September 25, 2009

220 years ago
1789

Law
The first Congress of the United States adopted 12 amendments to the Constitution and sent them to the states for ratification. The first ten became the Bill of Rights.

160 years ago
1849

Died on this date
Johann Strauss I, 45. Austrian composer. Mr. Strauss was a Romantic composer who was famous for his waltzes, galops, and polkas, as well as the Radetzky March (1848). He died of scarlet fever contracted from one of his illegitimate children. Mr. Strauss was eventually eclipsed in popularity by his son Johann II, who also composed waltzes.

120 years ago
1889

Baseball
The Brotherhood of Professional Base ball Players' organizational plan for a new Players' League was leaked to the press in New York. It called for clubs to be owned jointly by players and capitalists.

100 years ago
1909

Died on this date
William Johnson, 61. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Johnson was a second baseman and right fielder with the Cleveland Forest Citys of the National Association in 1871, batting .224 with no home runs and 7 runs batted in in 16 games.

Baseball
Chief Bender pitched a 4-hitter to improve his 1919 record to 17-7, outduelling Addie Joss, who allowed 14 hits in falling to 14-13, as the Philadelphia Athletics shut out the Cleveland Naps 5-0 in the first game of a doubleheader at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Cy Morgan (17-17) pitched a 7-hit shutout as the Athletics won the second game 3-0 to complete the sweep, with loser Cy Falkenberg (10-9) also allowing 7 hits.

Ed Summers (19-9) and George Mullin (29-8) were the respective winning pitchers as the Detroit Tigers swept a doubleheader from the New York Highlanders 2-1 and 10-4 in 7 innings at Hilltop Park in New York. In the first game, the Highlanders were easily hitting the pitches of Mr. Summers, when Detroit manager Hughie Jennings discovered a sign-stealing scheme that the Highlanders were using. A hat advertisement in center field had the crossbar in "H" cut and painted white on one side and black on the other. Using a telescope, a man spotted the catcher’s signal and used a handle to flip the crossbar to indicate fastball or curve. Mr. Jennings sent the team trainer to investigate; he discovered the scam and destroyed the crossbar. A rule prohibiting signal-tipping was implemented the following year. New York first baseman Hal Chase batted 1 for 4 in the first game and was 3 for 4 in the second game with a home run and 2 runs batted in. Dick Carroll made his major league debut with the Highlanders in the second game, pitching 2 innings of relief, and allowing 2 hits and 2 runs, with no bases on balls or strikeouts, with no decision, batting 0 for 1, and making an assist.

90 years ago
1919

Politics and government
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson collapsed after a speech in Pueblo, Colorado, during a tour in support of the Treaty of Versailles.

Baseball
The Detroit Tigers amassed 18 hits in beating the Cleveland Indians 9-5 at Navin Field in Detroit. Ty Cobb batted 1 for 5 with 2 runs and a run batted in, while Tris Speaker had 3 hits, including 2 triples, for the Indians. Mr. Cobb later wrote a letter to Detroit pitcher Dutch Leonard in which he implied there was a "business proposition" involving this game that was "disappointing." Neither Messrs. Cobb or Speaker was ever proven to have bet on this or any other games‚ but Mr. Leonard later accused the two of arranging for the Tigers to win this game. Commissioner K.M. Landis exonerated the pair in 1927 when Mr. Leonard, apparently afraid of being beaten up by Mr. Cobb, failed to appear at a hearing before Mr. Landis.

The New York Giants amassed 24 hits in a 14-2 rout of the Boston Braves in the first game of a doubleheader before 1,000 fans at Braves Field. Red Smith started as Boston's leadoff hitter, batting 1 for 2 with a run batted in and no fielding chances in the 1,117th and last game of his 9-year major league career. Jim Thorpe batted cleanup for the Braves and was 1 for 5 with a run, making an error in left field in the 289th and last game of the legendary athlete's 6-year major league career. Every man in the Boston lineup had at least 1 hit as the Braves won the second game 8-4. Colonel Snover started on the mound for New York and allowed 5 hits and 4 runs--all unearned--in 6 innings to lose his only major league decision, walking 2 batters and striking out 2 in his second and last major league game. He was relieved by Virgil Barnes, who allowed 6 hits and 4 runs--all earned--in 2 innings, walking 1 batter and striking out 1 in his first major league game. With 2 out and nobody on base in the 9th inning, pinch hitter Frank Snyder singled, stole second base, and scored on a double by pinch hitter Hal Chase, who stole third and was stranded there when George Burns made the final out. For Mr. Chase, it was the 1,919th and last game of his 15-year major league career.

