April 25, 2021

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Suzie Martin!

175 years ago
1846

War
Mexican forces commanded by General Anastasio Torrejon ambushed American forces led by Captain Seth Thornton along the Rio Grande, triggering the Mexican–American War.

170 years ago
1851

Politics and government
Prince Edward Island won responsible government, under the premiership of George Coles.

150 years ago
1871

Born on this date
Lorne Currie. French-born yachtsman. Mr. Currie was born in Le Havre, but was representing the United Kingdom when he helmed his boat to gold medals in the open class and ½–1 ton events at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris. Mr. Currie died in Le Havre on June 21, 1926 at the age of 55.

Politics and government
An Order-in-Council in the cabinet of Canadie Prime Minister John A. Macdonald resolved to create a federal lands act.

125 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Fred Haney. U.S. baseball player, coach, and manager. Mr. Haney was a third baseman with the Detroit Tigers (1922-1925); Boston Red Sox (1926-1927); Chicago Cubs (1927); and St. Louis Cardinals (1929), batting .275 with 8 home runs and 228 runs batted in in 622 games. In a 16-year minor league career from 1918-1938, Mr. Haney batted .304 with 31 homers in 1,741 games. He managed the St. Louis Browns (1939-1941); Pittsburgh Pirates (1953-1955); and Milwaukee Braves (1956-1959), compiling a record of 629-757 (.454). He led the Braves to the World Series championship in 1957 and the National League pennant in 1958. Earlier, Mr. Haney had managed the Hollywood Stars to the Pacific Coast League pennant in 1949. Mr. Haney served as the first general manager of the Los Angeles and California Angels of the American League from 1961-1968, and died on November 9, 1977 at the age of 81.

120 years ago
1901

Society
New York became the first state to require license plates on cars.

Business
Royal Electric Company, Montreal and Saint-Lawrence Light and Power Company, and Montreal Gas Company merged to form Montreal Light, Heat and Power Company (MLHP). It was provincialized by the Quebec government in 1944.

Baseball
Before 10,023 fans at Bennett Park in Detroit, the Detroit Tigers rallied for 10 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 14-13 in the first American League game for both clubs. Pop Dillon led the Detroit attack, batting 4 for 6 with 4 doubles, 3 runs, and 5 runs batted in.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Connie Marrero. Cuban baseball pitcher. Mr. Marrero played many years of amateur baseball in his native Cuba before playing with the Havana Cubans of the Florida International League (1947-1949), amassing a record of 70-25, winning at least 20 games in each season. He was with the Washington Nationals (1950-1954), compiling a record of 39-40 with an earned run average of 3.67 in 118 games, batting .114 with no home runs and 9 runs batted in. Mr. Marrero ended his professional career with the Havana Sugar Kings of the International League (1955-1957), and coached in his native Cuba for many years thereafter. He died on April 23, 2014, two days before his 103rd birthday.

Died on this date
Emilio Salgari, 48. Italian author. Mr. Salgari wrote more than 200 short stories and novels, mainly in the genres of swashbuckling adventure and science fiction. His works were popular not just in Italy but in Spanish-speaking countries, influencing other writers and filmmakers. Several tragedies drove Mr. Salgari into depression, and shortly after his wife Ida was committed to a mental ward, he committed suicide in an imitation of harakiri.

100 years ago
1921

Born on this date
Robert Q. Lewis. U.S. radio and television personality. Mr. Lewis, born Robert Goldberg, was known for his many appearances on radio and television quiz and game shows from the 1950s through the 1970s, sometimes as host, often as panelist. He died from emphysema on December 11, 1991 at the age of 70.

Baseball
Walter Johnson (2-1) pitched a 5-hitter to earn his 307th career American League win--breaking the record of Eddie Plank--as the Washington Nationals scored all their runs in the last 2 innings to defeat the New York Yankees 5-3 before 15,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. Babe Ruth hit a home run off Mr. Johnson in the 1st inning. Carl Mays (3-1) was the losing pitcher, allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs in a complete game.

