September 23, 2015

800 years ago
1215

Born on this date
Kublai Khan. Mongol Emperor, 1260-1294. Kublai Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan, succeeded his brother Möngke on the throne, and established the Yuan dynasty in 1271. He died on February 18, 1294 at the age of 78 and was succeeded by his grandson Temür Khan, Emperor Chengzong.

275 years ago
1740

Born on this date
Go-Sakuramachi. Empress of Japan, 1762-1771. Go-Sakuramachi succeeded her brother Momozono on the throne and abdicated in favour of her nephew Go-Momozono. She died on December 24, 1813 at the age of 73.

180 years ago
1835

Died on this date
Vincenzo Bellini, 33. Italian composer. Mr. Bellini wrote eight symphonies, seven piano works, an oboe concerto, and 40 sacred works, but was best known for his 11 operas, which were characterized by flowing melodies, earning him the nickname "The Swan of Catania." He died after an intestinal and liver illness.

170 years ago
1845

Baseball
The Knickerbockers Baseball Club, the first baseball team to play under the modern rules, was founded in New York.

125 years ago
1890

Baseball
George Nicol gave up 9 bases on balls but no hits as the St. Louis Browns whipped the Toledo Maumees 21-2 in an American Association game at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis that was called because of darkness after 7 innings. The Browns scored 11 runs in the 3rd inning, with first baseman Jumbo Cartwright hitting a 3-run home run and a grand slam off rookie pitcher Ed Green.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Johnny Mokan. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Mokan was an outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1921-1922) and Philadelphia Phillies (1922-1927). He batted .291 with 32 home runs and 273 runs batted in in 582 games. Mr. Mokan's best season was 1923, when he batted .312 with 10 homers and 76 RBIs. He died on February 10, 1985 at the age of 89.

110 years ago
1905

Diplomacy
Norway and Sweden signed the "Karlstad treaty," peacefully dissolving the Union between the two countries.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Clifford Shull. U.S. physicist. Dr. Shull was awarded a share of the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physics "for the development of the neutron diffraction technique" and "for pioneering contributions to the development of neutron scattering techniques for studies of condensed matter." He died on March 31, 2001 at the age of 85.

80 years ago
1935

Baseball
Johnny Michaels pitched a complete game victory, allowing 10 hits and 4 runs, while making 2 hits of his own, including a run-scoring triple, and scored the deciding run, as the Savitt Gems scored 5 runs in the first 2 innings and held on to upset the Philadelphia Athletics 6-4 in an exhibition game which ended under the lights at Bulkeley Stadium in Hartford. Pinky Higgins and Paul Richards hit home runs for the Athletics. Bullfrog Bill Dietrich started on the mound for Philadelphia and took the loss, allowing 11 hits and 6 runs. Jimmie Foxx, who played the first 6 innings at first base, relieved Mr. Dietrich in the 7th inning and pitched 2 scoreless innings, with 5 strikeouts, while batting 0 for 4.



75 years ago
1940

War
U.K. Royal Air Force bombers blasted Berlin for four hours. British and French forces bombarded Dakar in French West Africa and attempted a landing, but were beaten back by Vichy French forces. Japanese troops entered Indochina, crossing the Chinese frontier at Lang Son; U.S. State Secretary Cordell Hull denounced the Japanese invasion of Indochina. French forces abandoned Dong Dang near Hanoi.

Diplomacy
German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler warned Egypt to disavow its ties to Britain or face severe consequences.

Defense
U.S. State Department figures indicated that Thailand had purchased $480,000 worth of arms in August.

A Gallup Poll reported that 52% of American voters favoured aid to England at the risk of war, while 48% felt that the U.S.A. should stay out of the war.

Politics and government
The Illinois state electoral board took the Communist Party off the state ballot on the grounds that its nominating peititions were invalid.

Americana
The U.S. Census reported that the country's population in 1940 was 131,409,881, a 7% increase over the last decade.

Baseball
Claude Passeau hit a home run to help him pick up his 20th win of the season as the Chicago Cubs blanked the St. Louis Cardinals 10-0 before just 1,843 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

70 years ago
1945

Diplomacy
The Japanese government turned over to Allied authorities urns containing the ashes of 2,600 Allied prisoners of war who had died in camps.

Spruille Braden resigned as U.S. Ambassador to Argentina and returned to Washington from Buenos Aires to assume the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Politics and government
The British government of Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced that it had decided to refer the problem of Palestine and Jewish immigration to the United Nations.

