July 13, 2014

1,075 years ago
939

Died on this date
Leo VII. Roman Catholic Pope, 936-939. Leo VII took office as Pope on January 3, 936, succeeding John XI. Legend has it that Pope Leo died of a heart attack while having sex with his mistress. He was succeeded by Pope Stephen VIII.

220 years ago
1794

War
French forces defeated Prussian, Austrian, and Saxon forces in the Battle of the Vosges in eastern France.

200 years ago
1814

Law
The Carabinieri, the national gendarmerie of Italy, was established.

160 years ago
1854

War
Mexican forces commanded by General José María Yáñez stopped a French invasion led by Count Gaston de Raousset-Boulbon in the Battle of Guaymas in Mexico.

125 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Stan Coveleski. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Coveleski, born Stanislaus Kowalewski, played with the Philadelphia Athletics (1912); Cleveland Indians (1916-1924); Washington Nationals (1925-1927); and New York Yankees (1928), compiling a record of 215-142 with an earned run average of 2.89 in 450 games. He had five seasons of 20 or more wins, and led the American League in earned run average in 1923 (2.76) and 1925 (2.84) and in winning percentage in 1925 (.800). Mr. Coveleski was 3-2 in 5 World Series games, with his wins all coming in 1920, as the Indians defeated the Brooklyn Robins 5 games to 2 for their first World Series championship. His brother Harry was also a major league pitcher, winning 81 games from 1907-1918. Stan Coveleski was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969, and died on March 20, 1984 at the age of 94.

Baseball
In the American Association, left fielder Tip O’Neill went 4 for 4 with 3 bases on balls, scored 5 runs, and drove in 4, as the St. Louis Browns routed the Baltimore Orioles 25-5.

100 years ago
1914

Born on this date
Franz von Werra. Swiss-born German military aviator. Hauptmann (Captain) Werra was raised by relatives in Germany, and joined the Luftwaffe in 1938. He became an air ace in World War II, scoring four combat victories in France in May 1940, and nine in Britain in August. Hauptmann Werra was shot down in England and captured in September 1940; he made several attempts to escape from prisoner of war camps, but was always recaptured and finally sent to Canada in January 1941. Hauptmann Werra was in a group of prisoners who were to be taken to a camp on the north shore of Lake Superior in Ontario. On January 21, 1941, he escaped from a prison train after its departure from Montreal, crossed the frozen St. Lawrence River near Smiths Falls, Ontario, and turned himself over to police in Ogdensburg, New York, at a time when the United States was still a neutral country. While the U.S.A. and Canada were discussing his extradition, Hauptmann Werra was aided by the German vice consul to cross the border into Mexico, and passed through Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, and Rome before arriving in Germany on April 18, being greeted as a hero, reportedly the only Germany prisoner of war to escape Canadian custody and return to Germany. He returned to service in the Luftwaffe, and was deployed to the Russian front, scoring 13 more victories before being killed on a practice flight at the age of 27 on October 25, 1941, when his plane suffered engine failure and crashed into the sea north of the Dutch city of Vlissingen. Hauptmann Werra's story was made into the movie The One that Got Away (1957), starring Hardy Krüger.

80 years ago
1934

Baseball
Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees became the first major league player to hit 700 career home runs when he connected against Tommy Bridges of the Detroit Tigers at Navin Field in Detroit. It was his 14th home run of the season, and helped the Yankees to a 4-2 win. Mr. Ruth paid a boy $20 for the ball. Yankees’ first baseman Lou Gehrig singled in his first at bat, but had to be helped off the field after a lumbago seizure. Jack Saltzgaver replaced him at first base, and Red Rolfe took his place in the batting order.

75 years ago
1939

Music
Frank Sinatra made his first recordings with the Harry James band, singing Melancholy Mood and From the Bottom of My Heart.

70 years ago
1944

War
U.S. troops in France took 11 villages in their drive on St. Lo on the western end of the front. Soviet forces took Vilna, Lithuania after five days of street fighting.

