April 16, 2015

100 years ago
1915

Died on this date
Nelson Aldrich, 73. U.S. politician. Mr. Aldrich, a Republican, represented Rhode Island in the United States House of Representatives (1879-1881) and in the Senate (1881-1911). He served as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee (1898-1911), earning the nickname "General Manager of the Nation." Mr. Aldrich's grandson, Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, was Governor of New York (1959-1973) and Vice President of the United States (1974-1977).

90 years ago
1925

Terrorism
150 people, many from Bulgaria's political and military elite, were killed and 500 wounded during an assault by Communists on St. Nedelya Church in Sofia, Bulgaria. The attack took place during the funeral of General Konstantin Georgiev, who had been assassinated by Communists the previous day.

80 years ago
1935

Baseball
Babe Ruth made his National League debut, hitting a 430-foot, 2-run home run off Carl Hubbell, driving in another run with a double, and making a sensational shoestring catch in the outfield, as the Boston Braves defeated the New York Giants 4-2 at Braves Field. The crowd of 25,000 was the largest opening day crowd in Braves’ history to that point.

Fred Lindstrom lined a single off Dizzy Dean’s shin with runners on first and third bases in the 1st inning, knocking the St. Louis Cardinals’ ace pitcher out of the game, as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cardinals 4-3 on opening day at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Wes Ferrell gave up just 2 hits as the Boston Red Sox opened the season with a 1-0 win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. 2 errors, one of them by losing pitcher Lefty Gomez, allowed Billy Werber to score the game’s only run in the 6th inning.

75 years ago
1940

Diplomacy
Shao Li-Tse was appointed Nationalist China's Ambassador to the U.S.S.R.

The U.S. State Department announced that diplomatic relations with Iceland would be established shortly.

Politics and government
Election results gave the Argentine Radical Party control of Argentina's Chamber of Deputies for the first time since 1930.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt met at the White House with Postmaster General James Farley, a candidate for the 1940 Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States.

Law
The Egyptian cabinet drafted a law making espionage or treason punishable by death.

Baseball
Bob Feller became the only major league pitcher to pitch a no-hitter on opening day as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Chicago White Sox 1-0 before 14,000 fans at Comiskey park in Chicago. Edgar Smith took the loss.

U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt threw out the first ball at Griffith Stadium in Washington as the Nationals lost 1-0 to the Boston Red Sox. Winning pitcher Lefty Grove gave up just 2 hits.

20,187 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia saw the hometown Athletics upset the defending World Series champion New York Yankees 2-1 in 10 innings. Chubby Dean went the distance for his first major league complete game and drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly. Red Ruffing took the loss. Bob Johnson hit a home run for Philadelphia’s first score.

49,517 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit went home disappointed as the Tigers opened the season with a 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Browns. George Coffman won the pitching duel over Bobo Newsom.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day) (3rd week at #1)
--Johnny Long and his Orchestra and Dick Robertson
--Phil Moore Four
2 Candy--Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
3 I'm Beginning to See the Light--Harry James and his Orchestra
--Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra
--Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots
4 Rum and Coca-Cola--The Andrews Sisters
--Abe Lyman and his Orchestra
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
5 A Little on the Lonely Side--Frankie Carle and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
6 Dream--The Pied Pipers
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
7 Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive--Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra
--Artie Shaw and his Orchestra
--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
8 More and More--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
--Perry Como
9 Just a Prayer Away--Bing Crosby
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
10 Sentimental Journey--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day)
--Hal McIntyre and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were the version of I'm Beginning to See the Light by Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots; and (I Love You, I Love You, I Love You) Sweetheart of All My Dreams by Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra (#32).

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Remarkable Worm

War
Canadian forces took Groningen, Netherlands after a four-day battle. A German U-Boat torpedoed the Royal Canadian Navy minesweeper HMCS Esquimalt off Halifax. The Soviet Red Army began the final assault on German forces around Berlin, with nearly one million troops fighting in the Battle of the Seelow Heights. The United States Army liberated Nazi Sonderlager (high security) prisoner-of-war camp Oflag IV-C (better known as Colditz). U.S. troops entered Nuremberg as Allied Supreme Commander General Dwight Eisenhower announced that victory would be announced when "all important enemy pockets on the western front" were destroyed. British and Indian troops occupied the Burmese port of Tangup, encountering little Japanese opposition. Tokyo was again struck by incendiary bombs dropped by Marianas-based U.S. superfortresses. Almost 7,000 German troops and civilians died when the German Kriegsmarine refugee freighter MV Goya was sunk by Soviet submarine L-3.

