October 9, 2008

1,240 years ago
768

Europeana
Carloman I and Charlemagne were crowned Kings of the Franks.

770 years ago
1238

War
King James I of Aragon conquered Valencia and founded the Kingdom of Valencia.

300 years ago
1708

War
Russian forces led by Czar Peter I defeated Swedish forces commanded by Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt in the Battle of Lesnaya on the Russian–Polish border in what is now Belarus.

200 years ago
1808

Died on this date
John Claiborne, 31. U.S.politician. Dr. Claiborne, a physician and a Democratic-Republican, represented Virginia's 17th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1805 until his death.

120 years ago
1888

Born on this date
Nikolai Bukharin. U.S.S.R. politician. Mr. Bukharin was a member of the Politburo (1924–1929) and Central Committee (1917–1937), general secretary of the Executive Committee of the Communist International (Comintern) (1926–1929). Initially a supporter of Josef Stalin, Mr. Bukharin later got on the dicatator's bad side and became one of the best-known victims of Mr. Stalin's purges, being executed in Moscow on March 15, 1938 at the age of 49.

Irving Cummings. U.S. movie actor and director. Born Irving Caminsky, Mr. Cummings acted in silent movies such as Sex (1920) and The Saphead (1920) and directed such films as The Johnstown Flood (1926); In Old Arizona (1928); Behind That Curtain (1929); and The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939). He died on April 18, 1959 at the age of 70.

Americana
The Washington Monument officially opened to the general public.

100 years ago
1908

Born on this date
Werner von Haeften. German military officer. Oberleutnant Haeften was an adjutant to Oberst Claus von Stauffenberg, and participated with him in the July 20, 1944 assassination attempt against German Fuehrere Adolf Hitler. Mr. Hitler survived, and Oberleutnant Haeften was one of the conspirators arrested. He was shot to death shortly after midnight on July 21, 1944 at the age of 35.

Lee Wiley. U.S. singer. Miss Wiley was a jazz singer who was popular from the 1930s through the 1950s, performing on her own and with bandleaders such as Leo Reisman and Paul Whiteman. She died of colon cancer on December 11, 1975 at the age of 67.

90 years ago
1918

War
General Sir Arthur Currie led the Canadian Corps and some British divisions in the capture of Cambrai, the hub of Germany's Hindenberg Line defensive system on the British front in France.

Europeana
The Finnish Parliament elected Prince Friedrich Karl von Hessen--brother-in-law of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany-- the throne of the short-lived Kingdom of Finland.

80 years ago
1928

Abominations
Reports from the Christian mission in Kansu Province in western China indicated that more than 200,000 people had been slain in an uprising of Muslims there.

Diplomacy
An agreement between France and the Nationalist government of China was signed, settling the 1927 anti-foreign incident in Nanking, as far as it concerned French citizens.

Politics and government
The New Jersey Legislature passed, over Governor A. Harry Moore's vetoes, three bills designed to "bring about honest elections in Hudson County."

Business
Details were announced of the merger by which Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc., Vitaphone Corporation, Stanley Company of America and First National Pictures, Inc. were brought into one group.

The Van Sweringen brothers announced the purchase of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh railroad.

Disasters
100 people were buried in the collapse of a new 7-storey building in Prague.

Baseball
World Series
New York Yankees 7 @ St. Louis Cardinals 3 (New York won best-of-seven series 4-0)

Babe Ruth tied his own World Series record fo a single game by hitting 3 home runs, and Lou Gehrig added another to help the Yankees complete an easy sweep of the Cardinals before 37,331 fans at Sportsman's Park. Mr. Ruth batted .625 for the Series with 3 home runs and 4 runs batted in, while Mr. Gehrig hit .545 with 4 homers and 9 RBIs.

70 years ago
1938

Transportation
The St. Clair River Bridge from Point Edward, Ontario to Port Huron, Michigan officially opened.