Diplomacy
The last German diplomatic and consular agents left Argentina for Lisbon, where they were to be exchanged for Argentine nationals.

The U.S. State Department announced an agreement with Spain to permit U.S. commercial airplanes to land on Spanish fields.

Politics and government
The U.S. government reported an agreement between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and provisional French leader General Charles de Gaulle permitting Allied Supreme Commander General Dwight Eisenhower to ask removal of any French civilian officer appointed by the Provisional Government of the French Republic in liberated France who did not cooperate with Allied military authorities.

Economics and finance
U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Eric Johnston, in Washington after six weeks in Russia, said that he expected increased U.S.-U.S.S.R. trade after World War II.

Health
Investigators at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota said that cigarettes may injure wounded men by constricting blood vessels.

Boxing
The U.S. National Boxing Association released its ranking of fighters. First in each classification were: Heavyweight--Joe Louis; Light heavyweight--Gus Lesnevich; Middleweight--Tony Zale; Welterweight--Freddie Cochrane; Lightweight--Juan Zurita; Featherweight--Sal Bartolo.

60 years ago
1954

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Conversation at an Inn, starring Jacques Aubuchon, Mildred Natwick, and Maria Riva

Died on this date
Frida Kahlo, 47. Mexican painter. Ms. Kahlo, a bisexual feminist Communist, was known for her self-portraits. She was married to painter Diego Rivera. Ms. Kahlo, who contracted polio at the age of 6 and was seriously injured in a bus accident in 1925, died a week after her 47th birthday after a year of declining health.

Baseball
Major League All-Star Game @ Municipal Stadium, Cleveland
National League 9 @ American League 11

A bloop single by Nellie Fox of the Chicago White Sox drove in the deciding runs as the AL scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th to defeat the NL before 68,751 fans. Al Rosen of the hometown Indians hit 2 home runs and a single and batted in 5 runs, while teammate Bobby Avila batted 3 for 3 with a sacrifice fly and 2 RBIs, and fellow Indian Larry Doby added a solo home run. Cincinnati Reds teammates Ted Kluszewski and Gus Bell hit home runs for the NL.





50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Si Je Chante--Sylvie Vartan

Music
The single A Hard Day's Night/I Should Have Known Better by the Beatles was released in North America on Capitol Records. Both songs were from the movie A Hard Day's Night.

Radio
CFRN-FM became the first station in Edmonton to offer broadcasting in stereo. The station, at 100.3 on the FM dial, had been carrying the AM station's programming since 1947, but would now be playing music in stereo during evening hours.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Sugar Baby Love--The Rubettes (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: She--Charles Aznavour (3rd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Billy - Don't Be a Hero--Paper Lace (2nd week at #1)
2 Devil Gate Drive--Suzi Quatro
3 The Entertainer--Marvin Hamlisch
4 Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks
5 Hooked on a Feeling--Blue Swede
6 Candle in the Wind/Bennie and the Jets--Elton John
7 The Streak--Ray Stevens
8 Would You Lay with Me in a Field of Stone?--Judy Stone
9 The Air That I Breathe--The Hollies
10 The Loco-Motion--Grand Funk

Singles entering the chart were Slipstream by Sherbet (#26); Too Pooped to Pop by the La-De-Das (#32); Emma by Hot Chocolate (#33); Tiger Feet by Mud (#35); Love You Babe by the Coloured Balls (#38); and A Very Special Love Song by Charlie Rich (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Rock Your Baby--George McCrae

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Rock the Boat--The Hues Corporation
2 Rock Your Baby--George McCrae
3 Annie's Song--John Denver
4 Billy, Don't Be a Hero--Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
5 Rikki Don't Lose That Number--Steely Dan
6 Rock and Roll Heaven--The Righteous Brothers
7 Hollywood Swinging--Kool & The Gang
8 The Air that I Breathe--The Hollies
9 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--Elton John
10 You Won't See Me--Anne Murray