80 years ago
1929

Died on this date
Miller Huggins, 50 or 51. U.S. baseball player and manager. Mr. Huggins played 13 years in the major leagues as a second baseman with the Cincinnati Reds (1904-1909) and St. Louis Cardinals (1910-1916). He played in 1,585 games, with a career batting average of .265. Mr. Huggins led National League batters in bases on balls in 1905; 1907; 1910; and 1914. He managed the Cardinals from 1913-1917, compiling a record of 346 wins, 415 losses, 13 ties, .455 winning percentage. Only in 1914 and 1917 did the Cardinals have a winning record; in both years they finished third, well back of the champions. Mr. Huggins moved to the New York Yankees in 1918, and remained there for the rest of his life. After a losing season in 1918, the Yankees challenged for the American League pennant for most of the season in 1919 and came even closer in 1920, the year that Babe Ruth joined the club. From 1921-1928 the Yankees won 6 American League pennants and World Series in 1923, 1927, and 1928. The 1927 Yankees are generally acknowledged to have been the greatest team in baseball history; they won 110 of 154 games (.714), won the pennant by 19 games over the second-place Philadelphia Athletics, and swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in 4 games in the World Series. In 1929 the Yankees dropped to second place, well behind the Athletics. Perhaps as a result of worry, Mr. Huggins developed a carbuncle on his face and began scratching at it. It became infected, and he was admitted to St. Vincent Hospital in New York, where he died three days later of blood poisoning. In his 12 seasons with the Yankees Mr. Huggins compiled a record of 1,067 wins, 719 losses, 10 ties, for a winning percentage of .597. His combined record with the Cardinals and Yankees was 1,413-1,134-23, .555. Mr. Huggins suspended Babe Ruth five times just in 1922, but the Babe was one of many who cried in the Yankees’ locker room after news of his death came in. Miller Huggins was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.

Aviation
Jimmy Doolittle performed the first flight without a window, from Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York, proving that full instrument flying from take off to landing was possible.

Baseball
The New York Yankees, under interim manager Art Fletcher, were playing the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston when news came during the 5th inning of the death of Yankees’ manager Miller Huggins in New York. The teams gathered around home plate for a moment of silent prayer and then resumed play. The Yankees won 11-10 in 11 innings, breaking the 10-10 tie when Tony Lazzeri tripled to lead off the inning and Lou Gehrig followed with a sacrifice fly. Ray Dobens started on the mound for Boston and allowed 12 hits and 7 runs--all earned--in 5 2/3 innings, walking 2 batters and striking out 1 in his 11th and last major league game.

Chuck Klein led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a home run to tie the score and Don Hurst hit a solo homer with 1 out to end the game as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Brooklyn Robins 10-9 in the first game of a doubleheader at Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. Mr. Klein also homered in the second game as the Phillies won 8-5 to complete the sweep.

75 years ago
1934

Baseball
The St. Louis Cardinals moved to within 1 game of the National League-leading New York Giants with a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, while the Giants lost 5-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies. Dizzy Dean earned his 28th win of the season for the Cardinals, but lost the shutout in the 9th inning when Arky Vaughan hit a 2-run home run.

18-year-old Phil Cavaretta, a Chicago native, made his major league debut with his hometown Cubs. He hit a home run for the game’s only run in a 1-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, added 2 bases on balls and a stolen base, and cleanly handled 12 chances at first base. Guy Bush pitched the shutout.

Vito Tamulis of the New York Yankees made his major league debut, pitching a 7-hitter in blanking the Philadelphia Athletics 5-0. Mr. Tamulis also went 1 for 4 at bat. Yankees’ first baseman Lou Gehrig played his 1,500th consecutive game.

70 years ago
1939

Baseball
The New York Giants edged the Boston Bees 6-5 before 1,125 fans at the Polo Ground in New York. Bees’ outfielder Johnny Cooney hit his second home run in as many games; oddly, they were the only home runs Mr. Cooney ever hit in a major league career that spanned 20 seasons and 1,172 games. Boston catcher Al Lopez hit a 3-run homer in the top of the 9th inning to give the Bees a 5-3 lead, but the Giants rallied for 3 in the bottom of the 9th to win the game.

60 years ago
1949

Defense
In the face of the announcement of the detonation of an atomic bomb by the U.S.S.R., French President Charles de Gaulle called for the initiation of a French atomic weapons program, claiming that the U.S.A. "is neither obliged nor prepared to participate in the direct and immediate defense of our continent."

