September 23, 2017

375 years ago
1642

Academia
Harvard College held its first commencement exercises.

100 years ago
1917

Died on this date
Werner Voss, 20. German military aviator. Leutnant Voss served in the Luftstreitkräfte during World War I, and was credited with 48 combat victories from 1916 until his death while fighting alone against British aces.

80 years ago
1937

Baseball
The New York Yankees lost 9-5 to the St. Louis Browns at Yankee Stadium, but clinched the American League pennant for the second straight year when the Detroit Tigers lost 4-3 to the Boston Red Sox before 6,500 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The Tigers scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning to take a 3-1 lead, but Ben Chapman hit a 3-run home run off Eldon Auker with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th to win the game for the Red Sox, giving Jim Henry his first win of the season and the sixth and last of his major league career. Johnny Peacock made his major league debut behind the plate for Boston, batting 0 for 3 and making 6 putouts and 2 assists.

John Whitehead pitched a 7-hitter and drove in the game's only run on a fielder's choice in the 2nd inning as the Chicago White Sox edged the Philadelphia Athletics 1-0 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Mr. Whitehead improved his record for the season to 10-8, while Buck Ross, who allowed 6 hits and 1 earned run in 8 innings, fell to 4-10.

George Case singled and scored in the 2nd inning and then tripled home John Stone in the 6th to break a 2-2 tie as the Washington Nationals edged the Cleveland Indians 3-2 at Griffith Stadium in Washington. Joe Krakauskas pitched a 9-hit complete game victory to improve his record for the season to 3-1, winning the pitchers' duel over Willis Hudlin, who fell to 12-11.

Jo-Jo Moore batted 5 for 6 with 2 doubles and 2 runs to help the New York Giants defeat the Chicago Cubs 8-7 before 29,414 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago, extending the Giants' lead over the Cubs to 3 1/2 games in the National League pennant race. New York ace Carl Hubbell entered the game with 2 out in the 4th inning to relieve starter Hal Schumacher and allowed 3 hits and 3 runs--all earned--in 2 innings, but was credited with the win to improve his 1937 record to 21-8.

Jim Turner pitched a 9-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Cy Blanton as the Boston Bees edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 before 1,031 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Mr. Turner improved his record for the season to 19-10, while Mr. Blanton, who allowed 8 hits in 8 innings, fell to 14-12.

The Philadelphia Phillies scored 5 runs in the last 2 innings to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 9-5 before just 283 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Hugh "Losing Pitcher" Mulcahy was actually the winner in this game, allowing 12 hits and 4 earned runs in improving his 1937 record to 8-17.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to break a 4-4 tie as they beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 8-4 before just 915 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Ben Cantwell, who relieved losing pitcher Max Butcher in the 7th, allowed 1 hit in 2/3 inning in the 340th and last game of his 11-year major league career.

75 years ago
1942

War
Russian forces made further progress on the northwest sector of Stalingrad, having been reinforced by troops that had crossed the Volga River. British troops occupied the Madagascar capital of Tananarive and established a military government. The Matanikau action on Guadalcanal began as U.S. Marines attacked Japanese units along the Matanikau River.

Diplomacy
U.S. envoy Wendell Willkie conferred with U.S.S.R. dictator Josef Stalin and Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov for two hours in Moscow.

Defense
Henry J. Kaiser's Oregon Shipbuilding Company launched the 10,500-ton Liberty ship Joseph N.Teal at Portland, 10 days after her keel was laid.

Politics and government
The Romanian government issued a decree centralizing all power in Chief of State Marshal Ion Antonescu.

70 years ago
1947

Died on this date
Nikola Petkov, 54. Bulgarian politician. Mr. Petkov was one of the leaders of the Bǎlgarski Zemedelski Naroden Sǎjuz (Bulgarian Agrarian National Union) (BZNS) in the 1930s and '40s. He was one of the founders of the Fatherland Front in 1943, and served as minister withut portfolio in the FF government of 1944-1945. After the U.S.S.R. established control over Bulgaria, Mr. Petkov and four others were convicted of espionage in a show trial, and Mr. Petkov was hanged in Sofia.

