August 24, 2015

1,120 years ago
895

Died on this date
Guthred. King of Northumbria, c. 883-895. Guthred was reportedly made King of Viking Northumbria after the expulsion of Halfdan. An invasion from Scotland was repelled during Guthred's reign.

800 years ago
1215

Law
Pope Innocent III declared Magna Carta invalid.

200 years ago
1815

Politics and government
The modern Constitution of the Netherlands was issued by King William I.

150 years ago
1865

Born on this date
Ferdinand I. King of Romania, 1914-1927. King Ferdinand I succeeded his uncle Carol I, who had died without any surviving issue. Ferdinand I died on July 20, 1927 at the age of 61, and was succeeded by his grandson Crown Prince Michael under a regency.

140 years ago
1875

Swimming
Matthew Webb of England became the first person to swim across the English Channel. He set out from Dover, England and swam the 21-mile divide in 21 hours 45 minutes, arriving in France the day after his departure.

130 years ago
1885

Canadiana
The first census of the Northwest Territories was taken.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Duke Kahanamoku. Hawaiian-born U.S. swimmer and surfer. Mr. Kahanamoku won 5 medals in swimming in the Summer Olympic Games in 1912,, 1920, and 1924, and was credited with popularizing surfing. He died on January 22, 1968 at the age of 77.

120 years ago
1895

Died on this date
Albert F. Mummery, 39. U.K. mountaineer. Mr. Mummery achieved numerous first ascents in the Alps, but was killed, along with Gurkhas Ragobir Thapa and Goman Singh, in an avalanche while while reconnoitering the Rakhiot Face of Nanga Parbat in the Himalayas, 17 days before his 40th birthday.

80 years ago
1935

Died on this date
George Keefe, 68. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Keefe played with the Washington Nationals (1886-1889); Buffalo Bisons (1890); and Washington Statesmen (1891), compiling a record of 20-48 with an earned run average of 5.05 in 78 games.

Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds scored 7 runs in the last 3 innings to defeat the Philadephia Phillies 9-5 in the first game of a doubleheader at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia, and scored 12 runs in the first 2 innings of the second game to win 13-2 and complete the sweep.

Hank Lieber hit 2 home runs in an 8-run 2nd inning as the New York Giants beat the Chicago Cubs 9-4 before 17,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. Carl Hubbell, pitching in relief, picked up his 19th win of the season.

Earl Averill hit a 2-run home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 15th inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 2-0 win over the Philadelphia Athletics at League Park in Cleveland. Willis Hudlin went the distance to get the win. George Turbeville, making only his second major league start, went the distance in taking the loss. If Mr. Averill had been retired in the 15th inning, the game would have been called on account of darkness.

The St. Louis Browns scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the New York Yankees 7-6 before 1,000 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Ed Coleman hit into a force play to score Jack Burns with the tying run, and Sam West followed with a double to score Mr. West to end the game.

75 years ago
1940

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'll Never Smile Again--Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (vocal refrain by Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers) (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Paul Gottlieb Nipkow, 80. German inventor. Mr. Nipkow invented the Lipkow disk, an important component of mechanical television transmission. He died two days after his 80th birthday.

Ed Hallinan, 52. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Hallinan was a shortstop with the St. Louis Browns from 1911-1912, batting .212 with no home runs and 15 runs batted in in 80 games. He played in the Pacific Coast League in 1908, 1910, and 1913-1916. Mr. Hallinan died the day after his 52nd birthday.

War
German bombers launched a 24-hour direct attack against Royal Air Force bases in Britain, causing severe damage. Italian forces bombed British military installations at Alexandria, Sidi Barrani, and Matrouh in Egypt.

Diplomacy
Hungary broke off negotiations with Romania over the former's demands for the cession of Transylvania.

Defense
The United Kingdom and Bermuda announced the leasing of the Great Sound of Bermuda to the United States for an airplane base.

Politics and government
Harry Hopkins resigned as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Jesse Jones to replace him.

Republican Party U.S. presidential candidate Wendell Willkie called for the creation of an air force cabinet post.

Baseball
The Detroit Tigers, behind the pitching of Tommy Bridges (8-8), whipped the Boston Red Sox 12-1 in the first game of a doubleheader before 29,209 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Ted Williams pitched the last 2 innings for the Red Sox, allowing 3 hits and 1 run. He faced Rudy York, who had driven in 5 runs for Detroit, and struck him out on 3 pitches. Joe Glenn relieved Jimmie Foxx at catcher and batted 1 for 2 in his 248th and last major league game. In the second game, the Tigers scored 4 runs in the 8th inning to take a 7-5 lead, but the Red Sox came back with a run in the 8th and 2 in the 9th to win 8-7.