Popular culture
Flagpole sitter Charley Lupica finally descended from his perch at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland after sitting there for a record 177 days, 2 hours, 25 minutes. Mr. Lupica had been atop the flagpole since the Cleveland Indians were in 7th place in the American League, and vowed to stay there until the Indians were first or out of contention (it was the latter).

Golf
Louise Suggs won the U.S. Women's Open in Landover, Maryland.

Tennis
Ted Schroeder and Doris Hart won the men's and women's singles title, respectively, at the U.S. amateur hard court championships in Berkeley, California.

Football
NFL
New York Giants (0-1) 7 @ Pittsburgh (1-0) 28
Chicago Bears (1-0) 17 @ Green Bay (0-1) 0

AAFC
Cleveland (3-0-1) 28 @ Baltimore (0-5) 20
San Francisco (3-1) 17 @ Buffalo (1-2-1) 28

Baseball
Ted Williams hit his 43rd home run of the season and Mel Parnell allowed just 4 hits in improving his 1949 record to 25-7 as the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 4-1 before 35,517 fans at Fenway Park in Boston to move into a tie with the Yankees for first place in the American League. Allie Reynolds took the loss to fall to 17-6, while Yankees’ star center fielder Joe DiMaggio was bedridden with pneumonia.

The St. Louis Cardinals moved 1½ games ahead of the Brooklyn Dodgers in the National League pennant race with a 6-1 win over the Chicago Cubs before 30,943 fans at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis, ending the Cardinals’ home schedule for the year. Winning pitcher Harry Brecheen (14-10) allowed 6 hits in a complete game, and collected 4 of the 12 St. Louis hits, with 3 runs batted in.

Dick Sisler drove in 2 runs with a single and scored on Andy Seminick's 2-run home run as the Philadelphia Phillies scored 4 runs in the 8th inning to overcome a 3-1 deficit and defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers 5-3 before 33,452 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Only Sixteen--Craig Douglas (3rd week at #1)

At the movies
The FBI Story, produced and directed by Mervyn LeRoy, and starring James Stewart, Vera Miles, and Nick Adams, received its premiere screening in Los Angeles.



Crime
A Buddhist monk named Talduwe Somarama Thero called on Ceylonese Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike at his official residence at Rosemead Place in Colombo. While Mr. Bandaranaike was paying obeisance to the monk, Mr. Somarama whipped out a revolver and shot the Prime Minister in the stomach at point-blank range.

Energy
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Chairman John McCone and Vasily Yemelyanov, director of the U.S.S.R.'s Main Administration for Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, concluded two weeks of talks in Washington with a statement promising to cooperate "under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency."

Literature
Soviet novelist Mikhail Sholokov, meeting a group of American writers in Washington, denounced author Boris Pasternak as a "hermit crab" who had shunned contact with Soviet reality.

Journalism
Future Prime Minister of Canada Joe Clark published his first editorial as editor-in-chief of the University of Alberta student newspaper The Gateway. One of his comments was: "It is difficult--perhaps a better word is impossible--to outline one's stand on a question before the question arises. That is why policy is a tough thing to predict. So I do not attempt to say in this column where I will stand in the future."

Baseball
Gil Hodges hit a solo home run with 1 out in the top of the 11th inning to break a 4-4 tie as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Chicago Cubs 5-4 before 7,195 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Randy Jackson went to bat as a pinch hitter for the Cubs in the 7th and reached first base on an error on a sacrifice bunt in the 955th and last game of his 10-year major league game. Don Eaddy ran for Mr. Jackson at first base and was retired on the front end of a double play in his 15th and last major league game.

Gene Freese's 3-run home run climaxed a 4-run 3rd inning for the Philadelphia Phillies as they beat the Milwaukee Braves 6-3 before 24,912 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee, dropping the second-place Braves 1 game behind the Dodgers in the National League pennant race. Jack Meyer allowed 4 hits and no runs in 5 2/3 innings of relief to get the win, improving his 1959 record to 5-3. Milwaukee starter Lou Burdette allowed 6 hits and 6 earned runs in 2 1/3 innings to take the loss, falling to 21-15.

Al Kaline hit a 2-run home run in the 1st inning and capped a 3-run rally in the 9th inning by scoring the winning run with 2 out as the Detroit Tigers edged the Chicago White Sox 6-5 before 3,386 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Mr. Kaline dashed home with the winning run while Chicago first baseman Norm Cash, who had just entered the game, was arguing with first base umpire Larry Napp over Mr. Napp's call that batter Lou Berberet was safe at first, beating Chicago catcher John Romano's throw on an attempted double play. Gus Zernial started the game at first base for Detroit and batted 0 for 2 with 3 putouts in the 1,234th and last game of his 11-year major league career.

