Monday 31 May 2010

May 31, 2010

600 years ago
1410


Died on this date
Martin, 53
. King of Aragon, Valencia, Sardinia and Corsica, 1396-1410; King of Sicily, 1409-1410. Martin, the second son of King Peter IV of Aragon and Eleanor of Sicily, was appointed lord and regent of Sicily by his father in 1380. He succeeded his older brother John I on the throne of Aragon, Valencia, Sardinia and Corsica, and had to deal with internal strife against the nobility, while launching crusades against the Moors in North Africa in 1398 and 1399. King Martin's son Martin the Younger became the king of Sicily through marriage, but died in 1609, and Martin the elder succeeded him. King Martin died in the monastery of Valldonzella, outside the city walls of Barcelona; his death has been attributed to various causes, including plague, uremic coma, and laughter at a joke while suffering from indigestion. King Martin died without successors, leading to a two-year interregnum.

370 years ago
1640


Born on this date
Michał I
. King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1669-1673. Michał I was the son of powerful border magnate and prince Jeremi Wiśniowiecki, and was elected king after the abdication of Jan II. He had to deal with internal strife, and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth lost territory in a war against the Ottoman Empire in 1672. King Michał was preparing for another campaign against the Ottomans when he died, ostensibly from a severe case of food poisoning, on November 10, 1673 at the age of 33.

270 years ago
1740


Died on this date
Friedrich Wilhelm I, 51
. King in Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg, 1713-1740. Friedrich Wilhelm (Frederick William) was preceded by his father Friedrich I. He was succeeded by his son Friedrich II, better known as Frederick the Great.

220 years ago
1790


Exploration
Alferez Manuel Quimper explored the Strait of Juan de Fuca; he claimed the area for Spain on August 1, 1790.

Law
The first U.S. copyright law was enacted, protecting books, maps, and other original materials.

150 years ago
1860


Born on this date
Henry Wise Wood
. U.S.-born Canadian agrarian theorist. Mr. Wood, a native of Missouri, moved to Carstairs, Alberta in 1905. He was President of the United Farmers of Alberta from 1916-1931, and served as an adviser to the UFA when they formed the provincial government from 1921-1934. Mr. Wood died on June 10, 1941, 10 days after his 81st birthday. Henry Wise Wood Senior High School in Calgary, of which this blogger is an alumnus, is named in his honour.

Walter Sickert. German-born U.K. artist. Mr. Sickert, a native of Munich, moved to England with his family in 1868. He was a painter and printmaker who was a member of the Camden Town Group of Post-Impressionist artists in early 20th-century London, and an influence on distinctively British styles of avant-garde art in the mid- and late 20th century. Mr. Sickert painted ordinary people and urban scenes, as well as nude females. He took an interest in the Jack the Ripper murders in 1888, and believed that he had lodged in a room that had been used by the killer. Mystery writer Patricia Cornwell has accused Mr. Sickert of being Jack the Ripper, but she seems to be alone in that belief. Mr. Sickert died on January 22, 1842 at the age of 81.

120 years ago
1890


Baseball
George Gore, Buck Ewing, and Roger Connor hit consecutive home runs in the 8th inning as the New York Giants whipped the Pittsburgh Burghers 23-3 in a Players League game.

110 years ago
1900


Born on this date
Lucile Godbold
. U.S. athlete. Miss Godbold won a gold medal in shot put and a bronze medal in javelin at the 1922 Women's World Games in Paris. She died on April 5, 1981 at the age of 80.

100 years ago
1910


Died on this date
Elizabeth Blackwell, 89
. U.K.-born physician. Dr. Blackwell moved with her family to New York at the age of 11, and was a schoolteacher before deciding to pursue a medical career. She was accepted by Geneve Medical College in New York state, and in 1849 became the first woman in the United States to earn a medical degree. Dr. Blackwell practiced in Europe and the United States, organizing nurses during the American Civil War, and moving back to England in 1869. She retired from medicine in 1877, and spent the rest of her life promoting various social reforms. Dr. Blackwell was seriously incapacitated by a bad fall in 1907, and suffered a serious stroke three years later, which caused her death.

90 years ago
1920

Auto racing

Gaston Chevrolet won the Indianapolis 500 at an average speed of 88.16 miles per hour.

Baseball
The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds split two games at Cubs Park. In the first game, Cubs’ pitcher Grover "Pete" Alexander (11-2) ended the game with a home run with 2 out in the 10th inning as the Cubs won 3-2; it was Mr. Alexander’s 11th straight win. The Reds won the second game 4-2 behind the pitching of Jimmy Ring (6-4), who pitched a 6-hitter and singled in a run.

Bob Meusel led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a single and came around to score when third baseman Frank Ellerbe made a throwing error on Wally Pipp's sacrifice bunt, giving the New York Yankees a 7-6 win over the Washington Nationals in the first game of a doubleheader before 36,688 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York. Leon Carlson, the second of three Washington pitchers, allowed 1 hit and no runs in 2.1 innings, striking out 1 batter and walking none in his first major league game. Babe Ruth hit a tremendous 2-run home run off Walter Johnson (4-6) as the Yankees scored 3 runs in the 8th inning to break a 7-7 tie and win the second game 10-7 to complete the sweep. Rip Collins (1-0) pitched 5.1 innings of scoreless relief to get the win, while shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh helped the New York cause by batting 4 for 4 with a base on balls, 2 doubles, a triple, 2 runs, and a run batted in.

80 years ago
1930


Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Clint Eastwood!

Baseball
The St. Louis Browns scored the tying run against the Chicago White Sox and ace pitcher Red Faber with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th inning at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis, and then Oscar Melillo stole home plate to give the Browns a 3-2 win at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. General Crowder (2-6) pitched a 5-hit complete game to get the win, while Mr. Faber (1-7) also pitched a 5-hitter.

70 years ago
1940


War
A record total of 68,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated from Dunkirk, France. The French were critical of the failure to evacuate more of their troops from Dunkirk. Japan announced near-agreement on peace terms with the government in central China led by Wang Ching-wei.

Diplomacy
U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill and French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud met again in Paris.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress for $1 billion in supplemental defense funds and authority to call the National Guard and Army reserves to active duty.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau told the House and Representatives Ways and Means Committee that it was essential to raise the national debt limit to $45 billion to help finance the defense effort.

Politics and government
The U.S. Senate approved the transfer of the Bureau of Naturalization and Immigration from the Labor Department to the Justice Department.

A Gallup Poll reported that 56% of Republican voters favoured New York City District Attorney Thomas Dewey over U.S. Senators Robert Taft (Ohio) and Arthur Vandenberg (Michigan) as the party's candidate for President of the United States in the November 1940 election.

Economics and finance
The U.S. liner Exeter docked at Jersey City, New Jersey with $4 million in gold bullion assigned to the New York Federal Reserve Bank by the Bank of International Settlements.

60 years ago
1950


On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Ben Wright and Eric Snowden, on ABC
Tonight’s episode: Command Performance

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

This was the last episode of the season.

World events
A new trial began as Prague as former conservative politician Milada Horakova confessed to collaborating with 12 other Czechs in treason, espionage, and sabotage.

Politics and government
Panamanian acting Attorney General Carlos Popez overruled a cabinet resolution outlawing the Communist Party as unconstitutional.

U.S. President Harry Truman submitted to Congress two new plans to reorganize the Treasury Department and the Federal Security Administration.

U.S. Navy Captain John Crommelin, an opponent of armed forces unification, resigned from the Navy in order to run as an independent in the Florida senatorial contest.

Crime
Accused spy Harry Gold told a court in Philadelphia that he would plead guilty of acting as a courier for a Soviet atomic bomb spy ring when his case came to trial.

Labour
A week-long wildcat strike of 4,500 construction workers employed on Oak Ridge atomic installations ended when an arbitrration board promised to consider their wage demands.

50 years ago
1960


On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, hosted by John Newland, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Lonely Room, starring Carl Esmond, Maurice Marsac, Fabrizio Mioni, and Lisa Montell



Died on this date
Walther Funk, 69
. German journalist and politician. Mr. Funk edited the newspaper Berliner Börsenzeitung from 1924-1931. He joined the Nazi Party in 1931, and was elected a Reichstag deputy in 1932. Shortly after the Nazis came to power in 1933, Mr. Funk left his position in the Reichstag to serve as State Secretary at the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda (1933-1937). He was Reichsminister of Economics (1938-1945) and President of the Reichsbank (1939-1945). Mr. Funk was convicted of crimes against humanity by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg in 1946, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released in 1957 on grounds of ill health, and died of diabetes.