Defense
The U.S. aid mission in Greece announced a $9-million grant to increase the size of the Greek Army.

Politics and government
Hungarian Prime Minister Lajos Dinnyes announced the formation of a new cabinet, with five posts (including defense and finance) going to Communists.

Dutch Prime Minister Louis Beel announced plans for an interim government preparatory to the creation of a United States of Indonesia.

Abominations
Argentine President Juan Peron signed a statute giving women the right to vote.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): That'll Be the Day--The Crickets (Best Seller--1st week at #1); Honeycomb--Jimmie Rodgers (Disc Jockey--1st week at #1); Tammy--Debbie Reynolds (Top 100--4th week at #1)

At the movies
The Three Faces of Eve, written, produced, and directed by Nunnally Johnson and starring Joanne Woodward, David Wayne, and Lee J. Cobb, opened in theatres.



Diplomacy
Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time.

Defense
El Tayeb el-Sahbani, the new Tunisian Ambassador to Egypt, disclosed that Egyptian President Gamal Nasser had offered Tunisia military equipment, and that a Tunisian military mission would soon visit Cairo to negotiate the arms deliveries.

Politics and government
The Argentine Constituent Assembly unanimously approved the 1853 constitution as the law of the land, upholding a 1956 government decree abolishing the 1949 constitution imposed by the regime of President Juan Peron.

Economics and finance
U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and Japanese Foreign Minister Aiichiro Fujiyama issued a joint communique stressing that the United States "considers the economic viability of Japan one of the essential elements of stability in the Far East."

Protest
Nine Negro students who had entered Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas were forced to withdraw because of a mob of 1,000 whites outside. The students were able to enter the school in the first place after the mob turned its attention to four Negro newsmen who appeared on the scene.

Disasters
The U.S. freighter Saxon rescued five members of the 86-man crew of the West German sailing vessel Pamir, which had been damaged in a hurricane about 600 mile southwest of the Azores.

Boxing
World welterweight champion Carmen Basilio (52-12-7) won a 15-round split decision over Sugar Ray Robinson (141-6-2) to win the world middleweight title at Yankee Stadium in New York.



50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Don't Sleep in the Subway--Petula Clark (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: The Letter--The Box Tops

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): A Whiter Shade of Pale--Procol Harum

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): All You Need is Love--The Beatles (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): We Love You/Dandelion--The Rolling Stones

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): The Last Waltz--Engelbert Humperdinck (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Letter--The Box Tops

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Letter--The Box Tops
2 Ode to Billie Joe--Bobbie Gentry
3 Come Back When You Grow Up--Bobby Vee and the Strangers
4 Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie--Jay and the Techniques
5 Reflections--Diana Ross and the Supremes
6 Never My Love--The Association
7 You're My Everything--The Temptations
8 San Franciscan Nights--Eric Burdon & the Animals
9 There is a Mountain--Donovan
10 Cold Sweat (Part 1)--James Brown and the Famous Flames

Singles entering the chart were People are Strange by the Doors (#53); Lightning's Girl by Nancy Sinatra (#56); Why Do Fools Fall in Love by the Happenings (#86); Please Love Me Forever by Bobby Vinton (#87); Ode to Billie Joe by the Kingpins (#88); Incense and Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock (#89); Rock 'n' Roll Woman by Buffalo Springfield (#95); Sometimes She's a Little Girl by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart (#97); Time Seller by the Spencer Davis Group (#98); Baby I'm Lonely by the Intruders (#99); and Kitty Doyle by Dino, Desi and Billy (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 San Franciscan Nights--Eric Burdon & the Animals
2 Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie--Jay and the Techniques
3 Ode to Billie Joe--Bobbie Gentry
4 There is a Mountain--Donovan
5 The Letter--The Box Tops
6 You Know What I Mean--The Turtles
7 All You Need is Love--The Beatles
8 The Boat that I Row--Lulu
9 Come Back When You Grow Up--Bobby Vee and the Strangers
10 Reflections--Diana Ross and the Supremes