80 years ago
1941

War
The German command announced the capture of Thermopylae after an intense three-day battle. German bombers continued attacks on British evacuation from Greek ports.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said at a press conference that the U.S. Navy would extend its neutrality patrol to the seven seas, if necessary, for the protection of the Western Hemisphere. He compared famed aviator and opponent of U.S. intervention in the European War Charles Lindbergh to the "Copperhead" defeatists in the U.S. Civil War. 1940 Republican Party U.S. presidential candidate Wendell Willkie urged the use of convoys to "protect those shipments" to Britain.

Crime
Julio Ayala, leader of the Cuban Realist Revolutionary Party supporting President Fulgencio Batista, was shot and seriously wounded in a Havana suburb.

Politics and government
Argentine Acting President Ramon Castillo announced that he would temporarily govern "be decree" because of the Radical Party's refusal to vote on any bills in Congress.

Medicine
Dr. J.S.L. Browne of McGill University said that intramuscular injections of the synthetic male hormone testosterone propionate had added several inches to the height of 10 dwarfed youths.

Labour
U.S. Labor Secretary Frances Perkins certified the Congress of Industrial Organizations United Auto Workers dispute with General Motors to the National Defense Mediation Board. U.S. Senator Harry Byrd (Democrat--Virginia) demanded that Miss Perkins resign for failing to certify the coal strike to the NDMB for three weeks.

Boxing
World bantamweight champion Lou Salica (53-11-12) retained his title with a 15-round unanimous decision over Lew Transparenti (27-18) at Baltimore Coliseum. Mr. Transparenti had defeated Mr. Salica seven weeks earlier in a non-title bout.

75 years ago
1946

War
The conference of foreign ministers of the U.S.A., U.K., U.S.S.R., and France opened in Paris, as Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov accepted French participation, but opposed French voting on peace treaties with Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Finland, and Italy.

Defense
Chinese Communist troops entered the Manchurian city of Harbin as Soviet forces left.

Labour
The U.S. Railroad Trainmen and Locomotive Engineers Brotherhoods rejected a fact-finding board's 16c hourly wage increase recommendation and called a strike of its 300,000 members for May 18, 1946.

Disasters
45 people were killed and 125 injured when the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad's Exposition Flyer rammed into the Advance Flyer in Naperville, Illinois.

70 years ago
1951

War
The Chinese army retreated after failing to to dislodge Canadian troops from Hill 677, defending the Kapyong Valley in Korea; the Canadians, largely the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), suffered 10 dead, 23 wounded in the two-day Chinese attack. A U.S. spokesman at Lake Success announced that American planes would bomb Chinese air bases in Manchuria if they were used to launch attacks on United Nations forces in Korea.

Defense
U.K. Foreign Secretary Herbert Morrison reaffirmed the government's commitment to rearmament but warned the U.S.A. that Britain must have its fair share of new materials.

U.S. President Harry Truman signed a bill giving $10,000 life insurance policies to members of the armed forces.

Labour
U.S. Economic Stabilization Agency Director Eric Johnston approved a 6c hourly wage increase for one million non-operating railroad workers despite the fact that it exceeded the 10% limit on pay raises.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Romantica--Robertino (6th week at #1)

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, hosted by John Newland, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Avengers, starring André Morell, Lisa Gastoni, and Stanley Van Beers



Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Gratitude, starring Peter Falk and Paul Hartman

Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Parasite Mansion, starring Pippa Scott, Jeanette Nolan, and James Griffith



Died on this date
Robert Garrett, 85. U.S. athlete. Mr. Garrett participated in the first two modern Olympic Games, winning gold medals in the men's discus throw and shot put at Athens in 1896, and silver medals in the high jump and long jump events. He won bronze medals in the shot put and standing triple jump at Paris in 1900. Mr. Garrett became an investment banker and philanthropist in Baltimore, and financed archaeological excavations in the Middle East. He died 29 days before his 86th birthday.

Music
Elvis Presley performed at the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; it was his last live performance for more than seven years.

Space
The United States launched Mercury-Atlas 3 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft was unmanned, but carried a mechanical "robotic astronaut." The pitch and roll sequence failed to initiate 20 seconds after launch, and the destruct command was issued 43 seconds after launch. The capsule landed in the Atlantic Ocean 7 minutes 19 seconds after launch.



