June 30, 2010

540 years ago
1470

Born on this date
Charles VIII. King of France, 1483-1498. Charles VIII, nicknamed "The Affable," acceded to the throne upon the death of his father Louis XI, but didn't begin actually ruling until he turned 21 in 1491. By making a series of concessions to neighbouring monarchs, he conquered the Italian peninsula without much opposition from 1494-1498, but his army was finally driven out by a coalition. King Charles accidentally struck his head on the lintel of a door at Château d'Amboise on April 7, 1498 at the age of 24. He shortly thereafter lapsed into a coma, and died nine hours later.

225 years ago
1785

Died on this date
James Oglethorpe, 88. U.K. military officer and politician. Mr. Oglethorpe was a general who fought with Holy Roman Empire forces in the Austro-Turkish War (1716-1718) before returning to England. A Tory, he represented Haslemere in the House of Commons (1722-1754). As chairman of the Gaols Committee in 1729, he recommended creating a buffer colony in British North America between the Carolinas and Florida, to be settled by those released from debtors' prisons. Mr. Oglethorpe thus founded Georgia, serving as its first Governor (1732-1743). He returned to England after an unsuccessful siege of St. Augustine, Florida, was unsuccessful in leading British troops in the Jacobite rising of 1745, and served undercover in the Prussian Army during the Seven Years' War.

150 years ago
1860

Academia
The 1860 Oxford evolution debate took place at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, involving such notable figures as Thomas Henry Huxley, Bishop Samuel Wilberforce, Benjamin Brodie, Joseph Dalton Hooker and Robert FitzRoy. The debate took place nine months after the publication of On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin.

Baseball
The Brooklyn Excelsiors became the first baseball club to go on tour when they left for Albany. They covered 10,000 miles in 10 days, playing games in Albany, Troy, Buffalo, Rochester, and Newburgh, New York.

120 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Paul Boffa. Prime Minister of Malta, 1947-1950. Sir Paul joined the Labour Party in 1923, and became the party's leader in 1927. When the Labour Party won the 1947 general election, Sir Paul served as Prime Minister until Labour lost the 1950 election, and kept his seat in parliament until his retirement in 1955. Sir Paul died on July 6, 1962, six days after his 72nd birthday.

Died on this date
Samuel Parkman Tuckerman, 71. U.S. composer. Mr. Tuckerman was an Episcopal Church organist who composed sacred music, dividing his time between the United States and England.

110 years ago
1900

Disasters
A fire on the piers of the Norddeutscher Lloyd (NDL) shipping company in Hoboken, New Jersey killed at least 326 people; burned NDL's Hoboken piers to the waterline; consumed or gutted nearby warehouses; gutted three of NDL's major transatlantic liners; and damaged or destroyed nearly two dozen smaller craft. The fire started in bales of cotton and quickly spread.



75 years ago
1935

Baseball
The Detroit Tigers swept a doubleheader from the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis by scores of 18-1 and 11-6. Detroit leadoff hitter Pete Fox had 3 hits, including a grand slam, scored 4 runs, and drove in 6 in the first game. He followed that with 5 hits, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs in the second game. Schoolboy Rowe and General Crowder were the respective winning pitchers.

Syl Johnson won his 8th straight game as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Boston Braves 15-5 at Braves Field.

70 years ago
1940

On the radio



Politics and government
The government of France moved from Bordeaux to Clermont-Ferrand.

Protest
German decrees published in Paris provided the death penalty for any act of violence against the occupying German forces.

60 years ago
1950

Died on this date
Joe Lake, 69. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Lake played with the New York Highlanders (1908-1909); St. Louis Browns (1910-1912); and Detroit Tigers (1912-1913), compiling a record of 62-90 with an earned run average of 2.85 in 199 games, batting .206 with 3 home runs and 38 runs batted in in 208 games. He actually made his major league debut on October 5, 1907, but after pitching 3 scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox, the game was rained out, with none of the individual records counting. Mr. Lake worked as an electrician after his baseball career, and died from peritonitis and complications following surgery for stomach cancer.