40 years ago
1970


Died on this date
George "Zip" Zabel, 79
. U.S. baseball pitcher. George Washington Zabel played with the Chicago Cubs (1913-1915), compiling a record of 12-14 with an earned run average of 2.71 in 66 games. He won at least 47 games and lost at least 27 in 4 seasons in the minor leagues from 1912-1917. Mr. Zabel was best known for his performance on June 17, 1915, when he relieved injured starter Bert Humphries with 2 out in the 1st inning and pitched 18.1 innings of relief, coming out as the winning pitcher when the Cubs defeated the Brooklyn Robins 4-3 in 19 innings in what remains the longest relief performance in major league history. Mr. Zabel allowed just 9 hits and 2 runs, but the outing hurt his arm, and he was never the same afterward. Mr. Zabel worked as a metallurgist for the manufacturing firm Fairbanks Morse in Beloit, Wisconsin for 32 years.

Terry Sawchuk, 40. Canadian hockey goaltender. Mr. Sawchuk, a native of Winnipeg, played 21 seasons in the National Hockey League, with the Detroit Red Wings (1949-55, 1957-64, 1969); Boston Bruins (1955-57); Toronto Maple Leafs (1964-67); Los Angeles Kings (1967-68); and New York Rangers (1969-70). He won 447 regular season games and 54 playoff games. Mr. Sawchuk recorded 103 regular season shutouts--the first on January 15, 1950, and the last on February 1, 1970-and 12 playoff shutouts. His shutout total stood as a league record until it was broken by Martin Brodeur in 2009. Mr. Sawchuk played on Stanley Cup championship teams (not counting his brief time with the Red Wings in 1950) with Detroit in 1952, 1954, and 1955, and with Toronto in 1967. His best season was probably 1951-52, when he played in every game, posting a 1.90 goals against average with 12 shutouts during the regular season. He followed that with 4 shutouts in the playoffs, giving up just 5 goals as the Red Wings swept to the Stanley Cup in the minimum 8 games. Mr. Sawchuk struggled with untreated depression over the years, and was a heavy drinker and womanizer. Shortly after the Rangers were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs in the first round, Mr. Sawchuk and teammate Ron Stewart, who had both been drinking, got into a fight over expenses on the house they shared on Long Island. Mr. Sawchuk fell on top of Mr. Stewart’s bent knee and suffered severe internal injuries. While in hospital, Mr. Sawchuk told police that he accepted full responsibility for the incident. Several operations on his liver were unsuccessful, and he died of a blood embolism.

Labour
2,500 employees in 54 private hospitals in Quebec went on strike for higher wages.

Disasters
An earthquake hit Peru’s northern Andes and coastline; more than 50,000 were killed, 150,000-200,000 were injured, and 20,000 were missing. The quake destroyed 80% of all structures in the area. With dams weakened by the tremor, Llanganuca Lake in the Andes burst its dams and swept away the towns of Yungay and Caras, with a combined population of 80,000.

Baseball
Luis Aparicio and Walt Williams each had 5 hits and Mr. Williams scored 5 runs for the Chicago White Sox as they outlasted the Boston Red Sox 22-13 before 21,952 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. For Gary Peters, the former White Sox' ace starting on the mound for Boston, it was his second straight game in which he failed to make it through the 1st inning.

Ken McMullen and Jim Fregosi hit home runs for the California Angels as they beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 before 15,183 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Clyde Wright (7-3) and Ken Tatum combined to defeat Dave McNally (8-3), but Mr. Tatum hit Baltimore center fielder Paul Blair in the face with a pitch in the 8th inning. Mr. Blair was taken off the field with a broken nose and other fractures, and required plastic surgery. He remained an excellent center fielder, but was never as good a hitter again.

The Milwaukee Brewers rallied for 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and 2 in the 9th to defeat the Detroit Tigers 7-6 before 10,132 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Ted Savage doubled home Mike Hegan and Hank Allen with 1 out in the 9th to end the game.

Harmon Killebrew led off the bottom of the 10th inning with his second home run of the game to give the Minnesota Twins a 7-6 win over the New York Yankees, completing a comeback from an early 4-0 deficit before 15,752 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington.

Rico Carty batted 4 for 4 with a base on balls, 3 home runs, 4 runs, and 6 runs batted in to lead the Atlanta Braves over the Philadelphia Phillies 9-1 before 18,482 fans at Atlanta Stadium. Jim Nash (7-1) pitched a 5-hit complete game victory.

Ron Swoboda drove in 5 runs with a pair of 2-run home runs and a bases-loaded walk to help the New York Mets rout the Houston Astros 14-4 in the first game of a doubleheader before 47,193 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Ken Boswell reached first base on an error by second baseman Joe Morgan to lead off the bottom of the 14th inning and scored from second base on a 2-out single by pinch hitter Duffy Dyer to give the Mets a 4-3 win in the second game to complete the sweep. Houston center fielder Jim Wynn homered in both games.

Wes Parker led off the top of the 11th inning with an infield single and Billy Grabarkewitz followed with a home run to break a 6-6 tie as the Los Angeles Dodgers came back from a 6-1 deficit to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-6 before 17,166 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis.

30 years ago
1980


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Video Killed the Radio Star--The Buggles (12th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): What's Another Year--Johnny Logan

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): What's Another Year--Johnny Logan (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Theme from M*A*S*H (Suicide is Painless)--The Mash

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Funkytown--Lipps Inc.
2 Sun of Jamaica--Goombay Dance Band
3 Working My Way Back to You--Spinners
4 I'm in the Mood for Dancing--Nolan Sisters
5 What's Another Year--Johnny Logan
6 Buzz Buzz a Diddle It--Matchbox
7 I See a Boat on the River--Boney M.
8 Crazy Guitar--Hank the Knife & the Crazy Cats
9 Call Me--Blondie
10 Dance Yourself Dizzy--Liquid Gold

Singles entering the chart were Relight My Fire by Dan Hartman (#28); So Long by Fischer-Z (#32); Girls and Cadillacs by Albert West (#34); Zondag by Rob De Nijs (#38); and You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties by Jona Lewie (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Funkytown--Lipps Inc.
2 Call Me--Blondie
3 Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)--Paul McCartney & Wings
4 Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer--Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes
5 Sexy Eyes--Dr. Hook
6 Biggest Part of Me--Ambrosia
7 Stomp!--The Brothers Johnson
8 Hurt So Bad--Linda Ronstadt
9 Against the Wind--Bob Seger
10 Cars--Gary Numan

Singles entering the chart were More Love by Kim Carnes (#75); Gimme Some Lovin' by the Blues Brothers (#77); In America by the Charlie Daniels Band (#82); Shotgun Rider by Joe Sun (#87); and Take Your Time (Do it Right) by the S.O.S. Band (#88). Gimme Some Lovin' was from the movie The Blues Brothers (1980).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Funkytown--Lipps Inc.
2 Call Me--Blondie
3 Biggest Part of Me--Ambrosia
4 Don’t Fall in Love With a Dreamer--Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes
5 Lost in Love--Air Supply
6 Cars--Gary Numan
7 Sexy Eyes--Dr. Hook
8 Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)--Paul McCartney & Wings
9 Hurt So Bad--Linda Ronstadt
10 The Rose--Bette Midler

Singles entering the chart were Gimme Some Lovin' by the Blues Brothers (#64); More Love by Kim Carnes (#66); In America by the Charlie Daniels Band (#80); Take Your Time (Do it Right) by the S.O.S. Band (#86); A Lover's Holiday by Change (#88); The Very Last Time by Utopia (#89); and Back Together Again by Roberta Flack with Donny Hathaway (#96).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Funkytown--Lipps Inc.
2 Biggest Part of Me--Ambrosia
3 Call Me--Blondie
4 Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer--Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes
5 The Rose--Bette Midler
6 Sexy Eyes--Dr. Hook
7 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd
8 Cars--Gary Numan
9 Hurt So Bad--Linda Ronstadt
10 Lost in Love--Air Supply

Singles entering the chart were Gimme Some Lovin' by the Blues Brothers (#53); More Love by Kim Carnes (#66); In America by the Charlie Daniels Band (#74); Everything Works if You Let It by Cheap Trick (#83); Back Together Again by Roberta Flack with Donny Hathaway (#89); and Clouds by Chaka Khan (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Call Me--Blondie
2 Rock Lobster--The B-52's
3 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd
4 Ride Like the Wind--Christopher Cross
5 Cars--Gary Numan
6 Working My Way to You/Forgive Me, Girl--Spinners
7 You May Be Right--Billy Joel
8 Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer--Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes
9 Pilot of the Airwaves-Charlie Dore
10 Fire Lake--Bob Seger

Singles entering the chart were Misunderstanding by Genesis (#85); The Seduction (Love Theme) by the James Last Band (#90); I'm Alive by Electric Light Orchestra (#93); Clones (We're All) by Alice Cooper (#95); New Romance by Spider (#97); Good Clean Fun by Trooper (#99); and Young and Restless by Prism (#100).

Funkytown was an obnoxious last gasp of disco. Coming Up was from Mr. McCartney’s album McCartney II, which, like his McCartney album from 1970, had Mr. McCartney playing all the instruments. The Rose was the title song of a movie starring Ms. Midler.

