May 25, 2021

760 years ago
1261

Died on this date
Alexander IV, 61-75 (?). Roman Catholic Pope, 1254-1261. Alexander IV, born Rinaldo di Jenne, was the nephew of Pope Gregory IX, and rose through the ranks of the clergy, becoming Dean of the College of Cardinals in 1240 or 1244, and succeeding Innocent IV as pope. His reign included efforts to reunite the Eastern Orthodox churches with the Roman Catholic Church; the establishment of the Inquisition in France; and an attempt to organize a crusade against the Tatars after the second raid against Poland in 1259. Pope Alexander IV was succeeded by Urban IV.

500 years ago
1521

Religion
Martin Luther was condemned as a heretic and his writings were banned by the Edict of Worms.

230 years ago
1791

Born on this date
Minh Mạng. Emperor of Vietnam, 1820-1839; Emperor of Đại Nam, 1839-1841. Minh Mạng, born Nguyễn Phúc Đảm, acceded to the throne of the Nguyễn dynasty upon the death of his father Gia Long. Minh Mạng's reign was characterized by an isolationist foreign policy and rigid Confucian orthodoxy; he opposed French involvement in Vietnam (renamed Đại Nam in 1839), and in 1825 banned foreign Roman Catholic missionaries from entering Vietnam. Emperor Minh Mạng died on January 20, 1841 at the age of 49, and was succeeded by his son Thiệu Trị.

160 years ago
1861

Journalism
The first edition of the Christchurch Press was published from a cottage in Montreal Street; it was a six-page tabloid which sold for sixpence (equivalent to about $3.20 in 2020).

100 years ago
1921

Born on this date
Hal David. U.S. songwriter. Mr. David, the younger brother of lyricist Mack David, began writing lyrics to popular songs in the 1940s and worked with various composers, but was best known for his collaboration with Burt Bacharach (1957-1973), which produced hit songs too numerous to mention. The pair were nominated four times for Academy Awards, winning in 1969 for Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head, from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Mr. David's numerous honours included induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972; he died of a stroke on September 1, 2012 at the age of 91.

Kitty Kallen. U.S. singer. Miss Kallen began singing as a child, and achieved her greatest popularity in the 1940s and early '50s, as a vocalist with big bands and then as a solo act. She reached #1 on the Billboard pop singles chart four times: Bésame Mucho (with Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra and Bob Eberle) (1944); I'm Beginning to See the Light and It's Been a Long, Long Time (with Harry James and his Orchestra (1945); and Little Things Mean a Lot (1954), the latter staying in the #1 position for 9 weeks and reaching #1 in the United Kingdom. Miss Kallen died on January 7, 2016 at the age of 94.

Jack Steinberger. German-born physicist. Dr. Steinberger emigrated to the United States at the age of 13, and became an experimental particle physicist, noted for his work with neutrinos. He shared the 1988 Nobel Prize in Physics with Leon Lederman and Melvin Schwartz "for the neutrino beam method and the demonstration of the doublet structure of the leptons through the discovery of the muon neutrino." Dr. Steinberger worked at the European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) from 1968-1986, and died in Geneva on December 12, 2020 at the age of 99.

90 years ago
1931

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Adventure of the Six Napoleons

80 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Bob Higgins, 54. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Higgins was a catcher with the Cleveland Naps (1909) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1911-1912), batting .143 with no home runs and 2 runs batted in in 13 games. His minor league career spanned the years 1908-1920 and 1924-1925.

War
German Kriegsmarine Grand Admiral Erich Rader was reported by a Japanese news agency to have stated that U.S. convoys or naval aid to Britain would be "a plain act of war and unprovoked aggression" which Germany would meet with force.

Disasters
An estimated 5,000 people drowned when a storm struck a large number of villages in the Ganges River Delta in India.

Baseball
Pete Reiser hit his only career major league grand slam and drove in another run with an outfield fly to lead the Brooklyn Dodgers over the Philadelphia Phillies 8-4 before 12,941 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

Greek George singled home Bill Nicholson with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 18,663 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The game was played in 1 hour 43 minutes.

Steve Mesner drove in 3 runs with a double and later scored as the St. Louis Cardinals scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 18,749 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Cardinals won the second game 4-3 to complete the sweep.

Ted Williams batted 4 for 5 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in as the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 7-3 before 36,461 fans at Yankee Stadium. Lefty Grove pitched a 7-hit complete game victory, allowing 3 unearned runs on Charlie Keller's home run.

The Chicago White Sox scored all their runs in the 7th inning as they defeated the Detroit Tigers 7-3 before 20,520 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.

