September 25, 2014

320 years ago
1694

Born on this date
Henry Pelham. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1743-1754. Mr. Pelham, a Whig, was named Lord of the Treasury in 1721, and was elected to the House of Commons the following year, representing Sussex County. He held various cabinet posts before succeeding the late Earl of Wilmington as Prime Minister. During Mr. Pelham's time in office, prime ministerial power became entirely dependent on a Commons majority, rather than royal prerogative interventions. While serving as Prime Minister, Mr. Pelham was also Chancellor of the Exchequer, and he achieved success in his financial policies, such as reducing government spending. Mr. Pelham was Prime Minister during the end of the War of the Austrian Succession, and preferred peace to war in his foreign policy. He died in office on March 6, 1754 at the age of 59, and was succeeded as Prime Minister by his older brother, the Duke of Newcastle.

270 years ago
1744

Born on this date
Friedrich Wilhelm II. King of Prussia, 1786-1797. Friedrich Wilhelm II acceded to the throne upon the death of his uncle Friedrich II ("Frederick the Great"), who had no children. Friedrich Wilhelm II was regarded as lazy and pleasure-loving, and Prussia became weaker during his reign. He died on November 16, 1797 at the age of 53, and was succeeded by his son Friedrich Wilhelm III.

225 years ago
1789

Law
The first United States Congress adopted 12 amendments to the Constitution and sent them to the states for ratification. The first 10 became the Bill of Rights.

125 years ago
1889

Baseball
The Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players' organizational plan for a new Players' League was leaked to the press in New York. It called for clubs to be owned jointly by players and capitalists.

100 years ago
1914

Football
Coach Deacon White joined several prominent players in jumping from the Edmonton Eskimos to the Edmonton Civics of the Edmonton city league, resulting in the essential disbanding of the Eskimos for the 1914 season. As a result, the only teams in the upcoming season would be the University of Alberta and the Civics, who had won the city's intermediate championship in 1913, and had decided to move up to the senior ranks for 1914.

80 years ago
1934

Baseball
The St. Louis Cardinals moved to within 1 game of the National League-leading New York Giants with a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, while the Giants lost 4-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies at the Polo Grounds in New York. Dizzy Dean earned his 28th win of the season for the Cardinals, but lost the shutout in the 9th inning when Arky Vaughan hit a 2-run home run.

18-year-old Phil Cavaretta, a Chicago native, made his major league debut with his hometown Cubs at Wrigley Field; he hit a home run for the game’s only run in a 1-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, added 2 bases on balls and a stolen base, and cleanly handled 12 chances at first base. Guy Bush pitched the shutout.

Vito Tamulis of the New York Yankees made his major league debut, pitching a 7-hitter in blanking the Philadelphia Athletics 5-0 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Mr. Tamulis also went 1 for 4 at bat. Yankees’ first baseman Lou Gehrig played his 1,500th consecutive game.

75 years ago
1939

Baseball
The New York Giants edged the Boston Bees 6-5 before 1,125 fans at the Polo Ground in New York. Bees’ outfielder Johnny Cooney hit his second home run in as many games; oddly, they were the only home runs Mr. Cooney ever hit in a major league career that spanned 20 seasons and 1,172 games. Boston catcher Al Lopez hit a 3-run homer in the top of the 9th inning to give the Bees a 5-3 lead, but the Giants rallied for 3 in the bottom of the 9th to win the game.

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 Vampire of Cadiz

Movies
Film Daily announced that a poll of U.S. newspaper, magazine, syndicate, and radio movie critics and editors had resulted in Henry King being chosen the best director of 1943-44 for The Song of Bernadette (1943).

War
Soviet troops swept down the northwestern Estonian coast and captured the port of Haapsalu, leaving Virtsu as the only Estonian port open to the Germans. Yugoslavian partisans took the vital Bosnian centre of Banja Luka on the outskirts of Belgrade.

Politics and government
Republican Party U.S. presidential candidate Thomas Dewey closed his western tour in Oklahoma City, accusing President Franklin D. Roosevelt of resorting to mudslinging tactics in order to cover "a desperately bad record" for which America had to pay "a desperately high price."

