Wednesday 11 May 2011

May 11/12, 2011

May 12, 2011

820 years ago
1191


Married on this date
King Richard I of England married Berengaria of Navarre, who was crowned Queen consort of England the same day.

610 years ago
1401


Born on this date
Shōkō
. Emperor of Japan, 1412-1428. Shōkō, born Mihito, acceded to the throne upon the abdicaton of his father Go-Komatsu. He regularly practiced abstinence and fasting, which may have led to his death at the age of 27 on August 30, 1428 at the age of 27. Shōkō left no heir, and was succeeded as Emperor by his third cousin Go-Hanazono.

460 years ago
1551


Academia
National University of San Marcos, the oldest university in the Americas, was founded in Lima, Peru.

160 years ago
1851


Communications
The post office of the Province of Canada issued a 6-penny Prince Albert stamp; it was part of a series with Sandford Fleming's 3-penny Beaver and 12- penny Queen Victoria.

War
Two weeks after the entry of French forces into Tunisia, Muhammad III as-Sadiq, Bey of Tunis, signed the Treaty of Bardo to make Tunisia a French protectorate.

80 years ago
1931


Died on this date
Eugène Ysaÿe, 72
. Belgian musician, composer, and conductor. Mr. Ysaÿe was a violinist with the orchestra that became the Berlin Philharmonic, and had a long career as a professor at the Brussels Conservatoire. He wrote concertante and chamber works, as well as works for violin and piano.

70 years ago
1941


Married on this date
U.S. bandleader Phil Harris and U.S. actress Alice Faye were married by a justice of the peace in Ensenada, Mexico.

War
The British convoy Tiger reached Alexandria with 238 tanks needed for the defense of Egypt after running an Axis bomber gauntlet in the Mediterranean Sea.

Diplomacy
German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler met Vichy French Vice-Premier François Darlan at Berchtesgaden and presented German demands. South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts said in a radio broadcast from Cape Town that the United States had helped to pave the way for the European war by abandoning the League of Nations.

World events
A military tribunal in Bucharest sentenced 206 Iron Guardists to prison terms for attempting to overthrow the Romanian government.

Defense
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee approved the alien ship seizure bill after defeating an amendment to prohibit the transfer of seized ships to belligerents. U.S. Army Brigadier General Lewis Hershey, acting draft chief, urged Congress to revise the Selective Service Act so that the President could defer older men. The Philippine National Assembly passed a bill requiring the registration and fingerprinting of all aliens in the islands.

Technology
Konrad Zuse unveiled in Berlin the Z3, the world's first working programmable, fully automatic computer.

Economics and finance
British economist John Maynard Keynes said in Washington that the best way to block inflation was to withhold personal salaries at the source, as the British government of Prime Minister Winston Churchill was doing.

60 years ago
1951


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Bonaparte's Retreat--Pee Wee King and his Orchestra; Gene Krupa and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford (Best Seller--3rd week at #1; Disc Jockey--3rd week at #1; Jukebox--2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Mockin’ Bird Hill--Les Paul and Mary Ford (4th week at #1)
--Patti Page
2 On Top of Old Smoky--The Weavers and Terry Gilkyson
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
3 How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford
4 Be My Love--Mario Lanza
5 If--Perry Como
6 Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)--Patti Page
7 Beautiful Brown Eyes--Rosemary Clooney
8 Too Young--Nat "King" Cole
9 I Apologize--Billy Eckstine
10 The Syncopated Clock--Leroy Anderson and his "Pops" Concert Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were Ever True Ever More (#29)/Down the Trail of Achin' Hearts (#34) by Patti Page; Moonlight Bay by Bing and Gary Crosby (#30); and Jezebel by Frankie Laine (#35). Moonlight Bay was the other side of When You and I were Young Maggie Blues, charting at #14.

At the movies
The House on Telegraph Hill, directed by Robert Wise, and starring Richard Basehart, Valentina Cortese, and William Lundigan, received its premiere screening in New York City.





Abominations
The Free China Anti-Atrocity League in Taiwan accused the Communists of executing 2.26 million political opponents, with 1.3 million executions confirmed in Communist announcements, during the past 18 months.

Politics and government
The French National Assembly cleared the way for national elections on June 17 by voting to end its term on July 4.

The administration of U.S. President Harry Truman announced the resignation of the President's Commission on Internal Security and Individual Rights, headed by Admiral Chester Nimitz, because of the Senate Judiciary Committee's refusal to exempt commission members from conflict-of-interest statutes barring federal employees from doing business with the government.

50 years ago
1961


On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: The Mind and the Matter, starring Shelley Berman

The Lawless Years, starring James Gregory, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Jack "Legs" Diamond Story

This was the first episode of the season.