Paul Fitzke, 49. U.S. baseball pitcher and football player. Dr. Fitzke was 0-0 with an earned run average of 4.50 in 1 game with the Cleveland Indians in 1924, pitching 4 innings. He played at least 168 games in at least 10 seasons in the minor leagues (1925-1934, 1941-1943). Dr. Fitzke was a halfback, punter, and kicker with the Universities of Wyoming (1920-1921) and Idaho (1922-1923), and was a center and forward with the Idaho basketball team. He played with the Frankford Yellow Jackets of the National Football League in 1925, and barnstormed with a professional all-star team in 1926. Dr. Fitzke coached football, basketball, and track at Dubuque University (1937-1939) and Carbon College (1941). After his final comeback in professional baseball, he practiced as a chiropractor until his death from Hodgkin's disease.

War
U.S. President Harry Truman authorized Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Command General Douglas MacArthur to send "supporting ground units" from Japan to Korea, and gave the Air Force permission to lift its bombing line above the 38th Parallel to include all of North Korea. President Truman ordered the U.S. Navy to blockade the entire Korean coast.

Defense
U. S. President Truman signed a bill extending the draft to July 9, 1951 and authorizing him to call up the National Guard and reserves for 21 months' active service. The U.S. Senate passed and sent to the House of Representatives a $1.22-billion arms aid authorization bill.

Diplomacy
Norway granted Israel full diplomatic recognition.

Politics and government
U.S. President Truman vetoed a bill easing penalties and restrictions of the Hatch Act for federal employees.

Economics and finance
The U.S. government cut off all shipments of oil and other potential war materials to the Far East.

The European Payments Union went into effect, providing for tariff reductions among Western European states.

Baseball
For the first time in 15 years, Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees and Dom DiMaggio of the Boston Red Sox hit home runs in the same game as the Red Sox won 10-2 in the second game of a doubleheader before 32,539 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The Yankees scored 4 runs in the 8th as they came from behind to win the first game 9-6.

The Chicago White Sox edged the St. Louis Browns 3-2 in 13 innings before 12,190 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago after St. Louis pitcher Ned Garver (6-7) missed touching third base while rounding the bag while scoring what would have been the winning run earlier in the 3rd inning, and was called out. The game ended on a solo home run by Gus Zernial with 2 out in the bottom of the 13th.

Pinch hitter Sibby Sisti hit a pinch grand slam with 1 out in the top of the 9th inning to break a 4-4 tie as the Boston Braves beat the New York Giants 8-4 before 24,137 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York.

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Three Steps to Heaven--Eddie Cochran (2nd week at #1)

At the movies
The Apartment, produced, directed, and co-written by Billy Wilder, and starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, and Fred MacMurray, opened in theatres.



Africana
Belgian Congo gained its independence as Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville), with Joseph Kasavubu as President and Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister.

Baseball
The San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates split a doubleheader before 33,520 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Jack Sanford (7-5) pitched a 3-hitter as the Giants won the opener 11-0. Earl Francis, the last of three Pittsburgh pitchers, allowed 7 hits and 3 runs--all earned--in 5 innings, walking 3 batters and striking out none in his major league debut. The Pirates won the second game 11-6, led by Dick Stuart’s single, 3 consecutive home runs, and 7 runs batted in. Willie Mays homered for the Giants in both games.

Winning pitcher Don Cardwell (4-5) batted 4 for 5 with 3 runs to lead the Chicago Cubs to an 11-5 win over the Milwaukee Braves before 8,841 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Chicago leadoff hitter Richie Ashburn was 4 for 4 with 2 bases on balls, a triple, 3 runs, and 3 runs batted in.

Ted Williams hit a home run, and Don Buddin scored the winning run after eluding a rundown in a 6-run 8th inning as the Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 11-7 before 4,170 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Rocky Colavito hit 2 home runs and drove in 5 runs for the Tigers.

Jim Gentile entered the game in the 5th inning as a pinch hitter and hit a 2-run home run, then remained in the game at first base and added a 3-run homer for the Baltimore Orioles as they beat the Cleveland Indians 9-1 before 14,757 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Walt Dropo started at first base for Baltimore and was 2 for 2 with 2 runs batted in. Hal Brown (7-2) pitched a 6-hit complete game victory and batted 2 for 4 with a run.

