April 27, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Rod Crossley!

240 years ago
1777

War
A British invasion force engaged and defeated Continental Army regulars and militia irregulars in the Battle of Ridgefield, Connecticut.

175 years ago
1842

Economics and finance
The Currency Act of 1841 came into effect in Canada, making legal tender the British sovereign and the American eagle ($10), dollar, and half-dollar coins. French crowns and half-crowns were no longer legal tender.

150 years ago
1867

Defense
France and Prussia agreed to dismantle the Fortress of Luxembourg.

125 years ago
1892

Americana
U.S. President Benjamin Harrison laid the cornerstone of the Grant Monument in New York.

110 years ago
1907

Politics and government
The Geological Survey of Canada became a branch of the newly created Department of Mines; the GSC Museum received approval to add anthropological studies to its official mandate.

90 years ago
1927

Died on this date
Otto Borchert, 52. U.S. businessman and baseball executive. Mr. Borchert, a native of Milwaukee, achieved success in selling electrical equipment before becoming part of a syndicate that bought the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association in January 1920. Athletic Park was renamed Borchert Field, and Mr. Borchert eventually acquired full control of the club, which failed to achieve much success on the field under his ownership, but was profitable. He was known for putting the AA's interests ahead of his own, and engaged in numerous acts of charity for which he insisted there be no publicity. The day before the Brewers' first home game of the 1927 season, Mr. Borchert was finishing an address, broadcast locally on radio, to a large audience at the Elks Club in downtown Milwaukee when he collapsed with a heart attack. He staggered to his feet and was taken to an anteroom, where he died five minutes later. Mr. Borchert's widow Idabel owned the team until selling it in January 1928. Borchert Field remained the Brewers' home through 1952, the Brewers' final season in the AA, but was replaced by County Stadium when the National League's Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1953.

Law
The national police force Carabineros de Chile was founded.

80 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Antonio Gramsci, 46. Italian philosopher and politician. Mr. Gramsci was a Marxist who joined the Italian Socialist Party in 1913 and helped to found the Partito Comunista d'Italia – PCI (Communist Party of Italy) in 1921, leading the party from 1921-1924. He became one of the most important figures in Marxist thought, emphasizing the importance of Marxists capturing political power by first capturing the culture of a society. Mr. Gramsci was exiled in 1926 and then imprisoned from 1927-1934 by the Fascist regime of Duce Benito Mussolini. He was conditionally released because of his poor health, but he never recovered.

75 years ago
1942

Died on this date
Emil von Sauer, 79. German-born Austrian musician. Mr. Sauer was regarded as one of the world's greatest piano virtuosos in a performing career from 1882-1940. He also composed works for piano.

War
For the fourth consecutive night, U.K. Royal Air Force bombers attacked the German Baltic port of Rostock, the Nazi supply base for the northern Russian front. Two Japanese mechanized columns drove 67 miles southwest of Lshio, terminus of the Burma Road. The Canadian national referndum on conscription resulted in a vote of 63.7% in favour of conscripition, giving Prime Minister Mackenzie King's government a mandate to impose overseas conscription "if necessary." Québec voted 72% against conscription, while other provinces voted 80% in favour. More than 13 million men aged 45-64 were reported registered throughout the United States in the fourth draft registration since October 1940. Indian Hindu nationalist leader Mohandas Gandhi asserted in Ahmedabad the he did not approve of U.S. solders coming to India because of the American influence it could lead to; he questioned why India's soldiers could not be trained.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the power of law enforcement officers to use information acquired by wiretapping and detectaphone as evidence in court.

Economics and finance
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York announced the admission of J.P. Morgan and Company, Inc. to membership in the Federal Reserve System.

Disasters
80-100 people were killed when a tornado struck Pryor, Oklahoma.

70 years ago
1947

World events
A Polish court sentenced five Ukrainian nationalists to death in Przemysi.

Journalism
Cochin Chinese President Le Van Hoach suspended 13 Vietnamese nationalist newspapers in southern Vietnam.

Baseball
Babe Ruth Day was held at Yankee Stadium in New York, honouring the legendary former New York Yankees' star, who was battling cancer. The Yankees lost the subsequent game to the Washington Nationals 1-0, with Sid Hudson singling and scoring the only run in the 8th inning to win the pitchers' duel over Spud Chandler.

The Philadelphia Athletics scored 5 runs in the top of the 2nd inning to take a 5-0 lead over the Boston Red Sox in the first game of a doubleheader before 34,693 fans at Fenway Park in Boston, but the Red Sox rallied for 4 runs in the bottom of the 3rd, and the game was tied 6-6 after 9 innings when it was called because of rain. The second game was not played.

Vern Stephens hit a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 8th inning to give the St. Louis Browns a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox and a sweep of their doubleheader before 15,179 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The White Sox pulled off a triple play in the 2nd inning. The Browns scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to take a 4-1 lead in the first game, and barely held on to win 4-2. The White Sox had the bases loaded with 2 out in the 9th, but Denny Galehouse struck out pinch hitter Jake Jones to end the game to get his first save of the season.

