May 11, 2016

170 years ago
1846

War
U.S. President James K. Polk asked for and received a Declaration of War against Mexico, starting the Mexican–American War.

125 years ago
1891

Died on this date
Edmond Becquerel, 71. French physicist. Professor Becquerel was credited with the discovery, in 1839, of the photovoltaic effect, the operating principle of the solar cell. He was also known for his work in luminescence and phosphorescence. Prof. Becquerel was the father of Henri Becquerel, one of the discoverers of radioactivity.

World events
Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich of Imperial Russia (later Nicholas II) suffered a head injury during a sabre attack in Kyoto by Japanese policeman Tsuda Sanzō. He was rescued by his cousin Prince George of Greece and Denmark, and survived with a 3 1/2-inch scar on the right side of his forehead.

120 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Josip Štolcer-Slavenski. Croatian-born composer. Professor Štolcer-Slavenski completed his studies in Prague, and in 1924 moved to Belgrade, where he spent the rest of his life. He taught at the Music Academy in Belgrade, and wrote orchestral, chamber, and vocal works, often based on Croatian folk music. Prof. Štolcer-Slavenski died on November 30, 1955 at the age of 59.

110 years ago
1906

Politics and government
James Dunsmuir was commissioned as Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.

Transportation
The Canadian Pacific Steamship transatlantic passenger liner RMS Empress of Britain docked at Quebec City, five days after embarking from Liverpool on her maiden voyage.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Camilo José Cela. Spanish author. Mr. Cela was awarded the 1989 Nobel Prize in Literature "for a rich and intensive prose, which with restrained compassion forms a challenging vision of man's vulnerability." He died on January 17, 2002 at the age of 85.

Died on this date
Max Reger, 43. German composer. Mr. Reger was a pianist and conductor who wrote numerous works for organ and piano before composing numerous orchestral works. He died of a heart attack.

80 years ago
1936

Baseball
Mel Ott drove in 8 runs and hit a 3-run home run with 2 out in the 9th inning as the New York Giants edged the Philadelphia Phillies 13-12 at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia.

Gee Walker batted 5 for 6 with 2 doubles, 3 runs, and 4 runs batted in as the Chicago White Sox routed the St. Louis Browns 19-6 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The White Sox scored 7 runs in each of the 4th and 9th innings.

75 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Peggy Shannon, 34. U.S. actress. Miss Shannon, born Winona Sammon, appeared in Broadway plays before moving to Hollywood and replacing Clara Bow as the latest "It" girl in the movie The Secret Call (1931). Miss Shannon had an undistinguished career in motion pictures before dying of a heart attack brought on by heavy drinking. Her second husband, Albert Roberts, shot himself to death three weeks later.

War
Reports from Chungking said that Japanese forces had thrown 10,000 troops into an offensive on the Honan-Hupeh border in central China.

U.S. Representative George Tinkham (Republican--Massachusetts) issued a statement challenging President Franklin D. Roosevelt to ask Congress for a declaration of war, and to abide by the decision.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. reported that the Soviet government had accepted an Iraqi proposal to establish diplomatic relations between the countries.

Defense
In a radio broadcast, former U.S. President Herbert Hoover declared his opposition to U.S. convoys of goods to Britain under the Lend-Lease program.

Politics and government
Iraqi Prime Minister Rashid Ali Beg Gailani's attempts to gain Muslim support were rebuffed by both Saudi Arabia and Iran, according to sources in Cairo.

Labour
The Mutual Broadcasting System signed a nine-year contract with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) under which ASCAP would receive 3% of the network's gross receipts over the next four years and 3 1/2% thereafter. ASCAP's 1,250,000 songs had been off the major U.S. radio networks since January 1, 1941.

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Prisoner of Love--Perry Como with Russ Case and His Orchestra (Best Seller--2nd week at #1); Oh! What it Seemed to Be--Frankie Carle and His Orchestra with Marjorie Hughes (Airplay--8th week at #1; Juke Box--9th week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--10th week at #1)

War
A truce was signed in Tsinan to end the fighting between Chinese Communists and Nationalist forces in the province of Shantung.

At the conference of foreign ministers in Paris, U.S. Secretary of State James Byrnes agreed to the award of $100 million in war reparations from Italy to the U.S.S.R., provided that it came from assets abroad, surplus war industrial machinery, and specified warships.

