Friday 6 June 2008

May 31, 2008

80 years ago
1928


Died on this date
Grant Briggs, 63
. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Briggs, a catcher, played in 110 major league games for four teams from 1890-1895. His lifetime batting percentage was a pathetic .164.

Aviation
The monoplane Southern Cross left Golden Gate (Oakland) for Hawaii at 8:51 A.M. Pacific time, commanded by Capt. Charles Kingsford-Smith of Australia. Also aboard were Capt. C. T. P. Ulm of Australia, and two Americans: Lt. Harry Lyon, navigator, and James Warner, radio operator.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator J. T. Heflin of Alabama was a witness before the Senate Campaign Fund Committee, but had no firsthand data as to expenditures on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate Al Smith of New York.

Journalism
The Chicago Journal, founded in 1844, was bought by S. E. Thomason and J. S. Bryan.

Crime
E. M. Fuller and M. F. McGee, convicted stock bucketeers, were paroled from Sing Sing Prison after both serving a year.

75 years ago
1933

On the radio

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Corpse in the Cab

70 years ago
1938

Baseball

At Yankee Stadium, Jimmie Foxx hit a grand slam off New York pitcher Joe Beggs‚ the first of three he hit off Mr. Beggs that season‚ but the Yankees prevailed 12-5. Lou Gehrig played his 2‚000th consecutive game and had an RBI single.

60 years ago
1948

Auto racing

Results of the Indianapolis 500:
Finish Start No Name Qual Rank Laps Led Status
1 3 3 Mauri Rose 129.129 4 200 81 Running
2 2 2 Bill Holland 129.515 3 200 0 Running
3 11 54 Duke Nalon 131.603 1 200 9 Running
4 5 1 Ted Horn 126.565 9 200 74 Running
5 21 35 Mack Hellings 127.968 6 200 0 Running
6 14 63 Hal Cole 124.391 18 200 0 Running
7 28 91 Lee Wallard 128.420 5 200 0 Running
8 27 33 Johnny Mauro 121.790 33 198 0 Flagged
9 23 7 Tommy Hinnershitz 125.122 14 198 0 Flagged
10 4 61 Jimmy Jackson 127.510 7 193 0 Spindle
11 12 4 Charles Van Acker 125.440 13 192 0 Flagged
12 20 19 Billy Devore 123.967 21 190 0 Flagged
13 8 98 Johnny Mantz 122.791 27 185 0 Flagged
14 22 6 Tony Bettenhausen 126.396 10 167 0 Clutch
15 18 64 Hal Robson 122.796 26 164 0 Valve
16 7 36 Bill Cantrell 123.733 22 161 0 Steering
17 10 55 Joie Chitwood 124.619 15 138 0 Fuel leak
18 24 53 Bill Sheffler 124.529 17 132 0 Spark plugs
19 1 5 Rex Mays 130.577 2 129 36 Fuel leak
20 19 31 Chet Miller 127.249 8 108 0 Oil trouble
21 13 52 Jack McGrath 124.580 16 70 0 Stalled
22 29 16 Duane Carter 126.015 11 59 0 Lost wheel
23 32 26 Fred Agabashian 122.737 28 58 0 Oil line
24 9 34 Les Anderson 122.337 30 58 0 Gears
25 33 17 Mel Hansen 122.117 32 42 0 Too slow
26 15 76 Sam Hanks 124.266 19 34 0 Clutch
27 30 51 Spider Webb 125.545 12 27 0 Oil line
28 17 9 George Connor 123.018 25 24 0 Drive shaft
29 6 74 Doc Williams 124.151 20 19 0 Clutch
30 31 86 Mike Salay 123.393 24 3 0 Stalled
31 16 8 Emil Andres 123.550 23 11 0 Steering
32 25 25 Paul Russo 122.595 29 7 0 Oil leak
33 26 65 Harry McQuinn 122.154 31 1 0 Supercharger

Baseball
At Wrigley Field‚ the Cubs set a paid attendance record when 46‚965 passed through the turnstiles for a doubleheader with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs took the opener 4-3 behind relief pitcher Bob Rush‚ then dropped the nightcap 4-2 to Elmer Riddle. Andy Pafko was the hitting star‚ pounding out five hits‚ including a home run in each game.

In Cincinnati‚ the Reds swept a Memorial Day doubleheader from the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 and 7-0 at Crosley Field. In the nightcap‚ Ken Raffensberger tossed a one-hitter‚ allowing just an 8th inning single by Nippy Jones. Hank Sauer's home run in the opener broke a tie. The Reds’ scoring in the nightcap was paced by homers from Augie Galan and Ted Kluszewski. The twin loss dropped the Cardinals to second place as the New York Giants split a pair with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Washington Nationals‚ fresh from four wins over the Boston Red Sox‚ dropped a pair to the host New York Yankees before 62‚626 at Yankee Stadium. Spec Shea allowed just two hits in coasting in the opener‚ 10-0. The Yankees collected 16 hits‚ including home runs by Tommy Henrich and George McQuinn. The Yankees take the nightcap 5-4‚ as Red Embree made a rare start. Bobby Brown made 7 straight hits in the two games‚ making outs in his first and last at bats.

The Cleveland Indians drubbed the St. Louis Browns 8-3‚ then lost 6-0‚ to stay in second place behind the Philadelphia Athletics. In the opener‚ Lou Boudreau hit a grand slam and Jim Hegan homered in the 5-run 6th inning. Gene Bearden was the winning pitcher. In the nightcap‚ Cliff Fannin allowed just 4 hits in geting the win for the Browns.

The last place Chicago White Sox and fourth-place Detroit Tigers split a pair at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Tigers took the opener 5-4‚ with Dizzy Trout the winner over Orval Grove. The White Sox won the nightcap 9-3‚ with veteran Ike Pearson picking up the win. Mr. Pearson went on to finish the year at 2-3 to close out his career at 13-50; his .206 winning percentage is the worst in ML history for a pitcher with 50 losses.