Baseball
World Series
Chicago Cubs 3 @ New York Yankees 8 (New York won best-of-seven series 4-0)

The Yankees scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning to take a 3-0 lead and led 4-1 after 7 innings, but the Cubs reduced the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the 8th on Ken O'Dea's 2-run home run before the Yankees erupted for 4 runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game away before 59,847 fans at Yankee Stadium, becoming the first team to win three straight World Series. New York shortstop Frank Crosetti hit a double and triple in 5 at bats and batted in 4 runs. The only Yankee home run was by right fielder Tommy Henrich, whose solo homer in the 6th gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead. It was the final World Series game for New York first baseman Lou Gehrig, who hit a single and scored a run in 4 at bats. In 4 games, he batted .286 (4 for 14), with all his hits being singles. Red Ruffing gave up 8 hits in pitching a complete game for his second win of the series, while Chicago starter Bill Lee lasted just 3 innings and was charged with his second loss of the series.





60 years ago
1948

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): A Tree in the Meadow--Margaret Whiting

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 A Tree in the Meadow--Margaret Whiting (3rd week at #1)
2 It's Magic--Doris Day
--Dick Haymes and Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
--Tony Martin
--Gordon MacRae
3 Twelfth Street Rag--Pee Wee Hunt and his Orchestra
4 You Call Everybody Darlin'--Al Trace and the Revelers
--The Andrews Sisters
--Jack Smith and the Clark Sisters
--Anne Vincent
5 My Happiness--The Pied Pipers
--Ella Fitzgerald
--Jon and Sondra Steele
6 Cool Water--Vaughn Monroe and the Sons of the Pioneers
7 Maybe You'll Be There--Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
8 Underneath the Arches--Primo Scala’s Banjo and Accordian Orchestra with the Keynotes
--The Andrews Sisters
9 Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue--Gordon MacRae and the Starlighters
--Jerry Murad's Harmonicats
--Jack Emerson
10 Until--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were Rendezvous with a Rose, with versions by Buddy Clark; and the Pied Pipers (#20); Lillette, with versions by Vic Damone; and the King Cole Trio (#21); That Certain Party by Benny Strong and his Orchestra (#23); and Kiss Me Again by Frank Sinatra (#27).

Defense
The U.S. Navy announced the conversion of the seaplane tender Norton Sound into a seagoing rocket launcher, the first ship specially equipped for this task.

Politics and government
U.K. Leader of the Opposition Winston Churchill told the Conservative Party's annual conference in Llandudno, Wales that the West should "bring matters to a head" with the U.S.S.R. while the Soviets still lacked an atomic bomb. British leaders concluded a 10-day conference with political leaders from British Africa after agreeing on common action against Communist and increased British aid for Africa.

Football
CRU
IRFU
Montreal (3-4) 7 @ Ottawa (6-1) 17
Hamilton (1-6) 7 @ Toronto (4-3) 9

WIFU
Winnipeg (3-6) 3 @ Calgary (9-0) 35

Normie Hill and Paul Rowe each scored 2 touchdowns, with Keith Spaith and Cliff Kliewer scoring 1 each, as the Stampeders routed the Blue Bombers at Mewata Stadium. Bill Wusyk (3) and Fred Wilmot (2) converted the TDs. Don Hiney drop-kicked a field goal for the Blue Bombers.

Baseball
World Series
Boston Braves 1 @ Cleveland Indians 2 (Cleveland led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Larry Doby's solo home run in the bottom of the 3rd inning proved to be the deciding run as the Indians edged the Braves before a World Series record crowd of 81,897 at Municipal Stadium. Steve Gromek pitched a 7-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Johnny Sain. Marv Rickert broke up Mr. Gromek's bid for a shutout with a home run to lead off the 7th.





50 years ago
1958

On television tonight
The Unforeseen, on CBC
Tonight's episode: Master Used-to-Be

Died on this date
Pius XII, 82. Roman Catholic Pope, 1939-1958. Pius XII, born Eugenio Pacelli, was ordained a priest in 1899, and served in diplomatic positions on behalf of the Vatican in the 1920s, and was named Cardinal Secretary of State in 1930. He signed concordats with various countries, including Germany in 1933, although he was critical of the Nazis. The Vatican was officially neutral during World War II, but Pope Pius XII maintained links to the German resistance; his record during the war remains the subject of controversy. He was known for his opposition to Communism, and issued a decree excommunicating Catholics who professed Communist doctrine. On November 1, 1950, Pius XII defined the bodily assumption of Mary into heaven; it remains the only time in which a pope has invoked the doctrine of papal infallibility in proclaiming dogma. Pope Pius XII died of heart failure, and was succeeded by John XXIII.