40 years ago
1971


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Brown Sugar--The Rolling Stones

At the movies
Red Sky at Morning, directed by James Goldstone, and starring Richard Thomas, Catherine Burns, Desi Arnaz, Jr., Richard Crenna, and Claire Bloom, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
Heinie Manush, 69
. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Manush played left field with the Detroit Tigers (1923-1927); St. Louis Browns (1928-1930); Washington Nationals (1931-1935); Boston Red Sox (1936); Brooklyn Dodgers (1937-1938); and Pittsburgh Pirates (1938-1939), batting .330 with 110 home runs and 1,183 runs batted in in 2,008 games. He played 11 seasons in the minor leagues (1920-1922, 1938-1945), including the 1921 season with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Class B Western Canada League. Mr. Manush led the American League in batting in 1926 (.378) and came within one plate appearance of winning the 1928 AL batting title. He led the league in hits twice, in doubles twice, and in triples once. Mr. Manush managed in the minor leagues in the 1940s, and coached and scouted in the 1950s and '60s with the Nationals and the expansion Washington Senators. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964, and died after a long battle with cancer.

Married on this date
Mick Jagger, lead singer of the Rolling Stones, married Bianca Perez Morena de Macias of Nicaragua in St. Tropez, France.

Protest
Anti-war protesters disrupted a civic reception in Auckland for New Zealand soldiers returning from the Vietnam War.

Economics and finance
New Brunswick became the last Canadian province to sign on to medicare, by proclaiming its Health Services Act.

The Chilean government passed a constitutional reform bill permitting the nationalization of the American-owned copper industry in Chile.

Basketball
ABA
Finals
Kentucky 127 @ Utah 137 (Utah led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Zelmo Beaty scored 32 points and grabbed 22 rebounds to lead the Stars over the Colonels before 13,250 fans at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. Dan Issel led Kentucky with 33 points and 16 rebounds.

30 years ago
1981


Died on this date
Benjamin Sheares, 73
. 2nd President of Singapore, 1971-1981. Dr. Sheares was an obstetrician and professor at Kandang Kerbau Hospital in Singapore before moving into private practice. He toof office as President after the death of Yusof Ishak, and was in his third term in office when he died of lung cancer. Dr. Sheares was succeeded as President by C.V. Devan Nair.

Francis Hughes, 25. U.K. terrorist. Mr. Hughes was a member of the provisional Irish Republican Army who was in Maze Prison in Northern Ireland serving an 83-year sentence for killing a British soldier in a shootout in 1978. He began a hunger strike on March 8, 1981, a week after fellow IRA terrorist and inmate Bobby Sands began a hunger strike, and died of starvation, a week after the death of Mr. Sands.

Defense
North American Air Defence Command (NORAD) changed its name to North American Aerospace Defence Command.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup Finals
Minnesota 3 @ New York Islanders 6 (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)



Basketball
NBA
Finals
Houston 80 @ Boston 109 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Cedric Maxwell scored 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Celtics to their rout of the Rockets before 15,320 fans at Boston Garden. Moses Malone led the Rockets with 20 points and 11 rebounds.



25 years ago
1986


Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
Calgary 5 @ St. Louis 6 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

20 years ago
1991


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): The Joker--Steve Miller Band

#1 single in Switzerland: Joyride--Roxette (6th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Joyride--Roxette (7th week at #1)
2 Secret Love--Bee Gees
3 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa
4 No Coke--Dr. Alban
5 Venedig im Regen--Thomas Forstner
6 Should I Stay or Should I Go--The Clash
7 Crazy--Seal
8 Sister Soul & Mr. Beat--Beat 4 Feet featuring Kim Cooper
9 The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher
10 Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)--Pet Shop Boys

Singles entering the chart were Just the Way it Is, Baby by the Rembrandts (#21); and The One and Only by Chesney Hawkes (#23).

Personal
This blogger was in Halifax, and had the pleasure of attending the service at Missionary Bible Church, pastored by Perry F. Rockwood. Mr. Rockwood founded the Peoples Gospel Hour in 1947, which has continued to broadcast his messages since his death in 2008. I enjoyed meeting in person someone I'd enjoyed listening to on the radio for more than a decade.

