September 30, 2014

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Connie Legrand!

1,525 years ago
489

War
The Ostrogoths under King Theoderic the Great defeated the forces of Odoacer for the second time in the Battle of Verona in northern Italy.

80 years ago
1934

Baseball
Dizzy Dean shut out the Cincinnati Reds 9-0 for his 30th win of the season to clinch the National League pennant for the St. Louis Cardinals. 35,274 showed up at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis to see the Cardinals record their 20th win in their last 25 games.

The New York Giants, who had led the National League for most of the season, lost 8-5 in 10 innings to the Brooklyn Dodgers at the Polo Grounds in New York.

The Washington Nationals defeated the New York Yankees 5-3 at Griffith Stadium in Washington in Babe Ruth’s 2,084th and last game as a Yankee. He batted 0 for 3 and cried when he left the field after flying out to center field in his last at bat. Yankees’ first baseman Lou Gehrig was 3 for 4 to edge out Detroit’s Charlie Gehringer for the American League batting title, enabling Mr. Gehrig to win the triple crown. Orville Armbrust pitched 7 innings for the Nationals to record his only major league win.

75 years ago
1939

On television today
The Fordham University Rams (1-0) defeated the Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets (1-1) 34-7 at Triborough Stadium in New York in the first American football game to be televised, on the NBC station W2XBS, with Bill Stern announcing the game by himself.

Politics and government
President Władysław Raczkiewicz named General Władysław Sikorski Prime Minister of the Polish Government in exile in Paris.

Football
CRU
WIFU
Calgary (3-4) 6 @ Winnipeg (7-0) 25
Edmonton (1-6) 7 @ Regina (3-4) 8

Andy Bieber scored 2 touchdowns and Wayne Sheley and Mel Wilson each scored a touchdown for the Blue Bombers as they beat the Bronks at Osborne Stadium.

Toar Springstein's single on a missed field goal attempt in the last minute of the game gave the Roughriders their win over the Eskimos at park de Young. Vince Yatchek scored the Edmonton touchdown on a 45-yard fumble return; Gordon Gelhaye converted.

Exhibition
Strathcona High School 0 @ University of Alberta 0

1,200 fans witnessed the fumble-filled game between the Golden Bears and Strathcona High at Varsity Stadium in Edmonton.

Baseball
The Washington Nationals, behind the pitching of rookie Joe Haynes, beat the Philadelphia Athletics 9-5 before 1,000 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Al Brancato hit his first major league home run for the Athletics. Elmer Valo, in his first major league game, entered the game as a pinch hitter and drew a base on balls, but official scorer Red Smith later removed Mr. Valo’s name from the box score at the request of Philadelphia manager Connie Mack because Mr. Valo had not signed a major league contract.

70 years ago
1944

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Chuck Chandler!

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Vict'ry Polka--Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters (1st month at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Swinging on a Star--Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra and the Williams Brothers Quartet (Best Seller--9th week at #1; Jukebox--7th week at #1)

Music
Ralph Vaughan Williams' Oboe Concerto in A Minor received its premiere performance in Liverpool at a concert by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Malcolm Sargent. Leon Goossens, for whom the concerto was written, was the featured soloist.



War
U.S. forces in France advanced to within 9 miles of Belfort. The U.S.S.R. revealed that Red Army troops had crossed into Yugoslavia and held a 60-mile-wide bridgehead on the south side of the Danube River. Allied heavy bombers, in one of their longest missions, raided the oil centre of Balikpapen, Borneo, leaving large fires raging. The U.S. 14th Army Air Force destroyed its base at Tanchuk in the southeastern part of the Chinese province of Kwangsi, before the Japanese occupation of it today.

Terrorism
Jewish commercial and residential districts of Jerusalem were placed under curfew by British authorities following the previous day's assassination of Assistant Police Superintendent T.J. Wilkin, allegedly by the Jewish terrorist organization Irgun Zvai Leumi.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt accepted the resignation of War Production Board Chairman Donald Nelson, and appointed acting Chairman Julius Krug to succeed him. Mr. Krug announced a tentative program whereby the WPB would revoke 350 of its 500 control orders on Victory in Europe Day.

