May 16, 2018

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Polly Pratt!

1,800 years ago
218

World events
Julia Maesa, aunt of assassinated Roman Emperor Caracalla, is banished to her home in Syria by self-proclaimed emperor Macrinus. She declared her 14-year-old grandson Elagabalus to be Emperor of Rome. Macrinus was later deposed.

450 years ago
1568

World events
Mary, Queen of Scots fled to England.

175 years ago
1843

Americana
The first major wagon train heading for the Pacific Northwest set out on the Oregon Trail from Elm Grove, Missouri with 1,000 pioneers.

150 years ago
1868

Politics and government
The United States Senate voted 35-19, one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed, to convict President Andrew Johnson of "high crimes and misdemeanors," as he was charged under the eleventh article of impeachment, which claimed that President Johnson had attempted to undermine Congress. Mr. Johnson thus retained his office.

130 years ago
1888

Born on this date
Royal Rife. U.S. inventor. Mr. Rife had a patent for a high-intensity microscope lamp, and in the 1930s claimed to have invented a "beam-ray" device that could kill pathogens. His claims were discredited by the medical establishment in the 1950s, and Mr. Rife blamed a conspiracy by "organized medicine," including the American Medical Association and the U.S. Department of Public Health, for suppressing his inventions. He died in poverty on August 5, 1971 at the age of 83.

Vancouverana
William Van Horne opened the Canadian Pacific Railway's Hotel Vancouver;

110 years ago
1908

Baseball
Andy Coakley pitched a 6-hitter to lead the Cincinnati Reds over the New York Giants 6-1 before 6,500 fans at Palace of the Fans in Cincinnati. New York ace Christy Mathewson lasted just 2 innings, and manager John McGraw removed him for a pinch hitter in the 3rd inning.

The Chicago Cubs scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Brooklyn Robins 4-3 before 8,000 fans at West Side Park in Chicago.

Joe Lake allowed 3 hits and 2 runs in 5 innings of relief to get the win, and doubled in 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to provide the winning margin as the New York Highlanders edged the Detroit Tigers 7-6 before 20,000 fans at Hilltop Park in New York. A disputed call at home plate resulted in umpire Billy Evans ejecting Detroit manager Hughie Jennings, and Detroit players Davy Jones and Ed Killian, who weren't playing. First base umpire Tim Hurst ejected Detroit pitcher George Mullin, who also wasn't playing, and Mr. Hurst ejected New York manager Clark Griffith.

Danny Murphy doubled and scored in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Philadelphia Athletics a 1-0 win over the St.Louis Browns before 13,008 fans at Columbia Park in Philadelphia. Jimmy Dygert pitched a 4-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Harry Howell, who also pitched a 4-hitter.

100 years ago
1918

Died on this date
Patsy Tebeau, 53. U.S. baseball player and manager. Oliver Wendell Tebeau played 13 seasons of major league baseball from 1887-1900 (mostly with the Cleveland Spiders), and was a manager for the last 11 of those years. His best season as a player was 1893, when he batted .329 with 2 home runs and 102 runs batted in in 116 games. In 1,167 games, Mr. Tebeau hit .280 with 27 home runs and 735 RBI. As a manager, Mr. Tebeau had a record of 729 wins, 583 losses, 29 ties, .556 winning percentage. His best achievement as a manager came in 1892, when the National League played a split season. The Spiders won the second half title with a 53-23 record, but lost 5 games to 0 with one tie in a playoff series against the Boston Beaneaters for the league championship. Mr. Tebeau was running a saloon in St. Louis when he shot himself.

War
In Helsinki, White Finland celebrated its victory in the Finnish Civil War.

Law
The Sedition Act was passed in the United States, forbidding Americans from using "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the United States government, flag, or armed forces during the ongoing World War I. It was repealed less than two years later.

Baseball
The Washington Nationals knocked Chicago White Sox pitcher Joe Benz out of the box in the 1st inning‚ scoring 2 runs‚ but reliever Dan Danforth held Washington scoreless from the 1st to the 11th as the White Sox won 4-2 at Griffith Stadium in Washington.

