Friday 7 August 2009

August 9, 2009

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Kavita Duggal!

140 years ago
1869


Born on this date
Annie Malone
. U.S. businesswoman. Mrs. Malone was one of the first Negro women in America to become a millionairess, making hair and beauty products for Negro women. She died on May 10, 1957 at the age of 87.

130 years ago
1879


Canadiana
Governor General of Canada the Marquis of Lorne and his wife Princess Louise were entertained at Old Government House in Fredericton by New Brunswick Lieutenant-Governor Edward B. Chandler.

120 years ago
1889

Baseball

Hugh Duffy hit 2 inside-the-park home runs to lead the Chicago White Stockings to a 9-0 win over the Boston Beaneaters at West Side Park in Chicago.

110 years ago
1899


Born on this date
P.L. Travers
. Australian-born U.K. authoress. Pamela Lyndon Travers, born Helen Lyndon Goff, moved to England at the age of 25. She was known for writing the novel Mary Poppins (1934) and various sequels through 1988. Miss Travers died on April 23, 1996 at the age of 96.

Baseball
The Pittsburgh Pirates scored 7 runs in the top of the 9th inning to take a 13-8 lead, but the Philadelphia Phillies scored 6 in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Pirates 14-13 at National League Park in Philadelphia. Ginger Beaumont had a single, double, and 3 triples for the Pirates.

The Cincinnati Reds, trailing 11-7, scored 7 runs with 2 out in the 8th inning and hung on to beat the Brooklyn Superbas 14-13 at Washington Park in Brooklyn.

90 years ago
1919


Literature
This date's issue of All-Story Weekly contained the first of five chapters of the novel The Curse of Capistrano by Johnston McCulley, marking the first appearance of the character known as Zorro.

Died on this date
Ernst Haeckel, 85
. German zoologist, naturalist, and eugenicist. Dr. Haeckel discovered, described and named thousands of new species, mapped a genealogical tree relating all life forms, and connected many terms in biology, including ecology, phylum, and phylogeny, but was primarily known for promoting and popularizing in Germany Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Dr. Haeckel was especially known for advocating the recapitulation theory--summed up by the phrase "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny"--which postulates that the development of the embryo of an animal, from fertilization to gestation or hatching (ontogeny), goes through stages resembling or representing successive adult stages in the evolution of the animal's remote ancestors (phylogeny). Dr. Haeckel published embryological drawings in support of the recapitulation theory which were heavily criticized by fellow academics as inaccurate. His work and views influenced the optimistic nationalism of the German Empire.

Ruggero Leoncavallo, 62. Italian composer. Mr. Leoncavallo was an opera composer and librettist, best known for Pagliacci (1892).

Baseball
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded outfielder Casey Stengel to the Philadelphia Phillies for outfielder Possum Whitted. Mr. Stengel was batting .293 with 4 home runs and 43 runs batted in in 89 games with Pittsburgh in 1919, while Mr. Whitted was batting .249 with 3 homers and 32 RBIs in 78 games with Philadelphia. The trade ended Mr. Stengel's major league season; he refused to report to the Phillies unless he were given a raise in pay, and none was forthcoming.

80 years ago
1929

Baseball

The Chicago Cubs scored 3 runs in the 1st inning, 4 in the 3rd, and 5 in the 9th as they beat the Philadelphia Phillies 12-6 at National League Park in Philadelphia. Riggs Stephenson batted 3 for 4 with a home run, 2 runs, and 4 runs batted in. Guy Bush (16-1) won his 11th straight decision.

75 years ago
1934

Baseball

The Boston Red Sox routed the Philadelphia Athletics 15-2 in a game called after 5 innings because of rain.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio

A Book at Bedtime, read by Laidman Browne, on BBC Light Programme
Tonight's episode: The Speckled Band, Part 2

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

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Crater

Died on this date
Edward L. Thorndike, 74
. U.S. psychologist. Dr. Thorndike taught at Columbia University Teachers College, and helped to lay a scientific foundation for educational psychology, as well as influencing industrial psychology. He was perhaps best known for devising the "law of effect," which states that "responses that produce a satisfying effect in a particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation, and responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again in that situation." Dr. Thorndike died 22 days before his 75th birthday.

Labour
Hawaii Governor Ingram Stainback ordered the seizure of shipping firms as the territorial government began recruiting non-union dock workers in an effort to break the five-month strike of Congress of Industrial Organizations longshoremen.