Law
Nazi agent Joaquin Watjen, wanted by the United States, was released by the Argentine Supreme Court, which ruled that Nazis must have a hearing before deportation.

Politics and government
Representatives of the Social Democrats in the American, British, and French zones of Germany re-established their party, with Kurt Schumacher as chairman.

Labour
In response to the two-week truce in the soft coal industry, the U.S. government ordered the cancellation of freight and pssenger car curbs.

Delegates of seven maritime unions ended their meeting in San Francisco after electing a committee to plan a national federation of 214,000 maritime workers.

Horse racing
Assault, with Warren Mehrtens up, won his second straight Triple Crown race, winning the 71st running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 2:01 2/5. Lord Boswell placed second.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): No Other Love--Ronnie Hilton (2nd week at #1)

Africana
U.K. Colonial Secretary Alan Lennox-Boyd announced that Gold Coast would become the first African colony to be granted independence from Britain.

50 years ago
1966

Labour
The Teamsters Union ended a four-week strike that had disrupted transport across Ontario.

40 years ago
1976

Economics and finance
The governments of France and 19 African nations concluded their two-day conference in Paris to discuss economic cooperation.

Politics and government
U.S. President Gerald Ford signed legislation to create the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Philadelphia 1 @ Montreal 2 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Guy Lafleur's goal at 2:41 of the 3rd period gave the Canadiens a 2-0 lead and held up as the winner as the Canadiens edged the Flyers at the Montreal Forum. Dave Schultz ruined Ken Dryden's attempt at a shutout with 2:25 remaining in regulation time.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
U.S. Championship Semi-Finals
Houston 4 @ New England 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Living Doll--Cliff Richard featuring the Young Ones (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Midnight Lady--Chris Norman

Died on this date
Fritz Pollard, 92. U.S. football player and coach. Frederick Douglass Pollard was a halfback with Brown University and the Akron Pros (1920-1921); Union Club of Phoenixville (1920); Milwaukee Badgers (1922); Gilberton Cadamounts (1923–1924); Hammond Pros (1923-1925); Providence Steam Roller (1925); Akron Indians (1925-1926); Chicago Black Hawks (1928-1932); and Harlem Brown Bombers (1930s). In 1920, he and Bobby Marshall became the first Negro players in the Americn Professional Football Association, which became the National Football League in 1922. Mr. Pollard was the first coach in the APFA/NFL, serving as co-head coach with the Pros in 1921 and the Hammond Pros in 1924-1925. All nine Negro players in the NFL were barred from the league after 1926, and Mr. Pollard founded the Black Hawks and Brown Bombers, independent professional clubs consisting entirely of Negro players. Mr. Pollard was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954 and the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Tingles (EP)--Ratcat (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Se Stiamo Insieme--Riccardo Cocciante (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Grease Megamix--John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Joyride--Roxette (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Joyride--Roxette (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Désenchantée--Mylène Farmer (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Losing My Religion--R.E.M. (3rd week at #1)
2 One More Try--Timmy T
3 You--Ten Sharp
4 Going to the Run--Golden Earring
5 Joyride--Roxette
6 Always on the Run--Lenny Kravitz
7 Mega Mix--Snap!
8 Wind of Change--Scorpions
9 Liefde is Lekker Maar Lekker is Niet Altijd Liefde--Hanny
10 Love and Marriage--Frank Sinatra

Singles entering the chart were Just a Groove by Nomad (#25); What Comes Naturally by Sheena Easton (#30); Strike it Up by Black Box (#31); Her by Guy (#33); and Hello Afrika by Dr. Alban featuring Leila K. (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Joyride--Roxette
2 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
3 I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)--Hi-Five
4 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
5 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
6 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
7 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
8 I Don't Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
9 More than Words--Extreme
10 Cry for Help--Rick Astley

Singles entering the chart were Rush Rush by Paula Abdul (#36); Part of Me, Part of You by Glenn Frey (#83); A Better Love by Londonbeat (#86); Kisses in the Night by Brandon (#88); I'm Dreamin' by Christopher Williams (#90); Over and Over by Timmy T. (#96); and Piece of My Heart by Tara Kemp (#98). I'm Dreamin' was from the movie New Jack City (1991).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Joyride--Roxette
2 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
3 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
4 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
5 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
6 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
7 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
8 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
9 I’ve Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
10 You’re in Love--Wilson Phillips