The Egyptian cabinet called for the withdrawal of British troops from Egypt and for the incorporation of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan into Egypt.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities said that it would investigate the recent reorganization of the Communist Party USA to determine whether its aims were now "dangerous to the country."

Labour
The U.S. Bureau of Selective Service ruled that returning veterans were entitlted to first priority in re-employment at their old jobs, regardless of union protests.

Football
NFL
Detroit (1-0) 10 Chicago Cardinals (0-1) 0 @ Milwaukee

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Rose Marie--Slim Whitman (9th week at #1)

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Make It Easy on Yourself--The Walker Brothers

Music
The Beach Boys recorded the song Barbara Ann as a track for the album Beach Boys' Party! at Western Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. The recording featured guest vocals by Dean Torrence of Jan & Dean, who had recorded the song for their album Jan and Dean's Golden Hits (1962).

War
The Indo-Pakistani War (also known as the Second Kashmir War) ended, the day after the United Nations had called for a cease-fire.

Politics and government
Yussuf Zayen took office as Prime Minister of Syria.

40 years ago
1975

Personal
The Goombahs, the intramural flag football team at Sir John Franklin Territorial High School in Yellowknife captained by this blogger, played their third and final game, losing 6-0 to the Flyboys on a late touchdown to finish with a record of 1-2. This blogger made a nice interception off Flyboys' quarterback Rick Greenwood on the first play from scrimmage, one of a number of plays that kept a heavier and more talented team at bay until they finally wore us down. All told, it was a fun experience.

Football
CFL
Montreal (7-4) 29 @ Edmonton (8-2) 31

Dave Cutler's 25-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining in the game gave the Eskimos their win over the Alouettes before a record Clarke Stadium crowd of 26,159. The Eskimos held a 20-3 lead in the 2nd quarter, but Montreal quarterback Sonny Wade, aided by shoddy officiating by the crew of referee Syd Bercov, engineered a comeback, climaxed by Don Sweet's 13-yard field goal with 2:20 remaining in the game to give the Alouettes a 29-28 lead. Tom Wilkinson started at quarterback for the Eskimos and completed 14 of 19 passes, including 2 touchdowns to John Konihowski and another to George McGowan. Mr. Wilkinson also rushed for 35 yards. Peter Dalla Riva scored the first Montreal touchdown on a 5-yard pass from Mr. Wade with 4 seconds left in the 1st half. In the 3rd quarter, Edmonton's Dave Cutler deliberately missed a long field goal attempt, trying to kick it out of bounds; however, Montreal's Johnny Rodgers returned the kick 101 yards for a touchdown. Mr. Rodgers scored the other Montreal TD on a 25-yard pass from Mr. Wade at 2:23 of the 4th quarter. Mr. Rodgers caught 4 passes for 107 yards and returned 5 punts and a kickoff for 139 yards. Mr. Konihowski led all receivers with 127 yards on 6 receptions. Edmonton defensive tackle Ron Estay took over punting chores for the first time in his three years as an Eskimo, punting for a 40.7-yard average. It was the first CFL game for Edmonton defensive back Mike Fink, and the last for Edmonton defensive lineman Willie Postler, who dislocated his elbow.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Power of Love--Huey Lewis and the News

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Namida no Jasmine Love--Sonoko Kawai (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Live is Life--Opus (8th week at #1)

Scandal
Canadian Fisheries Minister John Fraser resigned over a delay in ordering the recall of cans of tainted tuna.

Hockey
NHL
Guy Lafleur was dismissed from a public relations post with the Montreal Canadiens, less than a year after retiring fro the team as a player.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Verdammt - ich lieb' dich--Matthias Reim (12th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Verdammt - ich lieb' dich--Matthias Reim (11th week at #1)
2 Naked in the Rain--Black Pearl
3 Ooops Up--Snap!
4 It Must Have Been Love--Roxette
5 Samurai--Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung
6 U Can't Touch This--MC Hammer
7 Tom's Diner--DNA featuring Suzanne Vega
8 Kingston Town--UB40
9 What's a Woman?--Vaya con Dios
10 Close to You--Maxi Priest

Singles entering the chart were Praying for Time by George Michael (#24); and Heidi! by Der Schreckliche Sven featuring M.C. Alm Öhi (#29).

Diplomacy
Iraq threatened to destroy Middle East oil fields and attack Israel if other nations tried to force it from Kuwait.

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney appointed five new Senators: James Kelleher, Trevor Eyton, Claude Castonguay, John Lynch-Staunton, Mabel DeWare.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (6-6) 7 @ Winnipeg (8-4) 36

Tom Burgess threw 3 touchdown passes--2 to Rick House and the other to Robert Mimbs--as the Blue Bombers avenged a 55-11 loss to the Roughriders 20 days earlier. Winnipeg defensive back Ken Hailey recovered a fumbled punt in the Saskatchewan end zone in the 1st quarter, and Warren Hudson rushed 1 yard for another Winnipeg touchdown in the 3rd quarter. Milson Jones scored the Roughriders’ touchdown on a 1-yard rush with 3:44 remaining in the game. Mr. Mimbs led all rushers with 15 carries for 90 yards. 32,177 were in attendance at Winnipeg Stadium.



20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Kiss from a Rose--Seal (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Scatman's World--Scatman John (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Scatman's World--Scatman John (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): XXL--Mylène Farmer

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Het busje komt zo--Höllenboer

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Boombastic--Shaggy

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Gangsta's Paradise--Coolio featuring L.V. (3rd week at #1)
2 You are Not Alone--Michael Jackson
3 Kiss from a Rose--Seal
4 Waterfalls--TLC
5 Runaway--Janet Jackson
6 I Can Love You Like That--All-4-One
7 Boombastic/In the Summertime--Shaggy/Shaggy (featuring Rayvon)
8 I Got 5 on It--Luniz
9 Only Wanna Be with You--Hootie & the Blowfish
10 As I Lay Me Down--Sophie B. Hawkins

Singles entering the chart were Do You Sleep? by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories (#47); Downtown Venus by P.M. Dawn (#53); I Hate U by the Artist Formerly Known as Prince (Love Symbol) (#56); Feel the Funk by Immature (#63); Real Hip Hop by Das EFX (#66); and Lie to Me/Something for the Pain by Bon Jovi (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Gangsta's Paradise--Coolio featuring L.V. (2nd week at #1)
2 Runaway--Janet Jackson
3 You are Not Alone--Michael Jackson
4 Kiss from a Rose--Seal
5 Run-Around--Blues Traveler
6 Only Wanna Be with You--Hootie & the Blowfish
7 Fantasy--Mariah Carey
8 Boombastic/Summer Time--Shaggy/Shaggy (featuring Rayvon)
9 I Got 5 On It--Luniz
10 I Can Love You Like That--All-4-One

Singles entering the chart were Fantasy; Real Hip Hop by Das EFX (#62); Downtown Venus by P.M. Dawn (#64); We Must Be in Love by Pure Soul (#71); and Come with Me by Shai (#88).

Football
CFL
Shreveport (4-10) 32 @ Baltimore (11-3) 42
Saskatchewan (5-8) 23 @ Toronto (2-11) 20
Hamilton (7-6) 7 @ San Antonio (8-5) 45

Tracy Ham passed to Chris Armstrong for 2 touchdowns and to Mark Orlando for another, while rushing for another TD of his own as the Stallions beat the Pirates before 27,321 fans at Memorial Stadium. Baltimore led 39-3 after 3 quarters before Shreveport mounted a furious comeback, scoring 29 points in the 4th quarter, with Travis Cozart rushing for 2 touchdowns, Martin Patton rushing for another, and Will Covington catching a 15-yard pass for another TD.

Warren Jones passed to Elbert Turner for a 23-yard touchdown and rushed 1 yard for the winning TD as the Roughriders edged the Argonauts before 14,655 fans at SkyDome. Mike Clemons rushed for one Toronto touchdown and Kent Austin passed to Duane Forde for the other.

David Archer threw touchdown passes of 85 yards to Kitrick Taylor and 17 yards to Myron Wise as the Texans routed the Tiger-Cats before 14,614 fans at the Alamodome. Maurice Miller returned a fumble 38 yards for a San Antonio touchdown, and linebacker Tommie Smith returned an interception 32 yards for another Texan TD. The only Hamilton touchdown came on a 14-yard pass from Steve Taylor to Manny Hazard late in the 3rd quarter.

CIAU
Saskatchewan 11 @ Alberta 9

The Huskies were leading the Golden Bears 11-3 at Varsity Stadium in Edmonton when Jay Hamilton scored a touchdown for Alberta late in the 4th quarter, but a 2-point convert attempt was unsuccessful.

10 years ago
2005

Football
CFL
Toronto (7-5) 13 @ Saskatchewan (7-6) 24