Diplomacy
The U.S.A., in a note to the U.S.S.R., agreed to begin talks on the prevention of a surprise nuclear attack, but called for expansion of the conference to include the U.K., France, Italy, Canada, and other Western nations.

The U.S. State Department announced that Ambassador Jacob Beam had been instructed to press for a continuation of the Quemoy cease-fire in his Warsaw meetings with Communist Chinese Ambassador Wang Pingnan.

World events
Seven Nigerians were sentenced to death for involvement in political riots in Ibadan early in 1958.

Journalism
The Inter-American Press Association's 14th annual assembly unanimously approved a Freedom of the Press Committee report assailing lack of press freedom in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Paraguay.

Football
WCIAU
University of Alberta intrasquad game
Red 20 White 7

Gerrie Hood scored 2 touchdowns and Errol Royer added another as the Reds beat the Whites before only about 25 fans on the grounds next to Corbett Hall in Edmonton. Dick McBride passed to Ron Nolan for the White touchdown late in the game, which was the only action for the Golden Bears, who were preparing to re-enter competition in 1959 after an 11-year absence.

Baseball
World Series
New York Yankees 6 @ Milwaukee Braves 2 (New York won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Bill Skowron's 3-run home run climaxed a 4-run rally that began with 2 out and nobody on base in the top of the 8th inning, breaking a 2-2 tie as the Yankees won before 46,367 fans at County Stadium to become the second team, after the 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates, to come back from a 3-1 deficit in games to win the World Series. Bob Turley picked up his second win of the Series, to go with a save.







40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin (3rd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Hey Jude/Revolution--The Beatles
2 Harper Valley P.T.A.--Jeannie C. Riley
3 Help Yourself--Tom Jones
4 I've Gotta Get a Message to You/Kitty Can--The Bee Gees
5 Do it Again--The Beach Boys
6 Classical Gas--Mason Williams
7 Dream a Little Dream of Me--Mama Cass
8 1,2,3, Red Light--1910 Fruitgum Company
9 MacArthur Park--Richard Harris
10 People Got to Be Free--The Rascals

Singles entering the chart were Mary, Mary/What am I Doin' Hangin' Round by the Monkees (#19); Those were the Days by Mary Hopkin (#20); Over You by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (#32); Cinnamon by Derek (#35); and Little Arrows by Leapy Lee (#38).

At the movies
Finian's Rainbow, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Fred Astaire, Petula Clark, and Tommy Steele, opened in theatres.



Defense
U.S. President Lyndon Johnson directed State Secretary Dean Rusk to negotiate with Israel on its request to buy U.S. jet fighter-bombers. Mr. Johnson's directive was in line with a Foreign Aid Authorization Act amendment urging the U.S. to sell planes to Israel to prevent "future Arab aggression by offsetting sophisticated weapons received by the Arab states (from the U.S.S.R.) and to replace losses suffered by Israel in the 1967 conflict."

Politics and government
U.K. Prime Minister Harold Wilson and Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith met aboard the British warship Fearless in Gibraltar harbour to begin four days of talks on the issue of black majority rule in Rhodesia.

Academia
Acadia University set up the Canada-Commonwealth Caribbean Centre to study matters of interest to Canada and Commonwealth Caribbean nations.

Disasters
10 people were killed and 20 injured when fire swept through the Hotel Metzerbrau in Zurich.

Football
CFL
Montreal (3-7) 10 @ Calgary (9-3) 26

Peter Liske completed 17 of 29 passes and connected for touchdowns to Ted Woods, Gerry Shaw, and Herm Harrison to lead the Stampeders over the Alouettes before 18,450 fans at McMahon Stadium.

