August 25, 2015

230 years ago
1785

Journalism
Fleury Mesplet published the first issue of the revived version of The Montreal Gazette /Le Gazette de Montréal, the oldest newspaper still in existence in Canada. Mr. Mesplet had prevously published the paper in 1778-1779 before it was shut down by civil authorities.

190 years ago
1825

South Americana
Uruguay declared its independence from Brazil.

125 years ago
1890

Baseball
The Brooklyn Gladiators of the American Association, in eighth and last place with a record of 26-73, and losers of 17 of their last 18 games, disbanded. The Baltimore Orioles of the minor league Atlantic Association were welcomed into the American Association to replace the Gladiators.

110 years ago
1905

Born on this date
Valentine Davies. U.S. screenwriter and playwright. Mr. Davies won an Academy Award for his story for Miracle on 34th Street (1947), and adapted it into the Broadway play Here's Love (1963). His other films included It Happens Every Spring (1949); The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954); and The Benny Goodman Story (1955). Mr. Davies also adapted Earl Derr Biggers' Charlie Chan novel Keeper of the Keys into a Broadway play (1933). He was president of the Screen Writers Guild (1949-1950) and president of the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences (1960-1961). Mr. Davies' secretary, Marian Saphro, reported that he died in the midst of a heavy laugh on July 23, 1961 at the age of 55.

75 years ago
1940

War
German air attacks on London damaged historic St. Giles Church and the Old Roman Wall.

Politics and government
The Argentine Congress refused to accept the resignation two days earlier of President Roberto M. Ortiz, several weeks after he had delegated his powers to Vice President Ramón Castillo. Mr. Ortiz had recently fallen seriously ill with diabetes.

Economics and finance
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill urged Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King to release French gold to the British.

Baseball
The Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Browns split a doubleheader before 18,600 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. George McQuinn hit a single, double, and home run, and drove in 4 runs as the Browns won the first game 7-2; the Red Sox were leading the second game 17-3 after 7 innings when the game was called because of darkness. Jimmie Foxx hit his third grand slam of the season in the 6th inning, when the Red Sox scored 11 runs.

The Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees split a pair of pitchers' duels in a doubleheader before 70,740 fans at Yankee Stadium. Ted Lyons pitched a 3-hitter as the White Sox won the first game 1-0, winning over Red Ruffing, who allowed just 5 hits. The only run scored when Luke Appling led off the top of the 9th inning with a single and Taffy Wright followed with a double to drive him home. Ernie Bonham pitched a 5-hitter as the Yankees won the second game 3-1; losing pitcher Thornton Lee allowed 8 hits and 3 earned runs in pitching a complete game. The first game was played in 1 hour 55 minutes, the second in 1 hour 33 minutes.

The Chicago Cubs scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to offset a run in the top of the inning as they defeated the New York Giants 5-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 18,892 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Giants scored 4 runs in the 7th inning and 2 in the 8th to win the second game 12-8. New York third baseman hit a solo home run in the first game, and drove in 5 runs with a single, double, and homer in the second game. Chicago relief pitcher Ken Raffensberger was the winning pitcher in the first game and the loser in the second game. Pinch runner Billy Rogell scored one of the Cubs' runs in the 10th inning of the first game; it was the 1,482nd and last game of his 14-year major league career.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe--Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra (Best Seller--5th week at #1; Airplay--4th week at #1; Juke Box--4th week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
John Birch, 27. Indian-born U.S. missionary and military officer. Lieutenant Birch was a Bible-believing Baptist who became a missionary in China. He was in China during World War II, and joined the United States Army as an intelligence officer, preaching on Sundays and gathering intelligence on Japanese troop movements during the week. He and 10 other soldiers were on their way to inspect an airport in Suchow when they were stopped by Chinese Communists, who demanded that Lt. Birch and the others turn over their weapons. Lt. Birch refused, because the Communists were supposed to be allies of the United States. Mr. Birch was then murdered by the Communists, and became one of the first casualties of the Cold War. The anti-Communist John Birch Society named in his honour was founded by Robert Welch in 1957.