Baseball
Every man in the Kansas City lineup scored at least 1 run as the Athletics routed the Minnesota Twins 20-2 before 4,664 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. Kansas City catcher Haywood Sullivan batted 4 for 5 with 2 triples, a double, 3 runs, and 5 runs batted in. Norm Bass (1-0) pitched a 7-hit complete game victory. Fred Bruckbauer, the third of seven Minnesota pitchers, faced 4 batters, allowing 3 runs--all earned--on 3 hits and a base on balls in his only major league game.

50 years ago
1971

Politics and government
Incumbent Franz Jonas, the Socialist Party candidate, was re-elected President of Austria, taking 52.8% of the vote to 47.2% for Austrian People's party candidate Kurt Waldheim.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Chicago 7 @ New York 1 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Montreal 2 @ Minnesota 5 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Milwaukee 102 @ Baltimore 83 (Milwaukee led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Lew Alcindor scored 27 points and grabbed 24 rebounds to lead the Bucks over the Bullets before 12,289 fans at Baltimore Civic Center. Oscar Robertson added 22 points for Milwaukee. Jack Marin led Baltimore scorers with 22 points.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Sarà perché ti amo--Ricchi e Poveri (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Vienna--Ultravox

#1 single in Ireland: Making Your Mind Up--Bucks Fizz

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Making Your Mind Up--Bucks Fizz (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Making Your Mind Up--Bucks Fizz (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Vienna--Ultravox (3rd week at #1)
2 Angel of Mine--Frank Duval & Orchestra
3 Without Your Love--Roger Daltrey
4 One Night Affair--Spargo
5 Can You Feel It--The Jacksons
6 Don't Stop the Music--Yarbrough & Peoples
7 Jealous Guy--Roxy Music
8 Mister Sandman--Emmylou Harris
9 Chanson D'Amour--BZN
10 You Better You Bet--The Who

Singles entering the chart were De Verzonken Stad by Frank & Mirella (#27); Bon Bon Vie (Gimme the Good Life) by T.S. Monk (#32); Kids in America by Kim Wilde (#34); Dance On by Doris D and the Pins (#35); and Wat is Dan Liefde? by André Hazes (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates (3rd week at #1)
2 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
3 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
4 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
5 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
6 Rapture--Blondie
7 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood
8 Woman--John Lennon
9 The Best of Times--Styx
10 Don't Stand So Close to Me--The Police

Singles entering the chart were This Little Girl by Gary U.S. Bonds (#67); America by Neil Diamond (#76); Just So Lonely by Get Wet (#80); Give a Little Bit More by Cliff Richard (#81); I Can Take Care of Myself by Billy & the Beaters (#84); Say What by Jesse Winchester (#87); Make That Move by Shalamar (#88); Seven Year Ache by Rosanne Cash (#89); and Is it You by Lee Ritenour (#90). America was from the movie The Jazz Singer (1980).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton (2nd week at #1)
2 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
3 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
4 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
5 Rapture--Blondie
6 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
7 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
8 Her Town Too--James Taylor and J.D. Souther
9 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
10 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood

Singles entering the chart were This Little Girl by Gary U.S. Bonds (#52); America by Neil Diamond (#53); Just So Lonely by Get Wet (#74); Give a Little Bit More by Cliff Richard (#82); I’ve Been Waiting for You All of My Life by Paul Anka (#83); Can You Feel It by the Jacksons (#85); You Like Me Don’t You by Jermaine Jackson (#87); I Can Take Care of Myself by Billy & the Beaters (#88); Lately by Stevie Wonder (#89); Make That Move by Shalamar (#90); Seduced by Leon Redbone (#95); and Shaddap You Face by Joe Dolce (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
2 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
3 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
4 Rapture--Blondie
5 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
6 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
7 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
8 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
9 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood
10 Somebody's Knockin'--Terri Gibbs