A lefthander for Schenectady (Canadian-American League) named Tom Lasorda struck out 25 in a 15-inning game against Amsterdam.

50 years ago
1958

Baseball

Hank Aaron‚ Eddie Mathews‚ and Wes Covington of the Milwaukee Braves hit home runs in succession off Ron Kline of the Pittsburgh Pirates in an 8-3 win. The same trio hit successive home runs on June 26th of the previous year. Warren Spahn coasted to his 8th win of the season.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade

Edmonton’s top 10
1 Master Jack--Four Jacks and a Jill
2 Mrs. Robinson--Simon and Garfunkel
3 Delilah--Tom Jones
4 I Wanna Live--Glen Campbell
5 A Beautiful Morning--The Rascals
6 Honey--Bobby Goldsboro
7 Mony, Mony--Tommy James and the Shondells
8 Me, the Peaceful Heart--Lulu
9 I Love You--People
10 Blue Bonnie Blue--The 49th Parallel
Pick hit of the week: Stoned Soul Picnic--The Fifth Dimension
New this week: Step Inside Love--Cilla Black
Here’s to You--Hamilton Camp
Reach Out of the Darkness--Friend and Lover
We Played Games--John Fred and his Playboy Band
People Get Ready--Group Therapy

Step Inside Love was one of the Lennon-McCartney compositions (probably written solely by Paul McCartney) that was given to another artist to record.

At the movies
Hang 'em High, directed by Ted Post and starring Clint Eastwood, Inger Stevens, and Ed Begley, opened in theatres in Japan.



War
U.S. Ambassador-at-Large Averell Harriman suggested that the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) be restored as a truly neutral buffer zone. North Vietnam rejected the idea.

Medicine
Pierre Grondin led a 27-member surgical team at the Montréal Heart Institute in performing Canada's first, and the world's 18th, heart transplant, on Albert Murphy, a 58-year-old retired butcher from Chomedy, Québec, who died 46 hours after start of operation.

Baseball
Los Angeles Dodgers' ace Don Drysdale's shutout streak apparently ended when Dick Dietz of the San Francisco Giants was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and none out in the 9th inning‚ but umpire Harry Wendelstedt ruled that Mr. Dietz did not try to avoid the pitch. Giants’ manager Herman Franks argued the call so long he that he was ejected by Mr. Wendelstedt. Mr. Dietz then popped out‚ and the next two batters were retired. Los Angeles won 3-0 before 46,067 fans at Dodger Stadium‚ and Mr. Drysdale's fifth straight shutout tied the major league record set in 1904 by Doc White of the Chicago White Sox.

St. Louis Cardinals’ pitcher Larry Jaster retired the first 23 New York Mets before Greg Goosen singled. Mr. Jaster settled for a 2-hitter‚ beating Tom Seaver 2-0 before 41,075 fans at Shea Stadium in New York.

Willie Horton led off the bottom of the 7th inning with a home run to provide the only scoring as the Detroit Tigers edged the New York Yankees 1-0 before 31,155 fans at Tiger Stadium. Mickey Lolich (3-2) pitched a 4-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Mel Stottlemyre, who also allowed 4 hits.



Luis Aparicio singled home Dick Kenworthy with 1 out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 14th inning to give the Chicago White Sox a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins before 9,667 fans at White Sox Park.

Buck Rodgers hit a 3-run home run with 2 out in the top of the 12th inning to break a 0-0 tie as the California Angels shut out the Oakland Athletics 3-0 before 6,415 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Losing pitcher Chuck Dobson pitched a complete game, allowing just 4 hits--2 in the 12th--and striking out 13 batters while walking 4.

30 years ago
1978

Law

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-3 that police could obtain warrants to search the property of newspapers without prior warning, and that the papers had no right to contest such searches in court before they were conducted. The decision was condemned by reporters as an attack on First Amendment freedom of the press.

Diplomacy
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders cautioned the U.S.S.R. that Soviet actions in the Zairian province of Shaba endangered detente. The Soviet Union said that the western rescue of Europeans in Shaba was a pretext for intervention in the internal affairs of African countries and was harmful to detente.

The Shah of Iran warned that pro-Soviet Communists would take over if his government were ever to fall.

Politics and government
The United States House of Representatives voted 321-46 to adopt a resolution that aid to South Korea would be cut off unless the Koreans cooperated fully with the House investigation into Korean influence-buying in the U.S. Congress. South Korea responded that a House demand that former Ambassador to the United States Kim Dong Jo testify before the ethics committee was "unacceptable."