10 years ago
2001


Died on this date
Perry Como, 88
. U.S. singer. Mr. Como was a crooner known for his relaxed style, resulting in dozens of hit songs in a career spanning more than 50 years. He adopted his father's trade of barbering as a youth, and began his singing career with the bands of Freddy Carlone and Ted Weems in the 1930s before achieving success as a solo artist, reaching the number one spot in the Billboard pop singles chart 11 times from 1945-1958. Mr. Como hosted several television variety programs and numerous specials from the late 1940s through the mid-'90s, winning five Emmy Awards in the '50s. He died in his sleep, six days before his 89th birthday.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference Finals
Pittsburgh 1 @ New Jersey 3 (New Jersey led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Western Conference Finals
St. Louis 1 @ Colorado 4 (Colorado led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Petr Sykora scored the tying goal in the 2nd period and the winning goal in the 3rd period as the Devils defeated the Penguins at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford. New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur faced just 15 shots.

Joe Sakic scored 2 goals, including one on a penalty shot, as the Avalanche defeated the Blues at Pepsi Center in Denver.

May 11, 2011

200 years ago
1811


Born on this date
Jean-Jacques Challet-Venel
. Swiss politician. Mr. Challet-Venel, a member of the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland, served on the Swiss Federal Council (1864-1872); he was Minister of Finance (1864-1867, 1869) and Minister of Posts (1868, 1870-1872). Mr. Challet-Venel died on August 6, 1893 at the age of 82.

140 years ago
1871


Born on this date
Frank Schlesinger
. U.S. astronomer. Dr. Schlesinger worked at Yerkes Observatory (1899-1903), and was director of Allegheny Observatory (1903-1920) and Yale University Observatory (1920-1941). He concentrated on astrometry (precise measurement of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies), using photographic plates rather than direct visual studies. Dr. Schlesinger died on July 10, 1943 at the age of 72.

130 years ago
1881


Born on this date
Jan van Gilse
. Dutch composer and conductor. Mr. van Gilse was a pianist whose compositions included five symphonies and the opera Thijl. He conducted the Utrechtsch Stedelijk Orkest (Utrecht Municipal Orchestra) (1917-1922). Mr. van Gilse was active with the Dutch resistance against German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II; he died, probably of pneumonia, on September 8, 1944 at the age of 63.

Al Cabrera. Spanish-born Cuban baseball player and manager. Mr. Cabrera played shortstop for 1 game with the St. Louis Cardinals, batting 0 for 2 with no fielding chances on May 13, 1913. He hit .256 with 26 home runs in 773 games in 8 seasons in the minor leagues (1902-1915) and spent nine years in the Cuban leagues. Mr. Cabrera died in 1964 at the age of 62 or 63.

120 years ago
1891


Died on this date
Edmond Becquerel, 71
. French physicist. Professor Becquerel was credited with the discovery, in 1839, of the photovoltaic effect, the operating principle of the solar cell. He was also known for his work in luminescence and phosphorescence. Prof. Becquerel was the father of Henri Becquerel, one of the discoverers of radioactivity.

World events
Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich of Imperial Russia (later Nicholas II) suffered a head injury during a sabre attack in Kyoto by Japanese policeman Tsuda Sanzō. He was rescued by his cousin Prince George of Greece and Denmark, and survived with a 3 1/2-inch scar on the right side of his forehead.

100 years ago
1911


Born on this date
Phil Silvers
. U.S. actor. A great comic actor with a distinctive (and frequently imitated) voice and personality, Mr. Silvers had small roles in several movies in the 1940s before achieving great success on Broadway in the play Top Banana, one of the biggest hits of the 1951-1952 season, and a show that resulted in Mr. Silvers winning the 1952 Tony Award for best actor in a comedy or musical. Mr. Silvers also starred in the filmed version of Top Banana (1954). Mr. Silvers is best remembered as Sgt. Ernie Bilko in the television comedy series You'll Never Get Rich (later titled The Phil Silvers Show), which ran on CBS from 1955-1959. He won the Emmy Award for best actor in a continuing performance in a series in 1956, and was nominated for best actor in a continuing performance in a comedy series in 1957 and 1959. I may be one of the few people who remembers Mr. Silvers' starring role in the Disney comedy film The Boatniks (1970). Mr. Silvers died in his sleep on November 1, 1985 at the age of 74.

Mitchell Sharp. Canadian politician. Mr. Sharp was an economist who served as a Liberal member of the House of Commons from 1963-1978. Her served as Minister of Finance in the government of Prime Minister Lester Pearson from 1965-1968 and Secretary of State for External Affairs in the government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau from 1968-1974, where he was known for "deploring" various international situations. Typical of the dishonesty of the federal Liberals, Mr. Sharp revealed in his memoirs in 1994 that he was a republican. He had kept his opposition to the monarchy to himself while accepting cabinet posts, which require an oath of loyalty to the queen. Mr. Sharp died of prostate on March 19, 2004 at the age of 93.