Frank Baker singled home Frank Gilhooley in the bottom of the 5th inning with the game's only run as the New York Yankees edged the St. Louis Browns 1-0 at the Polo Grounds in New York. Hank Thormahlen pitched a 4-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Bert Gallia.

The Philadelphia Athletics scored a run in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Cleveland Indians 6-5 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

90 years ago
1928

Religion
At Kansas City, Missouri, the Methodist Episcopal General Conference voted 766-64 to give Methodists in other lands who were now affiliated with the American church the power to elect their own bishops, govern their own affairs, and to be part of the "diversity which is now union." This constitutional amendment of Methodist Church law was not effective until ratified by 2/3 of the 117 local annual conferences.

Politics and government
The United States Senate adopted the conference reports on the McNary-Haugen Farm Relief, and the Jones Merchant Marine bills. The House of Representatives passed the Morin bill for government operation of the $160 million power and nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Disasters
Because he wanted to see if a big locomotive would mash a big spike nail laid on the track in Camden, New Jersey, a 10-year-old schoolboy wrecked the Atlantic Coast Flier on the Reading Railroad.

80 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Joseph Strauss, 68. U.S. engineer. Mr. Strauss revolutionized the design of bascule bridges. His most notable achievement was as chief engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, which opened in 1937.

Disasters
38 people died in a fire at the Terminal Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.

75 years ago
1943

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Jessie Larocque!

Died on this date
Alfred Hoche, 78. German psychiatrist. Dr. Hoche was known as co-author, with jurist Karl Binding, of The Release of the Destruction of Life Devoid of Value (1920), a short book advocating euthanasia. The proposals of Dr. Hoche and Mr. Binding were acted upon--albeit to an extent beyond that recommended by the authors--by German governments, most notoriously the Nazi regime of 1933-1945.

James Ewing, 76. U.S. pathologist. Dr. Ewing became famous with the discovery of a form of malignant bone tumor that later became known as Ewing's sarcoma, and was a pioneer in using radiation to treat cancer.

War
The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of Jews against Nazi occupiers ended after 28 days with the crushing of the rebellion and the destruction of the Great Synagogue. German planes made their heaviest raid on London since February, and bombed the shipyards at Sunderland.

Society
The Twentieth Century Fund disclosed that at least 137 U.S. government and private agencies were engaged in research or public education on a nationals scale on postwar problems.

Economics and finance
The U.S. War Food Administration and the Office of Price Administration established a nine-man War Meat Board to combat black market operations.

70 years ago
1948

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and Alfred Shirley, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Everblooming Roses

Died on this date
George Polk, 34. U.S. journalist. Mr. Polk, a reporter with CBS, was found dead in Greece with a bullet in the back of his head, and hands and feet tied. Mr. Polk had been covering the Greek civil war between the right-wing government and Communists, and had been critical of both sides. Mr. Polk had been outspoken in his criticism of the support for the Greek government by the American administration of President Harry Truman. Mr. Polk alleged that a few officials in the Greek government had embezzled up to $250,000 in aid from the Truman administration.

War
Egyptian forces entered the Gaza strip.

Politics and government
Chaim Weizmann was elected the 1st President of Israel.

World events
Israel issued its first postage stamps.

Chess
Mikhail Botvinnik of the U.S.S.R. won a five-player tournament to determine the world champion.

Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds took a 10-1 lead over the Chicago Cubs after 2 1/2 innings, but had to score 2 runs in the top of the 10th inning to win 13-11 before 32,226 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Chicago third baseman Andy Pafko batted 5 for 5 with 2 home runs, a double, 4 runs, and 4 runs batted in.

Ralph LaPointe singled with 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 10th inning and scored all the way from first base on a single by Terry Moore to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates before 20,484 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis.

The Boston Red Sox overcame an early 4-0 deficit to defeat the Washington Nationals 14-5 before 33,042 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

Whitey Platt led off the top of the 9th inning with a triple and Roy Partee followed with a single to drive him home to break a 2-2 tie as the St. Louis Browns edged the Detroit Tigers 3-2 before 45,233 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.

