April 20, 2017

225 years ago
1792

War
France declared war against Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, beginning the French Revolutionary Wars.

110 years ago
1907

Canadiana
Port Arthur and Fort William, Ontario were incorporated as cities.

80 years ago
1937

Baseball
Gee Walker became the only major league player to hit for the cycle on opening day, doing it in reverse order—home run, triple, double, and single—as he led the Detroit Tigers to a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Indians before 38,200 fans at Navin Field in Detroit.

Shanty Hogan’s sacrifice fly in the 8th inning drove in the winning run as the Washington Nationals opened their season with a 3-2 win over the New York Yankees before 45,850 fans at Yankee Stadium.

Bobby Doerr played his first major league game, leading off and playing second base for the Boston Red Sox as they opened the season against the Philadelphia Athletics. He batted 3 for 5 with a run, while making 3 putouts, an assist, and an error as the Red Sox won 11-5 before 11,265 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Winning pitcher Wes Ferrell pitched a 13-hit complete game, while doubling, scoring 2 runs, and batting in a run.

Dizzy Dean gave up 13 hits but still pitched a shutout as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Cincinnati Reds 2-0 in 10 innings before 34,374 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Losing pitcher Peaches Davis gave up doubles by Johnny Mize and Joe Medwick and a single by Leo Durocher in the 10th inning. Jimmy Outlaw made his major league debut leading off and playing third base for the Reds, batting 3 for 5 with a double, while making 1 putout and 7 assists. Teammate Joe Dwyer also made his major league debut, coming to bat as a pinch hitter and flying out to left field for the game's final out.

75 years ago
1942

Died on this date
Jüri Jaakson, 72. Elder of State of Estonia, 1924-1925. Mr. Jaakson, a banker from Tallinn, was Elder of State from December 1924-December 1925. He was imprisoned by the Soviet secret police NKVD on June 14, 1941, and was executed for "counter-revolutionary activities."

War
Both U.S.S.R. and German forces reported increased ground and aerial fighting along the entire Russian front from Murmansk to Crimea. German forces ordered the evacuation of farms in the entire Sambre et Meuse district of Belgium, and mines were laid at Lausprelle, Gerpinne, Fleurus, Farcienne, and Walcourt against possible invasion. A combined U.K.-Chinese force recaptured the Burmese oil town of Yenangyaung, freeing several thousand British troops. Japanese 240-millimetre guns on Bataan and Cavite shelled Corregidor, Fort Hughes, and Fort Drum in Manila Bay.

Diplomacy
French Prime Minister Pierre Laval pledged in a broadcast from Vichy that he would seek entente and reconciliation with Germany.

Politics and government
The U.S. Republican National Committee adopted an anti-isolation resolution that demanded "the prosecution of an offensive war" until total victory was gained.

Business
Under an executive order from U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the U.S. Navy seized four plants of Brewter Aeronautical Corporation because of "dissatisfaction with the management," which was blamed for the present low rate of production of combat planes.

70 years ago
1947

Died on this date
Christian X, 76. King of Denmark, 1912-1947; King of Iceland, 1918-1944. Christian X, a member of the House of Glücksburg, succeeded his father Frederick VIII on the throne. He was known as an authoritarian ruler, but was admired by his people during the Nazi occupation of Denmark during World War II, as he daily rode his horse in Copenhagen without a bodyguard. Christian X was succeeded by his son King Frederick IX.

Diplomacy
Former U.S. Vice-President Henry Wallace continuing his European speaking tour in Oslo, said that "it would be unfortunate for world peace" if Russia's current system of government was upset, and denied contentions that "heavy armaments are the road to peace."

Politics and government
Elections for Japan's House of Councilors, the legislative upper house, gave the Social Democrats a plurality of 44 seats, although unaffiliated independents won 96 seats.

State Assembly elections in the British zone of Germany resulted in a victory for the Social Democrats, who gained 173 seats to the opposition Christian Democrats' 144 and the Communists' 36.

The first elections to Sicily's regional legislative assembly gave a substantial plurality to the Communist-Socialist bloc.

Basketball
BAA
Finals
Philadelphia 73 @ Chicago 74 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-1)

The Warriors outscored the Stags 21-9 in the 4th quarter, but fell just short of completing the series sweep at Chicago Stadium. Max Zaslofsky led Chicago with 20 points, while George Senesky of Philadelphia led all scorers with 24 points, and teammate Joe Fulks added 21.