Singles entering the chart were Nothing from Nothing by Billy Preston (#74); I Shot the Sheriff by Eric Clapton (#83); Good Things Don't Last Forever by Ecstasy, Passion and Pain (#90); Come On Say It by Henry Gross (#93); Walk On by Neil Young (#95); My Love by Margie Joseph (#96); Clap for the Wolfman by the Guess Who (#97); All Shook Up by Suzi Quatro (#98); City in the Sky by the Staple Singers (#99); and The Wall Street Shuffle by 10 C.C. (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Rock the Boat--The Hues Corporation
2 Billy, Don't Be a Hero--Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
3 Be Thankful for What You Got--William DeVaughn
4 If You Love Me (Let Me Know)--Olivia Newton-John
5 Sundown--Gordon Lightfoot
6 The Air that I Breathe--The Hollies
7 Rock Your Baby--George McCrae
8 Annie's Song--John Denver
9 Rock and Roll Heaven--The Righteous Brothers
10 Rikki Don't Lose that Number--Steely Dan

Singles entering the chart were Sure as I'm Sittin' Here by Three Dog Night (#68); (You're) Having My Baby by Paul Anka (#82); I Believe by Songbird (#85); I'm Leaving it (All) Up to You by Donny and Marie Osmond (#90); How Do You Feel the Morning After by Millie Jackson (#91); Hang On in There Baby by Johnny Bristol (#92); Shinin' On by Grand Funk (#93); Wildwood Weed by Jim Stafford (#94); You Can't Be a Beacon (If Your Light Don't Shine) by Donna Fargo (#95); American Girls by Rick Springfield (#96); Song for Anna by Herb Ohta (#98); It Could Have Been Me by Sami Jo (#99); and Rub it In by Billy "Crash" Craddock (#100).

#1 single in Calgary: Clap for the Wolfman--The Guess Who (2nd week at #1)

Calgary's Top 10
1 Clap for the Wolfman--The Guess Who
2 The Entertainer--Marvin Hamlisch
3 Rock and Roll Heaven--The Righteous Brothers
4 Annie's Song--John Denver
5 Rock the Boat--The Hues Corporation
6 Rikki Don't Lose that Number--Steely Dan
7 Band on the Run--Paul McCartney & Wings
8 Rock Me Gently--Andy Kim
9 King of Nothing--Seals and Crofts
10 Waterloo--ABBA
Pick hit of the week: If You Talk in Your Sleep--Elvis Presley

Died on this date
Patrick Blackett, 76. U.K. physicist. Dr. Blackett was awarded the 1948 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his development of the Wilson cloud chamber method, and his discoveries therewith in the fields of nuclear physics and cosmic radiation."

Politics and government
Portuguese leader General Antonio da Spinola named Colonel Vas dos Santos Goncalves, an army engineer, as the country's new Premier.

Scandal
The United States Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities issued its final report on the committee's investigation into abuses related to the 1972 U.S. presidential election campaign, most notably the June 1972 break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. The committee concluded: "If our free institutions are to survive, campaign practices must be effectively supervised and enforcement of the criminal laws vigorously pursued against all offenders--even those of high estate..." The 2,250-page report, covering 17 months of investigation, contained no specific accusations, because the panel's work had not been conducted "to determine the legal guilt or innocence of any person or whether the president should be impeached." The report put forth 35 legislative proposals for a sweeping overhaul of campaign practices, including the creation of an independent and permanent office of "public attorney" to investigate alleged wrongdoing in cases of conflict of interest in the executive branch; a federal elections commission with supervisory and enforcement powers; restrictions on domestic intelligence activities by the White House staff; and limits on campaign contributions. With the exception of Senators Daniel Inouye (Democrat--Hawaii) and Joseph Montoya (Democrat--New Mexico). the committee expressed opposition to public financing of federal election campaigns as a threat to freedom of expression.

Golf
Gary Player won the British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England with a 2-under-par score of 282, 4 strokes ahead of Peter Oosterhuis. First prize money was £5,500 ($13,200).

