July 29, 2015

1,400 years ago
615

Mexicana
K'inich Janaab' Pakal acceded to the throne of the Maya city state of Palenque (in modern southern Mexico) at the age of 12.

450 years ago
1565

Married on this date
The widowed Mary, Queen of Scots married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, Duke of Albany at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.

130 years ago
1885

Transportation
The Canadian Pacific Railway completed the British Columbia leg from Port Moody to Savona's Ferry.

125 years ago
1890

Died on this date
Vincent Van Gogh, 37. Dutch artist. Mr. Van Gogh, who epitomized the stereotype of the "mad artist," died in France two days after shooting himself, having sold just one painting in his lifetime.

110 years ago
1905

Born on this date
Dag Hammarskjöld. Swedish diplomat; United Nations Secretary-General, 1953-1961. Dr. Hammarskjöld was an economist who was a career civil servant with the Swedish government. In 1951 he was vice chairman of the Swedish delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in Paris, and in 1952 he became the chairman of the Swedish delegation to the General Assembly in New York. Dr. Hammarskjöld succeeded Trygvie Lie as Secretary-General of the United Nations in 1953; he presided over the creation of the first UN peacekeeping forces in Egypt and the Congo, and personally intervened to defuse or resolve diplomatic crises. Dr. Hammarskjold was 56 when he was killed in a plane crash on September 18, 1961 near Ndola, Northern Rhodesia, where he was due to arrive for peace talks between UN peacekeeping troops and forces fighting for independence in the separatist Congolese province of Katanga.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Francis W. Sargent. U.S. politician. Mr. Sargent, a Republican, was Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 1967-1969 and Governor of Massachusetts from 1969-1975. He advocated protection of the environment, no-fault auto insurance, and racial balancing of school districts. He also instituted the weekend furlough program for convicts, which became infamous in the late 1980s when a violent criminal named Willie Horton raped a woman and beat her fiance while on a furlough during the time that Mr. Sargent's successor, Michael Dukakis, was Governor. Mr. Sargent died on October 21, 1998 at the age of 83.

80 years ago
1935

Died on this date
François Denys Légitime, 93. President of Haiti, 1888-1889. General Légitime, a member of the Liberal Party, held several offices in the early 1880s and in the provisional govenment in the late 1880s. He was elected President in December 1888, but resigned in August 1889 because of the opposition of Gen. Florvil Hyppolite, and retired to Jamaica. Gen. Légitime returned to Haiti under a general amnesty in 1896, and represented Sud in the State Council (1918-1919).

75 years ago
1940

War
Chinese sources admitted that Japanese coastal activity off Fukien and Kwangtung was effectively blockading those regions.

World events
Cairo reported that German agents were attempting to instigate a coup d'etat to dethrone King Mohammed Zahir Shah of Afghanistan.

Diplomacy
Spain and Portugal signed a protocol pledging neutral consultation in case of war threats.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress for authority to call up the National Guard for extensive training. A Gallup Poll reported that 67% of the American people favoured universal military training, a 3% increase in the last month.

Politics and government
Republican Party presidential candidate Wendell Willkie claimed that the 1940 U.S. presidential election would create political realignment centring around acceptance or rejection of President Roosevelt's New Deal economic policies.

70 years ago
1945

Radio
The BBC Light Programme station was launched for mainstream light entertainment and music.

War
Japanese Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki said that the Imperial government would take no notice of the Potsdam ultimatum warning Japan to surrender, claiming that it was no different from previous Allied statements.

World events
Colonel Osmin Aguirre y Salinas was reportedly being held in El Salvador as the leader of a plot to overthrow the government.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry Truman said that he was opposed to sending the wives and families of U.S. occupation troops to Germany because he didn't want Americans to settle in Europe.

Science
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers Medal was awarded to Dr. William Durand for his work in hydro-dynamic and aerodynamic science, particularly in the area of jet propulsion.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Rose Marie--Slim Whitman

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Mr. Tambourine Man--The Byrds (2nd week at #1)

At the movies
Help!, starring the Beatles, received its world premiere screening at the London Pavilion Theatre. Princess Margaret and her husband Lord Snowdon were among those in attendance.



War
The first 4,000 U.S. 101st Airborne Division paratroopers arrived in Vietnam, landing at Cam Ranh Bay.