Aviation
Bob St. Henry made the first aeroplane flight in Saskatoon, and one of the earliest in the province of Saskatchewan.

Baseball
The Chicago White Sox pounded the Washington Nationals 20-6 at White Sox Park, scoring all their runs off losing pitcher Bob Groom (2-4), who allowed 21 hits. Chicago third baseman Harry Lord batted 4 for 6 with a triple, 3 runs, and 5 runs batted in. Doc White (2-2) pitched a 10-hit complete game victory, batting 2 for 4 with a double, 2 runs, and an RBI.

The Boston Red Sox scored a run in the top of the 10th inning to break a 6-6 tie and edged the Cleveland Naps 7-6 at League Park in Cleveland. The Naps scored a run in the 7th, 2 in the 8th, and 1 in the 9th as they overcame a 6-2 deficit to send the game into extra innings. Boston third baseman Clyde Engle batted 3 for 4 with a triple, run, and 4 runs batted in.

Pinch hitter Bris Lord doubled home 2 runs and scored on a single by Rube Oldring as the Philadelphia Athletics scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning and defeated the St. Louis Browns 4-2 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The Browns opened the scoring with 2 runs in the 7th inning against Harry Krause (2-1), but Amos Strunk hit a solo home run in the 8th to get the Athletics on the scoreboard. Jack Coombs retired the Browns in order in the bottom of the 9th to get his first save of the season; Jack Powell (2-4) allowed 11 hits in a complete game defeat.

Grover Cleveland Alexander (5-1) gave up 7 runs in the 9th inning, but still won as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 19-10 at National League Park in Philadelphia. Mr. Alexander allowed 6 hits, and batted 2 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 runs batted in. Sherry Smith, the last of three Pittsburgh pitchers, allowed 4 hits and 5 runs in 2/3 inning, walking 1 batter and striking out none in his first major leage game.

Every man in the Cincinnati Reds' lineup had at least 1 hit as the Reds outslugged the Boston Rustlers 13-10 at South End Grounds in Boston. Art Fromme (1-2) pitched a complete game victory, allowing 12 hits and 5 bases on balls.

80 years ago
1931


On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Adventure of Black Peter

75 years ago
1936


Baseball
Mel Ott drove in 8 runs and hit a 3-run home run with 2 out in the 9th inning as the New York Giants edged the Philadelphia Phillies 13-12.

70 years ago
1941


Died on this date
Peggy Shannon, 34
. U.S. actress. Miss Shannon, born Winona Sammon, appeared in Broadway plays before moving to Hollywood and replacing Clara Bow as the latest "It" girl in the movie The Secret Call (1931). Miss Shannon had an undistinguished career in motion pictures before dying of a heart attack brought on by heavy drinking. Her second husband, Albert Roberts, shot himself to death three weeks later.

War
Reports from Chungking said that Japanese forces had thrown 10,000 troops into an offensive on the Honan-Hupeh border in central China.

U.S. Representative George Tinkham (Republican--Massachusetts) issued a statement challenging President Franklin D. Roosevelt to ask Congress for a declaration of war, and to abide by the decision.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. reported that the Soviet government had accepted an Iraqi proposal to establish diplomatic relations between the countries.

Defense
In a radio broadcast, former U.S. President Herbert Hoover declared his opposition to U.S. convoys of goods to Britain under the Lend-Lease program.

Politics and government
Iraqi Prime Minister Rashid Ali Beg Gailani's attempts to gain Muslim support were rebuffed by both Saudi Arabia and Iran, according to sources in Cairo.

Labour
The Mutual Broadcasting System signed a nine-year contract with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) under which ASCAP would receive 3% of the network's gross receipts over the next four years and 3 1/2% thereafter. ASCAP's 1,250,000 songs had been off the major U.S. radio networks since January 1, 1941.

60 years ago
1951


On the radio
Hear it Now, hosted by Edward R. Murrow, on CBS

Tonight's program included news about the U.S. Senate hearings on the differences and similarities in Korean War policies between General Douglas MacArthur and President Harry Truman.

On television tonight
It's News to Me, hosted by John Daly, on CBS

This was the first broadcast of the panel quiz show. Originally intended as a special, it began running as a weekly program on July 2, 1951, replacing the panel quiz show Who's Whose, which was cancelled after just one broadcast.

At the movies
Pier 23, directed and co-produced by William Berke, and starring Hugh Beaumont, Ann Savage, Edward Brophy, and Mike Mazurki, opened in theatres.



World events
A court in Manila sentenced nine Philippine Communist leaders to death, nine to life imprisonment, and 11 to shorter prison terms after a four-month group trial.

