May 2, 2017

125 years ago
1892

Born on this date
Manfred von Richthofen. German military aviator. Rittmeister (Cavalry captain) Richtofen, nicknamed the "Red Baron," was the leading air ace of World War I. He was credited with 80 combat victories before his death in combat on April 21, 1918, 11 days before his 26th birthday.

100 years ago
1917

Baseball
Fred Toney of the Cincinnati Reds and Hippo Vaughn of the Chicago Cubs both pitched no-hitters through 9 innings, but Larry Kopf singled with 1 out in the top of the 10th. With 2 out, Chicago right fielder Cy Williams dropped a ball hit by Hal Chase, and Mr. Kopf advanced to third base, with Mr. Chase on second. Jim Thorpe than hit a ground ball to Mr. Vaughn, who threw to home plate in an attempt to retire Mr. Kopf. Chicago catcher Art Wilson made no attempt to catch the ball, allowing it to hit him in the chest protector, and Mr. Kopf scored. Mr. Wilson then came to his senses and tagged Mr. Chase at the plate for the final out of the inning; Mr. Thorpe was credited with a single on the play. Mr. Toney retired the Cubs in order in the bottom of the 10th to preserve his no-hitter and a 1-0 win.

Larry Cheney of the Brooklyn Robins and Ferdie Schupp of the New York Giants each pitched complete games as the teams played to a 2-2 tie at the Polo Grounds in New York in a game that was called because of darkness after 14 innings. Brooklyn shortstop Bunny Fabrique hit his only major league home run.

75 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Moonlight Cocktail--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (10th week at #1)

War
Major General Russell Maxwell, chief of the U.S. military mission in northern Africa, disclosed that U.S. troops were arriving to support British combat troops and the Royal Air Force. Japanese ground forces captured Mandalay, Burma.

Defense
The All-India Congress Party working committee adopted a resolution at its meeting in Allahabad stating that if India were invaded, resistance should only be in the form of non-violence, because the British "have prevented the organization of national defense by the people in any other way."

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that Lend-Lease aid would be extended to Iran and Iraq because their defense was "vital to the defense of the United States."

Transportation
The jet age began with the inauguration of the first jetliner passenger service between London and Johannesburg. A British DeHavilland Comet could cover the 6,724-mile distance in less than 24 hours.

Disasters
Tornadoes swept the midwestern United States, killing 22 people in northwestern Oklahoma, 3 in eastern Kansas, and 1 in central Missouri, while injuring over 100, including 11 in central Illinois.

Floods inundated the towns of Blairmore and Coleman, Alberta.

Horse racing
Shut Out, with Wayne D. Wright up, won the 68th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:04 2/5 seconds. Alsab placed second.



70 years ago
1947

Died on this date
William Moulton Marston, 53. U.S psychologist and author. Dr. Marston created the systolic blood pressure test, which became one component of the modern polygraph. He wrote essays in popular psychology, but was better known as the creator of the comic book character Wonder Woman, heavily influenced by his wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston and life partner Olive Byrne. Dr. Marston, his wife, and Miss Byrne, lived together, and the two women lived together after Dr. Marston died of skin cancer, a week before his 54th birthday.

Dorothea Binz, 27. German war criminal. Miss Binz was Stellvertretende Oberaufseherin (Deputy Chief Wardress) at Ravensbrück concentration camp during World War II, and supervised the torture and killing of female prisoners. She was convicted of war crimes, and was hanged at Hamelin prison.

Theatre
The Drama League of New York gave its award for the best performance of the 1946-47 season to actress Ingrid Bergman, who starred in Joan of Lorraine.

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. representative to the United Nations Andrei Gromyko urged the UN General Assembly to hear Jewish Agency representations, pointing out that the Arab viewpoint had already been presented. U.S. delegate Warren Austin and UN Secretary-General Trygve Lie countered that only national representatives could be heard by the full Assembly.

U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall and U.S.S.R. Foreign Secretary Vyacheslav Molotov agreed on the resumption of U.S.-U.S.S.R. negotiations for the establishment of a provisional Korean government.

World events
Paraguayan President Higinio Morinigo claimed that the military revolt in Asuncion had been suppressed.

Labour
A two day conference of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations ended in Washington with agreement on the need for "organic union" of the U.S. labour movement.

Health
New York City ended a three-week campaign against smallpox after dispensing six million vaccinations.

