July 29, 2014

1,110 years ago
904

War
Saracen raiders under Leo of Tripoli sacked Thessaloniki, the Byzantine Empire's second-largest city, after a short siege, and plundered it for a week.

1,000 years ago
1014

War
Forces commanded by Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicted a decisive defeat on the Bulgarian army in the Battle of Kleidion in what is now the province of Blagoevgrad in Bulgaria.

370 years ago
1644

Died on this date
Urban VIII, 76. Roman Catholic Pope, 1623-1644. Urban VIII, born Maffeo Barberini, succeeded Gregory XV. Pope Urban VIII expanded the papal territory, but incurred large debts that weakened his successors. He was a patron of the arts, but is perhaps best remembered as the pope who was on the throne during the debate with Galileo Galilei over the issue of whether the Earth is the centre of the universe. Pope Urban VIII was succeeded by Innocent X.

170 years ago
1844

Died on this date
Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart, 53. Austrian musician, composer, and conductor. Mr. Mozart, the youngest child of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, played piano and violin, and began his composing career at an early age. He had moderate success as a pianist and teacher, teaching in Lemberg (Lwów) from 1813-1838, and serving as Kapellmeister of the Mozarteum in Salzburg from 1838 until his death from stomach cancer, three days after his 53rd birthday. Mr. Mozart's compositions were mainly chamber, piano, and choral works.

150 years ago
1864

War
In the U.S. Civil War, Confederate spy Belle Boyd was arrested by Union troops and detained at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C.

125 years ago
1889

Baseball
Matt Kilroy of the Baltimore Orioles had a no-hitter going after 7 innings in the second game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns at Union Park in Baltimore when the game was called because of darkness with the scored tied 0-0. The Browns won the first game 4-3.

100 years ago
1914

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Irwin Corey!
"Professor" Irwin Corey, the comedian known as "The World's Foremost Authority," was born in Brooklyn.

Communications
Transcontinental telephone service in the United States began with the first phone conversation between New York and San Francisco.

80 years ago
1934

Died on this date
Didier Pitre, 50. Canadian hockey player. Mr. Pitre, a forward for most of his career, played with several teams, most notably the Montreal Canadiens (1909-1913, 1914-1923). He led the National Hockey League in scoring in 1915-16 with 39 points, helping the Canadiens win their first Stanley Cup. Mr. Pitre died of "acute indigestion," most likely a heart attack. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963.

Baseball
Schoolboy Rowe won his second game in as many days against the Chicago White Sox, pitching 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and hitting a game-winning home run to help the Detroit Tigers to a 16-15 win at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

70 years ago
1944

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'll Be Seeing You--Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra (Best Seller--4th week at #1); G.I. Jive--Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five (Jukebox--1st week at #1)

War
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt completed a strategy conference in Hawaii with Admiral Chester Nimitz, General Douglas MacArthur, and other Pacific military officers. U.S. troops in France took Coutances and puched to reach the sea at Montmartin-sur-Mer. Soviet artillery attacked the east bank suburbs of Warsaw.

Politics and government
Thai Prime Minister Luang Pibul Songgram and his cabinet resigned as a result of the National Assembly's rejection of proposals to build a new capital at Pechabun.

Law
Wendell Willkie, the Republican Party's candidate for President of the United States in 1940, offered to appear as an unpaid counsel for author Maxwell Anderson, who was being sued for libel by Rep. Hamilton Fish (Republican--New York).

Economics and finance
The U.S. Office of Price Administration cancelled ration certificates for heavy-duty rubber tires due to shortages.

50 years ago
1964

Died on this date
Vean Gregg, 79. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Gregg played with the Cleveland Naps (1911-1914); Boston Red Sox (1914-1916); Philadelphia Athletics (1918); and Washington Nationals (1925), compiling a record of 92-63 with an earned run average of 2.70. He was 63-33 in his first three seasons, with his best season being his first, when he was 23-7 and led the American League with an ERA of 1.81. Mr. Gregg was the only major league pitcher in the 20th century to win 20 or more games in each of his first three seasons. Arm problems periodically interrupted his career, including 1914, when he was traded from the Naps to the Red Sox. Mr. Gregg was a member of World Series championship teams in 1915 and 1916. A native and resident of Washington state, Mr. Gregg bought a ranch in Alberta in 1912 and lived there during off-seasons.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Toronto (3-0) 26 @ British Columbia (0-3) 17

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Billy - Don't Be a Hero--Paper Lace (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Love's Theme--The Love Unlimited Orchestra (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Erich Kästner, 75. German author. Mr. Kästner was known for his books for children, most notably Emil und die Detektive (Emil and the Detectives) (1929).

