Thursday 29 April 2010

April 30, 2010

980 years ago
1030


Died on this date
Mahmud of Ghazni, 58
. Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire, 998-1030. Mahmud acceded to the throne upon the death of his father Sabuktigin and after winning a war of succession with his brother Ismail. Mahmud was the first independent ruler of the Turkic dynasty of Ghaznavids. He transformed his kingdom into a Persianate Sunni Islam military empire extending from northwestern Iran proper to the Punjab in the Indian subcontinent, Khwarazm in Transoxiana, and Makran. Sultan Mahmud was succeeded by his son Muhammad.

700 years ago
1310


Born on this date
Casimir III
. King of Poland, 1333-1370. Casimir "the Great" was the last king of the Piast dynasty, and acceded to the throne upon the death of his father Władysław I. King Casimir initiated military and legal reforms, doubled the size of the kingdom, founded the University of Kraków, and confirmed protections given to Jews. He died on November 5, 1370 at the age of 60 from an injury received while hunting, and was succeeded by his nephew Louis I.

240 years ago
1770


Born on this date
David Thompson
. U.K.-born Canadian cartographer and surveyor. Mr. Thompson joined the Hudson's Bay Company at the age of 14, and was sent to British North America. He worked with the HBC until 1797, when he joined the rival North West Company. Mr. Thompson travelled 56,000 miles across North America, mapping 1.9 million square miles, resulting in his reputation as the "greatest land geographer who ever lived." His 1814 map of the North-West Territory of the Province of Canada was so accurate that it was still used 100 years later as the basis of maps issued by the Canadian government. Mr. Thompson died in Montreal on February 10, 1857 at the age of 86.

140 years ago
1870


Born on this date
Dadasaheb Phalke
. Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. Mr. Phalke was known as the "Father of Indian cinema," completing 95 feature films and 27 short films from 1913-1937. His first movie, Raja Harishchandra (1913), is officially recognized as the first Indian feature film. Mr. Phalke's last movie, Gangavataran (1937), was his only sound film. He died on February 16, 1944 at the age of 73.

Franz Lehár. Austro-Hungarian composer. Mr. Lehár wrote works of various types, but was best known for his operettas, most notably Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow) (1905). He died on October 24, 1948 at the age of 78.

110 years ago
1900


Died on this date
Casey Jones, 37
. U.S. railroad engineer. Jonathan Luther Jones was an engineer with the Illinois Central Railroad who was driving a passenger train from Memphis, Tennessee to Canton, Mississippi on the night of April 29-30, 1900. The train departed at 11:35 P.M. on April 29, 75 minutes late. Mr. Jones had reduced the time lag to 2 minutes by 3:52 A.M. on April 30 when he became aware that there was a train stopped ahead of him at Vauhgan, Mississippi. He stayed at the controls of Engine No. 382, nicknamed "Cannonball," and slowed its speed from 75 miles per hour to 35 mph before it hit the caboose of the train in front. Mr. Jones was killed, but his actions prevented any other fatalities; he became legendary when a traditional folk song was rewritten as "The Ballad of Casey Jones."

Americana
Hawaii became a territory of the United States, with Sanford B. Dole as Governor.

100 years ago
1910


Born on this date
Levi Celerio
. Filipino musician and songwriter. Mr. Celerio was a violinist who was able to play a leaf as a musical instrument, and wrote at least 4,000 songs. He died on April 2, 2002, four weeks before his 92nd birthday.

70 years ago
1940


War
The Communist International issued a statement from Moscow warning that the current war would spread to the Balkans, Near East, and Pacific regions. German troops in Norway occupied Dombas and Opdal, thus gaining control of the Oslo-Trondheim rail line.

Politics and government
In the Massachusetts primaries in the contest for the nominations in the 1940 U.S. presidential election, U.S. Postmaster General James Farley defeated President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Democratic primary, while Republican voters rejected a slate of delegates pledged to New York City District Attorney Thomas Dewey, opting instead for an unpledged slate.

Labour
In response to requests from unions, the Quebec government of Premier Adélard Godbout created the Supreme Labour Council, to act as an advisory body to the government.

Football
The American Football Coaches Association awarded the first Amos Alonzo Stagg Award to Donald Herring, Jr., a player with Princeton University, as the "individual, group or institution whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football."

Baseball
Tex Carleton pitched a no-hitter to lead the Brooklyn Dodgers to a 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 10,544 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. The scoring came on a 3-run home run by Pete Coscarart in the 5th inning off losing pitcher Jim Turner. The win improved Brooklyn’s record for the season to 9-0.

60 years ago
1950


Died on this date
Tom Niland, 80
. U.S. baseball player. "Honest Tom" was an outfielder with the St. Louis Browns (1896), batting .176 with no home runs and 3 runs batted in in 18 games. He played at least 9 seasons in the minor leagues from 1891-1906, and died 16 days after his 80th birthday.

Protest
An estimated five million Americans marched in anti-Communist "Loyalty Day" parades.

Science
The Council of the Federation of American Scientists protested the U.S. government's ban on open discussion of non-secret work on atomic science.

Oil
Construction started on a $95-million interprovincial pipeline to carry oil from Edmonton to the Lakehead in northern Ontario.

Labour
Italy's Free (Catholic) Confederation of Labour and the Socialist Federation of Italian Workers merged to form a single anti-Communist labour group, the Italian Confederation of Union Workers.

Baseball
The Boston Red Sox scored 4 runs in the 1st inning, 3 in the 2nd, and 11 in the 4th en route to a 19-0 win over the Philadelphia Athletics in the first game of a doubleheader before 34,697 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Ted Williams hit 2 home runs for the Red Sox, while Vern Stephens and Bobby Doerr also homered, and Dom DiMaggio scored 5 runs. Ben Guintini popped out as a pinch hitter for the Athletics in the 3rd inning; it was the fifth and last game of his 2-year major league career. The Red Sox completed the sweep with a 6-5 win in the second game.

Bill Wight (1-2) pitched a 2-hitter for the Chicago White Sox as they shut out the Detroit Tigers 5-0 in the first game of a doubleheader before 8,175 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. In the second game, he White Sox rallied from a 7-0 deficit to score 4 runs in the 7th inning and 3 in the 9th. The game was called after 9 innings because of darkness and cold with the score tied 7-7. Hank Majeski drove in 4 runs for Chicago in the second game with a pair of home runs.

Del Rice hit a home run off Johnny Schmitz with 1 out in the bottom of the 13th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs before 9,645 fans at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. Mr. Schmitz (1-1) gave up just 4 hits in going the distance for the loss, while Harry Brecheen (1-1) went the distance for the win, allowing 5 hits.

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade

#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): He'll Have to Go--Jim Reeves (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Personalità--Caterina Valente

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Banjo Boy--Jan & Kjeld (9th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Cathy's Clown--The Everly Brothers

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Stuck on You--Elvis Presley (2nd week at #1)
2 Greenfields--The Brothers Four
3 The Theme from "A Summer Place"--Percy Faith and his Orchestra
4 Night--Jackie Wilson
5 White Silver Sands--Bill Black's Combo
6 Sink the Bismarck--Johnny Horton
7 Sixteen Reasons--Connie Stevens
8 The Old Lamplighter--The Browns
9 Footsteps--Steve Lawrence
10 Puppy Love--Paul Anka

Singles entering the chart were He'll Have to Stay by Jeanne Black (#75); Chi Chi Meringue by the Eloise Trio (#93); Just a Closer Walk with Thee by Jimmie Rodgers (#94); Jenny Lou by Sonny James (#95); Swingin' School (#97)/Ding-A-Ling (#100) by Bobby Rydell; Beg Your Pardon by Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra (#98); The Urge by Freddy Cannon (#99); Dutchman's Gold by Walter Brennan with Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra (also #100); and Hold Me Tenderly by Bobby Bland (also #100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Stuck on You--Elvis Presley (4th week at #1)
2 Got a Girl--The Four Preps
3 Stairway to Heaven--Neil Sedaka
4 Cathy's Clown--The Everly Brothers
5 Sixteen Reasons--Connie Stevens
6 Step by Step--The Crests
7 Cradle of Love--Johnny Preston
8 Young Emotions--Ricky Nelson
9 Let the Little Girl Dance--Billy Bland
10 Good Timin'--Jimmy Jones

Singles entering the chart were Frankie and Johnny by Sylvia Robbins (#24); White Tennis Sneakers by Jan & Dean (#29); Happy-Go-Lucky-Me by Paul Evans (#33); Mr. Lucky by Henry Mancini and his Orchestra (#46); Poor Me by Adam Faith (#48); Someone Loves You, Joe by the Singing Belles (#49); Oh, Little One by Jack Scott (#50); Three Steps to Heaven by Eddie Cochran (#51); Dutchman's Gold by Walter Brennan with Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra (#52); Money (That's What I Want) by Barrett Strong (#54); Fever (LP track) by Elvis Presley (#56); No If's--No And's by Lloyd Price and his Orchestra (#57); Because They're Young by Duane Eddy and the Rebels (#58); and Pink Chiffon by Mitchell Torok (#59).

Died on this date
Herman Pillette, 64
. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Pillette played with the Cincinnati Reds (1917) and Detroit Tigers (1922-1924), compiling a record of 34-32 with an earned run average of 3.45 in 107 games. His best season was 1922, when he was 19-12 with a 2.85 ERA and 4 shutouts. Mr. Pillette played at 26 seasons in the minor leagues (1917-1945), mostly in the Pacific Coast League (1920-1921, 1925-1945). Mr. Pillette won at least 277 games in the minors--226 in the PCL--and lost at least 275--235 in the PCL; he was 21-16 with the Mission Reds in 1926, and 23-13 with the Reds in 1929, while going 13-30 with the Portland Beavers in 1921. He was 14-9 with the Regina Senators of the Class B Western Canada League in 1920, and pitched a no-hitter in his final game with them. Mr. Pillette died of a cerebral embolism following several strokes; he was inducted into the PCL Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1943.

