October 6, 2020

420 years ago
1600

Opera
Euridice by Jacobo Peri, the earliest surviving opera, received its première performance at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence with Mr. Peri conducting, beginning the Baroque period.

200 years ago
1820

Born on this date
Jenny Lind. Miss Lind, "The Swedish Nightingale," was an opera singer whose popularity in Europe led to a very successful tour of the United States, performing 93 concerts from 1850-1852. She spent her later years in England, and died on November 2, 1887, 27 days after her 67th birthday.

140 years ago
1880

Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds were expelled from the National League after refusing to accede to new restrictions imposed by the league on Sunday games.

125 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Caroline Gordon. U.S. authoress. Miss Gordon was a native of Kentucky whose short stories and 10 novels were often set in the southern United States in the 1930s and '40s. She won a Guggenheim Fellowship for her first novel, Penhally (1931), and the O. Henry Award for the short story Old Red (1934). Miss Gordon spent her final years in Mexico, where she died after surgeryon April 11, 1981 at the age of 85, six weeks after suffering a stroke.

110 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Barbara Castle, Baroness Castle of Blackburn. U.K. politician. Baroness Castle, a journalist by trade, was a member of the Labour Party who represented Blackburn (1945-1950, 1955-1979) and Blackburn East (1950-1955) in the House of Commons. She held several cabinet posts in the cabinets of Prime Minister Harold Wilson, including First Secretary of State (1968-1970) and Secretary of State for Health and Social Services (1974-1976). Baroness Castle received her title in 1990, and remained active in politics until her death from pneumonia and chronic lung disease on May 3, 2002 at the age of 91.

Died on this date
Lawrence Farley, 54. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Farley was a left fielder with the Washington Nationals (1884), batting .212 with no home runs or runs batted in in 14 games.

Baseball
Bill Collins hit for the cycle, scoring 4 runs and driving in 4, to help the Boston Doves defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 20-7 before 985 fans at South End Grounds in Boston. Al Mattern (16-19), who relieved starter Jiggs Parson after the 1st inning, allowed 9 hits and 4 runs in 8 innings to get the win, batting 3 for 4 with a sacrifice, double, 3 runs, and a run batted in.

Russ Ford (26-6) pitched a 7-hitter and batted 2 for 4 with a triple and a run batted in to lead the New York Highlanders over the Philadelphia Athletics 3-1 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Losing pitcher Jimmy Dygert (4-4) allowed 6 hits in a complete game, walking 8 batters and striking out 8, making 1 assist, and batting 1 for 3 in the 175th and last game of his 5-year major league career.

100 years ago
1920

Born on this date
John Donaldson, Baron Donaldson of Lymington. U.K. judge. Judge Donaldson began practicing law in 1946, and was appointed to the High Court in 1966. He presided over high-profile cases including that of the Guildford Four (1975), in which four people were wrongly convicted of bombings. Criticism of Judge Donaldson's handling of such cases didn't prevent him from serving as Master of the Rolls (1982-1992). Judge Donaldson was elevated to the House of Lords in 1992, and died on August 31, 2005 at the age of 84.

Scandal
Hal Chase and Heinie Zimmerman were indicted on bribery charges resulting from the investigation into the fixing of the 1919 World Series. New York Giants’ manager John McGraw testified that he had dropped the two veterans from the team for throwing games and for trying to entice teammates Rube Benton, Benny Kauff, and Fred Toney to join them.

Baseball
World Series
Cleveland Indians 0 @ Brooklyn Robins 3 (Best-of-nine series tied 1-1)

Burleigh Grimes (1-0) pitched a 7-hitter as the Robins shut out the Indians before 22,559 fans at Ebbets Field. Jim Bagby (0-1) took the loss.

90 years ago
1930

Baseball
World Series
Philadelphia Athletics 2 @ St. Louis Cardinals 0 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Jimmie Foxx hit a 2-run home run in the top of the 9th inning to give the Philadelphia Athletics a 2-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals and a 3 games to 2 lead in the World Series before 38,844 fans at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. George Earnshaw was the starting pitcher for the Athletics and gave up 2 hits in 7 innings before being relieved by Lefty Grove, who gave up 1 hit in 2 innings and was credited with his second win of the series. Burleigh Grimes gave up just 5 hits in losing his second game of the series.