Pinch runner Marv Rackley scored on a squeeze bunt by Eddie Stanky in the bottom of the 9th inning to complete a rally from an 8-4 7th-inning deficit as the Brooklyn Dodgers edged the New York Giants 9-8 before 31,675 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

Jim Tabor hit a home run to lead off the bottom of the 9th inning, giving the Philadelphia Phillies a 5-4 win over the Boston Braves and a sweep of their doubleheader before 34,835 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. The Phillies won the first game 5-4. Boston catcher Phil Masi homered in both games.

Frank Baumholtz singled home Augie Galan with 2 out in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Cincinnati Reds a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates before 36,961 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Johnny Hetki pitched a 10-hit complete game to win the pitchers' duel over Fritz Ostermueller, who allowed 8 hits in also pitching a complete game.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Cindy, Oh Cindy--Eddie Fisher (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Cindy, Oh Cindy--Margot Eskens (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Cumberland Gap--Lonnie Donegan (3rd week at #1)

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

Singles entering the chart were Harem Dance by the Armenian Jazz Sextet (#42); Shish-Kebab by Ralph Marterie and his Orchestra (#45); It's Not for Me to Say by Johnny Mathis (#49); I Love My Girl, with versions by the Hilltoppers, and Cozy Morley (#50); and So Long, My Love (#53)/Crazy Love (#58) by Frank Sinatra.

Chess
Vasily Smyslov of Moscow defeated Mikhail Botvinnik to win the world championship, winning 6 games, losing 3, and drawing 13 games of a scheduled 20-game match in Moscow.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Puppet on a String--Sandie Shaw

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



Canadiana
Prime Minister Lester Pearson officially opened the Canadian Universal and International Exhibition/l'Exposition universelle de Montréal, popularly known as Expo '67. The opening ceremony was broadcast in colour live via satellite to an estimated worldwide audience of 700 million viewers and listeners. Expo '67 opened to the public the next day. Go to this blog for more, and YouTube for videos on Expo '67.

Europeana
A son, Willem-Alexander, was born to Crown Princess Beatrix, the first male heir to the Dutch throne since the birth of Crown Prince Alexander in 1851. Princess Beatrix had married German diplomat Claus von Amsberg a year earlier.

Boxing
Jerry Quarry (23-1-3) scored a technical knockout of Alex Miteff (25-13-1) at 2:18 of the 3rd round of their heavyweight bout at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, ending Mr. Miteff's professional career.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 6 @ Toronto 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Jean Beliveau led the Canadiens to their win over the Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens. Toronto goalie Johnny Bower pulled a leg muscle in the pre-game warmup and was replaced by Terry Sawchuk, who played a poor game.





40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Knowing Me, Knowing You--ABBA (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Scott Bradley, 85. U.S. composer and conductor. Mr. Bradley was an organist who became known for composing and conducting music for cartoons, including those starring Tom and Jerry, Droopy, Barney Bear, Screwy Squirrel, and George and Junior.

Ernie Neitzke, 82. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Neitzke was a pitcher and outfielder who played 11 games with the Boston Red Sox in 1921, batting .240 with no home runs and 2 runs batted in, and a 0-0 record with an earned run average of 6.14 in 2 games as a pitcher.

Stanley Adams, 62. U.S. actor. Mr. Adams was a character actor in numerous movies and television programs, often playing comic blowhards. He shot himself to death, 20 days after his 62nd birthday.

Diplomacy
The United States and Cuba agreed on fishing rights in their overlapping zones.

Defense
U.S. President Jimmy Carter asked Congress to grant him the power to impose heavy sanctions against any country that received U.S. nuclear fuel or hardware, if that country exploded an atomic bomb or violated international safeguards or agreements with the United States.

Politics and government
Quebec's Parti Québecois government proposed the Charter of the French Language as Bill One in the National Assembly, to make French the working language in Québec and limiting the use of English.

Baseball
The Montreal Expos traded shortstop Tim Foli to the San Francisco Giants for shortstop Chris Speier. Mr. Foli, in his 6th season with the Expos, was batting .175 with no home runs and 3 runs batted in in 13 games with Montreal in 1977; Mr. Speier, in his 7th season with the Giants, was batting .176 with no homers or RBIs in 6 games with San Francisco in 1977.

The Oakland Athletics traded pitcher Mike Torrez to the New York Yankees for pitcher Dock Ellis, second baseman Marty Perez, and outfielder Larry Murray. Mr. Torrez was 3-1 with an earned run average of 4.50 in 4 games with Oakland in 1977. Mr. Ellis was 1-1 with a 1.83 ERA in 3 games with New York in 1977; Mr. Perez was batting .500 (2 for 4) with no home runs or runs batted in in 1 game with New York, while Mr. Murray was batting .300 with 1 home run and 4 runs batted in in 9 games with the Syracuse Chiefs of the AAA International League in 1977.

The New York Mets returned infielder Luis Alvarado to the Detroit Tigers; he batted 0 for 2 in 1 game with New York in 1977.