Defense
Lieutenant General H.D. Graham retired from the Canadian Army; he was the last officer with a World War I ribbon to retire.

Baseball
The Pittsburgh Pirates scored 10 runs in the 2nd inning on their way to a 12-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 3,481 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Pittsburgh second baseman Bill Mazeroski batted 4 for 5 with a home run, double, 2 runs, and 3 runs batted in.

The New York Yankees scored 5 runs in the 1st inning, 5 in the 6th, and 4 in the 7th as they routed the Baltimore Orioles 16-0 before 13,267 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Roger Maris batted 3 for 5 with a home run, 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 4 runs batted in. Jim Coates (3-0) pitched an 8-hit shutout, and doubled and scored a run.

40 years ago
1970

Died on this date
Inger Stevens, 35
. Swedish-born U.S. actress. Miss Stevens, who moved to New York City with her family in 1944, was known mainly for her many performances in television, which included a starring role in the comedy series The Farmer’s Daughter (1963-1966) and two memorable episodes of The Twilight Zone: The Hitch-Hiker (1960) and The Lateness of the Hour (1960). Her movies included The New Interns (1964); A Guide for the Married Man (1967); Hang ‘em High (1968); Madigan (1968); and Firecreek (1968). She had recently signed on as co-star of the crime series The Most Deadly Game, which was to go on the air in the fall of 1970, and appeared in the pilot episode, Zig Zag, which was never broadcast. She was found unconscious on her kitchen floor by her sometime roommate, Lola McNally, and died en route to the hospital from a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol. Miss Stevens' death was ruled a suicide.

War
North Vietnamese troops captured the Laotian town of Attopeu, at the foot of a plateau overlooking the Ho Chi Minh Trail to the east, marking the first time that North Vietnamese troops had crossed the 1962 cease-fire line to take a major Laotian town.

U.S. President Richard Nixon, in a televised address, said that he had ordered American combat forces 20 miles into Cambodia in an effort to destroy the "headquarters for the entire Communist military operation in South Vietnam." Mr. Nixon stressed that it was "not an invasion," and he was not seeking to widen the war. He promised that "we will withdraw" as soon as the enemy was driven out of his bases and his supplies destroyed. Mr. Nixon said that his action was essential to his plan for "Vietnamizing" the war, and was intended to save American lives.



Protest
Two days of disorder on the campus of Ohio State University concluded as 20 were wounded by shotgun fire and 600 were arrested.

Ottawana
The Capitol Cinema, Ottawa's only large movie palace, was closed and later demolished.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
St. Louis 4 @ Pittsburgh 3 (St. Louis won best-of-seven series 4-2)

This was the final game for Pittsburgh rookie Michel Briere, who led the Penguins in scoring with 5 goals and 3 assists in 10 playoff games. A few weeks later he suffered serious head injuries in a car accident, and died in the spring of 1971 without fully regaining consciousness. The Penguins retired his jersey number 21.

Baseball
Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs became the first National League player to play in 1,000 consecutive games when he batted 0 for 4 in the Cubs’ 9-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves before 10,907 fans at Atlanta Stadium. Rico Carty hit a grand slam for the Braves in the 1st inning and added a solo homer in the 5th. George Stone (3-1) pitched a 6-hit complete game victory, and batted 2 for 4 with a double and 2 runs batted in. Ferguson Jenkins (2-3) allowed 4 hits and 5 runs--all earned--in 1.2 innings to take the loss.

Horace Clarke singled to lead off the bottom of the 3rd inning, advanced to third base on a single by Bobby Murcer, and scored the game's only run on a sacrifice fly by Roy White as the New York Yankees edged the California Angels 1-0 before 5,395 fans at Yankee Stadium. Stan Bahnsen (2-2) pitched a 5-hitter, outduelling Rudy May (2-1), who allowed 4 hits in 7 innings.

Frank Howard and Bernie Allen each hit 3-run home runs in a 7-run 3rd inning for the Washington Senators as they routed the Milwaukee Brewers 12-2 before 7,575 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington. George Brunet (1-3) pitched a 9-hit complete game victory.

With 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 10th inning, Amos Otis drew a base on balls and Bob Oliver doubled him home to give the Kansas City Royals a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers before 6,237 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City.

30 years ago
1980


Terrorism
Arab Iranian terrorists seized the Iranian embassy in London. They identified themselves as being from the Iranian province of Khuzistan, and they wanted autonomy for the province as well as the release of 91 Arabs whom they claimed were imprisoned in Iran.

Europeana
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, 42, assumed the throne from her mother, Queen Juliana, who abdicated on her 71st birthday. The new queen appealed to her people to build stronger links with backward nations because "we can no longer disassociate our domestic polity from the distress in the world."

Protest
Squatters in Amsterdam staged a demonstration to coincide with the investiture of Queen Beatrix, to protest a housing shortage. At least 125 people were injured in fighting between the hooligans and police.

Science
University of California at Irvine physicist Frderick Reines told a meeting of the American Physical Society in Washington that recent experiments indicated that the subatomic particle known as the "neutrino" appeared to have mass. Experiments by Dr. Reines and his co-workers showed that the neutrino oscillated between different states, an instability associated, in theory, with mass. Harvard University physicist Carlo Rubbia said that "the cosmological consequences" of the finding "are absolutely fantastic." Physicists thought that the universe was filed with particles possessing neither mass nor charge. Neutrinos would be the dominant material of the universe if they have mass and might be able to explain the nature of the invisible "stuff" whose gravity holds together the galaxies and clusters of galaxies.

Scandal
After a 16-week trial, former U.S. Budget Director Bert Lance was acquitted by a federal jury in Atlanta of nine counts of bank fraud. A mistrial was declared on three remaining counts because the jury wasn’t able to reach a verdict. Mr. Lance had resigned in September 1977 as director of the Office of Management and Budget amidst a controversy over his banking practices when he served as president and chief executive officer of both the National Bank of Georgia and the Calhoun First National Bank.

Hockey
NHL
Gordie Howe, 52, announced his retirement from the Hartford Whalers, ending his 33-year professional career. "Mr. Hockey" played with the Omaha Knights of the minor United States Hockey League (1945-46); Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (1946-71) and the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association (1973-78), joining the New England Whalers for the WHA's last season in 1978-79, and remaining with the renamed team when it joined the NHL in 1979. He scored 1,850 points on 801 goals and 1,049 assists in 1,767 regular season NHL games, and 160 points on 68 goals and 92 assists in 157 Stanley Cup games, while scoring 508 points on 174 goals and 334 assists in 419 regular season WHA games, adding 71 points on 28 goals and 43 assists in 78 Avco World Trophy games. He played all 80 regular season games in 1979-80, scoring 15 goals and 26 assists, with 1 goal and 1 assist in 3 playoff games. Mr. Howe, who played with sons Mark and Marty in the WHA, is still regarded as one of the greatest players in history.

Baseball
Jim Bibby (3-0) pitched a 6-hit shutout for the Pittsburgh Pirates as they blanked the Montreal Expos 5-0 before 8,545 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh in the Wednesday night CBC telecast. Phil Garner drove in 3 runs with a pair of home runs, and Bill Robinson also homered. Bill Lee (0-3) allowed 4 hits and 3 runs--all earned--in 2 innings to take the loss.

Mark Bomback (2-0) pitched a 2-hitter for the New York Mets as they shut out the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 before 4,559 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Losing pitcher Randy Lerch (0-3) allowed 4 hits and 1 run--earned--in 7 innings.

20 years ago
1990


Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Oh Yeah!--Princess Princess

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (9th week at #1)

World events
Frank Reed, an American who had disappeared in September 1986, was freed by his captors in Lebanon. U.S. President George Bush thanked the government of Iran for having used its influence to free Mr. Reed.

Politics and government
Prince Edward Island Premier Joe Ghiz defended the Meech Lake Canadian constitutional accord and warned that Canada would face political instability if it was not passed. Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells said that he would welcome a first ministers’ conference on the situation, but warned that he would not likely support a last-minute solution that did not provide time for public input and debate.

Scandal
DuBois Gilliam, deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1984-1987, who was serving a prison term for accepting payoffs from developers, began testifying before the House Government Operations subcommittee. Mr. Gilliam said that the department "was the best domestic political machine I’ve ever seen. We dealt strictly in politics." Mr. Gilliam charged that former HUD secretary Samuel Pierce had made decisions regarding HUD grants. An attorney for Mr. Pierce denied the allegations.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
St. Louis 2 @ Chicago 8 (Chicago won best-of-seven series 4-3)

10 years ago
2000


Died on this date
Poul Hartling, 85
. Prime Minister of Denmark, 1973-1975. Mr. Hartling, the son of Education Minister Mads R. Hartling, was a pastor before entering politics. As a member of the Left, he sat in Parliament (1957-1960, 1964-1977), leading his party from 1965-1977. Mr. Hartling led a coalition government from December 1973-February 1975, despite his party holding just 22 of 179 seats in Parliament; the main achievement of his government was the passage of the Social Assistance Act in 1974, which instructed municipal authorities to provide day-care and recreation centres for children and young people. Mr. Hartling left politics to work with the United Nations, and was UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 1978-1985.

Religion
Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun whose apparitions of Jesus inspired the Roman Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy, was canonized by Pope John Paul II.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
San Jose 0 @ Dallas 1 (Dallas led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Baseball
Major league batters set a record for home runs in a single month by hitting 931 in April, 140 more than the previous April.

Wednesday 28 April 2010

April 29, 2010

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, April Stevens and Ira Zabelina!