80 years ago
1940

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Copper Beeches

NFL
Washington (3-0) 40 @ Pittsburgh (1-2-2) 10
Chicago Bears (2-1) 21 @ Cleveland (1-2) 14



AFL
Cincinnati (0-2) 7 @ Boston (1-1) 29
Columbus (2-1) 23 @ New York (0-1) 13

Baseball
World Series
Cincinnati Reds 0 @ Detroit Tigers 8 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Bobo Newsom pitched a 3-hitter for his second win of the series and the Tigers had 13 hits, including a 3-run home run by Hank Greenberg, as they whipped the Reds before 55,189 fans at Briggs Stadium. The Tigers scored 3 runs in the 3rd inning and 4 in the 4th. Junior Thompson gave up 8 hits in 3.1 innings in taking the loss.

75 years ago
1945

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Till the End of Time--Perry Como with Russ Case and his Orchestra (Best Seller--4th week at #1; Airplay--4th week at #1; Juke Box--2nd week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--3rd week at #1)

Football
CRU
IRFU
Hamilton (1-1) 10 @ Ottawa (2-1) 19
Montreal (0-2) 3 @ Toronto (2-1) 21

Canadian university-intermediate
Exhibition
HMCS Unicorn 5 @ University of Saskatchewan (1-0) 36

Bob Shore scored a touchdown in each quarter, and George Petuk and Les Williams scored other TDs for the Huskies as they routed the Navy squad at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon. Lloyd Saunders scored the Navy TD in the 3rd quarter.

Baseball
World Series
Detroit Tigers 4 @ Chicago Cubs 1 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

The Tigers scored all their runs in the 4th inning as they beat the Cubs before 42,923 fans at Wrigley Field, with Dizzy Trout pitching a 5-hitter to get the win. This game marked the origin of the "Curse of the Billy Goat," when Billy Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, and his pet billy goat were asked to leave Wrigley Field because the goat's odor was offending other fans. Mr. Sianis reportedly put a curse on the Cubs, and they didn't appear in a World Series again until 2016.

70 years ago
1950

War
U.S. headquarters in Tokyo charged that retreating North Korean forces had killed 25,000 South Korean civilians in late September.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman ordered draft boards to start registering physicians, dentists, and veterinarians under age 50 for up to 21 months' service.

Diplomacy
The U.S. State Department's Loyalty and Security Board cleared career Foreign Service officer Jack Service of disloyalty or collaboration with Communists.

Oil
Lebanese sources reported that the world's biggest oil pipeline, the 1,069-mile Trans-Arabian pipeline from Saudi Arabia's Persian Gulf to Sidon on the Mediterranean Sea, had been completed with the linking of its eastern and western segments in Jordan.

Baseball
World Series
Philadelphia Phillies 2 @ New York Yankees 3 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Jerry Coleman singled home Gene Woodling with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Yankees their win over the Phillies. 64,505 fans at Yankee Stadium saw the Yankees tie the game in the 8th inning on an error by Philadelphia shortstop Granny Hamner with the bases loaded. Ed Lopat gave up 9 hits and 2 runs in 8 innings, and reliever Tom Ferrick (1-0) was the winning pitcher. Ken Heintzelman started for the Phillies and gave up 4 hits in 7.2 innings before Jim Konstanty got the final out of the 8th inning. Russ Meyer (0-1) then took the mound for the Phillies and gave up 3 hits and the winning run.



60 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): Please Don't Tease--Cliff Richard and the Shadows (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Tell Laura I Love Her--Ricky Valance (2nd week at #1)

At the movies
Spartacus, directed by Stanley Kubrick, and starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, and Tony Curtis, received its premiere public screening at the DeMille Theatre in New York City.



Music
Stan Kenton and his Orchestra performed the first of two concerts at Varsity Arena as a precursor to Homecoming Weekend at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Only about 250 people attended the concert, which was promoted by well-known Edmonton musician Tommy Banks.

Hockey
NHL
The Montréal Canadiens retired Maurice "Rocket" Richard's jersey number 9, three weeks after he had announced his retirement.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (9-3) 13 @ British Columbia (4-7-1) 21

Jackie Parker and Johnny Bright scored touchdowns for the Eskimos. Cowboy Woodruff converted one of the scores, while Tommy-Joe Coffey missed the other Edmonton convert attempt. 21,707 were in attendance at Empire Stadium in Vancouver.

Baseball
World Series
New York Yankees 16 @ Pittsburgh Pirates 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Every man in the starting lineup had at least one hit for the Yankees as they scored 7 runs in the 6th inning and whipped the Pirates before 37,308 fans at Forbes Field. Mickey Mantle led the Yankee attack with 2 home runs and 5 runs batted in, and Tony Kubek and Bobby Richardson each had 3 hits and 3 runs. The Yankees, with 19, and the Pirates, with 13, combined for a World Series record 32 hits in a single game. Bob Turley pitched 8 1/3 innings to get the win, while losing pitcher Bob Friend gave up 6 hits and 3 runs in 4 innings.





50 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): A Song of Joy--Miguel Ríos (3rd week at #1)

Terrorism
Canadian External Affairs Minister Mitchell Sharp said that the government of Canada refused to meet conditions of the FLQ given in a communiqué broadcast at 1:30 over Montreal radio station CKAC for the release of British Trade Commissioner James Cross, kidnapped from his Montreal residence the day before. The FLQ's conditions were: publication of the FLQ Manifesto in newspapers; release of FLQ militants from jail; and rehiring of 400 ex-employees of the Lapalme transport company by the Post Office.

World events
Civil war nearly erupted in Bolivia after leftist General Alfredo Ovando Candia bowed to pressure from rightist General Rogelio Miranda and resigned as President.

40 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Upside Down--Diana Ross (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Hatto Shite! Good--Toshihiko Tahara (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sun of Jamaica--Goombay Dance Band (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Santa Maria--Oliver Onions (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Jean Robic, 59. French cyclist. Mr. Robic raced professionally from 1943-1961, and was best known for winning the Tour de France in 1947. He was killed in a car accident.

Hattie Jacques, 58. U.K. actress. Miss Jacques, born Josephine Edwina Jaques, was known for her comic performances on stage, radio, and television, and was probably best known for appearing in 14 Carry On movies (1958-1973), playing no-nonsense characters. She died of a heart attack after a period of declining health.

War
Jordan declared its support for Iraq in her war against Iran.

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau outlined his plan to patriate the Canadian constitution unilaterally, after a lack of consensus by first ministers.

Energy
The Quebec and Newfoundland governments signed the Churchill Falls hydro agreement; it was a 40-year deal negotiated between Hydro-Québec and the British Newfoundland Corporation, allowing Québec to buy power from the Churchill Falls hydro-electric project in Labrador at a fixed price.

Baseball
The Chicago White Sox released pinch hitter Minnie Minoso, ending his career. He had been activated several days earlier and batted 0 for 2 in 2 games, joining Nick Altrock as the only men to play in the major leagues in five decades. Mr. Minoso batted .298 with 186 home runs, 1,023 runs batted in, and 205 stolen bases in 1,835 games in 17 seasons in the major leagues.

Art Howe drove in 4 runs with a home run and 2 singles and Joe Niekro (20-12) pitched a 6-hitter and didn't give up an earned run as the Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-1 in a 1-game playoff before 51,127 fans at Dodger Stadium to win the National League West Division pennant. It was the first pennant of any kind for the Astros in their 19-year history. Vic Davalillo grounded out as a pinch hitter for the Dodgers in the 5th inning in the 1,458th and last game of his 16-year major league career. Gary Thomasson grounded out as a pinch hitter for the Dodgers in the 9th in the 901st and last game of his 9-year major league career.





30 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Sotto Questo Sole--Francesco Baccini; Ladri di Biciclette (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): I Can't Stand It--Twenty 4 Seven (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Ritmo de la noche--Lorca (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): À toutes les filles...--Félix Gray & Didier Barbelivien

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Show Me Heaven--Maria McKee (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Verdammt - Ich Lieb' Dich--Matthias Reim
2 I've Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
3 It's on You--M.C. Sar & the Real McCoy
4 Nah Neh Nah--Vaya con Dios
5 Tonight--New Kids on the Block
6 The Cult of Snap--Hi Power
7 Mooi Was Die Tijd--Corry Konings
8 Hé Suzie--Henk Wijngaard
9 Promise Me--Beverley Craven
10 Tom's Diner--DNA featuring Suzanne Vega

Singles entering the chart were Have You Seen Her by MC Hammer (#25); Must Bee the Music by King Bee (#28); What Time is Love? - Live at Trancentral by KLF (#32); Black Cat by Janet Jackson (#34); I've Got You Under My Skin by Neneh Cherry (#35); and Just Say Hello! by Rene Froger (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Close to You--Maxi Priest
2 Praying for Time--George Michael
3 (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection--Nelson
4 Something Happened on the Way to Heaven--Phil Collins
5 I Don't Have the Heart--James Ingram
6 Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi
7 Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice
8 Oh Girl--Paul Young
9 Do Me!--Bell Biv DeVoe
10 Release Me--Wilson Phillips