Bill Skowron hit 2 home runs and Tony Kubek, Roger Maris, and Mickey Mantle also homered for the New York Yankees as they beat the Kansas City Athletics 10-3 before 8,513 fans at Yankee Stadium. Jerry Lumpe and Andy Carey homered for the Athletics against Ralph Terry (4-3), who pitched a 7-hit complete game victory.

The Chicago White Sox scored 2 runs in the top of the 10th inning to break a 2-2 tie and held on to defeat the Washington Senators 4-2 before 11,952 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington. The Senators had runners on first and second bases with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th, but Earl Battey grounded into a double play to end the game.

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Pretty Belinda--Chris Andrews (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): El Cóndor Pasa--Simon & Garfunkel (2nd week at #1)

Personal
This blogger finished Grade 3 in Mrs. Fizer’s class at Yellowknife Public School.

War
U.S. President Richard Nixon gave his final report on the recent U.S. military operation, terming it a success. After 34 days of debate, the United States Senate passed the Cooper-Church amendment, which barred the President from spending money to "retain" American forces in Cambodia; sending military advisers there; providing combat air support for Cambodian forces; or from paying any foreign troops who were assisting the Cambodians.

Politics and government
The United States Senate voted 76-19 to override President Richard Nixon’s veto of a bill authorizing $1.3 billion in hospital construction and modernization grants. Mr. Nixon had vetoed the bill as fiscally irresponsible. The House of Representatives had voted 279-98 to override Mr. Nixon’s veto the week before the Senate vote. It was the first time in 10 years that Congress had overturned a presidential veto.

Technology
The first commercial Picturephone service was inaugurated in Pittsburgh.

Boxing
George Chuvalo (59-15-2) knocked Charlie Reno (5-5-1) down 4 times and finally out at 2:40 of the 3rd round of a heavyweight bout at Seattle Center Coliseum.

Baseball
The Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-2 before a sellout crowd of 51,050 fans in the first game at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Atlanta right fielder Hank Aaron batted 3 for 4 with a base on balls, 2 doubles, the stadium's first home run, 3 runs, and 2 runs batted in. Pat Jarvis (8-6) pitched a 9-hit complete game victory.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Turning Japanese--The Vapors (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Dancing All Night--Monta & Brothers (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Funkytown--Lipps Inc. (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Funkytown--Lipps Inc.

Religion
Pope John Paul II arrived in Brasilia to begin the longest papal trip outside Italy in modern times. Through July 11, Pope John Paul visited 13 cities in Brazil and covered 17,500 miles.

Energy
U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed legislation authorizing a program to develop synthetic energy resources, saying that the scope of the program "will dwarf the combined programs that led us to the moon and built our interstate highway systems." The bill created the United States Synthetic Fuels Corporation; authorized $20 billion to be used by the corporation over the next five years; and made another $68 billion available for the following seven years, subject to Congressional appropriation. The bill, aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on imported oil, set a goal of the production of the equivalent of 500,000 barrels of oil per day by 1987 and 2,000,000 barrels per day by 1992 from alternative sources. Coal would be turned into gasoline, and oil would be extracted from shale. The bill also created a solar energy bank and authorized a $1.45-billion alcohol fuel production program.

25 years ago
1985

Terrorism
All 39 captives being held by the Shia Muslim Amal in Lebanon were released after almost three weeks of captivity, after intervention by Syrian President Hafez al-Assad.

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You--Heart (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Un' Estate Italiana--Edoardo Bennato; Gianna Nannini (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Infinity (1990's... Time for the Guru)--Guru Josh (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): What's a Woman?--Vaya Con Dios (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Maldòn--Zouk Machine (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Sacrifice/Healing Hands--Elton John (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 What's a Woman?--Vaya Con Dios (2nd week at #1)
2 Still Got the Blues (For You)--Gary Moore
3 Dirty Cash--Adventures of Stevie V
4 At this Moment/Emozioni--Marco Borsato
5 Saxuality--Candy Dulfer
6 I Promised Myself--Nick Kamen
7 Ooops Up--Snap!
8 Paint it Black--The Rolling Stones
9 Back by Dope Demand--King Bee
10 Hijo de la Luna--Mecano

