August 31, 2017

Married on this date
Happy Anniversary, Lois and Lee Morrow!

200 years ago
1817

Died on this date
John Duckworth, 69. U.K. military officer and politician. Sir John was an admiral in the Royal Navy, serving in the Seven Years' War, the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He was Governor of Newfoundland from 1810-1812.

150 years ago
1867

Died on this date
Charles Baudelaire, 46. French poet. Mr. Baudelaire was associated with the Decadent movement; six of the poems in his most famous book, Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil) (1857), were banned on moral grounds because of their subject matter. He was a heavy user of laudanum and opium, and died a year after suffering a paralytic stroke.

130 years ago
1887

Baseball
The New York Metropolitans became the first major league team to use 5 pitchers in a game when they were beaten 25-11 by the Louisville Colonels in an American Association game at Eclipse Park in Louisville.

120 years ago
1897

World events
The first Zionist Congress, with 208 delegates and 26 press correspondents, concluded at the concert hall of the Stadtcasino Basel in Basel, Switzerland. It was convened by Theodor Herzl, founder of the modern Zionist movement, and adopted a program aimed at establishing a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine.

Technology
Thomas Edison was granted a patent for the Kinetoscope, a precursor to the movie projector.

110 years ago
1907

Defense
Russian Imperial Foreign Minister Count Alexander Izvolsky and U.K. Ambassador to Russia Sir Arthur Nicolson signed the Anglo-Russian Convention in St. Petersburg, which resulted in the Triple Entente alliance.

80 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Gene Connell, 31. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Connell was a catcher who played 6 games with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1931, batting .250 (3 for 12) with no home runs or runs batted in. He was killed in a car accident.

Baseball
Rudy York hit 2 home runs and 2 singles and drove in 7 runs to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 12-3 win over the Washington Nationals at Navin Field in Detroit. Mr. York's homers were his 17th and 18th of the month, breaking a record for a single month set by Babe Ruth in September 1927.

Lou Gehrig hit a grand slam in the top of the 5th inning to give the New York Yankees the lead as they overcame a 3-0 deficit and beat the Cleveland Indians 7-3 at League Park in Cleveland. Bump Hadley pitched an 8-hit complete game victory.

Jimmy Dykes singled home Luke Appling and scored on a single by Luke Sewell as the Chicago White Sox scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Boston Red Sox 7-6 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The Red Sox had taken a 6-5 lead in the top of the inning on a 2-run home run by Jimmie Foxx.

Chief Hogsett pitched an 8-hit complete game to win the pitchers' duel over Bud Thomas as the St. Louis Browns edged the Philadelphia Athletics 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Athletics scored 5 runs in the top of the 3rd inning and won the second game 7-3, with Eddie Smith pitching a 7-hit complete game victory.

Gene Moore drove in 3 runs with a double and an outfield fly and Vince DiMaggio hit a 2-run home run to help the Boston Bees defeat the Cincinnati Reds 7-2 at National League Park in Boston, with Danny MacFayden pitching a 3-hit complete game victory.

Terry Moore had 4 hits, Joe Medwick hit a home run and 2 doubles, and Johnny Mize also homered to help the St. Louis Cardinals defeat the New York Giants 8-1 before 8,191 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York, with Bob Weiland pitching a 9-hit complete game victory.

Bucky Walters pitched a 5-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Ed Brandt as the Philadelphia Phillies shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 before 2,500 fans at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia in a game that was played in 1 hour 26 minutes.

Augie Galan hit a double and triple and scored 2 runs to help the Chicago Cubs defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers 4-2 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, as Tex Carleton won the pitchers' duel over Fred Frankhouse.

75 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): (There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover--Vera Lynn; Jean Cerchi (2nd month at #1)

War
German forces in Egypt commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel pushed British forces back on their southern flank near Quaret el Himeimat and near the edge of Quattara Depression. German forces drove to within 15 1/2 miles of Stalingrad. Australian troops were reported to be mopping up the remainder of the Japanese force at Milne Bay, New Guinea. British troops left Addis Ababa in accordance with a military convention signed with Ethiopia.

Defense
The Brazilian government ordered the mobilization of the country's resources, and signed a supplementary decree granting Brazilians the right to cancel contracts with German, Italian, and Japanese firms.

Economics and finance
Canadian Finance Minister J.L. Ilsley announced a victory design on the new 5¢ copper-zinc alloy (Tombac) coin, which was 12-sided to help distinguish it from the penny and quarter. The change in metal was to preserve nickel supplies for war uses.