Football
MASSFL
Central Navigation School (Rivers) (1-0) 24 Service Flying Training School (Gimli) (0-1) 0 @ Winnipeg

Gordy Clemens scored a touchdown, convert, and 3 singles for the Pathfinders as they blanked the Hurricanes at Osborne Stadium. Lloyd Boivin, Doug McCuaig, and Buddy Meier scored the other touchdowns.

60 years ago
1954

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Wodka-Fox--Hans-Arno Simon (1st month at #1)

Politics and government
Henry Hicks took office as Premier of Nova Scotia, the day after defeating incumbent Premier Harold Connolly in a Liberal Party leadership convention.

Defense
The United States Navy submarine USS Nautilus was commissioned as the world's first nuclear reactor-powered vessel.

Baseball
World Series
Cleveland Indians 1 @ New York Giants 3 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Johnny Antonelli gave up a home run to Al Smith on the first pitch of the game but shut down the Indians thereafter, and drove in the winning run with a ground out as the Giants won before 49,099 fans at the Polo Grounds. Dusty Rhodes, whose pinch-hit home run had ended the first game, came to bat as a pinch hitter in the 5th inning and singled in the Giants' first run. After moving to left field, he hit a home run in the 7th inning. Early Wynn took the loss on the mound for Cleveland.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Night Chicago Died--Paper Lace (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)--MFSB

Politics and government
General Antonio de Spinola resigned as provisional President of Portugal, and three other conservative members of the seven-man junta who had been linked by leftists to an alleged plot by right-wing politicians against the provisional government also resigned, leaving the government largely in the hands of leftist military officers and civilians. Gen. Spinola was replaced as provisional President by his close associate, General Francisco da Costa Gomes, head of the armed forces.

Protest
A bloody scuffle erupted as Royal Canadian Mounted Police riot squad officers stopped 200 Indians from entering the Canadian Parliament Buildings in Ottawa during the official opening of the first session of the 30th Parliament.

Football
NFL
Denver (0-2-1) 3 @ Washington (2-1) 30

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Femme libérée--Cookie Dingler (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Careless Whisper--George Michael

Labour
Major league baseball umpires announced that they would go on strike at the two league championship series scheduled to begin October 2 in an effort to improve their pay and job security and to change the method by which post-season assignments were determined. Major league officials said that the games would go on as scheduled using amateur umpires if necessary.

Disasters
High water levels proved fatal to 10,000 caribou, who drowned while their herd is crossing the Caniapiscau River in Quebec to move to winter pasture.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (9-3-1) 19 @ Toronto (8-4) 31
Ottawa (4-9) 15 @ Saskatchewan (5-7-1) 31

Joe Barnes completed 24 of 38 passes for 366 yards and 2 touchdowns to Terry Greer and another to Lester Brown, and carried 4 times for 37 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown, to lead the Argonauts to the win in front of 35,401 at Exhibition Stadium. Tom Clements started at quarterback for the Blue Bombers and completed 20 of 37 passes for 303 yards and touchdowns to Rick House and James Murphy.

Craig Ellis carried 10 times for 45 yards and a touchdown, caught 6 passes for 57, and returned 2 kickoffs for 43 to lead the Roughriders to their third straight win before 24,933 at Lansdowne Park. Saskatchewan quarterback Homer Jordan completed 23 of 36 passes for 309 yards and touchdowns to Mike Washington and Chris De France. The Roughriders made 5 interceptions against Ottawa quarterbacks J.C. Watts and Joe Adams. Mr. Watts threw a touchdown pass to Keith Baker, and Mr. Adams completed a touchdown pass to Dave Newman.



Baseball
Mike Witt of the California Angels struck out 10 in pitching a perfect game on the last day of the season as the Angels edged the Texas Rangers 1-0 before 8,375 fans at Arlington Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The Atlanta Braves held on to defeat the San Diego Padres 4-3 before 13,489 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium despite giving up a home run in the 9th inning to Eddie Miller. It was Mr. Miller’s only major league home run, and came in his last major league at bat.

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 7-2 before 42,125 fans at Dodger Stadium as Tony Brewer, the 1984 Pacific Coast League batting champion, hit a home run for the Dodgers in what turned out to be his last major league at bat.

The Philadelphia Phillies lost a doubleheader to the Pittsburgh Pirates by scores of 2-0 and 7-2 before 17,292 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia to finish the season at 81-81. Phillies’ manager Paul Owens resigned to move back into the front office.