The Cleveland Indians scored 6 runs in the 4th inning en route to an 8-2 win over the Kansas City Athletics in the first game of a twi-night doubleheader before 29,411 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Jake Striker made his major league debut as the Indians' starting pitcher, allowing 8 hits and 2 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings to get the win, walking 4 batters and striking out 5. Al Grunwald, the third of six Kansas City pitchers, allowed 1 hit and no runs in 1/3 inning, walking 2 batters and striking out none in the 11th and last game of his 2-year major league career. He was relieved by Evans Killeen, who faced just 1 batter and produced a double play to end the 6th inning, ending his 4-game major league career. Zeke Bella singled as a pinch hitter for Kansas City in the 8th inning and was stranded at second base in the 52nd and last game of his 2-year major league career. Pinch hitter Elmer Valo singled home Ray Webster and Carroll Hardy with 2 out to conclude a 3-run 9th-inning rally as the Indians came back from a 7-1 deficit to win the second game 8-7 to complete the sweep. Rocky Colavito got the Indians on the scoreboard when he led off the bottom of the 2nd inning with his 42nd home run of the season.

American Association
Finals
Fort Worth 2 @ Minneapolis 4 (Minneapolis won best-of-seven series 4-3)

40 years ago
1969

On television tonight
Dragnet 1970, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Homicide: The Student

Diplomacy
Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir arrived in Washington to begin a two-day state visit with U.S. President Richard Nixon, Secretary of State William Rogers, and other United States officials.

The charter establishing the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation was signed at the Islamic Summit Conference in Rabat, Morocco.

War
U.S. Senator Charles Goodell (Republican--New York) proposed legislation requiring withdrawal of all American troops from Vietnam by the end of 1970. Senator Goodell’s proposal reopened the Congressional debate on the war that had been suspended in order to give President Richard Nixon time to develop his own policy on Vietnam.

Business
John Allyn bought 50% of the Chicago White Sox from brother Arthur‚ giving him complete control of the baseball club.

30 years ago
1979

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko told the United Nations General Assembly that U.S. concern about a brigade of 2,000-3,000 Soviet troops in Cuba was "artificial." Mr. Gromyko’s statement was challenged by the White House.

Journalism
The Montreal Star ceased publication after 110 years. A strike which had ended more than a year earlier had resulted in suspension of publication for eight months, and the Star never recovered. Prior to the strike, the Star had for many years had a greater circulation than The Gazette, Montreal's other English-language daily.

Baseball
The California Angels scored 3 runs in the 2nd inning as they beat the Kansas City Royals 4-1 before 40,631 fans at Anaheim Stadium to clinch the American League West Division pennant. It was the Angels’ first pennant of any kind in their 19-year history, and ended the Royals' three-year run as division champions. Frank Tanana pitched a 5-hit complete game victory to improve his 1979 record to 7-5.



Willie Stargell drove in 3 runs with a pair of home runs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Montreal Expos 10-4 before 31,348 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, moving back into first place in the National League East Division, ½ game ahead of the Expos.

25 years ago
1984

Politics and government
Democratic Party U.S. presidential candidate Walter Mondale said that President Ronald Reagan was moderating some of his positions, including renewed expressions of interest in arms control, only because the election was at hand.

Baseball
Rusty Staub’s 2-run pinch hit home run climaxed a 4-run 9th-inning rally as the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-4 at Shea Stadium in New York. Mr. Staub’s home run, his first of the season, made him the only major league player other than Ty Cobb to hit a home run in the major leagues before the age of 20 and after reaching the age of 40.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Right Here Waiting--Richard Marx (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Lambada--Kaoma (6th week at #1)

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Right Here Waiting--Richard Marx (5th week at #1)
2 If I Could Turn Back Time--Cher
3 Girl I'm Gonna Miss You--Milli Vanilli
4 Don't Wanna Lose You--Gloria Estefan
5 Cold Hearted--Paula Abdul
6 Heaven--Warrant
7 Cherish--Madonna
8 Mixed Emotions--Rolling Stones
9 Hangin' Tough--New Kids on the Block
10 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles

Singles entering the chart were When I See You Smile by Bad English (#77); Giving Away a Miracle by Luba (#79); I Feel the Earth Move by Martika (#81); Cover Girl by New Kids on the Block (#83); Glamour Boys by Living Colour (#84); Trail of Broken Hearts by k.d. lang and the Reclines (#87); That's What I Need by Neil James Harnett (#89); and The Way to Your Heart by Soul Sister (#93).

