August 28, 2017

350 years ago
1667

Died on this date
Jai Singh I, 56. Raja of Amber, 1621-1667. Maharaja Jai Singh acceded to the throne after the death of his great uncle Bhau Singh, and became a successful general, with a military careeer spanning 40 years. He died under mysterious circumstances--perhaps poisoning--and was succeeded by his son Ram Singh I as Raja of Amber (later known as Jaipur).

150 years ago
1867

Americana
The United States took possession of the (at this point unoccupied) Midway Atoll.

Transportation
The first train went over the Mount Cenis railway in the Alps.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Jack Kirby. U.S. author and illustrator. Mr. Kirby, born Jacob Kurtzberg, was a major figure in the history of comic books. He was with Marvel Comics from 1958-1970, co creating such characters as The Fantastic Four, X-Men, and The Incredible Hulk. Mr. Kirby died on February 6, 1994 at the age of 76.

Protest
10 suffragists were arrested as they picketed the White House in an effort to pressure U.S. President Woodrow Wilson to support the proposed “Anthony amendment” to the U.S. Constitution that would guarantee women the right to vote.

Disasters
Fire destroyed much of the downtown of Bellevue, Alberta.

80 years ago
1937

Died on this date
George Prendergast, 83. Australian politician. Mr. Prendergast had a 40-year career in Victoria state politics, and led the Labour Party there from 1904-1926, serving as Premier from July 18-November 18, 1924.

Business
Toyota Motor Company became independent, splitting off from parent company Toyota Industries.

75 years ago
1942

Football
NFL
College All-Star Game @ Soldier Field, Chicago
College All-Stars 0 @ Chicago Bears 21

101,200 fans saw the defending National Football League champion Bears shut out the All-Stars.

70 years ago
1947

On the radio
Mystery in the Air, starring Peter Lorre, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Beyond Good and Evil

At the movies
Lured, directed by Douglas Sirk, and starring George Sanders, Lucille Ball, Charles Coburn, and Boris Karloff, received its premiere screening in New York City.



60 years ago
1957

Died on this date
Luis Cluzeau Mortet, 68. Uruguayan musician and composer. Mr. Mortet was a violinist who performed with Ossodre (SODRE Symphony Orchestra) from 1931-1946 before he had to retire because of a hearing problem. He wrote songs for piano, instrumental works for piano, and symphonic music.

Aviation
Test pilot Michael Randrup set an altitude record of 70,000 feet for manned airplanes in a Canberra bomber over Luton, England.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond (Democrat--South Carolina) began a filibuster to prevent the Senate from voting on Civil Rights Act of 1957; he stopped speaking 24 hours and 18 minutes later, the longest filibuster ever conducted by a single Senator.

Crime
Massachusetts Governor Foster Furcolo signed a resolution of the state legislature reversing the 1692 witchcraft convictions of six women in Salem.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Lola--Los Brincos (3rd week at #1)

Music
The single Gettin' Hungry/Devoted to You by Brian and Mike (Brian Wilson & Mike Love) was released on Brother Records.

Economics and finance
U.K. Prime Minister Harold Wilson took control of Britain's Economic Department, but retained Michael Steward as first Secretary of State for Home Affairs.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Boogie Nights--Heat Wave (4th week at #1)

Diplomacy
Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, Rhodesian guerrilla leaders told U.K. Foreign Secretary David Owen and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young that only "those forces that are fighting for change" should control the process of transferring the government of Rhodesia to black majority rule.

Economics and finance
The Swedish government of Prime Minister Thorbjorn Falldin devalued the krona by 10%, withdrawing it from the European snake of jointly floating currencies.

Soccer
NASL
Soccer Bowl @ Portland, Oregon
(New York) Cosmos 2 Seattle 1

Steve Hunt scored in 19th minute and assisted on Giorgio Chinaglia's game winner in the 78th minute as the Cosmos edged the Sounders before 35,548 fans at Civic Stadium. Tommy Ord scored for Seattle just 4 minutes after Mr. Hunt opened the scoring. It was the final game for Cosmos' legend Pelé. Mr. Hunt was named Man of the Match.



Football
CFL
Calgary (1-6) 19 @ Saskatchewan (4-3) 30

Fred Williams rushed for 85 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first Canadian Football League game to help the Roughriders defeat the Stampeders at Taylor Field in Regina. Calgary defensive back Bob Grupp suffered a career-ending knee injury in just his second CFL game.