340 years ago
1670


Religion
Cardinal Emilio Bonaventura Altieri was installed as Pope Clement X, succeeding Clement IX as head of the Roman Catholic Church.

240 years ago
1770


Australiana
U.K. Royal Navy Lieutenant James Cook and the crew of HMS Endeavour made landfall at the Kurnell Peninsula; he named the area Stingray Bay, and later renamed it Botany Bay. It was the first recorded European contact with the coast of eastern Australia.

200 years ago
1810


Born on this date
Thomas Adolphus Trollope
. U.K.-born author. Mr. Trollope, a member of a literary family, wrote more than 60 books, including his three-volume memoir What I Remember (1887-1889). He spent most of his life in Italy, but retired to Devon, England, where he died on November 11,, 1892 at the age of 82.

130 years ago
1880


Business
Melville Bell, Alexander Graham Bell's brother, incorporated The Bell Telephone Company of Canada with Hugh Baker of Hamilton, Ontario. Royal Assent was given to the act chartering the firm, originally called called The Hamilton Telephone Company. The Bell stock was soon listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

100 years ago
1910


Economics and finance
The Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the "People's Budget," the first budget in British history with the expressed intent of redistributing wealth among the British public.

90 years ago
1920


Died on this date
William H. Seward Jr., 80
. U.S. military officer and banker. Brigadier General Seward, the youngest son of U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward, Sr., opened a bank in Auburn, New York in 1861, and then served with the Union Army in the American Civil War (1862-1865). He resigned his commission shortly after the end of the war, and returned to his banking business.

80 years ago
1930

Baseball

The Brooklyn Robins scored 11 runs in the 2nd inning to take a 13-0 lead, and withstood a 9-run 3rd inning rally as they defeated the New York Giants 19-15 before 15,000 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. The Robins outhit the Giants 22-19. Brooklyn right fielder Babe Herman batted 3 for 5 with a home run, triple, base on balls, 3 runs, and 7 runs batted in.

The Washington Nationals came back from a 7-0 deficit with 7 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning, and went on to defeat the New York Yankees 11-8 before 4,500 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington. Lefty Gomez (0-1), the third of five New York pitchers, allowed 4 hits and 2 runs--earned--in 4 innings, walking 2 batters, hitting 1, and striking out none, while striking out in his only plate appearance in his major league debut.

70 years ago
1940


War
German troops in Norway advanced up the Gudbrands and Oester valleys in their drive against the Dombas-Saoeren rail lines. The Chinese government reported that its troops had stopped a new Japanese offensive in the Chinese province of Shansi.

Diplomacy
Former Belgian Prime Minister Paul Van Zeeland said in Washington that the United States must play the decisive role in the social and economic reorganization of the world after the European war.

S.H. Church of the Carnegie Institute announced a $1-million reward for the delivery of German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler, alive, to the League of Nations.

Politics and government
In a joint telegram to the Texas State Democratic Committee, Congressmen Sam Rayburn and Lyndon Johnson asked that the delegates sent to the Democratic National Convention endorse U.S. Vice President John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner only as a favourite son. Mr. Garner was challenging President Franklin D. Roosevelt for the 1940 Democratic Party presidential nomination.

The Florida Republican Party committee was split when a rump group elected 12 delegates to the Republican National Convention who were understood to be opposed to the nomination of New York City District Attorney Thomas Dewey as the party's nominee for President of the United States, thus challenging the full state committee's choice.

Labour
The United States Supreme Court upheld U.S. Labor Secretary Frances Perkins' determination of wages in steel companies holding government contracts under the Walsh-Henley Law.

60 years ago
1950

Hit parade

#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra; Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): "The Third Man" Theme--Anton Karas (Best Seller--1st week at #1); If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake--Eileen Barton with the New Yorkers (Disc Jockey--6th week at #1; Jukebox--3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 "The Third Man" Theme--Anton Karas (2nd week at #1)
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
2 If I Knew You Were Comin’ (I’d’ve Baked a Cake)--Eileen Barton with the New Yorkers
--Georgia Gibbs
3 Music! Music! Music!--Teresa Brewer
4 Daddy’s Little Girl--The Mills Brothers
--Dick Todd
5 It Isn’t Fair--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
6 Dearie--Ray Bolger and Ethel Merman
--Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
7 My Foolish Heart--Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
--Billy Eckstine
--Mindy Carson
8 Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later than You Think)--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
9 I Said My Pajamas (And Put on My Pray’rs)--Tony Martin and Fran Warren
10 Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy--Red Foley
--Bing Crosby

Singles entering the chart were Count Every Star by Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra (#30); Put on an Old Pair of Shoes, with versions by Bradford and Romano; and Eddy Howard and his Orchestra (#34); Chinese Mule Train by Spike Jones and his City Slickers (#36); Joshua by Ralph Flanagan and his Orchestra (#37); The Horse Told Me, with versions by Dennis Day; and Bing Crosby (#39); and Little Darlin', Little Angel by Mindy Carson (#40). Chinese Mule Train was a politically-incorrect spoof of the recent hit Mule Train. Bing Crosby's version of The Horse Told Me was the other side of the version of Sunshine Cake by Mr. Crosby and Carol Richards, charting at #24.

World events
A military court in Bucharest sentenced five Romanians to prison terms of 15 years to life on charges of spying for the United States.

The U.S. freighter General Gordon evacuated 735 foreigners, including 154 Americans, from Tientsin, China.

Politics and government
The Belgian government dissolved Parliament for a new election over the issue of the return to the country of King Leopold III.

The Committee for Freedom of North Africa, headed by Emir Abd El Kim, announced that it would ask the United Nations General Assembly to end France's Tunisia protectorate this year.

Former U.S. State Secretaries George Marshall, Cordell Hull, and James F. Byrnes joined current Secretary of State Dean Acheson in denying that Far Eastern Affairs Adviser Owen Lattimore had ever influenced U.S. Far Eastern policy, as charged by Senator Joseph McCarthy (Republican--Wisconsin).

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Tom Connally established eight subcommittees to hold monthly talks with the State Department on international problems.

Communications
The Communist Chinese government announced the opening of direct radiotelephone service between Shanghai and Moscow.

Medicine
The American Cancer Society reported that a group of Washington physicians had broken up large human cancers by injecting nitrogen mustard chemicals into arteries leading to the cancers.

50 years ago
1960


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Cathy's Clown--The Everly Brothers

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: Nightmre as a Child, starring Janice Rule and Terry Burnham

40 years ago
1970


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Spirit in the Sky--Norman Greenbaum (2nd week at #1)

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 Something's Burning--Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
2 American Woman/No Sugar Tonight--The Guess Who
3 Vehicle--The Ides of March
4 Little Green Bag--George Baker Selection
5 Come Running--Van Morrison
6 Let it Be--The Beatles
7 Everything is Beautiful--Ray Stevens
8 Love or Let Me Be Lonely--The Friends of Distinction
9 Woodstock--Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
10 Up the Ladder to the Roof--The Supremes

Singles entering the chart were Sometimes We're Up by the Collectors (#28); A Song of Joy (Himno a la Alegria) by Miguel Rios (#29); and Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand) by Diana Ross (#30).

War
South Vietnamese forces, accompanied by American advisers and backed by American planes and heavy artillery, launched a large offensive into Cambodia.

Defense
The Israeli government formally confirmed official reports that Soviet pilots were flying operational missions in support of the United Arab Republic's Air Force.

Politics and government
The Liberal Party, led by Robert Bourassa, won the Quebec provincial election, taking 72 of 108 seats in the National Assembly. The governing Union Nationale under Premier Jean-Jacques Bertrand were reduced to 17 seats, with the Ralliement creditiste, led by Camil Samson, winning 12 seats. This was the first election in which the separatist Parti Quebecois took part, and under the leadership of Rene Levesque the PQ won 7 seats.

New York Mayor John Lindsay, speaking at the University of Pennsylvania, criticized the "intemperate language" used the day before by U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew in his criticism of Yale University President Kingman Brewster. Mr. Lindsay said that Mr. Agnew had "heightened tensions" at Yale, and went on to say that he had "unending admiration" for those "heroic" enough to refuse to serve in the Vietnam War.

Protest
Ohio Governor James Rhodes ordered National Guard troops onto the campus of Ohio State University to attempt to quell student disorder.

Crime
The testimony of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy at the inquest into the July 1969 death of Mary Jo Kopechne was made public. Presiding District Court Judge James Doyle appended to its opinion that there were contradictions in Sen. Kennedy’s testimony.

Society
Riot police patrolled the streets of River Rouge, Michigan with fixed bayonets in order to quell rioting by rampaging bands of white and Negro youths that had threatened to spill into Detroit.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
New York 111 @ Los Angeles 108 (OT) (New York led best-of-seven series 2-1)

The Knickerbockers outscored the Lakers 9-6 in overtime before 17,500 fans at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Dave DeBusschere scored a field goal with 3 seconds remaining in regulation time to give New York a 102-100 lead, but Jerry West sank a 63-foot shot with less than 1 second left to tie the score.



Baseball
Paul Blair hit 3 home runs and had 6 runs batted in as the Baltimore Orioles routed the Chicago White Sox 18-2 before 5,188 fans at White Sox Park. Elrod Hendricks and Boog Powell each hit a 3-run homer to support the pitching of Jim Palmer (3-1), who allowed 8 hits and 2 runs, while batting 2 for 6 with a run and 2 RBIs. Gene Rounsaville, the second of five Chicago pitchers, allowed 4 hits and 5 runs--4 earned--in 0.1 innings in his 8th and last major league game.

The San Diego Padres took advantage of the wildness of Joe Sparma to score 3 runs in the 1st inning and go on to a 10-0 win over the Montreal Expos before 1,753 fans at San Diego Stadium. Mr. Sparma, starting on the mound for Montreal, threw a wild pitch while attempting to intentionally walk Ollie Brown in the 1st inning, allowing Al Ferrara to score the third run. To begin the bottom of the 2nd, Mr. Sparma hit San Diego catcher Bob Barton with a pitch, breaking Mr. Barton's jaw; Mr. Sparma then hit San Diego pitcher Pat Dobson with a pitch, and and was then relieved by Howie Reed. It was the last major league start for Mr. Sparma (0-4), who allowed 3 hits and 4 runs--all earned--in 1+ innings, walking 2 batters, striking out 1, hitting 2, and throwing 3 wild pitches. Mr. Dobson (2-2) pitched a 3-hitter, walking 6 batters and striking out 11. John Strohmayer, the third of 4 Montreal pitchers, allowed 1 hit and 1 run--earned--in 2 innings, striking out 3 batters and walking none in his first major league game.

30 years ago
1980


Died on this date
Alfred Hitchcock, 80
. U.K.-born movie director, producer, and television host. Sir Alfred, "The Master of Suspense," directed 51 feature films and 2 short films in a directing career that covered 50 years. My favourite Hitchcock movies include Strangers on a Train (1951); Rope (1948); Rear Window (1954); Notorious (1946); and North By Northwest (1959). He directed 20 television programs, 18 of them for the anthology series that he hosted: Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1962); and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962-1965). Despite being the most famous director in movie history, Sir Alfred never won an Academy Award for Best Director, although he was nominated five times. He did receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1968 "for the most consistent high level of production achievement by an individual producer."

Politics and government
U.S. Senator Edmund Muskie (Democrat--Maine) was named to succeed Cyrus Vance as U.S. Secretary of State. Mr. Vance had resigned the day before because of his inability to support the attempted military rescue of the hostages at the U.S. embassy in Tehran, which had ended in failure and tragedy on April 24. U.S. President Jimmy Carter defended the botched raid by insisting that it had a good chance of success and would have ended the crisis: "There is a deeper failure than that of incomplete success. That is the failure to attempt a worthy effort--a failure to try."

Track and field
Jacqueline Gareau of Canada was officially declared the top female finisher in the Boston Marathon, eight days after the race, following the disqualification of apparent winner Rosie Ruiz after Miss Ruiz was ruled to have cheated.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Minnesota 6 @ Philadelphia 5 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 1-0)
New York Islanders 4 @ Buffalo 1 (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)

25 years ago
1985

Baseball

Larry Parrish hit 3 home runs to lead the Texas Rangers to a 7-5 win over the New York Yankees in Billy Martin’s first game back as manager of the Yankees.

20 years ago
1990


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (10th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Ding Dong--Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung
2 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor
3 Das erste Mal tat's noch weh--Stefan Waggershausen & Viktor Lazlo
4 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles
5 The Power--Snap!
6 Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International
7 Pump ab das Bier--Werner
8 Hier kommt Kurt--Frank Zander
9 Vogue--Madonna
10 Dangerous--Roxette

Singles entering the chart were Vogue; and Your Own Sweet Way by the Notting Hillbillies (#30).

Baseball
Pitcher Dan Quisenberry of the San Francisco Giants announced his retirement, ending his 12-year major league career. He played with the Kansas City Royals (1979-1988); St. Louis Cardinals (1988-1989); and the Giants (1990), compiling a record of 56-46 with an earned run average of 2.76 and 244 saves in 674 games, all in relief. Mr. Quisenberry retired with the American League career record for saves with 238. In 5 games with the Giants he as 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA.

Greg Maddux of the Chicago Cubs pitched a 6-hit 4-0 shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers before 41,893 fans at Dodger Stadium and set a major league record for pitchers by recording 7 putouts in a single game.

10 years ago
2000


Died on this date
Phạm Văn Đồng, 94
. Prime Minister of North Vietnam, 1955-1976; Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) of Vietnam, 1976-1987. Phạm Văn Đồng became involved with Communism in the late 1920s, joined the Communist Party in 1940, and became a close lieutenant of revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. He held various positions in the North Vietnamese government, including Deputy Prime Minister (1947-1955), before succeeding Ho as Prime Minister. Phạm retired from public life in 1976, and served as an adviser to the Communist Party's Central Committee (1986-1997). He was blind for the last 10 years of his life, and died after several months of illness.

Buck Varner, 69. U.S. baseball player. Glen Gann Varner was an outfielder who batted 0 for 4 in 2 games with the Washington Nationals in 1952. He played 6 seasons in the minor leagues from 1948-1954, batting .277 with 31 home runs in 469 games.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
New Jersey 1 @ Toronto 0 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Pittsburgh 4 @ Philadelphia 1 (Pittsburgh led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Detroit 1 @ Colorado 3 (Colorado led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Baseball
The San Francisco Giants defeated the Montreal Expos 2-1 for their first win at Pacific Bell Park, after opening the new facility with 6 straight losses.

April 28, 2010

270 years ago
1740


Died on this date
Baji Rao I, 39
. Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, 1720-1740. Baji Rao I, a Brahmin, was trained as a diplomat and warrior. He served as Peshwa (Prime Minister) to Chhatrapati (Emperor) Shahu I, and was credited with the expansion of the Maratha Empire in India, never losing a battle in 20 years. Baji Rao I died five days after contracting a fever.

250 years ago
1760


War
French forces commanded by General Chevalier François Gaston de Lévis defeated British forces led by General James Murray in the Battle of Sainte-Foy in what is now Quebec. It was the last French victory in North America.

Politics and government
The Sovereign Council of New France held its last meeting.

210 years ago
1800


Died on this date
Yevstigney Fomin, 38
. Russian composer. Mr. Fomin was a harpsichordist who was best known for composing about 30 operas, most notably Orfey i Evridika (Orpheus and Eurydice) (1792). He died in poverty.

130 years ago
1880

Baseball

Boston Red Caps’ catcher Lew Brown showed up drunk for an exhibition game, and was suspended for the season.

110 years ago
1900


Born on this date
Heinrich Müller
. German SS officer. SS-Gruppenführer Müller was head of the Munich Political Police Department in the 1920s, and opposed the Nazi seizure of power in Bavaria in 1933. However, he was recruited by Security Service (SD) chief Reinhard Heydrich into the SS in 1934, and became its operations chief by 1936. SS-Gruppenführer Müller was advanced through the ranks of the SS by Mr. Heydrich, and was appointed chief of the secret state police force Gestapo in 1939. He attended the Wannsee Conference in January 1942, where the policy of extermination of Jews was decided upon, and was involved in its planning and execution. SS-Gruppenführer Müller was last seen alive in the Fuehrerbunker in Berlin on the evening of May 1, 1945, the day after the death of Fuehrer Adolf Hitler; he was presumed to have been killed or committed suicide shortly thereafter. SS-Gruppenführer Müller was the most senior figure in the Nazi regime who was never captured or confirmed to have died.

Jan Oort. Dutch astronomer. Dr. Oort made major contributions to the understanding of the Milky Way, and was a pioneer in radio astronomy. He determined that the Milky Way rotates, and overturned the idea that the Sun is at its centre. Dr. Oort also discovered the galactic halo--a group of stars orbiting the Milky Way but outside the main disk--and postulated the existence of dark matter in 1932. He died on November 5, 1992 at the age of 92.

100 years ago
1910


Born on this date
Sam Merwin, Jr.
U.S. author. Mr. Merwin wrote science fiction, fantasy, and romance under his own name and severl speudonyms from 1940 through the 1970s. His best-known works were the science fiction novel The House of Many Worlds (1951) and its sequel, Three Faces of Time (1955). Mr. Merwin died on January 13, 1996 at the age of 85.

Aviation
Frenchman Louis Paulhan won the 1910 London to Manchester air race, the first long-distance aeroplane race in England.

Baseball
Walter Johnson (2-2) gave up 16 hits but only 1 run and struck out 12 in going the distance as the Washington Nationals edged the Boston Red Sox 2-1 in 12 innings before 2,948 fans at American League Park in Washington. Losing pitcher Ray Collins (0-1) allowed 12 hits in 11.2 innings.

90 years ago
1930

Baseball

In the Class C Western Association, 1,000 fans were on hand in Independence, Kansas to see the Producers lose 13-3 to the Muskogee Chiefs in the first night game in organized professional baseball history.

The Philadelphia Athletics scored 4 runs in the 9th inning without getting a hit to defeat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 before 6,000 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The runs scored as a result of 2 bases on balls, 2 errors, and a hit batsman.

70 years ago
1940


War
In response to Germany's recent invasion of Norway, a Gallup Poll reported that 93% of Americans thought the invasion unjustified, but 96% did not favour a U.S. declaration of war on Germany. The town of Namsos, the Allied troop landing area in central Norway, was levelled by German air attacks. Allied commanders were ordered to withdraw from Namsos and Andalsnes, thus abandoning the attempt to take Trondheim. Conflicting reports of success were issued from Tokyo and Chungking concerning the heavy fighting in the Chinese province of Shansi.

Law
The United States Justice Department announced the establishment of a Neutrality Laws Unit to centralize control of all alleged violations.

Tennis
Don Budge defeated Bruce Barnes in the men's final of the U.S. Open championship at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Baseball
Hal Trosky hit a 2-run home run with 2 out in the 10th inning to give the Cleveland Indians an 11-9 win over the Detroit Tigers before 30,200 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Indians had led 9-3, but the Tigers scored 6 runs in the 9th to tie the game.