German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler opened the fourth Winter Help Campaign, calling for sacrifices by the German people since German soldiers had suffered great privations.

Labour
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced a new regulation restricting the movement and dismissal of Canadian workers.

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): They Say it's Wonderful--Bing Crosby; Perry Como (2nd month at #1)

Americana
The Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, built in 1763 and the oldest Jewish house of worship in the United States, was dedicated as a national religious shrine.

Football
IRFU-WIFU
Pre-season
Saskatchewan (0-3) 0 @ Ottawa (2-0) 54
Toronto (1-0) 16 @ Winnipeg (0-1) 9

Tony Golab scored 2 touchdowns and Howie Turner, Johnny Green, Bert Haigh, Ace Powell, Stan Molinski, Pete Finlay, and Ken Charlton scored 1 each as the Rough Riders routed the Roughriders before 5,000 fans at Lansdowne Park.

Joe Krol scored a touchdown, convert, field goal, and 2 singles to lead the Argonauts over the Blue Bombers before a capacity crowd of 6,500 fans at Osborne Stadium. Royal Copeland rushed 30 yards n a fake kick for the other Toronto touchdown. Johnny Reagan scored the Winnipeg touchdown on a 3-man passing play, and Mel Wilson kicked a 40-yard field goal on the last play of the game for Winnipeg.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation)--Marty Robbins (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Banana Boat Song--Harry Belafonte (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Diana--Paul Anka

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Tammy--Debbie Reynolds (3rd week at #1)
2 (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear--Elvis Presley
3 Diana--Paul Anka
4 It's Not for Me to Say--Johnny Mathis
5 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter--Billy Williams
6 Rainbow--Russ Hamilton
7 Bye Bye Love--The Everly Brothers
8 That'll Be the Day--The Crickets
9 White Silver Sands--Don Rondo
10 Send for Me--Nat "King" Cole

Singles entering the chart were Forgotten Dreams, with versions by Leroy Anderson and his "Pops" Concert Orchestra, and Cyril Stapleton and his Orchestra (#48); Till by Percy Faith and his Orchestra (#51); Humpty Dumpty Heart by LaVern Baker (#53); The Eyes of God by the Four Lads (#54); Bermuda Shorts by the Delroys (#57); Black Slacks by Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones (#59); and Fourteen Karat Gold by Don Cherry (#60).

Music
Elvis Presley performed at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was his third and last concert appearance in Canada, and his last outside the United States.



Asiatica
The Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia) gained its independence from the United Kingdom.

Football
IRFU
Ottawa (2-1) 21 @ Montreal (2-1) 22

WIFU
Saskatchewan (0-4) 22 @ Calgary (4-0) 26

ORFU
London (1-0) 43 @ Toronto (0-2) 0

Mr. Koska scored 2 touchdowns and Ron King, Don Wright, Dave MacAuley, and John Serniak scored 1 each for the Lords as they shut out Balmy Beach. Mr. Wright kicked 3 converts, Ellis Kissinger added 2, and Tom Sanregret kicked another, while Mr. Serniak added a single.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Black Velvet Band--Johnny Kelly (6th week at #1)

Diplomacy
Indonesia and Malaysia established relations, which had been broken during the Indonesian dictatorship of President Sukarno.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (1-5) 22 @ Winnipeg (2-3) 13

Continental League
Orlando 28 @ Toronto (1-1) 14

Don Jonas completed 10 of 19 passes for 209 yards in the 1st half and touchdown passes of 4 yards to Sam Weir, 80 yards to John Sykes, and 39 yards to Bill Johnson, while handing off to Pat Batten for a 1-yard touchdown as the Panthers took a 28-0 halftime lead and coasted to victory over the Rifles before 3,842 fans at Varsity Stadium. Mr. Jonas kicked the first 3 Orlando converts and holder Darrell Cox ran for the final convert. Steve Jones rushed for the first Toronto touchdown on the first play of the 4th quarter and passed 59 yards to Pete Manning for the final TD with 3:17 remaining in the game. Clem Turner converted both touchdowns. Mr. Jones rushed for 53 yards on 18 carries. Eagle Day and Tom Wilkinson shared the quarterbacking duties for the Rifles.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Way Down--Elvis Presley

At the movies
You Light Up My Life, starring Didi Conn and Joe Silver, opened in theatres.