60 years ago
1957

Died on this date
Joseph McCarthy, 48. U.S. politician. Mr. McCarthy, a Republican, represented Wisconsin in the United States Senate from 1947 until his death. He came to public attention in 1950 with accusations that the U.S. State Department contained large numbers of Communists. Sen. McCarthy's attempts to expose Communists attracted both support and criticism for his methods, and he was disliked by both Presidents Harry Truman (Democrat) and Dwight Eisenhower (Republican). Sen. McCarthy's methods became known as "McCarthyism," usually in a negative sense, carrying a connotation of demagoguery, false accusation, and character assassination. When Sen. McCarthy added the United States Army to his list of targets, the resulting hearings, televised nationally, ruined his career, as Sen. McCarthy, because of his appearance and manner, became one of the first politicians to be destroyed by television. He was censured by his colleagues in December 1954, and disappeared into obscurity as quickly as he had emerged from it. Sen. McCarthy died of acute hepatitis, likely brought on by excessive drinking. He didn't live long enough to see some of his allegations vindicated. For further reading, see Blacklisted by History by M. Stanton Evans (2007).

Theatre
A Moon for the Misbegotten, the last play by Eugene O'Neill, opened at the Bijou Theatre on Broadway in New York. The stars were Cyril Cusack, Wendy Hiller, and Franchot Tone.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower recalled Special Ambassador James Richards, the presidential envoy charged with seeking Middle Eastern support for the Eisenhower Doctrine, after Jordan, Egypt, and Syria rejected the doctrine's military and economic terms.

Defense
West German Social Democratic Party leader Erich Ollenhauer demanded that the West German government reject participation in any North Atlantic Treaty Organization atomic armament program and refuse NATO permission to store nuclear weapons in West Germany.

The French government established a 10-member Commission to Safeguard Human Rights and Liberties in Algeria.

Crime
A U.S. federal grand jury in Tacoma, Washington indicted Teamsters union President Dave Beck on charges of evading $56,419 in income taxes for 1950.

50 years ago
1967

On television tonight
The Fugitive, starring David Janssen, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Shattered Silence, with guest stars

The Invaders, starring Roy Thinnes, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Wall of Crystal



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 1 @ Toronto 3 (Toronto won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Jim Pappin's goal with 36 seconds remaining in the 2nd period proved to be the winner, and George Armstrong scored into an empty net with 47 seconds remaining in the 3rd period as the Maple Leafs defeated the Canadiens at Maple Leaf Gardens to win their 13th--and so far, last--Stanley Cup championship. Johnny Bower, who had missed the previous two games with a pulled leg muscle, dressed as Toronto's backup goalie, while Terry Sawchuk was brilliant in victory. Gump Worsley, who had played only one complete game and parts of two others in the previous three months, played goal for Montreal in place of rookie Rogie Vachon and allowed only two goals, but it wasn't good enough. The game was the last in the Hall-of-Fame career of Toronto forward Red Kelly, and was the last National Hockey League game before the league expanded from 6 to 12 teams for the 1967-68 season.



40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Don't Give Up on Us--David Soul (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kaeranai/Koibitoyo--Kentaro Shimizu

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Gavilán o Paloma--Pablo Abraira (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Sid Collins, 54. U.S. sportscaster. Mr. Collins, born Sidney Cahn, Jr., was an announcer with radio station WIBC in Indianapolis, and became the main announcer for Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He called the Indianapolis 500 on radio from 1952-1976 and was scheduled to broadcast the race again in 1977, but committed suicide shortly after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Loving You is Sweeter than Ever--Nick Kamen (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Sailing Home--Piet Veerman (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Sailing Home--Piet Veerman (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now--Starship

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): La Isla Bonita--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): La Isla Bonita--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): (I Just) Died in Your Arms--Cutting Crew

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 (I Just) Died in Your Arms--Cutting Crew
2 I Knew You were Waiting (For Me)--Aretha Franklin and George Michael
3 Looking for a New Love--Jody Watley
4 Don't Dream it's Over--Crowded House
5 Sign 'o' the Times--Prince
6 With or Without You--U2
7 La Isla Bonita--Madonna
8 The Finer Things--Steve Winwood
9 Walking Down Your Street--Bangles
10 Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now--Starship

Singles entering the chart were Dirty Water by Rock and Hyde (#81); Something So Strong by Crowded House (#85); Meet El Presidente by Duran Duran (#86); Somebody Save Me by Cinderalla (#87); Rock the Night by Europe (#89); and Heart and Soul by T'Pau (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Don't Dream it's Over--Crowded House
2 Lean on Me--Club Nouveau
3 Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now--Starship
4 I Knew You were Waiting (For Me)--Aretha Franklin and George Michael
5 With or Without You--U2
6 (I Just) Died in Your Arms--Cutting Crew
7 Wild Horses--Gino Vannelli
8 Heat of the Night--Bryan Adams
9 Holiday Rap--M.C. Miker G. & DJ Sven
10 Sign 'o' the Times--Prince

Singles entering the chart were Sweet Sixteen by Billy Idol (#86); We are What we Are by the Other Ones (#93); You're the Voice by John Farnham (#97); and Can't We Try by Dan Hill (#98).