25 years ago
1983


Died on this date
Jack Dempsey, 87
. U.S. boxer. Mr. Dempsey, "The Manassa Mauler," was one of the people who made the 1920s the so-called "Golden Age of Sport." He won the world heavyweight title with a devastating 3-round knockout of Jess Willard on July 4, 1919. A string of successful defenses followed through 1923. Mr. Dempsey’s 4-round knockout of light heavyweight champion Georges Carpentier at Boyle’s City Acres in Jersey City, New Jersey on July 2, 1921 was the first major sports event ever broadcast on radio, and provided boxing with its first $1 million gate. 80,000 people were in attendance, producing gate receipts of almost $1.8 million. In contrast, Mr. Dempsey’s 15-round decision over Tom Gibbons on July 4, 1923 nearly bankrupted the host town of Shelby, Montana. On September 14, 1923, 82,000 came to the Polo Grounds in New York to see Mr. Dempsey fight Argentinian Luis Angel Firpo, "The Wild Bull of the Pampas." In a wild first round, Mr. Dempsey was knocked out of the ring, but was (illegally) helped into the ring by writers at ringside. Mr. Dempsey knocked out Mr. Firpo in round 2. This fight produced another $1 million gate. Mr. Dempsey was inactive in the ring from 1923-1926. A major black challenger, Harry Wills, was unsuccessful in attempts to arrange a title bout. Finally, on September 23, 1926, 120,757 spectators filled Sesquicentennial Stadium in Philadelphia to see challenger Gene Tunney outpoint Mr. Dempsey over 10 rounds to win the belt. The gate was almost $1.9 million, just beating the 1921 record. Another $1 million gate resulted from Mr. Dempsey’s fight against Jack Sharkey at Yankee Stadium in New York on July 21, 1927. In the 7th round, Mr. Dempsey landed a low blow; when Mr. Sharkey turned to the referee to complain, Mr. Dempsey knocked him out. A rematch with Mr. Tunney took place at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 22, 1927. 104, 943 spectators produced a gate of more than $2.6 million, a record that stood for decades. In the 7th round, Mr. Dempsey knocked Mr. Tunney down. According to a rule just recently adopted, Mr. Dempsey was required to go to a neutral corner during the count. Mr. Dempsey remained in the middle of the ring, and the referee refused to begin his count until Mr. Dempsey went to a neutral corner. Mr. Tunney rose at the count of 9, although he had been on the floor for as long as 14 seconds, by some estimates. "The Battle of the Long Count" concluded with Mr. Tunney retaining his title with another 10-round decision. Jack Dempsey retired from boxing soon after, but remained in the public eye as a successful restaurateur in New York for several decades.

Disasters
Hundreds of people were evacuated from Bountiful and Farmington, Utah, where many homes had been destroyed by mud slides. In Salt Lake City, sandbags were used to turn streets into canals to facilitate removal of the water.

Basketball
NBA Finals
Los Angeles 108 @ Philadelphia 115 (Philadelphia won best-of-seven series 4-0)

At the Spectrum, the 76ers defeated the Lakers to complete a four-game sweep of the finals to win the National Basketball championship for the first time since 1967. Moses Malone of the 76ers was named the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs. It was the third NBA championship for the 76ers; their first title came in 1955, when they were the Syracuse Nationals.

20 years ago
1988

Diplomacy

U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev continued their summit in Moscow. After their morning meeting, the two men strolled through Red Square, and President Reagan lunched with Soviet cultural leaders and intellectuals. He then addressed the students of Moscow State University, calling on them to have faith that changes afoot in the Soviet Union would bring benefits to their society.

Law
The Canadian House of Commons passed bills to phase out tobacco advertising, restrict smoking in workplaces under federal jurisdiction, and ensure smoke-free areas in passenger planes, trains, buses, and ships.

Baseball
Jeff Pico threws a 4-hit, 4-0 shutout against the Cincinnati Reds to win his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs. He was the first Cubs’ pitcher to debut with a shutout since Bill Lee in 1934.

New York Yankees’ starting pitcher Al Leiter made one pitch before leaving the game. Oakland Athletics’ leadoff hitter Carney Lansford hit the first pitch off Mr. Leiter for a hit‚ and Mr. Leiter was replaced by reliever Neil Allen. Mr. Allen gave up just 3 hits in 9 innings to record a 5-0 shutout for New York. Mike Pagliarulo hit a 2-run home run off Steve Ontiveros to supply Mr. Allen with all the runs he needed.

10 years ago
1998

Basketball

NBA
Eastern Conference Finals

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

Baseball
In an International League game at Toledo, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Barons downed the Mud Hens 26-4. The Barons collected 7 home runs and 27 hits‚ led by designated hitter Bobby Estalella, who went 5-for-6 with 2 doubles and a home run.

May 30, 2008

225 years ago
1783

Journalism

The Pennsylvania Evening Post, the first daily newspaper in the United States, began publication.

160 years ago
1848

Canadiana

Fredericton, New Brunswick was incorporated as a city.

140 years ago
1868


Americana
Memorial Day, then known as Decoration Day, was observed for the first time after Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic had issued General Order Number 11 on May 5, 1868, designating May 30 as a memorial day “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.”

125 years ago
1883

Baseball

It was a busy and confusing Decoration Day of American Association baseball. As part of a unique Memorial Day doubleheader‚ the Cincinnati Red Stockings played in two different cities. The Red Stockings started a 9:30 a.m. game at New York's Polo Grounds‚ losing 1-0 to the Metropolitans‚ then travelled by train to Philadelphia where they fared better‚ scoring twice in the final frame and beating the Athletics 10-8 in 11 innings. The Red Stockings played the Athletics in Philadelphia the previous day. The Metropolitans‚ after beating Cincinnati in the a.m. game‚ whipped the Columbus Buckeyes 12-5 in an afternoon game. (This was on the western diamond of the original Polo Grounds on 110th Street‚ just north of the Polo Grounds. At the same time on the eastern diamond‚ the New York Gothams of the National League were playing a doubleheader against the Detroit Wolverines‚ splitting 2-5 and 4-8. Between games of the New York-Detroit doubleheader‚ the first of which started at 10 a.m.‚ was a game between Yale and Princeton to decide the college championship). Columbus was the loser on the day‚ dropping an a.m. game in Philadelphia 8-5. Meanwhile‚ the Cleveland Blues of the National League lost 3-1 to the Beaneaters in Boston in the morning‚ then travelled to Providence to beat the Grays 5-2. The Buffalo Bisons lost to Providence 4-2 in the morning‚ then took the train to Boston to lose 2-1 in the afternoon. The Chicago White Stockings had the easiest of the day's doubleheaders‚ feasting on the Philadelphia Quakers 15-8 and 22-4. In the second game‚ the White Stockings scored 7 runs in the 1st inning and 9 runs in the 5th as Mike Kelly‚ Fred Pfeffer‚ and Tommy Burns made 3 hits apiece.

