June 2, 2014

125 years ago
1889

Transportation
The Canadian Pacific Railway opened the Short Line Railroad through Maine to connect Montreal with Saint John, New Brunswick.

120 years ago
1894

Baseball
Ed Stein pitched a no-hitter as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms edged the Chicago Colts 1-0 at Eastern Park in Brooklyn in a game that was called after 6 innings.

90 years ago
1924

At the movies
The Sea Hawk, produced and directed by Frank Lloyd, and starring Milton Sills, Enid Bennett, Lloyd Hughes, and Wallace Beery, received its premiere screeing in New York City.



Americana
The United States Congress enacted the Indian Citizenship Act, granting U.S. citizenship to all American Indians born in the United States.

75 years ago
1939

Edmontonia
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Edmonton; Portage Avenue was renamed Kingsway Avenue in their honour.

Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds scored 4 runs in the 13th inning--3 of them on a home run by catcher Ernie Lombardi--to beat the Boston Bees 4-0 before 2,271 fans at National League Park in Boston. Whitey Moore pitched a 9-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Milt Shoffner, who pitched a 10-hit complete game.

The New York Yankees scored 7 runs in the top of the 1st inning en route to a 17-5 win over the Cleveland Indians before 8,000 fans at League Park in Cleveland. Tommy Henrich and Babe Dahlgren each drove in 4 New York runs, while Atley Donald pitched an 11-hit complete game, allowing 3 earned runs, to improve his 1939 record to 5-0. Losing pitcher Johnny Allen faced 7 batters, allowing 4 hits , 3 bases on balls, and 7 earned runs.

75 years ago
1944

War
A German offensive in Romania drove a wedge into the Soviet lines northwest of Jassy. U.S. troops captured the key German defense points of Velletri and Valmontone in Italy. U.S. Navy planes bombed Shimushu and Paramushiro Islands in the Kuriles, while U.S. Army bombers struck at Matsuwa in the same chain.

Politics and government
The French Committee of National Liberation approved the suggestion of the Consultative Assembly to change its name to the Provisional Government of the French Republic.

The new Bulgarian cabinet of Prime Minister Ivan Bagrianov met to discuss German demands for breaking Soviet relations and raising an army to aid the Germans.

Law
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that orders of the National War Labor Board were not subject to court review.

Transportation
The U.S. House of Representatives Roads Committee approved a bill providing $1.5 billion for construction of roads, bridges, and railroad crossings after World War II.

Labour
U.S. War Manpower Commission Chairman Paul McNutt announced that the WMC would take over "absolute control of male workers over 17 years old" to maintain essential labour needs.

40 years ago
1974

Died on this date
George "Skipp" Walther, 27. U.S. hydroplane racing driver. Mr. Walther, the brother of auto racing driver David "Salt" Walther, was killed when his hydroplane crashed during a practice run for a race in Miami scheduled for later that day.

Tennis
Chris Evert of the United States defeated Martina Navratilova of Czechoslovakia 6-3, 6-3 to win the women's singles title at the Italian Open in Rome. It was the first major championship for Miss Evert, who also won the doubles championship with Olga Morozova of the U.S.S.R. when Helga Masthoff and Heide Orth of West Germany defaulted because of a knee injury to Mrs. Masthoff.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Love of the Common People--Paul Young (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT Top 30): I Want to Break Free--Queen

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Want to Break Free--Queen (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Reflex--Duran Duran (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Wake Me Up Before You Go Go--Wham!

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Let's Hear It for the Boy--Deniece Williams (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Let's Hear it for the Boy--Deniece Williams (2nd week at #1)
2 Time After Time--Cyndi Lauper
3 Hello--Lionel Richie
4 Oh Sherrie--Steve Perry
5 The Reflex--Duran Duran
6 Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)--Phil Collins
7 To All the Girls I've Loved Before--Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
8 Sister Christian--Night Ranger
9 The Heart of Rock and Roll--Huey Lewis and the News
10 The Longest Time--Billy Joel

Singles entering the chart were When Doves Cry by Prince (#64); Breakin'...There's No Stopping Us by Ollie & Jerry (#69); Boys Do Fall in Love by Robin Gibb (#81); Freakshow on the Dance Floor by the Bar-Kays (#89); and A Little Love by Juice Newton (#90). When Doves Cry was from the movie Purple Rain (1984). Breakin'...There's No Stopping Us was from the movie Breakin' (1984).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Hello--Lionel Richie
2 Time After Time--Cyndi Lauper
3 To All the Girls I've Loved Before--Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
4 Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)--Phil Collins
5 The Reflex--Duran Duran
6 They Don't Know--Tracey Ullman
7 Hold Me Now--Thompson Twins
8 Let's Hear it for the Boy--Deniece Williams
9 Footloose--Kenny Loggins
10 Breakdance--Irene Cara

Singles entering the chart were Infatuation by Rod Stewart (#42); Original Sin by INXS (#45); Almost Paradise by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson (#46); My Ever Changing Moods by the Style Council (#48); and Jump (For My Love) by the Pointer Sisters (#49).

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): The Look--Roxette (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Mike DeJohn, 57. U.S. boxer. Mr. DeJohn, born Michael Di Gianni, was a heavyweight, and the youngest of six boxing brothers. He compiled a record of 46-12-1 in a professional career from 1951-1963, and was a ranked contender for the world title in the late 1950s, fighting opponents such as Sonny Liston, Eddie Machen, Zora Folley, and Nino Valdes.

Politics and government
Foreign Minister Sousuke Uno was elected president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and on the same day, was elected Prime Minister. He succeeded Noboru Takeshita, who had resigned because of his involvement in the Recruit company scandal, which involved donations by the company to politicians in exchange for political favours. Mr. Uno said that he would seek reforms to clean up Japanese politics.

Religion
This blogger was among those in attendance as "Christian" comedian and alleged expert on Satanism Mike Warnke spoke at Central Pentecostal Tabernacle in Edmonton. A handful of protesters were outside, including one man in apparent Satanic garb, claiming that Mr. Warnke was telling lies. I believed Mr. Warnke's story in those days, but after he was exposed by Jon Trott and Mike Hertenstein in the magazine article (1992) and book (1993) Selling Satan, I became more sympathetic with the protesters.

Labour
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate had dropped one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.1% in May.

Baseball
Center fielder Eric Davis hit for the cycle and batted in 6 runs to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the San Diego Padres 9-4 before 29,277 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. It was the fourth straight multi-hit game for Mr. Davis.

Junior Felix hit an inside-the-park grand slam in the top of the 9th inning off Bob Stanley to help the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Boston Red Sox 7-2 before 33,584 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

The Minnesota Twins hammered the Chicago White Sox 8-0 before 13,205 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago, handing the White Sox their record 10th straight home loss. Allan Anderson allowed 6 hits in 7 innings to get the win over Melido Perez. Jack Hardy, the third and last Chicago pitcher, allowed 5 hits and 4 runs--all earned--in 4 innings, walking 1 batter and striking out 2 in his fifth and last major league game.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): The Real Thing--2 Unlimited (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Riverdance--Bill Whelan (5th week at #1)

Disasters
29 people--including 25 of the United Kingdom's top police, army, and security officers--were killed when the plane they were travelling on from Belfast to Inverness crashed on the Mull of Kintyre.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Vancouver 1 @ New York Rangers 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)