Academia
Harvard University Medical School announced that women would be accepted as students, beginning in the fall of 1945.

60 years ago
1954

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Three Coins in the Fountain--Frank Sinatra; The Four Aces

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Hey There--Rosemary Clooney (Best Seller--1st week at #1); Sh-Boom--The Crew-Cuts (Disc Jockey--8th week at #1; Jukebox--6th week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Hey There--Rosemary Clooney
--Sammy Davis, Jr.
2 Sh-Boom--The Crew-Cuts
--The Chords
3 Skokiaan--Ralph Marterie and his Orchestra
--Bulawayo Sweet Rhythms Band
--The Four Lads
4 The High and the Mighty--Les Baxter and his Orchestra
--LeRoy Holmes and his Orchestra
--Victor Young and his Orchestra
--Johnny Desmond
5 The Little Shoemaker--The Gaylords
--Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra
6 If I Give My Heart to You--Doris Day
--Denise Lor
--Connee Boswell
--Dinah Shore
7 I Need You Now--Eddie Fisher
8 This Ole House--Rosemary Clooney
9 In the Chapel in the Moonlight--Kitty Kallen
10 Little Things Mean a Lot--Kitty Kallen

Singles entering the chart were Papa Loves Mambo by Perry Como (#29); Muskrat Ramble, with versions by the McGuire Sisters and the Matys Brothers (#39); St. Louis Blues Mambo by Richard Maltby and his Orchestra (#41); Yearning (Just For You) by Georgie Shaw (#42); Mood Indigo by the Norman Petty Trio (#45); and Uno by Tony Martin (#50).

On the radio
Escape, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Heart of Kali

This was the last episode of the series, which had been airing on CBS since 1947.

On television tonight
The Jackie Gleason Show, on CBS

Tonight's show featured one of this blogger's favourite "lost" Honeymooners' skits, Ralph's Sweet Tooth.

Football
CRU
IRFU
Toronto (3-3) 7 @ Montreal (5-1) 28
Hamilton (3-3) 38 @ Ottawa (1-5) 12

WIFU
Saskatchewan (5-3-2) 10 @ Calgary (5-4) 18
Winnipeg (5-3-2) 8 @ Edmonton (4-3) 12

ORFU-university
Exhibition
Toronto Balmy Beach 12 @ University of Toronto 29
Sarnia 24 @ University of Western Ontario 7

Canadian university-college (Exhibition)
Ontario Agricultural College 1 @ Queen's University 14

Jackie Parker and Bernie Faloney scored touchdowns for the Eskimos in their win over the Blue Bombers at Clarke Stadium.

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Won't Forget You--Jim Reeves (7th week at #1)

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Pretty Woman--Roy Orbison (3rd week at #1)
2 Do Wah Diddy Diddy--Manfred Mann
3 In the Misty Moonlight--Jerry Wallace
4 Last Kiss--J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers
5 G.T.O.--Ronny and the Daytonas
6 Slow Down/Matchbox--The Beatles
7 It Hurts to Be in Love--Gene Pitney
8 Haunted House--Jumpin' Gene Simmons
9 Father Sebastian--The Ramblers
10 Baby I Need Your Lovin'--Four Tops
Pick hit of the week: I've Got Sand in My Shoes--The Drifters
New this week: Las Vegas Scene--Wes Dakus
20-75--Willie Mitchell
Hugo--Linda Hall
I Don't Wanna Know--The Mugwumps
Up Above My Heart--Al Hirt
I'm Crying--The Animals

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley, on BBC Light Programme
Tonight's episode: The Red Headed League

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Rock Your Baby--George McCrae (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
Sons and Daughters, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Runner

Law
In Columbus, Georgia, U.S. District Court Judge J. Robert Elliott overturned the conviction of U.S. Army Lieutenant William Calley for his role in the massare of civilians in the South Vietnamese hamlet of My Lai on March 16, 1968, and ordered Lt. Calley released "forthwith" from the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In the decision, Judge Elliott ruled that "massive adverse pretrial publicity" had made a fair trial impossible. He also contended that the charges in the case had been "improperly drawn and illegally used," and that Lt. Calley had been denied the right to call certain witnesses. The Army said that it would not comply with the order for release and would appeal the decision to a higher court.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (6-5) 29 @ Edmonton (7-3) 31

