June 1, 2017

225 years ago
1792

Americana
Kentucky was admitted to the Union as the 15th state.

150 years ago
1867

Politics and government
Charles Stanley, Lord Monck was commissioned first Governor General of the Dominion of Canada, as the British North America Act took effect, with his service to begin on July 1, 1867.

130 years ago
1887

Born on this date
Harry Gardner. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Gardner played with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1911-1912), compiling a 1-1 record with an earned run average of 4.46 in 14 games, batting .214 with no home runs or RBIs. He played over 408 games in 15 seasons in the minor leagues (1908-1924), winning at least 159 and losing at least 141. Mr. Gardner died on August 2, 1961 at the age of 74.

110 years ago
1907

Born on this date
Frank Whittle. U.K. military engineer. Sir Frank was an Air Commodore with the Royal Air Force who was credited with inventing the turbojet engine. He died on August 9, 1996 at the age of 89.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Vince Lloyd. U.S. sportscaster. Vince Lloyd Skaff broadcast Chicago Cubs' games on radio and television for more than 30 years, beginning in the 1950s. He became the first radio voice of the Chicago Bulls in 1966-67, and also called games of the Chicago Bears, Chicago Fire, and Big Ten college football, as well as professional wrestling. Mr. Lloyd died of stomach cancer on July 3, 2003 at the age of 86.

William Standish Knowles. U.S. chemist. Dr. Knowles shared half of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Ryōji Noyori "for their work on chirally catalysed hydrogenation reactions." Dr. Knowles died on June 13, 2012, 12 days after his 95th birthday.

90 years ago
1927

Died on this date
Lizzie Borden, 66. U.S. murder suspect. Miss Borden was acquitted of the 1892 ax murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts, but was still widely believed to be guilty. She and her sister Emma lived together until Emma moved out in 1905. Lizzie Borden died of pneumonia; Emma Borden died just nine days later at the age of 76.

J. B. Bury, 65. U.K. historian. Professor Bury was best known for his works on the later Roman Empire.

Diplomacy
William Phillips, the first U.S. Ambassador to Canada, arrived in Ottawa to set up the U.S. legation.

Transportation
The Peace Bridge between Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York opened for traffic, to be officially dedicated on August 7, 1927.

Defense
The First Graving Dock in Esquimalt Harbour, British Columbia closed. It was replaced by the larger "Esquimalt Graving Dock," completed in 1924 and officially opened on July 1, 1927.

Law
All automobile drivers in Ontario were now required to have a driver's license.

Society
Provincial government liquor stores in Ontario started selling liquor to adults with $2 permits, as prohibition ended following repeal of the Ontario Temperance Act; the province had been dry since 1921.

80 years ago
1937

Politics and government
The Liberal government of T.D. Pattullo was re-elected in the British Columbia provincial election, taking 31 of 48 seats in the Legislative Assembly despite capturing only 37.34% of the popular vote. The Conservative Party, led by F.P. Patterson, won 8 seats; the leaderless Co-operative Commonwealth Federation won 7 seats; Labour Party candidate T.A. Uphill was elected in Fernie; and independent candidate R.W. Bruhn was elected in Salmon Arm.

Baseball
The St. Louis Browns sold pitcher Earl Caldwell to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League. Mr. Caldwell was 0-0 with a 6.83 earned run average in 9 games with the Browns in 1937.

“Bullfrog Bill” Dietrich pitched a no-hitter as the Chicago White Sox blanked the St. Louis Browns 8-0 at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

The Cleveland Indians scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to defeat the Detroit Tigers 4-3 at League Park in Cleveland. Detroit first baseman Hank Greenberg hit his 11th home run of the season.

75 years ago
1942

War
Mexican President Manuel Avila Camacho signed a declaration of war, recognizing that a state of war had existed between Mexico and Germany, Italy, and Japan since May 22. British troops swept northwest of Bir Hacheim and occupied Segnali, an Axis military base. U.S. Army Lieutenant General Hap Arnold said in London that U.S. fliers and planes would soon join the U.K. Royal Air Force in attacks upon the Axis "which they cannot meet, defeat or survive." 27 more Czechs in Prague were executed in Prague and Brunn by Nazi authorities, bringing the total to 108 for the May 27 assassination attempt on Deputy Protector of Bohemia and Moravia Reinhard Heydrich. Japanese troops in Kwangtung Province, China advanced northward from Tsengshing and Sinkai.

