July 26, 2021

1,210 years ago
811

Died on this date
Nikephoros I, 60-61. Emperor of the Byzantine Empire, 802-811. Nikephoros I was said to be of Arab origin, and was finance minister under Empress Irene before acceding to the throne after her ouster. He reorganized the empire and imposed tax hikes to increase revenue, and suffered a severe military defeat by Abbasid forces in the Battle of Krasos in 805, followed by a Muslim invasion in 806. Emperor Nikephoros invaded Bulgaria in 811 and brutally sacked the capital of Pliska, but was killed during the subsequent retreat, and decapitated by Khan Krum, who reportedly made Nikephoros' head into a drinking cup. Nikephoros I was succeeded on the throne by his son Staurakios.

War
Bulgarian forces commanded by Khan Krum routed retreating Byzantine Empire forces led by Emperor Nikephoros I in the Battle of Pliska, resulting in the death of Emperor Nikephoros and the severe wounding of his son and successor Staurakios.

550 years ago
1471

Died on this date
Paul II, 54. Roman Catholic Pope, 1464-1471. Paul II, born Pietro Barbo, was the nephew of Pope Eugene IV, which enabled him to rise rapidly through the ranks of Roman Catholic clergy, succeeding Pius II on the papal throne. Pope Paul was known for his suspicious nature and secretiveness. Paul died of a heart attack, although reports vary as to the cause; his detractors claimed that he died while being sodomized by a page boy. Pope Paul II was succeeded by Sixtus IV.

440 years ago
1581

Europeana
With the Plakkaat van Verlatinghe (Act of Abjuration), the northern Low Countries declared their independence from King Felipe II of Spain.

230 years ago
1791

Born on this date
Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart. Austrian musician, composer, and conductor. Mr. Mozart, the youngest child of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, played piano and violin, and began his composing career at an early age. He had moderate success as a pianist and teacher, teaching in Lemberg (Lwów) from 1813-1838, and serving as Kapellmeister of the Mozarteum in Salzburg from 1838 until his death from stomach cancer on July 29, 1844, three days after his 53rd birthday. Mr. Mozart's compositions were mainly chamber, piano, and choral works.

180 years ago
1841

Born on this date
Carl Robert Jakobson. Estonian journalist and political activist. Mr. Jakobson was an important figure in Estonian nationalist circles, especially advocating agricultural reforms. He founded the newspaper Sakala in 1878, using it to advocate Estonian cultural awakening. Mr. Jakobson died of pneumonia on March 19, 1882 at the age of 40; Estonian nationalists suspected that he was murdered by his doctor.

160 years ago
1861

War
General George B. McClellan assumed command of the Army of the Potomac, five days after a disastrous Union defeat in the First Battle of Bull Run.

140 years ago
1881

Transportation
The Canadian Pacific Railway was completed to Winnipeg.

130 years ago
1891

Franciana
France annexed Tahiti.

100 years ago
1921

Born on this date
Jean Shepherd. U.S. author. Mr. Shepherd was best known for writing and narrating the movie A Christmas Story (1983). He died on October 16, 1999 at the age of 78.

Tom Saffell. U.S. baseball player, manager, and executive. Mr. Saffell was a center fielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1949-1951, 1955) and Kansas City Athletics (1955), batting .238 with 6 home runs and 40 runs batted in in 271 games. He played 17 seasons in the minor leagues (1941, 1946-1964). Mr. Saffell managed in the low minor leagues for 13 years (1960-1972), winning two pennants. He became president of the rookie Gulf Coast League in 1978, and in 1999 was named King of Baseball. Mr. Saffell died on September 10, 2012 at the age of 91.

Died on this date
Howard Vernon, 73. Australian actor. Mr. Vernon, born John Lett, had a career spanning 48 years, and was best known for his performances in comic roles of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the J. C. Williamson company.

90 years ago
1931

Baseball
The Chicago White Sox scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning to break a 3-3 tie and held on to edge the New York Yankees 5-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 40,000 fans at Yankee Stadium. Every New York starter had at least 1 hit, 1 run batted in, and 2 runs as the Yankees scored all their run in the first 4 innings and coasted to a 22-5 rout in the second game. Red Ruffing (9-11) allowed 8 hits and 5 earned runs to get the win, while Lou McEvoy pitched 2 scoreless innings to get the save, walking 1 batter and striking out none, in the 34th and last game of his 2-year major league career. Hank Garrity batted 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter and caught the 8th inning for Chicago in the second game, with no fielding chances in his major league debut.

