July 17, 2015

140 years ago
1875

Born on this date
Donald Tovey. U.K. musicologist and composer. Sir Donald was best known for his six-volume Essays in Musical Analysis (1935-1939). He was a pianist whose relatively few compositions included a symphony, chamber music, and works for piano. Sir Donald died on July 10, 1940, a week before his 65th birthday.

130 years ago
1885

Died on this date
Jean-Charles Chapais, 73. Canadian politician. Mr. Chapais, a native of Rivière-Ouelle, Lower Canada and a Conservative, represented Kamouraska (1851-1867) in the Legislative Assembly of Canada and Champlain in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec (1867-1868) before representing De la Durantaye, Quebec in the Canadian Senate from 1868 until his death in Ottawa. He was Minister of Agriculture (1867-1869) and Receiver General (1869-1873) in the cabinet of Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, the first after Confederation.

80 years ago
1935

Died on this date
Nie Er, aka George Njal, 23. Chinese composer. Nie Er, born Nie Shouxin, wrote 37 pieces, the best known of which was March of the Volunteers, which became the national anthem of the People's Republic of China. He died under uncertain circumstances while swimming in Japan.

75 years ago
1940

War
The British government of Prime Minister Winston Churchill named Sir Roger Keyes as director of combined operations to plan and execute commando raids.

Diplomacy
Japan promised an attempt to reach a peace settlement with Nationalist Chinese leader Chaing Kai-shek in return for a British promise to close the Burma Road to war supplies for three months starting immediately.

German chemist Dr. Emil Wolff was held in the Panama Canal Zone on charges of failing to register as a German agent.

Politics and government
The Democratic National Convention in Chicago nominated by acclamation President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the Democratic Party candidate to run for a third term as President of the United States. The party platform called for non-intervention in foreign wars.

Defense
U.S. Army General George Marshall said that two million men were needed for the adequate defense of the United States.

Transportation
Baghdad Railway was inaugurated when the first train left the Iraqi capital for Haidar Pasha on the Bosphorus opposite Istanbul.

70 years ago
1945

Died on this date
Ernst Busch, 60. German military officer. Generalfeldmarschall Busch was highly decorated for bravery in both world wars and took part in the siege of Leningrad during World War II, but was sacked by Fuehrer Adolf Hitler in July 1944 and replaced by Feldmarschall Walter Model. Generalfeldmarschall Busch surrendered to British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and died of heart failure in a prisoner of war camp in Aldershot, England.

War
The U.S. Office of Defense Transportation ordered all railway coaches, combination passenger and baggage cars, and express cars pooled for military purposes.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry S. Truman, U.S.S.R. dictator Josef Stalin, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill began talks at Potsdam, Germany in the final Allied summit of World War II.

Politics and government
Irish Prime Minister Eamon de Valera told Parliament that Eire had achieved status as a republic on December 29, 1937 when the Constitution had become operative, but that Eire was still "associated as a matter of our external policy with the British Commonwealth."

The Belgian Chamber of Deputies voted to continue Prince Charles' regency and to bar King Leopold III from returning without Parliament's permission.

Spanish dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco indicated that he expected his regime to be succeeded eventually by a traditional monarchy.

Track and field
Gunder Haegg set a record in the mile of 4:01.4 in Malmo, Sweden.

60 years ago
1955

At the movies
Betrayed Women, directed by Edward L. Cahn, and starring Carole Mathews, Beverly Michaels, Peggy Knudsen, and Tom Drake, opened in theatres.