Cass Elliot, 32. U.S. singer. Born Ellen Naomi Cohen, "Mama Cass" sang with the groups the Big 3 and the Mugwumps before achieving fame with the Mamas and the Papas from 1966-1968. When the group broke up, Miss Elliot went on to a sucessful solo career with songs such as Dream a Little Dream of Me. She had one of the best voices in popular music, but she died of a heart attack, possibly brought on by binge dieting, two days after closing a 12-day engagement at the London Palladium, where she had performed to capacity audiences and rave reviews.

Bobby Duke, Jr., 19. U.S. football player. Mr. Duke, a running back with the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, was driving to a workout when he was shot to death, apparently while being robbed near Birmingham. His body was found in a wooded area five days later.

Scandal
The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee debated Article II (Abuse of Power) of the articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon. Rep. Charles Wiggins (Republican--California) argued that the article represented a "step toward a parliamentary system of government" by making the president accountable for his actions after the fact. Rep. Joshua Eilberg (Democrat--Pennsylvania) characterized the pro-impeachment sentiment when he said, "The Nixon White House made secret police a reality in America."

The U.S. federal grand jury investigating the June 1972 break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. and the subsequent cover-up indicted former U.S. Treasury Secretary John Connally on five counts involving acceptance of a bribe; perjury; and conspiracy to obstruct justice. The charges alleged that he had received $10,000 in cash payments from Associated Milk Producers, Inc. in return for his recommendations in 1971 to raise federal milk price supports. Jake Jacobsen, the attorney for AMP and a longtime friend of Mr. Connally, was also indicted.

Baseball
John Milner hit a 2-run home run--his 15th homer of the season--in the bottom of the 8th inning to give the New York Mets a 4-3 win over the Montreal Expos before 17,343 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. This blogger's favourite player, Hal Breeden, started at first base for Montreal and hit a 2-run homer in the top of the 3rd inning to open the scoring. It was Mr. Breeden's second home run of the season, and the 21st and last of his 4-year major league career. Relief pitcher Jack Aker was credited with the win, while Steve Rogers pitched 7+ innings in taking the loss, dropping to 10-13.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Susanna--The Art Company (3rd week at #1)

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

Died on this date
Fred Waring, 84. U.S. bandleader. Mr. Waring and his band, Waring's Pennsylvanians, were among the most popular artists recording for Victor Records from 1923-1932. Mr. Waring was also a popular performer in person and on radio. He made the move to television in 1948; The Fred Waring Show aired on CBS from 1948-1954. Mr. Waring also achieved success promoting the Waring Blender, which became an important tool in hospitals for the implementation of specific diets, and was used by Dr. Jonas Salk while developing his polio vaccine. Mr. Waring was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the U.S.A.'s highest civilian honour, by President Ronald Reagan in 1983.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (1-2-1) 46 @ Ottawa (3-2) 24

Saskatchewan kicker Dave Ridgway set a CFL record for a single game with 8 field goals to help the Roughriders defeat the Rough Riders at Lansdowne Park.



25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Viva la mamma--Edoardo Bennato (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): No More Boleros--Gerard Joling

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)--Soul II Soul

#1 single in France (SNEP): Lambada--Kaoma

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): You'll Never Stop Me Loving You--Sonia (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Toy Soldiers--Martika (2nd week at #1)
2 Batdance--Prince
3 Express Yourself--Madonna
4 So Alive--Love and Rockets
5 On Our Own--Bobby Brown
6 If You Don't Know Me by Now--Simply Red
7 Lay Your Hands on Me--Bon Jovi
8 Once Bitten Twice Shy--Great White
9 I Like It--Dino
10 Right Here Waiting--Richard Marx

Singles entering the chart were One by the Bee Gees (#73); Bust a Move by Young M.C. (#81); Pride and Passion by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band (#82); Put Your Mouth on Me by Eddie Murphy (#90); You Better Dance by the Jets (#92); Runnin' Down a Dream by Tom Petty (#93); Nature of Love by Waterfront (#95); Love Cries by Stage Dolls (#96); and Nightrain by Guns n' Roses (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Batdance--Prince
2 If You Don't Know Me by Now--Simply Red
3 Express Yourself--Madonna
4 Toy Soldiers--Martika
5 On Our Own--Bobby Brown
6 Lay Your Hands on Me--Bon Jovi
7 So Alive--Love and Rockets
8 What You Don't Know--Expose
9 Good Thing--Fine Young Cannibals
10 Baby Don't Forget My Number--Milli Vanilli