Tom Oliver led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a double and Charlie Berry followed with a double to score Mr. Oliver, giving the Boston Red Sox a 7-6 win over the Detroit Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader before 10,000 fans at Braves Field in Boston. Charlie Gehringer batted 5 for 5 with 3 doubles and 3 runs batted in to help the Tigers win the second game 7-3.

The Boston Braves scored 3 runs in the top of the 11th inning to break a 0-0 tie and withstood a 2-run rally in the bottom of the inning to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 in the first game of a doubleheader before 21,688 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Cardinals had the potential tying run on first base with 1 out in the 11th, but relief pitcher Ed Brandt struck out Pepper Martin and Chick Hafey to end the game. Fred Frankhouse (7-3) allowed 7 hits in 10+ innings to outduel Syl Johnson (5-6), who allowed 11 hits and 3 earned runs in a complete game. The Cardinals won the second game 5-4.

Charlie Grimm led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a triple, but pulled a muscle and was replaced by pinch runner Bud Teachout, who scored on a wild pitch by relief pitcher Jumbo Elliott, giving the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 25,000 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Pat Malone (9-5) pitched an 8-hitter to outduel Clise Dudley (6-8), who allowed 9 hits and 2 earned runs in 8+ innings.

80 years ago
1941

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Daddy--Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye (vocal refrain by the Kaye Choir) (4th week at #1)

War
Peru and Ecuador were reported to have agreed on a truce in their border dispute.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered Philippine military forces into the United States Army for the duration of the emergency, while the War Department appointed General Douglas MacArthur to command the troops. The U.S. Senate Military Affairs Committee approved a resolution permitting the President to extend military service.

U.S.S.R. Red Army Lieutenant General Philip Golikov and Engineer General Alexander Repin arrived in Washington to confer with U.S. Army General George Marshall and coordinate Soviet military orders in the United States.

France and Japan announced an agreement on "the joint defense" of Indochina.

Diplomacy
Brazilian Foreign Minister Oswaldo Aranha said that his country supported U.S. foreign policies.

Economics and finance
The United Kingdom froze Japanese assets, and Japan froze American and British assets.

75 years ago
1946

War
At the Nuremberg trial of accused Nazi war criminals, U.S. Chief Prosecutor Robert Jackson called for the conviction of 22 Nazi defendants for subjugating Germany to a police state; waging wars; disregarding international law in warfare; enslaving populations; and exterminating Christians and Jews. Former French Prime Minister and Vichy cabinet minister Pierre-Etienne Flandin was sentenced in Paris to five years of national dishonour, but the court annulled the penalty due to his long imprisonment.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State James Byrnes distanced the United States from the Palestine division plan proposed the previous day by the Anglo-American cabinet committee.

Defense
The U.S. House and Senate passed and sent to President Harry Truman a version of the disputed MacMahon atomic energy bill, which provided for a five-man control commission without military representation, and allowed the Army and Navy to manufacture atomic weapons with presidential approval.

Transportation
Aloha Airlines began service from Honolulu International Airport.

Labour
U.S. President Truman signed the Labor Security National Labor Relations Board bill, which returned the U.S. Employment Service to the states on November 15, 1946.

70 years ago
1951

At the movies
Walt Disney's 13th animated film, Alice in Wonderland, received its premiere screening at the Leicester Square Theatre in London.



Died on this date
James Mitchell, 85. Australian politician. Sir James, a Nationalist, entered Western Australian state politics in 1906, and directed the state's agriculture before serving two terms as Premier (1919-1924, 1930-1933). His government, like many others, had difficulty dealing with the Depression, and Sir James not only lost his government in 1933, but his seat. He then served as Lieutenant-Governor (1933-1948) and Governor (1948-1951) of Western Australia. Sir James retired on June 30, 1951, and died just 26 days later, while on board a train during an overnight stop in southwestern W.A.

Television
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission eased its 34-month ban on opening new stations and changes in operating facilities.