The Philadelphia Athletics scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to defeat the Washington Nationals 7-3 before 12,531 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

75 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Gypsy--The Ink Spots (Best Seller--1st week at #1); The Gypsy--Dinah Shore (Airplay--2nd week at #1); Oh! What it Seemed to Be--Frankie Carle and His Orchestra with Marjorie Hughes (Juke Box--11th week at #1); The Gypsy--The Ink Spots; Dinah Shore (Honor Roll of Hits--1st week at #1)

Died on this date
Patty Hill, 78. U.S. teacher and songwriter. Miss Hill was a leader in the progressive education movement in the late 19th-early 20th century, and developed Patty Hill blocks--large blocks with which children could make giant constructions. She was best known for writing, with her sister Mildred, the song that became Happy Birthday to You.

Marcel Petiot, 49. French physician and criminal. Dr. Petiot was beheaded by the guillotine at La Santé Prison in Paris after being convicted of 26 counts of murder; the actual number of people he murdered during World War II may have been at least 60.

Asiatica
Transjordan became a kingdom as it proclaimed its new monarch, Emir Abdullah I. He offered his throne as a "rallying point" for an Arab federation to include Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.

Politics and government
Indonesian Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir called the latest proposal of Dutch administrator Hubertus Van Mook a "definite step backward" from earlier Dutch willingness to recognize Indonesian control over Sumatra.

Labour
U.S. President Harry Truman, in an address to Congress, asked for the right to use court injunctions against labour leaders who urged workers to stay away from their jobs after the government had taken over an industry. During his address, he was handed a note stating that leaders of the striking Railroad Trainmen and Locomotive Engineers Brotherhoods had settled with railroad operators for an 18½c hourly wage increase.

70 years ago
1951

On the radio
Hear it Now, hosted by Edward R. Murrow, on CBS

Tonight's program included a report on guided missile tests taking place at White Sands, New Mexico.

Defense
The British government ordered 4,000 paratroops to Cyprus for possible airlift to protect British citizens and property in Iran.

The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and the Defense Department reported the successful completion of a series of atomic tests on Eniwetok Atoll.

Diplomacy
South Africa and Spain agreed to exchange diplomatic representatives for the first time.

Politics and government
The Panamanian National Assembly barred former Presient Arnulfo Arias from public office for life.

West German Socialist Reich Party leader Otto Ernst Remer received a four-month prison sentence in Verden for slandering the government of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, which Mr. Remer had called a "puppet" of the Western Allies.

The U.S. Democratic National Committee voted to hold the 1952 Democratic National Convention in Chicago the week beginning July 21. The committee also adopted a resolution backing President Harry Truman's dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur.

Transportation
The Western Hemisphere's southernmost railroad, a 612-mile line in Argentina between Rio Gallegos and the Rio Trubio coal fields, was opened.

Labour
The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and the U.S.A.'s railroads settled their 26-month wage dispute in Washington, with substantial hourly raises (18½c-33c) granted to roadmen and yardmen.

Boxing
Jimmy Carter (52-11-7), a 13-5 underdog, scored a technical knockout of defending champion Ike Williams (120-17-4) to win the world lightweight title. Mr. Williams was knocked down 4 times, and referee Petey Scalzo stopped the fight when the champion rose unsteadily after the last knockdown.

Baseball
Willie Mays played his first major league game, batting 0 for 5 and making 5 putouts in center field as his New York Giants scored a run in the 7th inning and 5 in the 8th as they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 before 21,082 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. In his first plate appearance, Mr. Mays was struck out by Bubba Church. Alvin Dark batted 4 for 5 for the Giants, while Eddie Waitkus was 4 for 5 for the Phillies.

Connie Ryan hit a grand slam off Red Munger (1-3) with 2 out in the top of the 11th inning to break a 1-1 tie as the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 before 11,922 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Ken Raffensberger (2-5) pitched 4.1 innings of scoreless relief to get the win.

The Washington Nationals scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st inning, but the Boston Red Sox scored 5 in the bottom of the 1st and coasted to a 14-2 rout before 21,379 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Boston left fielder Ted Williams batted 3 for 5 with a home run, 2 doubles, 3 runs, and 4 runs batted in. Chuck Stobbs (4-1) pitched a 6-hit complete game victory and didn't allow any earned runs, batting 2 for 5 with a double, run, and 3 RBIs.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): Exodus--Ferrante and Teicher (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): You're Driving Me Crazy--The Temperance Seven

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The King of Champagne

Politics and government
Addressing a joint session of Congress, U.S. President John F. Kennedy outlined the nation's urgent needs, and challenged the United States to "land a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth" before the end of the decade.