War
Because of typhoons, U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur said that the formal Japanese surrender would be delayed until September 2, 1945.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry Truman and French leader Charles de Gaulle concluded several days of talks in Washington, expressing fundamental harmony and agreement to establish closer cooperation. They agreed that they would, with the British, supervise Greek elections.

Crime
Jose Ismael Herrera and Luis Ochoa del Cid were sentenced to death in Guatemala for the October 2, 1944 assassination of Guatemelan Congressman Alejandro Cordova. Former President Federico Ponce Valdes and Moises Evaristo Orozco, now in Mexico, were charged with complicity, and their arrest was ordered.

Politics and government
Bulgaria announced the indefinite postponement of general elections, upon the recommendation of the Allied Control Commission.

Nationalist Chinese leader Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek said that he would yield to the British occupation of Hong Kong, and hoped that the status of the city could be resolved through legal means.

Spruille Braden was named to replace Nelson Rockefeller as assistant U.S. Secretary of State for American Republic Affairs.

Defense
The U.S. Office of Defense Transportation announced that all wartime controls over local bus, trolley, coach, and streetcar service would be lifted on August 31.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Foreign Economic Administration announced that most curbs on exports would end about September 1.

Labour
U.S. President Truman ordered that 24 firms that had been seized by the government to avert work stoppages be returned to their owners "as soon as possible."

60 years ago
1955

At the movies
All that Heaven Allows, directed by Douglas Sirk, and starring Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson, opened in theatres in the United Kingdom.



Agriculture
Agricultural experts from the U.S.S.R. started a three-week tour of Canada's farming areas.

50 years ago
1965

At the movies
Morituri, starring Marlon Brando and Yul Brynner, opened in theatres.





Wild on the Beach, produced and directed by Maury Dexter, and starring Frankie Randall, Sherry Jackson, and others, opened in theatres.





Died on this date
Moonlight Graham, 85. U.S. baseball player and physician. Archibald Graham played in various minor leagues from 1902-1908, but played in just one major league game, playing the 8th and 9th innings in right field, without coming to bat, for the New York Giants against the Brooklyn Superbas at Washington Park in Brooklyn on June 29, 1905. He practiced as a physician in Chisholm, Minnesota from 1905 until his death. Dr. Graham was mentioned in W.P. Kinsella's novel Shoeless Joe and the subsequent movie, Field of Dreams (1989), where he was played by Frank Whaley and Burt Lancaster.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (3-1-1) 25 @ Winnipeg (4-1) 6

Hugh Campbell caught 8 passes for 206 yards for the Roughriders as they defeated the Blue Bombers before a record Winnipeg Stadium crowd of 22,486.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Fox on the Run--Sweet (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Omoide Makura--Kyoko Kosaka

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Melina--Camilo Sesto

Music
The album Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen was released on Columbia Records. The title song was released as a single the same day.

Baseball
Dennis Eckersley pitched a 3-hitter and didn't allow an earned run as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-1 before 8,171 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. The Indians put the game away in the 8th inning with a 2-run home run by Frank Robinson, followed by a homer by Charlie Spikes. For Mr. Robinson, it was his 9th and last home run of the season. Losing pitcher Jim Kaat allowed 8 hits and 4 earned runs in pitching a complete game.

Jim Umbarger pitched a 3-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Ray Bare as the Texas Rangers edged the Detroit Tigers 1-0 before 5,458 fans at Arlington Stadium. Mr. Bare allowed just 6 hits in pitching a complete game, with the only run coming in the 2nd inning on a single by Jim Spencer, a base on balls b Toby Harrah, and a single by Tom Grieve to score Mr. Spencer.