Popular culture
The Disneyland amusement park was dedicated and opened by Walt Disney in Anaheim, California.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Crying in the Chapel--Elvis Presley (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France: La Danse de Zorba--Mikis Theodorakis (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Il mondo--Jimmy Fontana

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Il Silenzio--Nini Rosso (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Wooly Bully--Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Mr. Tambourine Man--The Byrds

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction--The Rolling Stones (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction--The Rolling Stones (2nd week at #1)
2 I'm Henry VIII, I Am--Herman's Hermits
3 I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)--The Four Tops
4 Yes, I'm Ready--Barbara Mason
5 Cara, Mia--Jay & the Americans
6 Mr. Tambourine Man--The Byrds
7 Seventh Son--Johnny Rivers
8 What's New Pussycat?--Tom Jones
9 What the World Needs Now is Love--Jackie DeShannon
10 You Turn Me On (Turn On Song)--Ian Whitcomb and Bluesville

Singles entering the chart were Papa's Got a Brand New Bag (Part 1) by James Brown and the Famous Flames (#66); Hung on You by the Righteous Brothers (#75); You Tell Me Why by the Beau Brummels (#79); I'm a Fool to Care by Ray Charles (#84); I Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher (#86); You're My Baby (And Don't You Forget It) by the Vacels (#87); In the Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett (#92); Candy by the Astors (#95); Happy Feet Time by the Monclairs (#96); I'm Alive by the Hollies (#98); and (No, No) I'm Losing You by Aretha Franklin. Hung on You was the B-side of Unchained Melody, charting at #63.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Tears on My Pillow--Johnny Nash

Space
The first docking of manned U.S. and U.S.S.R. spacecraft occurred during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project when the Apollo spacecraft with the crew of Tom Stafford, Deke Slayton, and Vance Brand docked with the Soyuz spacecraft, with Alexei Leonov and Valery Kubasov aboard.

Politics and government
The coalition government of Portugal collapsed, six days after Socialist Party leader Mario Soares had led his party out of the coalition, accusing the military rulers of wanting to set up a Communist dictatorship. The military was now in control of the government.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. agreed to buy wheat from American and Canadian grain exporters.

Journalism
Baltimore Evening Sun writer Phil Hersh dropped an assault charge against Detroit Tigers' manager Ralph Houk, opting to let baseball authorities settle the case, which stemmed from an incident on June 27, when Mr. Houk had allegedly slapped Mr. Hersh in the visiting team's clubhouse at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore after Mr. Hersh had written something that Mr. Houk had found objectionable. Mr. Houk, who had been arrested the following day and was scheduled to appear in court in Baltimore in September 1975, gave Mr. Hersh a written apology. Mr. Hersh dropped the charge after receiving assurance from American League President Lee MacPhail that the matter "will be handled as forcefully as it would have been in the courts."

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (1-3) 19 @ British Columbia (3-0-1) 30

Lou Harris scored 2 touchdowns in the 3rd quarter as the Lions came back from a 19-7 deficit to defeat the Blue Bombers before 14,092 rain-soaked fans at Empire Stadium in Vancouver. Mr. Harris rushed 2 yards for his first TD and scored the other on a 26-yard pass from Don Moorhead. Mr. Moorhead also threw a 14-yard TD pass to Tony Moro in the 1st quarter, and Ken Johnson threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Ross Clarkson in the 4th quarter. Steve Beaird scored the only Winnipeg touchdown on a 1-yard rush in the 2nd quarter, set up by an 81-yard kickoff return by Paul Williams. This was the last game in a B.C. uniform for Mr. Johnson; he failed to make the team and didn't return to the CFL unitl 1978, when he joined the Calgary Stampeders.

Baseball
The Texas Rangers released pitcher Jim Merritt, ending his professional career. Mr. Merritt played with the Minnesota Twins (1965-1968) and Cincinnati Reds (1969-1972) before joining the Rangers in 1973. His best season was 1970, when he was 20-12 with an earned run average of 4.08. Arm problems bothered Mr. Merritt in later years; in 1975 he appeared in just 5 games, pitching 4 innings without allowing an earned run, with a 0-0 record, and not appearing in any games at all after May 23. His career record was 81-86, with an ERA of 3.65.