Bob Kennedy singled home 2 runs with 2 out in the top of the 10th inning to break a 4-4 tie as the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 6-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 47,695 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Lou Boudreau batted 4 for 4 with 2 doubles, a run, and 2 runs batted in to lead the Indians to a 9-2 win in the second game, as Bill Kennedy allowed 3 hits and 2 earned runs in 7+ innings to get his first major league win.

Pete Gray, one-armed outfielder with the 1945 St. Louis Browns, started his comeback at Elmira in the Class A Eastern League after a year out of baseball. He went on to hit .290 in 82 games.

60 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Who's Sorry Now--Connie Francis

On television tonight
Harbor Command, starring Wendell Corey
Tonight's episode: Ghost Ship

Space
Eli Beeding experienced an 83 g-force deceleration on a rocket sled at White Sands, New Mexico.

Aviation
U.S. Air Force Captain Walter Irwin set a world speed record of 1,404 miles per hour in a single-jet Air Force F-104A Starfighter over Edwards Air Force Base, California.

World events
The French National Assembly voted a state of national emergency, granting the government of Prime Minister Pierre Pflimlin emergency powers to combat the Algerian revolt and the continued unrest in France.

Politics and government
The French Togoland Chamber of Deputies unanimously elected Sylvanus Olympio, leader of the Committee for Togolese Unity, as Prime Minister.

Scandal
U.S. Representative Adam Clayton Powell (Democrat--New York) pled not guilty in a U.S. federal court in New York to tax evasion charges, and asserted that he was being "purged" from his congressional seat "because I am a Negro.'

Track and field
Herb Elliot of Australia set a world record in the mile with a time of 3 minutes 57.8 seconds at the Coliseum Relays in Los Angeles.

50 years ago
1968

Died on this date
Bill Brandt, 53. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Brandt played in 34 games, mostly in relief, with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1941-1943, recording 5 wins and 3 losses. In 1943 he pitched in 29 games, with a 4-1 record.

Diplomacy
Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba concluded a two-day visit to Washington, which included talks with U.S. President Lyndon Johnson.

Labour
The AFL-CIO suspended the United Auto Workers of America for non-payment of dues for three months. The suspension climaxed a feud between AFL-CIO president George Meany and UAW president Walter Reuther.

Disasters
An earthquake hit Japan’s northern and eastern seaboard, leaving 37 dead, 217 injured, 10 missing, and 1,200 houses razed or damaged.

A corner of a new block of flats in London's East End collapsed, killing two women and a man, and injuring 11 of the building's 260 residents.

Baseball
The Boston Red Sox scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to defeat the New York Yankees 11-10 before 22,879 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The Yankees scored 6 runs in the 3rd, climaxed by a grand slam by catcher Frank Fernandez.

With his third 2-home run game in 4 games, Washington Senators’ left fielder Frank Howard tied the American League record for most home runs (7) in a 4-game stretch (at least 1 in each). The Senators defeated the Indians 4-1 before 5,447 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland.

The Minnesota Twins scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to defeat the Oakland Athletics 4-3 before 6,857 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington.

With 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning, Greg Goosen drew a base on balls, and pinch runner Don Bosch advanced to second base on a single by Jerry Buchek and scored on a single by Tommie Agee to give the New York Mets a 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 5,814 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Tom Seaver pitched a 6-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Gerry Arrigo, who allowed 8 hits in pitching a complete game.

Ron Santo singled home Glenn Beckert with 2 out in the top of the 1st inning for the game's only run and Rich Nye pitched a 6-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Don Sutton as the Chicago Cubs edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 before 14,857 fans at Dodger Stadium. This game started the Dodgers on another 1-run per game run‚ as they went on to score 1 run in four of their next five games.

40 years ago
1978

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Counterpoint

This was the last episode of the season.

Died on this date
Mike Wilson, 81. U.S. baseball and football player. Mr. Wilson, a catcher, played in 5 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1921, batting .000 (0 for 4), and played at least 8 seasons in the minor leagues from 1921-1928. He played end, guard, and quarterback in the National Football League with the Buffalo All-Americans (1922); Rochester Jeffersons (1922); and Rock Island Independents (1923-1924, 1926).