Singles entering the chart were You Keep Running Away by the Four Tops (#82); Get on Up by the Esquires (#83); Gaslight by the Ugly Ducklings (#89); Let it All Hang Out by the Hombres (#90); The Last Waltz by Engelbert Humperdinck (#91); If This is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely) by the Precisions (#92); My Girl by the Gettysburg Address (#93); Even the Bad Times are Good by the Tremeloes (#96); I Believe in Sunshine by Passing Fancy (#98); People are Strange by the Doors (#99); and More Than the Eye Can See by Al Martino (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Never My Love--The Association
2 The Letter--The Box Tops
3 Happy--The Sunshine Company
4 I Dig Rock and Roll Music--Peter, Paul and Mary
5 There is a Mountain--Donovan
6 She Knows--Bobby Darin
7 Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie--Jay and the Techniques
8 I Had a Dream--Paul Revere and the Raiders
9 (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher--Jackie Wilson
10 We Love You/Dandelion--The Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were How Can I Be Sure by the Young Rascals (#22); Hotel Indiscreet by Sagittarius (#26); Expressway to Your Heart by the Soul Survivors (#29); and Walkin' Proud by the Pete Klint Quintet (#30).

Football
CFL
Montreal (2-5) 1 @ Hamilton (6-1) 19
Edmonton (4-5-1) 22 @ Winnipeg (3-6) 9

Willie Bethea scored a touchdown and Tommy-Joe Coffey converted and added 3 field goals for the Tiger-Cats as they defeated the Alouettes before 20,435 fans at Civic Stadium for their sixth straight win. Joe Zuger punted for 3 singles for Hamilton, while Dave Lewis punted for the only Montreal point.

Trent Walters and Art Perkins rushed for touchdowns and Garry Lefebvre returned an interception for another TD to help the Eskimos defeat the Blue Bombers before 17,121 fans at Winnipeg Stadium. Dave Raimey scored the Winnipeg touchdown.

CIAU
Saskatchewan 16 @ Alberta (0-1) 8

Gord Garvie rushed for 140 yards--including an 18-yard touchdown--and added a single on a missed field goal, while passing for a 2-point convert to help the Huskies beat the Golden Bears at Varsity Stadium in Edmonton. Gary Andrews rushed 18 times for 86 yards, including a 2-yard run for the other Saskatchewan TD. Dave Kates led the Alberta attack with 7 rushes for 75 yards, including a 49=yard touchdown in the 1st quarter. Alberta quarterbacks Bob Wanzel and Terry Lampert combined to complete just 4 of 22 passes for 53 yards and 5 interceptions.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Yes Sir, I Can Boogie--Baccara (7th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Sorry, I'm a Lady--Baccara (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Ma Baker--Boney M. (4th week at #1)

Politics and government
Negotiations among France's Communist, Socialist, and Radical Left parties for a joint program broke down after a five-year alliance. The dispute emerged over Communist demands to change the platform for the 1978 legislative elections. The chief areas of controversy were the extent of nationalization of industries; wage levels; and defense.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): It's a Sin--Pet Shop Boys (9th week at #1)

Died on this date
Bob Fosse, 60. U.S. choreographer and theatre and film director. Mr. Fosse won eight Tony Awards for choreography and another for Best Direction of a Musical for Pippin (1973). He won an Emmy for directing Liza with a "Z": A Concert for Television (1972) and the Academy Award for Best Director for Cabaret (1972).

Politics and government
U.S. Senator Joseph Biden (Democrat—Delaware) withdrew his candidacy for the 1988 Democratic party nomination for President of the United States in the wake of revelations that he had plagiarized a speech by British Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock and had been disciplined by Syracuse University for plagiarism while he was a law student there.

Saskatchewan became the first English-speaking Canadian province to ratify the Meech Lake constitutional accord.

Law
A court in New South Wales lifted the ban on the publication of Peter Wright's autobiography Spycatcher.

Economics and finance
Canada halted free trade negotiations with the United States over disagreements with the Americans on culture, regional development, and settling trade disputes.

The United States Labor Department reported that consumer prices had risen 0.5% in August.

Baseball
Albert Hall of the Atlanta Braves hit for the cycle in a 5-4 win over the Houston Astros before 2,977 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, becoming the first Brave to accomplish the feat since Bill Collins in 1910. Mr. Hall led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a triple and scored the winning run on a wild pitch by Dave Smith.