The Baltimore Orioles scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game, and Elrod Hendricks hit a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 12th to give the Orioles a 6-3 win over the Minnesota Twins before 10,809 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

Wilbur Wood pitched a 2-hitter for his second straight shutout as the Chicago White Sox scored all their runs in the 3rd inning, defeating the Detroit Tigers 4-0 in 1 hour and 44 minutes in the first game of a twi-night doubleheader before 13,161 fans at White Sox Park. Aurelio Rodriguez drove in 4 runs with a single and a double as the Tigers won the second game 9-1, with Lerrin LaGrow pitching a 7-hit complete game victory.

Steve Rogers and Dale Murray combined to pitch a 7-hitter as the Montreal Expos shut out the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 before 20,024 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal, snapping the Reds' 10-game winning streak. Pepe Mangual and Pete Mackanin hit home runs for Montreal.

Ted Simmons doubled home Bake McBride with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 1-0 win over the San Francisco Giants before 3,085 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Al Hrabosky pitched the final 2 innings for St. Louis to get the win in relief of John Denny, who pitched 7 scoreless innings. Jim Barr, who had pitched 32 consecutive scoreless innings against the Cardinals before allowing the run, pitched a 6-hit complete game in taking the loss.

The Memphis Blues scored 2 runs in the top of the 16th inning to defeat the Toledo Mud Hens 8-6 in the completion of an International League game at Lucas County Park in Toledo that had been suspended the previous night after 15 innings. Joe Keener won the game in relief for Memphis and then started and won the regularly-scheduled game 8-4, as Ellis Valentine and Jim Cox supported his pitching by hitting home runs.

The Tulsa Oilers edged the Evansville Triplets 15-14 in an American Association game, with the teams combining for 37 hits. Tulsa third baseman Heity Cruz drove in 6 runs with a pair of 2-run home runs and 2 doubles, while Jim Dwyer added to the Tulsa attack with a single, bases-loaded double, and a solo home run. Relief pitcher Jim Foor was credited with the win. Smokey Robinson homered twice and Chuck Scrivener once for Evansville.

Chuck Dobson pitched a 7-inning no-hitter as the Salt Lake City Gulls shut out the Hawaii Islanders in the first game of a Pacific Coast League doubleheader before 2,412 fans at Honolulu Stadium. Because the game was making up one that had been rained out in Salt Lake City, the Gulls were the home team for the game. Carlos Lopez drove in 3 runs with a double and a ground out, while Billy Smith added a solo home run. Butch Metzger was the winning pitcher as Hawaii won the second game 10-2. Rod Gaspar hit his "annual" home run for the Islanders.

Craig Kusick singled home the winning run in the 16th inning to give the Tacoma Twins a 5-4 win over the Phoenix Giants in a Pacific Coast League game.

Nestor Espinosa and Ruben Garcia combined to pitch a no-hitter as the Mexico City Tigres edged the Puebla Pericos 1-0 in a Mexican League game that was called because of rain after 5 innings. Mr. Espinosa pitched the first 3 innings for the Tigres, walking 1 batter and hitting 2. Mr. Garcia pitched the last 2 innings, walking a man in each inning.

30 years ago
1985

Edmontonia
Her Majesty Elizabeth the Queen Mother arrived in Edmonton to judge an exhibition of Black Angus cattle at the Agricom during the annual Klondike Days exhibition, which began the next day. This blogger witnessed her arrival at the Legislature, where she was welcomed by Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed.

Diplomacy
The EUREKA Network--intergovernmental organisation for pan-European research and development funding and coordination--was founded with the "Paris declaration."

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Whose Law (Is it Anyway?)--Guru Josh (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
In Paris, East and West Germany and the four allied powers of World War II approved a plan to guarantee Poland’s border with a united Germany. Poland had sought assurances that Germany would not seek to reclaim former German territory awarded to Poland after World War II.

Oil
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, in a televised address, charged that some rulers of Persian Gulf states had been "inspired by America" to keep oil prices low through overproduction.

Economics and finance
For the second straight day, the Dow Jones industrial average closed at the record high figure of 2,999.75 after topping 3,000 during the course of the day.