War
Ethiopian forces, reportedly supported by Cuban troops, began a major offensive against secessionist guerrillas in the coastal province of Eritrea. An Ethiopian force of 10,000-20,000 men, besieged in the Eritrean capital of Asmara for two years, broke through the rebel lines.

Politics and government
In Dominican Republic elections, President Joaquin Balaguer was defeated by Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) candidate Antonio Guzman. The PRD also won control of both houses of congress, but Balaguer’s Reformist Party (PR) won 40 mayoral elections to PRD’s 34.

Protest
Anti-government riots in Peru which had begun as clashes between university students and police in Lima the day before were now spreading to other cities.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Boston 2 @ Montreal 3 (OT) (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Guy Lafleur scored at 13:09 of the 1st overtime period to give the Canadiens their win over the Bruins at the Montreal Forum, spoiling a brilliant performance by Boston goalie Gerry Cheevers, who did a heroic job of holding off the Canadiens in the 3rd period and overtime before Mr. Lafleur finally beat him.



Baseball
The Chicago White Sox traded outfielder Bobby Bonds to the Texas Rangers for outfielders Claudell Washington and Rusty Torres. Mr. Bonds was hitting .278 with 2 home runs and 8 runs batted in in 26 games with the White Sox, while Mr. Washington was batting .167 with no homers and 2 RBIs in 12 games with the Rangers in 1978. Mr. Torres had yet to play a game in the majors in 1978.

The Atlanta Braves signed pitcher Jim Bouton as a free agent. Mr. Bouton, who had last pitched in the major leagues in 1970, was trying a comeback after adding to a knuckleball to his repertoire of pitches.

Dave McKay tripled home Willie Upshaw and scored on a double by Otto Velez in the bottom of the 8th inning as the Toronto Blue Jays edged the California Angels 5-4 before 12,044 fans at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto.

Lance Parrish hit a 2-run home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 16th inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-2 win over the Seattle Mariners before 12,423 fans at Tiger Stadium. Steve Foucault, who pitched the last 3 innings, got the win, while Detroit relief ace John Hiller tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings. The Mariners’ Ruppert Jones tied a major league record for center fielders by making 12 putouts. Detroit first baseman Jason Thompson made 22 putouts and 1 assist.

Bill Lee pitched a 9-hit complete game to win the pitchers' duel over Paul Splittorff, improving his 1978 record to 6-0 as the Boston Red Sox edged the Kansas City Royals 3-2 before 23,474 fans at Royals Stadium.

David Clyde, who had not won in the major leagues since May 1974, tossed a 4-hitter to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics before 3,737 fans at Cleveland Stadium. The winning runs were unearned, as Buddy Bell tripled home 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning. The inning opened with an error by Oakland shortstop Marty Perez, who had just entered the game. Mr. Perez made 1 putout and an assist in 2 innings in the 931st and last game of his 10-year major league career.

Roy White had 3 hits, Thurman Munson scored 3 runs, and Chris Chambliss drove in 3 runs to help the New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 8-3 before 21,837 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Ken Holtzman, in a rare appearance, started on the mound for New York and allowed 8 hits and 3 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings, but was credited with his first win of the season. Chicago right fielder Bobby Bonds batted 1 for 3 with a base on balls and led off the bottom of the 4th inning with a home run. He made an assist in the field in his last game in a White Sox uniform.

Tom Seaver pitched a 7-hitter with 13 strikeouts and had 1 of 5 doubles for the Cincinnati Reds as they beat the Montreal Expos 5-1 before 10,725 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Joe Morgan led the Cincinnati attack with a home run, double, and 4 runs batted in.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean (4th week at #1)

Law
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that trash may be searched without a warrant.

Politics and government
U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese forced the resignation of his chief spokesman, Terry Eastland, who stated in his letter of resignation that Mr. Meese felt that he had not been vigorous enough in defending him against accusations of unethical conduct. William Schambra, head of the justice department’s speechwriting division, also resigned.