Cincinnati shortstops Darrel Chaney and Dave Concepcion batted a combined 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, a home run, 2 runs, and 5 runs batted in as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 14-5 before 12,267 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Mr. Chaney hit his first homer of the season, a 3-run blow in the 5th inning. Mr. Concepcion pinch hit for him in the 7th and doubled, and doubled in a run and scored in the 9th.

Jim Rooker pitched a 3-hitter as the Pittsburgh Pirates shut out the Atlanta Braves 4-0 before 11,146 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh in a game that was played in 1 hour 59 minutes.

The Houston Astros were 1 out away from a 4-3 win in 11 innings over the St. Louis Cardinals before 11,267 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis, but their victory was wiped out by a stupid rule then in place. Bob Gibson came in to pitch for the Cardinals in the top of the 11th inning, and allowed a home run by Cliff Johnson to break the tie. With 2 out in the bottom of the inning, a thunderstorm struck; after a delay of 2 hours 19 minutes, the game was called. Under the rule in place at the time, if a lead had changed and an inning was not yet complete, the score reverted back to the last completed inning. The game went into the books as a 3-3 tie to be replayed; Mr. Johnson lost his home run, which would have given him six straight games with a homer; and Mr. Gibson was spared a loss, and his appearance wasn't entered into the record.

Hank Webb pitched a 5-hitter and Mike Vail batted 4 for 4 with 2 doubles, a run, and a run batted in as the New York Mets blanked the San Diego Padres 4-0 before 6,358 fans at San Diego Stadium.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Into the Groove--Madonna (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Live is Life--Opus (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)--Tina Turner (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Samantha Smith, 13. U.S. peace activist. Miss Smith was a schoolgirl in Manchester, Maine who wrote Soviet leader Yuri Andropov expressing a desire for peace between the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. Mr. Andropov invited Miss Smith to visit the Soviet Union, and she accepted the offer, spending two weeks there in July 1983. Miss Smith's visit became a media event, and she began appearing on television programs. Miss Smith and her father were among the six passengers and two crew members aboard a small plane who were killed when it crashed while attempting to land at Lewiston-Auburn Regional Airport in Auburn, Maine.

Football
CFL
Calgary (1-6) 6 @ Winnipeg (5-2) 43

Tom Clements completed 15 of 25 passes for 284 yards and 2 touchdowns while alternating at quarterback for the Blue Bombers with John Hufnagel, who completed 8 of 10 for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns. Joe Poplawski caught 5 passes for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Jeff Boyd caught 6 for 111 and a touchdown. James Murphy caught the other Winnipeg touchdown pass, while running back Sean Kehoe scored a Winnipeg touchdown in the 2nd quarter when Calgary punter J.T. Hay fumbled a snap in his end zone, and Mr. Kehoe recovered. Trevor Kennerd added 5 converts, 2 field goals, and 2 singles. Mr. Hay accounted for all the Stampeders’ scoring with 2 field goals. It was a rough day for the Calgary quarterbacks: Joe Barnes completed 11 of 24 passes for 106 yards and 3 interceptions, while rookie Rick Johnson, who took over in the 4th quarter, was 5 for 15 for 77 yards and 2 interceptions. 28,166 fans at Winnipeg Stadium saw hometown boy Doug Ploen, son of legendary Blue Bomber quarterback Kenny Ploen, play as a backup receiver for the Stampeders in his only CFL game. Rookie Calgary receiver Parri Ceci suffered a career-ending knee injury, while several other Calgary players, including starting running back Lewis Walker, also played their last CFL game.



Baseball
Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets won his 14th consecutive decision and, at 20, became the youngest major league pitcher to win 20 games in a season as the Mets beat the San Diego Padres 9-3 before 37,350 fans at Shea Stadium in New York.

The Pittsburgh Pirates blew leads of 4-0 and 9-4 before scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Houston Astros 10-9 before 7,929 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.