Baseball
Former Detroit Tigers' star Tommy Bridges pitched a no-hitter for the Portland Beavers as they shut out the San Francisco Seals 2-0 in a Pacific Coast League game.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Cindy, Oh Cindy--Eddie Fisher

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Cindy, Oh Cindy--Margot Eskens (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Cumberland Gap--Lonnie Donegan (2nd week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): All Shook Up--Elvis Presley (Best Seller--2nd week at #1; Top 100--1st week at #1); Round and Round--Perry Como (Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1); Butterfly--Charlie Gracie (Jukebox--2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 All Shook Up--Elvis Presley (2nd week at #1)
2 Little Darlin'--The Diamonds
3 Party Doll--Buddy Knox with the Rhythm Orchids
--Steve Lawrence
4 Round and Round--Perry Como
5 Come Go with Me--The Dell-Vikings
6 Butterfly--Andy Williams
--Charlie Gracie
7 Gone--Ferlin Husky
8 Mama Look at Bubu--Harry Belafonte
9 I'm Walkin'--Fats Domino
10 Why Baby Why--Pat Boone

Singles entering the chart were Dark Moon by Gale Storm (#34, charting with the version by Bonnie Guitar); Yes Tonight, Josephine by Johnnie Ray (#37); Wind in the Willow by Ann Reynolds (#38, charting with the version by Jo Stafford); Banana Boat (Day-O) by Stan Freberg (#42); My Love Song by Tommy Sands (#48); Let it Be Me by Jill Corey (#54); Strictly Sentimental by June Valli (#57); and When Rock and Roll Come to Trinidad by Nat "King" Cole (#59). My Love Song was the other side of Ring-A-Ding-A-Ding, charting at #47.

World events
Acting to protest Greek support for Cypriot Archbishop Makarios, the Turkish government closed the Greek-Turkish-Hellenic Union in Ankara and arrested its secretary on espionage charges.

Defense
Soviet Premier Nikolai Bulganin, in a letter to British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, suggested a U.K.-U.S.S.R. ban on all H-weapon tests, to be negotiated apart from the general disarmament problem.

General Ali Hayari resigned as Jordanian Army Chief of Staff in a dispute with King Hussein, who then designated General Hafiz Majali as the new acting Chief of Staff.

Economics and finance
The U.S. State Department announced that it was "prepared to discuss certain modifications' in the trade embargo on the People's Republic of China "in an effort to meet the views of [U.S.] allies."

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Somethin' Stupid--Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
Dragnet 1967, starring Jack Webb and Harry Morgan, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Subscription Racket



Died on this date
Léo-Paul Desrosiers, 71. Canadian journalist, author, and librarian. Mr. Desrosiers, a native of Berthier-en Haut, Quebec, was influenced by Quebec nationalist figures Henri Bourassa and Lionel-Adolphe Groulx, and wrote mainly for the Montreal newspapers Le Canada and Le Devoir. He wrote about a dozen historical novels from the 1920s through the '60s. Mr. Desrosiers was director of the Montreal Public Library (1941-1953), opening numerous branches and making the library more accessible to the public. He died nine days after his 71st birthday.

Space
The U.S. lunar probe Surveyor 3 landed in the Ocean of Storms, three days after launch. The United States launched the satellite ESSA (Environmental Science Services Administration) 5 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

War
U.S. planes bombed the North Vietnamese city of Haiphong for the first time, hitting power plants.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Toronto 2 @ Montreal 6 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Henri Richard scored 3 goals and Yvan Cournoyer added 2 for the Canadiens as they beat the Maple Leafs at the Montreal Forum. Rookie Montreal goalie Rogie Vachon won the goaltending duel over veteran Toronto goalie Terry Sawchuk.



Basketball
NBA
Finals
Philadelphia 122 @ San Francisco 108 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Hal Greer scored 38 points and Chet Walker added 33 as the 76ers beat the Warriors at San Francisco Civic Auditorium. Rick Barry of the Warriors led all scorers with 43 points. The San Francisco defense limited Wilt Chamberlain to 10 points.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Knowing Me, Knowing You--ABBA (5th week at #1)

Transportation
Canadian National Railways operated their last passenger service before CNR and the Canadian Pacific Railway amalgamated their passenger services as Via Rail.