Golf
Lloyd Mangrum won the All-American tournament in Chicago.

Baseball
The Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees 6-3 before 35,091 fans at Fenway Park in Boston to move to within 5½ games of the American League-leading Yankees. Boston outfielder Dom DiMaggio’s hitting streak ended at 34 games; in his last at bat, his sinking line drive was caught by his brother Joe, whose 56-game streak in 1941 remains the major league record. New York right fielder Hank Bauer hit a pair of solo home runs. Winning pitcher Ellis Kinder (13-5) and losing pitcher Vic Raschi (15-7) each pitched 10-hit complete games.

50 years ago
1959


Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Oui, oui, oui, oui--Jean Phillipe (8th week at #1)

War
U.S. advisers arrived in Laos to help in the establishment of military training teams for the Laotian government.

Homer Bigart reported in The New York Times that Dominican exiles had recruited Puerto Rican youths in New York to fight against the regime of Dominican President Rafael Trujillo.

Labour
The U.S. National Epilepsy League announced a new Civil Service Commission policy making epileptics eligible for federal employment.

Baseball
The Pittsburgh Pirates scored 2 runs in the 9th inning to tie the game and 2 more in the 10th to defeat the Chicago Cubs 5-3 before 19,138 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Elroy Face pitched 3 innings of relief and was credited with the win, improving his record to 15-0 for the season.

The Philadelphia Phillies scored 6 runs in the last 2 innings--with Ed Bouchee's grand slam with 2 out in the 9th providing insurance--to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 20,129 fans at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The Phillies scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th to break a 2-2 tie as they won the second game 4-2 to complete the sweep. The Cardinals had runners on first and second bases with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th, but Gene Oliver was retired on a foul popup and Don Blasingame flied out to center field to end the game.

Orlando Cepeda's solo home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the San Francisco Giants a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 22,689 fans at Seals Stadium in San Francisco to stay 1½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers and 2½ in front of the Milwaukee Braves in the National League pennant race.

The Milwaukee Braves scored 6 runs in the top of the 3rd and 2 in the 4th to take an 8-0 lead, and barely held on to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 before 29,324 fans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, moving to within 1 game of the second-place Dodgers. The Dodgers scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th and had runners on first and third bases with 2 out, but Don Zimmer grounded into a force play to end the game.

The Detroit Tigers scored 4 runs with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to break a 3-3 tie and defeat the Boston Red Sox 7-3 before 12,500 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Detroit right fielder Al Kaline batted 4 for 4 with a home run, base on balls, and 3 runs.

Gil McDougald singled home Yogi Berra with 2 out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 14th inning to give the New York Yankees a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Athletics in the first game of a doubleheader before 23,406 fans at Yankee Stadium. Elston Howard led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a home run to give the Yankees a 3-2 win the second game to complete the sweep.

Jim Landis led off the top of the 8th inning with a single, advanced to second base on a wild pitch, and scored on an error by first baseman Roy Sievers to break a 3-3 tie as the Chicago White Sox edged the Washington Senators 4-3 in the first game of a doubleheader before 17,472 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington. Early Wynn (15-7) pitched a 3 hitter and had a single, double, run, and run batted in to lead the White Sox to a 9-0 win in the second game to complete the sweep.

50 years ago
1969


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): In the Ghetto--Elvis Presley

#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): My Sentimental Friend--Herman's Hermits (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Les Champs-Elysées--Joe Dassin (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Lisa dagli occhi blu--Mario Tessuto (5th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Oh Happy Day--The Edwin Hawkins Singers (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): In the Ghetto--Elvis Presley (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Honky Tonk Women--The Rolling Stones (2nd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 The Ballad of John and Yoko/Old Brown Shoe--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)
2 In the Ghetto--Elvis Presley
3 Hair--The Cowsills
4 My Sentimental Friend--Herman's Hermits
5 Bad Moon Rising/Lodi--Creedence Clearwater Revival
6 Dear Prudence--Doug Parkinson in Focus
7 Frozen Orange Juice--Peter Sarstedt
8 Heather Honey--Tommy Roe
9 Spinning Wheel--Blood, Sweat & Tears
10 Get Back/Don't Let Me Down--The Beatles with Billy Preston

