June 4, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Linda (Fortin) Gerritsen!

400 years ago
1615

War
Forces under shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu captured Osaka Castle in Japan.

130 years ago
1885

Baseball
The St. Louis Maroons beat the Buffalo Bisons 8-4 in the last game at Palace Park of America in St. Louis.

125 years ago
1890

Baseball
Tim Keefe gave up 8 hits, struck out 7, and made 4 errors in earning his 300th career major league victory as the New York Giants beat the Boston Reds 9-4 in a Players League game at Brotherhood Park in New York. The teams combined for 14 errors.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
George Wallace. Australian comedian. Mr. Wallace was one of Australia's most popular performers, with a career on stage, screen, and radio spanning almost 40 years, peaking in the 1930s. He appeared in trademark baggy trousers, checkered shirt and felt hat, playing a working-class character. Mr. Wallace died of chronic bronchitis and emphysema on October 19, 1960 at the age of 65.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Tony Venzon. U.S. baseball player and umpire. Mr. Venzon was a third baseman who played more than 200 games in 4 seasons in the minor leagues (1937-1940) befoer becoming an umpire. He worked in the minor leagues for 7 years (1950-1956) before moving up to the National League in 1957, umpiring 2,226 regular season games (1957-1971), plus 16 World Series games (1963, 1965, 1970) and 3 All-Star Games (1962, 1963, 1969). Mr. Venzon worked in 44 games at the beginning of the 1971 season, with his last game on May 25. He underwent open-heart surgery and was recovering, but complications required further surgery, after which he died on September 20, 1971 at the age of 56.

Modibo Keïta. 1st President of Mali, 1960-1968. Mr. Keïta, the leader of the Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally, was also a leader in the movement for African unity. As President, he moved Mali in the direction of socialism, imprisoning opponents and suspending the constitution, before being overthrown by a military coup and imprisoned in the northern Malian town of Kidal. Mr Keïta was transferred to the capital of Bamako in February 1977, ostensibly to prepare for his release as an act of national reconciliation, but he died on May 16, 1977 at the age of 62 while still a prisoner.

75 years ago
1940

War
Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King placed all Canadian military forces at the disposal of the British government. The Royal Air Force's 242 "Canadian" Squadron was posted to France. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced a "miracle of deliverance" as the last of the soldiers returned home from Dunkirk, France. 338,226 people were rescued in the 10-day flotilla known as Operation Dynamo. While admitting that the landing at Dunkirk had been a "colossal military disaster," Mr. Churchill told the House of Commons (and later, the nation), "We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender." French Vice Admiral Jean Marie Abrial left Dunkirk, officially concluding the Allied rescue effort. German planes bombed the French port of Le Havre. The Nationalist Chinese government claimed the recapture of Siangyang in the northern part of the province of Hupeh.



Defense
The United States Senate approved the House of Representatives version of a Navy bill calling for 10,000 airplanes and 16,000 aviators. Assistant U.S. Secretary of War Louis Johnson told a group of 1,200 business executives that it would take two years until the defense program was fully prepared.

Politics and government
Oren Root, Jr., originator of the Willkie-for-President movement, claimed that New York lawyer Wendell Willkie would receive the Republican Party's nomination as its 1940 candidate for President of the United States on the second ballot at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia later in the month.

Economics and finance
The U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee voted to increase the national debt limit by $4 billion and new tax measures by $1 billion.

Baseball
Before 20,310 fans, the Pittsburgh Pirates routed the Boston Bees 14-2 in the first night game at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

Pete Coscarart’s 3-run home run was the big blow in a 5-run 1st inning as the Brooklyn Dodgers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-1 before 23,500 fans at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis in the Cardinals’ first night game at home. Joe Medwick batted 5 for 5 for the Cardinals.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Sentimental Journey--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day)
--Hal McIntyre and his Orchestra
2 Laura--Johnnie Johnston
--Woody Herman and his Orchestra
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
--Dick Haymes
3 My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day)
--Johnny Long and his Orchestra and Dick Robertson
--Phil Moore Four
4 There! I've Said it Again--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra (vocal refrain by Vaughn Monroe and the Norton Sisters)
--Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra
5 Candy--Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
--Johnny Long and his Orchestra and Dick Robertson
6 Dream--The Pied Pipers
--Frank Sinatra
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
7 Bell Bottom Trousers--Tony Pastor and his Orchestra
--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
--Louis Prima and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
8 Caldonia--Woody Herman and his Orchestra
--Louis Jordan and the Tympany Five
--Erskine Hawkins and his Orchestra
9 The More I See You--Dick Haymes
--Harry James and his Orchestra
10 I Wish I Knew--Dick Haymes

Singles entering the chart were the version of Laura by Dick Haymes; the version of Bell Bottom Trousers by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians; Baia by Bing Crosby and Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra (#38); and In Acapulco by Carmen Cavallaro and his Orchestra (#39). Baia was the other side of You Belong to My Heart, charting at #12.

War
U.S. troops reached the southwest corner of Okinawa and on the west made an amphibious crossing of Naha harbour to seize half of the airfield there.