Horse racing
Alysheba, with Chris McCarron up, won the 113th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:03 2/5 seconds. Bet Twice placed second, and Avies Copy finished third.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Quebec 3 @ Montreal 5 (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-3)
New York Islanders 1 @ Philadelphia 5 (Philadelphia won best-of-seven series 4-3)

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Koiwoshiyōyo Yeah!--Lindberg

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Why--Annie Lennox (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Please Don't Go--Double You

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Joy--François Feldman (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): To Be with You--Mr. Big (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Deeply Dippy--Right Said Fred (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Jump--Kris Kross (2nd week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Jump--Kris Kross
2 Save the Best for Last--Vanessa Williams
3 Tears in Heaven--Eric Clapton
4 Bohemian Rhapsody--Queen
5 Make it Happen--Mariah Carey
6 Hazard--Richard Marx
7 Masterpiece--Atlantic Starr
8 My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)--En Vogue
9 Everything Changes--Kathy Troccoli
10 Beauty and the Beast--Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson

Singles entering the chart were In the Closet by Michael Jackson (#49); Love You All My Lifetime by Chaka Khan (#81); I Will Remember You by Amy Grant (#82); Smells Like Nirvana by "Weird Al" Yankovic (#88); and If You Asked Me To by Celine Dion (#90).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Save the Best for Last--Vanessa Williams
2 Human Touch--Bruce Springsteen
3 One--U2
4 Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven--Bryan Adams
5 Tears in Heaven--Eric Clapton
6 Hazard--Richard Marx
7 Make it Happen--Mariah Carey
8 Sinking Like a Sunset--Tom Cochrane
9 Everything Changes--Kathy Troccoli
10 Ain't it Heavy--Melissa Etheridge

Singles entering the chart were I Will Remember You by Amy Grant (#57); 92 Days of Rain by Corey Hart (#59); Remedy by the Black Crowes (#86); Without Love by Infidels (#89); Viva Las Vegas by ZZ Top (#90); Cold Day in Hell by Gary Moore (#93); Hold on My Heart by Genesis (#94); and It's Not a Love Thing by Geoffrey Williams (#98).

Died on this date
Wilbur Mills, 82. U.S. politician. A member of the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas from 1939-1977, Mr. Mills chaired the House Ways and Means Committee (or, as it’s always referred to in the media, the Powerful House Ways and Means Committee) from 1958-1975. His career was marred by a scandal in 1974 when he was arrested while driving drunk in the company of a stripper who went by the name of Fanne Foxe.

Lee Salk, 65. U.S. psychologist. The younger brother of polio vaccine creator Jonas Salk, Dr. Salk was a child psychologist who was credited with discovering the calming effect on infants of the seound of a heartbeat.

Horse racing
Lil E. Tee, with Pat Day up, won the 118th running of the Kentucky Derby before 132,543 fans at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:03 2/5 seconds. Casual Lies placed second and Dance Floor finished third.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Chicago 2 @ Detroit 1 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Du Liebst Mich Nicht--Sabrina Setlur

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Bailando--Paradisio (2nd week at #1)

On the radio
Morningside, on CBC

This day's broadcast consisted of a concert in Toronto raising over $450,000 for victims of the Red River flood in Manitoba. The performers included Murray McLauchlan--singing his ballad Red River Valley--and Valdy, who composed a new song--As the Waters Fall--for the occasion.

Died on this date
John Eccles, 94. Australian neurophysiologist. Sir John shared the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physioogy or Medicine with Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley "for their discoveries concerning the ionic mechanisms involved in excitation and inhibition in the peripheral and central portions of the nerve cell membrane," i.e., for their work on synapses.

Politics and government
The Labour Party, led by Tony Blair, won a majority of seats in the House of Commons in the British general election, ending 18 years of Conservative party rule. Labour won 418 seats--an increase of 145 from before the election--while the Conservatives, led by Prime Minister John Major, won just 165 seats--a decrease of 178, and their worst showing since 1906. The Liberal Democrats, led by Paddy Ashdown, won 46 seats--an increase of 28, and the best performance by a third party in more than 60 years.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
New York Rangers 0 @ New Jersey 2 (New Jersey led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Anaheim 1 @ Detroit 2 (OT) (Detroit led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Edmonton 1 @ Colorado 5 (Colorado led best-of-seven series 1-0)

10 years ago
2007

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
New Jersey 2 @ Ottawa 3 (Ottawa led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Detroit 3 @ San Jose 2 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Mathieu Schneider's powerplay goal in the 1st overtime period gave the Red Wings their win over the Sharks at HP Pavilion.