Singles entering the chart were Give Peace a Chance by the Plastic Ono Band (#16); Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (#27); and Honky Tonk Women/You Can't Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones (#33).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Saved by the Bell--Robin Gibb
2 In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)--Zager & Evans
3 Give Peace a Chance--Plastic Ono Band
4 Venus--Shocking Blue
5 Honky Tonk Women--The Rolling Stones
6 In the Ghetto--Elvis Presley
7 I Want to Live--Aphrodite's Child
8 Je t'aime...mon non plus--Jane Birkin avec Serge Gainsbourg
9 Ma Belle Amie--Tee-Set
10 Blowin' in the Wind--Hollies

Singles entering the chart were Sing a Rainbow/Love is Blue by the Dells (#32); Mother Popcorn (Part 1) by James Brown (#36); That's the Way God Planned It by Billy Preston (#38); and Cotton Fields by the Beach Boys (#40). This version of Cotton Fields was from the album 20/20 (1969). They re-recorded it shortly afterward, and the later version was released as a single in 1970.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)--Zager & Evans (5th week at #1)
2 Crystal Blue Persuasion--Tommy James and the Shondells
3 Honky Tonk Women--The Rolling Stones
4 What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)--Jr. Walker & the All Stars
5 Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)--Neil Diamond
6 Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town--Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
7 A Boy Named Sue--Johnny Cash
8 My Cherie Amour--Stevie Wonder
9 Put a Little Love in Your Heart--Jackie DeShannon
10 Baby, I Love You--Andy Kim

Singles entering the chart were Easy to Be Hard by Three Dog Night (#77); Hot Fun in the Summertime by Sly & the Family Stone (#79); When I Die by Motherlode (#80); I Could Never Be President by Johnnie Taylor (#85); One Night Affair by the O'Jays (#87); I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am by Dean Martin (#88); Look at Mine by Petula Clark (#90); Chelsea Morning by Judy Collins (#91); Farewell Love Scene by Olivia Hussey, Leonard Whiting, and Pat Heywood (#98); Questions 67 and 68 by Chicago (#99); and Who Do You Love by Quicksilver Messenger Service (#100). Farewell Love Scene was taken directly from the movie Romeo and Juliet (1968), and was the other side of What is a Youth (Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet) by Glen Weston, also taken directly from the movie.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)--Zager & Evans (4th week at #1)
2 Honky Tonk Women--The Rolling Stones
3 Crystal Blue Persuasion--Tommy James and the Shondells
4 Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)--Neil Diamond
5 My Cherie Amour--Stevie Wonder
6 A Boy Named Sue--Johnny Cash
7 Baby, I Love You--Andy Kim
8 Quentin's Theme--The Charles Randolph Grean Sounde
9 Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town--Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
10 What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)--Jr. Walker & the All Stars

Singles entering the chart were Oh, What a Night by the Dells (#62); Jean by Oliver (#77); Muddy Mississippi Line by Bobby Goldsboro (#80); Maybe the Rain Will Fall by the Cascades (#81); You Got Yours and I'll Get Mine by the Delfonics (#83); The Train by the 1910 Fruitgum Company (#87); I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am by Dean Martin (#88); I Could Never Be President by Johnnie Taylor (#90); Sweet 'n' Sassy by Jerry Smith (#95); What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am by Bill Deal & the Rhondels (#96); Poor Moon by Canned Heat (#97); and Let Me Be the One by Peaches and Herb (#99). Jean was a version of the theme of the movie The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), which Rod McKuen had written and performed for the movie.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Baby, I Love You--Andy Kim
2 In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)--Zager and Evans
3 Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)--Neil Diamond
4 Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town--Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
5 When I Die--Motherlode
6 Quentin’s Theme--The Charles Randolph Greane Sounde
7 Yesterday, When I was Young (Hier Encore)--Roy Clark
8 Crystal Blue Persuasion--Tommy James and the Shondells
9 Laughing--The Guess Who
10 Canadian Pacific--George Hamilton IV

Singles entering the chart were Muddy Mississippi Line by Bobby Goldsboro (#64); Maybe the Rain Will Fall by the Cascades (#69); Jean by Oliver (#74); Oh, What a Night by the Dells (#76); Easy to Be Hard by Three Dog Night (#77); Everybody's Talkin' by Nilsson (#79); The Train by the 1910 Fruitgum Company (#82); I Could Never Be President by Johnnie Taylor (#85); Poor Moon by Canned Heat (#87); Chelsea Morning by Judy Collins (#89); In a Moment by the Intrigues (#90); You Got Yours and I'll Get Mine by the Delfonics (#91); I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am by Dean Martin (#92); Moonlight Sonata by Henry Mancini (#96); Midnight Cowboy by the Bar-Kays (#97); Let Me Be the One by Peaches and Herb (#99); and Questions 67 and 68 by Chicago Transit Authority (#100). Everybody's Talkin' was originally released as a single in 1968, but in mono with Don't Leave Me as the B-side. The 1969 release was in stereo, with The Rainmaker as the B-side. Midnight Cowboy was a version of the theme from the movie.