Baseball
This blogger and his father were in attendance on a cold night at Foothills Park in Calgary to see the Great Falls Giants beat the Cardinals 16-10 in 11 innings in the final game of the Pioneer League season, Calgary's first in the league. Third baseman Tye Waller received an award as the team's most popular player; he batted .320 in 70 games with 8 home runs and 77 runs batted in, the latter figure tying him with Glenn Goya of the Great Falls Giants for the league lead. The Cardinals finished the season with the PL's top three batters: left fielder Jim Reeves (.376); right fielder Larry Silver (.374); and catcher Dennis Cirbo (.365). The Cardinals finished fourth in the six-team Summer Class A league with a record of 34-36, 10 games behind the pennant-winning Lethbridge Dodgers, who finished at 44-26. The Giants finished second with a record of 43-27, 1 game behind the Dodgers.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Voyage Voyage--Desireless

Died on this date
John Huston, 81. U.S. film director and actor. Mr. Huston won the Academy Award for Best Director for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948). Other notable movies that he directed included The Maltese Falcon (1941); Across the Pacific (1942); Key Largo (1948); The Asphalt Jungle (1950); The African Queen (1951); Moulin Rouge (1952); Beat the Devil (1953); Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957); The Misfits (1961); Fat City (1972); The Man Who Would Be King (1975); Prizzi's Honor (1975); and The Dead (1987). One of his more notable acting roles was in Chinatown (1974).

World events
Mutinous army troops in the Philippines launched an attack that was repulsed about 300 yards from the presidential palace in Manila. President Corazon Aquino’s son was wounded, and three of his bodyguards were killed. Other rebels seized Cebu City and Camp Aguinaldo military base. Colonel Gregorio Honasan, leader of the revolt, said that he was not attempting a military coup, but was acting because the government had lost its “political will” and because Mrs. Aquino had established a personality cult.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (6-3) 39 @ Saskatchewan (2-6-1) 13

Damon Allen started at quarterback for the Eskimos and led the team to a 15-0 lead before leaving with an injury in the 2nd quarter, and rookie Tracy Ham, seeing his first extended playing time in the CFL, did an adequate job replacing him for the rest of the game. Mr. Allen threw his first touchdown pass to Stephen Jones for 31 yards just 1:39 into the game and connected with Rick House for a 25-yard TD later in the 1st quarter. Tom Richards did a brilliant job of straddling the sideline as he returned a punt 88 yards for an Edmonton touchdown in the 2nd quarter, giving the Eskimos a 25-3 halftime lead. Assistant coach John Hufnagel, who had come out of retirement to play quarterback for the Roughriders, completed 20 of 29 passes for 224 passes and a 15-yard touchdown to Ray Elgaard in the 3rd quarter before suffering a career-ending Achilles tendon injury. Mr. Ham threw his first CFL touchdown pass to Rick House from 10 yards in the 3rd quarter and then scored his first CFL touchdown on a 1-yard rush with 2:31 remaining in the game. Mr. Ham completed 11 of 23 passes for 170 yards and rushed 5 times for 18. For Mr. House, it was his first action after missing 7 games with a shoulder separation. Attendance at Taylor Field in Regina was 24,000.

Baseball
Mike Schmidt hit his 522nd career major league home run, passing Ted Williams and Willie McCovey on the career list, to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 8-1 before 12,711 fans at Jack Murphy-San Diego Stadium.

Ryne Sandberg singled home Bob Dernier with 2 out in the top of the 10th inning to break a 5-5 tie as the Chicago Cubs edged the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 before 28,223 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

Pinch hitter Tommy Herr singled home Ozzie Smith with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves before 43,524 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis.

Dwight Gooden pitched a 4-hitter to improve his 1987 record to 12-4 and the New York Mets scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning to insure a 4-0 win over the San Francisco Giants before 36,507 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

With 2 out and nobody on base in the top of the 12th inning, Tom Foley reached second base on a throwing error by third baseman Tracy Woodson, Herm Winningham was intentionally walked, and scored on a single by Mike Fitzgerald to break a 1-1 tie as the Montreal Expos edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 before 30,917 fans at Dodger Stadium.

Alvin Davis hit a grand slam in the 6th inning and Mickey Brantley drove in 4 runs to help the Seattle Mariners beat the New York Yankees 10-4 before 22,095 fans at Yankee Stadium.

Pinch hitter Fred Lynn hit a solo home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Baltimore Orioles a 6-5 win over the California Angels before 20,403 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Alan Wiggins made an out as a pinch hitter for Baltimore designated hitter Jim Dwyer in the 7th inning and was on deck when the game ended; it was the 631st and last game of Mr. Wiggins' 7-year major league career.

Chris Bosio pitched a 2-hitter and Greg Brock doubled home Robin Yount with the game's only run in the bottom of the 6th inning as the Milwaukee Brewers edged the Minnesota Twins 1-0 before 22,461 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Losing pitcher Les Straker allowed 6 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): It's My Life--Dr. Alban (5th week at #1)

War
Canadian Defence Minister Marcel Masse said that Canada was prepared to send 750 troops to Somalia to help relieve famine and civil war. The Department of National Defence sent the destroyer HMCS Gatineau to monitor the United Nations embargo against Yugoslavia, and moved to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization standing force in the Mediterranean Sea.