War
Truce negotiators meeting at Kaesong agreed on a five-point agenda for the talks, including the adoption of a cease-fire line and demilitarized zone, precise arrangements for putting the cease-fire into effect, and a prisoner-of-war exchange.

Defense
The U.S. Army announced plans to disband its last and oldest all-Negro regiment, the 25th Division's 24th Infantry Regiment serving in Korea, as part of its desegregation program.

World events
An Ethiopian special tribunal in Addis Ababa handed down death sentences for eight men, including Bitwoded Negash, former president of Parliament, accused of plotting to assassinate Emperor Haile Selassie and set up an Ethiopian republic.

Politics and government
Italian Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi formed a new cabinet--his seventh--consisting mostly of centrist Christian Democrats.

The U.S. House of Representatives defeated a Republican Party effort to oust Secretary of State Dean Acheson from the cabinet by cutting off his salary.

Law
The International Law Commission ended a 10-week meeting in Geneva after urging the United Nations General Assembly to adopt a 12-point definition of "crimes against the peace," including genocide, armed aggression, and encouragement of civil strife in a foreign country.

Crime
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested 12 more secondary Communist Party U.S.A. leaders, including California party chairman William Schneiderman, on conspiracy charges.

Economics and finance
U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Hugh Gaitskell announced plans for a limit on company dividends as well as greater wage and price controls to combat inflation.

The U.S. Wage Stabilization Board approved traditional Christmas bonuses, provided they were customary and did not exceed 25% of the recipient's annual salary.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Eagle Rock--Daddy Cool (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Watashi no Jōkamachi--Rumiko Koyanagi

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Fin de Semana--Los Diablos

Died on this date
Diane Arbus, 48. U.S. photographer. Mrs. Arbus specialized in photographing people on the margins of society who were creating their own identities, and succeeded in having her photographs published in prestigious magazines. She was married to actor Allan Arbus from 1941-1969, but suffered from bouts of depression, and committed suicide by ingesting barbiturates and cutting her wrists with a razor. Mrs. Arbus's fame and influence has increased since her death, and has been the subject of numerous exhibits.

Space
Apollo 15, with David Scott (Commander), Al Worden (Command Module Pilot), and Jim Irwin (Lunar Module Pilot) aboard, lifted off for the moon from Cape Kennedy, Florida.





Boxing
Former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali (32-1) won a technical knockout over former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Jimmy Ellis (30-7) at 2:10 of the 12th round at the Astrodome in Houston. It was the only time that Mr. Ali's longtime trainer, Angelo Dundee, wasn't in his corner; Mr. Dundee was in Mr. Ellis's corner for this fight. Mr. Ellis was a former sparring partner of Mr. Ali. For Mr. Ali, it was his first fight since losing a unanimous 15-round decision to current world champion Joe Frazier on March 8.



Former world welterweight and middleweight champion Emile Griffith (70-11) won a unanimous 10-round decision over French middleweight champion Nessim Max Cohen (22-6-7) at Madison Square Garden in New York.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Stars on 45--Stars on 45 (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes (4th week at #1)

Golf
Pat Bradley shot a 66 on the final round to edge Beth Daniel by one stroke to win the U.S. Women's Open at La Grange Country Club in Illinois. Her total score of 279 was a record for the Open that stood for seven years.



Football
CFL
Edmonton (3-1) 33 @ Montreal (1-3) 17

This was probably the best game that former Los Angeles Rams' quarterback Vince Ferragamo played during his brief and unsuccessful career with the Alouettes. Chris Walby saw some action at defensive tackle for Montreal; it was the first game of a 16-year CFL career that eventually earned him a place in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.



30 years ago
1991

Radio
Canadian disc jockey Don Percy, who had been with Vancouver-area AM station CISL since January 1988, did his last morning show with the station. He returned to Winnipeg, where he had experienced his greatest career success, to become the morning man at FM station CKLU.

Scandal
Comedian Paul Reubens, better known as Pee-wee Herman, was arrested in Sarasota, Florida for masturbating during a film at a pornographic movie theatre.