Diplomacy
Portuguese Prime Minister Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares began three days of talks in Washington on Portugal's economic recovery program with U.S. President Jimmy Carter and U.S. congressional leaders.

Energy
U.S. President Carter presented to Congress a broad legislative program including tax increases, rebates, incentives, and price increases, in an attempt to change national patterns of energy use and prevent the shortage of supplies from becoming a "national catastrophe." The overall goals of the plan were to keep the growth in U.S. energy demand under 2% per year; to reduce gasoline demand by 10%; to halve the proportion of imports in U.S. oil supply; to set up a one-billion-barrel strategic oil reserve; to increase coal output by two-thirds; to insulate all new buildings and most existing homes; and to install solar energy systems in 2.5 million houses, all by 1985.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
Quarter-Finals
San Diego 0 @ Winnipeg 3 (Winnipeg led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Houston 4 @ Edmonton 1 (Houston led best-of-seven series 3-1)

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room)--Paul Lekakis (2nd week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Quebec 7 @ Montreal 5 (Quebec led best-of-seven series 1-0)
New York Islanders 2 @ Philadelphia 4 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 1-0)

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Telepatiaa--J. Karjalainen (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Pat Creeden, 85. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Creeden was a second baseman who batted 0 for 8 with a base on balls in 5 games with the Boston Red Sox in 1931. They were the only professional games he ever played.

Orval Grove, 72. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Grove played with the Chicago White Sox from 1940-1949, compiling a record of 63-73 with an earned run average of 3.78 in 207 games, and batting .129 with 1 home run and 19 runs batted in. His best season was 1943, when he was 15-9 with a 2.75 ERA. Mr. Grove was demoted to the Sacramento Solons of the Pacific Coast League early in the 1949 season, and played with them through 1952, compiling a record of 40-48.

Benny Hill, 68. U.K. comedian. Mr. Hill, nicknamed “King Leer,” a popular comedian on television in the United Kingdom and around the world from the 1950s through the 1980s, had apparently been dead for several days when his body was discovered in his Teddington, Middlesex flat.

Economics and finance
A meeting of finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of Seven advanced industrial nations in Washington, D.C. produced an agreement that would allow indebted countries to more easily renegotiate their payment schedules.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Minnesota 4 @ Detroit 2 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 2-0)
St. Louis 5 @ Chicago 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Winnipeg 2 @ Vancouver 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Edmonton 5 @ Los Angeles 8 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Baseball
Roberto Alomar doubled home Alfredo Griffin with 2 out in the top of the 13th inning and scored on a single by Joe Carter as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-4 before 34,709 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

The Pittsburgh Pirates erupted for 9 runs in the top of the 9th inning to turn a pitchers' duel into a route as they beat the Montreal Expos 11-1 before 12,351 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Winning pitcher Greg Maddux hit a long home run to open the scoring as the Chicago Cubs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3 before 23,515 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Truly Madly Deeply--Savage Garden (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): I Shot The Sheriff--Warren G (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Warum?--Tic Tac Toe (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Warum?--Tic Tac Toe (4th week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
New York Rangers 3 @ Florida 0 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Detroit 3 @ St. Louis 2 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Colorado 3 @ Chicago 4 (2 OT) (Colorado led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Dallas 3 @ Edmonton 4 (OT) (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Anaheim 1 @ Phoenix 4 (Anaheim led best-of-seven series 2-1)

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Andrew Hill, 75. U.S. musician. Mr. Hill was a jazz pianist who was best known for recordings he made while leading his own band in the 1960s. He died of lung cancer, 22 days after his last performance, at Trinity Church in New York City.

Crime
William Phillips, 60, a handgun-brandishing employee of Jacobs Engineering who worked at Building 44 in NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, killed hostage David Beverly, 62, and held co-worker Fran Crenshaw hostage before fatally shooting himself.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
New York Islanders 3 @ Buffalo 4 (Buffalo won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Tampa Bay 0 @ New Jersey 3 (New Jersey led best-of-seven series 3-2)
San Jose 3 @ Nashville 2 (San Jose won best-of-seven series 4-1)