Singles entering the chart were Something to Believe In by Poison (#70); From a Distance by Bette Midler (#75); Because I Love You (The Postman Song) by Stevie B (#80); Think by Information Society (#82); Tom's Diner by DNA featuring Suzanne Vega (#87); Let's Try it Again by New Kids on the Block (#88); Wiggle It by 2 in a Room (#95); and Breakdown by Secuction (#98).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection--Nelson
2 Praying for Time--George Michael
3 Something Happened on the Way to Heaven--Phil Collins
4 Close to You--Maxi Priest
5 Thieves in the Temple--Prince
6 Oh Girl--Paul Young
7 Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi
8 I Don’t Have the Heart--James Ingram
9 My, My, My--Johnny Gill
10 Heart of Stone--Taylor Dayne

Singles entering the chart were The Boomin' System by L.L. Cool J (#40); Something to Believe In by Poison (#65); From a Distance by Bette Midler (#68); Let's Try it Again by New Kids on the Block (#70); Tom's Diner by D.N.A. featuring Suzanne Vega (#73); Because I Love You (The Postman Song) by Stevie B (#82); Livin' in the Light by Caron Wheeler (#87); Love is a Rock by REO Speedwagon (#89); and Wiggle It by 2 in a Room (#94).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi (2nd week at #1)
2 Something Happened on the Way to Heaven--Phil Collins
3 Release Me--Wilson Phillips
4 Oh Girl--Paul Young
5 Thieves in the Temple--Prince
6 Can't Stop Fallin' Into Love--Cheap Trick
7 Praying for Time--George Michael
8 Have You Seen Her--MC Hammer
9 Unskinny Bop--Poison
10 Girl with a Problem--The Northern Pikes

Singles entering the chart were Tick Tock by the Vaughan Brothers (#59); Everybody Everybody by Black Box (#67); Thunderstruck by AC/DC (#68); The Forecast (Calls for Pain) by the Robert Cray Band (#73); Stop Running Away by Brenda Russell (#75); Don't You Know It by Kenny MacLean (#79); Love is the Ritual by Styx (#81); Forever You, Forever Me by Sheree (#83); Where Does My Heart Beat Now by Celine Dion (#87); Hey You by London Quireboys (#93); and Fly to the Angels by Slaughter (#95).

Football
CFL
Ottawa (5-9) 42 @ British Columbia (3-10-1) 26

Damon Allen threw 2 touchdown passes to David Williams and 1 each to Jeff Smith and Stephen Jones to lead the Rough Riders to victory before 25,499 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. Reggie Barnes scored Ottawa touchdowns on rushes of 2 and 1 yard. B.C. quarterback Doug Flutie completed touchdown passes of 36 yards to Tony Dennis and 27 yards to Ray Alexander, while Lorenzo Graham scored the Lions’ other touchdown on a 7-yard rush. It was the first win for the Rough Riders in Vancouver since August 22. 1974. B.C. kicker and punter Lui Passaglia suffered a leg injury in the 2nd quarter and was replaced by defensive back Rick Ryan for placekicks and slotback Jan Carinci for punting.



CIAU
Calgary 34 @ Alberta (1-4) 29

Chris Konrad recovered a blocked punt in the Alberta end zone for the winning touchdown with less than 5 minutes remaining in the game as the Dinosaurs beat the Golden Bears before about 1,500 fans at Varsity Stadium in Edmonton.

Baseball
American League Championship Series
Oakland 9 @ Boston 1 (Oakland led best-of-seven series 1-0)

The Athletics scored 7 runs in the 9th inning to break open a pitchers’ duel and defeat the Red Sox before 35,192 fans at Fenway Park. Dave Stewart gave up 4 hits in 8 innings to get the win, while losing pitcher Roger Clemens left the game after 6 innings.



25 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Fiskarna i haven--Idde Schultz (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Fairground--Simply Red

Space
51 Pegasi was discovered to be the second major star apart from the Sun to have a planet orbiting it.

Religion
This blogger was in attendance for the third and last day of a discernment and prophecy conference at Zion Baptist Community Church in Edmonton, with guest speakers Larry Thomas and Dave Hunt. In the morning session, Mr. Thomas spoke on the topic The Beginning of Sorrows, while Mr. Hunt's topic was The Revived Roman Empire. The two men held a question-and-answer session with pastors in the afternoon. In the evening, Mr. Thomas spoke on The Mark of the Beast, and Mr. Hunt's topic was A Woman Rides the Beast, the title of his book published the previous year.