60 years ago
1950


Died on this date
Generoso Pope, 59
. Italian-born U.S. businessman. Mr. Pope, born Generoso Papa, emigrated with his family to New York City in 1906. He founded Pope Foods in 1912, importing Italian foods. Mr. Pope owned a chain of Italian-language newspapers in major American cities. He was a conservative Democrat who supported the Italian Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini as well as U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and influenced the adoption of Columbus Day as an American holiday in 1934. Mr. Pope was successful in persuading Mr. Roosevelt's administration to take a neutral stand on the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1936, but he broke with the Mussolini regime after the U.S.A. entered World War II in 1941, and supported the American war effort. Mr. Pope was a prominent anti-Communist in his later years, and died of a heart ailment, 27 days after his 59th birthday.

Diplomacy
United Nations Secretary-General Trygve Lie, UN General Assembly President Carlos Romulo, and former U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt stated their opposition to former U.S. President Herbert Hoover's proposal for a reorganized UN without Communist states.

Czechoslovakia demanded that the U.S.A. reduce its diplomatic staff in Czechoslovakia by two-thirds because of alleged anti-Czech activities.

Politics and government
The United Kingdom objected before the United Nations Trusteeship Council to plans for Italian administration of Eritrea, urging that the country be divided between Ethiopia and Sudan.

Science
A compromise bill for the creation of a National Science Foundation was sent to U.S. President Harry Truman after getting the approval of both houses of Congress.

Oddities
Jim Martin, a catcher with Pampa in the West Texas-New Mexico League, was struck by lightning in the 2nd inning of a game at Abilene. He was knocked unconscious, his mask was hurled 85 feet away, and the stadium lights were knocked out. However, Mr. Martin was not seriously hurt, and he played the next day.

50 years ago
1960


Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Marina--Rocco Granata and the International Quintet (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Do You Mind?--Anthony Newley

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Frank Nitti Story, with guest stars Bruce Gordon, Richard Anderson, Myron McCormick, and Dick Foran

This was the last episode of the season.

40 years ago
1970


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)--Edison Lighthouse

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Mademoiselle Ninette--The Soulful Dynamics

Died on this date
Ed Begley, 69
. U.S. actor. Mr. Begley was an excellent character actor whose movies included Patterns (1956) (also the earlier television version (1955)); 12 Angry Men (1957); and Sweet Bird of Youth (1962), for which he won an Academy Award for his supporting performance. He died of a heart attack.

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched Meteor 1-4, the first of two meteorological satellites to form part of the Soviet Union’s weather satellite system.

Academia
U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew, addressing a Republican Party fund-raising dinner in Hollywood, Florida, said that Yale University President Kingman Brewster should be fired and a "more mature and responsible person" put in his place, since Yale students could not "get a fair impression of their country under the tutelage of Kingman Brewster." Five days earlier, Mr. Brewster had expressed skepticism of the ability of Negro revolutionaries to get a fair trial anywhere in the United States.

Religion
The Vatican issued revised rules for mixed marriages between Roman Catholics and non-Catholics. The new policy eliminated the requirement that the non-Catholic partner promise to raise children in the Roman Catholic faith, substituting a provision that required the non-Catholic only to be informed of the Catholic partner’s commitment to raise the children as Catholics.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Pittsburgh 0 @ St. Louis 5 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Jacques Plante was in goal for the Blues at St. Louis Arena, earning his 14th career Stanley Cup shutout.

30 years ago
1980


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Got You--Split Enz (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Runaway--Chanels (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Message in a Bottle--The Police

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Weekend--Earth and Fire

Died on this date
Tommy Caldwell, 30
. U.S. musician. Mr. Caldwell played bass guitar with the rock group the Marshall Tucker Band from 1973 until his death, six days after suffering serious head injuries in an auto accident.

Politics and government
Cyrus Vance resigned as U.S. Secretary of State, four days after an attempted military rescue of the hostages at the U.S. embassy in Iran had ended in failure with the deaths of eight servicemen. Mr. Vance had not supported Operation Eagle Claw, arguing that it was possible to obtain the hostages’ freedom through diplomatic channels, augmented by political and economic sanctions.

Protest
Students in Kabul at the Omar Shaheed School for Boys and at the Habibia High School began burning the old and new Afghan flags and throwing stones at troops. The troops fired back and killed at least 13 students, while 200 were arrested.

25 years ago
1985


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): We are the World--USA for Africa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Johnny, Johnny--Jeanne Mas (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)--Dead or Alive (3rd week at #1)

On the radio
The Stories of Sherlock Holmes, starring Graham Armitage and Kerry Jordan, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: The Sarussi Pearls

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
New York Islanders 0 @ Philadelphia 1 (Philadelphia won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Minnesota 5 @ Chicago 4 (OT) (Chicago led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Ilkka Sinisalo's goal at 6:43 of the 2nd period held up as the winner as the Flyers eliminated the Islanders at the Spectrum. Pelle Lindbergh stopped 25 shots to get the shutout in goal, while New York goalie Kelly Hrudey made 37 saves.

Dennis Maruk scored at 1:14 of the 1st overtime period to enable the North Stars to avert elimination by the Black Hawks at Chicago Stadium. Mr. Maruk's goal completed a comeback from a 4-0 deficit in the 2nd period.

Baseball
A bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 9th inning gave the Chicago White Sox a 4-3 win over the New York Yankees before 27,367 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The loss dropped the Yankees’ record to 6-10, and Yogi Berra was fired as manager, to be replaced by Billy Martin. Mr. Berra was so furious that he vowed never to set foot in Yankee Stadium again as long as George Steinbrenner owned the Yankees.

Darryl Strawberry hit a grand slam in the 1st inning, but the New York Mets didn’t score another run until the bottom of the 18th as they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 in 18 innings before 36,423 fans at Shea Stadium in New York in a game that lasted 5 hours and 21 minutes. 41-year-old Rusty Staub was pressed into service in the outfield in the 12th inning when the Mets ran short of players. It was his last game in the field, and the only time he put the glove on all year. Mr. Staub and Clint Hurdle switched back and forth between left field and right field, depending on the handedness of the batter.

Mickey Hatcher, who had batted 5 for 5 the day before, hit safely his first 4 times up and finished 4 for 5 to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 10-1 win over the Oakland Athletics before 17,797 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis for their 8th straight win. Mr. Hatcher’s 9 straight hits were a club record.

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade

#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair) (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Vattene Amore--Amedeo Minghi; Mietta (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Vogue--Madonna

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton

#1 single in France (SNEP): Le temps des Yéyés--Les Vagabonds (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Vogue--Madonna (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 The Power--Snap! (3rd week at #1)
2 Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International
3 Infinity (1990's... Time for the Guru)--Guru Josh
4 Vogue--Madonna
5 Oh Pretty Woman--Gary Moore featuring Albert King
6 Kingston Town--UB40
7 What "U" Waitin'....."4"?--Jungle Brothers
8 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor
9 This Beat is Technotronic--Technotronic featuring MC Eric
10 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles

Singles entering the chart were Something Happened on the Way to Heaven by Phil Collins (#25); Fame 90 by David Bowie (#26); Moments in Soul by J.T. and the Big Family (#30); I Might by Shakin' Stevens (#31); Pressure by Angela & the Rude (#34); and The Sex of It by Kid Creole and the Coconuts (#35).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (2nd week at #1)
2 Don't Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
3 I Wanna Be Rich--Calloway
4 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
5 How Can We Be Lovers--Michael Bolton
6 Whip Appeal--Babyface
7 Here and Now--Luther Vandross
8 Without You--Motley Crue
9 Whole Wide World--A'me Lorain
10 All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You--Heart

Singles entering the chart were U Can't Touch This by M.C. Hammer (#27); Do You Remember? by Phil Collins (#51); Children of the Night by Richard Marx (#55); Notice Me by Nikki (#73); Dare to Fall in Love by Brent Bourgeois (#75); That's the Way of the World by D-Mob with Cathy Dennis (#78); Club at the End of the Street by Elton John (#86); Girls Nite Out by Tyler Collins (#89); This and That by Michael Penn (#90); Only My Heart Talkin' by Alice Cooper (#91); Try to Find Me by Gorky Park (#92); Sittin' in the Lap of Luxury by Louie Louie (#97); and Up All Night by Slaughter (#98).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Nothing Compares to U--Sinead O’Connor
2 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
3 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
4 I Wanna Be Rich--Calloway
5 I’ll Be Your Everything--Tommy Page
6 How Can We Be Lovers--Michael Bolton
7 Here and Now--Luther Vandross
8 Forever--Kiss
9 Without You--Motley Crue
10 Whip Appeal--Babyface

Singles entering the chart were Children of the Night by Richard Marx (#54); Do You Remember? by Phil Collins (#61); Coming of Age by Damn Yankees (#68); Turtle Power by Partners in Kryme (#74); Pictures of You by the Cure (#80); This and That by Michael Penn (#86); and That's the Way of the World by D Mob With Cathy Dennis (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins (6th week at #1)
2 Nothing Compares to U--Sinead O’Connor
3 Lover of Mine--Alannah Myles
4 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
5 Love Will Lead You Back--Taylor Dayne
6 I’ll Be Your Everything--Tommy Page
7 Blue Sky Mine--Midnight Oil
8 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
9 The Heart of the Matter--Don Henley
10 This Old Heart of Mine--Rod Stewart with Ronald Isley

Singles entering the chart were It Must Have Been Love by Roxette (#69); Book of Dreams by Suzanne Vega (#71); Dangerous Times by Sue Medley (#74); Heaven is a 4 Letter Word by Bad English (#79); 38 Years Ago by the Tragically Hip (#81); Club at the End of the Street by Elton John (#84); This is Love by Regatta (#87); Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice) by Gloria Estefan (#89); Texas Twister by Little Feat (#91); and I Come Off by Young MC (#93).

Theatre
The musical A Chorus Line closed after 6,137 performances at the Shubert Theatre in New York, the longest Broadway run in history to that time.