Diplomacy
The Swedish-American liner SS Drottningholm arrived in Jersey City, New Jersey from Lisbon with 908 passengers, including Admiral William Leahy, U.S. Ambassador to France, and U.S. and Latin American diplomats exchanged for Axis officials.

Politics and government
Dr. Maynard Kruger was elected national chairman of the American Socialist Party to succeed Norman Thomas, who declined to serve again.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court voted to invalidate a 1935 Oklahoma law providing for sterilization of criminals with three felony convictions.

Business
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that CBS and NBC were entitled to a judicial review of the Federal Communications Commission's regulations, issued in 1941, against chains of stations.

Baseball
The Boston Red Sox sold first baseman Jimmie Foxx to the Chicago Cubs. Mr. Foxx, who was in his seventh season with the Red Sox, was batting .270 with 5 home runs and 14 runs batted in in 30 games with Boston in 1942, giving him 524 homers in his 18-year major league career, all of which had been spent in the American League prior to the deal with Chicago.

70 years ago
1947

Diplomacy
Newly-installed Hungarian Prime Minister Lajos Dinnyes said that his government would seek "peaceful cooperation...especially with our great neighbour, the Soviet Union."

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman's civilian Advisory Committee on Universal Training issued a report urging immediate unification of the armed forces and reintroduction of conscription, claiming that the alternative was "extermination" of the United States in a surprise attack.

Labour
U.K. Labour Secretary George Isaacs began a drive to bring more women into the industrial work force for the duration of the country's economic crisis.

Disasters
A tornado struck a heavily-settled farming district near Pine Bluff, Arkansas, killing 35 people.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Marianne--Terry Gilkyson and the Easy Riders (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Cindy, Oh Cindy--Margot Eskens (10th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Butterfly--Andy Williams (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 All Shook Up--Elvis Presley (8th week at #1)
2 Love Letters in the Sand--Pat Boone
3 Little Darlin'--The Diamonds
4 So Rare--Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra
5 A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation)--Marty Robbins
6 Dark Moon--Gale Storm
--Bonnie Guitar
7 School Day--Chuck Berry
8 Come Go with Me--The Dell-Vikings
9 Round and Round--Perry Como
10 Gone--Ferlin Husky

Singles entering the chart were My Dream by the Platters (#38); Can't Wait for Summer by Steve Lawrence (#58); and Shangri-La by the Four Coins (#60).

Defense
Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba forbade the movement of any French military force through Tunisia, except for supply purposes, without Tunisian government permission.

Transportation
Trans Canada Air Lines flew its first non-stop flight from Toronto to Vancouver, skipping the Winnipeg stopover. It took 8 hours, 32 minutes on a Super Constellation.

Track and field
Don Bowden, a junior at the University of Southern California, set an American record for the men's 1-mile run of 3 minutes 58.7 seconds at the Pacific Amateur Athletic Union meet in Stockton, California.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Boston Burglar--Johnny McEvoy (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Silence is Golden--The Tremeloes (3rd week at #1)

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I Don't Want to Talk About It/The First Cut is the Deepest--Rod Stewart (2nd week at #1)

Radio
CJAY began broadcasting in Calgary at 92.5 on the FM dial.

Baseball
The Chicago White Sox released pitcher Jim Bouton. Mr. Bouton, who had last pitched in the major leagues in 1970, was 0-6 with an earned run average of 5.26 in 10 games with the White Sox' farm team at Knoxville in the AA Southern League. He subsequently joined the independent Portland Beavers of the Class A Northwest League.

John Mayberry hit 3 home runs and drove in 5 runs, while Al Cowens batted 5 for 5 with a triple, 2 runs, and 1 RBI to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 11-3 before 33,004 fans at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto.

Rod Carew singled home Jerry Terrell and Butch Wynegar with the bases loaded and 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to climax a 3-run rally as the Minnesota Twins edged the New York Yankees 4-3 before 23,684 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington.