Diplomacy
U.K. Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden met in Washington with U.S. President Harry Truman.

Politics and government
U.S. President Harry Truman addressed a joint session of Congress and asked for continuation of the policies of the late President Franklin D Roosevelt. Mr. Truman promised prosecution of World War II to its conclusion; punishment of war criminals; and creation of the United Nations organization for "just settlement of international differences."

Education
The International Education Assembly adopted a resolution at its closing session calling for the San Francisco Conference to establish a permanent International Office of Education.

Business
The United States government started an antitrust suit in Danville, Illinois against A&P Company, charging that it had conspired to control food prices in restraint of trade and to gain a monopoly.

Economics and finance
U.S. cattle feeders and packers told a congressional food investigation committee that the Office of Price Administration was to blame for meat shortages.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Mr Sandman--The Four Aces; The Chordettes (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Give Me Your Word--Tennessee Ernie Ford (8th week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Ballad of Davy Crockett--Bill Hayes (Best Seller--4th week at #1); Sincerely--The McGuire Sisters (Disc Jockey--10th week at #1; Jukebox--7th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Ballad of Davy Crockett--Bill Hayes (4th week at #1)
2 The Crazy Otto--Johnny Maddox and the Rhythmasters
3 Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White--Perez Prado and his Orchestra
4 Dance with Me Henry (Wallflower)--Georgia Gibbs
5 Tweedlee Dee--Georgia Gibbs
6 How Important Can it Be?--Joni James
--Sarah Vaughan
7 Melody of Love--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra
--David Carroll and his Orchestra
--The Four Aces
8 Sincerely--The McGuire Sisters
9 Unchained Melody--Les Baxter and his Orchestra
--Al Hibbler
--Roy Hamilton
10 Play Me Hearts and Flowers (I Wanna Cry)--Johnny Desmond

Singles entering the chart were the version of Unchained Melody by Roy Hamilton; Whatever Lola Wants, with versions by Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Shore (#22); Most of All (#30)/The Door is Still Open to My Heart (#40) by Don Cornell; Most of All by the Fontane Sisters (also #30); Don't Be Angry by the Crew-Cuts (#31); The Door is Still Open to My Heart by the Hilltoppers (also #40); It's a Sin to Tell a Lie by Somethin' Smith and the Redheads (#48); and Strange Lady in Town by Frankie Laine (#49). Strange Lady in Town was the B-side of Cool Water, which had entered the chart two weeks earlier at #32, had dropped to #47 a week later, and was now off the chart.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter--Herman's Hermits (3rd week at #1)
2 I Know a Place--Petula Clark
3 I'll Never Find Another You--The Seekers
4 Silhouettes--Herman's Hermits
5 I'm Tellin' You Now--Freddie & the Dreamers
6 Game of Love--Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
7 The Birds and the Bees--Jewel Akens
8 Can't You Hear My Heartbeat--Herman's Hermits
9 Do You Wanna Dance?--The Beach Boys
10 Count Me In--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Pick hit of the week: Reelin' and Rockin'--The Dave Clark Five
New this week: Three O'Clock in the Morning--Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra
Do the Freddie--Freddie and the Dreamers
Super-Cali-Fragil-Istic-Expi-Ali-Docious--Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and the Pearlies
Queen of the House--Jody Miller
Sometimes--Paul Revere and the Raiders
Georgie Porgie--Jewel Akens

Super-Cali-Fragil-Istic-Expi-Ali-Docious was from the movie Mary Poppins (1964).

40 years ago
1975

Diplomacy
Greek Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis concluded his two-day visit to Paris. France agreed to sponsor Greece as a full member of the European Economic Community.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
Quarter-Finals
San Diego 5 @ Toronto 6 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

The Mariners scored the first 2 goals and the last 2 goals, but the Toros outscored them 6-1 between those, and defeated the Mariners before 10,197 fans at Maple Leaf Gardens. Wayne Dillon scored 2 goals and an assist for Toronto, with other goals coming from Lou Nistico, Tony Featherstone, Frank Mahovlich, and Gavin Kirk. Mike Laughton scored twice for San Diego, with his second goal coming with 25 seconds remaining in regulation time. Norm Ferguson, Gene Peacosh, and Brian Perry scored the other San Diego goal. For Mr. Perry, who had spent the regular season with the Syracuse Blazers of the North American Hockey League, it was the final goal of a mediocre professional career, and his only goal in a San Diego uniform.

