May 25, 2014

370 years ago
1644

War
Ming general Wu Sangui formed an alliance with the invading Manchus and opened the gates of the Great Wall of China at Shanhaiguan pass, letting the Manchus through toward the capital city of Beijing, leading to the foundation of the Qing dynasty.

125 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Günther Lütjens. German military officer. Admiral Lütjens joined the Reichsmarine in 1907, and served in both world wars. He was commanding the battleship Bismarck when it was sunk in combat against the British Royal Navy, and went down with the ship on May 27, 1941, two days after his 52nd birthday.

Igor Sikorsky. Russian-born U.S. aviator. Mr. Sikorsky designed and flew the Russky Vityaz--the world's first multi-engine fixed-wing aircraft--in 1913, and Ilya Muromets--the world's first airliner--in 1914. After coming to the U.S.A. in 1919, he pioneered flying boats in the 1930s and designed and flew the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300--the first viable American helicopter--in 1939. Mr. Sikorsky died on October 26, 1972 at the age of 83.

Baseball
At Recreation Park in Columbus, Ohio, Columbus Solons' first baseman Dave Orr was ejected by umpire Fred Goldsmith, but refused to leave the field. Mr. Goldsmith then forfeited the game to the visiting Brooklyn Bridegrooms. The teams refused to abide by the forfeit, and the game was eventually resumed with a substitute for Mr. Orr. The Bridegrooms won the American Association game 6-3.

75 years ago
1939

Defense
Molly Kool of Alma, Ontario became Canada's first woman sea captain; after receiving her ticket, Capt. Kool took command of the vessel Jean K, and worked the coastal trade throughout the Bay of Fundy until after World War II.

Football
NFL
Carl Storck was named President of the National Football League, succeeding Joe Carr, who had died five days earlier.

Baseball
Bob Feller pitched a 1-hitter to improve his 1939 record to 7-2, and third baseman Ken Keltner hit solo home runs in his last 3 at bats, as the Cleveland Indians beat the Boston Red Sox 11-0 before 5,600 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The only Boston hit was a single in the 2nd inning by second baseman Bobby Doerr. Cleveland first baseman Hal Trosky batted 3 for 5 with a home run, 3 runs, and 4 runs batted in.

The Philadelphia Phillies withstood a 3-run 9th-inning rally as they defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-7 before 5,015 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Hugh "Losing Pitcher" Mulcahy allowed 7 hits and 7 earned runs in 8+ innings and managed to get the win; he helped his own cause by singling in a run and driving in another with a squeeze bunt.

70 years ago
1944

On the radio
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Donovan's Brain, Part Two, starring Orson Welles

On television tonight
WPTZ in Philadelphia presented an all-star telecast that was also seen in New York over WNBT, featuring cut-ins from their Rockefeller Center studios. One of the performers, Eddie Cantor, was told to cut his song We're Havin' a Baby, My Baby and Me because of its supposedly risqué lyrics. Mr. Cantor refused, but the sound was cut and the picture blurred during certain portions of the song in the first reported instance of censorship in television.

War
German paratroops and glider-borne infantry captured Marshal Josip Broz Tito's headquarters near Drvar, Bosnia; Marshal Tito and Randolph Churchill, son of U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, escaped. Advance elements of U.S. forces linked the Anzio beachhead with the main front when they met in the vicinity of Borgo Grappa. On the main Italian front, U.S. and French troops took Sonnino and Roccasecca de Volsci, while Canadian units cleaned out Pontecorvo. Reports from Ankara indicated that German forces were taking over strategic points in Bulgaria. The Chinese city of Loyang, Honan Province, fell to Japanese forces after a 20-day battle.

Defense
The U.S. Army and Navy announced the creation of a committee to investigate proposals for unification of the armed forces and report to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The board of managers of the U.S. National Congress of Parents and Teachers announced that the organization opposed the drafting of 17-year-olds.

60 years ago
1954

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Fingerprints, starring John Emery

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): La Mamma--Charles Aznavour (2nd week at #1)

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Be My Day--The Cats (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Sugar Baby Love--The Rubettes (2nd week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks (3rd week at #1)
2 She Didn't Remember My Name--Osmosis
3 The Air That I Breathe--The Hollies
4 You're Sixteen--Ringo Starr
5 You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me--New Seekers
6 My Coo Ca Choo--Alvin Stardust
7 The Way We Were--Barbra Streisand
8 Mockingbird--Johnny O'Keefe and Margaret McLaren
--Carly Simon and James Taylor
9 Daytona Demon--Suzi Quatro
10 The Show Must Go On--Leo Sayer

The only single entering the chart was Keep on Singing by Helen Reddy (#38).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Streak--Ray Stevens (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Streak--Ray Stevens
2 The Entertainer--Marvin Hamlisch
3 Dancing Machine--The Jackson 5
4 Band on the Run--Paul McCartney & Wings
5 Midnight at the Oasis--Maria Muldaur
6 You Make Me Feel Brand New--The Stylistics
7 The Loco-Motion--Grand Funk
8 (I've Been) Searchin' So Long--Chicago
9 Sundown--Gordon Lightfoot
10 I Won't Last a Day Without You--Carpenters