100 years ago
1908

Born on this date
Mel Blanc
. U.S. cartoon voice and actor. Mr. Blanc provided the voices for too many cartoon characters (mainly for Warner Brothers Loonie Tunes) to mention here. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Barney Rubble are just a few of the characters whose voices came from Mel Blanc. Mr. Blanc was also a member of Jack Benny’s supporting cast; he played Mr. Benny’s long-suffering violin teacher, and also played a Mexican in a frequently-repeated sketch known as "Si-Sy." He died on July 10, 1989 at the age of 81.

Baseball
In the first game of a Memorial Day doubleheader in Boston‚ Cy Young threw a near-perfect game‚ beating the Washington Nationals 6-0. Jerry Freeman's 5th inning single gave Washington its only hit and baserunner. Jesse Tannehill, making his first appearance since the previous August, started for the Red Sox in game 2, but he left in the 5th inning with a 2–2 score. The Red Sox later in the day suspended him without pay. Tex Pruiett relieved and was less effect than Mr. Tannehill, taking the loss in a 7-4 game.

80 years ago
1928


Americana
President Calvin Coolidge, speaking at Memorial Day exercises on the Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, said: "The worldwide interests of the United States, aside from the dictates of humanity, make us view with peculiar disfavour, not only any danger of being in war ourselves, but any danger of war among other nations. Our investments and trade relations are such that it is almost impossible to conceive of any conflict anywhere on earth which would not affect us injuriously...Whether so intended or not, any nations engaging in war would thereby necessarily engage in a course prejudicial to us." The President also spoke on behalf of a stronger navy.

Protest
At Belgrade, Yugoslavia, one demonstrator was killed, and students and police were injured, when mounted guards attempted to break up fresh street demonstrations against the Treaty of Nettuno (signed on July 18, 1925 by the Italian and Yugoslav governments, regarding both nations' claims to Dalmatia and the Adriatic islands), following demonstrations during the weekend there and in Dalmatia.

Crime
Negroes at Slater, Missouri lynched one of their race who in a gambling game had slain a black fellow worker.

At Prague, Czechoslovakia, journalist and politician John Michalko was sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of the naturalized American girl Margit Voerdesmart of New York.

Disasters
In Pittsburgh, the National Elimination Balloon Race began with several casualties. Lieutenant Paul Evert of Langley Field, Virginia was killed when the Army 3 was struck by lightning. Walter Morton, aide on the Goodyear V, was found dead near Youngwood, Pennsylvania, having made a free jump from the balloon when it was believed also to have been struck by lightning.

Auto racing
Louis Meyer won the Indianapolis 500 for the first time, with an average speed of 99.482 miles per hour.



75 years ago
1933


Died on this date
Burley Byers, 55. U.S. baseball player. On June 17, 1899, Mr. Byers, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, played his only major league game as a shortstop with the Louisville Colonels. He went 0 for 3 at bat, and made 2 putouts, 1 assist, and 2 errors in the field.

Mark Billman, 28. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Billman died in hospital an hour after crashing on the 79th lap of the Indianapolis 500. His left arm was torn off, and both his legs were broken. It took rescue workers 20 minutes to get him out of the car. He placed 30th in the race.

Lester Spangler, 27. U.S. auto racing driver; Monk Jordan. U.S. auto mechanic. Mr. Spangler, the driver, and Mr. Jordan, his riding mechanic, were killed in a crash on the 132nd lap of the Indianapolis 500. Their car hit that driven by Malcolm Fox head-on at 100 miles per hour, ejecting Messrs. Spangler and Jordan. Mr. Spangler placed 26th in the race.

Auto racing
Louis Meyer won the Indianapolis 500 for the second time, with an average speed of 104.162 miles per hour, a record at the time.



Baseball
Dale Alexander of the Boston Red Sox suffered a career-shortening injury when he twisted his knee sliding into home in the second game of a doubleheader loss to the Philadelphia Athletics. The first baseman underwent a new therapy‚ diathermy‚ which led to third degree burns‚ gangrene and the near loss of his leg. The previous year’s batting champion hit just .281 in 1933, and left the major leagues with a career mark of .331. He continued his career in the minor leagues. The Athletics won 7-3 behind the relief pitching of Lefty Grove‚ then 11-8 in 12 innings‚ with Mr. Grove throwing scoreless 10th and 11th innings. Lloyd Brown went all the way for the Red Sox before tiring and walking 3 and giving up a pair of singles in the 12th.

Detroit outfielder John Stone became the first major leaguer to collect 6 long hits in a regulation length doubleheader‚ as he banged out 4 doubles and 2 home runs for the Tigers in a split with the St. Louis Browns. National Leaguers Chick Hafey and Mel Ott had collected 6 long hits‚ but their games ran more than regulation length. The Tigers took the opener‚ 8-6‚ then dropped the second game 3-1.

70 years ago
1938


Died on this date
Raden Sutomo, 49
. Indonesian nationalist. Dr. Sutomo, a key founder of the nationalist movement Boedi Oetomo, espoused the radical idea that Islam detracted from nationalism. He became leader of the nationalists when Sukarno’s radical rhetoric led to his internment. Dr. Sutomo advocated a dual program of social welfare and political progress. Under his auspices, and despite police surveillance, his study clubs worked to increase literacy, and establish schools and cooperatives. In 1931, he established the Indonesian People’s Party (P.B.I.), a group looked upon with suspicion by the Dutch government. Four years later, the BO and the PBI merged to form Parindra with Dr. Sutomo as chairman.

Auto racing
Floyd Roberts started from the pole position and led 92 laps as he won the Indianapolis 500 with an average speed of 117.200 miles per hour, a record at the time. Defending champion Wilbur Shaw finished second.