Died on this date
Henry Viney, 69
. Canadian sportscaster. Mr. Viney was an amateur basketball referee for many years, and officiated major competitions of the Edmonton Grads. He spent 35 years with CFCN radio and television in Calgary, appearing for many years on broadcasts of Calgary Stampeders’ football games, and doing television editorials under the title As I See It on the late news every weeknight ("That’s the way I see it; I’m Henry Viney."). Mr. Viney regularly contributed articles to the programs for Stampeders’ home games from the 1950s through 1979. He was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. An arena in northeast Calgary is named in his honour.

Sonny Burke, 66. U.S. musician. Mr. Burke worked as an arranger with big bands, including those of Charlie Spivak and Jimmy Dorsey. He wrote music for popular songs, including those from the movie Lady and the Tramp (1955). Mr. Burke became musical director of Warner Brothers Records/Reprise Records, and produced some of Frank Sinatra's later albums, including the three-record Trilogy: Past Present Future, which was released two months before Mr. Burke's death from cancer.

Diplomacy
Pope John Paul II continued his visit to France as he met with French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing in Paris to discuss world problems. The pontiff later met with 15,000 Polish immigrants and their descendants at the Eiffel Tower and said mass for 2,500 workers at the Basilica of St. Denis in a working-class suburb of Paris.

Baseball
The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Boston Red Sox 19-8 before 30,381 fans at Fenway Park in Boston despite giving up 6 home runs. The Brewers scored 8 runs in the 3rd inning, 6 in the 7th, and 4 in the 8th. 4 of the Boston home runs came in the 4th inning, including consecutive homers by Tony Perez, Carlton Fisk, and Butch Hobson.

Lou Piniella single with 1 out in the bottom of the 11th inning and Reggie Jackson followed with a home run to give the New York Yankees an 8-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays before 25,158 fans at Yankee Stadium.

J.R. Richard (6-3) pitched a 3-hitter and singled in a run to lead the Houston Astros over the San Francisco Giants 5-0 before 11,649 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

An unearned run in the top of the 9th inning provided the winning margin for the Atlanta Braves as they edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 before 40,161 fans at Dodger Stadium. Gary Matthews reached first base on an error by second baseman Dave Lopes to lead off the inning, and advanced to second base on a single by Jeff Burroughs. Bill Nahorodny was hit by a pitch, and Luis Gomez drew a base on balls to score Mr. Matthews, giving the Braves a 6-3 lead. After the first two batters were retired in the bottom of the 9th, pinch hitter Pedro Guerrero singled and advanced to second on a single by Mr. Lopes, Garry Thomasson walked to load the bases, and Reggie Smith singled home Messrs. Guerrero and Lopes, with Mr. Thomasson stopping at second. Gene Garber then relieved Larry Bradford on the mound, and Steve Garvey flied out to left field to end the game.

25 years ago
1985


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): You Can Win If You Want--Modern Talking

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Live is Life--Opus

Disasters
41 tornadoes struck Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario, leaving 76 dead. They hit the central Ontario communities of Barrie, Grand Valley, Orangeville, and Tottenham, killing 12, injuring hundreds, and damaging or destroying at least 1,000 buildings.

Soccer
Three days after a riot instigated by English fans at Heysel Stadium in Brussels that resulted in 39 deaths, the British government announced a ban on travel to continental Europe for English soccer teams and their fans for the foreseeable future.

20 years ago
1990


Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Vogue--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Put 'em Under Pressure--The Republic of Ireland Football Squad

On television tonight
Seinfeld, premiered on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Stake Out

This was the first regular episode of the series.

Died on this date
Charlie Shoemaker, 50
. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Shoemaker was a second baseman who played at the University of Arizona (1959-1961), earning All-America honours in all three seasons. He played with the Kansas City Athletics (1961-1962, 1964), batting .258 with no home runs and 4 runs batted in in 28 games. Mr. Shoemaker played 1,146 games in 11 seasons in the minor leagues (1961-1971), with 7 homers and 275 RBIs. He committed suicide by shooting himself.

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev and his entourage, which included his wife Raisa, were welcomed at the White House by U.S. President George Bush and his wife Barbara. The leaders and their aides met twice, focusing on the issue of German reunification, but failed to resolve the question of a united Germany’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which Mr. Gorbachev opposed. Mrs. Gorbachev helped to open an exhibit of Russian religious texts at the Library of Congress, and a number of leaders in the arts, entertainment, and politics attended a reception hosted by the Gorbachevs at the Soviet embassy.

Terrorism
Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat denied that the PLO had any official connection with the previous day's raid on the coast of Israel by guerrillas in speedboats, which resulted in the capture of both boats and the deaths of four guerrillas. A radical faction of the PLO had claimed responsibility. Israeli leaders called on the United States to end its diplomatic contacts with the PLO.

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney invited provincial premiers to Ottawa for a meeting on June 3 to try and save the Meech Lake constitutional accord, but refused a full First Ministers Conference. Mr. Mulroney said that Senate reform was the main obstacle.

Law
Assembly of First Nations Chief George Erasmus said that First Nations were pleased with the Supreme Court of Canada's ruling requiring governments to bargain on native rights and land claims, and not ignore treaty obligations.

Crime
Two Colombians and a New Yorker were convicted by the Quebec Superior Court of attempting to smuggle and traffic $200 million worth of cocaine through New Brunswick in April 1988; they were given sentences of 10-25 years.

Business
Alberta Premier Don Getty announced that Alberta would privatize 50% of the $3-billion giant, Alberta Government Telephones (AGT); Albertans were given the first right to buy shares.

10 years ago
2000


Died on this date
Tito Puente, 77
. U.S. musician. Mr. Puente was a jazz percussionist and vibraphonist, composer, and bandleader who was known as "The King of Latin Music" in a career spanning more than 50 years. He promoted Latin American musical genres such as mambo, son, and cha-cha-chá, with his most famous composition being Oye Como Va (1962). Mr. Puente died of a heart attack after a performance in Puerto Rico.

Petar Mladenov, 63. 1st President of Bulgaria, 1990. Mr. Mladenov joined the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1964, and served as Bulgaria's Foreign Minister from 1971 until his abrupt resignation on October 24, 1989 after a sharp disagreement with dictator Todor Zhivkov. Mr. Mladenov supported the coup that toppled Mr. Zhivkov shortly thereafter, and succeeded him as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party on November 10, 1989. Mr. Mladenov announced several weeks later that the Communist Party was surrendering its guaranteed right to rule, and he resigned as General Secretary on February 2, 1990. As Bulgaria transitioned to democracy, Mr. Mladenov served as its first President from April 3-July 6, 1990, resigning after it became known that he had advocated the use of tanks against anti-government protesters in 1989. He dropped out of public life thereafter, and died after several years of failing health.

War
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi declared that Ethiopia had recovered all the territory it had lost in earlier fighting with Eritrea, and that the war was over. Eritrea said that the war would continue.

Health
Ontario government ordered a public inquiry into the E. coli drinking water contamination that had killed 7 people and sickened 2,300 in Walkerton.

Sunday 30 May 2010

May 30, 2010

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Nettee Sly!

1,940 years ago
70


War
Titus and his Roman legions breached the Second Wall of Jerusalem. Jewish defenders retreated to the First Wall. The Romans built a circumvallation, cutting down all trees within 10 miles.

1,000 years ago
1010


Born on this date
Renzong
. Emperor of China, 1022-1063. The son of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song dynasty, Renzong's reign was characterized by a foreign policy of pacifism. He died without an heir on April 30, 1063, a month before his 53rd birthday, and was succeeded on the throne by Yingzong.

500 years ago
1510


World events
During the reign of Emperor Zhengde, Ming dynasty rebel leader Zhu Zhifan was defeated by commander Qiu Yue, ending the Prince of Anhua rebellion.

370 years ago
1640


Died on this date
Peter Paul Rubens, 62
. Flemish painter. Sir Peter Paul was known for paintings of religious and historical subjects, and especially for paintings of fat "voluptuous" women. He'd have a field day in modern Edmonton.

200 years ago
1810


Law
The Quebec Bar/Barreau du Québec was founded.

190 years ago
1820


Born on this date
Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau
. Canadian politician. Mr. Chauveau, a Conservative, was a member of the Legislative Assembly in the Province of Canada from 1844-1867 and in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867-1873. While sitting in the House of Commons he served as the first Premier of Quebec from 1867-1873. Mr. Chauveau was appointed to the Canadian Senate in 1873, but resigned a year later to return to electoral politics, where he failed to be re-elected to the House of Commons. He died on April 4, 1890 at the age of 69.

