a 20-yard pass from Warren Moon early in the 4th quarter. Mr. Moon completed 19 of 36 passes for 265 yards and 2 interceptions. Edmonton punter Paul Hickie kicked 4 singles. Larry Cowan played his first CFL game as a running back with the Eskimos, gaining just 22 yards on 7 carries and catching 1 pass for 9 yards. Winnipeg's Willard Reaves carried 8 times for 30 yards and caught 1 pass for 6 yards, but suffered a season-ending knee injury.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Desire--U2 (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Hand in Hand--Koreana (6th week at #1)

Disasters
At least 111 people, 50 in Nicaragua, were reported dead after a hurricane had swept through the Caribbean area over the previous five days.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (9-7) 13 @ Toronto (12-4) 36
British Columbia (8-8) 35 @ Edmonton (10-6) 15

The Blue Bombers turned over the ball 6 times in the 2nd half of their loss to the Argonauts before 23,324 fans at Exhibition Stadium.



The Eskimos turned over the ball 7 times in their loss to the Lions before 30,030 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. The Lions were cruising with a 21-1 lead in the 2nd half before the Eskimos struck back with 2 quick touchdowns (including one from Henry "Gizmo" Williams on a 75-yard punt return) to cut the deficit to 21-15. However, former Eskimo quarterback Matt Dunigan produced 2 more touchdowns to put the Eskimos away. The Eskimos added Tommy-Joe Coffey and John LaGrone to the Wall of Honour at halftime; this blogger got to meet the honourees that day, and it was a privilege to meet both men. For CJCA's Bryan Hall, it was his 500th game as a play-by-play broadcaster. Another notable feature of the game was that the Lions brought their cheerleaders to the game with them, making for some enjoyable viewing.

Baseball
Nippon Series
Seibu Lions 3 @ Chunichi Dragons 7 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Living on My Own (1993)--Freddie Mercury (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Living on My Own (1993)--Freddie Mercury (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): What's Up?--4 Non Blondes (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Mets de l'huile--Regg'Lyss (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): It Keeps Rainin' (Tears from My Eyes)--Bitty McLean (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Dreamlover--Mariah Carey (7th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The River of Dreams--Billy Joel
2 Just Kickin' It--Xscape
3 Dreamlover--Mariah Carey
4 I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf
5 All that She Wants--Ace of Base
6 Another Sad Love Song--Toni Braxton
7 Right Here/Human Nature--SWV
8 Hey Mr. D.J.--Zhane
9 Anniversary--Tony Toni Tone
10 Reason to Believe--Rod Stewart

Singles entering the chart were Runaway Love by En Vogue featuring FMob (#43); Breathe Again by Toni Braxton (#46); Shoop by Salt-N-Pepa (#48); Can We Talk by Tevin Campbell (#51); Wild World by Mr. Big (#59); As Long as I Can Dream by Expose (#73); Shifftee by Onyx (#84); Foreplay by RAab (#88); and Written on Ya Kitten by Naughty by Nature (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Dreamlover--Mariah Carey (6th week at #1)
2 The River of Dreams--Billy Joel
3 Reason to Believe--Rod Stewart
4 I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf
5 No Rain--Blind Melon
6 Two Steps Behind--Def Leppard
7 Human Wheels--John Mellencamp
8 Hopelessly--Rick Astley
9 When There's Time (For Love)--Lawrence Gowan
10 Nothing 'Bout Me--Sting

Singles entering the chart were Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by Crash Test Dummies (#57); Again by Janet Jackson (#67); Don't Fall Apart on Me by Aaron Neville (#68); I'll Always Be There by Roch Voisine (#73); Please Forgive Me by Bryan Adams (#79); Out of My Head by Junkhouse (#86); and Heart Shaped Box by Nirvana (#90).

Terrorism
A Provisional Irish Republican Army bomb prematurely detonated in the Shankill area of Belfast, killing bomber Thomas Begley, 22, and nine Protestant civilians, and wounding 50 others.

