May 2, 2016

150 years ago
1866

War
A Spanish fleet commanded by Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez achieved a tactical victory with the bombardment of the Peruvian port of Callao; it was the last battle of the Chincha Islands War.

140 years ago
1876

Protest
The April Uprising of Bulgarians in the Ottoman Empire began; under the Julian calendar still in use, it was April 20.

110 years ago
1906

Born on this date
George Barringer. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Barringer competed on the American Automobile Association championship circuit, and participated in six Indianapolis 500s from 1934-1946. He was killed at the age of 40 on September 2, 1946 when his car collided with that of George Robson during the Atlanta 100.

Olympics
The Intercalated Games closed in Athens.

Horse racing
Sir Huon, with Roscoe Traxler aboard, won the 32nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:08 4/5.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Dick "Two Ton" Baker. U.S. entertainer. Mr. Baker was mainly known as a radio and television host in Chicago, hosting the radio program The Two Ton Baker Show and the children's television programs Wonder House (1948) and The Happy Pirates (1952-1956). He was also a pianist and singer who made several recordings, including the two-sided hit Near You/I'm a Lonely Little Petunia (In An Onion Patch) (1947), which reached #12 and #21, respectively, on the Billboard singles chart. Mr. Baker died of a heart attack on May 4, 1975, two days after his 59th birthday.

90 years ago
1926

Boxing
Former world heavyweight champion Jack Johnson (68-9-9-3) won a 15-round decision over Pat Lester (22-6-3) at the Bull Ring in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. It was Mr. Johnson's first official fight in two years.

80 years ago
1936

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Harry West, on MBS
Tonight’s episode: The Blanched Soldier

Horse racing
Bold Venture, a 20-1 longshot, with 18-year-old apprentice jockey Ira Hanford aboard, won the 62nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:03 3/5. Brevity placed second and Indian Broom finished third.



Baseball
Leroy Herrmann of the Toronto Maple Leafs pitched a 10-inning no-hitter as he shut out the Newark Bears 1-0 in an International League game at Maple Leaf Stadium.

75 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Penelope Delta, 66 or 67. Greek authoress. Miss Delta wrote historical novels for teenagers, which have influenced popular perceptions of Greek culture and history. She died five days after taking poison on the day that German troops entered Athens.

Television
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission authorized the full commercialization of television broadcasting beginning July 1, 1941.

War
Following the coup d'état against Iraq Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah earlier in the year, the United Kingdom launched the Anglo-Iraqi War to restore him to power.

Defense
The American Legion's executive committee urged U.S. convoys to deliver war materials to Britain. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt urged in a letter to Office of Production Management chiefs William Knudsen and Sidney Hillman that the machine tool industry go on a 24-hour day, 7-day workweek. In a letter to House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Chairman Robert Doughton (Democrat--North Carolina), President Roosevelt urged a "minimum" $3.5-billion tax increase to cover defense costs.

Science
Dr. Rubby Sherr and Professor Kenneth Bainbridge of Harvard University reported the transmutation of mercury into radioactive gold and platinum.

Economics and finance
U.S. Price Administrator Leon Henderson said that the government was prepared to fix prices for staple commodities, food, and clothing to prevent unwarranted price inflation.

Business
General Mills began shipping a new cereal called "Cheerioats" to six test markets; the cereal was later renamed "Cheerios."

70 years ago
1946

At the movies
The Postman Always Rings Twice, starring Lana Turner and John Garfield, opened in theatres.



Diplomacy
The Arab Higher Committee sent a letter described as "the next thing to an ulitmatum" to the British cabinet, warning of a national struggle against the recommendations of the Palestine Inquiry Commission.

Politics and government
Dutch Overseas Territories Minister J.H.A. Logemann announced that a tentative agreement for an Indonesian Republic under Netherlands sovereignty had been reached at The Hague.

Protest
The "Battle of Alcatraz" between inmates and guards at Alcatraz Prison off San Francisco began.

Academia
The Argentine government of President Juan Peron took over six universities, placing them under federal directors after students engaged in anti-Peron demonstrators.

Transportation
The U.S. Office of Defense Transportation ordered an embargo on all non-essential rail freight and a 25% reduction in passenger service in order to conserve coal during the miners' strike.

Economics and finance
U.K Chancellor of the Exchequer Hugh Dalton was named a governor of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, succeeding the recently-deceased John Maynard Keynes.

U.S. President Harry Truman asked Congress to vote funds for 34 government corporations, including the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, promising to discontinue them as soon as inflationary pressures eased.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Yo Soy Aquel--Raphael (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Black & Tan Gun--Pat Smith and the Johnny Flynn Showband (2nd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Kicks--Paul Revere and the Raiders
2 Good Lovin'--The Young Rascals
3 (You're My) Soul and Inspiration--The Righteous Brothers
4 Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)--Cher
5 Secret Agent Man--Johnny Rivers
6 Time Won't Let Me--The Outsiders
7 Sloop John B--The Beach Boys
8 A Sign of the Times--Petula Clark
9 Shapes of Things--The Yardbirds
10 Leaning on the Lamp Post--Herman's Hermits

Singles entering the chart were Falling Sugar by Kelly and Gail (#76); A Lover's Concerto by Mrs. Miller (#84); Remember the Rain by Bob Lind (#88); He'll Have to Go by Barry Young (#89); Dum-De-Da by Bobby Vinton (#91); There's No Living Without Your Loving by Peter and Gordon (#92); The "A" Team by SSgt. Barry Sadler (#93); Nothing's Too Good for My Baby by Stevie Wonder (#94); The Cruel War by Peter, Paul and Mary (#95); You're the One by the Marvelettes (#96); I Am a Rock by Simon and Garfunkel (#97); Dirty Water by the Standells (#98); Dream Boy by the Allan Sisters (#99); and Come On Let's Go by the McCoys (#100).