Gary Carter batted 4 for 4, singling in a run in the 4th inning and 2 in a 3-run 6th as the New York Mets edged the Montreal Expos 4-3 before 41,050 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. John Candelaria, in his first appearance in a New York uniform, started on the mound for New York and allowed 5 hits and 3 earned runs in 6 innings, and was credited with the win.



Bruce Ruffin pitched a 6-hitter to improve his 1987 record to 11-14 as the Philadelphia Phillies shut out the Chicago Cubs 5-0 before 7,160 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Randy Ready and John Kruk hit consecutive home runs with 2 out in the top of the 13th inning to break a 4-4 tie as the San Diego Padres beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 before 17,082 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

Brian Fisher pitched a 2-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Greg Mathews as the Pittsburgh Pirates shut out the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 before 30,235 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis.

The San Francisco Giants scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning and held on to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 before 29,827 fans at Candlestick park in San Francisco. Pinch runner Jose Gonzalez was on third base with the potential tying run with 2 out in the 9th, but Steve Sax grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

Jim Clancy pitched a 5-hit complete game to improve his record for the season to 15-10 and Ernie Whitt and George Bell supported him with home runs as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 before 22,590 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore to remain 1/2 game ahead of the Detroit Tigers in the American League East Division pennant race.

Doyle Alexander pitched a 2-hitter to improve his record in a Detroit uniform to 8-0 as the Tigers shut out the Boston Red Sox 4-0 before 23,798 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Detroit designated hitter Bill Madlock doubled in the 5th inning for his 2,000th career major league hit.

The Cleveland Indians scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to defeat the Oakland Athletics 8-6 before 4,879 fans at Cleveland Stadium.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored a run in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game 6-6 and 2 in the bottom of the 10th to defeat the New York Yankees 8-7 before 11,219 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Jim Paciorek played the last 2 innings at first base for the Brewers, making 4 putouts, and striking out to lead off the 10th in the 48th and last game of his major league career.

Dan Gladden hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 6th inning to tie the score 2-2 and the Minnesota Twins scored 2 in the 8th to defeat the Texas Rangers 4-2 before 20,640 fans at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. Texas center fielder Oddibe McDowell homered to lead off the 3rd and 5th innings.

Mark Gubicza pitched a 5-hitter to improve his 1987 record to 12-17 and Danny Tartabull batted 3 for 3 with a double, run, and 2 runs batted in as the Kansas City Royals shut out the Seattle Mariners 9-0 before 8,503 fans at the Kingdome in Seattle.

The California Angels scored 4 runs in each of the 3rd and 8th innings as they defeated the Chicago White Sox 10-6 before 22,188 fans at Anaheim Stadium. California third baseman Roy Howell batted 4 for 5 with a run and 2 runs batted in.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Abba-esque--Erasure (14th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Homecoming

Died on this date
James Van Fleet, 100. U.S. military officer. General Van Fleet served in both world wars, and commanded the U.S. Eighth Army and United Nations forces in the Korean War from 1951-1953. He won 16 decorations, and was praised by U.S. President Harry Truman as "the greatest general we have ever had..."

Glendon Swarthout, 74. U.S. author. Mr. Swarthout wrote short stories and novels such as They Came to Cordura (1958); Where the Boys Are (1960); Bless the Beasts and Children (1970); and The Shootist (1975). He died of emphysema.

Bernice Gera, 61. U.S. baseball umpire. Mrs. Gera was the first female umpire in U.S. professional baseball. A 1967 graduate of the Florida Baseball School, she was given a contract with the New York-Penn League in 1972 after filing a suit against the National Association of Baseball Leagues, and made her debut on the bases in the first game of a doubleheader between the Geneva Rangers and Auburn Phillies. After making a call in the 4th inning and then reversing it, Mrs. Gera ejected Auburn manager Nolan Campbell after an argument. She decided to resign as an umpire between games of the doubleheader when the other umpires refused to co-operate with her. Mrs. Gera never umpired again, although she later found employment with the New York Mets in the front office.

Business
Furniture magnate Bill Comrie purchased the British Columbia Lions from the Canadian Football League. The CFL had taken over the team several weeks earlier after previous owner Murray Pezim was no longer able to meet financial obligations.