The Milwaukee Brewers blanked the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 before 10,277 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee in Rene Lachemann’s last game as manager of the Brewers, with Bob Gibson and Ray Searage combining on a 4-hitter. The team finished last in the American League East Division with a record of 67-94.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Lambada--Kaoma

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Swing The Mood--Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Lambada--Kaoma

#1 single in France (SNEP): Lambada--Kaoma (10th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Ride on Time--Black Box (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard
1 Girl I'm Gonna Miss You--Milli Vanilli (2nd week at #1)
2 Heaven--Warrant
3 If I Could Turn Back Time--Cher
4 Cherish--Madonna
5 Miss You Much--Janet Jackson
6 18 and Life--Skid Row
7 One--Bee Gees
8 Kisses on the Wind--Neneh Cherry
9 Don't Wanna Lose You--Gloria Estefan
10 Love Song--The Cure

Singles entering the chart were Get on Your Feet by Gloria Estefan (#65); Don't Know Much by Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville) (#72); Leave a Light On by Belinda Carlisle (#78); Don't Ask Me Why by Eurythmics (#81); The Angel Song by Great White (#88); Hold On by Donny Osmond (#89); Love Song by Tesla (#90); Edie (Ciao Baby) by the Cult (#93); and I'm a Believer by Giant (#94).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Girl I'm Gonna Miss You--Milli Vanilli
2 Heaven--Warrant
3 If I Could Turn Back Time--Cher
4 Cherish--Madonna
5 18 and Life--Skid Row
6 Don't Wanna Lose You--Gloria Estefan
7 Miss You Much--Janet Jackson
8 Shower Me with Your Love--Surface
9 One--Bee Gees
10 Mixed Emotions--Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were Don't Ask Me Why by Eurythmics (#70); Don't Know Much by Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville) (#75); Leave a Light On by Belinda Carlisle (#80); Get on Your Feet by Gloria Estefan (#83); Hold On by Donny Osmond (#85); We Could Be Together by Debbie Gibson (#87); No Big Deal by Love and Rockets (#90); Radar Love by White Lion (#92); and Hungry by Winger (#94).

Died on this date
Virgil Thomson, 92. U.S. composer. Mr. Thomson's works included scores for the films The Plow that Broke the Plains (1936); The River (1938); and Louisiana Story (1948), the last of which won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1949.

Diplomacy
West German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher flew to Prague, where his negotiations with East German authorities opened the way for thousands of refugees from East Germany who were crowding into the West German embassy in Prague to leave by bus on the first leg of a trip to West Germany.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (5-8) 32 @ Saskatchewan (6-7) 30

On what should have been the last play of the game at Taylor Field in Regina, B.C. quarterback Matt Dunigan threw a desperation pass for wide receiver David Williams from the Saskatchewan 53-yard line. It was incomplete, but Roughrider safety Glen Suitor was called for pass interference at the 18-yard line. Another pass for Mr. Williams in the end zone resulted in a pass interference call against Albert Brown, giving the Lions a first down at the 1. Mr. Dunigan then sneaked over for the winning touchdown, his second of the game. Tony Cherry scored the other B.C. touchdown on a 26-yard rush on the last play of the third quarter. The Roughriders' touchdowns came from Mr. Brown on a 96-yard interception return and Milson Jones on a 2-yard run. Dave Ridgway added 2 converts and 5 field goals. Saskatchewan quarterback Kent Austin completed just 15 of 35 pases for 198 yards. The game was the last for veteran Saskatchewan defensive tackle James Curry, who left the team and was replaced by rookie Chuck Klingbeil.

CIAU
Calgary (3-2) 20 @ Alberta (3-2) 40
Manitoba (0-5) 8 @ British Columbia (3-2) 46

Defensive back John Falconer was the star for the Golden Bears, intercepting 2 passes and recovering 2 fumbles, the second of which he returned 15 yards for a touchdown in the last minute of the game when Dave Brown of the Dinosaurs attempted a long lateral only to have the ball die in the wind and drop into an open area of the field. Calagary quarterback Bob Torrance completed just 10 of 34 passes for 173 yards. Kris Thorsteinson led the Alberta rushing attack with 22 carries for 124 yards. The game was played at Clarke Stadium in Edmonton, the Golden Bears' first game in that stadium since 1982.

