April 22, 2015

125 years ago
1890

Baseball
The Philadelphia Athletics defeated the Syracuse Stars 17-6 in an American Association game at Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia. The teams combined for 21 stolen bases, 19 of them by the Athletics; both figures are major league records. Grant Briggs was the unfortunate Syracuse catcher.

100 years ago
1915

War
The use of poison gas in World War I escalated when German forces released poisonous chlorine (mustard) gas across the fields of Flanders towards French Algerian troops in the Second Battle of Ypres, opening a 6.5-kilometre gap. The Canadian 13th Battalion stood firm under heavy shelling, but many Canadians were gassed.

80 years ago
1935

Boxing
Joe Louis (19-0) knocked out Biff Bennett (11-14-1) at 1:15 of the 1st round of a heavyweight bout at Memorial Hall in Dayton, Ohio.

75 years ago
1940

War
U.S. Navy Rear Admiral J.K. Taussig said that unless the U.S.A. took a firm stand on the Philippines, the country would be drawn into a Pacific war. German forces introduced aerial blitzkrieg tactics to the fighting in Norway, raiding the city of Dombas. In an effort to maintain her neutrality, Sweden protested to Germany the flights of German bombers over her territory. Japanese bombers attacked Chungking, China. The Chinese Central News Agency reported military successes in the Chinese province of Kiangsi.

Medicine
Professor E.A. Doisy of St. Louis University reported the synthetic re-creation of Vitamin K, essential for prevention of hemorrhaging.

Law
The United States Supreme Court ruled that anti-picketing laws in California and Alabama were unconstitutional violations of free speech.

Labour
The United States House of Representatives approved the creation of an investigation committee to study the problems of migratory labour in the United States.

70 years ago
1945

War
The Canadian Army halted front operations in western Holland due to the need to feed the starving Dutch people, as their fields had been flooded and their barns looted by the retreating German troops. After learning that Soviet forces had taken Eberswalde without a fight, German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler admitted defeat in his underground bunker in Berlin and states that suicide was his only recourse. Soviet troops reportedly took 16 suburbs and 5 towns on the outskirts of Berlin. French troops captured Stuttgart and Sigmaringen, crossed the Danube River, and reached the Swiss border 20 miles west of Lake Constance.

Abominations
Prisoners at the Croatian-operated Jasenovac concentration camp in Slavonia revolted; 520 were killed and 80 escaped.

Diplomacy
Hundreds of delegates and advisers to the United Nations Conference on International Organization arrived in San Francisco and expressed hope and confidence in constructive results.

U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov arrived in Washington and conferred with U.S. President Harry Truman.

Journalism
The government of Argentina lifted its censorship on outgoing news.

Economics and finance
The government of India announced that it would take over development of major industries, such as automobile and steel production, if private capital was not available.

U.S. Stabilization Director William Davis announced a 10-point plan to give civilians more meat without raising ceiling prices.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Toronto 2 @ Detroit 1 (Toronto won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Babe Pratt's goal with 7:46 remaining in regulation time was the winner as the Maple Leafs edged the Red Wings at Olympia Stadium and avoided becoming the second team in Stanley Cup history to win the first 3 games of a series and lose the next 4. Three years earlier, the Red Wings had won the first 3 games of the finals against the Maple Leafs and lost the next 4.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Give Me Your Word--Tennessee Ernie Ford (7th week at #1)

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Ticket to Ride--The Beatles

Music
The Rolling Stones started their first North American tour at the Montreal Forum.

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

Phil Esposito scored a key goal for the Black Hawks in their win over the Canadiens at Chicago Stadium by deflecting the puck into th net with his right foot. Montreal goalie Gump Worsley claimed that Mr. Esposito had kicked the puck into the net: "And I'll tell you how I know he kicked it in. I was holding his stick under my arm at the time."

40 years ago
1975

World events
A military coup in Honduras ousted President Oswaldo Lopez Arellano because he had allegedly accepted a $1.25-million bribe from the U.S.-based United Brands Company.

Business
Robert B. Bryce headed a new Royal Commission on Corporate Concentration to examine corporate power and mergers in Canada.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Vancouver 4 @ Montreal 5 (OT) (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Chicago 1 @ Buffalo 3 (Buffalo won best-of-seven series 4-1)
New York Islanders 4 @ Pittsburgh 2 (Pittsburgh led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Guy Lafleur scored for Montreal at 17:06 of the 1st overtime period when Vancouver defenseman Denns Kearns deflected Mr. Lafleur's shot past goalie Gary Smith, giving the Canadiens the series win over the Canucks at the Montreal Forum.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
Semi-Finals
Minnesota 1 @ Quebec 4 (Quebec led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Basketball
NBA
Conference Semi-Finals
Boston 122 @ Houston 117 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Seattle 100 @ Golden State 124 (Golden State led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Dave Cowens scored 39 points and Don Chaney added 29 as the Celtics beat the Rockets before 10,218 fans at Hofheinz Pavilion. Calvin Murphy led Houston scorers with 35 points and Mike Newlin added 31.

Keith Wilkes scored 24 points and Rick Barry added 19 as the Warriors took a 32-17 lead after the 1st quarter and coasted to victory over the SuperSonics before 12,787 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena. No Seattle player scored more than 15 points.