Politics and government
The governing Liberals, led by Premier Robert Bourassa, were re-elected in the Quebec provincial election, winning 92 of 125 seats in the National Assembly and taking 50% of the popular vote. Most of the remaining seats were taken by the Parti Quebecois, led by Jacques Parizeau. The PQ took 40.2% and the Equality Party, dedicated to promoting the rights of Quebec's English-speaking minority, took 4.6% of the vote.

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev warned leaders of the republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan that they had two days to negotiate an end to the rail blockade, apparently supported by Azerbaijani authorities, that had prevented Armenia from getting badly needed supplies. His threat appeared to produce an easing of tensions between the two republics.

Defense
U.S. President George Bush, addressing the United Nations General Assembly, said that the United States would destroy 80% of its chemical weapons if the U.S.S.R. would cut its stockpile to the American level.

Baseball
Wade Boggs of the Boston Red Sox batted 4 for 5 in a 7-4 win over the New York Yankees before 32,759 fans at Fenway Park in Boston, becoming the first player in major league history to achieve 200 hits and 100 bases on balls in 4 consecutive seasons. He extended his own record by making 200 hits in 7 straight seasons.

The Montreal Expos gave up 2 home runs to former Expo Andre Dawson, but still managed to beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in 10 innings before 10,305 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Mr. Dawson’s second home run, an inside-the-park blow, was a drive that was caught by Expos’ center fielder Dave Martinez, who suffered a muscle pull and crumpled to the ground in pain. He never let go of the ball, but Mr. Dawson ran the bases as Mr. Martinez’s teammates surrounded him, without time being called. Despite the fact that the ball never touched the ground or the wall, Mr. Dawson was awarded a home run.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Marion Zimmer Bradley, 69. U.S. authoress. Mrs. Bradley wrote science fiction and historical fantasy novels, and was perhaps best known for the novel The Mists of Avalon (1983). She died four days after suffering a heart attack after years of declining health. Mrs. Bradley was a New Ager who was married from 1964-1990 to science fiction and fantasy author Walter Breen, a sodomite and sexual predator with a lengthy history of child molestation.

War
Russian planes concluded three days of bombing industrial sites in Chechnya.

Football
CFL
Montreal (8-4) 13 @ Hamilton (7-5) 39
Calgary (8-4) 20 @ British Columbia (9-3) 21

Paul Osbaldiston kicked 6 field goals and Darren Flutie caught 2 touchdown passes from quarterback Danny McManus to lead the Tiger-Cats in front of 20,648 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Archie Amerson added another touchdown on a 70-yard rush. Mike Pringle carried 20 times for 80 yards and a touchdown for the Alouettes, and passed George Dixon as Montreal’s career rushing leader.

28,431 fans at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver saw the Lions come back from a 17-3 second-quarter deficit. Early in the fourth quarter, with Calgary leading 20-14 and apparently headed for more points, Stampeder running back Kelvin Anderson fumbled near the goal line, and the ball was recovered by B.C.’s Reggie Carthon in the Lions’ end zone. While the Lions were moving the ball downfield, Calgary coach Wally Buono was ejected for apparently stepping on an official’s foot. The 25-yard penalty was a boost for the Lions, who finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run by Robert Drummond. Lui Passaglia’s convert at 5:28 proved to be the winning point.

CIAU
St. Mary’s (1-1) 38 @ St. Francis Xavier (0-2) 18
Acadia (2-0) 41 @ Mount Allison (1-1) 24
McGill (0-3) 22 @ Ottawa (3-0) 32
Concordia (3-0) 30 @ Queen’s (0-3) 17
Toronto (0-3) 25 @ Guelph (1-2) 30
McMaster (2-1) 27 @ Wilfrid Laurier (3-0) 53
Waterloo (2-1) 67 @ Windsor (0-3) 9
Western Ontario (3-0) 29 @ York (1-2) 7
Saskatchewan (4-0) 28 @ Manitoba (3-1) 9
British Columbia (3-1) 43 @ Calgary (1-3) 9
Regina (0-4) 14 @ Alberta (1-3) 57

Manitoba quarterback Shane Munson threw 5 interceptions in front of more than 5,000 fans at University Stadium in Winnipeg, the largest crowd to attend a Bisons’ home game in more than 25 years.

Blair Zahara completed 21 of 32 passes for 428 yards--420 yards in the first half--as the Alberta Golden Bears took a 46-0 halftime lead en route to their rout of the Rams at Varsity Stadium in Edmonton. Jamie Stoddard and Jason Bula each caught 2 touchdown passes in the first half on passes from Mr. Zahara.