Protest
200,000-700,000 people came to Washington, D.C. to protest against the continuing abomination of abortion. U.S. President George Bush addressed the rally by telephone and said that the "widespread prevalence of abortion is a tragedy." Vice-President Dan Quayle, who attended the rally, said, "The pro-life movement is the humanitarian movement of our time."

Hockey
IIHF
Men's World Championship
Czechoslovakia 3 Canada 2

NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Chicago 2 @ St. Louis 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Baseball
The Detroit Tigers scored 4 runs in the 5th inning, 5 in the 7th, and 4 in the 8th as they beat the Milwaukee Brewers 13-5 before 15,829 fans at Tiger Stadium, with starting pitcher Frank Tanana picking up his 200th career major league win.

10 years ago
2000


Died on this date
Penelope Fitzgerald, 83
. U.K. authoress. Mrs. Fitzgerald was a literary editor and teacher before beginning her career as a writer in her late 50s. She wrote several biographies, but was best known for novels such as The Bookshop (1978); Offshore (1979); and The Blue Flower (1995).

Literature
The first Northrop Frye Literature Festival opened in Moncton, New Brunswick, with 40 authors giving readings.

Crime
A white man went on a shooting spree in the suburbs of Pittsburgh that was apparently racially-motivated, killing five Negroes and critically wounding a sixth.

Business
The United States Justice Department and 17 of the 19 states participating in a suit against Microsoft Corporation for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act asked U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson to break Microsoft into two separate companies.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
San Jose 0 @ Dallas 4 (Dallas led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Tuesday 27 April 2010

April 27, 2010

360 years ago
1650


War
Covenanter forces defeated an invading Royalist army in the Battle of Carbisdale near the village of Culrain, Scotland.

190 years ago
1820


Born on this date
Herbert Spencer
. U.K. polymath. Mr. Spencer was a philosopher, biologist, anthropologist, and sociologist. He was the most famous and popular philosopher of his time, but his influence declined after 1900. Mr. Spencer was especially known as a propagandist on behalf of the theory of evolution; he coined the phrase "survival of the fittest" in Principles of Biology (1864). He became increasingly pessimistic and disillusioned in his later years, and died on December 8, 1903 at the age of 83.

170 years ago
1840


Born on this date
Edward Whymper
. U.K. mountaineer and explorer. Mr. Whymper was best known for leading the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. He also made first ascents of the Mont Blanc massif and peaks in South America and the Canadian Rockies, and explored Greenland in 1867. Mr. Whymper took ill shortly after completing a climb in the Alps and died in Chamonix, France on September 16, 1911 at the age of 71.

100 years ago
1910


Born on this date
Chiang Ching-kuo
. Premier of the Republic of China, 1972-1978; President of the Republic of China, 1978-1988. Chiang Ching-kuo was the son of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, and succeeded his father as Premier. He was elected President by the National Assembly in 1978, and re-elected in 1984. Chiang Ching-kuo slightly liberalized the authoritarian regime, and brought more native Taiwanese into the government. He died suddenly of heart failure and hemorrhage in office on January 13, 1988 at the age of 77, and was succeeded by Vice President Lee Teng-hui, the first native Taiwanese President of the Republic of China.

90 years ago
1920


Born on this date
James Mann
. U.S. politician. Mr. Mann, a Democrat, represented Greenville County in the South Carolina House of Representatives (1949-1953) and represented South Carolina's 4th District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1969-1979). He died on December 20, 2010 at the age of 90.

80 years ago
1940


War
German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop revealed allegedly captured British documents indicating British and French military designs on Norway prior to the recent German invasion.

Defense
The Inter-American Neutrality Committee announced in Rio de Janeiro that it had agreed upon a 300-mile-wide security belt around the Americas.

Politics and government
The Missouri Republican Party convention left its 30 national convention votes uninstructed, while endorsing the state's only Republican Congressman, Rep. Dewey Short, as its nominee for the 1940 nomination for Vice President of the United States.

Academia
Harvard University said that its appointment of British philosopher Bertrand Russell to a lectureship would not be affected by the dispute over his appointment at New York University.

Economics and finance
British economic adviser Frank Ashton-Gwatkim said that Allied purchases of U.S. goods would increase enormously during the next year.

An Associated Press survey indicated that the top 250 U.S. corporations showed a 50% profit increase for the first quarter of 1940 over the same period in 1939.

Baseball
Rookie shortstop Lou Boudreau hit his first 2 major league home runs and added a single to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers before 20,133 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Mr. Boudreau’s hits came against losing pitcher Hal Newhouser.

60 years ago
1950


At the movies
I Was a Shoplifter, directed by Charles Lamont, and starring Scott Brady, Mona Freeman, and Andrea King, received its premiere screening in New York City.



Diplomacy
The United Kingdom recognized Jordan's annexation of Arab Palestine, and simultaneously granted de jure recognition to Israel.

Yugoslavian Premier Marshal Josip Broz Tito announced plans to establish relations with the new centrist regime in Greece.

Former U.S. President Herbert Hoover, addressing the American Newspaper Publishers Association, said that the United Nations should be "reorganized without the Communist nations in it" or "a definite new united front" of anti-Communist states established within the UN.

Politics and government
Nguyen Phan Long resigned as Prime Minister of Bao Dai's Vietnamese government. At French insistence, Tran Van Huu, pro-French Governor of southern Vietnam, was named the new Prime Minister.

Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies introduced a bill in Parliament to outlaw the Communist Party.

Former Communist Party U.S.A. leader Earl Browder told a U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs subcommittee that he considered Far Eastern Affairs adviser Owen Lattimore to be an anti-Communist, and said that he knew of no Communists in the State Department.

U.S. Senator Edwin Johnson (Democrat--Colorado) called off a planned investigation of alleged Hollywood immorality, saying that he would give film industry leaders a chance to clean house themselves.

Transportation
The People's Republic of China announced the start of the joint Sino-Soviet operation of the Changchun railway in Manchuria.

Economics and finance
Despite mass protests, the New Brunswick government of Premier John B. McNair imposed a 4% sales tax to help finance education and social services.

50 years ago
1960

Born on this date

Happy Birthday, Rod Crossley!

Africana
Togo gained its independence from French-administered United Nations trusteeship.

Economics and finance
The government of Canada announced a $15- million Colombo Plan contribution to Pakistan.

Basketball
NBA
The National Basketball Association voted to allow the Minneapolis Lakers to move to Los Angeles.

40 years ago
1970


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Let it Be--The Beatles (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Onna no Blues--Keiko Fuji (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Gwendolyne--Julio Iglesias (4th week at #1)

On the radio
The Challenge of Space, on Springbok Radio
Tonight’s episode: Retrospect--Intergalactic Travel

World events
The military government of Somalia announced that it had suppressed a counter-revolutionary plot.

Science
It was reported that a team of California physicists led by A. Ghiorso had created an extremely short-lived element in the family that included Vanadium, Niobium, and Tantalum. The scientists proposed that the element, which would be No. 105 in the periodic table, be named Hahnium (Ha) in honour of the late German physicist Otto Hahn. In 1998 the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry approved the name Dubnium (Db) for element 105, although the name Hahnium is still often used in the United States, and is found in international literature before 1998.

Society
A fight between Negro and white youths at the River Rouge, Michigan high school touched off two nights of violence in the predominantly Negro suburb of Detroit. Fire-bombings and looting by rampaging bands of yutes threatened to overflow into Detroit.

Terrorism
A note linked the previous day’s bombing of the Louisiana state capitol building in Baton Rouge to the shooting of three Negroes by police.

Defense
Almost unanimous bipartisan opposition had developed within the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee to giving military aid to the new Cambodian regime of Lon Nol. U.S. Secretary of State William Rogers told the committee that the administration of President Richard Nixon had made no decision on the Cambodian request for extensive military aid, but he suggested that the president had the authority to send at least limited amounts of military aid without Congressional approval.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Los Angeles 105 @ New York 103 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

The Lakers outscored the Knickerbockers 24-22 in the 4th quarter before 19,500 fans at Madison Squarer Garden. Jerry West led Los Angeles with 34 points, while Wilt Chamberlain added 17 points, while grabbing 24 rebounds. Willis Reed led New York scorers with 29 points, while grabbing 15 rebounds and adding 5 assists.

Baseball
The Washington Senators released pitcher Pedro Ramos, ending his major league career. Mr. Ramos, who had played with the previous Washington Senators from 1955-1960, was 0-0 with an earned run average of 7.88 in 4 games with the Senators in 1970, batting 0 for 2 in 5 games. In 16 seasons, he compiled a record of 117-160 with a 4.08 ERA in 582 games, batting .155 with 15 home runs and 56 runs batted in in 696 games. Mr. Ramos continued his career in the minor leagues and the Mexican League from 1971-1975.

The Senators traded third baseman Ken McMullen to the California Angels for third baseman Aurelio Rodriguez and outfielder Rick Reichardt. Mr. McMullen, was batting .203 with no home runs and 3 runs batted in in 15 games with Washington in 1970; Mr. Rodriguez was batting .270 with no homers and 7 RBIs in 17 games with California, while Mr. Reichardt, in his seventh season with California, was batting .167 (1 for 6) with no homers and 1 RBI in 9 games with the Angels in 1970.