Baseball
The largest crowd in Yankee Stadium history‚ 83‚533‚ saw Red Ruffing end Lefty Grove's 8-game winning streak in a 10-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox. 6,000 fans were turned away‚ and 511 were given refunds because there was no place to sit. The Yankees also took the second game of the doubleheader 5-4‚ in a game made famous for a fight between Yankees’ outfielder Jake Powell and Boston player-manager Joe Cronin. The brawl started when Boston pitcher Archie McKain hit Mr. Powell with a pitch in the stomach. Mr. Powell's charge to the mound was intercepted by Mr. Cronin and the two pummelled each other for 2-3 minutes. Mr. Cronin and Mr. Powell were ejected, but continued the fight in the area beneath the stands‚ until they were separated by Yankee players. Both players were fined and suspended for 10 days.

Rudy York hit his third grand slam of the month to help the Detroit Tigers beat the St. Louis Browns 10-9 in the first game of a Memorial Day doubleheader.

60 years ago
1948

On the radio

The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and Alfred Shirley, on MBS
Tonight’s episode: A Case of Identity

Disasters
A dike holding the Columbia River broke, causing a flood that destroyed Vanport, Oregon within minutes, only five years after the city was built. 15 people died and tens of thousands were left homeless.

50 years ago
1958

Hit parade

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Who's Sorry Now--Connie Francis (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
Harbor Command, starring Wendell Corey
Tonight's episode: Lover's Lane Bandits

Died on this date
Pat O'Connor, 29
. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. O'Connor drove in the Indianapolis 500 from 1954-1958, finishing 8th in 1955 and 1957. He started 5th in 1958, but was killed in a 15-car crash on the first lap.

War
Unidentified American soldiers killed in World War II and the Korean War were buried in a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Aviation
The Douglas DC-8 jet, a rival to the Boeing 707, made its maiden flight.

Auto racing
Jimmy Bryan won the Indianapolis 500, which was marred by the death of Pat O'Connor in a 15-car crash on the first lap.



Baseball
Chicago Cubs’ outfielder Walt Moryn hit 3 home runs in the seond game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field as the Cubs swept the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 and 10-8. Mr. Moryn hit an RBI double in game 1 in the 9th inning to tie‚ and then scored the winning run. In game 2, Moose hit back-to-back home runs with Ernie Banks in the 4th and Chuck Tanner in the 7th‚ and his 2-run homer in the 9th tagged Sandy Koufax with his first loss of the season.

40 years ago
1968


At the movies
Hasta el viento tiene miedo (Even the Wind is Afraid) (The Wind of Fear), written and directed by Carlos Enrique Taboada, and starring Marga Lopez, Maricruz Olivier, Alicia Bonet, Norma Lazareno, and Renata Seydel, opened in theatres in Mexico.



Died on this date
Charles "Chubby" Power, 80
. Canadian politician. Mr. Power, from Quebec, had a Parliamentary career that ran 51 years. He sat in the House of Commons from 1917-1955, and in the Senate from 1955 until his death.

World events
French President Charles De Gaulle returned to Paris from his country home and, assured of Army support, dissolved the National Assembly. He blamed Communists for the chaos involving mass demonstrations, and called for new parliamentary elections for June 23 and 30.

Auto racing
Bobby Unser won the Indianapolis 500 for the first time, at an average speed of 169.507 miles per hour. The purse was $809,627. This was the second and last Indianapolis 500 in which the turbine engine was allowed; it was subsequently outlawed by rule changes. One of the drivers using a turbine engine, Joe Leonard, was leading the race with 9 laps to go, when a broken fuel pump ended his race. The same problem knocked the other turbine driver, Art Pollard, out at the same time.



Baseball
The New York Yankees and Washington Senators split a Memorial Day doubleheader‚ with the Yankees winning the first game 13-4‚ and the Senators the second game 6-2. In the first game‚ New York first baseman Mickey Mantle batted 5-for-5 with 2 home runs and 5 runs batted in; he sat out the second game. Mr. Mantle's last 5-for-5 game had been on May 24‚ 1956.

30 years ago
1978


Law
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in two separate cases that lawyers could not solicit cases for personal gain, but that they could do so when they represented non-profit organizations, or when they volunteered their services.

World events
U.S. President Jimmy Carter denounced Cuban and Soviet actions in Africa in his address to the two-day meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) heads of government in Washington. Cuba continued to deny charges that Cuban forces had been involved in the recent rebel invasion of the Zairian province of Shaba. The Zairian Red Cross reported that 720 people, including 132 foreigners, had been killed in fighting between Zairian troops and secessionist guerrillas in the town of Kolwezi in Shaba earlier in the month. There were an estimated 40,000 Cuban soldiers and advisers in Africa, mainly in Angola and Ethiopia.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Washington 120 @ Seattle 116 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Charles Johnson scored 3 quick field goals in overtime to help the Bullets defeat the SuperSonics before a playoff record 39,457 fans at the Kingdome. Seattle guard Dennis Johnson led all scorers with 33 points.



Baseball
In his first major league start for the St. Louis Cardinals‚ Silvio Martinez hurled a 1-hit 8-2 victory over the New York Mets. Steve Henderson homered in the 7th inning for the lone New York hit.

25 years ago
1983


Died on this date
Alfred Gruenther, 84
. U.S. general. General Gruenther was the youngest Major General in World War II and later served as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe from 1953-1956.

Diplomacy
In the final statement of the Williamsburg summit, the leaders pledged to further the economic recovery by resisting protectionism and by encouraging development of new technologies. High interest rates and budget deficits in the United States were criticized by the other leaders as major factors in the economic difficulties. The leaders supported an increase in the resources of the International Monetary Fund to help developing countries deal with their mounting debts. The nations represented at the summit were the United States, Canada, Britain, Japan, Italy, France, and West Germany.

20 years ago
1988


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): The Flame--Cheap Trick

Died on this date
Ella Raines, 67
. U.S. actress. Among Miss Raines’ movies were The Suspect (1944); Hail the Conquering Hero (1944); Phantom Lady (1944); Brute Force (1947); and Impact (1949).