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Nelson Mandela--The Special A.K.A. (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Self Control--Laura Branigan (5th week at #1)

Politics and government
Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, Democratic party candidate for Vice-President of the United States, said that she didn’t believe that President Ronald Reagan was a "good Christian" because his policies were unfair to the poor. Of course, one could make a similar comment about Mrs. Ferraro’s support for abortion.

Football
CFL
Calgary (1-2) 13 @ Edmonton (2-1) 40

The Eskimos overcame an early 13-3 deficit to defeat the Stampeders (1-2) 40-13 at Commonwealth Stadium. Matt Dunigan threw 3 touchdown passes to Brian Kelly and one to Chris Woods, and Larry Cowan rushed for another Eskimo touchdown. For Mr. Kelly, the scores gave him 8 touchdowns in the first 3 games of the season. The touchdown by Mr. Woods in the second quarter was not only his first in the CFL, but the first Eskimo touchdown of 1984 to be scored by anyone other than Brian Kelly. Mr. Cowan’s touchdown was the first of his CFL career. Mr. Dunigan’s performance earned him recognition as the CFL’s offensive star of the week, while offensive tackle Hector Pothier was chosen lineman of the week. It was a very entertaining game, thanks to Eskimo head coach Jackie Parker’s use of trick plays on offense.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Minä olen muistanut--Kim Lönnholm (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Liberian Girl--Michael Jackson

Oddities
A lone pilot who said he was unconscious most of the way survived a 1,000-mile airplane flight and crash. Thomas Root, a lawyer from Washington, D.C., took off alone from Washington National Airport at 6:33 A.M. in a single-engine Cessna, destined for a business meeting in North Carolina. He radioed at 8:30 A.M. that he was having trouble breathing, put the plane on automatic pilot, and apparently became unconscious. The Cessna fell into the ocean near Eleuthera Island, where Mr. Root emerged from the plane and swam to rescuers as it sank.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (0-1) 15 @ Edmonton (1-0) 20

The Eskimos won their 18th straight regular season opener, defeating the Lions at Commonwealth Stadium. Jerry Kauric accounted for all the Edmonton scoring with 6 field goals and 2 singles. B.C. running back Tony Cherry scored the game’s only touchdown.

20 years ago
1994

Died on this date
Jimmie Reese, 92. U.S. baseball player and coach. Mr. Reese, born James Solomon, was a second baseman with the New York Yankees (1930-1931) and St. Louis Cardinals (1932), batting .278 with 8 home runs and 70 runs batted in 232 games. While with New York, he was Babe Ruth's roommate. Mr. Reese played at least 1,701 games in at least 16 seasons in the minor leagues from 1920-1940; most of his time in the minors was spent in the Pacific Coast League, with the Los Angeles Angels (1920, 1933-1936, 1940); Oakland Oaks (1924-1929); and San Diego Padres (1937-1938). Mr. Reese spent many years as a scout and coach in professional baseball, and was a coach with the California Angels from 1972 until his death from aspiration pneumonia and respiratory failure. Mr. Reese was inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame in 2003.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that consumer prices had risen 0.3% in June.

Disasters
A U.S. Defense Department report blamed a series of human errors for the friendly fire downing in April of two U.S. helicopters over Iraq by two U.S. fighter jets that had resulted in the deaths of all 26 people aboard the helicopters.

10 years ago
2004

Radio
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission pulled the broadcasting license of CHOI-FM in Quebec City after the "shock-jock" station had ignored repeated warnings to curb on-air contact that violated the Broadcasting Act.

Crime
The Iraqi government arrested more than 500 people to show its resolve in checking violent crime.

Baseball
Major League All-Star Game @ Minute Maid Park, Houston
American League 9 @ National League 4

The American League batted for the cycle--including home runs by Manny Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox and Alfonso Soriano of the New York Yankees--as they scored 6 runs off NL starting pitcher Roger Clemens of the Houston Astros in the top of the 1st inning and coasted to victory before 41,886 fans. Houston manager Jimy Williams was booed by the fans as he was introduced as one of the NL coaches; he was fired by the Astros the next day.