June 12, 2014

150 years ago
1864

War
In the U.S. Civil War, General U.S. Grant pulled his Union forces from their positions at Cold Harbor, Virginia and moved south, handing victory to Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee in the second Battle of Cold Harbor.

130 years ago
1884

Born on this date
Otto Knabe. U.S. baseball player and manager. Mr. Knabe was a second baseman who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1905, 1916); Philadelphia Phillies (1907-1913); Baltimore Terrapins (1914-1915); and Chicago Cubs (1916), batting .247 with 8 home runs and 365 runs batted in in 1,285 games. He also managed the Federal League Terrapins in 1914-1915, compiling a record of 131-177-6-1. Mr. Knabe died from a stroke on May 17, 1961 at the age of 76.

125 years ago
1889

Disasters
In the United Kingdom's worst rail disaster of the 19th century, 80 people were killed and 260 injured near Armagh in what is now Northern Ireland.

120 years ago
1894

Golf
J.H. Taylor won the British Open at Royal St. George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England with a score of 326, 5 strokes ahead of Douglas Rolland. First prize money was £30.

75 years ago
1939

Golf
Byron Nelson shot a 1-over-par 70 to finish 3 strokes ahead of Craig Wood in a second playoff round to win the U.S. Open at Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. First prize money was $1,000.



Baseball
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was dedicated in Cooperstown, New York.

The New York Yankees were in Kansas City, where they played an exhibition game at Ruppert Stadium against their' top farm team, the Kansas City Blues of the American Association. Lou Gehrig, who had last played on April 30 and had pulled himself from the lineup on May 2, played 3 innings at first base for the Yankees, and reportedly struggled mightily in the field. The next day he checked into the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for tests; on June 19, it was revealed that Mr. Gehrig was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

70 years ago
1944

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Monster of Gyre

Died on this date
Erich Marcks, 53. German military officer. General der Artillerie Marcks wrote the first draft of Operation Draft East, the operational plan for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the U.S.S.R. during World War II. He was wounded in Ukraine in June 1941, resulting in the amputation of his left leg but continued as an infantry commander. General der Artillerie Marcks was fatally wounded in an Allied air attack on St. Lo, France, six days after his 53rd birthday.

War
U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, S.A. Prime Minister Field Marshal Jan Smuts, and General Sir Alan Brooke, chief of the U.K. Imperial General Staff, spent three hours on the Normandy beachhead as Allied ships bombarded German positions. The Canadian Army's 3rd Division was withdrawn from battle in France for three weeks until July 4. U.S. paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division secured the town of Carentan, 30 miles southeast of Cherbourg in Normandy.

Defense
U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull said that postwar use by the United States of bases in Latin America "must depend on developments," but that arrangements would be based upon mutual consent.

Politics and government
Vichy radio reported that German military authorities were in control of many government functions due to uprisings by patriots throughout France.

The Greek government voted to ban King George II from returning to Greece until a plebiscite determined whether his return was desired by the people.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court reversed convictions under the Espionage Act of 1917, limiting its application to "willful or specific intent to promote insubordination, disloyalty or unrest in the armed forces."

Economics and finance
The U.S. Senate passed a modified "G.I. Bill," costing an estimated $3 billion-$6.5 billion.

60 years ago
1954

Hit Parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Answer Me, My Love--Nat "King" Cole; Answer Me, Lord Above--Frankie Laine (2nd week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Little Things Mean a Lot--Kitty Kallen (Best Seller--2nd week at #1; Disc Jockey--1st week at #1); Wanted--Perry Como (Jukebox--6th week at #1)

#1 Rhythm and Blues single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Shake, Rattle and Roll--Joe Turner and his Blues Kings