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)--Zager and Evans (2nd week at #1)
2 The Ballad of John and Yoko--The Beatles
3 Sugar, Sugar--The Archies
4 Honky Tonk Women--The Rolling Stones
5 Baby, I Love You--Andy Kim
6 Laughing--The Guess Who
7 Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town--Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
8 Let Me--Paul Revere and the Raiders
9 Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)--Neil Diamond
10 Hey, Little Man--The Happy Feeling
Pick hit of the week: Get Together--The Youngbloods

Died on this date
George Preston Marshall, 72
. U.S. sports owner. Mr. Marshall owned the Washington Palace Five of the American Basketball League (1925-1928), and entered the National Football League as co-owner of the expansion Boston Braves in 1932. In 1933 he changed the team name to Redskins, hired an American Indian as head coach, and employed several Indian players. On opening day the entire squad lined up for the team picture in war paint, feathers, and full headdress. Mr. Marshall was unimpressed with Boston's apparent lack of interest in professional football, so he moved his team to Washington in 1937, and saw them win the NFL championship that year. Another NFL title came in 1942. Among the innovations that Mr. Marshall introduced to the NFL were a marching band and a fight song. He also supported liberalization of the forward pass and moving the goal posts. In the early 1950s, the Washington Redskins were the first NFL club to appear on a television network; Mr. Marshall assembled a network of stations in the southern United States to televise Redskins' games, thus helping to increase the popularity of the team and the league. Although he had been quick to hire Indians, Mr. Marshall was widely regarded as a racist when it came to hiring Negroes; the Redskins didn't employ any Negro players until 1962 (and even then, only under political pressure). He's also been credited with encouraging the other NFL owners to institute a colour bar that lasted from 1934-1945.

Cecil F. Powell, 65. U.K. physicist. Dr. Powell was awarded the 1950 Nobel Prize in Physics in 1950 "for his development of the photographic method of studying nuclear processes and his discoveries regarding mesons made with this method." He was a major figure in preparations for the first Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs. Dr. Powell was visiting friends in Italy when he died while hiking in the foothills of the Alps.

Jay Sebring, 35. U.S. hairstylist. Mr. Sebring, whose real name was Thomas John Kummer, founded the corporation Sebring International, catering to male celebrities. He was friends with movie director Roman Polanski and actress Sharon Tate, and was one of five people murdered by members of Charles Manson's "family" at the Polanski residence in Beverly Hills, California. In addition to Mr. Sebring and Miss Tate, the victims were Wojciech Frykowski; Abigail Folger; and Steven Parent.

Wojciech Frykowski, 32. Polish-born writer. Mr. Frykowski, an aspiring screenwriter and a friend of director Roman Polanski from the latter's days in Poland, was involved in a romantic and sexual relationship with U.S. coffee heiress Abigail Folger at the time they were murdered by members of the Charles Manson "family."

Sharon Tate, 26. U.S. actress. Miss Tate, the pregnant wife of film director Roman Polanski, was murdered along with four others by Charles Manson "family" members Patricia Krenwinkel, Susan Atkins, and Charles "Tex" Watson at the home of record producer Terry Melcher in Beverly Hills, California; Mr. Polanski was working in England at the time. Mr. Melcher, who had rented his home to Mr. Polanski and Miss Tate for the summer, was the apparent actual target for refusing to offer Mr. Manson, who fancied himself a talented artist, an opportunity in the music business. Miss Tate was best known for her role in Valley of the Dolls (1967); other credits included Don’t Make Waves (1967) and The Wrecking Crew (1968). She also appeared in 15 episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies from 1963-1965. Miss Tate’s final film, 12 + 1 (aka The Thirteen Chairs), was released in 1970.