ABA
Semi-Finals
Indiana 131 @ Denver 124 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Billy Knight scored 44 points to lead the Pacers over the Nuggets before 7,491 fans at Denver Auditorium Arena. Ralph Simpson led Denver scorers with 29 points.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): We are the World--USA for Africa (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Tokonatsu Musume--Kyōko Koizumi

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Ni Tú, Ni Nadie--Alaska y Dinarama (3rd week at #1)

Baseball
Kirby Puckett’s first major league home run--a three-run blast off Matt Young in the 4th inning--helped the Minnesota Twins to a 9-5 win over the Seattle Mariners before 10,200 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (3rd week at #1)

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

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (8th week at #1)
2 Ding Dong--Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung
3 The Power--Snap!
4 Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International
5 Pump ab das Bier--Werner
6 Das erste Mal tat's noch weh--Stefan Waggershausen & Viktor Lazlo
7 The Message is Love--Arthur Baker and the Backbeat Disciples featuring Al Green
8 Got to Get--Rob 'n' Raz featuring Leila K.
9 Dangerous--Roxette
10 Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic

Singles entering the chart were Jier kommt Kurt by Frank Zander (#15); Black Velvet by Alannah Myles (#20); Donna per amore by Al Bano & Romina Power (#22); and That Sounds Good to Me by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers (#26).

Died on this date
Albert Salmi, 62. U.S. actor. Mr. Salmi played character roles in numerous plays, movies, and television programs. He fatally shot his estranged second wife Roberta for no apparent reason and later shot himself to death.

World events
An estimated 200 million people participated in Earth Day observances on the 20th anniversary of the first Earth Day. Events were planned in 3,600 cities and towns in 140 countries. About 750,000 attended a rally and concert in Central Park in New York City. Although it was promoted as an event to express concern about the environment, in fact by 1990 it had become a promotional vehicle for the New Age movement, expressed as outright pagan nature worship. This blogger and fellow investigator Chris Milner attended the Edmonton celebration at Mayfair Park, and I noticed Albertans for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Vegetarians of Alberta, Citizens Organized for Animal Liberation, and Children of Gaia (whose banner, under their name, had the words "Worship the Earth") literally under the same roof in the same tent.

Diplomacy
Kidnappers in Lebanon released Robert Polhill, an American they had been holding hostage, after almost three years in captivity. He had been held with two other captives, and said that he had never seen the sun the whole time he had been in captivity. U.S. President George Bush said that if Iran wanted better relations with the U.S.A., it would have to use its influence with its Shiite allies in Lebanon to secure the release of the other hostages.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Edmonton 5 @ Los Angeles 4 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-0)
Chicago 4 @ St. Louis 5 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 2-1)

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Here's Johnny!--Hocus Pocus (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Sarajevo's børn - Gi dem et håb--Various artists (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Alice, Who the **** is Alice?--Gompie (title censored by blogger) (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Zombie--The Cranberries (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Zombie--The Cranberries (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Think Twice--Céline Dion (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Back for Good--Take That (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 This is How We Do It--Montell Jordan (2nd week at #1)
2 Red Light Special--TLC
3 Candy Rain--Soul for Real
4 Freak Like Me--Adina Howard
5 Run Away--Real McCoy
6 Take a Bow--Madonna
7 Big Poppa/Warning--The Notorious B.I.G.
8 I Know--Dionne Farris
9 Strong Enough--Sheryl Crow
10 Keep Their Heads Ringin'--Dr. Dre

Singles entering the chart were Baby it's You by the Beatles (#67); Freedom (Theme from Panther) by various artists (#72); Bedtime Story by Madonna (#74); Universal Heart-Beat by Juliana Hatfield (#85); Come On by Barry White (#87); Emotions by H-Town (#92); and Love the One You're With/Going in Circles by Luther Vandross (#95). Baby it's You was from an EP from the album Live at the BBC (1994). Freedom (Theme from Panther) was, as the title indicates, from the movie Panther (1995).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Know--Dionne Farris (2nd week at #1)
2 Red Light Special--TLC
3 Run Away--Real McCoy
4 This is How We Do It--Montell Jordan
5 Candy Rain--Soul for Real
6 I Believe--Blessid Union of Souls
7 Big Poppa/Warning--Notorious B.I.G.
8 Freak Like Me--Adina Howard
9 Tell Me When--The Human League
10 Hold On--Jamie Walters

Singles entering the chart were Water Runs Dry by Boyz II Men (#62); Give it 2 U by Da Brat (#64); It's Good to Be King by Tom Petty (#65); Rainy Days by General Public (#80); Someone to Love by Jon B featuring Babyface (#84); Freedom (Theme from Panther) by various artists (#89); and Lick It by Roula (#93).

Protest
Some of the 50,000 Hutu refugees in a camp at Kibeho, Rwanda attempted to break through a military cordon, and were attacked by soldiers using machine guns and grenades, resulting in heavy loss of life.

10 years ago
2005

Diplomacy
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi apologized for Japan's record in World War II.

Terrorism
Zacarias Moussaoui pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to conspiring with the September 11, 2001 hijackers to kill Americans (he was later sentenced to life in prison).