The Chicago White Sox scored 4 runs in the 1st inning as they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 before 22,529 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. 3 of the runs came on a home run by Harold Baines against losing pitcher Jimmy Key. It was the first major league game for Toronto catcher Jeff Hearron, who batted 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts, and made 6 putouts and an assist in the field. It was also the major league debut for batterymate Steve Davis, who pitched the 4th and 5th innings and retired all 6 batters he faced, including a strikeout of Mr. Baines.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Epic--Faith No More

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Un' Estate Italiana--Edoardo Bennato; Gianna Nannini (12th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Infinity (1990's...Time for the Guru)--Guru Josh (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): U Can't Touch This--MC Hammer (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Soca Dance--Charles D. Lewis (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini--Bombalurina

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 U Can't Touch This--MC Hammer (4th week at #1)
2 Killer--Adamski
3 It Must Have Been Love--Roxette
4 Close to You--Maxi Priest
5 Thieves in the Temple--Prince
6 Hear the Drummer (Get Wicked)--Chad Jackson
7 Mooi Was Die Tijd--Corry Konings
8 Vision of Love--Mariah Carey
9 I've Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
10 Tom's Diner--DNA featuring Suzanne Vega

Singles entering the chart were Ritmo de la Noche by Chocolate (#21); Ritmo de la Noche by Mystic (#32); Next to You by Aswad (#33); Move to the Bigband by Ben Liebrand featuring Tony Scott (#34); To Know You is to Love You by Grant & Forsyth (#35); and Frente a Frente by Chico et Roberta (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Vision of Love--Mariah Carey (4th week at #1)
2 Come Back to Me--Janet Jackson
3 If Wishes Came True--Sweet Sensation
4 Unskinny Bop--Poison
5 Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi
6 Release Me--Wilson Phillips
7 Do Me!--Bell Biv DeVoe
8 Have You Seen Her--M.C. Hammer
9 Jerk Out--The Time
10 Epic--Faith No More

Singles entering the chart were Crazy by the Boys (#61); Georgia on My Mind by Michael Bolton (#72); Say a Prayer by Breathe (#75); Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers (#78); Lies by En Vogue (#82); Empty Beach by Tricia Leigh Fisher (#93); and I'd Rather Go Blind by Sydney Youngblood (#96). Unchained Melody was a new recording of the song that had been a hit for the Righteous Brothers in 1965.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Come Back to Me--Janet Jackson
2 If Wishes Came True--Sweet Sensation
3 Unskinny Bop--Poison
4 Vision of Love--Mariah Carey
5 Jerk-Out--The Time
6 Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi
7 Do Me!--Bell Biv DeVoe
8 Have You Seen Her--M.C. Hammer
9 Epic--Faith No More
10 Release Me--Wilson Phillips

Singles entering the chart were Say a Prayer by Breathe (#55); Georgia on My Mind by Michael Bolton (#64); Only Women Bleed by Favorite Angel (#74); Violence of Summer (Love’s Taking Over) by Duran Duran (#75); Jealous by Gene Loves Jezebel (#87); I Wanna Get Back with You by Louie Louie (#88); Fly to the Angels by Slaughter (#90); Joey by Concrete Blonde (#91); and Look Into My Eyes by George LaMond (#94).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Vision of Love--Mariah Carey
2 Across the River--Bruce Hornsby
3 The Emperor's New Clothes--Sinead O'Connor
4 King of Wishful Thinking--Go West
5 Just Came Back--Colin James
6 Joey--Concrete Blonde
7 All the Lovers in the World--Gowan
8 Release Me--Wilson Phillips
9 Come Back to Me--Janet Jackson
10 When I'm Back on My Feet Again--Michael Bolton

Singles entering the chart were Jealous by Gene Loves Jezebel (#79); Jerk Out by the Time (#80); Can't Get Enough by Winger (#84); Live it Up by REO Speedwagon (#85); Home by Iggy Pop (#89); Seven Minutes to Midnight by Wah! Heat (#90); Days Like These by Asia (#95); When You Lose Your Love by Brian Island (#96); If We Turn Out the Lights by Watertown (#97); and The Face by And Why Not? (#98).