Singles entering the chart were Rush Rush by Paula Abdul (#39); Part of Me, Part of You by Glenn Frey (#83); A Better Love by Londonbeat (#84); See the Lights by Simple Minds (#89); and Going Through the Motions by AfterShock (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Joyride--Roxette (2nd week at #1)
2 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
3 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
4 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
5 I’ve Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
6 Animal Heart--Glass Tiger
7 Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You--Robert Palmer
8 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
9 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
10 You’re in Love--Wilson Phillips

Singles entering the chart were World of Wonder by Rik Emmett (#56); I Like the Way (The Kissing Game) by Hi-Five (#60); Save Some Love by Kandy (#68); Someone to Love by Roger McGuinn (#77); Simple Words to Say by Zappacosta (#79); Strike it Up by Black Box (#87); If I Should Lose This Love by Gino Vannelli (#89); Wind of Change by the Scorpions (#90); Why Should I Cry for You by Sting (#94); Dream Lover by the Rebel Pebbles (#95); and Seal Our Fate by Gloria Estefan (#96).

Baseball
The California Angels released pitcher Ed Vosberg. Mr. Vosberg had previously pitched with the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants; he had been signed by the Angels on December 4, 1990, but had yet to appear in a major league game in 1991.

Cleveland Indians’ outfielder Albert Belle threw a baseball at a fan heckling him from the stands and hit him in the chest during the Indians’ 2-1 loss to the California Angels before 14,720 fans at Cleveland Stadium. Jim Abbott (2-4) allowed 5 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings to win the pitchers' duel over Greg Swindell (1-4), who allowed 8 hits and no earned runs in pitching a complete game.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): How Bizarre--OMC (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): One of Us--Joan Osborne

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Soirée disco--Boris (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Children--Robert Miles (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Hava Naquila--Party Animals (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Fastlove--George Michael (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey (2nd week at #1)
2 Tha Crossroads--Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
3 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion
4 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project
5 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
6 You're the One--SWV
7 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)--Coolio
8 Count on Me--Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans
9 Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)--R. Kelly featuring Ronald Isley
10 Give Me One Reason--Tracy Chapman

Singles entering the chart were Tha Crossroads; Fastlove by George Michael (#34); You by Monifah (#39); The 13th by the Cure (#44); Children by Robert Miles (#75); Theme from Mission: Impossible by Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen, Jr. (#78); Touch Me Tease Me by Case featuring Foxy Brown (#84); and Hay by Crucial Conflict (#90). Theme from Mission: Impossible, as the title indicates, was from the movie (1996). Touch Me Tease Me was from the movie The Nutty Professor (1996).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey
2 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion
3 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
4 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)--Coolio
5 You're the One--SWV
6 Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)--R. Kelly (featuring Ronald Isley and Ernie Isley)
7 Woo-Hah!! (Got You All in Check)--Busta Rhymes
8 Count on Me--Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans
9 Give Me One Reason--Tracy Chapman
10 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project

Singles entering the chart were The Earth, the Sun, the Rain by Color Me Badd (#36); Machinehead by Bush (#45); The Crossroads by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (#51); Fastlove by George Michael (#54); Get on Up by Jodeci (#70); and Touch Me Tease Me by Case (#92).

Died on this date
Nnamdi Azikiwe, 91. Governor General of Nigeria, 1960-1963; 1st President of Nigeria, 1963-1966. Mr. Azikiwe co-founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) with Herbert Macaulay in 1944 and held various positions. Mr. Azikiwe's offices of Governor-General--and President, when Nigeria gained her independence from the United Kingdom--were largely ceremonial. Mr. Azikiwe and his civilian colleagues were removed from power in the military coup of January 15, 1966. He joined the Nigerian People's Party in 1978, making unsuccessful bids for the presidency in 1979 and 1983.

Disasters
After ValuJet Flight 592 departed from Miami bound for Atlanta, a fire started by improperly handled chemical oxygen generators in the cargo hold caused the Douglas DC-9 to crash in the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 people on board.