Basketball
NBA
Playoffs
Conference Semi-Finals
First Round
Buffalo 96 @ Washington 111 (Washington led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Kansas City-Omaha 90 @ Chicago 93 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Second round
Houston 100 @ Boston 112 (Boston led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Seattle 100 @ Golden State 99 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Elvin Hayes scored 30 points and Phil Chenier added 28 as the Bullets defeated the Braves before 19,035 fans at Capital Center in Landover, Maryland. Buffalo's Bob McAdoo led all scorers with 34 points, and Randy Smith added 26 for the Braves.

Bob Love scored 31 points and Tom Boerwinkle grabbed 24 rebounds to lead the Bulls over the Kings before 18,347 fans at Chicago Stadium. Nate Archibald led Kansas City-Omaha with just 18 points, but the Kings scored the game's last 8 points in the final 1:59 of regulation time.

Dave Cowens scored 28 points, John Havlicek 23, and Jo Jo White 21 as the Celtics beat the Rockets before 13,254 fans at Boston Garden. Houston's Calvin Murphy led all scorers with 30 points.

Spencer Haywood scored 28 points, including 2 free throws with 48 seconds remaining in regulation time, as the SuperSonics edged the Warriors before 12,787 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena. Fred Brown scored 26 points for Seattle, while Golden State's Rick Barry led all scorers with 29 points.

ABA
Playoffs
First Round
San Antonio 100 @ Indiana 115 (Indiana won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Billy Knight scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while George McGinnis added 32 points, 22 rebonds, and a career-high 14 assists, as the Pacers eliminated the Spurs before 15,675 fans at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. San Antonio's George Gervin led all scorers with 34 points.

Baseball
Fred Lynn hit 2 home runs and Carl Yastrzemski added another as the Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees 4-2 before 8,854 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Rick Wise was the winning pitcher, pitching his first complete game in more than a year. Walt Williams homered for the Yankees in the 9th inning.

The Texas Rangers scored 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning, 5 in the 3rd, and 4 in the 7th as they beat the Chicago White Sox 14-4 before 2,159 fans at White Sox Park. The White Sox scored 4 in the bottom of the 1st to take a 4-3 lead, but rookie Texas pitcher Jim Umbarger replaced starter Jim Bibby with 1 out in the inning, and pitched 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball, allowing 5 hits, to gain his first major league win. Chicago starter Wilbur Wood allowed 8 hits and 7 runs--4 earned--in 2+ innings to take the loss. Texas center fielder Willie Davis batted 3 for 6 with a double and his first American League home run, 2 runs, and 3 runs batted in.

Harmon Killebrew hit his 560th career major league home run--and first in a Kansas City uniform--to help the Royals defeat the Oakland Athletics 6-2 before 13,080 fans at Royals Stadium. Nelson Briles pitched a 5-hit complete game for the victory, while Oakland starter Vida Blue allowed 6 hits and 5 runs--all earned--in 3 1/3 innings in taking the loss.

Manny Trillo hit his first major league home run--a 3-run blast off Steve Carlton--as the Chicago Cubs scored 5 runs in the top of the 1st inning en route to a 9-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 8,294 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Bill Bonham pitched a 5-hit complete game for the win over Mr. Carlton, who allowed 7 hits and 6 runs--all earned--in 2+ innings.

Steve Garvey singled home Rick Auerbach with the bases loaded and 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Los Angeled Dodgers a 7-6 come-from-behind win over the Cincinnati Reds before 36,578 fans at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers were trailing 6-2 when Jim Wynn hit a grand slam off Pat Darcy in the 7th inning to tie the score. The Reds scored the game's first 4 runs--2 on a home run by Tony Perez--in the top of the 3rd against Los Angeles starting pitcher Juan Marichal, who allowed 6 hits, 2 bases on balls, and 4 earned runs in 2 1/3 innings in what turned out to be the final game of his Hall of Fame career.

Woodie Fryman pitched a 5 hit shutout and hit a double, and Larry Parrish hit his first major league home run, as the Montreal Expos blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-0 before 4,807 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in the first Expos Baseball telecast on CBC for 1975. Mr. Parrish, a rookie third baseman, homered in the 2nd inning off losing pitcher Dock Ellis, who allowed 7 hits and 4 runs--all earned--in 3 innings. The win was the first for Mr. Fryman since coming to the Expos from the Detroit Tigers in an off-season trade.