70 years ago
1945

Died on this date
Midori Naka, 36. Japanese actress. Miss Naka was a stage actress with the Sakura-tai troupe, all of whom moved to Hiroshima in June 1945. When the U.S. atomic bomb "Little Boy" exploded over Hiroshima on August 6, 13 of the 17 actors died instantly. Three of the others predeceased Miss Naka, who died in hospital in Tokyo, and became the first person whose death was officially attributed to "radiation poisoning."

Radio
Because of needs in the populous northeast, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission revised its rules for frequency modulation, increasing from 70 to 80 the channels originally allocated to FM.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. agreed to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China and to avoid interference in Chinese internal affairs.

Former Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for American Affairs Nelson Rockefeller charged that the Argentine government of President Juan Peron had failed to carry out pledges as a signatory to the Act of Chapultepec.

Politics and government
U.S. President Harry Truman directed administrative assistant Samuel Rosenman to study the proposal to merge the War and Navy Departments.

Economics and finance
The U.S. War Production Board removed all controls on automobile output and lifted restrictions on the use of paper by all branches of the publishing industry except newspapers.

60 years ago
1955

Football
CRU
IRFU
Pre-season
Montreal (0-1) 10 @ Hamilton (3-1) 12

13,469 fans at Civic Stadium saw the Tiger-Cats edge the Alouettes.

50 years ago
1965

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sabbah Rose!

War
A pact to end the three-year Yemeni civil war was signed by the United Arab Republic (Egypt)--who had supported the republican forces of President Abdullah al-Salal--and Saudi Arabia--supporters of deposed Imam Mohammed al-Badr. The agreement called for an immediate cease-fire and a plebiscite to decide whether Yemen would continue as a republic or revert to a monarchy.

40 years ago
1975

Football
CFL
Ottawa (3-3) 23 @ Saskatchewan (4-2) 16

Rookie quarterback Tom Clements made his first regular season start in the CFL, completing 12 of 23 passes for 154 yards and directing an adequate rushing attack as the Rough Riders defeated the Roughriders before 20,111 fans on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Taylor Field in Regina. Ottawa running back Art Green rushed 22 times for 113 yards, and scored the winning touchdown, breaking a 16-16 tie with a 1-yard rush with 1:21 remaining in the game, converted by Gerry Organ. The first Ottawa touchdown came on the first play of the 2nd quarter, when Mr. Green fumbled into the Saskatchewan end zone from the 2-yard line, and guard Tom Schuette recovered for the only touchdown of his 11-year CFL career. Saskatchewan quarterback Ron Lancaster completed 14 of 28 passes for 216 yards and a 27-yard touchdown to Leif Pettersen with 52 seconds left in the 1st half, but threw 4 interceptions and lost a fumble. Saskatchewan fullback George Reed rushed for 123 yards, but lost 2 fumbles. Former Rough Rider and B.C. Lion Ivan MacMillan played his only game in a Saskatchewan uniform, replacing suspended Jack Abendschan as the Roughriders' kicker. He scored 10 points on 3 field goals and a convert.

NFL
Pre-season
New York Giants (3-0) 21 New York Jets (2-1) 20 @ New Haven, Connecticut

Baseball
Al Oliver drove in 3 runs with a triple and home run as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 before 35,598 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. Jerry Reuss pitched a 9-hit complete game victory.

Jose Cruz drove in 3 runs with 2 home runs and a double as the Houston Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 8-4 before 19,795 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Cliff Johnson and Bob Watson also homered for Houston, while Andre Thornton homered for Chicago. For Mr. Johnson, it was the fifth straight game in which he'd hit a home run. Larry Dierker pitched a 9-hit complete game victory.

Dave Kingman's grand slam was the big blow in a 5-run 5th inning as the New York Mets beat the San Francisco Giants 9-5 in the first game of a doubleheder before 24,132 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Mr. Kingman also doubled and singled. Ed Halicki pitched a no-hitter as the Giants won the second game 6-0. san Francisco second baseman Derrel Thomas stole 3 bases, including second base and home plate on the front end of a double steal with Dave Rader for the game's third run in the 5th inning.

Tito Fuentes had 3 hits and Randy Jones pitched an 8-hit complete game to improve his 1975 record to 17-7 as the San Diego Padres beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 in the first game of a doubleheader before 17,870 fans at San Diego Stadium. In the second game, Bobby Tolan singled home Bob Davis with 2 out in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Padres an 8-7 win to complete the sweep, in a game in which each team used 6 pitchers.