Diplomacy
United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold announced the resignation of Rajeshwar Dayal of India as the UN’s special representative in the Congo. Mr. Dayal’s resignation had long been sought by the central Congolese government of President Joseph Kasavubu, which accused him of favouring the Communist-backed dissident regime of Antoine Gizenga. Mr. Hammarskjold said that Mr. Dayal’s resignation was "at his own request," and indicated that Mr. Dayal would not be replaced and that the UN involvement in the Congo would be administrative rather than political in the future.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Un banc, un arbre, une rue--Séverine

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): (I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson (7th week at #1)

Politics and government
The Council of Maritime Premiers was formed to foster increased co-operation among the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

Former Canadian Defence Minister Paul Hellyer launched his Action Canada political movement to pressure the federal government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau on tax cuts, unemployment, and wage and price controls.

Aviation
The Franco-British Concorde and the Soviet Supolev 144, nearly identical supersonic jets, flew across Africa and Europe, respectively, in an early demonstration of what was believed to be the future of air travel.

Crime
Connecticut Judge Harold Mulvey dismissed all charges against Black Panthers leader Bobby Seale and Black Panther member Ericka Huggins, who had been tried in connection with the 1969 slaying of former New York Black Panther Alex Rackley. On May 24 the jury had declared itself hopelessly deadlocked. Judge Mulvey then declared a mistrial, citing the huge amount of publicity in the case and the difficulty of drawing a new jury panel, since 1,035 prospective jurors had already been screened in a record four-month selection process after the beginning of the trial on November 17, 1970.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Jealous Guy--Roxy Music (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Ruby no Yubiwa--Akira Terao (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Te Quiero Tanto--Iván

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Medley--Stars on 45

Diplomacy
In Riyadh, the Gulf Cooperation Council was created among Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Adventure
Daredevil Dan Goodwin, wearing a Spiderman costume, scaled the outside of Chicago's Sears Tower in 7½ hours.

Auto racing
The United States Auto Club penalized Bobby Unser one position for passing 14 cars under the yellow flag while coming out of the pits in the Indianapolis 500 the previous day, moving him to second place and making Mario Andretti, who had also passed several cars under yellow, the winner. Mr. Unser appealed the decision.

Baseball
Carl Yastrzemski, playing his 3,000th career major league game, drew a base on balls to lead off the bottom of the 9th inning and scored the winning run on a bases-loaded infield single by Carney Lansford as the Boston Red Sox edged the Cleveland Indians 8-7 before 20,860 fans at Fenway park in Boston. Only Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, and Hank Aaron had played in 3,000 games.

Leon Durham singled to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning and eventually scored from third base on a bases-loaded single by Scot Thompson as the Chicago Cubs came back from an 8-0 deficit to edge the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-9 before 18,506 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): The Horses--Daryl Braithwaite (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Se Stiamo Insieme--Riccardo Cocciante (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Grease Megamix--John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): De Sku' Ha' No'En Bank--Brian Igen-Igen

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Losing My Religion--R.E.M.

#1 single in France (SNEP): Désenchantée--Mylène Farmer (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher (4th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 One More Try--Timmy T (2nd week at #1)
2 Wind of Change--Scorpions
3 Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)--De La Soul
4 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
5 Going to the Run--Golden Earring
6 Future Love Paradise--Seal
7 Just a Groove--Nomad
8 You--Ten Sharp
9 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa
10 Last Train To Trancentral (Live from the Lost Continent)--The KLF

Singles entering the chart were Senza Una Donna (Without a Woman) by Zucchero & Paul Young (#28); I Left My Wallet In El Segundo - Norman Cook Remix by A Tribe Called Quest (#32); True Love by Pat Benatar (#33); Somebody Told Me by Hessel (#34); and Dikkertje Dap - Live by V.O.F. de Kunst (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I Don't Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
2 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
3 More than Words--Extreme
4 I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)--Hi-Five
5 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
6 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
7 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
8 I Wanna Sex You Up--Color Me Badd
9 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
10 Silent Lucidity--Queensryche

Singles entering the chart were Nights Like This by After 7 (#78); You Can't Play with My Yo-Yo by Yo-Yo featuring Ice Cube (#87); Kissing You by Keith Washington (#88); Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You) by Pet Shop Boys (#90); I'll Be There by the Escape Club (#91); Ooh La La by David Hallyday (#92); and Someone by the Rembrandts (#94). Nights Like This was from the movie The Five Heartbeats (1991).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
2 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
3 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
4 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
5 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
6 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
7 More than Words--Extreme
8 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
9 You Don’t Have to Go Home Tonight--The Triplets
10 I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)--High-Five