Law
The United Nations War Crimes Commission ended its London meeting promising "harmony and reciprocal help" among national offices investigating Axis war crimes during World War II.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. voided Postmaster General Frank Walker's revocation of Esquire magazine's second-class mailing privileges because of the alleged impropriety of some of its contents.

Diplomacy
The U.S.A. and U.K. appealed directly to U.S.S.R. dictator Josef Stalin on the issue of the Big Five powers--U.S.A.; U.S.S.R.; U.K.; France; and China having veto power in the United Nations.

Labour
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Office of Price Administration's method of determining maximum prices for building materials and other durable goods.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Melody of Love--The Four Aces; Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Stranger in Paradise--Tony Bennett (5th week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White--Perez Prado and his Orchestra (Best Seller--6th week at #1; Jukebox--1st week at #1); Unchained Melody--Les Baxter and his Orchestra (Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Unchained Melody--Les Baxter and his Orchestra (3rd week at #1)
--Al Hibbler
--Roy Hamilton
2 Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White--Perez Prado and his Orchestra
--Alan Dale
3 The Ballad of Davy Crockett--Bill Hayes
--Fess Parker
--Tennessee Ernie Ford
4 Dance with Me Henry (Wallflower)--Georgia Gibbs
5 (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock--Bill Haley and his Comets
6 A Blossom Fell--Nat "King" Cole
7 Honey-Babe--Art Mooney and his Orchestra
8 Whatever Lola Wants--Sarah Vaughan
9 The Breeze and I (Andalucia)--Caterina Valente
10 Don't Be Angry--The Crew-Cuts
--Nappy Brown

Singles entering the chart were Hard to Get by Gisele MacKenzie (#41); Two Lost Souls by Perry Como and Jaye P. Morgan (#45); I'll Never Stop Loving You by Doris Day (#46); Have You Ever Been Lonely (Have You Ever Been Blue) by Karen Chandler (#47); Blue Star (The “Medic” Theme) by Felicia Sanders (#48); and Good-Bye by Bob Manning (#50). Two Lost Souls was the B-side (or maybe the A-side) of Chee Chee-Oo Chee (Sang the Little Bird), charting at #28. Blue Star was a vocal version of the tune that had recently been an instrumental hit for Victor Young and his Orchestra and Les Baxter and his Orchestra.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Crying in the Chapel--Elvis Presley (3rd week at #1)
2 Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte--Patti Page
3 Help Me, Rhonda--The Beach Boys
4 Voodoo Woman--Bobby Goldsboro
5 Engine Engine #9--Roger Miller
6 Wooly Bully--Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
7 Concrete and Clay--Unit Four Plus Two
8 Ticket to Ride--The Beatles
9 Wonderful World--Herman's Hermits
10 Mr. Tambourine Man--The Byrds
Pick hit of the week: Cara, Mia--Jay & the Americans
New this week: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction--The Rolling Stones
Just Dance on By--Eydie Gorme
Come Out Dancin'--Rick Nelson
Come on Down--Wes Dakus

Died on this date
Andy Kjeldgaard, 77; Glenn Hendrickson, 59; Lois Hothan, 35. U.S. murder victims. Mr. Kjeldgaard was president of Farmers State Bank in Big Springs, Nebraska; Mr. Hendrickson was a cashier, and Ms. Hothan a bookkeeper. They were shot and killed by Duane Pope, 22, who was attempting to rob the bank. Mr. Pope also shot Franklin Kjeldgaard, 25, who survived, but was paralyzed for life. Mr. Pope was originally sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

Music
The EP Beatles for Sale No. 2 was released on Parlophone Records in the United Kingdom and Australia. It contained the songs I'll Follow the Sun; Baby's in Black; Words of Love; and I Don't Want to Spoil the Party.

Politics and government
Attorney General Claude Wagner was sworn in as Quebec's first Minister of Justice, in the Liberal government of Premier Jean Lesage.

40 years ago
1975

At the movies
Posse, co-produced and directed by Kirk Douglas, and starring Mr. Douglas and Bruce Dern, received its premiere screening in New York City.



Politics and government
The Finnish four-party coalition government of Prime Minister Kalevi Sorsa fell because of disagreement over how to solve inflation and other economic problems. Parliamentary elections were called for September 21-22, 1975.

Business
The New Brunswick Supreme Court overturned monopoly convictions against K.C. Irving Ltd. and others.

Labour
California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, the first law in the U.S. giving farm workers collective bargaining rights.

Baseball
Catcher Danny Goodwin was the first player selected in the major league free agent draft, chosen by the California Angels. Mr. Goodwin became the first--and so far,only--player to be the number one choice in two different years of the draft. He had been chosen by the Chicago White Sox as the first overall choice in 1971, but hadn't signed with them, electing to attend Southern University instead. He obtained a degree in zoology while batting .394 with 20 home runs and 169 runs batted in in 166 games with Southern.