120 years ago
1890


Born on this date
Roger Salengro
. French politician. Mr. Salengro served with the French Army in World War I, and was a German prisoner of war from 1915-1918. He was elected Mayor of Lille in 1925, and was re-elected in 1929 and 1935. Mr. Salengro also sat in the French National Assembly, first winning election in 1928, and re-election in 1932 and 1936. He was appointed Minister of the Interior in the leftist National Front cabinet of Prime Minister Léon Blum when they came to power in 1936. Right-wing groups accused Mr. Salengro of having been a deserter in World War I. Despite the fact that the charges were refuted by a military commission and condemned in a vote of the Assembly, Mr. Salengro committed suicide on November 17, 1936 at the age of 46.

100 years ago
1910


Born on this date
Franklin J. Schaffner
. Japanese-born U.S. film director. Mr. Schaffner won the Academy Award for Best Director for Patton (1970). His other movies included The Best Man (1964); Planet of the Apes (1968); Nicholas and Alexandra (1971); and Papillon (1973). He died of lung cancer on July 2, 1989 at the age of 69.

Auto racing
AAA
Championship Car Series
Two days after winning the 200-mile Wheeler-Schebler Trophy Race, Ray Harroun won the 50-mile Remy Brassard Trophy race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first of two races in 1910 with that name. Joe Dawson finished second and Frank Fox third in the 10-car field.

80 years ago
1930


Environment
Canada's National Parks Act was given royal assent; the parks were "dedicated to the people of Canada for their benefit, education and enjoyment, subject to the provisions of this Act and Regulations, and such Parks shall be maintained and made use of so as to leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." The Act excluded industrial activities from parks; boundaries were made permanent; the category of Historical Parks was formally recognized.

Auto racing
Billy Arnold led for 198 of 200 laps and won the Indianapolis 500 at an average speed of 100.448 miles per hour. 38 drivers participated in the race.





Baseball
The New York Yankees traded pitcher Waite Hoyt and shortstop Mark Koenig to the Detroit Tigers for pitcher Ownie Carroll, infielder Yats Wuestling, and outfielder Harry Rice. Mr. Hoyt was 2-2 with an earned run average of 4.53 in 8 games with New York in 1930, while Mr. Koenig was batting .230 with no home runs and 9 runs batted in in 21 games with the Yankees. Mr. Carroll was 0-5 with a 10.63 ERA in 6 games with Detroit in 1930, while Mr. Wuestling was batting 0 for 9 with no RBIs in 4 games with Detroit, and Mr. Rice was hitting .305 with 2 homers and 21 RBIs in 37 games with the Tigers in 1930.

The Philadelphia Athletics released pitcher Howard Ehmke, ending his career. He had been the hero of the first game of the 1929 World Series as a surprise starter, striking out 13 Chicago Cubs in a 3-1 win. Mr. Ehmke was 0-1 with an earned run average of 11.70 in 3 games in 1930; for his major league career, he was 166-166 with a 4.47 ERA in 427 games, batting .208 with no home runs and 73 runs batted in in 429 games.

Heroics by Al Simmons enabled the Philadelphia Athletics to sweep a doubleheader from the Washington Nationals at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. by scores of 7-6 in 13 innings and 15-11. The Nationals were leading 6-3 with 2 out in the 9th inning of the first game, but Washington catcher Muddy Ruel neglected to chase a pop foul that could have been the final out. Two singles followed, and Mr. Simmons hit a home run to tie the game. He doubled in the 13 and scored the winning run, but injured a knee and didn’t start the second game. In the 5th inning, the Athletics were trailing 7-3 but had the bases loaded. Mr. Simmons came to bat as a pinch hitter and hit a grand slam off Bump Hadley to tie the game.

75 years ago
1935


Died on this date
Clay Weatherly, 25
. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Weatherly was killed in a crash on the 9th lap of the Indianapolis 500.

Auto racing
Kelly Petillo won the Indianapolis 500 at an average speed of 106.240 miles per hour.





Baseball
The Philadelphia Phillies swept a doubleheader from the Boston Braves by scores of 11-6 and 9-3 at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. In the first game, Babe Ruth of the Braves struck out in the top of the first inning, and left the game in the bottom of the inning when he injured a knee chasing a fly ball. It was his last major league appearance.

63,943 fans jammed the Polo Grounds in New York to see the New York Giants sweep a Memorial Day doubleheader from the Brooklyn Dodgers 8-3 and 6-0. Mel Ott hit a grand slam for the Giants in the first inning of the first game, and Al Cuccinello, in his first appearance with the Giants, homered in the same inning. Roy Parmelee was the winning pitcher in the opener, while Freddie Fitzsimmons pitched a 2-hitter in the second game.

70 years ago
1940


War
Allied forces continued their escape from Dunkirk, France to Dover, England under harassment by the Germans.

Politics and government
The Belgian government-in-exile in Paris approved an order depriving King Leopold III of his throne.

The civil administration of the Netherlands was turned over to Arthur Seiss-Inquart, the Reich Commissioner.

Economics and finance
The Toronto Stock Exchange declined 25% after German military victories in Europe.

The U.S. Senate passed and sent to the House of Representatives the Hospital Construction Act, appropriating $10 million annually for rural hospital construction.

Auto racing
Wilbur Shaw won the Indianapolis 500, becoming the first driver to win the race in consecutive years, and winning for the third time in four years. Mr. Shaw’s average speed was 114.277 miles per hour; rain slowed the race, and the last 50 laps were run under caution. First prize money was $31,875.



Baseball
The New York Giants swept a Memorial Day doubleheader from the Brooklyn Dodgers 7-0 and 12-5 in 12 innings before 34,548 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to knock the Dodgers out of first place in the National League. Carl Hubbell gave up just a single by Johnny Hudson in the 2nd inning to win the first game, while Bill Lohrman went the distance to win the second game.

60 years ago
1950

On the radio

Philo Vance, starring Jackson Beck
Tonight’s episode: The Whirlaround Murder Case

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Listen, Listen, starring Mildred Natwick

Politics and government
Independent candidates won 126 of 210 seats in the National Assembly in the South Korean legislative election. The Democratic Nationalist Party and Korean Nationalist Party each won 24 seats to lead the parties. The political orientation of the forthcoming National Assembly was unclear.

Defense
The Mid-Century Conference for Peace, founded a year earlier by a group (including physicist Albert Einstein and author Thomas Mann) opposed to the Atlantic pact, called for "negotiations within the United Nations" to end the Cold War.

Environment
The New York Times reported that a "dust bowl" even more extensive than that of the 1930s threatened the southwestern United States, where a drought was already nine months old.

Disasters
A record 671 accidental deaths were recorded for the May 26-30 Memorial Day holiday weekend in the United States.

Auto racing
Johnnie Parsons won the Indianapolis 500 at an average speed of 124.002 miles per hour. The race was stopped because of rain after 345 miles (138 of 200 scheduled laps).

Baseball
The Brooklyn Dodgers swept the Philadelphia Phillies in a doubleheader by scores of 7-6 in 10 innings and 6-4 before 34,700 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to move past the Phillies into first place in the National League. Bobby Morgan drew a base on balls with 2 out in the bottom of the 10th inning, and eventually scored on an error by Philadelphia shortstop Granny Hamner. Duke Snider of the Dodgers hit 3 consecutive home runs in the second game and narrowly missed a fourth when his drive hit the top of the right field screen and he was held to a single.

The St. Louis Cardinals swept a doubleheader from the Pittsburgh Pirates 17-13 and 8-5 before 33,182 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, as Gerry Staley won both games in relief. Stan Musial’s only hit of the doubleheader was an inside-the-park home run in the 9th inning of the second game. Pittsburgh right fielder Gus Bell made his major league debut, batting 2 for 5 in each game, with a run and 2 runs batted in in the first game.

50 years ago
1960


Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): 16 Toneladas (Sixteen Tons)--José Guardiola

#1 single in France (IFOP): Mustapha--Bob Azzam (10th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Cathy's Clown--The Everly Brothers (2nd week at #1)
2 Stuck on You--Elvis Presley
3 Good Timin'--Jimmy Jones
4 He'll Have to Stay--Jeanne Black
5 Greenfields--The Brothers Four
6 Night--Jackie Wilson
7 Paper Roses--Anita Bryant
8 Sixteen Reasons--Connie Stevens
9 Burning Bridges--Jack Scott
10 Cradle of Love--Johnny Preston

Singles entering the chart were I'm Sorry by Brenda Lee (#76); Down Yonder by Johnny and the Hurricanes (#81); River, Stay 'Way from My Door by Frank Sinatra (#82); Alley-Oop by the Hollywood Argyles (#85); Spring Rain by Pat Boone (#86); Heartbreak (It's Hurtin' Me) by Little Willie John (#90); Alley-Oop by Dante and the Evergreens (#94); Comin' Down with Love by Mel Gadson (#95); When Will I Be Loved by the Everly Brothers (#96); Something Happened by Paul Anka (#98); Ain't Gonna Be That Way by Marv Johnson with the Rayber Voices (#99); and Maria by Johnny Mathis (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 My Old Man's a Dustman--Lonnie Donegan
2 Cathy's Clown--The Everly Brothers
3 Stuck on You/Fame and Fortune--Elvis Presley
4 Paper Roses--Anita Bryant
5 Good Timin'--Jimmy Jones
6 Ding-A-Ling/Swingin' School--Bobby Rydell
7 Everybody's Somebody's Fool/Jealous of You (Tango Della Gelosia)--Connie Francis
8 Burning Bridges/Oh, Little One--Jack Scott
9 Happy-Go-Lucky-Me--Paul Evans
10 He'll Have to Stay--Jeanne Black

Singles entering the chart were That's All You Gotta Do/I'm Sorry by Brenda Lee (#47); Pennies from Heaven by the Skyliners (#50); Down Yonder by Johnny and the Hurricanes (#53); Pink Chiffon by Mitchell Torok (#54); La Montana (If She Should Come To You), with versions by Frank DeVol and his Rainbow Strings; and Roger Williams (#57); My Tani by the Brothers Four (#58); Mule Skinner Blues by the Fendermen (#59); and Mission Bell by Donnie Brooks (#60).