Carl Yastrzemski hit solo home runs in the 6th and 7th innings to help the Boston Red Sox defeat the Texas Rangers 7-5 before 11,731 fans at Arlington Stadium. Mike Paxton pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of starting pitcher Luis Tiant to get his first major league win.

John Stearns' grand slam climaxed a 5-run 5th inning as the New York Mets beat the Montreal Expos 6-4 before 13,397 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal in a game that was televised by Radio-Canada. New York left fielder Dave Kingman hit a fair ball off a speaker, and since no one had ever hit a ball there before, there was some uncertainty as to whether the ball was in play (if I recall correctly, and my memory of the play is hazy), it was ruled out of play.

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored 3 unearned runs with 2 out in the top of the 1st inning and John Candelaria pitched a 2-hit shutout to improve his record for the season to 7-1 as the Pirates blanked the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 before 28,234 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia in a game that was called because of rain after 7 1/2 innings.

Steve Ontiveros singled home Jerry Morales with 1 out in the top of the 13th inning to break a 3-3 tie as the Chicago Cubs edged the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 before 21,383 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Slice of Heaven--Dave Dobbyn with Herbs (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Errol Barrow, 67. Premier of Barbados, 1961-1966; Prime Minister of Barbados, 1966-1976, 1986-1987. Mr. Barrow was an aviator with the U.K. Royal Air Force during World War II, and was first elected to the Barbadian Parliament in 1951 as a member of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). Dissatisfied with the BLP's advocacy of incremental independence for Barbados, Mr. Barrow and several colleagues founded the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in 1955. He led the DLP to victory in the 1961 general election, and served as Premier until Barbados obtained her independence from Britain in 1966. Mr. Barrow then served as Barbados' first Prime Minister, advocating Caribbean regional integration and opposing outside interference in Caribbean affairs. The DLP was defeated in the 1976 general election, but returned to power 10 years later. Mr. Barrow collapsed and died at his home; he was succeeded as Prime Minister by Erskine Sandiford.

Rashid Karami, 65. Prime Minister of Lebanon, 1955-1956; 1958-1960; 1961-1964; 1965-1966; 1966-1968; 1969-1970; 1975-1976; 1984-1987. Mr. Karami, an independent politician, had a political career of more than 30 years, and was Lebanon's Prime Minister 10 times. He advocated increased political power for the country's Muslim population, and was known as a man that Lebanon's President could call on in a crisis, despite political differences. He was killed and the country’s interior minister and several other people were injured when a bomb exploded in his helicopter during a flight to Beirut from his home town of Tripoli. It was believed that the bomb had been placed in his briefcase or under his seat. The co-pilot made an emergency landing. Mr. Karami had submitted his resignation on May 4, but President Amin Gemayel had not yet formally accepted it.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): You Won't See Me Cry--Wilson Phillips (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
Yugoslavian Ambassador to Canada Goran Kapetanovic, a Bosnian Serb, resigned to protest Serbian violence. Canada supported United Nations sanctions against Serbia.

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney named three non-politicians to the Privy Council: hockey legend Maurice "Rocket" Richard; newspaper tycoon Conrad Black; and Nobel Prize-winning scientist John Polanyi. The break with tradition was done to honour Canada's 125th birthday.

Environment
The European Community agreed to suspend fishing off Newfoundland's Grand Banks to help preserve dwindling stocks; the EU suggested that unusually cold and salty water were to blame, not overfishing.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average closed at a new high of 3,413.21.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Pittsburgh 6 @ Chicago 5 (Pittsburgh won best-of-seven series 4-0)

Mario Lemieux scored a goal and 2 assists and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player as he led the Penguins to their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship, edging the Blackhawks at Chicago Stadium.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): MMMBop--Hanson

#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): If Tomorrow Never Comes--Joose

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Blond--Rainhard Fendrich (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: I Believe I Can Fly--R. Kelly (6th week at #1)

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Utah 82 @ Chicago 84 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Michael Jordan's 20-foot field goal at the final buzzer gave the Bulls their win over the Jazz before 24,544 fans at United Center. Utah forward Karl Malone missed 2 free throws with 9.2 seconds left, and Mr. Jordan grabbed the rebound.

10 years ago
2007

Law
Warren Winkler of the Ontario Superior Court was appointed Chief Justice of Ontario.