Died on this date
Morley Callaghan, 87. Canadian author. Mr. Callaghan was known for novels such as Strange Fugitive (1928); More Joy in Heaven (1937); and The Loved and the Lost (1951).

Diplomacy
After several days of debate, the United Nations Security Council passed a U.S.-sponsored resolution to enforce a trade embargo, with military action, against Iraq.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (4-4) 46 @ Hamilton (4-4) 33

Kent Austin completed 30 of 49 passes for 417 yards and 4 touchdowns and rushed for another major score to lead the Roughriders to victory before an Ivor Wynne Stadium crowd of 16,717 in a rematch of the 1989 Grey Cup teams. Jeff Fairholm, who caught 5 passes for 58 yards, caught 2 of Mr. Austin’s scoring passes. Ray Elgaard of Saskatchewan led all receivers with 11 catches for 199 yards and a touchdown, while teammate Don Narcisse caught just 1 pass, but it went for a 20-yard touchdown. Dave Ridgway added 5 converts, 3 field goals, and 2 singles. Hamilton quarterback Mike Kerrigan completed 22 of 37 passes for 300 yards and a touchdown to Richard Estell. Other Tiger-Cat touchdowns were scored by Sonny Gordon on a 58-yard interception return and David Adams on a 1-yard rush. Paul Osbaldiston added 3 converts and 4 field goals. Mr. Estell led Hamilton’s receivers with 7 receptions for 111 yards. Former Calgary Stampeder Jamie Harris, playing his only game with the Tiger-Cats and his last in the CFL, caught just 1 pass for 9 yards.

Baseball
With tickets being scalped for as much as $200, the Boston Red Sox edged the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 before 49,890 fans at SkyDome in Toronto for their second straight shutout win after losing the first game of their crucial four-game series. Roger Clemens pitched a 5-hitter to improve his 1990 record to 19-5, winning an outstanding duel with David Wells of the Blue Jays. The only run scored when Dwight Evans led off the 7th inning with a home run. The win gave the Red Sox a 3-game lead in the American League East Division pennant race.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored 4 runs off relief pitcher Dave Righetti in the top of the 9th inning to defeat the New York Yankees 5-3 before 24,433 fans at Yankee Stadium. New York starting pitcher Dave LaPoint allowed just 3 hits and 1 earned run in 8 innings.

The Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics combined to hit 7 home runs as the Tigers won 14-4 before 45,474 fans at Tiger Stadium. Cecil Fielder hit 2 of the Tigers' 4 homers, his 40th and 41st of the season. Jose Canseco hit his 35th in the 1st inning with a man on base and Mark McGwire followed with his 33rd to give the Athletics an early 3-0 lead.

Lee Stevens hit a 3-run home run off Bobby Thigpen with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to give the California Angels a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox before 37,079 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

Kevin Morton pitched a 7-inning perfect game as the New Britain Red Sox edged the Reading Phillies 1-0 in an Eastern League game.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Det vackraste--Cecilia Vennersten (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Dub-I-Dub--Me & My (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Country House--Blur (2nd week at #1)

Football
CFL
Hamilton (6-3) 36 @ Winnipeg (3-6) 33 (OT)

Paul Osbaldiston's 45-yard field goal on the last play of the 2nd overtime period gave the Tiger-Cats their win over the Blue Bombers before 22,211 fans at Winnipeg Stadium. Former Blue Bomber Larry Thompson scored touchdowns of 18, 35, and 82 yards, and amassed 275 yards receiving. Blaise Bryant scored 2 touchdowns for the Blue Bombers. The game was tied 30-30 after regulation time. Mr. Osbaldiston kicked a 40-yard field goal in the 1st overtime period, and Troy Westwood kicked a 49-yard FG midway through the 2nd overtime period to tie the score.