January 2, 2018

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Kathy Fincham!

230 years ago
1788

Americana
Georgia became the 4th state to ratify the United States Constitution.

125 years ago
1893

Diplomacy
Frederick Douglass, renowned American abolitionist and United States minister and general consul in Haiti from 1889-1891, delivered an address at the dedication of the Haitian Pavilion at the Columbian World Exposition in Chicago.

110 years ago
1908

Economics and finance
The opening ceremony took place for the Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint of Canada, as a branch of the British Royal Mint. Governor General Earl Grey struck the Dominion’s first domestically produced coin, a silver 50¢ piece bearing the effigy of King Edward VII; Countess Grey struck Canada's first domestically-produced penny.

Hockey
ECAHA
Hod Stuart Memorial Game @ Montreal Arena
All-Stars 7 @ Montreal Wanderers 10

The Wanderers took a 7-1 halftime lead and held on to defeat the All-Stars before 3,800 fans, with receipts going to the widow and children of former Wanderers' star cover-point (defenceman) Hod Stuart, who had died in a diving accident on June 23, 1907 at the age of 28. It was the first such game of its kind in any sport.

100 years ago
1918

Born on this date
Willi Graf. German student and activist. Mr. Graf was a member of the White Rose anti-Nazi resistance organization. He was drafted in the German Army in 1940 as a medical student, and served as a medical orderly. Mr. Graf was arrested on February 18, 1943, and on April 19 was sentenced to death. He was beheaded at the age of 25 on October 12, 1943 at Stadelheim Prison in Munich after six months of solitary confinement, during which he refused to divulge names of other White Rose members.

Hockey
NHL
The Montreal Arena in Westmount, home rink of both the Canadiens and the Wanderers, burned to the ground in a series of fiery explosions. The Canadiens resumed play at the Jubilee Arena, where they played before joining the National Hockey League; the fire marked the end of the Wanderers team.

75 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): White Christmas--Bing Crosby (10th week at #1)

War
Soviet Red Army forces drove to within 60 miles of the Latvian border. The U.S. Army, Navy, and War Production Board set the 1943 war output goal at "double that of 1942;" quotas called for about 100,000 aircraft. U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau announced that $12.906 billion had been subscribed in the December 1942 Victory Fund Drive, $2 billion more than the goal.

Politics and government
A new Yugoslavian cabinet was announced, with Slobodan Yovanovich as Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Interior Minister.

Religion
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt expressed his support for observance of the Universal Week of Prayer from January 3-10, sponsored by the Federal Council of Churches.

Economics and finance
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Mackenzie King imposed newsprint rationing.

Chess
Samuel Reshevsky regained full possession of the U.S. championship by defeating former co-holder Isaac Kashdan.

70 years ago
1948

Academia
The University of Chicago announced the formation of a partnership with seven corporations to link pure atomic research with industrial development.

Economics and finance
Josef Orlopp, head of the Central Administration for Foreign Trade in the Soviet zone of Germany, announced that eastern Germany would direct its trade primarily toward eastern and southeastern Europe.

Labour
A U.S. federal court in Utica, New York issued the first injunction against a secondary strike under the Taft-Hartley Act, barring a strike by an Albany Teamsters union local.

60 years ago
1958

Opera
Soprano Maria Callas caused a near-riot at Rome's Opera House when she walked out during an opening night performance of Norma.

World events
Forces loyal to the government of Venezuelan President General Marcos Pérez Jiménez forced the surrender of insurgents after the Caracas Army garrison failed to join the revolt.

Politics and government
The government of the U.S.S.R. recalled Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky from his post as commander of the Transcaucasus Military District (on the Turkish border) to resume work in Moscow as Deputy Defense Minister.

Transportation
The Connecticut Turnpike, a 129-mile superhighway from Killingly to Greenwich, opened.

Education
The U.S. Educational Policy Commission issued a report in Washington recommending a doubling within 10 years of annual U.S. public and private expenditure on education.

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Monja--Roland W.

On television tonight
The Invaders, starring Roy Thinnes, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Possessed

Wojeck, starring John Vernon, on CBC
Tonight's episode: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: Part 1

This was the first episode of the season, and the first in colour.



Medicine
Dr. Christiaan Barnard, who had led the team that performed the world's first heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa on December 3, 1967, performed the third heart transplant. Dr. Philip Blaiberg, 58, a retired dentist, received the heart of Clive Haupt, 24, who had died from a stroke. According to South Africa's apartheid system of racial classification, Mr. Haupt was classified as "Cape coloured," while Dr. Blaiberg was white.