Singles entering the chart were Annie's Song by John Denver (#76); I'm the Leader of the Gang by Brownsville Station (#80); Waterloo by ABBA (#82); Rock Your Baby by George McCrae (#86); Takin' Care of Business by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (#91); Fox Hunt by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (#93); Kissin' Time by Kiss (#94); Keep on Smilin' by Wet Willie (#96); I Hate Hate by Razzy (#97); Georgia Porcupine by George Fischoff (#98); Lamplight by David Essex (#99); and Hickory by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (#100).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 The Entertainer--Marvin Hamlisch
2 Dancing Machine--The Jackson 5
3 Let it Ride--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
4 The Loco-Motion--Grand Funk
5 The Streak--Ray Stevens
6 The Show Must Go On--Three Dog Night
7 Midnight at the Oasis--Maria Muldaur
8 (I've Been) Searchin' So Long--Chicago
9 Tubular Bells--Mike Oldfield
10 Band on the Run--Paul McCartney & Wings

Singles entering the chart were Rhapsody in White by the Love Unlimited Orchestra (#69); King of Nothing by Seals and Crofts (#71); If You Wanna Get to Heaven by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (#72); Living in the U.S.A. by the Steve Miller Band (#76); 'Cause We're in Love by the Hood (#81); All the Living Things by Crowbar (#83); Train of Thought by Cher (#86); Radar Love by Golden Earring (#88); Finally Got Myself Together (I'm a Changed Man) by the Impressions (#89); The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace (#92); I'm Coming Home by the Spinners (#95); It's Her Turn to Live by Smokey Robinson (#96); The Lone Ranger by Oscar Brown, Jr. (#98); When I am So in Love by Peter Foldy (#99); and Rock Me Gently by Andy Kim (#100).

Calgary's top 10
1 The Loco-Motion--Grand Funk
2 The Show Must Go On--Three Dog Night
3 Dancing Machine--The Jackson 5
4 Band on the Run--Paul McCartney & Wings
5 Werewolf--Five Man Electrical Band
6 Sundown--Gordon Lightfoot
7 (I've Been) Searchin' So Long--Chicago
8 Rock Me Gently--Andy Kim
9 Midnight at the Oasis--Maria Muldaur
10 If You Love Me (Let Me Know)--Olivia Newton-John
Pick hit of the week: There's Something I Like About That--Chilliwack

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Hello--Lionel Richie

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Send Me an Angel--Real Life (2nd week at #1)

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): The Look--Roxette (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Shall Never Pass This Way Again--Various Artists (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
Mikhail Gorbachev was elected President of the Soviet Union by the new Soviet parliament, the Congress of People’s Deputies. Some 2,250 deputies, most of them chosen in elections by the citizenry, attended the first session in the Kremlin. Most were supporters of the Communist party, but some 400 were radical reformers and ethnic nationalists. Before the presidential vote, many deputies, while endorsing Mr. Gorbachev, complained about economic conditions and the lack of progress under perestroika (restructuring). In a secret ballot, Mr. Gorbachev received 95.6% of the vote.

Scandal
In Toronto, Dr. Jamie Astaphan, personal physician to disgraced Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, took the stand at the Dubin Inquiry into drug use in amateur sport, and admitted giving steroids to Mr. Johnson.

Global Television reporter Doug Small leaked details of Canadian Finance Minister Michael Wilson's budget; after the opposition parties rejected Mr. Wilson's request for an evening sitting of the House of Commons, he was forced to announce the budget highlights at a news conference.

Former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Samuel Pierce, testifying before a House of Representatives subcommittee investigating the payment of millions of dollars in consulting fees paid by HUD to former federal officials and other prominent Republicans, acknowledged that he had been lobbied by former officials, and that he had asked his staff to give "careful consideration" to certain projects, but he denied that any projects had received special treatment.

Economics and finance
U.S. President George Bush named Japan, Brazil, and India as unfair trading partners. He acted under a provision of the 1988 Trade Act. Japan was cited for restricting purchases of satellites, superconductors, and forest products. Reportedly, the others were named to avoid Japan being singled out. Under the law, if the three countries failed to eliminate the unfair practices within 18 months, they would be subject to U.S. trade retaliation.

The United States Commerce Department revised downward its calculation of the growth of the gross national product during the first quarter of 1989. The new figure, 4.3% compared with the previous 5.5%, was welcomed by the Bush administration and many economists, who believed that tightening of credit by the Federal Reserve would control inflation and slow the economy without causing a recession.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Calgary 4 @ Montreal 2 (Calgary won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Lanny McDonald scored the second Calgary goal in the final game of his 16-year NHL career--and his only goal of the 1989 playoffs--and Doug Gilmour scored twice in the 3rd period as the Flames became the first team to defeat the Canadiens on home ice to win the Stanley Cup, at the Montreal Forum. Calgary's Al MacInnis, with 31 points, became the first defenceman to lead the playoffs in scoring, and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player. The championship was the first for the Flames in their 17-year history, and they haven't come close to winning the Stanley Cup since then. The series remains the most recent Stanley Cup final series to be played between Canadian teams.



Baseball
The Seattle Mariners traded pitcher Mark Langston to the Montreal Expos for pitchers Randy Johnson, Brian Holman, and Gene Harris. The trade turned out to be a disaster for the Expos, since Mr. Johnson went on to become one of the game's dominant pitchers with the Mariners, while Mr. Langston signed with the California Angels as a free agent after the 1989 season.

20 years ago
1994

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference Finals
New York Rangers 4 @ New Jersey 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Mark Messier scored 3 goals as the Rangers came from behind to defeat the Devils at Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford.

10 years ago
2004

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Calgary 4 @ Tampa Bay 1 (Calgary led best-of-seven series 1-0)

The Flames defeated the Lightning at St. Petersburg Times Forum in St. Petersburg despite getting only 19 shots on goal.