40 years ago
1975

World events
Nigerian President General Yakubu Gowon was deposed by a bloodless military coup while he was in Uganda, representing Nigeria at a summit meeting of the Organization of African Unity. The deposed leaders were not arrested, but "retired," and included all officers of major-general rank or higher. Almost 8,000 civil servants were also dismissed. The new head of state was Brigadier Murtala Ramat Muhammad, a Muslim from the northern tribe, the Hausa.

Turkish troops took over U.S. military bases in Turkey after the U.S. House of Representatives refused to lift an an arms embargo.

Diplomacy
The Organization of American States lifted its diplomatic and commercial sanctions against Cuba.

Politics and government
The United States Congress overrode President Gerald Ford's veto and enacted a $2-billion health bill.

Crime
An Edmonton police officer shot and wounded two teenagers who were inside a van that just missed hitting another police officer near the Exhibition grounds.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (2-0) 24 @ Montreal (1-1) 20
Winnipeg (1-1) 22 @ Edmonton (1-0) 28

Ron Lancaster completed an 85-yard touchdown pass to Rhett Dawson with 1:09 remaining in the game to give the Roughriders their win over the Alouettes before 25,393 fans at Autostade. The touchdown came just 22 seconds after the Alouettes had tied the game on a 27-yard pass from Sonny Wade to Skip Eaman and a 2-point convert pass from Mr. Wade to Peter Dalla Riva. Mr. Lancaster connected with Tom Campana for a touchdown in each of the first 2 quarters; Brian Berg converted both and kicked a 19-yard field goal at 1:15 of the 4th quarter to give Saskatchewan a 17-0 lead. Montreal came back with 2 touchdown passes from Mr. Wade to Mr. Dalla Riva, but were unsuccessful on 2-point convert attempts after both TDs. It was the final game for Montreal punter and halfback Dave Lewis, who had played with the Alouettes from 1967-1968 before going to the American and National Football Leagues for 6 years. He suffered a knee injury and subsequently left the team. In 2 games in 1975, Mr. Lewis punted 7 times for a 41.0-yard average, and caught 1 pass for 13 yards.

Tom Wilkinson completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Larry Highbaugh with 1:38 remaining to give the Eskimos their win over the Blue Bombers before 23,927 fans at Clarke Stadium. Winnipeg led 21-10 after the 1st quarter and a scoreless 2nd quarter on touchdown rushes of 28 yards by Richard Crump and quarterback Chuck Ealey and a 53-yard pass from Mr. Ealey to Brian Jack on the last play of the quarter. The only Edmonton touchdown of the 1st half came on an 83-yard pass from Mr. Wilkinson to Garry Lefebvre. Mr. Lefebvre's next reception came in the 3rd quarter, a 10-yard gain on which he suffered a broken left leg and suspected ankle and ligament damage. The injury kept him out for the rest of the regular season. The Eskimos began their comeback in the 2nd half with a 39-yard TD pass from Mr. Wilkinson to George McGowan, who picked on rookie Winnipeg defensive back Ray Odums for 123 yards on 7 receptions. Dave Cutler converted all 3 Edmonton touchdowns and added 2 field goals and a single.

Baseball
Ron Fairly drove in 3 runs with a home run and 2 singles as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Mets 5-3 in the first game of a twi-night doubleheader before 31,431 fans, including this blogger and his parents, at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Lynn McGlothen won the pitching matchup with Tom Seaver. Del Unser batted 4 for 6 with 2 runs and 4 runs batted in as the Mets won the second game 11-6. Tom Hall started on the mound for New York and allowed 8 hits and 3 earned runs in 5 innings, but was still the winning pitcher; he also singled twice for his only hits of the season and scored his only 2 runs of the season. Ron Reed allowed 11 hits and 7 runs--4 earned--in 7 innings to take the loss. Ron Bryant, the third St. Louis pitcher, allowed 1 hit and 1 base on balls, but no runs in 1 1/3 innings in what turned out to be his last game.

Tom Underwood pitched a 4-hit complete game and doubled in 2 runs as the Philadelphia Phillies scored 4 runs in the 4th inning and beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 before 33,340 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. Willie Randolph made his major league debut, playing the entire game at second base for the Pirates. He singled once in 4 at bats; made 3 putouts and 4 assists; participated in a double play; and made an error.

Blue Moon Odom pitched 8 2/3 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 earned runs, to get his first National League win as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 before 4,906 fans at Atlanta Stadium. Mr. Odom was relieved by Elias Sosa with the score 4-0 and the bases loaded with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning. Ron Cey doubled in 2 runs, and Mr. Sosa was promptly replaced by Tom House, who retired Steve Yeager to end the game.