The United States Commerce Department reported that the U.S. merchandise trade deficit had widened to $7.73 billion in May.

Baseball
The Minnesota Twins became the first team in major league history to complete 2 triple plays in the same game--both started by third baseman Gary Gaetti--but still lost 1-0 to the Boston Red Sox before 34,113 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

Bo Jackson hit 3 straight home runs--the third his 100th career major league homer--to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 10-7 win over the New York Yankees before 26,777 fans at Yankee Stadium. In the 6th inning, Mr. Jackson separated his shoulder attempting to field a fly ball hit by Deion Sanders, who made it around the bases for an inside-the-park home run. Mel Stottlemyre, Jr., son of the former Yankees’ ace pitcher, made his major league debut, pitching an inning of relief for the Royals against his father’s old team. Oscar Azocar made his major league debut with the Yankees, singling as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th inning.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: The Colour Inside--Ti.Pi.Cal. (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Scatman's World--Scatman John (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): '74–'75--The Connells (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Wish You were Here--Rednex (3rd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I'll Be There for You--The Rembrandts
2 Leave Virginia Alone--Rod Stewart
3 This Ain't a Love Song--Bon Jovi
4 Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?--Bryan Adams
5 Misery--Soul Asylum
6 Water Runs Dry--Boyz II Men
7 December--Collective Soul
8 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me--U2
9 Genuine--Mae Moore
10 Wonderful--Adam Ant

Singles entering the chart were Roll to Me by Del Amitri (#83); I Can Love You Like That by All-4-One (#84); All I Need to Know by Foreigner (#88); Tryin' to Tell Ya by Andru Donalds (#89); It's Too Late by Gloria Estefan (#90); and A Higher Place by Tom Petty (#91).

Died on this date
Juan Manuel Fangio, 84. Argentine auto racing driver. Mr. Fangio drove in the Formula One circuit from 1950-1958, winning the World Drivers' Championship five times (1951, 1954-1957). He won 24 of 52 Formula One races in which he competed, and his victory percentage of 46.15 remains the record.

Law
Christine Silverberg, 45, was appointed chief of the Calgary Police Service, becoming the first female police chief of a major Canadian city.

Weather
A six-day heat wave in the midwestern and northeastern United States had killed more than 800 people, including 536 in Chicago.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average closed at 4,736.29, a record high.

Football
CFL
Shreveport (0-3) 7 @ Edmonton (3-0) 37

Jim Sandusky, Lucius Floyd, and Willie Pless scored touchdowns for the Eskimos as they routed the Pirates before 29,463 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Sean Fleming added 3 converts, 5 field goals, and a single. Kerwin Bell and Chris Vargas shared the Edmonton quarterbacking duties, with Mr. Vargas completing a 62-yard touchdown pass to Mr. Pless, normally a linebacker, who had entered the game on offense. The Pirates broke up the shutout with just 1:14 remaining in the game on a 14-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Mike Johnson to Wayne Walker.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Geraldine Fitzgerald, 91. Irish-born U.S. actress. Miss Fitzgerald appeared in numerous plays and television programs; her movies included Wuthering Heights (1939); Dark Victory (1939); The Gay Sisters (1942); Watch on the Rhine (1943); Wilson (1944); Three Strangers (1946); and Arthur (1981).

Edward Heath, 89. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1970-1974. Sir Edward was a member of the House of Commons from 1950-2001 and led the Conservative Party from 1965-1975, becoming Prime Minister when the Conservatives unseated Prime Minister Harold Wilson's Labour Party in the 1970 general election. Sir Edward led the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community in 1973. He died of pneumonia eight days after his 89th birthday.

Joe Vialls, 61 (?). Australian journalist. Mr. Vialls was an internet journalist and conspiracy theorist who blamed various crimes and terrorist incidents on the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad or the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. He died of a reported heart attack.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (0-3) 13 @ Saskatchewan (3-1) 32