The Montreal Expos scored 3 runs--2 earned--off relief pitcher Mike Marshall in the top of the 14th inning and held on to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 before 35,305 fans at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers lost a run in the 6th inning when Bill Buckner singled home Willie Crawford with 2 out, but Montreal catcher Gary Carter showed Mr. Buckner's bat to home plate umpire Doug Harvey. The bat contained illegal grooves, and Mr. Harvey called Mr. Buckner out, nullifying the run. In the 12th inning, Dave Lopes was thrown out by Mr. Carter in an attempted steal of second base, ending the Los Angeles second baseman's streak at 38 consecutive successful steal attempts.

Every man in the lineup had at least 1 hit, and Frank Tanana pitched a 4-hitter and struck out 8 batters as the California Angels shut out the New York Yankees 9-0 in the first game of a doubleheader before 30,656 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Nolan Ryan allowed 6 hits and 1 earned run in 6 innings to pick up the win as the Angels won 4-3 to complete the sweep. Mr. Tanana's shutout improved his record for the season to 12-6, while Mr. Ryan's win improved his record to 14-12, and was his last win of the season, which had been interrupted by arm problems.

Tom Murphy retired Gene Tenace, Rich McKinney, and Phil Garner with the bases loaded to preserve a 7-6 win for the Milwaukee Brewers over the Oakland Athletics before 17,231 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Ed Rodriguez issued consecutive bases on balls to Sal Bando and Reggie Jackson to begin the 9th inning. Rick Austin then entered the game and walked Claudell Washington and Billy Williams, forcing in a run. Mr. Murphy then relieved Mr. Austin and retired Messrs. Tenace and McKinney on outs to first baseman George Scott and struck out Mr. Garner to end the game.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): L'Estate Sta Finendo--Righeira (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Tarzan Boy--Baltimora (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Waarom fluister ik je naam nog--Benny Neyman

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Into the Groove--Madonna (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Into the Groove--Madonna (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Power of Love--Huey Lewis and the News

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Power of Love--Huey Lewis and the News
2 Shout--Tears for Fears
3 Freeway of Love--Aretha Franklin
4 Never Surrender--Corey Hart
5 St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)--John Parr
6 We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)--Tina Turner
7 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free--Sting
8 Everytime You Go Away--Paul Young
9 Summer of ‘69--Bryan Adams
10 You Give Good Love--Whitney Houston

Singles entering the chart were Fortress Around Your Heart by Sting (#50); Lovin' Every Minute of It by Loverboy (#62); Four in the Morning (I Can’t Take Any More) by Night Ranger (#67); Be Near Me by ABC (#77); Looking Over My Shoulder by 'Til Tuesday (#78); I'll Be Around by What is This (#85); Rebels by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#87); Running Back by Urgent (#88); Information by Eric Martin (#89); Dancin' in the Key of Life by Steve Arrington (#90); and Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire by David Foster (#94). Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire was from the movie.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 The Power of Love--Huey Lewis and the News
2 You Spin Me Around (Like a Record)--Dead or Alive
3 We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)--Tina Turner
4 Never Surrender--Corey Hart
5 Crying Over You--Platinum Blonde
6 Everytime You Go Away--Paul Young
7 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free--Sting
8 19--Paul Hardcastle
9 You Give Good Love--Whitney Houston
10 What About Love--Heart

Singles entering the chart were Dress You Up by Madonna (#90); Lovin' Every Minute of It by Loverboy (#92); C-I-T-Y by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band (#93); and Every Step of the Way by John Waite (#95).

Died on this date
Morrie Ryskind, 89. U.S. playwright, screenwriter, and songwriter. Mr. Ryskind wrote scrips and lyrics for Broadway musicals and Hollywood movies. He and George S. Kaufman wrote the book for Of Thee I Sing (1931), which became the first musical to win the first Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Mr. Ryskind was known for his association with the Marx Brothers; he wrote the book for the musical (1929) and the screenplay for the movie (1930) Animal Crackers, and the screenplays for the movies The Cocoanuts (1929); A Night at the Opera (1935); and Room Service (1938). Mr. Ryskind was nominated for Academy Awards for his screenplays for My Man Godfrey (1936) and Stage Door (1937). He was a member of the Socialist Party of America in the 1930s, but eventually became a conservative. His testimony as a "friendly witness" before the U.S. House of Representatives in 1947 may have led to his inability to sell any scripts afterward.