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan and U.S.S.R. leader Mikhail Gorbachev continued their summit in Moscow. Mr. Gorbachev proposed that the size of the NATO and Warsaw Pact forces be gradually reduced to about 500,000 on each side, or an approximate 50% cut. Progress was reported after the meeting on reducing long-range nuclear weapons. In a speech at a monastery and at a meeting with Soviet dissidents, President Reagan returned to the theme of human rights. The Reagans were guests of the Gorbachevs at a state dinner that evening.

World events
France’s Defense Minister said that several commandos who had rescued 23 French hostages from Melanesian separatist guerrillas on the island of New Caledonia on May 5 had committed "acts contrary to military duty."

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Finals
Boston 79 @ Detroit 78 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

10 years ago
1998


Defense
Pakistan conducted an underground test in the Kharan Desert; it was reported to be a plutonium device with yield of 20 kiloton TNT equivalent.

Disasters
A 6.5 Mw earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, killing at least 4,000 people, destroying more than 30 villages, and leaving 45,000 people homeless in the Afghan provinces of Takhar and Badakhshan.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference
Finals
Washington 2 @ Buffalo 0 (Washington led best-of-seven series 3-1)

May 29, 2008

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Cathy Brown!

275 years ago
1733

Law

Gilles Hocquart, Intendant of New France, upheld the right of Canadians to have Indians as slaves and to sell them.

170 years ago
1838


Terrorism
Pirate Bill Johnston attacked and burned the Canadian steamer Sir Robert Peel off Wellesley Island in the Thousand Islands in Upper Canada.

Politics and government
John George Lambton, Lord Durham, landed at Quebec. He had been appointed Governor by British Prime Minister Lord Melbourne to investigate Canadian colonial grievances after the rebellions of 1837.

160 years ago
1848

Americana

Wisconsin was admitted to the Union as the 30th state.

125 years ago
1883

Politics and government

Frank Oliver was elected to represent the city of Edmonton on the Northwest Territories Council.

100 years ago
1908

Baseball

The New York Giants defeated the Brooklyn Superbas 1-0 before 3,000 fans at Washington Park in Brooklyn, as Christy Mathewson gave up 4 hits and struck out 8 to win the pitchers' duel over Nap Rucker, who allowed just 3 hits.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored a run in the bottom of the 11th inning to defeat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 before 4,500 fans at Robison Field in St. Louis.

The Washington Nationals scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning to break a 5-5 tie as they defeated the Boston Red Sox 7-5 to complete a sweep of their doubleheader before 6,690 fans at Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds in Boston. The Nationals won the first game 6-1, with Gavy Cravath's first major league home run accounting for the Boston run. Pat Donahue made his major league debut as a substitute catcher with the Red Sox in the first game, making 1 putout, but not coming to bat.

Biff Schlitzer pitched a 3-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Joe Lake, who pitched a 4-hitter, as the Philadelphia Athletics edged the New York Highlanders 1-0 to gain a split of their doubleheader before 10,000 fans at Highland Park. The Highlanders scored 2 runs in the 1st inning and 4 in the 4th as they won the first game 6-5.

Jack Powell pitched a 3-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Charlie Chech, who allowed 5 hits, as the St. Louis Browns edged the Cleveland Naps 1-0 before 3,174 fans at League Park in Cleveland.

90 years ago
1918


War
Armenian forces defeated Ottoman troops at the Battle of Sardarabad, not only stopping the Turkish invasion, but also preventing the complete destruction of the Armenian nation.

Environment
Point Pelee National Park, a major migratory bird refuge, was established on the southernmost point of mainland Ontario.

80 years ago
1928


Died on this date
Alma S. Olmstead, 81
. U.S. woman. Mrs. Olmstead, a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, was born in Erie County, New York. Her father, who was 95 when she was born, fought in the Revolutionary War.

H.C. Smith. U.S. mining executive. Mr. Smith, superintendent of the Don Carlos mine in Pachuca, Mexico, was assassinated.

A.G. Cooper. U.K. aviator. Mr. Cooper was piloting a stunting machine at Weymouth, England in front of a crowd of 20,000 who were waiting to see if a prophesied tidal wave would occur. The plane fell into the sea 20 minutes before the predicted time of the save, and Mr. Cooper drowned in the cockpit before he could be reached.

Dorothy Sielagowski, 7. U.S. crime victim. Miss Sielagowski, a resident of Toledo, Ohio, was kidnapped, attacked, strangled, and left on a relative’s porch.

Politics and government
The first session of the 70th Congress of the United States adjourned, having been in action since December 5, 1927. Of the 19,770 bills introduced, 923 became laws.

Religion
In Weymouth, England, 20,000 gathered at the sands to see whether the "Great Pyramid" prophecy of destruction by a tidal wave would come true; it didn’t.

Business
Chrysler Corporation announced their acquisition of control of Dodge Bros., Inc., a rival automobile manufacturing concern.

Baseball
Bill Terry hit for the cycle, scoring 2 runs and driving in 6, to lead the New York Giants to a 12-5 win over the Brooklyn Robins at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

The New York Yankees swept a doubleheader from the Washington Nationals 3-2 and 12-3 before 25,000 fans at Yankee Stadium. Leo Durocher's bases-loaded triple in the opener gave George Pipgras (8-1) the win. Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth both slugged a pair of home runs in the nightcap: Mr. Gehrig hit his 9th of the season in the 3rd inning off Washington starter Milt Gaston‚ then Messrs. Ruth and Gehrig hit back-to-back homers in the 4th off Lloyd Brown. Mr. Ruth added his 18th off Mr. Brown in the 7th. Earl Combs also homered for the Yankees.