Baseball
World Series
Detroit Tigers 13 @ St. Louis Cardinals 1 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

The Tigers tied a World Series record set by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1929 when they erupted for 10 runs in an inning--the 3rd--as they routed the Cardinals before 54,692 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium. Jim Northrup's grand slam highlighted the big inning. Denny McLain pitched a 9-hit complete game for his only win of the Series.







30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Are You Old Enough--Dragon

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kimi no Hitomi wa 10,000 Volt--Takao Horiuchi (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

Died on this date
Jacques Brel, 49. Belgian musician and actor. Mr. Brel was a singer-songwriter who was known for his emotional performances in the 1950s and '60s. He concentrated on acting in later years, appearing in 10 movies. Mr. Brel died of a pulmonary embolism after a long battle with lung cancer.

Defense
The United States reopened four installations in Turkey that were of strategic importance for monitoring Soviet military activity. The installations had been closed by Turkey in 1975 in retaliation for a U.S. embargo on arms sales to Turkey, but the U.S. Congress repealed the embargo on September 26, 1978, so Turkey permitted the reopening of the installations.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (9-3) 5 @ Hamilton (4-7-1) 25
British Columbia (4-7-2) 15 @ Edmonton (9-2-2) 3

Ike Thomas, playing his first game in a Hamilton uniform after being released by the Toronto Argonauts, blocked a punt and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring in the 1st quarter, and later intercepted a pass to help the Tiger-Cats beat the Rough Riders before 25,712 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

John Beaton's interception late in the 1st quarter set up a 3-yard touchdown pass from Jerry Tagge to Larry Key on the first play of the 2nd quarter as the Lions beat the Eskimos before 42,673 fans, handing the Eskimos their first loss ever at Commonwealth Stadium. Late in the 4th quarter, Edmonton quarterback Warren Moon completed a pass to Brian Fryer for 56 yards to the B.C. 23-yard line, but the Eskimos were stopped on a third-down gamble from the 14. It was the last time the Eskimos were held without a touchdown, including post-season games, until a 17-6 loss to the Montreal Alouettes on August 7, 1976 ended their touchdown streak at 133 games. This was running back Larry Washington's last regular season game in an Edmonton uniform; the Eskimos made just two roster changes in the first 13 games of 1978.

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: I Like Chopin--Gazebo (4th week at #1)

Terrorism
South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan survived an assassination attempt during an official visit to Rangoon, Burma when a bomb exploded during a wreath-laying ceremony. Mr. Chun survived because his arrival had been delayed by traffic, but the blast killed 17 members of his entourage, including four cabinet ministers, and injured 17 others. Four Burmese officials also die in the blast.

Politics and government
U.S. Interior Secretary James Watt, whose pro-development policies and verbal gaffes had made him a lightning rod for criticism, announced his intention to resign. President Ronald Reagan "reluctantly accepted" his resignation.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (7-6) 15 @ Toronto (10-3) 19
Montreal (3-9) 40 @ Saskatchewan (3-10) 23

Joe Barnes threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Terry Greer with 7:07 remaining in the game to give the Argonauts their win over the Eskimos before 37,746 fans at Exhibition Stadium. Cedric Minter rushed 14 yards for the other Toronto TD in the 2nd quarter. The Eskimos scored their only touchdown on the opening possession of the 2nd half. Warren Moon passed for 49 yards to Tom Scott, 16 to Brian Kelly, and 14 to Waddell Smith for the touchdown at 3:30 of the 3rd quarter. It was Mr. Smith's only reception of the day and his last in the CFL; he went on the injured list after this game and never played another regular season or post-season game. It was the first CFL game for Edmonton cornerback Mike Durden, replacing injured Larry Highbaugh. Slotback Peter Eshenko, who had missed the first 12 games because of a neck injury, played his first regular season game as an Eskimo, and took a costly penalty for unnecessary roughness while playing on special teams. It was the only game in a Toronto uniform for former Saskatchewan Roughriders' quarterback Joe Adams, who dressed as Mr. Barnes' backup in place of injured Condredge Holloway.