The Cincinnati Reds signed relief pitcher Joe Hoerner, 40, as a free agent. Mr. Hoerner had previously played with the Houston Colt .45s (1963-1964); St. Louis Cardinals (1966-1969); Philadelphia Phillies (1970-1972, 1975); Atlanta Braves (1972-1973); Kansas City Royals (1973-1974); and Texas Rangers (1976).

Ellis Valentine's 2-run home run climaxed a 3-run 3rd inning as the Montreal Expos edged the New York Mets 3-2 before 7,441 fans at Shea Stadium in New York on a Wednesday night telecast on Radio-Canada. Steve Rogers pitched a 9-hit complete game to win the pitchers' duel over Jerry Koosman, who pitched 8 innings without allowing an earned run.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored 6 runs in the first 2 innings and 8 in the 5th as they routed the Chicago Cubs 21-3 before 9,248 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Bill Russell had 4 hits and Ron Cey added 3 as the Los Angeles Dodgers withstood a 4-run 8th-inning rally to defeat the San Diego Padres 7-6 before 18,132 fans at San Diego Stadium.

Darrell Evans hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 8th inning to give the San Francisco Giants a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros before 2,240 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Tim Foli made his first appearance in a San Francisco uniform, making an out as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning.

The New York Yankees scored a run in each of the last 3 innings to edge the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 before 15,647 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

Bob Bailor hit a home run to lead off the game and singled home Alan Ashby with 1 out in the top of the 12th inning to break a 5-5 tie as the Toronto Blue Jays edged the Cleveland Indians 6-5 before 3,639 fans at Cleveland Stadium.

Jason Thompson's grand slam highlighted a 7-run 3rd inning as the Detroit Tigers held on to defeat the Chicago White Sox 10-9 before 5,868 fans at Tiger Stadium. The teams combined for 7 home runs, 5 by the White Sox.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room)--Paul Lekakis (3rd week at #1)

Weather
The temperature reached 77 F. in Edmonton.

Diplomacy
The United States Justice Department announced that Austrian President Kurt Waldheim would be barred from entering the United States because of his participation in Nazi war crimes during World War II. Mr. Waldheim, former secretary-general of the United Nations, had served in the German army, and his activities had come to light in 1986, during his successful campaign for the Austrian presidency.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Detroit 2 @ Toronto 3 (OT) (Toronto led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Edmonton 4 @ Winnipeg 2 (Edmonton won best-of-seven series 4-0)

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Viva Las Vegas--ZZ Top

Died on this date
Olivier Messiaen, 83. French composer, organist, and ornithologist. Mr. Messiaen regarded birds as the best singers, and incorporated birdsong into his music.

World events
Serbia (including the autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina) and Montenegro endorsed a constitution for a new Yugoslavian state, acknowledging the independence of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia. The new state renounced territorial claims and scheduled elections for its Federal Assembly on May 31. The new state was recognized by Canada, China, Russia, and other non-aligned countries.

Politics and government
Labour MP Betty Boothroyd became the first woman to be elected Speaker of the House of Commons in the 700-year history of the lower house of the British Parliament.

Economics and finance
Russia and 12 other former Soviet republics were granted admission into the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Canadiana
Lina Haddad, 27, gave birth in Montreal to Quebec's first quintuplets, three boys and two girls.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Hartford 4 @ Montreal 7 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Buffalo 2 @ Boston 0 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-2)
New Jersey 5 @ New York Rangers 8 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Pittsburgh 5 @ Washington 2 (Washington led best-of-seven series 3-2)

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Truly Madly Deeply--Savage Garden (4th week at #1)

#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Hard to Say I'm Sorry--Az Yet featuring Peter Cetera

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Warum?--Tic Tac Toe (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: I Believe I Can Fly--R. Kelly

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien obtained a dissolution of Parliament and called a federal election for June 2. Mr. Chretien's Liberal government currently held a majority of the seats in the House of Commons, with the separatist Bloc Quebecois the official opposition, and the Reform Party with the third-largest number of seats.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Buffalo 3 @ Ottawa 0 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
Detroit 3 @ St. Louis 1 (Detroit won best-of-seven series 4-2)
Dallas 3 @ Edmonton 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
Anaheim 3 @ Phoenix 2 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Mstislav Rostropovich, 80. U.S.S.R. musician. Mr. Rostropovich, a native of Baku, Azerbaijan, moved to Russia in his teens and began a career as one of the world's foremost cellists. He inspired and premiered over 100 pieces, working with eminent European composers. Mr. Rostropovich died a month after his 80th birthday.

Von Clay, 67. U.S. boxer. Mr. Clay, no relation to world heavyweight champion Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali, was a light heavyweight and heavyweight who compiled a record of 20-17-2 in a professional career from 1957-1968. He lost to heavyweight contenders Doug Jones, Brian London, Karl Mildenberger, and Leotis Martin, losing three times to Mr. Jones. Mr. Clay was 4-12 in his last 16 fights.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
New York Rangers 2 @ Buffalo 3 (Buffalo led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Vancouver 2 @ Anaheim 1 (2 OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Jeff Cowan scored at 7:49 of the 2nd overtime period to give the Canucks their win over the Ducks at Honda Center.