Singles entering the chart were Way Down Now by World Party (#25); Step by Step by New Kids on the Block (#27); Take Your Time by Mantronix featuring Wondress (#28); It Must Have Been Love by Roxette (#29); and Mooi was die Tijd by Corry Konings (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Step by Step--New Kids on the Block
2 It Must Have Been Love--Roxette
3 Poison--Bell Biv DeVoe
4 Do You Remember?--Phil Collins
5 Hold On--Wilson Phillips
6 Hold On--En Vogue
7 Ready Or Not--After 7
8 I'll Be Your Shelter--Taylor Dayne
9 She Ain't Worth It--Glenn Medeiros featuring Bobby Brown
10 Cradle of Love--Billy Idol

Singles entering the chart were Hanky Panky by Madonna (#40); Have You Seen Her by M.C. Hammer (#63); Jerk Out by the Time (#65); Love and Emotion by Stevie B (#70); Release Me by Wilson Phillips (#76); Cuts Both Ways by Gloria Estefan (#83); Close to You by Maxi Priest (#87); Tic-Tac-Toe by Kyper (#91); Do Me! by Bell Biv DeVoe (#92); Come Back to Me by Janet Jackson (#93); I'm Never Gonna Give You Up by the Brat Pack (#94); and A Dreams a Dream by Soul II Soul (#95).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Step By Step--New Kids on the Block (2nd week at #1)
2 It Must Have Been Love--Roxette
3 Poison--Bell Biv DeVoe
4 Do You Remember?--Phil Collins
5 Ready Or Not--After 7
6 Hold On--Wilson Phillips
7 Hold On--En Vogue
8 I’ll Be Your Shelter--Taylor Dayne
9 Vogue--Madonna
10 U Can’t Touch This--M.C. Hammer

Singles entering the chart were Release Me by Wilson Phillips (#54); Jerk Out by the Time (#57); The Girl I Used to Know by Brother Beyond (#59); Have You Seen Her by M.C. Hammer (#63); Cuts Both Ways by Gloria Estefan (#67); We're All in the Same Gang by West Coast Rap All-Stars (#72); Talk to Me by Anita Baker (#76); and I Melt with You by Modern English (#85).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Vogue--Madonna (3rd week at #1)
2 It Must Have Been Love--Roxette
3 Do You Remember?--Phil Collins
4 All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You--Heart
5 Hold On--Wilson Phillips
6 Baby It's Tonight--Jude Cole
7 Step by Step--New Kids on the Block
8 Dangerous Times--Sue Medley
9 Children of the Night--Richard Marx
10 Cradle of Love--Billy Idol

Singles entering the chart were Child of the Wild Blue Yonder by John Hiatt (#67); Haunted Heart by Alias (#75); Your Ma Said You Cried in Your Sleep Last Night by Robert Plant (#80); Walk on the Wild Side by Layman Twaist (#82); I Didn't Want to Need You by Heart (#83); 'Cause Cheap is How I Feel by Cowboy Junkies (#88); Bang On by Sheree (#89); Hanky Panky by Madonna (#92); Through the Test of Time by Patti Austin (#97); and Licence to Love by Andy Curran (#98).

Diplomacy
South African Communist terrorist Nelson Mandela ended his tour of the United States after visiting New York; Washington; Atlanta; Miami; Detroit; Los Angeles; and Oakland.

Law
Chief Justice Brian Dickson retired from the Supreme Court of Canada; he joined the Court in 1973, and replaced Bora Laskin as Chief Justice in 1984.

Baseball
The New York Yankees, who had lost 1-0 to the Chicago White Sox the previous day, scored 4 runs in the top of the 1st inning and went on to beat the White Sox 10-7 before 38,078 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Jim Leyritz hit 2 home runs and a single for the Yankees, who outhit the White Sox 16-14. Sammy Sosa homered and tripled for Chicago.

10 years ago
2000

Baseball
The New York Mets scored 10 runs--9 after 2 were out--in the bottom of the 8th inning to overcome an 8-1 deficit and defeat the Atlanta Braves 11-8 before 52,831 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Mike Piazza’s 3-run home run was the deciding blow.

Sammy Sosa's 2-run double climaxed a 3-run 15th inning to break a 4-4 tie as the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 before 30,216 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee.