September 3, 2015

1,425 years ago
590

Religion
Pope Gregory I (Gregory the Great) was consecrated.

320 years ago
1695

Born on this date
Pietro Locatelli. Italian composer. Mr. Lucatelli was a violinist who wrote works for his own virtuoso performances; works for larger ensembles; and chamber music for small ensembles. He moved to Amsterdam in 1729, and died there on March 30, 1764 at the age of 68.

130 years ago
1885

Baseball
Five days after pitching a no-hitter against the Providence Grays, Charlie Ferguson of the Philadelphia Quakers gave up 18 hits and lost 18-3 to the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds in New York.

120 years ago
1895

Football
John Brallier, a quarterback from Indiana College in Pennsylvania, accepted $10 and "cakes" (expenses) to play for Latrobe, Pennsylvania in a game against neighbouring Jeannette--and for decades was considered the first pro football player. The Pro Football Hall of Fame uncovered evidence in 1963 that William (Pudge) Heffelfinger was the first, in 1892.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Eddie Stanky. U.S. baseball player, coach, and manager. Mr. Stanky, nicknamed "The Brat," was a second baseman with the Chicago Cubs (1943-1944); Brooklyn Dodgers (1944-1947); Boston Braves (1948-1949); New York Giants (1950-1951); and St. Louis Cardinals (1952-1953), batting .268 with 29 home runs and 364 runs batted in 1,259 games. He led the National League in bases on balls in 1945, 1946, and 1950, and in runs in 1945, and played in the World Series of 1947, 1948, and 1951. Mr. Stanky managed the Cardinals (1952-1955) and Chicago White Sox (1966-1968), and the Texas Rangers for 1 game in 1977, compiling a record of 467-435 (.518). He had better success as head coach at the University of Southern Alabama, compiling a record of 490-195-2 (.714) from 1969-1982. Mr. Stanky died on June 6, 1999 at the age of 83.

90 years ago
1925

Disasters
USS Shenandoah, the United States' first American-built rigid airship, was destroyed in a squall line at Ava, Ohio, the day after departing Lakehurst, New Jersey on her 57th flight. 14 of her 42-man crew perished, including her commander, Zachary Lansdowne, 36.

80 years ago
1935

Politics and government
William Aberhart was sworn in as Premier of Alberta along with his Social Credit government. The Social Credit party had taken 56 of 63 seats in the legislature in the August 22 provincial election. 5 Liberals and 2 Conservatives comprised the opposition.

Auto racing
Sir Malcolm Campbell of Kent, England, became the first person to drive over 300 miles an hour when he pushed his 28-foot, 12,000-pound, 2,500-horsepower Blue Bird to a land speed record of 301.203 miles per hour at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

75 years ago
1940

War
German planes bombed London continuously all day. A group of French pilots deserted from Morocco to Gibraltar, declaring that they wished to fight against the Germans and with the British. Anti-German uprisings were reported in Chad in French Equatorial Africa and in French New Caledonia.

Defense
The United States sold 50 overage destroyers to the United Kingdom, of which 7 went to Canada, in return for the lease of neutral U.S. bases in Newfoundland and Bermuda.

Politics and government
The Romanian cabinet of Prime Minister Ion Gigurtu resigned. General Ion Antonescu was named to form a new government.

Argentine Vice President Ramon Castillo swore in a new cabinet, which pledged itself to democratic rule.

U.S. Attorney General Robert Jackson ruled that President Franklin D. Roosevelt had the authority to complete deals such as the lend-lease deal with Britain by executive agreement.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe--Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and his Orchestra (3rd week at #1)
--Bing Crosby
--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
2 Chopin's Polonaise--Carmen Cavallaro and his Orchestra
3 Bell Bottom Trousers--Tony Pastor and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
--Louis Prima and his Orchestra
--Jerry Colonna
4 Till the End of Time--Perry Como with Russ Case and his Orchestra
--Les Brown and his Orchestra
--Dick Haymes
5 Sentimental Journey--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day)
--Hal McIntyre and his Orchestra
--The Merry Macs
6 Gotta Be This or That--Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
7 There! I've Said it Again--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra (vocal refrain by Vaughn Monroe and the Norton Sisters)
--Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra
8 If I Loved You--Perry Como
--Bing Crosby
--Frank Sinatra
9 You Belong to My Heart--Bing Crosby and Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra
--Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra
10 The More I See You--Dick Haymes
--Harry James and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were the version of Till the End of Time by Dick Haymes; Some Sunday Morning by Dick Haymes and Helen Forrest (#32); That's It by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra (#35); Hong Kong Blues by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra (#36); Lily Belle, with versions by Freddy Martin and his Orchestra; and the Pied Pipers (#37); I'm a Shy Guy by the King Cole Trio (#38); and Daybreak Serenade by Jess Stacy and his Orchestra (#39).

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Limping Ghost

Space
California Institute of Technology announced that work would resume in November on a 200-inch telescope to be installed in an observatory on Mount Palomar. The project, scheduled for completion in 1947, was postponed during World War II.

War
Allied occupation troops began taking control of military facilities in Japan. U.S. military authorities reported that 25,000 Allied troops were on the main island of Honshu, centring on Yokohama. Units of the British East Indies Fleet entered Singapore harbour preparatory to occupying the city. In a victory message to the Chinese people, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek promised a democratic form of government for China and warned against taking vengeance on innocent Japanese civilians.

Politics and government
Brazilian President Getulio Vargas let the deadline pass without filing his intention to run for re-election.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Committee for Economic Development reported that industry was reconverting much more quickly than anticipated and unemployment was smaller than expected.

Labour
In a Labor Day address, U.S. Labor Secretary Lewis Schwellenbach appealed to workers for restraint in wafge demands, threatening government intervention if unions did not observe their "responsibilities to the common good." American Federation of Labor President William Green denounced "prophets of gloom" and predicted that "we stand on the threshold of a new industrial revolution."

Tennis
Frank Parker defeated Bill Talbert in the men's final at the United States Open championships in Forest Hills, New York.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock--Bill Haley and his Comets (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Rose Marie--Slim Whitman (7th week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Yellow Rose of Texas--Mitch Miller and his Orchestra (Best Seller--1st week at #1; Disc Jockey--1st week at #1); (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock--Bill Haley and his Comets (Jukebox--6th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Yellow Rose of Texas--Mitch Miller and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)
--Johnny Desmond
2 Ain't That a Shame--Pat Boone
--Fats Domino
3 (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock--Bill Haley and his Comets
4 Seventeen--Boyd Bennett and the Rockets
--The Fontane Sisters
--Rusty Draper
5 Wake the Town and Tell the People--Les Baxter and his Orchestra
--Mindy Carson
6 Maybellene--Chuck Berry
7 Hard to Get--Gisele MacKenzie
8 Love is a Many-Splendored Thing--The Four Aces
9 Hummingbird--Les Paul and Mary Ford
--Frankie Laine
10 Tina Marie--Perry Como

Singles entering the chart were Why Don't You Write Me?, with versions by the Jacks; and Snooky Lanson (#40); My Bonnie Lassie by the Ames Brothers (#41); You are My Sunshine by the Ferko String Band (#44); The Shifting Whispering Sands, with versions by Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra; and Rusty Draper (#45); May I Never Love Again by Tony Bennett (#47); Suddenly There's a Valley by Gogi Grant (#49); and The Man from Laramie by Voices of Walter Schumann (#50). The Man from Laramie was the title theme of the movie.

Football
CRU
IRFU
Ottawa (0-1) 22 @ Montreal (1-0) 34
Hamilton (0-1) 6 @ Toronto (1-0) 31

WIFU
British Columbia (2-2) 15 @ Winnipeg (0-4) 7
Saskatchewan (3-1) 12 @ Edmonton (4-0) 19

ORFU
Kitchener-Waterloo (1-1) 6 @ Sarnia (1-1) 18

The Alouettes ruined Chan Caldwell's debut as head coach of the Rough Riders before 21,033 fans at Molson Stadium.

Tom Dublinski, playing his first game in Canadian football, set an IRFU single-game passing percentage record as the Argonauts routed the Tiger-Cats before 18,261 fans at Varsity Stadium to give Bill Swiacki a win in his debut as Toronto's head coach. Mr. Dublinski completed 16 of 18 passes, a percentage of .889.

Bob Levenhagen recovered an opposition fumble in the Winnipeg end zone for a touchdown with 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter as the Lions beat the Blue Bombers before 16,458 fans at Winnipeg Stadium. Leo Lewis scored the first of 75 career touchdowns for the Blue Bombers.

Bob Dean kicked 4 field goals and converted Jackie Parker's touchdown as the Eskimos defeated the Roughriders at Clarke Stadium. Bobby Marlow and Ken Carpenter scored touchdowns for Saskatchewan.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Help!--The Beatles (5th week at #1)
2 Catch Us if You Can--The Dave Clark Five
3 Down in the Boondocks--Billy Joe Royal
4 California Girls--The Beach Boys
5 Houston--Dean Martin
6 Only Sixteen--Terry Black
7 Heart Full of Soul--The Yardbirds
8 Ride Away--Roy Orbison
9 I Got You Babe--Sonny and Cher
10 Eve of Destruction--Barry McGuire
Pick hit of the week: Eve of Destruction--Barry McGuire
New this week: The Dawn of Correction--The Spokesmen
Ain't it True--Andy Williams
(It's a) Long Long Lonely Highway--Elvis Presley
Laugh at Me--Sonny
The Universal Soldier--Glen Campbell

The Dawn of Correction was an "answer" to Eve of Destruction.

Diplomacy
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Lester Pearson granted $1 million for cultural exchanges with French-speaking European countries.

40 years ago
1975

Died on this date
Irv Medlinger, 48. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Medlinger appeared in 3 games with the St. Louis Browns in 1949 and 6 in 1951, compiling a 0-0 record with an earned run average of 13.83. He played in various minor leagues from at least 1945-1955.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (4-3) 18 @ Montreal (4-3) 11

The Rough Riders scored 15 points in the last 16 minutes of the game to defeat the Alouettes before 25,225 fans at Autostade. Montreal led 4-3 at halftime, and Steve Ferrughelli rushed 1 yard for the only Montreal touchdown 4:34 into the 3rd quarter, with Don Sweet's convert making the score 11-3. Ottawa quarterback Tom Clements completed a 5-yard TD pass to Art Green with 52 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter. A 2-point convert attempt was unsuccessful, but the Rough Riders recovered a fumble by Montreal quarterback Jimmy Jones on the Alouettes' 51-yard line, and Mr. Clements promptly threw 40 yards to Rhome Nixon and 11 yards to Jim Foley for a touchdown at 1:39 of the 4th quarter. Another 2-point convert attempt was unsuccessful, but Gerry Organ kicked a 35-yard field goal with 3:59 remaining to give the Rough Riders a 7-point lead. It was the only game as a Rough Rider for defensive end Bruce Smith, who had been acquired from the Edmonton Eskimos after the 1974 season. He injured a hamstring in training camp, and reinjured it in practice after being activated for this game. He was placed back on the injured list after this game, and missed the rest of the season. Mr. Smith was dealt to the Toronto Argonauts after the 1975 season.

Baseball
Garry Maddox hit a home run and a triple, scoring 2 runs and driving in 3, as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Montreal Expos 6-3 before 15,597 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia in the Wednesday Expos Baseball telecast on CBC. Ellis Valentine made his major league debut with the Expos in right field, batting 0 for 3, but making 5 putouts and 2 assists, and participating in a double play in the 5th inning when he caught a line drive by Larry Bowa and threw to first baseman Jose Morales to double off Dave Cash.

The San Diego Padres rallied for 5 runs--the last 2 unearned--in the top of the 9th inning to defeat the Atlanta Braves 10-9 before just 1,119 fans at Atlanta Stadium. Relief pitcher Tom House faced just 2 batters and took the loss, making a throwing error on a bunt by Bobby Tolan that led to the tying and winning runs.

The Cincinnati Reds scored 10 runs in the 4th inning as they routed the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-2 before 27,881 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Every member of the Reds' starting lineup scored at least 1 run. It was the 30th and final major league game for Los Angeles catcher Paul Powell, who caught the last 3 innings in relief of Steve Yeager and batted 0 for 2.

Pinch hitter Pete LaCock's grand slam off Bob Gibson climaxed a 5-run 7th inning as the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-6 before 14,119 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Mr. Gibson entered the game in the 7th inning with the game tied 6-6 and allowed 2 hits, 3 bases on balls, and 5 earned runs to take the loss, dropping to 3-10 for 1975 in the 596th and last game of his Hall of Fame career. It was the first major league game for two Chicago pitchers: Willie Prall started and allowed 6 hits, 4 bases on balls, and 5 runs--4 earned--in 5 2/3 innings, while Buddy Schultz faced just 1 batter, retiring Bake McBride on a ground out to end the 6th inning. Mr. LaCock entered the game to pinch hit for Mr. Schultz.

Catfish Hunter pitched a 5-hitter to improve his 1975 record to 19-13 and Thurman Munson drove in 4 runs with a home run, single, and sacrifice fly as the New York Yankees shut out the Detroit Tigers 8-0 before 6,581 fans at Tiger Stadium. Walt Williams also homered for the Yankees.

Cecil Cooper led off the top of the 10th inning with a home run to give the Boston Red Sox a 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles before 30,968 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Rick Wise allowed 8 hits and 2 earned runs in pitching a complete game to improve his record for the season to 18-8, while Jim Palmer also went the distance, allowing 7 hits and 3 earned runs as he dropped to 20-9.

Al Cowens tripled home George Brett and John Mayberry in the top of the 10th inning to provide the winning margin as the Kansas City Royals edged the Chicago White Sox 5-4 before 3,900 fans at White Sox Park. The White Sox rallied for a run in the bottom of the 10th, and had runners on first and third bases before Mike Squires grounded out to end the game.

Tom Grieve batted 3 for 4 with a home run and 3 runs batted in as the Texas Rangers edged the California Angels 5-4 before 6,757 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Danny Goodwin, the first overall choice in both the 1971 and 1975 free agent drafts, made his major league debut, starting as the Angels' designated hitter. He struck out in the 2nd inning, and Bobby Valentine pinch hit for him in the 4th.

30 years ago
1985

Died on this date
Johnny Marks, 75. U.S. songwriter. Mr. Marks was known for writing Christmas songs such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1949); Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (1958); and A Holly Jolly Christmas (1964).

Economics and finance
The Edmonton-based Canadian Commercial Bank ceased operations after nine years, becoming the largest bank failure in Canadian history and the first in 60 years.

Baseball
Kirk Gibson batted 4 for 4 with 2 home runs, 2 doubles, and 5 runs batted in to lead the Detroit Tigers over the California Angels 14-8 before 14,123 fans at Tiger Stadium. Reggie Jackson hit 2 homers for the Angels.

Joe Johnson allowed 2 hits in 6 1/3 innings to get the win as the Atlanta Braves shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 before 3,019 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. Andres Thomas made his major league debut with the Braves, entering the game in the 7th inning as a pinch runner for Bruce Benedict and scoring the winning run on a passed ball. Mr. Johnson improved his record for the season to 3-0, while losing pitcher Jose DeLeon allowed just 6 hits and 1 earned run in pitching a complete game and dropping to 2-16.

Pinch hitter Brian Harper doubled home 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 6-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 19,261 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Paul O'Neill made his major league debut with the Reds, singling as a pinch hitter in the 8th.