Died on this date
George Hildebrand, 81
. U.S. baseball player and umpire. Mr. Hildebrand was a left fielder who played 11 games with the Brooklyn Superbas in 1902, batting .220 with no home runs and 5 runs batted in. He played more than 1,000 games in 12 seasons in the minor leagues (1898-1909), and was credited with discovering the spitball. Mr. Hildebrand was an umpire in the American League (1913-1934), working 3,330 regular season games and 22 games in 4 World Series. He was behind the plate for the second game of the 1922 World Series between the New York Yankees and New York Giants, and called the game because of darkness with the game tied 3-3 after 10 innings. There appeared to be at least half an hour of sunlight remaining, and his decision was widely criticized.

Boris Pasternak, 70. Russian author and poet. Mr. Pasternak was best known for his novel Doctor Zhivago (1957) and his collection of poems, My Sister, Life (1917). Doctor Zhivago was smuggled out of the Soviet Union and first published in Milan in an Italian translation in 1957, and Mr. Pasternak was awarded the 1958 Nobel Prize in Literature in 1958 "for his important achievement both in contemporary lyrical poetry and in the field of the great Russian epic tradition." Mr. Pasternak was denounced by U.S.S.R. authorities and threatened with deportation, but the Soviet authorities backed off in the face of international criticism.

Auto racing
Jim Rathmann won the Indianapolis 500 at an average speed of 138.767 miles per hour. He had finished second in the race in 1952, 1957, and 1959.







40 years ago
1970


Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Carol OK--Chris Andrews (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)--John Ono Lennon with the Plastic Ono Band (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): It's Five O'Clock--Aphrodite's Child

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Du--Peter Maffay

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Back Home--England World Cup Squad '70 (3rd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Bridge Over Troubled Water--Simon & Garfunkel
2 Let it Be--The Beatles
3 Spirit in the Sky--Norman Greenbaum
4 Travelin' Band/Who'll Stop the Rain--Creedence Clearwater Revival
5 Instant Karma (We All Shine On)--John Ono Lennon (with the Plastic Ono Band)
6 Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)--Edison Lighthouse
7 A Little Ray of Sunshine--Axiom
8 Everything is Beautiful--Ray Stevens
9 Tennessee Bird Walk--Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan
10 Knock Knock Who's There--Mary Hopkin

Singles entering the chart were Cecilia by Simon & Garfunkel (#26); Something's Burning by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (#28); Boom-Sha-La-La-Lo by Hans Poulsen (#29); One Tin Soldier, with versions by Karen Young; and the Original Caste (#32); Hello by Normie Rowe (#33); Curly by Jimmy Hannan (#35); American Woman by the Guess Who (#36); What is Truth by Johnny Cash (#38); Love Moth by Liv Maesson (#39); and Honey Come Back by Glen Campbell (#40).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Up Around the Bend--Creedence Clearwater Revival
2 Cecilia--Simon and Garfunkel
3 El Condor Pasa--Simon & Garfunkel (Instrumental track by Los Incas)
4 Ruby is the One--Earth and Fire
5 Huilen Ii Voor Jou Te Laat--Corry en De Rekels
6 Sympathy--Steve Rowland & the Family Dogg
7 Mademoiselle Ninette--The Soulful Dynamics
8 Question--Moody Blues
9 Spirit in the Sky--Norman Greenbaum
10 I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top--The Hollies

Singles entering the chart were Question; Gedeelten Uit Het Radio Wedstrijdverslag Feyenoord Celtic - Finale by Theo Koomen & Wim Hoogendoorn (#23); Yellow River by Christie (#31); She was Naked by Super Sister (#36); Without You by the Shuffles (#37); The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) by Fleetwood Mac (#39); and Kitsch by Barry Ryan (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Everything is Beautiful--Ray Stevens
2 American Woman/No Sugar Tonight--The Guess Who
3 Love on a Two-Way Street--The Moments
4 Cecilia--Simon & Garfunkel
5 Up Around the Bend/Run Through the Jungle--Creedence Clearwater Revival
6 Which Way You Goin' Billy?--The Poppy Family
7 The Letter--Joe Cocker with Leon Russell and the Shelter People
8 Turn Back the Hands of Time--Tyrone Davis
9 Vehicle--The Ides of March
10 Let it Be--The Beatles

Singles entering the chart were The Love You Save/I Found That Girl by the Jackson 5 (#45); Are You Ready? by Pacific Gas & Electric (#73); You, Me and Mexico by Edward Bear (#75); Don't it Make You Want to Go Home by Brook Benton with the Dixie Flyers (#88); Friends by Feather (#90); Some Beautiful by Jack Wild (#92); Lay a Little Lovin' on Me by Robin McNamara (#93); Heighdy-Ho Princess by Neon Philharmonic (#94); You Keep Me Hangin' On/Hurt So Bad by Jackie DeShannon (#96); Feelings by Barry Mann (#97); I Think I Love You Again by Brenda Lee (#98); Primrose Lane by O.C. Smith (#99); and I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top by the Hollies (#100). Feelings was from the movie Getting Straight (1970).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Cecilia--Simon & Garfunkel
2 Up Around the Bend--Creedence Clearwater Revival
3 American Woman--The Guess Who
4 Turn Back the Hands of Time--Tyrone Davis
5 Everything is Beautiful--Ray Stevens
6 Which Way You Goin' Billy?--The Poppy Family
7 The Letter--Joe Cocker with Leon Russell and the Shelter People
8 Get Ready--Rare Earth
9 The Long and Winding Road--The Beatles
10 Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)--Diana Ross

Singles entering the chart were Trying to Make a Fool of Me by the Delfonics (#77); Man of Constant Sorrow by Ginger Baker's Air Force (#87); Spill the Wine by Eric Burdon and War (#91); Move Me, O Wondrous Music by the Ray Charles Singers (#94); Freedom Blues by Little Richard (#97); and Tighter, Tighter by Alive and Kicking (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Turn Back the Hands of Time--Tyrone Davis (2nd week at #1)
2 Up Around the Bend/Run Through the Jungle--Creedence Clearwater Revival
3 Vehicle--The Ides of March
4 Cecilia--Simon & Garfunkel
5 American Woman/No Sugar Tonight--The Guess Who
6 Love on a Two-Way Street--The Moments
7 Everything is Beautiful--Ray Stevens
8 For the Love of Him--Bobbi Martin
9 Get Ready--Rare Earth
10 Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)--Diana Ross

Singles entering the chart were Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today) by the Temptations (#66); The Love You Save by the Jackson 5 (#72); Don't it Make You Want to Go Home by Brook Benton with the Dixie Flyers (#80); Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons than One) by Luther Ingram (#82); I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top by the Hollies (#91); Tighter, Tighter by Alive and Kicking (#92); Steal Away by Johnnie Taylor (#93); Passport to the Future by Jean Jacques Perrey (#98); Trying to Make a Fool of Me by the Delfonics (#99); and If Love Rules the World by Bobby Bland (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Up Around the Bend--Creedence Clearwater Revival
2 Cecilia--Simon & Garfunkel
3 Woodstock--Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4 Mr. Monday--The Original Caste
5 Everything is Beautiful--Ray Stevens
6 My Baby Loves Lovin'--White Plains
7 American Woman/No Sugar Tonight--The Guess Who
8 Vehicle--The Ides of March
9 For the Love of Him--Bobbi Martin
10 A Song of Joy (Himno a la Alegria)--Miguel Rios

Singles entering the chart included I Want to Take You Higher by Sly & the Family Stone (#73); Dangling on a String by the Chairmen of the Board (#75); Are You Ready? by Pacific Gas & Electric (#80); Brother Rapp (Part 2) by James Brown (#93); Sympathy by Rare Bird (#94); (How Bout a Little Hand For) The Boys in the Band by the Boys in the Band (#96); Band of Gold by Freda Payne (#97); and Sugar Sugar by Wilson Pickett (#98).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Up Around the Bend--Creedence Clearwater Revival
2 Little Green Bag--George Baker Selection
3 The Long and Winding Road--The Beatles
4 American Woman--The Guess Who
5 My Baby Loves Lovin'--White Plains
6 Cecilia--Simon & Garfunkel
7 Everything is Beautiful--Ray Stevens
8 Let it Be--The Beatles
9 Puppet Man--The 5th Dimension
10 Mr. Monday--The Original Caste
Pick hit of the week: Hitchin' a Ride--Vanity Fare

Died on this date
Howie Gregory, 83
. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Gregory posted a 0-1 record with an earned run average of 5.14 in 3 games with the St. Louis Browns in 1911. He won at least 225 games and lost at least 161 in 17 seasons in the minor leagues from 1909-1926, with four seasons of at least 22 wins in the Class A Western League.