The Chicago Cubs scored an unearned run to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 before 6,635 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh for their 11th straight win, the Cubs’ longest winning streak in 25 years. The run scored when Glenn Beckert tripled with 2 out and tried to stretch it into a home run; Pittsburgh catcher Manny Sanguillen dropped right fielder Roberto Clemente's throw, allowing Mr. Beckert to score. Joe Decker (1-0), with 9th-inning relief help from Hank Aguirre and Phil Regan, was the winning pitcher. Steve Blass (2-2) allowed just 4 hits in 8 innings in taking the loss.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored a run in the top of the 9th inning to tie the score and 2 in the top of the 10th to take the lead, but the Washington Senators rallied for 3 runs in the bottom of the 10th to win 6-5 before 3,291 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington. The winning run scored when Milwaukee pitcher John O' Donoghue made an error on a sacrifice bunt by Ed Stroud with none out, allowing Jim French to score from second base.

30 years ago
1980


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Cruisin'--Smokey Robinson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Boat on the River--Styx

Died on this date
Rube Erhardt, 85
. U.S. baseball pitcher. Welton Claude Erhardt played with the Brooklyn Robins (1924-1928) and Cincinnati Reds (1929), compiling a record of 22-34 with an earned run average of 4.15 in 193 games, batting .214 with 1 home run and 12 runs batted in. He pitched a 5-hit shutout in his final major league game on October 5, 1929.

World events
Iranian authorities put on display the bodies of the American servicemen killed three days earlier in an attempt to rescue the hostages from the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Iran claimed that nine servicemen had been killed, not eight as claimed by the U.S.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Minnesota 3 @ Montreal 2 (Minnesota won best-of-seven series 4-3)

This game ended the Canadiens’ reign as champions after winning the Stanley Cup for four straight years. They’ve won the cup just twice since then.

Soccer
NASL
San Jose 2 @ Edmonton 4

This was the Drillers’ home opener at Commonwealth Stadium, and the first North American Soccer League game that this blogger attended. English legend George Best played for the Earthquakes.

Baseball
The Minnesota Twins scored 10 runs in the 1st inning and defeated the Oakland Athletics 20-11 before 19,859 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. Minnesota starting pitcher Geoff Zahn allowed 8 runs in 4 1/3 innings, and reliever Doug Corbett (3-0) was the winning pitcher. The Athletics outhit the Twins 22-20, but Oakland pitchers walked 8 Minnesota batters.

25 years ago
1985


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): We are the World--USA for Africa (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): We are the World--USA for Africa

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): We are the World--USA for Africa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): We are the World--USA for Africa (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: We are the World--USA for Africa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): We are the World--USA for Africa (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 We are the World--USA for Africa (3rd week at #1)
2 Crazy for You--Madonna
3 Rhythm of the Night--DeBarge
4 Nightshift--Commodores
5 One More Night--Phil Collins
6 Obsession--Animotion
7 Don't You (Forget About Me)--Simple Minds
8 I’m on Fire--Bruce Springsteen
9 One Night in Bangkok--Murray Head
10 That was Yesterday--Foreigner

Singles entering the chart were Angel by Madonna (#48); Would I Lie to You? by Eurythmics (#70); Lucky in Love by Mick Jagger (#73); Oo-Ee-Diddley-Bop! by Peter Wolf (#84); Through the Fire by Chaka Khan (#85); I'm Through with Love by Eric Carmen (#87); I was Born to Love You by Freddie Mercury (#88); Mathematics by Melissa Manchester (#89); and Only Lonely by Bon Jovi (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Tears are Not Enough--Northern Lights (2nd week at #1)
2 Shout--Tears for Fears
3 One Night in Bangkok--Murray Head
4 Crazy for You--Madonna
5 A Criminal Mind--Gowan
6 We are the World--USA for Africa
7 Nightshift--Commodores
8 Rhythm of the Night--DeBarge
9 One More Night--Phil Collins
10 Material Girl--Madonna

Singles entering the chart were Little Sheila by Slade (#73); Show Some Respect by Tina Turner (#86); When You were Mine by Cyndi Lauper (#91); and You're the Only Love by Paul Hyde and the Payola$ (#97).

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Quebec 5 @ Montreal 1 (Quebec led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Baseball
Pinch hitter Willie Aikens hit a 2-run home run in his last major league at bat to tie the game in the 9th inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays added a run in the 10th to defeat the Texas Rangers 9-8 before 13,769 fans at Arlington Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Blue Jays sent Mr. Aikens down to their International League farm team in Syracuse three days later, and he never returned to the major leagues.

20 years ago
1990


Died on this date
Charles Woodward, 66
. Canadian businessman. "Chunky" Woodward, a native of Vancouver, was Chief Executive Officer of the Woodward's department store chain for 31 years, during which 21 stores were added in British Columbia and Alberta. He resigned in June 1988 before giving up family control of Woodward's to the Hudson's Bay Company. Mr. Woodward died in Vancouver.

Terrorism
Colombian drug lords issued a statement condemning the previous day’s assassination of Carlos Pizarro Leongomez, the third candidate for the presidency of Colombia to be killed during the current campaign.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the gross national product had grown at an annual rate of 2.1% in the first quarter of the year.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Montreal 1 @ Boston 3 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Washington 2 @ New York Rangers 1 (OT) (Washington won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Baseball
Wally Backman batted 6 for 6 and Barry Bonds hit 2 home runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates as they defeated the San Diego Padres 9-4 before 23,376 fans at San Diego-Jack Murphy Stadium.

10 years ago
2000


Died on this date
Brooks Lawrence, 75
. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Lawrence played with the St. Louis Cardinals (1954-1955) and Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds (1956-1960), compiling a record of 69-62 with an earned run average of 4.25 in 275 games, batting .154 with 1 home run and 17 runs batted in. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II, didn't enter professional baseball until he was 24, and didn't reach the major leagues until he was 29. Mr. Lawrence was 15-6 with a 3.74 in his rookie year, but ulcers contributed to a poor season for him in 1955. He was then traded to Cincinnati, and won his first 13 decisions in 1956, finishing 19-10 with a 3.99 ERA. Mr. Lawrence was never quite able to repeat that success, and ended his career in the minor leagues; in 8 seasons in the minors from 1949-1960 he was 76-72 with a 3.31 ERA in 252 games. Mr. Lawrence worked with the Reds in various capacities in his later years, and was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1976.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
New Jersey 1 @ Toronto 2 (Toronto led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Pittsburgh 2 @ Philadelphia 0 (Pittsburgh led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Detroit 0 @ Colorado 2 (Colorado led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Baseball
The Chicago Cubs hit a record-tying 4 home runs in the 1st inning--Eric Young and Ricky Gutierrez to start the game, and Henry Rodriguez and Damon Buford later in the inning--and went on to defeat the Houston Astros 12-3 before 42,271 fans at Enron Field in Houston. Mr. Rodriguez hit a grand slam in the 4th and finished with 6 runs batted in. Houston pitcher Jose Lima (1-4) gave up all 5 homers, and allowed 13 hits and 12 earned runs in 5 innings. Jon Lieber (2-2) pitched a 5-hit complete game victory, allowing 1 earned run.

Shortstop Jose Valentin hit for the cycle in order--a single, then double, triple, and home run--to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 13-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles before 13,225 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

Monday 26 April 2010

April 26, 2010

110 years ago
1900


Disasters
A fire destroyed Hull, Quebec and about one-fifth of Ottawa, causing $20 million in damage. 2,500 houses were destroyed, 15,000 people were left homeless.

100 years ago
1910


Born on this date
Tomoyuki Tanaka
. Japanese movie producer. Mr. Tanaka produced more than 200 films in a career spanning 60 years, but was best known for creating the Godzilla series of monster movies. He died on April 2, 1997, 24 days before his 87th birthday.

Died on this date
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, 77
. Norwegian author and poet. Mr. Bjørnson wrote novels and plays, but was awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature "as a tribute to his noble, magnificent and versatile poetry, which has always been distinguished by both the freshness of its inspiration and the rare purity of its spirit."

Disasters
45 families were left homeless from an apartment fire in New York. George Davis, Kid Gleason, and Mike Grady, all baseball players with the New York Giants, were on their way to the Polo Grounds when they stopped to help rescue people from the blaze.

80 years ago
1940


Died on this date
Carl Bosch, 65
. German chemist. Dr. Bosch shared the 1931 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Friedrich Bergius for their contributions to the invention and development of chemical high pressure methods." Dr. Bosch helped to found the chemical company IG Farben in 1925. IG Farben became infamous for making the poison gas used in Nazi death camps during World War II, but Dr. Bosch was an opponent of the Nazis, and reportedly turned to drink after he was relieved of various positions after the Nazis came to power in Germany.

Literature
Dodd, Mead & Company and Redbook magazine named Hildreth--Her Story by Mrs. Harlow Estes as the winner of the $10,000 prize as the best first novel by any author in 1939.

War
German forces broke Allied defenses at Roeros, Norway. British sources in Hong Kong reported that Japan had taken full control of Lappa Island, a Portuguese possession.

Diplomacy
The United Kingdom and France acceded to U.S. pressure to keep the inconveniences of their blockade to a minimum.

The Allies and Switzerland agreed that the latter could obtain supplies for her own use under a guarantee that they would not go to Germany.

Terrorism
Terrorists bombed the office of the American-owned Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury.

World events
64 people received prison sentences in Brazil for being Communist propagandists.

60 years ago
1950

On the radio

The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Ben Wright and Eric Snowden, on ABC
Tonight’s episode: The Turkish Bath

The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Martin Gabel, on ABC

Died on this date
Charles Ziegler, 79
. U.S. physician and inventor. Dr. Ziegler, an obstetrician, was the first medical director of Elizabeth Steel Magee Hospital in Pittsburgh (1911-1919). During summers while attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he worked for the Aluminum Company of America as a salesman; he started the company's cooking utensil department, and invented a coffee percolator, using the royalties to pay for further medical education in Germany.

George Murray Hulbert, 68. U.S. judge and politician. Mr. Hulbert, a Democrat, represented New York's 21st District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1915-1918) and was President of the Board of Aldermen of New York City (1921-1925) before sitting on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from 1934 until his death, 18 days before his 69th birthday.