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, the provincial premiers, and aboriginal leaders finished negotiating the Charlottetown Accord after a five-day debate. Québec was to get 25% of House of Commons seats; a veto over French language and culture; and approval of three Supreme Court of Canada judges. The provinces were to have the right to veto future changes in national institutions; get full control of forestry, mining, tourism, recreation, housing, culture, and also urban affairs; could opt out of new national cost-sharing programs, and be compensated. The provinces agreed in principle to get rid of interprovincial trade barriers. The Accord enshrined a native right to self-government in the Constitution, with five years to define the concept before courts got involved; natives were to be able to make native laws consistent with federal and provincial laws and peace, order, and good government. The Accord was to let territories become provinces, with existing provinces to approve terms and representation. The Senate was to be elected and equal; Québec and Ontario were to get 18 more House of Commons seats each; the new Senate was to be cut to 62 seats--6 from each province, 1 from each territory; the proposed new Senate could veto legislation on natural resources taxation and government appointments; Québec senators in the proposed new Senate could veto legislation on French language and culture. The Accord was submitted to a national referendum on October 26, 1992.

Football
CFL
Calgary (6-2) 45 @ Edmonton (6-2) 38 (OT)

Quarterback Doug Flutie rushed 13 times for 141 yards and a touchdown and completed touchdown passes to Allen Pitts and PeeWee Smith as the Stampeders beat the Eskimos before 31,812 fans on a rainy night at Commonwealth Stadium. Andy McVey scored the other Calgary touchdown on a 4-yard rush with 19 seconds remaining in regulation time, set up by a terrible call against Edmonton safety Dan Murphy, who hit Mr. Flutie, who was carrying the ball upfield, in bounds, but was penalized for unnecessary roughness. Mr. Flutie’s touchdown pass to Mr. Smith covered 7 yards and came with just 5 seconds left in the 1st overtime period; it was the only scoring in overtime. Mark McLoughlin converted all the Calgary touchdowns and added 5 field goals and a single. Edmonton quarterback Tracy Ham threw 2 touchdown passes to Craig Ellis, while defensive end Leroy Blugh returned a Calgary fumble 2 yards for a touchdown. Blake Marshall rushed 3 yards for the other Eskimo touchdown, which was followed by a 2-point convert on a pass from Mr. Ham to Jim Sandusky, giving the Eskimos a 38-31 lead with 1:44 remaining in regulation time. Edmonton running back Blake Ezor didn’t carry the ball once in his fifth and last CFL game.



Baseball
Kevin Seitzer and Scott Fletcher each had 5 hits to help the Milwaukee Brewers set an American League record for a single game with 31 hits—26 of them singles—in a 22-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays before 50,408 fans at SkyDome in Toronto. The 31 hits tied a major league record set by the New York Giants against the Cincinnati Reds on June 9, 1901.

Pinch hitter Lenny Webster doubled home Shane Mack with 1 out in the bottom of the 14th inning to give the Minnesota Twins a 4-3 win over the New York Yankees before 29,361 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.

Billy Hatcher hit 4 singles in 5 at bats to help the Boston Red Sox defeat the California Angels 7-1 before 29,872 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Boston first baseman Jack Clark struck out 3 times in as many at bats, drew a base on balls, and made 6 putouts, an assist, and an error in the 1,994th and last game of his 18-year major league career.

Dennis Eckersley struck out Brook Jacoby with 2 out and runners on first and third bases to end the game as the Oakland Athletics held on to defeat the Cleveland Indians 7-6 before 30,422 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Oakland designated hitter Harold Baines batted 2 for 3 with a home run, base on balls, 2 runs, and 3 runs batted in.

Jeff Kent, playing his second game after being acquired in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, hit a single, double, and triple, scoring 2 runs and driving in 3, to help the New York Mets rout the Cincinnati Reds 12-1 and complete a sweep of their twi-night doubleheader before 20,343 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Mr. Kent batted 0 for 4 in the first game, which the Mets won 4-3.

Mark Clark, Todd Worrell, and Lee Smith combined on a 3-hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals as they edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 before 28,254 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. The only run came in the 1st inning when Andres Galarraga hit a sacrifice fly to score Bernard Gilkey. Losing pitcher Bob Ojeda allowed just 4 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings.

Gary Sheffield, Darrin Jackson, and Jerald Clark each drove in 3 runs to help the San Diego Padres beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-6 before 15,916 fans at Jack Murphy-San Diego Stadium. Messrs. Sheffield and Jackson hit home runs for San Diego, as did Fred McGriff. Gary Redus and Barry Bonds homered for the Pirates.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112 (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): The Age of Love--Scooter (2nd week at #1)

At the movies
Regeneration, directed by Gillies MacKinnon and starring Jonathan Pryce, James Wilby, and Jonny Lee Miller, received its premiere screening at the Venice Film Festival.

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Arthur Jones, 80. U.S. inventor and businessman. Mr. Jones, a pioneer in physical fitness training, invented Nautilus exercise equipment and the exercise equipment firms Nautilus, Inc. and MedX, Inc.

Miyoshi Umeki, 78. Japanese-born U.S. actress and singer. Miss Umeki had a recording career in Japan before she moved to the United States in 1955 and won the Academy Award for her supporting performance in Sayonara (1957). She starred in the stage (1958) and film (1961) versions of the musical Flower Drum Song, and played Mrs. Livingston, the housekeeper, in the television comedy series The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969-1972).