On a single day, eight people died during summit attempts on Mount Everest.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
New York Rangers 3 @ Pittsburgh 7 (Pittsburgh won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Western Conference Semi-Finals
Chicago 1 @ Colorado 4 (Colorado led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Baseball
Al Leiter (6-2) pitched a no-hitter and the Florida Marlins scored 6 runs in the 1st inning as they routed the Colorado Rockies 11-0 before 31,549 fans at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami.



Moises Alou singled home Mike Lansing with none out in the bottom of the 13th inning to give the Montreal Expos a 10-9 win over the Houston Astros before 26,084 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The Astros led 8-2 after 5 1/2 innings before the Expos tied the game 8-8. Houston then took a 9-8 lead in the top of the 12th, but Montreal tied the score on what should have been the final out, when pinch hitter Lenny Webster grounded to third baseman Sean Berry, but Berry made an error that allowed david Segui to score the tying run from third base.

Rico Brogna hit his second home run of the game to lead off the bottom of the 9th inning, giving the New York Mets a 7-6 win over the Chicago Cubs before 23,237 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. The Cubs had tied the game in the top of the 9th on a 2-out, 2-run single by Jose Hernandez. The game was marred by a bench-clearing brawl in the bottom of the 5th inning; home plate umpire Greg Bonin ejected eight players and Chicago coach Steve Swisher.

Juan Samuel singled with 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 11th inning, stole second base, and scored on a single by Sandy Martinez to give the Toronto Blue Jays a 9-8 win over the Boston Red Sox before 33,163 fans at SkyDome in Toronto.

The Baltimore Orioles scored the tying run in the top of the 9th inning on 3 bases on balls and a sacrifice fly, and turned 2 bases on balls in the 10th into runs as they beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-3 before 21,081 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

Dave Martinez led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a single, and Harold Baines followed with a home run to give the Chicago White Sox a 7-5 win over the New York Yankees before 25,722 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The White Sox had scored the tying run in the bottom of the 8th as a result of 3 bases on balls and a sacrifice fly.

Rusty Greer hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 1st inning and Mickey Tettleton added 2 home runs as the Texas Rangers beat the Detroit Tigers 11-7 before 42,732 fans at Arlington Stadium. Detroit left fielder Curtis Pride hit his first American League home run in the 6th inning, and third baseman Travis Fryman hit a 3-run homer with nobody out in the top of the 9th to close the scoring.

Jim Thome hit a 3-run home run in the 3rd inning as the Cleveland Indians led 6-0 after 6 innings, and barely held on to defeat the California Angels 6-5 before 32,102 fans at Anaheim Stadium. The Angels scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th with nobody out and runners on first and second bases, but Cleveland relief pitcher Jose Mesa retired three straight batters to end the game.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Frankie Thomas, 85. U.S. actor. Mr. Thomas was best known as the title character in the television series Tom Corbett, Space Cadet (1950-1955). He died from respiratory failure following a stroke.

Floyd Patterson, 71. U.S. boxer. Mr. Patterson won the gold medal in the midleweight division at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki. He eventually moved up to the heavyweight division as a professional, and knocked out light heavyweight champion Archie Moore in 5 rounds on November 30, 1956 to win the world heavyweight championship that had been vacated by the retirement of Rocky Marciano earlier in the year. Mr. Patterson lost the title when he was knocked out in 3 rounds by Ingemar Johansson on June 26, 1959, but knocked out Mr. Johansson in the rematch on June 20, 1960, becoming the first man to regain the title. Mr. Patterson lost the title when he was knocked out in the 1st round by Sonny Liston on September 25, 1962, and was knocked out again by Mr. Liston on July 22, 1963. Mr. Patteron attempted to regain the title again on November 22, 1965 against Muhammad Ali, but he injured his back early in the fight and lost on a technical knockout in the 12th round. Mr. Patterson remained a contender, but failed to regain the title; his last fight was a 7-round technical knockout loss to Mr. Ali in a fight for the North American Boxing Federation title on September 20, 1972. Mr. Patterson retired with a professional record of 55-8-1. He served as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission from 1995-1998, but retired when it became obvious that his memory was failing; he died of Alzheimer's disease.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
Ottawa 2 @ Buffalo 1 (Buffalo led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Western Conference Semi-Finals
Anaheim 4 @ Colorado 1 (Anaheim won best-of-seven series 4-0)