Oil
Cuban dictator Fidel Castro announced the imposition of gasoline and fuel oil rationing, because of Cuba's expanding economy, and the inability of the U.S.S.R. to supply the growing demand for petroleum.

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Mull of Kintyre--Wings (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): UFO--Pink Lady (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Credo--Elsa Baeza

Diplomacy
U.S. President Jimmy Carter continued his seven-nation tour with a stop in India, where he and Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai disagreed sharply over American shipments of nuclear fuel to India. Mr. Carter mentioned the disagreement to U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, not knowing that his voice was being picked up by a nearby television microphone.

Hockey
NHL
Super Series '78
Kladno 8 @ Toronto 5

Peter Stastny scored 2 goals to help the Czechoslovakian club Kladno defeated the Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens as part of the exhibition series. It was the first Maple Leaf appearance for rookie defenseman Greg Hotham, and the last in a Maple Leaf uniform for forward Scott Garland, who had been out with a knee injury. Mr. Garland was traded to the Los Angeles Kings after that season, and was killed in a car accident in June 1979. Mr. Garland scored one of the Toronto goals, while Mr. Hotham picked up an assist.





Football
NCAA
Cotton Bowl
Notre Dame 38 Texas 10



Rose Bowl
Washington 27 Michigan 20



Orange Bowl
Arkansas 31 Oklahoma 6


Sugar Bowl
Alabama 35 Ohio State 6



Joe Montana quarterbacked the Fighting Irish to their win over the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl, while Warren Moon quarterbacked the Huskies to their upset win over the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: La Bamba--Los Lobos (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Faith--George Michael (7th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Étienne--Guesch Patti

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Fairytale of New York--The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Faith--George Michael (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): Faith--George Michael (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Canada (RPM): Faith--George Michael (3rd week at #1)

Economics and finance
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed a Free Trade Agreement in Washington to ease trade restrictions between the two countries (see also here).

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Dur dur d'être bébé!--Jordy (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Dur dur d'être bébé!--Jordy

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Highland--One More Time (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Dur dur d'être bébé!--Jordy (12th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Canada (RPM): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (3rd week at #1)

War
Leaders of the three warring factions in Bosnia were meeting in Geneva to discuss a peace plan aimed at ending nine months of fighting in the country.

The Sri Lanka Navy killed 35-100 civilians in speed boats on the Jaffna Lagoon, claiming that the boats contained members of the Tamil Tigers.

Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
Washington 24 @ Minnesota 7

Brian Mitchell rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown and added 100 more yards on pass receptions and kick returns as the Redskins defeated the Vikings before 57,353 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.

AFC Wild Card Playoff
Kansas City 0 @ San Diego 17

Marion Butts rushed 54 yards for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter to break a 0-0 tie as the Chargers blanked the Chiefs before 58,278 fans at Jack Murphy-San Diego Stadium.



20 years ago
1998

Politics and government
Former North York Mayor Mel Lastman was elected Mayor of the new megacity of Toronto--now the fourth largest city in North America--the day after the amalgamation of Toronto with five surrounding cities.

Disasters
Three separate avalanches in British Columbia killed a total of nine people.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 5 @ Edmonton 3

Vincent Damphousse and Saku Koivu each scored 2 goals, and Mark Recchi scored into an empty net to help the Canadiens defeat the Oilers at Edmonton Coliseum. Scott Fraser scored his first 2 goals of the season for the Oilers, with Boris Mironov scoring the other Edmonton goal.

10 years ago
2008

Died on this date
Gerry Staley, 87. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Staley played with six major league teams from 1947-1961, beginning with the St. Louis Cardinals (1947-1954). He was mainly a starter in his early years and a reliever in his later years, compiling a record of 134-111 with an earned run average of 3.70 in 640 games, with 61 saves, while batting .126 with 1 home run and 19 runs batted in. Mr. Staley was named to the National League All-Star team in 1952 and 1953, and the American League All-Star team in 1960. He led the AL in 1959 in games (67); games finished (37); and saves (15), and was on the mound for the Chicago White Sox when they clinched their first American League pennant in 40 years. Mr. Staley pitched in 4 games in the 1959 World Series, posting a 0-1 record with a 2.16 ERA as the White Sox lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 6 games. He finished his career with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League in 1962, going 2-4 with a 5.92 ERA in 48 games, while serving as their pitching coach.

Lee S. Dreyfus, 81. U.S. academic and politician. Mr. Dreyfus was a professor of speech and broadcasting at Wayne State and Wisconsin State Universities, and managed a radio and a television station before entering politics. A Republican, Mr. Dreyfus was Governor of Wisconsin from 1979-1983.

Oil
Prices soared to $100 per barrel for the first time.