Tom Wilkinson, who relieved Bruce Lemmerman at quarterback, led the Eskimos to 25 points in the last 10 minutes of the game as they overcame a 29-6 deficit to edge the Tiger-Cats before a Clarke Stadium record crowd of 23,297. Hamilton running back Andy Hopkins rushed for 180 yards and a touchdown as the Tiger-Cats dominated the first 50 minutes of the game. Hamilton quarterback Don Jonas rushed 8 yards for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter, and Ian Sunter added 2 converts, 4 field goals, and 3 singles. Dave Cutler kicked 2 field goals for the Eskimos in the 1st quarter, but they didn't score again until Mr. Wilkinson completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to Larry Highbaugh with 9:17 remaining in the game. Mr. Cutler converted and kicked a 25-yard field goal with 7:04 remaining to make the score 29-16. With just 1:26 remaining, Mr. Wilkinson found Mr. Highbaugh for a 7-yard touchdown pass. Mr. Cutler converted and added a single on the kickoff 4 seconds later to pull Edmonton to within 29-24. The Edmonton defense prevented the Hamilton offense from getting a first down, and the Eskimos regained possession of the ball with enough time for another offensive drive. Mr. Wilkinson completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone Walls on the last play of the game, and Mr. Cutler's convert completed one of the greatest comebacks in CFL history. It was the first CFL game for Hamilton guard Mike Oriard, Edmonton middle linebacker Dan McDonough, and Edmonton receiver John Konihowski, and the last CFL game for Edmonton defensive tackle Craig Koinzan, who went on the injured list with a bad knee, and never played again.

WFL
Detroit (1-12) 7 @ New York (8-5) 37
Memphis (11-2) 17 @ Shreveport (3-9-1) 14
Birmingham (11-2) 21 @ Portland (4-8-1) 26
Jacksonville (4-9) 7 @ Southern California (9-4) 57
Philadelphia (6-7) 21 @ Hawaii (4-9) 16

After their victory over the Wheels, the New York Stars announced that the franchise was immediately moving to Charlotte, North Carolina.

30 years ago
1984

Died on this date
Walter Pidgeon, 87. Canadian-born U.S. actor. A native of Saint John, New Brunswick, Mr. Pidgeon was known for co-starring with Greer Garson in several movies, most notably Mrs. Miniver (1942) and Madame Curie (1943). His other movies included How Green was My Valley (1941); The Bad and the Beautiful (1952); Forbidden Planet (1956); and Advise & Consent (1962).

Politics and government
Democratic Party U.S. presidential candidate Walter Mondale said that President Ronald Reagan was moderating some of his positions, including renewed expressions of interest in arms control, only because the election was at hand.

Baseball
Rusty Staub’s 2-run pinch-hit home run climaxed a 4-run 9th-inning rally as the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-4 before 13,812 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Mr. Staub’s home run, his first of the season, made him the only major league player other than Ty Cobb to hit a home run in the major leagues before the age of 20 and after reaching the age of 40.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Right Here Waiting--Richard Marx (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Lambada--Kaoma (6th week at #1)

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Right Here Waiting--Richard Marx (5th week at #1)
2 If I Could Turn Back Time--Cher
3 Girl I'm Gonna Miss You--Milli Vanilli
4 Don't Wanna Lose You--Gloria Estefan
5 Cold Hearted--Paula Abdul
6 Heaven--Warrant
7 Cherish--Madonna
8 Mixed Emotions--Rolling Stones
9 Hangin' Tough--New Kids on the Block
10 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles

Singles entering the chart were When I See You Smile by Bad English (#77); Giving Away a Miracle by Luba (#79); I Feel the Earth Move by Martika (#81); Cover Girl by New Kids on the Block (#83); Glamour Boys by Living Colour (#84); Trail of Broken Hearts by k.d. lang and the Reclines (#87); That's What I Need by Neil James Harnett (#89); and The Way to Your Heart by Soul Sister (#93).