60 years ago
1948


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): Nature Boy--King Cole (3rd week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Nature Boy--King Cole
--Frank Sinatra
2 Little White Lies--Dick Haymes
--Dinah Shore
3 Sabre Dance--Woody Herman and his Orchestra
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
4 You Can't Be True, Dear--Ken Griffin
--Vera Lynn
--Dick Haymes with the Song Spinners
--The Sportsmen
5 Now is the Hour (Maori Farewell Song)--Bing Crosby
--Gracie Fields
--Margaret Whiting
--Eddy Howard and his Orchestra
--Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra
6 Toolie Oolie Doolie (The Yodel Polka)--The Andrews Sisters
--Vaughn Horton and the Polka Debs
--The Sportsmen
7 Because--Perry Como
8 Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me)--Peggy Lee
9 Baby Face--Art Mooney and his Orchestra
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
--Jack Smith and the Clark Sisters
10 The Dickey-Bird Song--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were Put 'Em in a Box, Tie 'Em with a Ribbon (And Throw ’Em in the Deep Blue Sea) (#25)/It's the Sentimental Thing to Do (#35) by the King Cole Trio; Put 'Em in a Box, Tie 'Em with a Ribbon (And Throw ’Em in the Deep Blue Sea) by Doris Day (#25, charting with the version by the King Cole Trio); My Happiness, with versions by Jon and Sondra Steele; the Pied Pipers; and Ella Fitzgerald (#27); Run, Run, Run, with versions by the Charioteers; and Edmundo Ros and his Rumba Band (#39); and At a Sidewalk Penny Arcade by Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra (#40). Doris Day's version of Put 'Em in a Box, Tie 'Em with a Ribbon (And Throw ’Em in the Deep Blue Sea) was the original version from the movie Romance on the High Seas (1948).

Theatre
The musical Oklahoma! closed at the St. James Theatre on Broadway in New York after a record 2,246 performances since March 31, 1943.

Died on this date
May Whitty, 82
. U.K. actress. After many years on English stages, Dame May went to Hollywood. She made her mark as a character actor in such movies as Night Must Fall (1937); The Lady Vanishes (1938); Suspicion (1941); Mrs. Miniver (1942); Gaslight (1944); and The Sign of the Ram (1948).

War
Arab and Jewish forces clashed near Latrun on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway in the heaviest battle of the Palestine war, with indecisive results.

Defense
Bulgaria and Poland signed a 20-year mutual assistance pact in Warsaw.

Baseball
Richie Ashburn of the Philadelphia Phillies hit his first major league home run‚ a leadoff inside-the-park homer‚ off Thornton Lee's third pitch. The homer extended Mr. Ashburn's hitting streak to 18 games, but it was the Phillies’ only run as the New York Giants won 7-1 before 18,843 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. Bill Rigney led off the 1st‚ 3rd‚ and 5th innings with hits‚ while Sid Gordon added a 3-run homer in the 5th. Mr. Lee was a complete-game winner over Walt Dubiel.

Sam Chapman scored all the way from first base on a single by Buddy Rosar with 1 out in the bottom of the 8th inning to break a 5-5 tie as the Philadelphia Athletics edged the New York Yankees 6-5 before 15,123 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

The Washington Nationals scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 14,052 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington, and withstood a 5-run 9th inning rally to win the second game 7-6. The Red Sox drew consecutive bases-loaded walks with 2 out in the 9th inning of the second game to draw within a run, but Stan Spence flied out to center field to end the game.

Bob Lemon pitched a 4-hitter and singled in the game's final run in the 9th inning as the Cleveland Indians shut out the Chicago White Sox 4-0 before 4,694 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

50 years ago
1958


At the movies
No Time for Sergeants, directed and co-produced by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Andy Griffith, opened in theatres.

Died on this date
Juan Ramón Jiménez Mantecón, 76
. Spanish poet. Mr. Jiménez was awarded the 1956 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his lyrical poetry, which in the Spanish language constitutes an example of high spirit and artistical purity."

Defense
The French Army agreed to withdraw 5,000 men from eastern Morocco.

Politics and government
Following talks with French President Rene Coty, Charles de Gaulle indicated that he would assume the prime ministership on condition that the government receive full powers for a fixed time, with a mandate "to prepare and to submit to the country through a referendum...changes that must be made" in the constitution.

Louisiana Governor Earl Long (Democrat) signed election law changes despite complaints that the law disenfranchised Jews with a provision for holding primaries on Saturday.

Republican Party leaders in Harlem endorsed U.S. Representative Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (Democrat--New York) for the Republican congressional nomination.

40 years ago
1968


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Young Girl--The Union Gap (2nd week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Honey--Bobby Goldsboro (3rd week at #1)
2 Young Girl--The Union Gap
3 The Unicorn--The Irish Rovers
4 Lady Madonna/The Inner Light--The Beatles
5 Congratulations--Cliff Richard
6 If I Only Had Time--John Rowles
7 Valleri/Tapioca Tundra--The Monkees
8 The Legend of Xanadu--Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
9 Delilah--Tom Jones
10 The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp--O.C. Smith

Singles entering the chart were This Guy's in Love with You by Herb Alpert (#35); Cry Like a Baby by the Box Tops (#38); Lazy Sunday by Small Faces (#39); and Gee I'm Gonna Miss You by Graham Chapman (#40).

At the movies
Wild in the Streets, directed by Barry Shear and starring Christopher Jones, Shelley Winters, Hal Holbrook, and Richard Pryor, opened in theatres.

Personal
The Shrine Circus was in Edmonton, and this blogger went with his dad to see it at the Edmonton Gardens after school.

World events
Some 200,000 marchers, led by Communists, chanted "Adieu, de Gaulle" when French President Charles de Gaulle suddenly left Paris for his country home amid speculation that he was resigning. Former Premier Pierre Mendes-France declared that he was ready to form a "popular government."

The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a resolution calling on all members to impose a total embargo on all trade with or travel to Rhodesia.