Hockey
NHL
Manon Rhéaume, 20, the first woman to play in a National Hockey League game when she played one period in goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning, giving up 2 goals on 9 shots in a 6-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues in a pre-season game in Tampa.

Baseball
Bip Roberts of the Cincinnati Reds led off the game with a single to tie a National League record by making his 10th consecutive hit in a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers before 17,688 fans at Dodger Stadium. Tim Pugh allowed 4 hits in 8 innings to improve his record for the season to 4-1.

Moises Alou doubled and scored the tying run in the bottom of the 10th inning and hit a grand slam with 1 out in the bottom of the 14th to give the Montreal Expos a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates before 30,552 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Dennis Martinez started on the mound for Montreal and allowed just 2 hits in 9 scoreless innings.

Charlie Leibrandt pitched a 6-hitter and singled in a run to help the Atlanta Braves shut out the San Francisco Giants 7-0 before 13,035 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Mr. Leibrandt improved his 1992 record to 13-7.

The San Diego Padres celebrated "Unemployment Night" at San Diego-Jack Murphy Stadium by firing manager Greg Riddoch and replacing him with Jim Riggleman. The Padres were 78-72 under Mr. Riddoch in 1992, third in the National League West Division. The Padres then lost 7-6 to the Houston Astros, as Eric Anthony singled home Ken Caminiti with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to break a 6-6 tie before 9,325 fans at Jack Murphy-San Diego Stadium.

Albert Belle hit a 2-run homer and Glenallen Hill hit a 3-run homer as the Cleveland Indians scored 5 runs in the top of the 4th to break a scoreless tie as they beat the Boston Red Sox 7-3 before 26,415 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Mo Vaughn homered for the Red Sox.

Mickey Tettleton hit a 3-run home run, Rob Deer added a 2-run homer, and Chad Kreuter hit a 3-run double to help the Detroit Tigers defeat the New York Yankees 10-8 before 11,450 fans at Yankee Stadium. Charlie Hayes hit a 2-run homer for the Yankees.

Cal Eldred pitched a 4-hit shutout to win the pitchers' duel over Jim Abbott as the Milwaukee Brewers blanked the California Angels 3-0 before 12,142 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Mr. Eldred improved his 1992 record to 10-1, while Mr. Abbott, who allowed 8 hits and 2 earned run in pitching a complete game, fell to 7-15.

The Chicago White Sox scored 6 runs in the 3rd inning and 7 in the 5th as they beat the Oakland Athletics 17-6 before 26,279 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Frank Thomas drove in 3 Chicago runs with a pair of doubles, while Warren Newson singled in his only at bat, drew 4 bases on balls, and scored 3 runs. Mike Raczka, the third of four Oakland pitchers, allowed 4 hits and 5 runs--4 earned--with 3 bases on balls and no strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings in the 8th and last game of his major league career.

20 years ago
1997

Politics and government
On the day that the Ulster Unionist Party ended its 80-year self-imposed ban on talks with the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, UUP Member of Parliament Ken Maginnis attacked the British government and Sinn Fein, saying that the U.K. Labour Party government of Prime Minister Tony Blair had "elevated an evil Mafia to a status that would shame any other country in Western Europe."

Economics and finance
The First Nations Bank of Canada opened in Saskatoon to provide banking services to aboriginal clients.

10 years ago
2007

Football
CFL
Edmonton (5-6-1) 16 @ Montreal (6-6) 10
Winnipeg (7-4-1) 23 @ Toronto (5-7) 31

Sean Fleming kicked a field goal in each quarter and the Eskimos added 2 safety touches as they defeated the Alouettes before a capacity crowd of 20,202 at Molson Stadium. The Alouettes scored the game's only touchdown on a 15-yard pass from Jason Maas to Kerry Watkins, converted by Damon Duval, with 1:01 remaining in regulation time.

Dominique Dorsey returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and Kenny Wheaton returned an interception 84 yards for a TD to help the Argonauts take a 28-1 lead as they held on to defeat the Blue Bombers before 26,423 fans at Rogers Centre.