Abigail Folger, 25. U.S. heiress. Miss Folger, heiress to the Folger coffee fortune, was murdered by members of the Manson "family" two days before her 26th birthday.

Steven Parent, 18. U.S. crime victim. Mr. Parent a recent high school graduate who was preparing to enter Citrus Junior College, picked up hitchhiker William Garretson, caretaker of Roman Polanski's property, who lived in a guest house. Mr. Parent gave Mr. Garretson a ride home and was leaving the property when he was confronted and killed by members of the Charles Manson "family."

War
American battle deaths in Vietnam for the week of August 3-9 dropped to 96--the lowest figure in two months--while 489 were wounded.

Politics and government
The Portuguese government formally banned electoral committees that had been formed in opposition to the National Union machine of Premier Marcello Gaetano. The National Union had been openly preparing the forthcoming National Assembly elections, and the ban on the opposition committees came as a surprise after promises that the democratic opposition was to be given a free opportunity in the elections.

Environment
Kejimkujik National Park was opened in southwestern Nova Scotia.

Disasters
A tornado ripped through a Cincinnati suburb, leaving 4 dead, 235 injured, and 1,000 homeless.

11 Japanese fishermen were killed when their boat collided with a Soviet patrol vessel near Shikotan Island.

Football
CFL
Montreal (0-2-1) 22 @ Hamilton (1-0-1) 22

Sonny Wade’s touchdown pass to Tom Cassese on the last play enabled the Alouettes to tie the game. Hamilton general manager Ralph Sazio voiced loud displeasure over the Tiger-Cats’ loss of a point when a convert was disallowed because of a penalty. According to the rules then in force, if a team took a penalty while scoring a convert, the point was disallowed, with no opportunity to retry the convert. Thanks to the complaints of Mr. Sazio and others, the rule was changed in 1970. Charlie Brown played his first Canadian Football League game as a defensive back for the Tiger-Cats; he was the first of two Charlie Browns to play in the CFL in 1969.

30 years ago
1979

Died on this date
Walter O’Malley, 75
. U.S. baseball executive. Mr. O’Malley, a corporation lawyer, joined chemical magnate John Smith and veteran baseball mogul Branch Rickey in purchasing a large share of stock in the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1944. In October 1950 Mr. Rickey left, and Mr. O’Malley became team president. He provided exciting teams that usually won or contended for the National League pennant, finally winning the World Series in 1955. Despite the calibre of the team, attendance plateaued, and Mr. O’Malley’s protests about inadequate parking and facilities were ignored by Brooklyn politicians. In 1957 he began exploring options for moving the Dodgers to Los Angeles, and when New York Giants’ owner Horace Stoneham announced that he would be moving his team to San Francisco, Mr. O’Malley announced that the Dodgers would be leaving Brooklyn. Mr. O’Malley was reviled in Brooklyn, but was welcomed in Los Angeles, and the Dodgers proved to be extremely profitable there. He was still running the Dodgers in 1978 when they became the first major league team to attract 3 million fans at home during a season. Walter O’Malley left a fortune estimated at $100 million.

Raymond Washington, 25. U.S. crime boss. Mr. Washington founded the Crips gang in Los Angeles in the late 1960s. He was convicted of robbery in 1974 and served five years in prison. Mr. Washington was murdered in a drive-by shooting shortly after his release; his murder remains unsolved, but Mr. Washington was likely killed by someone he knew.

Crime
Three Federal Bureau of Investigation agents were slain in unrelated incidents in Cleveland, Ohio and El Centro, California, the greatest loss of life in a single day in the FBI’s 71-year history to that time.

Protest
Retracing the same route that Martin Luther King and voting rights demonstrators had followed 14 years earlier, about 50 Ku Klux Klansmen went on a white rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

Society
Brighton announced that it would become the first major resort in the United Kingdom to agree to set aside part of its seafront to nudists.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the index of producer prices for finished goods rose 1.1% in July.