Died on this date
Sid Atkinson, 76. S.A. athlete. Mr. Atkinson was a hurdler and long jumpe who won a silver medal in the men's 110-metre hurdles at the 1924 Summer Olympic Games in Paris and a gold medal in the same event at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam.

Politics and government
Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith led his Rhodesian Front to an overwhelming victory in the country's general election, winning all 50 seats in the House of Assembly and taking 85.4% of the vote.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (6-2) 27 @ Ottawa (2-5) 24

Jerry Tagge completed a touchdown pass to Jim Young on the last play of the game to give the Lions their win over the Rough Riders in an entertaining game at Lansdowne Park.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): The Loco-Motion--Kylie Minogue (4th week at #1)

On television today
The téléroman (soap opera) La Maison Deschênes began running in Quebec on Télévision Quatre-Saisons.

Died on this date
Dick Young, 69. U.S. sportswriter. Mr. Young joined the New York Daily News as a messenger in 1937 and began writing for the paper five years later. Mainly working the baseball and boxing beats, Mr. Young was credited with being the first sportswriter to go into the locker room in search of information. His column, titled Young Ideas, ran in his paper and in The Sporting News, which is where this blogger regularly read it. Mr. Young jumped to the New York Post in 1982, where he worked until his death. He was inducted into the writers' wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978.

Politics and government
The draft of a new constitution for South Korea was completed. The president, who would serve a five-year term, would be chosen in a direct popular election. He could not dissolve the National Assembly, and could declare martial law only with difficulty. The military would be kept neutral in politics, and some new legal rights, including habeas corpus, would be recognized.

Disasters
Thai Airways Flight 365, a Boeing 737-2P5, crashed into the Andaman Sea near Ko Phuket, Thailand, killing all 83 aboard.

At least 50 miners were killed near Welkom, South Africa were killed when an explosion in a gold mine caused an elevator to fall more than 4,000 feet down a shaft.

Baseball
The Toronto Blue Jays traded minor league player Oswaldo Peraza and a player to be named later to the Baltimore Orioles for veteran pitcher Mike Flanagan. To make room for Mr. Flanagan, the Blue Jays released 48-year-old pitcher Phil Niekro, who had pitched in just 3 games for the Blue Jays after being acquired from the Cleveland Indians. Mr. Flanagan, in his 13th season with Baltimore, was 3-6 with an earned run average of 4.94 in 16 games in 1987. Mr. Niekro was 0-2 with an ERA of 8.25 with Toronto.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): The Magic Friend--2 Unlimited

Scandal
The Brazilian Congress began impeachment proceedings against President Fernando Collor de Mello. Mr. de Mello, who had been elected on an anti-corruption campaign, had been found by a Congressional investigation of being aware of an influence-peddling racket and doing nothing about it.

Business
Victoria, British Columbia-based Westar Mining Limited was granted protection under the Company Creditors Arrangement Act.

Baseball
The Oakland Athletics traded outfielder Jose Canseco to the Texas Rangers for outfielder Ruben Sierra and pitchers Jeff Russell and Bobby Witt. Mr. Canseco, in his eighth season with Oakland, was batting .246 with 22 home runs and 72 runs batted in in 97 games in 1992. Mr. Sierra was batting .278 with 14 homers and 70 RBIs in 124 games with Texas in 1992. Mr. Russell was 2-3 with an earned run average of 1.91 and 28 saves in 51 games with Texas in 1992, while Mr. Witt was 9-13 with a 4.46 ERA in 25 games.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (5th week at #1)

#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Men in Black--Will Smith (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: I'll Be Missing You--Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Diana, Princess of Wales, 36. U.K. Royal Family member. Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles on July 19, 1981. The couple had sons William and Harry before divorcing on August 28, 1996. Princess Diana was known for her charity work and participation in the campaign to ban land mines. She was dating Egyptian film producer Dodi Fayed, 42, and the two were in the back seat of a limousine when it crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris while attempting to escape paparazzi (see also here). The driver, Henri Paul, 41, who was drunk, was also killed. The only survivor was Trevor Rees-Jones, Princess Diana's bodyguard.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (2-8) 43 @ Saskatchewan (4-6) 12

10 years ago
2007

Football
CFL
Montreal (5-4) 14 @ British Columbia (6-2-1) 46

Joe Smith rushed for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns and the Lions rushed for a total of 275 yards as they beat the Alouettes before 32,115 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.

CIS
Manitoba (1-0) 36 @ Regina (0-1) 13
Alberta (0-1) 14 @ Saskatchewan (1-0) 45