Singles entering the chart were Heaven by Warrant (#77); One by the Bee Gees (#79); That's the Way by Katrina and the Waves (#82); Forget Me Not by Bad English (#85); Don't Say You Love Me by Billy Squier (#89); and Put Your Mouth on Me by Eddie Murphy (#90).

Politics and government
Recently-elected Polish President Wojciech Jaruzelski resigned as Communist Party leader; he was replaced by Premier Mieczyslaw Rakowski.

Track and field
Javier Sotomayor of Cuba became the first high jumper to break the 8-foot barrier when he cleared that height, breaking his own world record of 7 feet 11½ inches, at the Caribbean Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Baseball
Texas Rangers’ owner George W. Bush made one of the worst trades in baseball history, obtaining outfielder-designated hitter Harold Baines and infielder Fred Manrique from the Chicago White Sox for shortstop Scott Fletcher, pitcher Wilson Alvarez, and outfielder Sammy Sosa. It was the "biggest mistake of my adulthood," the future President said in 2000. Mr. Baines was batting .321 with 13 home runs and 56 runs batted in in 96 games with the White Sox in 1989, while Mr. Manrique was batting .299 with 2 homer and 30 RBIs in 65 games with Chicago. Mr. Fletcher was batting .239 with no home runs and 22 runs batted in in 83 games with the Rangers in 1989, while Mr. Sosa was batting .238 with 1 homer and 3 RBIs in 20 games with Texas. Mr. Alvarez had made his major league debut with the Rangers just five days earlier in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays; he started and faced 5 batters, allowing, in order: a single, home run, home run, base on balls, and base on balls, with 3 of the runs scoring, leading to Mr. Alvarez being tagged with the loss as Toronto won 6-3.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Swear--All-4-One (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Dorothy Hodgkin, 84. Egyptian-born U.K. biochemist. Dr. Hodgkin was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for her determinations by X-ray techniques of the structures of important biochemical substances."

John Britton, 69. U.S. abortionist. Dr. Britton and bodyguard James Barrett, 74, were shot to death, and Mr. Barrett's wife June was wounded slightly, outside an abortion clinic in Pensacola, Florida. The killer was Paul Hill, a former Presbyterian pastor who had been defrocked and excommunicated by his church for refusing to recant of his support for killing abortionists. Mr. Hill was charged the next day with two counts of murder and another count of attempted murder.

World events
U.S. President Bill Clinton ordered U.S. troops in Rwanda to open the Kigali airport. U.S. Army engineers began pumping fresh water from Lake Kivu to refugees.

Law
The United States Senate voted 87-9 to approve U.S. federal judge Stephen Breyer as the latest member of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the gross domestic product had grown at an annual rate of 3.7% during the second quarter of 1994, up from a revised rate of 3.3% for the first quarter.

Football
CFL
Las Vegas (2-2) 20 @ Toronto (2-2) 39
British Columbia (2-2) 21 @ Calgary (3-1) 62

Mike Kerrigan threw 4 touchdown passes--2 to Eric Drage and 1 each to Jeff Fairholm and Paul Masotti--as the Argonauts took a 32-0 lead and coasted to victory over the Posse before 14,296 fans at SkyDome.



Doug Flutie threw 2 touchdown passes and rushed for 2 more TDs, and backup quarterback Steve Taylor added 2 touchdown passes as the Stampeders routed the Lions before 23,693 fans at McMahon Stadium. Marvin Coleman scored another Calgary touchdown on a 68-yard punt return. The Stampeders' point total gave them 120 points in their last 2 games.

10 years ago
2004

Politics and government
U.S. Senator John Kerry (Massachusetts) officially accepted the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States in the November 2004 election. The Democratic National Convention, meeting at the FleetCenter in Boston, unanimously nominated U.S. Senator John Edwards (North Carolina) as the party's vice presidential candidate.

Football
CFL
Calgary (1-5) 30 @ Ottawa (4-3) 31



Montreal (6-1) 9 @ British Columbia (3-3) 32