25 years ago
1984


Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 30 (CHED)
1 Ghostbusters--Ray Parker, Jr.
2 She Bop--Cyndi Lauper
3 Sad Songs (Say So Much)--Elton John
4 Stuck On You--Lionel Richie
5 When Doves Cry--Prince
6 She's Mine--Steve Perry
7 Missing You--John Waite
8 What's Love Got to Do With It--Tina Turner
9 Legs--ZZ Top
10 I Can Dream About You--Dan Hartman
11 I'm Free--Kenny Loggins
12 Run Runaway--Slade
13 Lights Out--Peter Wolf
14 If This is It--Huey Lewis and the News
15 Rock Me Tonight--Billy Squier
16 Drive--The Cars
17 Infatuation--Rod Stewart
18 Lovers in a Dangerous Time--Bruce Cockburn
19 State of Shock--Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger
20 Jump (For My Love)--Pointer Sisters
21 Must I Always Remember--The Box
22 The Warrior--Scandal
23 Right By Your Side--Eurythmics
24 Let's Go Crazy--Prince
25 Panama--Van Halen
26 Deeper and Deeper--The Fixx
27 My Oh My--Slade
28 Dancing with Tears in My Eyes--Ultravox
29 Doctor! Doctor!--Thompson Twins
30 Go for Soda--Kim Mitchell

Died on this date
Walter Tevis, 56
. U.S. author. Mr. Tevis was known for writing the novels The Hustler (1959); The Man Who Fell to Earth (1963); and The Color of Money (1984). He died of lung cancer.

World events
Poland had released more than 20,000 convicted criminals and most of the 652 political prisoners included in the amnesty that the government had declared on July 21. Some top leaders of the outlawed Solidarity trade union movement were among those released.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Elliott Abrams, testifying before two subcommittees of the House of Representatives, said that the United States had received "repeated reports of large-scale civilian massacres, forced starvation and impeded humanitarian relief operations" in Uganda. An official of the Ugandan embassy called the charges "totally untrue."

20 years ago
1989


Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Minä olen muistanut (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Licence to Kill--Gladys Knight (3rd week at #1)

Politics and government
A day after being chosen as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Toshiki Kaifu was formally elected Prime Minister of Japan by the Diet.

Economics and finance
U.S. President George Bush signed legislation to rescue the savings and loan industry. The bill provided $16 billion over 10 years to close or merge insolvent S & L's, also called thrifts. The total cost of rescuing and restructuring the industry was put at $300 billion over 30 years, most of which would be paid by taxpayers. The bill created the Resolution Trust Corporation, whose responsibility would include liquidating failing thrifts and helping stronger institutions affiliate with or become commercial banks.

Disasters
Up to 150 people were killed when a passenger train derailed and plunged into the San Rafael de Bamoa River in northwestern Mexico.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (4-1) 33 @ British Columbia (0-5) 13

Rick Worman threw touchdown passes to Tom Richards and Blake Marshall, and Mr. Marshall rushed for another Eskimo touchdown, while Jerry Kauric added 4 field goals as the Eskimos beat the Lions before 32,158 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. B.C. quarterback Matt Dunigan completed just 11 of 23 passes for 158 yards before giving way to Rickey Foggie, who threw a touchdown pass to Jan Carinci late in the game. Lions’ running back Tony Cherry was held to 13 yards on 11 carries. The loss was the first for the Lions under head coach Joe Galat, who had replaced the fired Larry Donovan; the 0-5 start was the worst for B.C. in 20 years. This was the first game televised on TSN to be seen by a large audience, since the network had just been added to the basic cable package of most Canadian viewers.



10 years ago
1999


Politics and government
Russian President Boris Yeltsin dismissed Premier Sergei Stepashin, who had held office for three months. Mr. Stepashin was the fourth premier in 17 months to be ousted. Mr. Yeltsin was apparently dissatisfied with Mr. Stepashin’s lack of progress in dealing with the economy and fighting crime and corruption. Mr. Yeltsin chose former KGB official Vladimir Putin as Mr. Stepashin’s successor.

Baseball
The Toronto Blue Jays pounded the ball for 25 hits in a 19-4 rout of the Texas Rangers before 23,235 fans at the Ballpark in Arlington. Jacob Brumfeld and Homer Bush each had 4 hits to lead the Toronto attack. Texas pitcher Doug Davis made his major league debut, entering the game in the 6th inning; in 2 1/3 innings he gave up 10 earned runs on 11 hits, including 3 home runs. He was sent to the minor leagues the next day.

For the first time in the history of major league baseball, 5 grand slams were hit on the same day. The sluggers were Fernando Tatis of the St. Louis Cardinals; Jose Vidro of the Montreal Expos; Mike Lowell of the Florida Marlins; Bernie Williams of the New York Yankees; and Jay Buhner of the Seattle Mariners.

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