War
U.S. casualties in Vietnam for the week were 165 dead and 757 wounded, most from increased Communist shelling.

Disasters
A crippled plane carrying 32 people fell on a car on a highway after takeoff in Atlanta, killing 5 in the car and 1 in the plane.

2 people were killed and 40 injured when a tank truck carrying liquid oxygen exploded in a Brooklyn hospital yard.

Auto racing
Al Unser led 190 of 200 laps and won the Indianapolis 500 for the first time, at an average speed of 155.749 miles per hour.





Baseball
Computerized punch-card ballots appeared in stores and ballparks as voting for the major league all-star game was returned to fans for the first time since 1957.

Roberto Pena’s inside-the-park grand slam off Les Cain in the 1st inning led the Milwaukee Brewers to a 9-7 win over the Detroit Tigers before 11,704 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

Lee May singled to lead off the bottom of the 9th inning, advanced to third base on a double by Bernie Carbo, and scored on a 1-out single by Darrel Chaney to give the Cincinnati Reds a 5-4 win over the Montreal Expos before 23,839 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. The Expos scored all their runs in the top of the first; after the first 2 batters were retired, Rusty Staub hit a solo home run, and John Bateman added a 3-run homer. Mr. Staub batted 5 for 5, with a double in addition to his homer.

30 years ago
1980


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): What's Another Year--Johnny Logan

#1 single in France (IFOP): One Step Beyond--Madness (6th week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Sun of Jamaica--Goombay Dance Band (2nd week at #1)
2 Fly Too High--Janis Ian
3 Please Don't Go--KC and the Sunshine Band
4 Computer Games--MS
5 Brass in Pocket--Pretenders
6 I'm in the Mood for Dancing--The Nolans
7 Message in a Bottle--The Police
8 American Dream--The Dirt Band
9 We Belong to the Night--Ellen Foley
10 Together We are Beautiful--Fern Kinney

Singles entering the chart were Walking on the Moon by the Police (#18); and Crying by Don McLean (#20).

Religion
Pope John Paul II arrived in Paris to begin the first visit to France by a pope since 1814. He met the mayor of Paris, and addressed a crowd at the Place de la Concorde on the issue of religious drift. The Roman Catholic Church in France had seen its practicing participants in France decline to 15% of its professed membership.

25 years ago
1985

Baseball

Carmelo Martinez hit a three-run home run and a solo homer to lead the San Diego Padres to a 5-4 win over the Montreal Expos. Winning pitcher Andy Hawkins improved his record to 10-0

Dwight Gooden struck out 14 to lead the New York Mets to a 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants. The only Giant run came on Alex Trevino’s first home run of the season.

20 years ago
1990


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Black Velvet--Alannah Myles (2nd week at #1)

Edmontonia
City Council's executive committee voted unanimously to force motorcycles to park behind the Commercial Hotel on Whyte Avenue, and not in front.

War
Palestinian guerrillas in speedboats sought to attack the coast of Israel. Israeli security forces captured one boat and its five-man crew, which surrendered. 11 men landed in a second boat, but four were killed and the rest captured. A radical faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization claimed responsibility for the raid, saying that it was intended as revenge for the seven Palestinians killed on May 20 by a former Israeli soldier who had gone on a rampage.

Diplomacy
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney concluded two days of meetings in Ottawa. Canadian officials announced that they would extend a line of credit to the U.S.S.R. to facilitate the purchase of goods and services by the Soviet Union. Mr. Gorbachev and his entourage, which included his wife Raisa, then flew to Washington.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that that the leading economic indicators had declined 0.2% in April. The Dow-Jones industrial average closed at its highest point for the month: 2878.56.

Health
The French banned imports of British beef and live cattle because of fears of mad cow disease.

Disasters
An earthquake struck northern Peru, killing at least 101 people.

10 years ago
2000


Diplomacy
U.S. President Bill Clinton began a European trip with a stop in Portugal, where he and Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio signed several pacts. Mr. Clinton also met with European Union officials to discuss trade.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Dallas 3 @ New Jersey 7 (New Jersey led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Jason Arnott and Petr Sykora each scored 2 goals as the Devils scored 7 goals on 26 shots to defeat the defending champion Stars at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford.

Saturday 29 May 2010

May 29, 2010

690 years ago
1320


Died on this date
John VIII of Alexandria
. Coptic Orthodox Pope, 1300-1320. John VIII, born Yohanna Ben-Ebsal, succeeded Theodosius III as head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. His reign was characterized by severe financial problems, with heavy taxes imposed on the church in Egypt. Pope John VIII was succeeded by John IX.

510 years ago
1500


Died on this date
Bartolomeu Dias, 50 (?)
. Portuguese explorer. Mr. Dias, a squire of the royal court, became, in 1488, the first European to sail around the southernmost tip of Africa, and was the first European during the Age of Discovery to anchor at what is now South Africa. He died when his ship and four others were lost in a huge storm off the Cape of Good Hope.

380 years ago
1630


Born on this date
Charles II
. King of Scotland, 1649-1651. King of England, Scotland and Ireland, 1660-1685. Charles II succeeded his father Charles I, but after his father's beheading, England became a Protestant republic led by Oliver Cromwell (1649-1658) and his son Richard (1658-1660). King Charles fled to Scotland and then Normandy, but was allowed to return to England by the Convention Parliament, arriving in London on his 30th birthday. During Charles II's reign, social restrictions were eased, but London suffered through the Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of 1666. He pursued positive relations with Portugal and war with the Netherlands. King Charles II eventually came into confict with Parliament, and dissolved Parliament in 1679, ruling as an absolute monarch until his death at the age of 54 on February 6, 1685, four days after suffering an apoplectic fit, perhaps the result of uremia.

350 years ago
1660


Britannica
King Charles II was restored to the monarchy of England, Scotland and Ireland after an interregnum of 11 years. He was welcomed to London to public acclaim after being invited to return; all legal documents were dated as if he had succeeded his father as king in 1649.

220 years ago
1790

Americana

Rhode Island entered the Union as the 13th state, the last of the original colonies to ratify the Constitution.

150 years ago
1860


Born on this date
Isaac Albéniz
. Spanish musician and composer. Mr. Albéniz was a child prodigy who began a lengthy career as a concert pianist at the age of 9. He was known for his numerous compositions for piano--often based on Spanish folk music--and influenced Spanish composers and others such as the French composers Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy. Mr. Albéniz died of Bright's disease on May 18, 1909, 11 days before his 49th birthday.

130 years ago
1880


Born on this date
Oswald Spengler
. German historian. Dr. Spengler had a pessimistic view of the future of Germany and Europe; he was best known for his two-volume work Der Untergang des Abendlandes (The Decline of the West) (1918, 1922). Dr. Spengler died on May 8, 1936, three weeks before his 56th birthday.

110 years ago
1900


War
The Battle of Johannesburg concluded as British cavalry troops commanded by Lieutenant General John French captured the ridge of Doornkop, while a nearby ridge was taken by seven infantry battalions, including the City Imperial Volunteers and Gordon Highlanders of Lt. Gen. Ian Hamilton. A force of 1,900 Canadians in the 1st Mounted Infantry Brigade, which included the Royal Canadian Dragoons and the Canadian Mounted Rifles, fought with the British.

Africana
N'Djamena, now the capital of Chad, was founded as Fort-Lamy by French commander Émile Gentil.

100 years ago
1910


Born on this date
Ralph Metcalfe
. U.S. runner and politician. Mr. Metcalfe jointly held the world record in the 100-metre dash; he won silver medals in the event in the Summer Olympic Games of 1932 and 1936, and was regarded as the world's fastest man in 1934 and 2935. Mr. Metcalfe won a bronze medal in the men's 200-metre run at the 1932 Olympics, and a gold medal as a member of the American team in the men's 4 x 100-metre relay in the 1936 Olympics. Mr. Metcalfe was an alderman in Chicago from 1955-1970, and represented Illinois' 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1971 until his death from an apparent heart attack on October 10, 1978 at the age of 68. He co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971.