The Texas Rangers traded center fielder Willie Davis to the St. Louis Cardinals for shortstop Ed Brinkman and pitcher Tommy Moore. Mr. Davis, who had been acquired from the Montreal Expos in a trade after the 1974 season, was batting .249 with 5 home runs, 17 runs batted in, and 13 stolen bases in 42 games with Texas. Mr. Brinkman, who had been traded from the Detroit Tigers to the San Diego Padres after the 1974 season and then to the Cardinals a month later, was batting .240 with 1 home run and 6 runs batted in in 28 games with St. Louis. Mr. Moore had pitched in 10 games with the Cardinals in 1975, all in relief, and had a record of 0-0 with an earned run average of 3.79. He was assigned to the Spokane Indians of the AAA Pacific Coast League.

Blue Moon Odom, in his only start in a Cleveland uniform, pitched a 2-hit shutout for his first win of the season as the Indians blanked the Kansas City Royals 4-0 before 4,348 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Mr. Odom had been acquired from the Oakland Athletics on May 22 and had appeared twice in relief with the Indians, while requesting a trade. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves three days later.

The Boston Red Sox scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Chicago White Sox 7-6 before 12,366 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The 9th-inning rally included hits by pinch hitters Bernie Carbo, Tim McCarver, and Cecil Cooper.

Ed Figueroa allowed just 5 singles as he pitched a complete game to lead the California Angels over the Detroit Tigers 2-1 before 8,411 fans at Anaheim Stadium in a game that was over in 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Glenn Adams hit 2 of the San Francisco Giants' 5 home runs as they scored all their runs in the last 4 innings, defeating the Chicago Cubs 10-8 before 9,126 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

The Los Angeles Dodgers scored 3 runs in the 5th inning without getting a hit, and Andy Messersmith pitched an 8-hit shutout to improve his 1975 record to 8-2 as the Dodgers blanked the Montreal Expos 3-0 before 13,958 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Losing pitcher Dennis Blair hit a batter and walked 2 others, and made 2 wild pitches in the 5th inning, while second baseman Larry Lintz dropped a throw for what should have been a force out, prolonging the inning. The only Los Angeles hits were singles by Willie Crawford and Ron Cey in the 8th inning off Don DeMola, the third Montreal pitcher of the game.

30 years ago
1985

Academia
Michael Martin was among those graduating from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and this blogger was pleased to be one of his guests attending the ceremony at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling striking down an Alabama law providing for a daily minute of silence in public schools.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Pure Gold--Eikichi Yazawa

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Verdammt, Ich Lieb' Dich--Matthias Reim (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Janet Adkins. U.S. assisted-suicide case. Mrs. Adkins, who had Alzheimer’s disease, had come to the Detroit area, where Dr. Jack Kevorkian injected a fatal dose of drugs into her bloodstream. Michigan had no law prohibiting doctor-assisted suicide, but the American Medical Association’s code of ethics prohibited doctors from helping their patients to die. Mrs. Adkins’ husband supported his wife’s decision.

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev flew to California, where he and his wife Raisa visited with former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy. Mr. Gorbachev addressed 1,700 students at Stanford University, saying, "The cold war is now behind us. Let us not wrangle over who won it." Mr. Gorbachev also met with South Korean President Roh Tae Woo in San Francisco; Mr. Roh later said that Russia and South Korea would normalize relations.

Protest
Violent clashes began in Osh, in the Soviet republic of Kirghizia, between Uzbeks and Kirghiz citizens. The dispute was over a proposed allocation of a large plot of land for housing for the Kirghiz. Thousands of Uzbeks rioted, and Soviet troops were sent to the area.

Politics and government
Canada’s provincial premiers began a conference with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in Ottawa in an attempt to save the Meech Lake Canadian constitutional accord.

Crime
Daniel Maston was charged in Moncton, New Brunswick with spiking a lunch room cooler with radioactive heavy water, exposing eight co-workers to high radiation when they drank the water.

Scandal
The trial of Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry began. He faced 11 misdemeanour counts relating to cocaine and 3 felony counts of lying to a grand jury.

Baseball
In the annual major league free agent draft, the first player picked was high school shortstop Chipper Jones, taken by the Atlanta Braves. The next two players taken were outfielder Tony Clark (Detroit Tigers) and catcher Mike Lieberthal (Philadelphia Phillies). Mike Mussina was the 20th player taken, drafted by the Baltimore Orioles. The New York Yankees drafted outfielder Carl Everett 10th overall, but had even better success in the later rounds, choosing pitcher Andy Pettitte (20th round); catcher Jorge Posada (24th); and outfielder Shane Spencer (25th).

Ramon Martinez tied Sandy Koufax’s team record for a single game as he struck out 18 batters in pitching the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-0 win over the Atlanta Braves before 22,098 fans at Dodger Stadium.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: I'll Be Around--Rappin' 4-Tay (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Shut Up (and Sleep with Me)--Sin with Sebastian (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)--Scatman John (6th week at #1)

Auto racing
CART
Paul Tracy won the Miller Genuine Draft 200 at the Milwaukee Mile.

10 years ago
2005

Auto racing
CART
Paul Tracy won the Time Warner Cable Roadrunner 225 at the Milwaukee Mile. A.J. Allmendinger finished second, and Oriol Servia was third.



Hockey
AHL
Calder Cup
Finals
Philadelphia 2 @ Chicago 1 (2 OT) (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 2-0)