Protest
Most Quebec CÉGEP junior college students walked out to protest tuition fee hikes.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that although the unemployment rate had held steady at 5.6% in September, 121,000 payroll jobs had been added to the economy.

Hockey
NHL
The former Québec Nordiques, playing their first regular season game as the Colorado Avalanche, defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 at McNicholls Sports Arena in Denver.

Baseball
National League Division Series
Colorado 7 @ Atlanta 5 (10 innings) (Atlanta led best-of-five series 2-1)



Los Angeles 1 @ Cincinnati 10 (Cincinnati won best-of-five series 3-0)

American League Division Series
Cleveland 8 @ Boston 2 (Cleveland won best-of-five series 3-0)



New York 4 @ Seattle 7 (New York led best-of-five series 2-1)



20 years ago
2000

Died on this date
Richard Farnsworth, 80. U.S. actor and stuntman. Mr. Farnsworth worked as a stuntman in Western and other movies in the late 1930s, and soon moved into acting, where he was best known for his roles in Westerns. He was nominated for Academy Awards for his supporting performance in Comes a Horseman (1979) and his starring performance in The Straight Story (1999), and won a Genie Award for his starring performance in The Grey Fox (1982). Mr. Farnsworth was suffering from terminal cancer when he committed suicide by shooting himself.

Politics and government
Slobodan Milosevic resigned as President of Yugoslavia amid accusations of vote-rigging in the September 24 presidential election.

Denouncing corruption in Argentine President Fernando de la Rúa's administration and the Senate, Vice President Carlos Álvarez resigned.

Crime
National Hockey League player Marty McSorley was found guilty of assault with a weapon for using his stick to club Donald Brashear of the Vancouver Canucks during a game in February.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (4-9-1) 18 @ Calgary (10-3-1) 28

Dave Dickenson threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Allen Pitts with 3:50 remaining in the game to put the game away for the Stampeders as they beat the Roughriders before 35,967 fans at McMahon Stadium. The touchdown culminated a drive that had begun with an interception by Jackie Kellogg in the Calgary end zone to snuff out a Saskatchewan drive. Mr. Dickenson also rushed 1 yard for a touchdown and handed off to Rock Preston for a 3-yard touchdown run. Former Stampeder quarterback Henry Burris passed 5 yards to Dylan Ching and 14 yards to Curtis Marsh in the 3rd quarter for the Roughriders’ touchdowns. Saskatchewan running back Dion Tyler carried 12 times for 122 yards.



Baseball
American League Division Series
Chicago 1 @ Seattle 2 (Seattle won best-of-five series 3-0)

Pinch hitter Carlos Guillen bunted for a single as Rickey Henderson came home with the winning run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning as the Mariners edged the White Sox before 48,010 fans at Safeco Field to complete the sweep.



Oakland 2 @ New York 4 (New York led best of five series 2-1)

Orlando Hernandez and Mariano Rivera combined for a 4-hitter as the Yankees defeated the Athletics before 56,606 fans at Yankee Stadium.



10 years ago
2010

Died on this date
Rhys Isaac, 72. S.A.-born Australian historian. Dr. Isaac was educated in his native South Africa, but emigrated to Australia and specialized in American history, becoming the only Australian to win the Pulitzer Prize for History, which he won for The Transformation of Virginia, 1740-1790 (1982). He died of cancer.

Technology
The first version of the Instagram mobile application was released for iOS devices.

Baseball
National League Division Series
Cincinnati 0 @ Philadelphia 4 (Philadelphia led best-of-five series 1-0)

Roy Halladay (1-0) pitched the second no-hitter in postseason history, leading the Phillies over the Reds before 46,411 fans at Citizens Bank Park. The only Cincinnati batter to reach base was right fielder Jay Bruce, who drew a base on balls in the 5th inning. Edinson Volquez (0-1) took the loss. The Phillies had only 5 hits against four Cincinnati pitchers, but the game still took 2 hours 34 minutes to play. The only previous no-hitter in postseason play was Don Larsen's perfect game in the fifth game of the 1956 World Series.



American League Division Series
Texas 5 @ Tampa Bay 1 (Texas led best-of-five series 1-0)



New York 6 @ Minnesota 4 (New York led best-of-five series 1-0)