Defensive back Harry Skipper blocked the first 2 punts of the game, producing 10 points, as the Concordes defeated the Roughriders before 23,749 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Dave Badowich was making his CFL debut as a punter, but had his first punt blocked by Mr. Skipper and recovered in the Saskatchewan end zone for a touchdown by defensive back Vince Phason, while the second blocked punt led to a 22-yard field goal by Don Sweet to give Montreal a 10-0 lead just 4:20 into the game. Slotback Ron Robinson, recently cut by the Roughriders, caught 8 passes for 138 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown reception from Montreal quarterback Johnny Evans with 18 seconds remaining in the 1st half. Montreal running back Denny Ferdinand rushed 16 times for 97 yards and 2 4th-quarter touchdowns. Homer Jordan started at quarterback for the Roughriders, throwing to Stew Fraser for a touchdown and rushing for another TD himself. Backup quarterback Nickie Hall, acquired five days earlier from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with wide receiver Nate Johnson in a trade for quarterback John Hufnagel and slotback Jerome Erdman, completed both of his passes for 19 yards. Mr. Johnson had kickoff returns of 77 and 75 yards, but lost a fumble after catching a pass in the 4th quarter, which was recovered by Mr. Skipper, leading to Mr. Ferdinand's first touchdown.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Nobody Else--Tex Pistol featuring Rikki Morris

#1 single in Switzerland: Hand in Hand--Koreana (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Felix Wankel, 86. German engineer. Mr. Wankel invented the Wankel rotary engine, which was first publicly demonstrated in 1960.

Protest
Thousands of Latvians gathered at a conference in Riga to press the Soviet government for greater Latvian independence from the U.S.S.R.

Football
CFL
Calgary (5-9) 17 @ Saskatchewan (9-5) 47

Tom Burgess passed for 3 touchdowns and rushed for another, while Dave Ridgway added 6 field goals to help the Roughriders rout the Stampeders before 23,224 fans at Taylor Field in Regina.



CIAU
Alberta (0-6) 28 @ Saskatchewan (5-1) 33

Quarterback Greg Galan rushed 38 yards for a touchdown and Mike Lazecki kicked a 52-yard field goal for the Huskies in the 4th quarter as they rallied from a 22-20 deficit to defeat the Golden Bears at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon. Alberta running back Tom Houg rushed 28 times for 175 yards.

Baseball
American League Championship Series
Boston 1 @ Oakland 4 (Oakland won best-of-seven series 4-0)

Dave Stewart and Dennis Eckersley combined to pitch a 4-hitter as the Athletics eliminated the Red Sox before 49,406 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mr. Eckersley got his fourth save in as many games in the Series.



National League Championship Series
Los Angeles 5 @ New York 4 (12 innings) (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Mike Scioscia hit a 2-run home run off Dwight Gooden in the 9th inning to tie the score, and Kirk Gibson hit a solo home run off Roger McDowell with 2 out in the top of the 12th to break a 4-4 tie as the Dodgers edged the Mets before 54,014 fans at Shea Stadium. When the Mets loaded the bases against relief pitcher Jesse Orosco in the bottom of the 12th, Los Angeles manager Tom Lasorda summoned Orel Hershiser, who had pitched the first 7 innings of the previous day's game, from the bullpen, and he retired Kevin McReynolds on a fly ball to center field to end the game.



10 years ago
1998

At the movies
The Mighty, directed by Peter Chelsom, and starring Sharon Stone and Kieran Culkin, opened in theatres.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (5-10) 14 @ British Columbia (6-9) 31

Damon Allen threw 2 touchdown passes in the 2nd half and Juan Johnson rushed for 153 yards to help the Lions defeat the Roughriders before 22,465 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.

Baseball
American League Championship Series
New York 1 @ Cleveland 6 (Cleveland led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, and Mark Whiten hit home runs with 2 out in the 5th inning to help the Indians defeat the Yankees before 44,904 fans at Jacobs Field. Mr. Thome had already homered in the 2nd inning.