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Little Things Mean a Lot--Kitty Kallen (2nd week at #1)
2 Wanted--Perry Como
3 Three Coins in the Fountain--The Four Aces
4 The Happy Wanderer--Frank Weir and his Orchestra
--Henri Rene's Musette
5 If You Love Me (Really Love Me)--Kay Starr
--Vera Lynn
6 Young at Heart--Frank Sinatra
7 I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)--The Four Knights
8 Hernando's Hideaway--Archie Bleyer
9 Isle of Capri--The Gaylords
--Jackie Lee and his Orchestra
10 Here--Tony Martin

Singles entering the chart were Jackie Lee and his Orchestra's version of Isle of Capri; Hit and Run Affair (#26)/There Never was a Night So Beautiful (#33) by Perry Como; A Carnival in Venice by the Mills Brothers (#34); Some Day by Frankie Laine (#41); and Sway (Quien Sera) by Dean Martin (#44).

Baseball
Jim Wilson pitched a no-hitter as the Milwaukee Braves blanked the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 at County Stadium in Milwaukee. It was the first no-hitter for the Braves since moving from Boston in 1953, and the first major league no-hitter pitched in Milwaukee.

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): It's Over--Roy Orbison

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 A World Without Love--Peter and Gordon (2nd week at #1)
2 All My Loving--The Beatles
3 Do You Love Me--The Dave Clark Five
4 Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying--Gerry and the Pacemakers
5 As Long as I'm Sure of You--Bobby Curtola
6 My Boy Lollipop--Millie Small
7 Sidewinder--Wes Dakus and the CJCA Rebels
8 Thank You Girl--The Beatles
9 Viva Las Vegas--Elvis Presley
10 Little Children--Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas
Pick hit of the week: True, True Lovin'--Cliff Richard and the Shadows
New this week: You're My World (Il Mio Mondo)--Cilla Black
A Little Toy Balloon--Danny Williams
Angelito--Rene and Rene
I Love You Baby--Freddie and the Dreamers
I Want to Hold Your Hand--Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra
Love is All We Need--Vic Dana

Terrorism
South African Communist Nelson Mandela and seven other defendants, including former African National Congress general secretary Walter Sisulu were sentenced in Pretoria to life in prison for plotting to destroy the South African state by sabotage.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Waterloo--ABBA (8th week at #1)

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon arrived in Egypt to begin a visit to the Middle East.

Politics and government
U.S. government and Congressional leaders urged Secretary of State Henry Kissinger not to carry out his threat of the previous day to resign unless allegations that he had participated in "illegal and shady" wiretapping activity were cleared up. The allegations related to Mr. Kissinger's time with the National Security Council, and accused Mr. Kissinger of being more directly involved in federal wiretapping of 13 newspapers and 4 federal officials from 1969-1971 than he had led Senators to believe in his confirmation hearings in 1973.

Hockey
WHL
The Western Hockey League ceased operations after 26 seasons as a minor professional league. The increasing costs of doing business and increasing competition from the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association made it increasingly difficult for the Seattle-based WHL to find cities in which to locate franchises. The WHL, whose president for the first 22 seasons of its existence was Al Leader, was once home to such teams as the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Flyers, Calgary Stampeders, and Saskatoon Blades.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Big in Japan--Alphaville (3rd week at #1)

Politics and government
The Lebanese parliament approved the "national unity" cabinet of Prime Minister Rashid Karami and granted him emergency powers for nine months, while denying his request to govern by decree.

Education
Premier William Davis announced that Ontario would give Roman Catholic separate schools the same status and funding as Ontario's public education system to Grade 13; previously it applied only through Grade 10.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Los Angeles Lakers 102 @ Boston 111 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Cedric Maxwell scored 24 points and added 8 rebounds and 8 assists as the Celtics defeated the Lakers before 14,890 fans at Boston Garden. Los Angeles whittled a 14-point deficit to 3 points with 1 minute remaining in regulation time when Mr. Maxwell knocked the ball away from Magic Johnson, and Boston's Dennis Johnson made 2 free throws. Boston forward Larry Bird was named the Finals' Most Valuable Player.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Eternal Flame--Bangles

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Ibiza--Amnesia (3rd week at #1)