War
A spokesman for the North Vietnamese government berated U.S. President Lyndon Johnson for accusing North Vietnam of obstructing the Paris peace talks.

Disasters
The U.S. nuclear submarine Scorpion, with 99 men aboard, was reported missing. It was two days overdue at Norfolk, Virginia after a three-month training exercise with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.

A gas explosion at a nursery school in Hapeville, Georgia killed seven children and two adults.

Soccer
European Cup
Final @ Wembley Stadium, London
Manchester United 4 Benfica 1 (ET)

Manchester United beat the Portuguese side Benfica to become the first English club to win the European Cup.

30 years ago
1978


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Wuthering Heights--Kate Bush (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Southpaw--Pink Lady (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Stayin' Alive--Bee Gees (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Carl Reynolds, 75
. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Reynolds, an outfielder, played for five major league teams from 1927-1939, batting .302 with 80 home runs and 695 runs batted in in 1,222 games. Mr. Reynolds’ best season was 1930, when he hit .359 with 202 hits, 22 home runs, 100 runs batted in, and 103 runs scored with the Chicago White Sox. He hit .302 with the Chicago Cubs in 1938 when they won the National League pennant, but went 0 for 12 in the World Series.

Ali Soilih, 41. President of the Comoro Islands, 1976-1978. Mr. Soilih, whose full name was Ali Soilih M'tsashiwa, led a coup that deposed President Said Mohamed Jaffar in August 1975 and imposed a Maoist dictatorship, but was deposed himself in a coup on May 13, 1978, and was killed in a reported attempt to escape house arrest.

Diplomacy
Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hua hinted to the United Nations General Assembly that China might join the special session on disarmament in Geneva if those talks were not controlled by the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. He also called the Soviet Union the "most dangerous source of a new world war" and warned the United States against a policy of appeasement. The Soviet delegate walked out during Mr. Huang’s speech.

Terrorism
The West German government disclosed that Yugoslavia had arrested four of West Germany’s most-wanted terrorists. Their extradition to West Germany was being held up while Yugoslavia tried to extradite Croatian nationalists held in West Germany.

Golf
Nancy Lopez won her third straight tournament and fourth of the year, winning the LPGA Tournament in New Rochelle, New York with a score of 277. First prize money was $15,000.

25 years ago
1983


Diplomacy
At the Williamsburg summit of western democracies (U.S.A.; Canada; Britain; Japan; West Germany; Italy; France), U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz issued a statement supported by all of the countries, affirming their desire to reduce armaments through negotiations. The statement warned that U.S. medium-range missiles would be deployed in western Europe if no accord were reached with the Soviet Union on arms limitation.

Auto racing
Perennial bridesmaid Tom Sneva finally won the Indianapolis 500. Mr. Sneva, who had finished second in 1977, 1978, and 1980, took the checkered flag with an average speed of 162.117 miles per hour. Al Unser, who had won the race three times, finished second. The purse was over $2.4 million. Mr. Sneva was stuck behind the lapped car of Al Unser, Jr., who was helping to protect the lead of his father despite being shown the blue "move-over" flag. Mr. Sneva took advantage of some other slower cars to pass both Unsers in daring moves on the mainstretch and third turn on lap 190, and went on to win. Teo Fabi joined Walt Faulkner (1959) as one of only two rookies ever to qualify for the pole position.



20 years ago
1988


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Breakaway--Big Pig (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Heart--Pet Shop Boys (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Salem bin Laden, 42
. Saudi Arabian businessman. Mr. bin Laden, a half-brother of terrorist Osama bin Laden, succeeded his father Mohammed as patriarch of the Saudi Binladin Group. He was flying an ultralight aircraft in Texas when it hit power lines and dropped 115 feet; he wasn't wearing a helmet, and was killed.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan arrived in Moscow for a summit meeting with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. At their first conversation, President Reagan reportedly pressed Mr. Gorbachev on human rights issues, while Soviet human rights activists demonstrated in the streets of Moscow and Leningrad. That evening, President and Mrs. Reagan strolled near Spasso House, the U.S. ambassador’s residence where they were staying, and were mobbed by Soviet citizens. U.S. and Soviet working groups met to discuss human rights, arms control, and regional conflicts.

Auto racing
Rick Mears won the Indianapolis 500 for the third time, with an average speed of 144.809 miles per hour. Emerson Fittipaldi finished second in the first Indianapolis 500 to have a $5 million purse. Mr. Mears’ previous wins were in 1979 and 1984. He went on to win it again in 1991. Roger Penske's team dominated the month, qualifying all three teammates Rick Mears, Danny Sullivan and Al Unser on the front row. Their cars had unique solid wheels instead of the conventional spoke designs used on most of the other cars. On race day the three teammates combined to lead 192 laps. Mr. Sullivan dominated the first half, but hit the south short-chute wall on lap 102 after his front wing adjusters slipped, robbing the car of steering capability. Mr. Mears, at one point more than a lap down, took the lead nine laps later, and outlasted Mr. Unser and Emerson Fittipaldi to take the checkered flag.



Basketball
NBA
Western Conference
Finals
Los Angeles Lakers 104 @ Dallas 118 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

10 years ago
1998


Died on this date
Barry Goldwater, 89
. U.S. politician. Mr. Goldwater, a Republican, represented Arizona in the United States Senate from 1953-1965 and 1969-1987. He was the Republican Party’s presidential candidate in 1964, but lost in a landslide to incumbent Lyndon Johnson. Mr. Goldwater was known for many years as "Mr. Conservative," but he was really a libertarian, and spent the last 17 years of his life ranting against Christians.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Bill Clinton imposed economic penalties on Pakistan for conducting five underground nuclear tests.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference
Finals
Dallas 3 @ Detroit 5 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Finals
Chicago 89 @ Indiana 92 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)