Ozzie Virgil hit a home run to lead off the top of the 13th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants before just 1,632 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. San Francisco catcher Matt Nokes made his major league debut, batting 2 for 4 and making 8 putouts in the field.

Orel Hershiser pitched a 4-hitter to improve his 1985 record to 14-3 as the Los Angeles Dodgers shut out the Montreal Expos 4-0 before 27,292 fans at Dodger Stadium.

Gary Carter hit 3 home runs and batted in 6 runs to lead the New York Mets to an 8-3 win over the San Diego Padres before 14,960 fans at Jack Murphy-San Diego Stadium.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Verdammt, Ich Lieb' Dich--Matthias Reim (16th week at #1)

Economics and finance
Bread virtually disappeared from the shelves of grocery stores in the U.S.S.R.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (6-3) 38 @ Calgary (5-3-1) 4
Ottawa (3-6) 40 @ Hamilton (4-5) 17

Tracy Ham threw 2 touchdown passes to Craig Ellis and 1 to Reggie Taylor to lead the Eskimos to their most lopsided Labour Day win ever at McMahon Stadium. Henry "Gizmo" Williams scored the first Edmonton touchdown on an 84-yard punt return in the 1st quarter, and Blake Marshall rushed 1 yard for another Eskimo major score in the 2nd quarter. The Calgary fans among the 36,107 in attendance on a beautiful sunny afternoon had little to cheer about, as Stampeder quarterbacks Danny Barrett and Terrence Jones combined to complete just 11 of 32 passes for 121 yards and 4 interceptions. Mr. Ellis led all receivers with 10 receptions for 143 yards and rushed once for 14 yards.

Damon Allen threw touchdown passes to David Conrad and David Williams and rushed for 2 touchdowns of his own to lead the Rough Riders to their win before 20,330 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Troy Wilson scored the other Ottawa touchdown on a 30-yard interception return in the 3rd quarter, a quarter when the Rough Riders outscored the Tiger-Cats 22-2. The only Hamilton touchdown came on an 8-yard pass from Mike Kerrigan to Tony Champion in the 2nd quarter. Mr. Champion caught 10 passes for 132 yards, while Stephen Jones led the Ottawa receivers with 137 yards on 4 receptions. It was the first CFL game for backup Rough Rider defensive lineman Mike Philbrick, who ended up having a long career with the Tiger-Cats.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Wish You were Here--Rednex (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Wish You were Here--Rednex (8th week at #1)

Music
This blogger attended a recital by pianist Angela Cheng and a performance by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as part of its annual series of Labour Day weekend concerts at Hawrelak Park.

Football
CFL
Memphis (5-6) 31 @ Shreveport (4-7) 22
Winnipeg (3-7) 4 @ Saskatchewan (3-7) 56

Rickey Foggie completed touchdown passes of 90 yards to Joe Horn and 31 yards to Al Shipman, and Mr. Shipman rushed 1 yard for another TD as the Mad Dogs beat the Pirates before 17,593 fans at Independence Stadium. William Covington scored the only Shreveport touchdown on a 9-yard pass from Billy Joe Tolliver in the 1st quarter. Bjorn Nittmo converted and added 4 field goals and a single.

Darren Joseph rushed for 2 touchdowns and Warren Jones threw 2 touchdown passes to Ray Elgaard as the Roughriders embarrassed the Blue Bombers before 31,308 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Brian Randall scored another touchdown on an 81-yard interception return on the last play of the 1st half, and Saskatchewan receiver Don Narcisse completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Dan Farthing. Dave Ridgway added 6 converts and 4 field goals.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
William Rehnquist, 80. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1986-2005. Mr. Rehnquist was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 1972-1986 before replacing the retiring Warren Burger as Chief Justice. Mr. Rehnquist was regarded as a conservative, supporting the reservation of powers to the states under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and issuing conservative judgments on moral and social issues such as abortion.

Disasters
U.S. President George W. Bush ordered more than 7,000 active duty forces to the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Football
CIS
Alberta (1-0) 40 @ Simon Fraser (0-1) 18