The Thunderbirds, led by quarterback Doug Lynch, passed for 425 yards and amassed a team record 610 yards in total offense as they routed the Bisons at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver.

Baseball
The Toronto Blue Jays scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to defeat the second-place Baltimore Orioles 4-3 before 49,553 fans at SkyDome in Toronto, clinching the American League East Division pennant.

The Texas Rangers defeated the California Angels 2-0 before 34,910 fans at Anaheim Stadium as Nolan Ryan pitched a 3-hitter and struck out 13 to finish with 301 strikeouts for the season, the sixth time he’d reached that mark, but the first time since 1977.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Cotton Eye Joe--Rednex (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Saturday Night--Whigfield (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
André Michel Lwoff, 92. French microbiologist. Dr. Lwoff shared the 1965 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with François Jacob and Jacques Monod "for their discoveries concerning genetic control of enzyme and virus synthesis."

Diplomacy
Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Albert Reynolds met Russian Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Soskovets rather than Russian President Boris Yeltsin in Shannon, County Limerick. Mr. Yeltsin supposedly overslept, although it was widely suspected that he wouldn't get off his plane because he was too drunk.

Protest
Supporters of the recently-deposed military junta in Haiti concluded two days of killing demonstrators who were supporting President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, with the body count reaching 16.

Law
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that a man accused of sexual assault could use the defense that he was too drunk to know what he was doing.

Transportation
Aldwych tube station (originally Strand Station) of the London Underground closed after 88 years in service; Ongar railway station, the furthest London Underground from central London, also closed.

Labour
The National Hockey League postponed the start of the 1994-95 season for at least two weeks to deal with labour strife.

Football
CFL
Sacramento (6-6-1) 19 @ Saskatchewan (7-6) 16
British Columbia (9-3-1) 26 @ Edmonton (9-4) 24

Roman Anderson kicked 6 field goals and a single as the Gold Miners defeated the Roughriders before 23,669 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Saskatchewan running back Mike Saunders scored the game's only touchdown on a 30-yard pass from Warren Jones late in the 1st half. Dave Ridgway converted and added 3 field goals, 2 in the 4th quarter after the Gold Miners had taken a 19-10 lead.

Lui Passaglia kicked a field goal with 11 seconds remaining in regulation time to give the Lions their win over the Eskimos before 23,187 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Mr. Passaglia's field goal was his fourth of the game. Sean Millington rushed 60 yards for the first B.C. touchdown, and quarterback Kent Austin rushed 1 yard for the Lions' other TD. Lucius Floyd scored the only Edmonton touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Damon Allen just 4:02 into the game. Sean Fleming converted and added 5 field goals, including one from 56 yards just before halftime. The other Edmonton points came on a safety touch when Mr. Passaglia was sacked in the end zone while trying to punt early in the 4th quarter. The game had been scheduled to be played on October 2, but had been moved up to accommodate the Rolling Stones concert several days hence.

10 years ago
2004

Died on this date
Jacques Levy, 69. U.S. psychologist, theatre director, and songwriter. Dr. Levy was a clinical psychologist and English professor who directed several Broadway plays in the 1960s and co-wrote songs with artists such as Bob Dylan. He co-wrote several songs on Mr. Dylan's album Blood on the Tracks (1975), including Hurricane and Mozambique.

War
Israeli soldiers battled with Palestinian terrorists in a refugee camp in Gaza. 3 Israelis and nearly 30 Palestinians were killed in the worst fighting in two years.

Terrorism
41 people, at least 34 of them children, were killed when two car bombs exploded at the opening of a sewer plant in Iraq.

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin asked Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson to extend her term by one year to September 2005, citing as his reason her potential role in a minority Parliament.

U.S. presidential candidates George W. Bush (Republican) and John Kerry (Democrat) engaged in their first of three debates, focusing on foreign affairs and the U.S. war in Iraq.

U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay (Republican--Texas) was rebuked by the House Ethics Committee for pressuring another representative to vote in favour of the Medicare bill.

Health
Merck & Company pulled Vioxx, its heavily-promoted arthritis drug, from the market after a study found that it doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes. This blogger was once prescribed Vioxx for treatment of plantar fasciatis; the pain disappeared, but after three days, I became violently ill on Christmas Day, and was unable to go out for dinner.

Science
The first images of a live giant squid in its natural habitat were taken 600 miles south of Tokyo.