Politics and government
The governing Liberals, led by Premier Robert Bourassa, were re-elected in the Quebec provincial election, winning 92 of 125 seats in the National Assembly and taking 50% of the popular vote. The Parti Quebecois, led by Jacques Parizeau, took 29 seats and 40.2% of the vote, while the Equality Party, dedicated to promoting the rights of Quebec's English-speaking minority, took 4.6% of the vote and the remaining 4 seats.

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev warned leaders of the republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan that they had two days to negotiate an end to the rail blockade, apparently supported by Azerbaijani authorities, that had prevented Armenia from getting badly needed supplies. His threat appeared to produce an easing of tensions between the two republics.

Defense
U.S. President George Bush, addressing the United Nations General Assembly, said that the United States would destroy 80% of its chemical weapons if the U.S.S.R. would cut its stockpile to the American level.

Baseball
Wade Boggs of the Boston Red Sox batted 4 for 5 in a 7-4 win over the New York Yankees before 32,759 fans at Fenway Park in Boston, becoming the first player in major league history to achieve 200 hits and 100 bases on balls in 4 consecutive seasons. He extended his own record by making 200 hits in 7 straight seasons.

The Montreal Expos gave up 2 home runs to former Expo Andre Dawson, but still managed to beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in 10 innings before 10,305 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Mr. Dawson’s second home run, an inside-the-park blow, was a drive that was caught by Expos’ center fielder Dave Martinez, who suffered a muscle pull and crumpled to the ground in pain. He never let go of the ball, but Mr. Dawson ran the bases as Mr. Martinez’s teammates surrounded him, without time being called. Despite the fact that the ball never touched the ground or the wall, Mr. Dawson was awarded a home run.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: I'll Make Love to You--Boyz II Men (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): I Swear--All-4-One (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: I Swear--All-4-One (9th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Saturday Night--Whigfield (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
Baseball, on PBS
Tonight's episode: Sixth Inning: The National Pastime

Football
CFL
Baltimore (8-4) 42 @ Ottawa (4-8) 27
Toronto (4-8) 25 @ Edmonton (9-3) 28

Linebacker Matt Goodwin blocked 2 punts and returned them both for touchdowns to help the Baltimore Football Club defeat the Rough Riders before 20,764 fans at Frank Clair Stadium. Tracy Ham passed to Chris Armstrong for a Baltimore touchdown and handed off to Mike Pringle for another TD. Ottawa quarterback Danny Barrett handed off to Michael Richardson for 2 touchdowns and rushed for another himself.

The Argonauts took a 22-0 lead midway through the 2nd quarter and led 25-3 with seconds remaining in the 1st half, but the Eskimos stormed back with 25 straight points to pull out a win before 24,132 fans at Commonwealth Stadium on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Toronto quarterback Marvin Graves completed an 87-yard bomb to Eric Drage for a touchdown just 30 seconds into the game. When Edmonton receiver Eddie Brown fumbled a punt in his end zone, former Eskimo Eddie Thomas recovered for a Toronto touchdown, and Kevin Smellie rushed 1 yard for the third Toronto TD. After an exchange of field goals, Sean Fleming kicked his second of the game, from 44 yards, on the last play of the half to reduce the Toronto lead to 25-6. Edmonton quarterback Damon Allen connected with Mr. Brown for a 68-yard touchdown just 40 seconds into the 2nd half. Mr. Fleming converted and soon kicked a 52-yard field goal, and an Edmonton safety touch reduced the Toronto lead to 25-18. Mr. Allen completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Mr. Brown in the 4th quarter, and Mr. Fleming converted and then kicked a 13-yard field goal with 1:02 left in regulation time to win the game.

10 years ago
2004

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (6-8) 25 @ Montreal (12-1) 47
Toronto (7-5-1) 26 @ Edmonton (7-7) 17

Arland Bruce returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown with 9:04 remaining in regulation time and Clifford Ivory returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown 38 seconds later as the Argonauts defeated the Eskimos before 41,113 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. R.J. Soward scored the other Toronto TD on a 7-yard pass from Michael Bishop in the 3rd quarter. The only Edmonton touchdown came on a 12-yard rush by Derrell "Mookie" Mitchell with 1:42 remaining in regulation time.