Singles entering the chart were I'll Be There by the Escape Club (#74); Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless) by Crystal Waters (#80); Higher than Hope by Daryl Braithwaite (#82); Dangerous by the Doobie Brothers (#83); Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You) by Pet Shop Boys (#86); When He’s Gone by the Bee Gees (#87); Piece of My Heart by Tara Kemp (#88); Someone by the Rembrandts (#89); and Mother's Eyes by Enuff Z'Nuff (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
2 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
3 Joyride--Roxette
4 Animal Heart--Glass Tiger
5 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
6 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
7 More than Words--Extreme
8 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
9 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
10 See the Lights--Simple Minds

Singles entering the chart were A Better Love by Londonbeat (#71); Sideways by Men Without Hats (#74); Crazy by Seal (#78); Highway 5 by the Blessing (#82); Obvious Song by Joe Jackson (#85); Three Pistols by the Tragically Hip (#87); Black, White and Blood Red by BoDeans (#89); Superman’s Song by Crash Test Dummies (#92); Ludi by the Dream Warriors (#93); and Raw by the Alarm (#95).

Personal
This blogger made his last (so far) visit to London, Ontario, spending the afternoon in the enjoyable company of a lovely lady.

World events
Israel’s Operation Solomon--a 22-hour mission to airlift 14,087 Jews from Ethiopia to Tel Aviv--was completed. 35 planes made a total of 40 flights, and the Israeli government paid the Ethiopian government--now under acting President Lieutenant General Tesfaye Gebre-Kidan after the ouster three days earlier of Lieutenant Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam--U.S.$35 million to free the Jews.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Pittsburgh 8 @ Minnesota 0 (Pittsburgh won best-of-seven series 4-2)



25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Fastlove--George Michael (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Lift U up--2 Fabiola (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Soirée disco--Boris (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Children--Robert Miles (10th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Drill Instructor--Captain Jack (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit--Gina G

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Tha Crossroads--Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (2nd week at #1)
2 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey
3 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion
4 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project
5 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
6 Give Me One Reason--Tracy Chapman
7 You're the One--SWV
8 Count on Me--Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans
9 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)--Coolio
10 Follow You Down/Til I Hear it from You--Gin Blossoms

Singles entering the chart were The Only Thing that Looks Good on Me is You by Bryan Adams (#90); and I'll Never Stop Loving You by J'Son (#91).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Tha Crossroads--Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
2 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey
3 You're the One--SWV
4 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion
5 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
6 Give Me One Reason--Tracy Chapman
7 Old Man and Me (When I Get to Heaven)--Hootie & the Blowfish
8 Count on Me--Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans
9 Keep On, Keepin' On--MC Lyte featuring Xscape
10 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project

Singles entering the chart were Please Don't Go by Immature (#36); Theme from Mission: Impossible by Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen, Jr. (#60); You Still Touch Me by Sting (#81); and Scary Kisses by Voice of the Beehive (#90).

Died on this date
Renzo De Felice, 67. Italian historian. Mr. De Felice was a Communist and then a Socialist who taught jurisprudence at the University of Rome. He specialized in the Fascist era, and his best-known work was a four-volume biography of Benito Mussolini (1965-1997), in which he argued that Mr. Mussolini was a revolutionary modernizer in domestic issues but a pragmatist in foreign policy. Mr. De Felice died of cancer.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference Finals
Detroit 2 @ Colorado 4 (Colorado led best-of-seven series 3-1)

20 years ago
2001

Adventure
American Erik Weihenmayer became the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, with Dr. Sherman Bull.

10 years ago
2011

On television today
The Oprah Winfrey Show aired its final broadcast, ending a 25-year run.

Died on this date
Paul Splittorff, 64. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Splittorff played with the Kansas City Royals (1970-1984), compiling a record of 166-143 with an earned run average of 3.81 in 429 games, batting .182 with no home runs and 4 runs batted in in 430 games. He was 2-0 with a 2.68 ERA in 6 American League Championship Series games (1976-1978, 1980) and 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in his only World Series game (1980). Mr. Splittorff was the first Royal to win 20 games (in 1973), and led the AL in winning percentage in 1977 (16-6, .727). He helped the team win three straight AL West Division pennants (1976-1978) and their first AL pennant (1980). This blogger saw what was probably Mr. Splittorff's best game, when he shut out the Oakland Athletics 5-0 at Royals Stadium on August 3, 1975, allowing a base on balls and an infield hit in the 1st inning and then retiring the last 26 batters he faced. He was a colour commentator on television broadcasts of college basketball and Royals' games until 2009, when he began to battle oral cancer and melanoma. Mr. Splittorff was inducted into the Royals' Hall of Fame in 1987, and remains the club's leader in career wins.

Crime
In Tucson, Arizona, U.S. federal Judge Larry Alan Burns ruled that Jared Lee Loughner, the man accused of wounding U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killing six in a shooting rampage on January 8, 2011, was mentally incompetent to stand trial.