The Iowa Oaks scored 3 runs in the top of the 8th inning as they came from behind to edge the defending champion Tulsa Oilers 4-3 before 2,151 fans in Tulsa in the American Association regular season opener for both clubs. Tulsa pitchers Ken Reynolds, Ken Crosby (who was tagged with the loss), and Mike Proly allowed 11 bases on balls, while the Oaks used 6 pitchers. Ramon de los Santos, the third Iowa pitcher of the game, pitched 1/3 of an inning in the 7th and was credited with the win. Tulsa catcher Rich Billings suffered a dislocated shoulder while making a putout in a collision at home plate, and was lost for most of the season.

Eric Raich pitched a 7-hit complete game victory as the Oklahoma City 89ers defeated the Indianapolis Indians 5-1 in the American Association season opener before 1,474 fans at Bush Stadium in Indianapolis. Santo Alcala started on the mound and allowed 5 hits and 4 runs--3 earned--in 5 innings in taking the loss. Mac Scarce, sent to Indianapolis after being acquired the previous day by the parent Cincinnati Reds in a trade with the New York Mets, took the mound to start the 8th inning, but was removed after allowing 2 hits and an earned run in just 1/3 inning.

The Omaha Royals scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning as they rallied from a 4-2 deficit to defeat the Wichita Aeros before 7,025 fans at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha in the American Association season opener for both teams.

Jerry Manuel singled home pinch runner Bruce Kimm with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Evansville Triplets edged the Denver Bears before 1,637 fans in Evansville in the American Association season opener for both clubs. Evansville catcher John Wockenfuss had led off the inning by reaching first base by being hit by a pitch from Rich Hinton. Mr. Kimm went in to run for Mr. Wockenfuss and was trapped in a rundown between first and second bases while Ron Cash was at bat, but Denver second baseman Hugh Yancy made a throwing error, allowing Mr. Kimm to reach second, from where he scored the winning run. Mr. Yancy had doubled in 2 runs in the top of the 8th as the Bears had rallied for 3 runs to tie the game 4-4. Evansville first baseman Jack Pierce hit a 2-run home run in the 6th inning.

30 years ago
1985

Died on this date
Scott Brady, 60. U.S. actor. Mr. Brady, born Gerard Kenneth Tierney, was known for appearing in numerous western movies and television programs.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Boston 0 @ Montreal 1 (Montreal won best-of-five series 3-2)
Buffalo 5 @ Quebec 6 (Quebec won best-of-five series 3-2)
New York Islanders 2 @ Washington 1 (New York won best-of-five series 3-2)

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Sexy Music--Wink (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Janet Adkins, 54. U.S. medical patient. Ms. Adkins, a Michigan resident who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1989, was the first "assisted suicide" victim of mad scientist "Dr." Jack Kevorkian.

Disasters
An explosion caused by a leaking gas cylinder killed at least 80 people travelling on a commuter train travelling near Kumrahar, Hihar, India.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Winnipeg 1 @ Edmonton 4 (Edmonton won best-of-seven series 4-3)
Minnesota 2 @ Chicago 5 (Chicago won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Baseball
The Milwaukee Brewers amassed 20 hits, but oddly, no home runs, as they whipped the Boston Red Sox 18-0 before 35,478 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Teddy Higuera was the winning pitcher over Mike Boddicker.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: If You Love Me--Brownstone

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)--Scatman John (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Conquest of Paradise--Vangelis (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Arthur English, 75. U.K. actor. Mr. English was best known for playing Mr. Harman in the television comedy series Are You Being Served? (1976-1985).

Environment
Canada signed a deal in Brussels with the European Union, ending a bitter dispute over fishing rights in the North Atlantic Ocean. Both sides said the agreement would protect threatened fish stocks.

Curling
Men's World Championships @ Keystone Centre, Brandon, Manitoba
Final
Canada (Kerry Burtnyk) 4 Scotland (Gordon Muirhead) 2

Bronze medal
Germany (Andy Kapp) 6 U.S.A. (Tim Somerville) 5

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Kay Walsh, 93. U.K. actress. Miss Walsh was an English stage actress whose movies included In Which We Serve (1942); This Happy Breed (1944); Oliver Twist (1948); Stage Fright (1950); The Horse's Mouth (1958); and A Study in Terror (1965). She was married to director David Lean from 1940-1949.