Died on this date
Mily Balakirev, 73
. Russian musician and composer. Mr. Balakirev was a concert pianist who was a member of the composers known as The Five, promoting musical Russian nationalism. He wrote two symphonies, overtures, songs, and numerous works for piano, but was perhaps best known for his oriental fantasies Tamara (1867-1882) and Islamey (1869/1902).

75 years ago
1935


Died on this date
Josef Suk, 61
. Czech composer. Mr. Suk, one of the leading figures among Czech modernist composers, was known for his chamber works.

Defense
The German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter airplane made its first flight.

Baseball
The Boston Braves scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st inning and 5 in the 7th to take a 7-0 lead, and held on to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-6 at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. Boston right fielder Babe Ruth drew a bases-loaded walk in the 2nd inning to score Ed Brandt, and Wally Berger followed with a grand slam. The run and run batted in were the last in the Babe's career.



Aided by 3 errors, the Boston Red Sox scored 8 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning as they came back from a 6-1 deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Athletics 10-9 at Fenway Park in Boston. The Athletics had the potential tying run on second base in the 9th, but Charlie Berry grounded out to pitcher Johnny Welch to end the game. Philadelphia shortstop Eric McNair batted 4 for 5 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 runs batted in, but made one of the errors in the 7th inning.

Red Ruffing (4-3) pitched a 9-hit complete game, backed up his pitching by hitting a 2-run home run, and Lou Gehrig added a 2-run homer, as the New York Yankees beat the Washington Nationals 7-4 before 6,000 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington in a game that was called because of rain in the middle of the 7th inning. The Yankees scored 3 runs in the top of the 7th to take a 10-4 lead, but when the game was called, the game reverted to where it was after 6 innings.

70 years ago
1940


War
The Canadian Parliament passed the $700-million War Appropriations Act, authorizing two more Army divisions. The bill quickly received royal assent. French warships arrived at Dunkirk and helped evacuate 47,310 Allied soldiers. German forces occupied the continental coast except for 54 miles north and south of Dunkirk.

Diplomacy
Shao Li-tsi, the new Chinese Ambassador to the U.S.S.R., left Chungking for Moscow.

Defense
The U.S. fighter aircraft Vought F4U Corsair, with Lyman Bullard at the controls, made its first flight; a hurried landing was made when the elevator trim tabs failed because of flutter.

Economics and finance
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau named Donald Nelson as director of the Treasury's Procurement Division.

The National Association of Manufacturers' board of directors announced that its members would meet defense production requirements without profiteering.

60 years ago
1950


On the radio
Christopher London, starring Glenn Ford, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Pattern for Murder

This series was created by Erle Stanley Gardner.

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: How Love Came to Professor Guilda, starring Frank Daly, Arnold Moss, and Brandon Peters

Broadway Open House, on NBC

This was the first broadcast of the late-night variety program, with Morey Amsterdam hosting on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Jerry Lester hosting on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The premiere was to have taken place on May 22 with Don Hornsby as the host, but Mr. Hornsby was struck by polio, and died the day of the scheduled premiere broadcast, which was postponed for a week until replacements could be found.

Married on this date
Former U.S. Justice Department employee and recently-convicted Soviet spy Judith Coplon and her defense attorney, Albert Socolov, were wed in New York.

War
France reported the clearing of all guerrillas from the Red River delta of northern Vietnam.

Exploration
The St. Roch arrived in Halifax to complete the first circumnavigation of North America. She had come from Vancouver, British Columbia via the Panama Canal.

World events
The British freighter Mausang arrived in Shanghai as the first Western ship to breach the Nationalist blockade of China.

Politics and government
Syrian Prime Minister Khaled el-Azem and his cabinet resigned amidst dissension between factors friendly to Jordan and Egypt.

Religion
The Vatican announced the formation of the first African hierarchies in 14 centuries, to be located in western Africa.

Economics and finance
French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman announced that France, West Germany, and Belgium would proceed with negotiations for a coal and steel pool without waiting for the United Kingdom, after British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin declined to accept the plan until informed of the details.

Labour
Tennessee Governor Gordon Browning called on the state National Guard to restore order when violence erupted in a strike of 700 Congress of Industrial Organizations Textile Workers Union members against American Erika Corporation rayon plant in Morristown.

Baseball
The Pueblo club of the Western League announced that its players would wear shorts during their games that summer.

50 years ago
1960


On the radio
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, starring Bob Bailey, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Red Rock Matter

Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Perfect Plan, starring George Petrie, Elizabeth Lawrence, Paul Potter, and Patsy Bruder

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Party Line, starring Judy Canova, Royal Dano, Arch Johnson, and Ellen Corby

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Cathy Brown!

I remember when she turned 15, and I can’t believe she’s 50.

Baseball
With 2 out and none on base in the bottom of the 9th inning, Eddie Kasko singled and Vada Pinson followed with a home run to give the Cincinnati Reds a 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Braves before 16,119 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Jay Hook (4-3) pitched a 7-hit complete game to outduel Carlton Willey (2-3), who allowed 11 hits in a complete game.

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored 6 runs in the first 2 innings en rout to an 8-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 15,704 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Vern Law (7-1) was the winning pitcher over Robin Roberts (1-6).

Duke Snider batted 3 for 4 with 2 home runs and drove in all the runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers shut out the Chicago Cubs 4-0 before 24,214 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago, with Johnny Podres (8-5) and Larry Sherry combining to pitch a 5-hitter.

Daryl Spencer drove in 3 runs with a pair of singles to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 4-1 before 17,369 fans at Busch Stadium in St. Louis in a game that was called because of rain as the 6th inning was about to begin. Larry Jackson (5-5) pitched a 6-hit complete game victory.

With 2 out and none on base in the bottom of the 11th inning, Mickey Mantle beat out an infield single and Hector Lopez followed with a home run to give the New York Yankees a 6-4 win over the Washington Senators before 21,516 fans at Yankee Stadium. The Senators rallied from a 3-0 deficit with 3 runs in the 9th and a run in the 10th, but Gil McDougald drew a bases-loaded walk with 2 out in the bottom of the 10th to force home Elston Howard with the tying run.



With 2 out and none on base in the bottom of the 6th inning, Jackie Brandt doubled home a run and Brooks Robinson followed with a 3-run home run to climax a 4-run inning as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 6-1 in the first game of a doubleheader before 11,483 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Steve Barber (5-1) pitched a 6-hitter to win the pitching matchup with Frank Sullivan (1-5), who allowed 7 hits while also going the distance. In the second game, the Orioles trailed 4-2 going into the bottom of the 9th, but Willie Tasby singled and Ron Hansen followed with a home run to tie the score. Clint Courtney followed with a single, and pinch runner Albie Pearson advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Milt Pappas. Pinch hitter Jim Gentile was intentionally walked, and pinch hitter Gene Woodling singled home Mr. Pearson to give the Orioles a 5-4 win to complete the sweep.

All the runs were scored in the first 5 innings as the Detroit Tigers edged the Cleveland Indians 6-5 in the first game of a doubleheader before 42,670 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Cleveland center fielder Jimmy Piersall hit a 2-run home run and drove in 3 runs. Mr. Piersall hit a 3-run homer with 1 out in the 9th inning to provide the winning margin as the Indians came from behind to win the second game 6-4.

Andy Carey drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the 1st inning and hit a 2-run home run as part of a 3-run 3rd to help the Kansas City Athletics defeat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 before 9,975 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. Ken Johnson (1-2) pitched an 8-hit complete game victory.

40 years ago
1970


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Bridge over Troubled Water--Simon & Garfunkel (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Question--The Moody Blues

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Carol Ok--Chris Andrews (2nd week at #1)
2 Spider Spider--Tidal Wave
3 Tchaikovsky One--Omega Limited
4 Ma Belle Amie--Tee Set
5 Love is a Beautiful Song--Dave Mills
6 Daughter of Darkness--Tom Jones
7 Bridge Over Troubled Water--Simon & Garfunkel
8 Knock Knock Who's There--Mary Hopkin
9 Can't Help Falling in Love--Andy Williams
10 Travelin' Band--Creedence Clearwater Revival

Singles entering the chart were Heya by Jeronimo (#19); and Working on a Good Thing by Outlet (#20).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Up Around the Bend/Run Through the Jungle--Creedence Clearwater Revival (2nd week at #1)
2 Everything is Beautiful--Ray Stevens
3 Cecilia--Simon & Garfunkel
4 My Baby Loves Lovin'--White Plains
5 Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)--Melanie with the Edwin Hawkins Singers
6 For the Love of Him--Bobbi Martin
7 The Long and Winding Road/For You Blue--The Beatles
8 The Letter--Joe Cocker with Leon Russell and the Shelter People
9 Mr. Monday--The Original Caste
10 Soolaimón (African Trilogy II)--Neil Diamond

The only single entering the chart was Ride Captain Ride by Blues Image (#30).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 Up Around the Bend/Run Through the Jungle--Creedence Clearwater Revival (2nd week at #1)
2 Everything is Beautiful--Ray Stevens
3 Mr. Monday--The Original Caste
4 Cecilia--Simon & Garfunkel
5 My Baby Loves Lovin'--White Plains
6 A Song of Joy (Himno a la Alegria)--Miguel Rios
7 Make Me Smile--Chicago
8 Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)--Melanie with the Edwin Hawkins Singers
9 The Letter--Joe Cocker with Leon Russell and the Shelter People
10 The Long and Winding Road/For You Blue--The Beatles

Singles entering the chart were Love on a Two-Way Street by the Moments (#25); The Love You Save by the Jackson 5 (#29); and Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell (#30).

