May 24, 2020

370 years ago
1650

Died on this date
Charles de Menou d'Aulnay, 45-46 (?). French military officer and politician. Mr. d'Aulnay was a nobleman who served as a sea captain and a lieutenant in the French Navy. He was Governor of Acadia from 1635 until his death, which occurred after his canoe capsized in Port Royal Basin.

190 years ago
1830

Literature
The nursery rhyme Mary Had a Little Lamb by Sarah Josepha Hale was first published in Boston by Marsh, Capen & Lyon.

150 years ago
1870

Born on this date
Benjamin Cardozo. U.S. jurist. Mr. Cardozo was a member of the New York Court of Appeals from 1914-1932 and was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1932 until his death. He was known for his judgments on tort law. Mr. Cardozo was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Herbert Hoover, and was confirmed in the Senate by unanimous voice vote. He died on July 9, 1938 at the age of 68, several months after suffering a stroke.

Jan Smuts. Prime Minister of South Africa, 1919-1924, 1939-1948. Field Marshal Smuts commanded Boer forces against British troops in the Boer War (1899-1902), but led South African forces in World War I and was a member of the Imperial War Cabinet (1917-1919), helping to found what became the Royal Air Force. He was appointed a field marshal in the British Army in 1941, and was the only person to sign the treaties ending both World Wars. As a member of the South African Party and then the United Party, Mr. Smuts held several cabinet posts in addition to the office of Prime Minister in a political career spanning a half-century. He initially supported racial segregation, but eventually changed his mind, and his government was defeated in 1948 by hard-line nationalists who imposed the country's racial policy of apartheid. Field Marshal Smuts died of a heart attack on September 11, 1950 at the age of 80.

140 years ago
1880

Baseball
Roger Connor hit his first major league home run and added a triple and 2 singles off Tommy Bond to lead the Troy Trojans past the Boston Red Caps 8-1 at Haymakers' Grounds in Troy. Mr. Connor finished his 18-year major league career in 1897 with 136 home runs, which stood as the career record until it was broken by Babe Ruth in 1921.

The Cincinnati Reds routed the Buffalo Bisons 17-4 at Bank Street Grounds in Cincinnati.

120 years ago
1900

Born on this date
Lionel Conacher. Canadian athlete and politician. A Toronto native who was voted Canada's athlete of the half-century from 1901-1950, Mr. Conacher's achievements are too numerous to mention here. He's a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame (1955); Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1963); Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame (1965); and Hockey Hall of Fame (1994). He should have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame sooner, but it was widely assumed that he was already a member before someone finally noticed that he wasn't. Mr. Conacher served as a Liberal Member of the Provincial Parliament of Ontario for Bracondale (1937-1943) and represented Trinity in the House of Commons from 1949 until his death. He was playing for the MPs in their annual softball game against members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa on May 26, 1954 when he stretched a hit into a triple in the 6th inning, and collapsed with a fatal heart attack just after pulling up at third base, 2 days after his 54th birthday.

Eduardo De Filippo. Italian actor and playwright. Mr. De Filippo, who was generally known by his first name, appeared in more than 50 movies, and wrote more than 60 plays in a career spanning more than 50 years. He was best known for the play Filumena Marturano (1946) and the film Napoli milionaria (Side Street Story) (1950). Eduardo died on October 31, 1984 at the age of 84.

Canadiana
Canada's first Empire Day took place in Fredericton, organized by the New Brunswick Auxiliary of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire.

110 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Jimmy Demaret. U.S. golfer. Mr. Demaret won 31 PGA tournaments from 1935-1957. He won the Masters in 1940, 1947, and 1950, becoming the first man to win the event three times. Mr. Demaret died on December 28, 1983 at the age of 73.

90 years ago
1930

Aviation
Amy Johnson landed in Darwin, Northern Territory, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia; she had departed Croydon Airport, Surrey on May 5 for the 11,000-mile flight.

Transportation
Pont du Havre, connecting Montreal to the South Shore, was opened, with a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. It was given the name of Le Havre bridge since its construction was done under the supervision of the Havre Commissioners of Montreal. The bridge's name was changed to Pont Jacques-Cartier in June 1934 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of Canada by the French explorer.

Baseball
The New York Yankees and Philadelphia Athletics played their third doubleheader in four days. The Yankees won both games, 10-6 and 11-1 before 61,000 fans at Yankee Stadium. Babe Ruth hit a home run in each game and drove in 7 runs. Red Ruffing (2-3), acquired from the Boston Red Sox 18 days earlier, was the winning pitcher in the second game, and batted 2 for 4 with a double, 2 runs, and a run batted in.

The Chicago White Sox scored 6 runs in the 7th inning as they came back from a 6-2 deficit and defeated the Detroit Tigers 8-7 at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

Pinch hitter Bernie Friberg hit a 2-run home run and Lefty O'Doul singled home Don Hurst with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning for the winning run as the Philadelphia Phillies scored 3 runs in the inning to defeat the New York Giants 7-6 at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia.

Rube Bressler's 3-run home run with 2 out in the top of the 11th inning broke a 2-2 tie as the Brooklyn Robins beat the Boston Braves 5-2 at Braves Field. Ray Phelps (3-1) pitched a 5-hit complete game victory over Bob Smith (2-3), who also pitched a 5-hit complete game.

80 years ago
1940

At the movies
Our Town, directed by Sam Wood, and starring William Holden, Martha Scott, Fay Bainter, and Thomas Mitchell, opened in theatres.



War
Four Royal Canadian Navy destroyers were sent from Halifax to Britain. German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler ordered a halt to the German advance around the trapped British-French force in Flanders. German forces captured Calais.

Diplomacy
The 21 American republics formally protested to the United Kingdom that the seizure of the German merchant ship MV Hannover between Hispaniola and Puerto Rico on March 9, 1940 was a violation of the American security belt.

World events
Acting on the orders of Soviet leader Josef Stalin, NKVD agent Iosif Grigulevich orchestrated an unsuccessful assassination attempt in Coyoacán, Mexico against exiled Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky.

Defense
The U.S. House of Representatives passed and sent to the Senate a defense bill to permit unlimited expansion of the U.S. Army Air Force.

Aviation
In Bridgeport, Connecticut, Igor Sikorsky made the first successful fully-controlled helicopter flight.

Disasters
Earthquakes in Peru killed 249 people.

Baseball
Behind the pitching of Harry Gumbert, the New York Giants beat the Boston Bees 8-1 in front of 22,260 fans in the first night game at the Polo Grounds in New York.

Bob Feller hit his first major league home run to help his own cause as the Cleveland Indians edged the St. Louis Browns 3-2 before 24,827 in the first night game at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. Eldon Auker was the losing pitcher.

75 years ago
1945

Died on this date
Robert Ritter von Greim, 52. German military officer. Field Marshal Greim was the last commander of the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was captured by American forces on May 8, 1945, but after finding out that he was to be part of an exchange of prisoners with the U.S.S.R., committed suicide in Salzburg, Austria with a cyanide capsule rather than endure torture at the hands of the Soviets.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco discussed the status of trusteeship territories. The U.S.A., U.K., China, and France agreed that such territories should eventually become independent, but that "self-government" should be the objective for British colonies.

U.S. presidential press secretary Charlie Ross said that a "Big Three" (U.S.A.; U.S.S.R.; U.K.) meeting was being planned now and would hopefully be held soon.

Politics and government
A British-American occupation government was established for Austria.

Defense
Philippine President Sergio Osmena told press in Manila that the U.S. would get military bases in the islands with the "full support of the Filipino people" when the islands became independent sometime before July 4, 1946.

Chile and the United States signed a three-year agreement providing for a U.S. naval mission to Chile.

Education
The Quebec Legislative Assembly passed the "Learning Aid" Act, providing for the opening of learning centres and doubling the number of rehabilitation centres for the disabled, accident workers and the war wounded.

Energy
Quebec's Rural Electrification Law went into effect, establishing a fund of $12 million to promote the creation and development of electricity cooperatives. The application of the law was entrusted to the provincial Office for Rural Electrification.

Medicine
Dr. William Robbins revealed his discovery of six new antibiotic drugs: pleurotin; grisic acid; pleurin; irpexin; obtusin; and corticin.

Economics and finance
U.S. Commerce Secretary Henry Wallace asked for lower U.S. tariffs and trade with other countries on a "live and let live basis."

U.S. Senators Robert Wagner (Democrat--New York) and James Murray (Democrat--Montana) and Representative John Dingell (Democrat--Michigan) offered identical bills to Congress calling for broader coverage by Social Security.

70 years ago
1950

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Ben Wright and Eric Snowden, on ABC
Tonight’s episode: The Phoenix of Barnes Common

The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Martin Gabel, on ABC

Died on this date
Yan Huiqing, 73. Prime Minister of China, 1921, 1922, 1924, 1926. Dr. Yan, aka Weiching Williams Yen, served as Foreign Minister and served five brief terms as Prime Minister, and more than a month as acting President in 1926. He was a career diplomat, holding several ambassadorial posts, and was China's first ambassador to the U.S.S.R. Dr. Yan was a delegate to the Washington Naval Conference and the League of Nations, and was placed under house arrest by occupying Japanese authorities during World War II.

Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell, 67. U.K. military officer. Field Marshal Wavell was in the British Army from 1901-1943, serving in the Boer War and both World Wars. He was Commander-in-Chief Middle East in the early years of World War II and achieved success against Italian forces in North Africa, but after being defeated by German forces in 1941 he was transferred to India, serving as Commander-in-Chief, India until 1943, when he was created Viscount Wavell and appointed Governor-General and Viceroy of India. Viscount Wavell held the office until February 1947, when he was replaced by Lord Mountbatten. Viscount Wavell returned to England and created Earl Wavell. He died 19 days after his 67th birthday, from a relapse following abdominal surgery.

Married on this date
Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman and Italian film director Roberto Rossellini were married by proxy in Juarez, Mexico.

Literature
Men Without Faces: The Communist Conspiracy in the U.S.A. by former Communist Louis Budenz was published in New York by Harper.

War
The U.S. consul general in Taiwan "strongly urged" Americans to leave the island to avoid the possibility of being caught in a Communist Chinese invasion.

Diplomacy
U.K. Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin told the House of Commons that he favoured Communist China's admission to the United Nations.

Defense
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill extending registration and classification for the draft until June 24, 1952.

Politics and government
The U.S. Senate Executive Expenditures Committee voted to fund a nationwide investigation of "homosexuals and other moral perverts" employed by the federal government.

16 of 21 U.S. government reorganization plans proposed by President Harry Truman on March 13 took effect.

Labour
The Wall Street Journal reported that the number of women working or looking for jobs had increased 24% in the past 10 years, while the number of working wives had jumped 90%.

Boxing
Cesar Brion (26-3) scored a technical knockout of Charley Norkus (15-5) at the end of the 4th round of a heavyweight bout at St. Nicholas Arena in New York City. Referee Eddie Joseph stopped the fight on the advice of Dr. Vincent Nardiello because of a severe cut over Mr. Norkus's left eye.



60 years ago
1960

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, hosted by John Newland, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Contact, starring Ron Randell and Catherine McLeod



Space
The U.S.A. launched MIDAS (Missile Defense Alarm System) 2, a satellite to study infrared scanner systems for detection of missile launchings.

Disasters
Following the Valdivia earthquake in Chile, the volcano Cordón Caulle began to erupt.

50 years ago
1970

Died on this date
Bill Lamar, 73. U.S. baseball player. "Good Time Bill" was an outfielder with the New York Yankees (1917-1919); Boston Red Sox (1919); Brooklyn Robins (1920-1921); and Philadelphia Athletics (1924-1927), batting .310 with 19 home runs and 245 runs batted in in 550 games. His best season was 1925, when he hit .356 with 3 homers and 77 RBIs. Mr. Lamar was sold to the Washington Nationals during the 1927 season, but demanded a bonus, and was suspended when he refused to report, never playing another major league game. He played 995 games in 11 seasons in the minor leagues from 1915-1928, batting .330 with 46 homers.

Journalism
Cronica, the newspaper claiming the largest circulation in Latin America, was closed by Argentine political police for an indefinite period. The police, representing the country’s military dictatorship, charged that Cronica had falsely reported the death of a student in clashes with the police in Cordoba.

Baseball
Tony Horton hit 3 home runs but his Cleveland Indians still lost 8-7 to the New York Yankees in 11 innings in the second game of a doubleheader before 19,421 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Mr. Horton blamed himself for the loss for not hitting a fourth home run, and this contributed to his mental breakdown three months later. The Yankees won the first game 6-5, as Thurman Munson batted 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, a run, and 2 runs batted in. New York first baseman John Ellis homered in both games, while Cleveland catcher Ray Fosse hit 2 home runs in the second game.



Rick Reichardt's grand slam with 2 out in the 2nd inning climaxed a 6-run inning for the Washington Senators as they held on to defeat the Detroit Tigers 6-4 before 15,049 fans at Tiger Stadium.

Pinch hitter Hawk Taylor singled home Marty Keough and Luis Alcaraz with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers before 30,035 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City.

Tony Taylor singled home Grant Jackson with none out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals before 11,939 fans at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. The Phillies had tied the game on a 2-run home run by Larry Hisle with 2 out in the 9th.

The Houston Astros scored 7 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning as they came back from a 7-0 deficit to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 10-7 before 18,552 fans at the Astrodome.

40 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Video Killed the Radio Star--The Buggles (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Sun of Jamaica--Goombay Dance Band (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): What's Another Year--Johnny Logan (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): What's Another Year--Johnny Logan (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Sun of Jamaica--Goombay Dance Band (3rd week at #1)
2 Funkytown--Lipps Inc.
3 I'm in the Mood for Dancing--Nolan Sisters
4 Working My Way Back to You--Spinners
5 American Dream--The Dirt Band
6 What's Another Year--Johnny Logan
7 Buzz Buzz a Diddle It--Matchbox
8 You and Me--Spargo
9 Our Song--Guys 'n' Dolls
10 I See a Boat on the River--Boney M.

Singles entering the chart were Sri-Lanka...My Shangri-La by Jack Jersey (#21); Pierrot by Bonnie St. Claire (#22); Maar Ja by Lenny Kuhr (#31); Toccata by Sky (#35); and Talk of the Town by the Pretenders (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Call Me--Blondie (6th week at #1)
2 Funkytown--Lipps Inc.
3 Lost in Love--Air Supply
4 Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer--Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes
5 Sexy Eyes--Dr. Hook
6 Biggest Part of Me--Ambrosia
7 Stomp!--The Brothers Johnson
8 Hurt So Bad--Linda Ronstadt
9 Ride Like The Wind--Christopher Cross
10 Cars--Gary Numan

Singles entering the chart were It's Still Rock and Roll to Me by Billy Joel (#38); I'm Alive by Electric Light Orchestra (#71); Magic by Olivia Newton-John (#74); Angel Say No by Tommy Tutone (#77); Misunderstanding by Genesis (#81); Walks Like a Lady by Journey (#83); And the Cradle Will Rock... by Van Halen (#84); Take You Tonight by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (#86); Everything Works if You Let It by Cheap Trick (#88); and Slipstream by Allan Clarke (#90). I'm Alive and Magic were from the movie Xanadu (1980).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Call Me--Blondie (7th week at #1)
2 Lost in Love--Air Supply
3 Biggest Part of Me--Ambrosia
4 Don’t Fall in Love With a Dreamer--Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes
5 Ride Like the Wind--Christopher Cross
6 Sexy Eyes--Dr. Hook
7 Funkytown--Lipps Inc.
8 Stomp!--The Brothers Johnson
9 Hurt So Bad--Linda Ronstadt
10 Cars--Gary Numan

Singles entering the chart were It's Still Rock and Roll to Me by Billy Joel (#43); Magic by Olivia Newton-John (#56); I'm Alive by Electric Light Orchestra (#62); Misunderstanding by Genesis (#84); And the Cradle Will Rock... by Van Halen (#86); Everything Works if You Let It by Cheap Trick (#87); Walks Like a Lady by Journey (#89); All Night Long by the Invisible Man's Band (#90); Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like by Glen Campbell and Rita Coolidge (#91); Time for Me to Fly by REO Speedwagon (#96); and I Can Survive by Triumph (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Call Me--Blondie (6th week at #1)
2 Funkytown--Lipps Inc.
3 Sexy Eyes--Dr. Hook
4 Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer--Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes
5 Biggest Part of Me--Ambrosia
6 Lost in Love--Air Supply
7 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd
8 The Rose--Bette Midler
9 Hurt So Bad--Linda Ronstadt
10 Cars--Gary Numan

Singles entering the chart were It's Still Rock and Roll to Me by Billy Joel (#38); I'm Alive by Electric Light Orchestra (#56); And the Cradle Will Rock... by Van Halen (#75); Take You Tonight by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (#84); Walks Like a Lady by Journey (#87); A Lover's Holiday by Change (#88); Landlord by Gladys Knight & the Pips (#89); Message in a Bottle by the Police (#94); Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like by Glen Campbell and Rita Coolidge (#95); and Gotta Get My Hands on Some Money by Fatback (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Rock Lobster--The B-52's
2 Call Me--Blondie
3 Ride Like the Wind--Christopher Cross
4 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd
5 Working My Way to You/Forgive Me, Girl--Spinners
6 Cars--Gary Numan
7 You May Be Right--Billy Joel
8 Fire Lake--Bob Seger
9 I Can't Tell You Why--Eagles
10 Pilot of the Airwaves-Charlie Dore

Singles entering the chart were Against the Wind by Bob Seger (#78); Fine State of Affairs by Burton Cummings (#80); She's Out of My Life by Michael Jackson (#85); It's Still Rock and Roll to Me by Billy Joel (#86); Here Comes My Girl by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#89); Entre Nous by Rush (#99); and Little Jeannie by Elton John (#100).

Diplomacy
The International Court of Justice ordered the immediate release of all American hostages held in Iran, warned the Iranians not to put them on trial, and ruled that Iran was liable for reparations. The rulings of the court, which was a part of the United Nations, would enable the U.S. to request the UN Security Council to take new measures against Iran if it failed to comply with the court’s ruling. The ruling on reparations would apply to Iranian assets frozen in U.S. banks.

Protest
Several hundred Cuban refugees at Elgin Air Force base in Florida threw stones and scuffled with military police out of anger and frustration over the delays in their processing. Most of the 8,475 Cubans at the base had been there for at least three weeks, and the camp had been resettling them at the rate of about 100-200 per day. Between 20-100 of the refugees fled during the disturbance, but most of them were returned by the next day.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Philadelphia 4 @ New York Islanders 5 (OT) (New York won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Bob Nystrom tipped in a pass from John Tonelli for his fourth career overtime goal and second of the 1980 playoffs at 7:11 of overtime to give the Islanders their first Stanley Cup. The Flyers complained that the second goal by the Islanders that had sent the game into overtime was offside; linesman Leon Stickle admitted after the game that he had blown the call.



Baseball
Frank Pastore (5-2) pitched a 2-hitter to outduel David Palmer (3-1) as the Cincinnati Reds shut out the Montreal Expos 2-0 before 30,024 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. George Foster's solo home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 4th inning provided the necessary scoring. Mr. Palmer allowed just 5 hits in a complete game.

Lee Mazzilli led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a single and eventually scored on a 2-out single by Elliott Maddox to give the New York Mets a 5-4 win over the Atlanta Braves before 7,221 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Jose Moreno struck out as a pinch hitter for the Mets in the 7th inning in his first major league game.

Jim Wohlford doubled home Darrell Evans with 2 out in the top of the 15th inning to break a 9-9 tie as the San Francisco Giants came back from a 5-0 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-9 before 11,591 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.

The Oakland Athletics scored 11 runs from the 4th through the 7th innings and withstood a 6-run 8th-inning rally as they defeated the Texas Rangers 15-7 before 5,061 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Oakland catcher Jeff Newman batted 4 for 5 with a double, run, and 4 runs batted in, while designated hitter Mitchell Page was 3 for 3 with 2 bases on balls, 4 runs, and an RBI.

30 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Vogue--Madonna

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Give It A Lash Jack--Liam Harrison and the GOAL Celebrities (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev told Lithuanian leaders in Moscow that Lithuania could be independent in two years if it suspended its declaration of independence. U.S. President George Bush said that he opposed normalizing trade relations with the Soviet Union because of the impasse over Lithuanian independence and because the Soviet leadership had not pushed for more liberal emigration policies.

Law
Konrad Sioui, a Huron from Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, was acquitted, under the 1760 Hurons and British conquerors treaty, by the Supreme Court of Canada on a charge of violating Quebec provincial park laws against hunting and tree-cutting.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department revised its estimate of the growth of the gross national product in the first quarter, putting the annual rate at a lower figure of 1.3%.

U.S.S.R. Premier Nikolai Ryzhkov presented to the Supreme Soviet an economic reform program that included an easing of price controls. Bread prices would triple, and the cost of some goods and services would increase 30%. Government subsidies had kept some prices artificially low. The program also included unemployment benefits and tax-indexing to assist workers. It would set in motion a transformation of state enterprises into joint stock companies. The program would be subject to approval in a national referendum.

Disasters
The United States Navy said that it was reopening its investigation into the April 1989 explosion aboard the battleship Iowa that killed 47 members of its crew. The explosion had occurred in a gun turret during a training exercise. The Navy’s initial report blamed a suicidal crewman, Clayton Hartwig, who, according to the theory, had placed a detonating device into the mechanism. Mr. Hartwig as killed in the explosion, and his family was seeking to clear his name. The Navy tested the suggestion of Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque that the explosion could have been caused by gunpowder being rammed too far into the turret’s centre gun. The bags of gunpowder exploded on the 18th test.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Edmonton 4 @ Boston 1 (Edmonton won best-of-seven series 4-1)

The Oilers beat the Bruins at Boston Garden to earn their first--and so far, only--Stanley Cup triumph after the trade of Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988. Edmonton goalie Bill Ranford was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the 1990 playoffs. Craig Simpson scored the cup-winning goal at 9:31 of the 2nd period.



25 years ago
1995

Died on this date
Harold Wilson, 79. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1964-1970; 1974-1976. "Little Harold" was leader of the British Labour Party from 1963 until his resignation in 1976, and was Leader of the Opposition during that time when he wasn't Prime Minister. He sat in the House of Commons from 1945-1983, after which he sat in the House of Lords as Baron Wilson of Rievaulx.

Business
A $1.2-billion issue of Toronto-based Suncor Inc. shares was snapped up by investors in minutes.

20 years ago
2000

World events
Israel’s 22-year military occupation of southern Lebanon ended when Israeli forces completed their withdrawal six weeks ahead of Israel’s own deadline, fulfilling a campaign promise by Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The South Lebanon Army, an ally of Israel, disintegrated under attacks from the Hezbollah terrorist organization. At least 2,000 SLA members and their families fled to Israel, and the Israelis completed their withdrawal under Hezbollah fire.

War
Heavy fighting continued between Ethiopian and Eritrean forces.

Diplomacy
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 237-197 to grant permanent "normal trade relations" with China, while Senate approval was pending. The United States had previously approved normal trade relations with China on a year-to-year basis, after evaluating China’s record on human rights, as required by law. In a 1999 trade agreement aimed at clearing the way for China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, the U.S. administration of President Bill Clinton had agreed to drop the review and seek permanent normal relations.

Scandal
The state of Maryland dropped criminal charges against Linda Tripp, who had secretly taped conversations with her friend Monica Lewinsky about Miss Lewinsky’s affair with U.S. President Bill Clinton. Ms. Tripp could not be effectively prosecuted under Maryland law unless it could be proven that she knew at the time that such taping was illegal.

Health
A child and three adults died in Walkerton, Ontario after drinking town water contaminated with a lethal strain of E. Coli bacterium. A thunderstorm on May 12 had washed bacteria from cattle manure into a poorly maintained town well, and people began complaining of feeling ill on May 17. By June 1, 2000, 5 more died died and over 2.300 people were sickened by the coliform-polluted water. A provincial inquiry blamed the disaster on two lax water officials and provincial spending cuts.

Politics and government
More than 13,000 people attended a fund-raising event for the U.S. Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C. The event brought in $26.5 million, making it the most profitable such event ever.

Academia
A private donation of $64 million to McGill University by Richard H. Tomlinson, a chemistry graduate from McGill University in 1948, was announced. The donor was the founding president of the multinational firm Gennum Corporation, in Ontario.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference Finals
Philadelphia 1 @ New Jersey 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Baseball
Shawn Estes (3-2) pitched a 7-hitter, hit a grand slam, and narrowly missed another, finishing with 5 runs batted in, as the San Francisco Giants whipped the Montreal Expos 18-0 before 40,930 fans at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. It was the worst shutout loss in Expos’ history.

Mark McGwire hit his 20th home run of the season--in just his 35th game, a record--as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Florida Marlins 5-1 before 34,105 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Garrett Stephenson (7-0) pitched a 5-hit complete game victory.

The Houston Astros blew a 7-run lead for the second time in a week, losing 9-7 to the Philadelphia Phillies before 32,665 fans at Enron Field in Houston. Bobby Abreu's 2-run home run contributed to a 4-run 9th inning to give Philadelphia the victory. Philadelphia first baseman Pat Burrell batted 2 for 5 with a triple and 2 runs batted in, making 8 putouts and participating in 2 double plays in his first major league game.

Dante Bichette batted 5 for 6 with a double, run, and 4 runs batted in to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 10-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers before 31,740 fans at Dodger Stadium.

Brian Daubach's 3-run home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the Boston Red Sox a 6-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays before 31,250 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

The New York Yankees scored 7 runs in the 7th inning and 2 runs in each of the next 2 innings as they beat the Chicago White Sox 12-4 before 23,144 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

First baseman Mo Vaughn batted 5 for 5 with 2 doubles and 2 runs batted in to lead the Anaheim Angels to a 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins in 10 innings before 8,633 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. Troy Glaus led off the 10th inning with a home run to break a 5-5 tie.