40 years ago
1976

Died on this date
Dan Bankhead, 55. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Bankhead played in the Negro Leagues with the Birmingham Black Barons and the Memphis Red Sox from 1940-1947 before being signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and becoming the first Negro pitcher in the major leagues. He hit a home run in his first major league plate appearance on August 26, 1947, becoming not only the first Negro pitcher in the major leagues, but the first to hit a home run. Mr. Bankhead had limited success in the major leagues, compiling a record of 9-6 with an earned run average of 6.52 in 52 games in 1947 and 1950-1951. He played in the Mexican League with Monterrey (1953-1955); Aguila (1956, 1959); Puebla (1960-1963); and Reynosa (1966), compiling a record of 29-18 with a 4.67 ERA in 134 games, and batting .293 with 24 home runs and 161 runs batted in. Mr. Bankhead died of cancer the day before his 56th birthday.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Philadelphia 5 @ Boston 2 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 2-1)

The Flyers' win over the Bruins at Boston Garden was the last National Hockey League game ever broadcast on CBC radio.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
O'Keefe Cup Finals
Calgary 0 @ Winnipeg 4 (Winnipeg won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Joe Daley posted the shutout in goal for the Jets as they eliminated the Cowboys at Winnipeg Arena; it was the last playoff game the Cowboys ever played.

Baseball
The Chicago White Sox released left fielder Cleon Jones, ending his career. Mr. Jones had played with the New York Mets in 1963 and from 1965-1975, but had been released on July 27, 1975 after running afoul of Mets' management. He signed with the White Sox on April 3, 1976, and batted .200 with no home runs and 3 runs batted in in 12 games. Mr. Jones batted .281 with 93 home runs and 524 runs batted in in 1,213 major league games. His best season was 1969, when he hit .340 with 12 homers and 75 RBIs in 137 games as he helped the Mets win the World Series.

The Montreal Expos scored 4 runs with 2 out in the top of the 16th inning to break a 4-4 tie as they defeated the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 before 49,285 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Don Stanhouse, who pitched 4 scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory, began the rally when he doubled with 2 out and nobody on base. Pat Darcy, who pitched the last 3 innings for Cincinnati, took the loss. Montreal catcher Gary Carter batted 3 for 3 with a home run and 3 runs batted in, while center fielder and leadoff hitter Jerry White was 4 for 6 with 2 intentional bases on balls, 3 runs, and a run batted in. Cincinnati right fielder Ken Griffey was 4 for 8 with a double.

The Chicago Cubs swept a doubleheader from the San Francisco Giants 6-5 in 14 innings and 6-5 in 11 innings before 17,005 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Midnight Lady--Chris Norman

Died on this date
Sergio Cresto, 30. U.S. auto racing driver; Henri Toivonen, 29. Finnish auto racing driver. Messrs. Cresto and Toivonen were co-drivers in the World Rally Championship Tour de Corse in Corsica, and were killed in a crash during the 18th stage of the event.

At the movies
The Disney film Portraits of Canada/Images du Canada, produced in conjunction with Telecom Canada, received its premiere screening at the opening of Expo 86 in Vancouver. The Circle-Vision film, viewed in the round, was directed by Jeff Blyth.

Canadiana
Expo 86, a world's fair with participation from 54 nations, was opened in Vancouver by Prince Charles and Princess Diana, with Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. The exposition, which emphasized themes of transportation and communication, ran until October 13.

Politics and government
Joe Ghiz was sworn in as Premier of Prince Edward Island, replacing James Lee.

Medicine
Dr. Wilbert Keon performed Canada's first artificial heart transplant at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, fittting patient Noella Leclair, 42, with a Jarvik 7- 70 until a human heart was found several days later.

Disasters
The Ukraininan city of Chernobyl was evacuated, six days after the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, nine miles away.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
St. Louis 3 @ Calgary 2 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 1-0)

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)--Cher

Law
Former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Bertha Wilson was named to head a Canadian Bar Association task force to improve the status of women in the legal profession; she retired in November 1990 after 8 years on the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court of Canada struck down 190-year-old law that let the Crown jail people found not guilty by reason of insanity, or commit them to a mental institution indefinitely.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
Minnesota 3 @ Edmonton 1 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Children--Robert Miles

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Children--Robert Miles (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
The Prince Edward Island Legislature adjourned, and the dual-member riding system was ended. Instead of 16 two-member ridings, the legislature would henceforth have a single member representing each of 27 ridings.

Economics and finance
French Prime Minister Alain Juppe called for a 2% cut in expenditures.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
Florida 2 @ Philadelphia 0 (Florida led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Western Conference Semi-Finals
Chicago 3 @ Colorado 2 (OT) (Chicago led best-of-seven series 1-0)

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Louis Rukeyser, 73. U.S. journalist and television host. Mr. Rukeyser was a political and foreign correspondent with the Baltimore Sun in the 1950s and '60s, and later had a syndicated column, but was best known as host of the PBS financial program Wall $treet Week with Louis Rukeyser (1970-2002). He died of cancer.

Economics and finance
Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty presented his first budget, reducing the Goods and Services tax from 7%-6% as of July 1, 2006.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
Carolina 2 @ Montreal 1 (OT) (Carolina won best-of-seven series 4-2)
Buffalo 7 @ Philadelphia 1 (Buffalo won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Cory Stillman scored 1:19 into the 1st overtime period to give the Hurricanes their win over the Canadiens at Bell Centre.

Chris Drury scored the last 2 goals--1 shorthanded--as the Sabres routed the Flyers at Wachovia Center.