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Let it Be--The Beatles (10th week at #1)
2 The Long and Winding Road--The Beatles
3 Soolaimón (African Trilogy II)--Neil Diamond
4 Little Green Bag--George Baker Selection
5 Everything is Beautiful--Ray Stevens
6 Mississippi--John Phillips
7 Spirit in the Sky--Norman Greenbaum
8 Bitter Green--Ronnie Hawkins
9 Tennessee Bird Walk--Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan
10 Up Around the Bend--Creedence Clearwater Revival

Died on this date
John Gunther, 68
. U.S. journalist. Mr. Gunther was known for visiting foreign countries and describing them in his "Inside" books (Inside Europe (1936); Inside Latin America (1941); Inside U.S.A. (1947), etc.). He wrote seven novels, and in 1949 he published Death Be Not Proud, an account of his 17-year-old son's battle against the brain cancer that killed him. Mr. Gunther died of liver cancer.

Diplomacy
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau returned to Canada after a 19-day, 30,000-mile tour of various Pacific nations.

Foreign ministers of the European Economic Community nations chose Italian Communications Minister Franco Maria Malfatti as president of the Executive Commission.

Terrorism
Former Argentinian President Pedro Eugenio Aramburu, 67, was kidnapped from his apartment house in downtown Buenos Aires by an Argentine terrorist group called the Gaucho Guerrillas.

Law
The conviction of Black Panther co-founder Huey Newton on charges of voluntary manslaughter was overturned by the California Court of Appeals on the ground that the trial judge had failed to properly charge the jury. Mr. Newton, 28, had been convicted in the 1968 fatal shooting of an Oakland policeman and was serving a 2-to-15-year term in a California prison. The effect of the ruling was stayed for 60 days, and Mr. Newton was denied immediate bail.

Politics and government
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was sworn in as Prime Minister of Ceylon two days after leading a coalition of her ruling Freedom Party and two other leftist parties to an overwhelming win in the country’s parliamentary elections.

Economics and finance
The Canadian Parliament approved an increase in the federal minimum wage from $1.25 per hour to $1.65. Provinces set their own minimum wages, with a high of $1.55 in Alberta and a low of 90¢ for Nova Scotia women.

Baseball
The St. Louis Cardinals traded utility infielder Phil Gagliano to the Chicago Cubs for relief pitcher Ted Abernathy. Mr. Gagliano was batting .188 with no home runs and 2 runs batted in in 18 games with St. Louis in 1970; Mr. Abernathy was 0-0 with an earned run average of 2.00 in 11 games with Chicago in 1970.

Bobby Tolan’s 2-run home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning gave the Cincinnati Reds a 6-4 win over the Montreal Expos before 13,559 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

Marty Keough hit a 2-run home run with 1 out in the top of the 12th inning to break a 2-2 tie, but Bernie Allen singled home 2 runs with 1 out and scored on a 2-out single by Del Unser as the Washington Senators rallied for 3 runs to defeat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 before 19,214 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington.

Gerry Moses singled home Mike Andrews with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning to climax a 3-run rally as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Chicago White Sox 4-3 before 22,737 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

Mike Cuellar (5-3) struck out 4 consecutive batters in the 4th inning and gave up just 4 hits as the Baltimore Orioles beat the California Angels 2-0 before 18,889 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Alex Johnson, the first of Mr. Cuellar's strikeout victims in the 4th, advanced to first base on a passed ball by catcher Elrod Hendricks. Andy Messersmith (5-4) pitched a 6-hit complete game, but ended up as the loser when Frank Robinson singled with 2 out and nobody on base in the 8th and Boog Powell followed with a home run.

30 years ago
1980


Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (Hot Press): What's Another Year--Johnny Logan (2nd week at #1)

Crime
U.S. Negro civil rights leader Vernon Jordan, 44, president of the National Urban League, was shot and critically wounded by an unknown assailant in a motel parking lot in Fort Wayne, Indiana hours after addressing the local Urban League’s annual dinner. After the dinner, Mr. Jordan struck up a conversation with Martha Coleman, a white member of the board of directors of the local Urban League chapter. She drove Mr. Jordan to her home, where they had coffee. She then drove him to his motel at about 2 A.M., and he was shot twice in the back in the parking lot as he went to his room. Ms. Coleman, who was not considered a suspect, told police that a few minutes before reaching the motel, three white men in a car alongside hers at a stop light had shouted racial slurs at her and Mr. Jordan. Police determined that there would probably not have been enough time for the three to get to the motel in time to commit the crime. Two female employees of a telephone company across the interstate highway from the motel reported that they had seen a car parked along the exit ramp at the time of the shooting.

Diplomacy
The U.K. weakened its trade sanctions against Iran to impose them only against businesses that had been in the process of negotiating contracts with Iran. A British official explained that his government was not prepared "to issue an order that was going to hurt British businessmen more than it hurt Iran."

Baseball
Johnny Bench hit 3 home runs in a game for the third time in his major league career to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the San Diego Padres 5-3 before 11,677 fans at San Diego Stadium. All three blasts came against Randy Jones (4-3).

Bob Welch (5-1) pitched a 1-hitter and faced the minimum number of batters as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 3-0 before 24,630 fans at Dodger Stadium. The only baserunner for the Braves was Larvell Blanks, who singled in the 4th inning and was erased on a double play.

25 years ago
1985


Canadiana
One-legged runner Steve Fonyo arrived in Victoria to complete a 1,400-mile run across Canada to raise money for cancer research, finishing the run that Terry Fox had begun in 1980, but was unable to complete because of the cancer that took his life.

Disasters
British hooligans rooting for the Liverpool soccer club stormed a section of stands filled with fans of the Juventus team from Turin, Italy, during the European Cup final at Heysel Stadium in Brussels. A concrete retaining wall collapsed and 39 people were crushed or trampled to death--32 of them Italians--and more than 400 were injured. It was the worst sports riot on record.

20 years ago
1990


Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev began two days of meetings in Ottawa with Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

Politics and government
Boris Yeltsin was elected President of the Russian Republic, largest and most important of the 15 Soviet republics, by the Duma on the third ballot. Mr. Yeltsin was an advocate of radical reforms and had called for economic and political sovereignty for Russia and for the U.S.S.R. to be turned into a loose confederation of republics.

Law
In a free vote, new abortion legislation passed in Canada’s House of Commons by a vote of 140-131. The bill would permit abortions providing that a single doctor believed that the physical, mental, or psychological health of the mother was threatened by continuation of the pregnancy. It also provided for a two-year prison term for doctors who ignored the law or women who lied about their health. The compromise legislation was attacked by groups on both sides of the issue. Several groups said that they would challenge the constitutional validity of the bill if it was passed by the Senate and became law.

Baseball
The New York Mets, with a record of 20-22, fired manager Davey Johnson, who was in his sixth season managing the team. Mr. Johnson had managed the Mets to a World Series win in 1986, and had a winning percentage with the Mets of .593. He was replaced by Bud Harrelson.

In a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays before 25,255 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics stole the 893rd base of his major league career, moving into second place on the list past Ty Cobb and behind Lou Brock. Mr. Henderson scored the only Oakland run with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning when he tripled and scored on a single by Carney Lansford.

10 years ago
2000


World events
While gunmen were still holding hostages in the parliament building after 10 days, Fiji’s military took control of the country and imposed martial law.

Baseball
Andy Pettitte pitched a 2-hitter as the New York Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 4-1 before 41,284 fans at Yankee Stadium. In the 6th inning, Oakland second baseman Randy Velarde made an unassisted triple play, just the 11th in major league history. With Tino Martinez on first base, Jorge Posada on first, and Shane Spencer at bat, Mr. Velarde caught Mr. Spencer’s line drive, tagged Mr. Posada as he came into second base, and stepped on the bag to retire Mr. Martinez before he could get back in time. Mr. Velarde broke up Mr. Pettitte's bid for a shutout by hitting a home run with 1 out in the 9th.