Football
CFL
Calgary (14-2) 45 @ Saskatchewan (10-7) 48
Toronto (3-13) 24 @ Sacramento (5-11) 38

The Roughriders opened up a 35-7 lead in the 2nd quarter but needed a 34-yard field goal by Dave Ridgway with 1 second remaining in regulation time to defeat the Stampeders before 26,137 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Saskatchewan quarterback Kent Austin rushed for 3 touchdowns and completed touchdown passes to Jeff Fairholm, Bruce Boyko, and Ray Elgaard. Calgary quarterback Doug Flutie rushed for 2 TDs and threw 3 touchdown passes to Brian Wiggins and another to Dave Sapunjis, while completing a pass to Derrick Crawford for a 2-point convert. Mr. Elgaard caught 10 passes for 154 yards and set the CFL career record for yards receiving, breaking the record formerly held by Brian Kelly.

David Archer threw 2 touchdown passes to Joe Howard Johnson and 1 each to James Pruitt and Rod Harris, while rushing for a TD of his own to lead the Gold Miners over the Argonauts before 11,574 fans at Hornet Field. Toronto quarterback Tracy Ham rushed 21 yards for a touchdown and completed touchdown passes to Mike Clemons and Manny Hazard, while Mr. Clemons added a 2-point convert.



CIAU
McGill (4-3) 37 @ Queen's (2-5) 24



Baseball
World Series
Philadelphia Phillies 6 @ Toronto Blue Jays 8 (Toronto won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Joe Carter's 3-run home run off Mitch Williams in the bottom of the 9th inning before 52,195 fans at SkyDome gave the Blue Jays their second straight World Series championship. The Blue Jays scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning off Philadelphia starting pitcher Terry Mulholland and led 5-1 after 6 innings, but the Phillies rallied for 5 runs in the top of the 7th--3 on a home run by Lenny Dykstra--to take a 6-5 lead and knock Toronto starting pitcher Dave Stewart out of the game. Mr. Williams entered the game in the bottom of the 9th and walked leadoff batter Rickey Henderson. Devon White flied out and Paul Molitor singled, with Mr. Henderson stopping at second base. Mr. Carter then hit a 2-2 pitch for the game-winning home run, marking only the second time--after Bill Mazeroski's home run leading off the bottom of the 9th in the seventh game of the 1960 World Series--that a World Series had ended with a home run. Toronto radio broadcaster Tom Cheek's call of "Touch 'em all Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!" immediately became legendary. Duane Ward, who had entered the game in the top of the 9th inning and retired all 3 batters, was the winning pitcher. For Mr. Williams, who had already pitched poorly in the series, the loss was his second of the series. Mr. Molitor, who batted .500 (12 for 24) with 2 home runs, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 10 runs, and 8 runs batted in, was named the series' Most Valuable Player.



Nippon Series
Yakult Swallows 8 @ Seibu Lions 5 (Yakult led best-of-seven series 1-0)

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Soong May-ling (Madame Chiang Kai-shek), 105. Chinese First Lady. Madame Chiang was the wife of Generalissio Chiang Kai-shek and served as First Lady of the Republic of China from 1948 until Chiang's death in 1975. She was a popular figure in the U.S.A. while trying to drum up support for the Nationalist Chinese cause during World War II, and spent her later years in the United States.

Baseball
World Series
New York Yankees 4 @ Florida Marlins 6 (Florida led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Brad Penny gave up 2 runs--1 earned--in 7 innings to get his second win of the series and drove in 2 runs with a single in the 2nd inning as the Marlins won before 65,975 fans in the last World Series game ever played at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens. David Wells started on the mound for New York and retired the Marlins in order in the 1st, but was removed for a pinch hitter in the to of the 2nd because of a back injury. Jose Contreras pitched the next 3 innings, giving up 5 hits, 3 bases on balls, and 4 runs--all earned--in taking the loss. After falling behind 1-0 in the 1st, Florida came back with 3 in the 2nd, a run in the 4th, and 2 in the 5th to take a 6-1 lead. It was 6-2 until the Yankees mounted a 9th-inning rally for the second straight night. With 1 out, pinch hitter Jason Giambi hit a home run, Derek Jeter singled, and Enrique Wilson doubled him home to make the score 6-4. Ugueth Urbina relieved Brad Looper on the mound and retired Bernie Williams and Hideki Matsui to pick up his second save of the series.