Paul Creston, 78. U.S. composer. Mr. Creston, born Giuseppe Guttoveggio, wrote six symphonies and numerous other orchestral, chamber, instrumental, and choral works.

Mickey Witek, 74. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Witek was a second baseman with the New York Giants (1940-1943, 1946-1947) and New York Yankees (1949), batting .277 with 22 home runs and 196 runs batted in in 581 games. All but his last two games were played with the Giants; he singled in his only plate appearance with the Yankees. Mr. Witek was a farmhand of the Yankees before going to the Giants, and was the International League's Most Valuable Player in 1939, when he batted .329 in 156 games with the Newark Bears.

Abominations
Five-year-old John Shorthouse was shot dead in a police raid on his home in Birmingham, England. They were looking for his father, also named John; young John was shot as an officer searched under his bed.

Terrorism
Irish hostage Brian Keenan was freed in Beirut by his kidnappers--the Organization of Islamic Dawn--after more than four years in captivity.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (1-6) 11 @ British Columbia (6-1) 21

Keyvan Jenkins rushed 22 times for 126 yards and a touchdown to lead the Lions’ offense before 34,351 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, who booed Lions’ quarterback Roy Dewalt for much of the game for his inability to generate a powerful attack. The Lions led 14-4 until Mr. Dewalt connected with Merv Fernandez on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 5:10 remaining in the game to increase the lead to 21-4 after Lui Passaglia’s convert. Less than 3 minutes later, the Tiger-Cats finally hit the B.C. end zone when Poncho James scored on a 4-yard rush. Don Sweet’s convert ended the scoring.

Baseball
The Toronto Blue Jays released catcher Gary Allenson, ending his career. Mr. Allenson played with the Boston Red Sox from 1979-1984 before joining the Blue Jays. In 416 games, Mr. Allenson batted .221 with 19 home runs and 131 runs batted in. With Toronto, he was batting .118 with no homers and 3 RBIs in 14 games.

Mike Smithson pitched a 6-hit shutout to win the pitchers' duel over Bruce Hurst, who allowed 5 hits in pitching a complete game, as the Minnesota Twins edged the Boston Red Sox 1-0 before 30,463 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Dave Engle scored the only run in the 5th inning when he singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch. The game took 2 hours and 33 minutes to play despite the fact that the pitchers combined to allow only 17 baserunners.

Dave Stieb of the Toronto Blue Jays was 3 outs away from a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox when he gave up consecutive home runs to Rudy Law and Bryan Little, and was removed from the game. His replacement, Gary Lavelle, promptly gave up a third straight home run to Harold Baines. Tom Henke then relieved and saved the 6-3 win before 26,113 fans at Comiskey Park. Tom Seaver allowed 10 hits and 6 earned runs in 7 2/3 innings to take the loss.

The Detroit Tigers hit 4 home runs and 4 doubles as they routed the California Angels 13-2 before 32,780 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Lou Whitaker homered to lead off the game, and Lance Parrish hit a 2-run homer later in the inning. The Angels responded in the bottom of the 1st when Gary Pettis led off with a base on balls and Rod Carew followed with a home run. After that it was all Tigers, and they put the game away with 6 runs in the 8th. Mr. Parrish hit another homer, as did Chet Lemon. Jack Morris allowed 4 hits in 8 innings to improve his 1985 record to 14-7.

25 years ago
1990

At the movies
After Dark, My Sweet, starring Jason Patric, Rachel Ward, and Bruce Dern, opened in theatres.



Defense
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney ordered the destroyers Athabascan, Terra Nova, and the supply ship Protecteur, with 934 personnel, to the Persian Gulf.

Diplomacy
Canadian Chargé d'affaires William Bowden refused to close the Canadian Embassy in Kuwait City, as ordered by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Five other Canadians and 17 Kuwaiti employees were left with no water or electricity.

Economics and finance
A binational free trade panel ruled in favour of Canadian pork producers, saying that the U.S. International Trade Commission was wrong to put an $8/kilogram tariff on Canadian products.

Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds released first baseman and outfielder Ken Griffey, Sr. Mr. Griffey had played with the Reds from 1973-1981 before going to the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves before rejoining the Reds in 1988. The 40-year-old Mr. Griffey was batting .206 with 1 home run and 8 runs batted in in 46 games with Cincinnati. His release gave him the opportunity to sign with the Seattle Mariners, where his son Ken, Jr., 20, was playing.

The San Diego Padres signed pitcher Atlee Hammaker as a free agent. Mr. Hammaker, whose career had been plagued by arm problems, had been with the San Francisco Giants from 1982 until being released during the 1990 season. In 25 games with San Francisco in 1990, Mr. Hammaker was 4-5 with an earned run average of 4.28.

The day after losing the first game of a crucial four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox scored 2 runs in the 9th inning to defeat the Blue Jays 2-0 before 49,914 fans at SkyDome in Toronto to move 2 games ahead of the Blue Jays in the American League East Division pennant race. Dana Kiecker pitched 8 innings to get the win. This blogger was in Toronto that weekend, and despite the fact that all four of the games were televised locally, scalpers were selling standing-room seats for $200.

Bill Spiers scored on a wild pitch with 2 out in the top of the 5th inning for the only run of the game as the Milwaukee Brewers edged the New York Yankees 1-0 before 20,191 fans at Yankee Stadium. Mark Knudson allowed 6 hits in 7 innings to get the win over Tim Leary, who allowed just 5 hits in pitching a complete game and dropping to 7-16 for the season.

The Kansas City Royals scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 before 30,888 fans at Royals Stadium. Willie Wilson led off the bottom of the 9th with a home run to tie the game. Kurt Stilwell and Mike Macfarlane walked, and Mr. Stilwell went to third base when Kevin Seitzer grounded into a double play. Steve Jeltz then walked and advanced to second base on defensive indifference, and Brian McRae followed with an infield single to score Mr. Stilwell with the winning run to end the game.

Jeff Kunkel doubled home 2 runs in the 7th inning to give the Texas Rangers a 2-0 win over the Minnesota Twins before 22,321 fans at Arlington Stadium. Craig McMurtry, John Barfield, and Brad Arnsberg combined to pitch a 4-hit shutout, with Mr. Barfield getting the win. Mark Guthrie allowed 7 hits and 2 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings to take the loss.

Roberto Alomar singled home Bip Roberts for the first run and scored the second on a single by Tony Gwynn as the San Diego Padres scored 2 runs with 2 out in the 3rd inning and held on to defeat the Montreal Expos 2-1 before 17,473 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Andy Benes allowed 3 hits in 6 1/3 innings to get the win over Dennis Martinez, who allowed 6 hits and 2 earned runs in 8 innings. Tim Raines led off the 7th inning with a home run for the only Montreal run.

The San Francisco Giants scored 8 runs in the 2nd inning as they routed the Philadelphia Phillies 13-2 before 15,961 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Kevin Mitchell drove in 3 runs with a double in the 2nd inning and came around to score, and added another run with his 28th home run of the season in the 7th. Mark Dewey made his major league debut with the Giants, allowing 2 hits but no runs as he pitched the 9th inning.

Kevin McReynolds' second home run of the game provided the winning run as the New York Mets edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 before 48,358 fans at Dodger Stadium. Dwight Gooden allowed 6 hits in 8 2/3 innings and recorded 11 strikeouts to improve his 1990 record to 14-6.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Shy Guy--Diana King (3rd week at #1)

World events
Harry Wu, a native of China who had moved to the United States in 1985 and become an American citizen in 1994, was convicted of spying and expelled from China, two months after being arrested while attempting to enter China from Kazakhstan. Mr. Wu had spent 19 years in Chinese labour camps for criticizing the Communist Party, and had returned to China undercover several times, videotaping prison conditions.

Politics and government
The parliament of Georgia approved the country's first constitution since Georgia had become independent of the U.S.S.R. in 1991. The constitution created the office of president, as both head of state and head of government.

Technology
The Microsoft Windows 95 computer operating system was released to the public in North America.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Hal Kalin, 71. U.S. singer. Hal and his brother Herbie comprised the Kalin Twins, whose single When reached #1 in the United Kingdom and #5 in the United States in 1958. Hal died of injuries suffered in a car accident.

Kaleth Morales, 21. Colombian singer. Mr. Morales was a popular vallenato singer whose first hit single had been released two years earlier. He died the day after suffering serious brain trauma when the truck he and his brother Keiner were in went out of control on a highway.

Football
CFL
Calgary (3-5) 16 @ Toronto (6-3) 25

The Argonauts put the Stampeders away late in the game when Calgary's Sandro DeAngelis attempted a field goal. The kick was wide, and Toronto's Bashir Levingston field the ball a yard inside his end zone and appeared as if he would concede a single to end the game. Instead, he ran back toward the dead ball line, trotted to the other side of the field, and then ran out of the end zone, and managed to go all the way for a 111-yard touchdown, on what may be the most spectacular individual effort on a touchdown this blogger has ever seen.