Canada's top 10 (RPM):
1 Rock On--Michael Damian
2 Forever Your Girl--Paula Abdul
3 Soldier of Love--Donny Osmond
4 Pop Singer--John Mellencamp
5 Everlasting Love--Howard Jones
6 Satisfied--Richard Marx
7 I Won't Back Down--Tom Petty
8 Real Love--Jody Watley
9 Good Thing--Fine Young Cannibals
10 Patience--Guns n' Roses

Singles entering the chart were Hard Sun by Indio (#73); Harry Houdini by Kan Kan (#75); Wildfire by the Nylons (#78); Keep Each Other Warm by Barry Manilow (#79); Don't Say You Love Me by Billy Squier (#85); We Can Last Forever by Chicago (#87); and Toy Soldiers by Martika (#91).

Died on this date
Lou Monte, 72. U.S. singer. Born Louis Scaglione, Mr. Monte had a string of Italian-themed novelty hit singles in the 1950s and '60s, including Darktown Strutters' Ball (1954); Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey (1960); and Pepino the Italian Mouse (1962).

Diplomacy
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev arrived in Bonn for meetings with West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and President Richard von Weizsaecker.

U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle began a visit to Central America, meeting with Guatemalan President Vinico Cerezo and Honduran President Jose Azcona. Before leaving Guatemala, Mr. Quayle accused the Sandanista regime of exporting terrorism, and described Nicaragua, Panama, and Cuba as an anti-democratic axis.

Politics and government
Raul Alfonsin announced that he would resign as President of Argentina effective June 30 because of a worsening economic situation. President-elect Carlos Menem, who had been elected in May, wasn't scheduled to be sworn in until December.

Environment
U.S. President George Bush presented a plan to Congress to revise the Clean Air Act in order to blunt the adverse effects of acid rain, encourage the use of alternative fuels for automobiles, and reduce levels of tailpipe emissions and gasoline vapour levels.

Economics and finance
Figures released by the government of Argentina showed that an inflation rate of 309,907% had been recorded since Raul Alfonsin had taken office as President in 1983.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: The Most Beautiful Girl in the World--The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (Love Symbol) (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Without You--Mariah Carey (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: The Most Beautiful Girl in the World--The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (Love Symbol) (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Love is All Around--Wet Wet Wet (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Menachem Schneerson, 92. Russian-born U.S. clergyman. Rebbe Schneerson was a Hasidic rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe (Hasidic leader) of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, which has its origins in Russia. He led the movement from his base in Brooklyn, New York from 1951 until his death. Some of Rebbe Schneerson's followers believed him to be the Messiah, but he publicly denied the claim, although he was criticized by some for allowing a cult of personality to develop around him. In fact, Rebbe Schneerson didn't fulfill the Messianic prophecies of the Bible; an examination of those prophecies points to Jesus as the one who did fulfil the prophecies.

Nicole Brown Simpson, 35; Ronald Goldman, 25. U.S. murder victims. Mrs. Simpson and her friend Mr. Goldman were stabbed to death at her home in Los Angeles by her ex-husband, former professional football star O.J. Simpson.

Aviation
The Boeing 777, the world's largest twinjet, made its first flight, under the command of chief test pilot John Cashman.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Houston 93 @ New York 89 (Houston led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Hakeem Olajuwon scored 21 points and added 11 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the Rockets over the Knickerbockers before 19,763 fans at Madison Square Garden. Derek Harper led New York with 21 points and 5 assists.



10 years ago
2004

Died on this date
Bassam Salih Kubba. Iraqi government official. Mr. Kubba, Iraq's Deputy Foreign Minister, was shot in northwestern Baghdad.

Terrorism
Paul Johnson, Jr., an American, was kidnapped by an al-Qaeda cell in Saudi Arabia.

Politics and government
Rebel Iraqi Muslim cleric Moktada al-Sadr announced that he would form a political party and participate in elections in 2005.