Don Money and Darrell Porter hit consecutive home runs to lead off the game and Jim Colborn pitched a 7-hitter as the Milwaukee Brewers blanked the Boston Red Sox 4-0 before 33,506 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Mr. Money also homered in the 3rd inning. Milwaukee center fielder Gorman Thomas struck out in his first 2 at bats to tie the American League record for non-pitchers of 8 consecutive strikeouts; he broke the streak by grounding into a double play in the 6th inning. Losing pitcher Diego Segui, making his first start in more than three years, pitched a complete game, allowing 10 hits and 4 earned runs while striking out 11 batters and walking just 1.

Lee May and Bobby Grich each drove in 3 runs and Mike Torrez pitched a 6-hit complete game victory as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Cleveland Indians 7-1 before 11,717 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

Thurman Munson, celebrating the birth of his son, drove in 2 runs as the New York Yankees ended a 27-inning scoring drought and beat the Detroit Tigers 4-2 before 13,410 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Mr. Munson ended the Yankees' shutout streak by driving in a run with a ground out in the 1st inning. The run was unearned, set up by an error by Detroit first baseman Jack Pierce, who was on a dubious streak of his own, making an error in his fifth straight game. George Medich pitched 8 2/3 innings, allowing 8 hits and 2 earned runs, to win the pitching matchup with Joe Coleman. It was the first major league game for two Detroit players: right fielder Billy Baldwin played the entire game and singled once in 4 at bats and participated in a double play (catching a line drive by Fred Stanley and throwing to Mr. Pierce to double off Lou Piniella), while Gene Pentz pitched the last 3 innings, allowing no hits or runs, walking 2 batters and striking out 4.

Toby Harrah hit his first career major league grand slam as the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 6-1 before 6,522 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Steve Hargan pitched an 8-hit complete game towin the pitching matchup with Jim Perry.

Hal Breeden hit 2 home runs and Jim Cox added another as the Memphis Blues beat the Syracuse Chiefs 5-1 in an International League game.

The Evansville Triplets swept an American Association doubleheader from the Oklahoma City 89ers 10-3 and 8-2. Dennis DeBarr pitched a 6-hitter to win the first game, with home run help from Ed Kurpiel and Bruce Kimm. Ed Glynn pitched a 4-hitter to win the second game, with home run help from Bob Molinaro.

The El Paso Diablos routed the Arkansas Travelers 20-5 in a Texas League game.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Crazy for You--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Ore-tachi no Rockabilly Night--The Checkers (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Tarzan Boy--Baltimora (2nd week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Jacques Lemaire resigned as coach of the Montreal Canadiens after less than two years in the position. He had replaced Bob Berry with 17 games remaining in the 1983-84 season, leading them to a 7-10-0 record in the regular season and a birth in the Prince of Wales Conference finals, their deepest run into the Stanley Cup playoffs in five years. In 1984-85, the Canadiens compiled a record of 41-27-12, finishing first in the Adams Division with 94 points, but were eliminated in the division finals.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): U Can't Touch This/Dancin' Machine--MC Hammer (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Verdammt - ich lieb' dich--Matthias Reim (4th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Verdammt - ich lieb' dich--Matthias Reim (3rd week at #1)
2 I Promised Myself--Nick Kamen
3 Insieme: 1992--Toto Cutugno
4 Ooops Up--Snap!
5 I Can't Stand It!--Twenty 4 Seven featuring Capt. Hollywood
6 Alle meine Lieda--Remix-Poidl
7 Kingston Town--UB40
8 What's a Woman?--Vaya Con Dios
9 It Must Have Been Love--Roxette
10 Hey, Wickie--Der Schreckliche Sven & die tollkühnen Plattenreiter

Singles entering the chart were Don't Miss the Partyline by Bizz Nizz (#21); and Tränen passen nicht zu dir by Kastelruther Spatzen (#29).

Died on this date
Bruno Kreisky, 79. Chancellor of Austria, 1970-1983. Mr. Kreisky, a Jewish agnostic, was a Socialist and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the coalition cabinets of Chancellors Julius Raab, Alfons Gorbach, and Josef Klaus from 1959-1966. The Socialists won a plurality of seats in the March 1970 elections, and Mr. Kreisky became Chancellor, becoming more powerful when the Socialists won a majority in the October 1971 elections. Under Mr. Kreisky, sodomy and abortion were decriminalized. Mr. Kreisky resigned after the Socialists lost their absolute majority in the Nationalrat in the April 1983 elections, and he declined to form a minority government.