Crime
About 2,000 youths rioted in Penticton, British Columbia after a concert by rap star MC Hammer; they smashed and looted downtown stores, and wrecked tourist establishments along the beach. 90 were jailed, with 60 treated for injuries.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (0-3) 16 @ Saskatchewan (1-2) 52

Baseball
Mark Gardner of the Montreal Expos pitched a no-hitter for 9 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers before 38,957 fans at Dodger Stadium, but Lenny Harris beat out an infield single in the bottom of the 10th, and 2 more hits followed, including a single by Darryl Strawberry to drive in the game's only run as the Dodgers won 1-0. The Expos managed just 2 hits against Los Angeles pitchers Orel Hershiser, Kevin Gross, and Jay Howell.



Devon White singled and eventually scored on an error by third baseman Kevin Seitzer with 1 out in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Toronto Blue Jays a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals before 50,326 fans at SkyDome in Toronto.

The Oakland Athletics scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning to break a 9-9 tie and defeat the Baltimore Orioles 12-9 before 43,207 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Ernie Riles hit a grand slam for Oakland with 2 out in the 5th inning to give the Athletics a 7-3 lead. The Athletics led 9-3 after 6 1/2 innings, but the Orioles scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game, with the last 4 runs coming on a grand slam by pinch hitter Dwight Evans.

Errors by center fielder Gary Pettis and catcher Ivan Rodriguez led to an unearned run by Tony Phillips in the top of the 10th inning, giving the Detroit Tigers a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers before 40,383 fans at Arlington Stadium. John Kiely made his major league debut with the Tigers, entering the game as a pitcher to begin the 8th inning. He surrendered a double to Juan Gonzalez and was promptly relieved by Paul Gibson.

25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): e.p.--Gyllene Tider

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Killing Me Softly--The Fugees (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Max Winter, 93. Czech-born U.S. sports executive. Mr. Winter moved with his family to Minneapolis in 1922, and became a successful restaurateur. He became a part owner of the Minneapolis Lakers in 1947, and was one of the founding owners of the Minnesota Vikings, who joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1961 after initially being approved as a charter franchise in the American Football League. Mr. Winter was team president from 1965-1987, but sold his share of the team in 1985, to the chagrin of his partners. He died 27 days after his 93rd birthday.

Scandal
Former Roman Catholic bishop Hubert O'Conner was convicted of sex crimes committed at St. Joseph's Mission near Williams Lake, British Columbia in the late 1960s.

Football
CFL
Toronto (4-1) 40 @ Saskatchewan (2-3) 16

10 years ago
2001

Football
CFL
Edmonton (2-2) 6 @ Montreal (4-0) 34



Winnipeg (2-2) 19 @ Hamilton (3-1) 24

10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Frank Foster, 82. U.S. musician. Mr. Foster was a jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and arranger who was perhaps best known for performing with Count Basie and leading the Count Basie Orchestra (1986-1995). His numerous honours included Grammy Awards in 1987 and 1990 while leading the Count Basie Orchestra. Mr. Foster died of kidney failure.

Sakyo Komatsu, 80. Japanese author and screenwriter. Mr. Komatsu wrote science fiction novels, short stories, and film and television scripts. He was best known for the novels Fukkatsu no hi (Virus) (1964); Japan Sinks (1973); and Sayonara Jupiter (1982). Mr. Komatsu died of pneumonia.

Richard Harris, 63. U.S.-born football player and coach. Mr. Harris played defensive end at Grambling College, earning All-American honours in 1970, his senior year. He played in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles (1971-1973); Chicago Bears (1974-1975); and Seattle Seahawks (1976-1977), retiring after a series of knee injuries. Mr. Harris coached indoor football through the 1990s, and moved to the Canadian Football League, serving as a defensive line coach with the British Columbia Lions (2001-2004); Ottawa Renegades (2005); and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2006-2011). He was named assistant head coach in 2011, but died of a heart attack in his office minutes after the conclusion of a team practice.

Joe Arroyo, 55. Colombian musician. Mr. Arroyo, aka El Joe, was a salsa and tropical music singer and songwriter who achieved success as the lead singer of the group Fruko y sus Tesos (1971-1981) and as a solo artist thereafter. He long suffered from health problems, and died of multiple organ failure.

Disasters
A Royal Moroccan Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules crashed near Guelmim Airport in Guelmim, Morocco, killing all 80 people on board.