Attilio Teruzzi, 67. Italian military officer and politician. Lieutenant General Teruzzi served in the Italo-Turkish War (1911-1912) and World War I, and left the Army in 1920 to join the Fascist Party, becoming the party's deputy secretary in 1921. He was Governor of Cyrenaica, the eastern coastal region of Libya, from 1926-1928, and was Minister of Italian Africa from 1939-1943. When Duce Benito Mussolini was ousted from power in 1943, Lt. Gen. Teruzzi joined him in his refuge in northern Italy, helping Mr. Mussolini found the Fascist Italian Social Republic. Lt. Gen. Teruzzi escaped the wrath of Italian partisans at the end of World War II, but was captured by Allied authorities and sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment on the island of Procida. He was released after five years, but died on the island just 20 days after his release.

E. Lee Keyser, 64. U.S. baseball executive. Mr. Keyser was the minor league secretary for the St. Louis Browns. In 1930, when he was the owner of the Des Moines Devils of the Class A Western League, he built the first ballpark with permanently-installed lights. Mr. Keyser was called the "Father of night baseball," which was credited with saving minor league baseball in the 1930s and '40s. He died six days before the 20th anniversary of the first night game in Des Moines.

World events
Local authorities in the South Moluccas rebelled against the Indonesian state and proclaimed their independence.

War
Non-Communist opposition parties in Japan formed a "Joint Foreign Policy Council" to work against a peace agreement between Japan and the West, excluding the U.S.S.R.

Diplomacy
The National Committee for a Free Europe was established under the leadership of General Lucius Clay and career U.S. diplomat Joseph Grew to try to circulate Western ideas in Communist countries.

Defense
The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved a $350-million increase in the fiscal 1951 arms budget, primarily for the purchase of Air Force and Navy aircraft.

Scandal
A jury in Washington, D.C. convicted influence-peddler John Maragon on two counts of perjury for lying to a Senate subcommittee during the 1949 investigation of "five percenters."

Agriculture
Poland withdrew from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, charging U.S. discrimination against Eastern Europe in its grain allocation.

Business
U.S. Steel Corporation President Benjamin Fairless attacked congressional investigation of the steel industry, charging that "powerful agencies and groups" in the government wanted to "dismember business" on the theory that "there is something inherently vicious in bigness and growth and success."

50 years ago
1960


On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, hosted by John Newland, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Peter Hurkos Story: Part 2, starring Albert Salmi, Alf Kjellin, and Justice Watson



Space
The mission of the U.S. satellite Discoverer 11 ended after 11 days. Its purpose was to study propulsion, communication, recovery techniques, and cosmic radiation.

Politics and government
Forced out by the April Revolution, Syngman Rhee resigned as President of South Korea after 12 years of dictatorial rule.

Boxing
Brian London (23-6) knocked out Pete Rademacher (6-3-1) 15 seconds into the 7th round of a heavyweight bout at Empire Pool, Wembley, London.

40 years ago
1970


Died on this date
Gypsy Rose Lee, 59
. U.S. dancer and actress. Miss Lee, born Louise Hovick, was almost two years older than her sister June, who used the name June Havoc. Miss Lee became famous as a striptease artist in burlesque in the 1930s and '40s. She appeared in several films, wrote two mystery novels, and wrote her autobiography, which became the basis of the theatrical musical (1959) and movie (1962) Gypsy. Miss Lee hosted the daytime television talk show The Gypsy Rose Lee Show in San Francisco (1965-1968), and died of lung cancer.

Terrorism
A dynamite explosion shook the 34-storey Louisiana state capitol building in Baton Rouge, causing considerable damage.

Law
The Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Chicago 4 @ Boston 5 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-0)
St. Louis 1 @ Pittsburgh 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Auto racing
USAC
Lloyd Ruby won a 200-mile race at Trenton, New Jersey. Mario Andretti finished second, and Al Unser third.

Baseball
Dick Dietz and Willie McCovey each hit a grand slam, and Mike McCormick (1-1) pitched a 3-hit complete game victory as the San Francisco Giants whipped the Montreal Expos 11-1 in the first game of a doubleheader before 9,943 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The Expos won the second game 3-2, as Carl Morton (1-0) allowed 6 hits and 2 earned runs in 8 innings to get his first major league win.

Ron Santo hit a grand slam and Jim Hickman and Billy Williams each hit a solo home run as the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros 6-3 before 31,529 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago for their 10th straight win. Ferguson Jenkins (2-2) was the winning pitcher over Larry Dierker (3-2).

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Video Killed the Radio Star--The Buggles (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): You and Me--Spargo

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Call Me--Blondie

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Call Me--Blondie

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 You and Me--Spargo (2nd week at #1)
2 Sun of Jamaica--Goombay Dance Band
3 Song for the Children--Oscar Harris
4 Visite--Lenny Kuhr & Les Poppys
5 Sajang É--Massada
6 The End of the Show--The Cats
7 Take that Look Off Your Face--Marti Webb
8 American Dream--The Dirt Band
9 Matador--Garland Jeffreys
10 Stomp--The Brothers Johnson

Singles entering the chart were Funkytown by Lipps Inc. (#21); Working My Way Back to You by the Spinners (#25); Buzz Buzz a Diddle It by Matchbox (#27); Refugee by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#37); Coming Up by Paul McCartney (#38); and Turn it On Again by Genesis (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Call Me--Blondie (2nd week at #1)
2 Ride Like The Wind--Christopher Cross
3 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd
4 With You I’m Born Again--Billy Preston & Syreeta
5 Special Lady--Ray, Goodman & Brown
6 Lost in Love--Air Supply
7 Fire Lake--Bob Seger
8 I Can't Tell You Why--Eagles
9 You May Be Right--Billy Joel
10 Sexy Eyes--Dr. Hook

Singles entering the chart were Coming Up (Live at Glasgow) by Paul McCartney & Wings (#73); Here Comes My Girl by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#80); Fool for a Pretty Face (Hurt by Love) by Humble Pie (#85); You're My Blessing by Lou Rawls (#88); It Takes Time by the Marshall Tucker Band (#89); Shining Star by the Manhattans (#90); and What's Your Hurry Darlin' by Ironhorse (#98).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Call Me--Blondie (3rd week at #1)
2 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd
3 Ride Like the Wind--Christopher Cross
4 Lost in Love--Air Supply
5 With You I’m Born Again--Billy Preston & Syreeta
6 Fire Lake--Bob Seger
7 Special Lady--Ray, Goodman & Brown
8 Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl--The Spinners
9 I Can’t Tell You Why--Eagles
10 Sexy Eyes--Dr. Hook

Singles entering the chart were Coming Up (Live at Glasgow) by Paul McCartney & Wings (#59); Here Comes My Girl by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#85); Shining Star by the Manhattans (#88); Fool for a Pretty Face (Hurt by Love) by Humble Pie (#89); Slipstream by Allan Clarke (#98); and Can't Help Falling in Love with You by Jimmy Castor (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Call Me--Blondie (2nd week at #1)
2 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd
3 Ride Like The Wind--Christopher Cross
4 Lost in Love--Air Supply
5 Fire Lake--Bob Seger
6 With You I’m Born Again--Billy Preston & Syreeta
7 I Can't Tell You Why--Eagles
8 Sexy Eyes--Dr. Hook
9 Special Lady--Ray, Goodman & Brown
10 You May Be Right--Billy Joel

Singles entering the chart were Coming Up (Live at Glasgow) by Paul McCartney & Wings (#51); Shining Star by the Manhattans (#85); Midnight Rendezvous by the Babys (#88); High by Skyy (#96); You Gave Me Love by Crown Heights Affair (#98); and Schemer-Dreamer (That's All Right) by Steve Walsh (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd (6th week at #1)
2 Refugee--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3 An American Dream--The Dirt Band
4 Fire Lake--Bob Seger
5 Call Me--Blondie
6 I Can't Tell You Why--Eagles
7 Money--The Flying Lizards
8 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
9 Romeo's Tune--Steve Forbert
10 On the Radio--Donna Summer

Singles entering the chart were Life Begins at the Top by XTC (#84); After You by Dionne Warwick (#86); Biggest Part of Me by Ambrosia (#88); Funkytown by Lipps Inc. (#95); Even the Score by Toronto (#98); and Love and Affection by Bill King (#100).

World events
Iranian state radio announced that the American hostages had been moved from the U.S. embassy in Tehran to other cities in the country to prevent further rescue attempts such as the failed attempt at a military rescue two days earlier.

20 years ago
1990


Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Oi beibi/Tuhansien sulojen maa--Raptori (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The By-road to Glenroe--Mick Lally (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Carlos Pizarro Leongómez, 38
. Colombian politician. Mr. Pizarro, a candidate for the presidency of Colombia who was affiliated with the leftist movement M-19, was shot while travelling aboard an Avianca Airlines flight that had just left Bogota. The gunman was immediately shot by Mr. Pizarro's bodyguards. Mr. Pizarro was the third presidential candidate to be killed during the current campaign. Colombian drug lords issued a statement the next day condemning the killing, which they had been suspected of.

Politics and government
British Columbia Premier Bill Vander Zalm told a Canadian House of Commons committee that the best solution to the impasse over the Meech Lake constitutional accord might be to start the discussions again from scratch.

Disasters
An earthquake in the central Chinese province of Qinghai killed 115 people.

Hockey
IIHF
Men’s World Championship
Canada 3 U.S.S.R. 3

NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Chicago 3 @ St. Louis 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

10 years ago
2000


Abominations
Vermont Governor Howard Dean signed into law a bill giving sodomite and lesbian couples the same legal rights enjoyed by real married couples.