Personal
This blogger spent the evening in the company of a certain lovely lady in High Park in Toronto.

Baseball
Scott Garrelts of the San Francisco Giants was one out away from a no-hitter when he gave up a single to Paul O’Neill. Mr. Garrelts finished with a 1-hit 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 55,792 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Losing pitcher Jack Armstrong pitched a complete game, allowing 8 hits and 4 earned runs.

The Boston Red Sox set an American League record with 12 doubles in a 13-3 win over the Detroit Tigers before 28,631 fans at Tiger Stadium. Wade Boggs led the Red Sox with 3 doubles.

The Toronto Blue Jays led the Texas Rangers 9-7 after 4 innings and held on to win 10-8 before 49,853 fans at SkyDome in Toronto to maintain their 1-game lead over the Red Sox atop the American League East Division.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored 3 runs--2 unearned--in the top of the 11th inning and withstood a 2-run rally to defeat the Chicago White Sox 9-8 before 33,353 fans at Comiskey Park. The White Sox made 19 hits, but also made 4 errors.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me--U2 (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Conquest of Paradise--Vangelis (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Pour que tu m'aimes encore--Céline Dion (12th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Pour que tu m'aimes encore--Céline Dion (12th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Wanna Be A Hippy--Technohead (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Boom Boom Boom--The Outhere Brothers (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Waterfalls--TLC (4th week at #1)
2 One More Chance/Stay with Me--The Notorious B.I.G.
3 Don't Take it Personal (Just One of Dem Days)--Monica
4 Boombastic/In the Summertime--Shaggy/Shaggy (featuring Rayvon)
5 Kiss from a Rose--Seal
6 I Can Love You Like That--All-4-One
7 Water Runs Dry--Boyz II Men
8 Total Eclipse of the Heart--Nicki French
9 Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?--Bryan Adams
10 Run-Around--Blues Traveler

Singles entering the chart were Vow by Garbage (#97); Listen Me Tic (Woyoi) by ini Kamoze (#98); and Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You (The Rain Song) by Aaron Neville (#99).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Waterfalls--TLC (4th week at #1)
2 One More Chance/Stay with Me--The Notorious B.I.G.
3 I Can Love You Like That--All-4-One
4 Don't Take it Personal (Just One of Dem Days)--Monica
5 Someone to Love--Jon B featuring Babyface
6 Run-Around--Blues Traveler
7 Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?--Bryan Adams
8 Kiss from a Rose--Seal
9 Water Runs Dry--Boyz II Men
10 Every Little Thing I Do--Soul for Real

Singles entering the chart were I Wanna B with U by Fun Factory (#68); Warm Summer Daze by Vybe (#70); Sugar Hill by AZ (#76); and Don't Ever Touch Me (Again) by Dionne Farris (#88).

Died on this date
Les Elgart, 77. U.S. musician. Mr. Elgart was a trumpeter who performed in the bands of Raymond Scott, Charlie Spivak, and Harry James in the 1940s. He and his brother Larry, a saxophonist, formed their own band and had success recording albums of "easy listening" music in the 1950s and '60s. Les Elgart died five days before his 78th birthday.

Football
CFL
Toronto (2-3) 10 @ Memphis (3-3) 7 (OT)
Baltimore (4-1) 36 @ Birmingham (3-2) 8

Wayne Lammle's 37-yard field goal with 1 second left in the 2nd half of overtime gave the Argonauts their win over the Mad Dogs before 20,183 fans at Liberty Bowl Stadium in a game without a touchdown, in part because the dimensions of the field were smaller than those of the usual Canadian football field.



Tracy Ham threw 2 touchdown passes to Chris Armstrong and another to Shannon Culver as the Stallions routed the Barracudas before 30,729 fans at Legion Field. The only Birmingham touchdown came on a 28-yard pass from Matt Dunigan to Delius Morris in the 2nd quarter.



10 years ago
2005

Space
The discovery of the dwarf planet Eris was announced. The discovery had been made on January 5, 2005 by astronomers Michael E. Brown, C.A. Trujillo, and D.L. Rabinowitz at the Palomar Observatory in California. Eris is roughly three times the distance from the Sun of Pluto.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (3-3) 21 @ Saskatchewan (3-3) 16
Calgary (2-3) 27 @ British Columbia (5-0) 40