Singles entering the chart were America by Neil Diamond (#47); This Little Girl by Gary U.S. Bonds (#54); Just So Lonely by Get Wet (#77); I've Been Waiting for You All of My Life by Paul Anka (#85); You Like Me Don't You by Jermaine Jackson (#86); Still Right Here in My Heart by Pure Prairie League (#87); Somebody Send My Baby Home by Lenny LeBlanc (#88); Can You Feel It by the Jacksons (#89); Get Tough by Kleeer (#93); and For You by Manfred Mann's Earth Band (#94).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 9 to 5--Dolly Parton (2nd week at #1)
2 Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce
3 Celebration--Kool & the Gang
4 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood
5 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
6 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
7 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
8 A Little in Love--Cliff Richard
9 Wasn’t That a Party--The Rovers
10 I Missed Again--Phil Collins

Singles entering the chart were Watching the Wheels by John Lennon (#34); Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes (#37); Say You’ll Be Mine by Christopher Cross (#41); Love You Like I Never Loved You Before by John O’Banion (#48); and Up the Hill Backwards by David Bowie (#49).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton (2nd week at #1)
2 You Better You Bet--The Who
3 Somebody's Knockin'--Terri Gibbs
4 Time Out of Mind--Steely Dan
5 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
6 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
7 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood
8 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
9 High School Confidential--Rough Trade
10 Too Much Time on My Hands--Styx

Singles entering the chart were I Don't Need You by Rupert Holmes (#21); Living Inside Myself by Gino Vannelli (#25); and Love You Like I Never Loved Before by John O'Banion (#27).

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Deep Deep Trouble--The Simpsons (4th week at #1)

Politics and government
Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Georges Erasmus suggested a new Canadian national treaty separate from the current constitutional negotiations.

Oil
The Interprovincial Pipeline, an 832-kilometre line between Sarnia and Montreal built during the 1974 energy crisis, was shut down because Québec refiners could buy oil cheaper offshore.

Economics and finance
The United States hiked tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Montreal 1 @ Boston 4 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Washington 1 @ Pittsburgh 4 (Pittsburgh won best-of-seven series 4-1)

25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Firestarter--The Prodigy (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Children--Robert Miles

Died on this date
Saul Bass, 75. U.S. graphic designer. Mr. Bass designed movie posters and corporate logos, but was perhaps best known for designing innovative title sequences for movies such as The Man with the Golden Arm (1955); North by Northwest (1959); and Psycho (1960). Much of his work was done in close collaboration with his wife Elaine.

Protest
A 24-hour riot at the Headingly jail in Manitoba left 7 guards and 30 inmates injured. The jail was trashed and burned by inmates during the rampage and was closed until extensive repairs could be made.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
Florida 2 @ Boston 6 (Florida led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Tampa Bay 1 @ Philadelphia 4 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-2)
St. Louis 4 @ Toronto 5 (OT) (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Vancouver 4 @ Colorado 5 (OT) (Colorado led best-of-seven series 3-2)

The Maple Leafs' win over the Blues was the last playoff game ever played at Maple Leaf Gardens.

20 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Michele Alboreto, 44. Italian auto racing driver. Mr. Alboreto raced in the Fornula One circuit from 1981-1994, starting 194 races, winning 5 and finishing on the podium 23 times. He participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1981-1983, 1996-2000), winning in 1997. Mr. Alboreto was testing a car in eastern Germany in preparation for the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans when a tire failed, causing the car to somersault and crash, killing him instantly.

Baseball
Rickey Henderson of the San Diego Padres drew his 2,063rd career base on balls, breaking the major league record formerly held by Babe Ruth. The Padres lost 5-3 to the Philadelphia Phillies before 12,573 fans at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Bobby Thompson, 57. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Thompson, nicknamed "Bull," was a center fielder who spent 6 seasons in the Texas Rangers' minor league system (1972-1977), batting .272 with 26 home runs and 284 runs batted in in 526 games. He spent the entire 1978 season with the Rangers, hitting .225 with 2 homers and 12 RBIs in 64 games. Mr. Thompson failed to make the Rangers in 1979; he played 10 games with the Maracaibo Petroleros de Zulia in the Inter-American League that year, batting .278 with no home runs and 4 RBIs. Mr. Thompson finished his career in 1980 with the Petroleros de Poza Rica in the Mexican League, hitting .301 with 1 homer and 12 RBIs in 26 games.

War
Syrian President Bashar Assad sent the military into the southern city of Daraa, where an anti-government uprising had begun the previous month.