Health
United States Surgeon General C. Everett Koop issued a report declaring that cigarettes and other tobacco products were addictive. The report, the work of 50 scientists who studied 2,000 research articles, found that the "processes that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that determine addiction to...heroin and cocaine." Dr. Koop recommended that vending machines be banned to protect young people and that tobacco products be labelled as addictive. The Tobacco Institute criticized the report’s conclusion on addiction, noting that many smokers had been able to quit smoking.

Crime
Larry Mahoney was charged with 27 counts of murder, two days after a pickup truck that he was driving crashed head-on into a bus near Carrollton, Kentucky, killing 27 of the bus’s 67 passengers, mostly teenagers. The truck had been travelling northbound in a southbound lane, and Mr. Mahoney was found to be legally drunk at the time of the crash.

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
Boston 109 @ Atlanta 118 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Informer--Snow (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): What is Love?--Haddaway (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Informer--Snow (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Five Live (EP)--George Michael & Queen with Lisa Stansfield (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Marv Johnson, 54. U.S. musician and singer. Mr. Johnson recorded the single Come to Me in 1959 for the Tamla label; it was the first single for the corporation that would become known as Motown. Come to Me reached #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart; his biggest hits were I Love the Way You Love (#9) and You Got What it Takes (#10), both from 1960. Mr. Johnson died of a stroke.

War
Bosnian Serbs voted in a referendum to reject the Vance-Owen peace plan, prompting Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic to say that the referendum's failure opened the way for a "Greater Serbia" without Bosnia.

Abominations
"Dr." Jack Kevorkian apparently defied a new Michigan law by assisting with the suicide and being at the side of a lung cancer victim in a Detroit suburb.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference
Finals
New York Islanders 1 @ Montreal 4 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
New York 94 @ Charlotte 92 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Western Conference
Semi-Finals
Phoenix 103 @ San Antonio 117 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Seattle 92 @ Houston 103 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

20 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Rufino Linares, 47. D.R. baseball player. Mr. Linares, an outfielder, played for the Atlanta Braves (1981-1982, 1984) and California Angels (1985), batting .270 with 11 home runs and 63 runs batted in in 207 games. Mr. Linares was killed in an auto accident.

Music
Your Imagination by Brian Wilson was released as a single on Giant Records. The B-side, an a cappella version of Your Imagination, didn't appear on Mr. Wilson's album Imagination.

Horse racing
Real Quiet, with Kent Desormeaux up, made it two straight wins in Triple Crown races as he won the 123rd running of the Preakness Stakes before 103,269 fans at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, winning by 2 ¼ lengths over Victory Gallop in a time of 1:54.75. Classic Cat finished third. Real Quiet’s share of the $1-million purse was $650,000.



Soccer
English FA Cup
Final @ Wembley Stadium, London
Arsenal 2 Newcastle United 0





Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference
Semi-Finals
Edmonton 1 @ Dallas 2 (Dallas won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Basketball
NBA
Western Conference
Finals
Los Angeles Lakers 77 @ Utah 112 (Utah led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Baseball
Mark McGwire crushed a Livan Hernandez pitch for a 545-foot home run to help the Cardinals to a 5-4 win over the Florida Marlins before 41,464 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis,. "It's the best ball I've ever hit," said the Cardinals' first baseman. On May 12, he had hit a homer 527 feet.

Craig Biggio hit a solo home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Houston Astros a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves before 51,526 fans at the Astrodome.

Pinch hitter Greg Myers singled home Chris Gomez with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to complete a 2-run rally for the San Diego Padres as they edged the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 before 53,117 fans at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

Steve Avery allowed 3 hits in 5 innings to get credit for the win as the Boston Red Sox shut out the Kansas City Royals 5-0 before 31,700 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

10 years ago
2008

Defense
Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean and Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled the highest military decoration that can be awarded to a Canadian: Canada's own version of the Victoria Cross.

Energy
Atomic Energy of Canada, Limited stopped production at two MAPLE isotope-producing reactors in Chalk River, Ontario after a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
Boston 69 @ Cleveland 74 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Western Conference
Semi-Finals
Los Angeles Lakers 108 @ Utah 105 (Los Angeles won best-of-seven series 4-2)