Politics and government
Ecuadorian President Gala Plaza Lasso reorganized his cabinet as Socialists ended their opposition to the government.

Chess
Mikhail Botvinnik of the U.S.S.R. retained his world championship, winning a two-month 24-game match in Moscow against fellow Soviet David Bronstein.

50 years ago
1961


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): Exodus--Ferrante and Teicher

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Blue Moon--The Marcels (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Nero Rankin Story

Disasters
A landslide in Ringlet, Malaya killed 50 people.

40 years ago
1971


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep--Middle of the Road (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): (I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Seán Lemass, 81
. Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, 1959-1966. Mr. Lemass, a member of Fianna Fáil, represented Dublin South (1924-1948) and Dublin South-Central (1948-1969) in the Dáil Éireann> He held various cabinet posts, including Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) (1945-1948, 1951-1954, 1957-1959). Mr. Lemass became leader of Fianna Fáil and Prime Minister when Éamon de Valera resigned to take office as President of Ireland. Mr. Lemass became known as the "father of modern Ireland" for his modernizing initiatives in such areas as education, industry, and foreign investment. He resigned as Taoiseach and party leader in November 1966, and was succeeded by Jack Lynch.

Jeff McCleskey, 79. U.S. baseball player. Mr. McCleskey was a third baseman with the Boston Braves (1913), batting 0 for 3 with a base on balls in 2 games. He played seven seasons in the minor leagues (1911-1917).

Journalism
Britain’s oldest tabloid, the Daily Sketch, ceased publication after 62 years.

Boxing
Joe Bugner (33-2-1) retained his European heavyweight title with a 15-round decision over Juergen Blin (26-9-6) at Empire Pool, Wembley, London.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Chicago 2 @ Montreal 5 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Yvan Cournoyer and Pete Mahovlich each scored 2 goals for the Canadiens at the Montreal Forum, while Pete’s older brother Frank scored his 14th goal of the 1971 playoffs, breaking the single-season record set by Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins a year earlier.

Baseball
Cleveland Indians’ starting pitcher Steve Dunning hit a grand slam in the 2nd inning, but lasted just 4+ innings, allowing 10 hits and 5 earned runs, as the Indians defeated the Oakland Athletics 7-5 before 2,992 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Phil Hennigan (1-0) allowed 2 hits in 5 scoreless innings of relief to get the win.

Joe Torre drove in 4 runs with a pair of home runs to help the St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Montreal Expos 10-4 before 8,862 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Montreal center fielder Boots Day led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a home run.

Dave Marshall hit a grand slam to climax a 5-run 6th inning for the New York Mets as they beat the Houston Astros 8-1 before 20,612 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Nolan Ryan (4-0) pitched a 3-hitter, striking out 8 batters and walking 7.

30 years ago
1981


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Jealous Guy--Roxy Music

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Ruby no Yubiwa--Akira Terao (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime--The Korgis (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce Music Theatre (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Odd Hassel, 83
. Norwegian chemist. Dr. Hassel shared the 1969 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Derek Barton "for their contributions to the development of the concept of conformation and its application in chemistry." He died six days before his 84th birthday.

Sam Byrd, 74. U.S. baseball player and golfer. Mr. Byrd was an outfielder with the New York Yankees (1929-1934) and Cincinnati Reds (1935-1936), batting .274 with 38 home runs and 220 runs batted in in 745 games. He was nicknamed "Babe Ruth's Legs" for his frequent appearances as a pinch runner for Mr. Ruth. Mr. Byrd played the final inning of the 1932 World Series as a defensive replacement for Mr. Ruth. Mr. Byrd played professional golf, mainly as a club pro, from 1933-1978, winning 23 tournaments. He finished third in the 1941 Masters and fourth in the 1942 Masters, and second in the 1945 PGA Championship, becoming the first man to play in those events as well as in a World Series.

Bob Marley, 36. Jamaican musician. The leader of the Wailers and a pioneer reggae singer-songwriter and Rastafarian (someone who regarded former Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie as the messiah), Mr. Marley died of cancer. His best-known songs included I Shot the Sheriff and Stir it Up.

Theatre
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats opened at the New London Theatre.

The first Toronto Theatre Festival opened; 19 theatres staged 34 plays over 10 days.

Baseball
Rick Miller batted 5 for 5 with 4 doubles, 3 runs, and a run batted for the Boston Red Sox as they edged the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 before 11,315 fans at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Mr. Miller scored the winning run when he doubled with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning and scored on a double by Gary Allenson to break a 6-6 tie.

Nolan Ryan (2-1) pitched a 7-hitter, striking out 11 batters and walking 3, to lead the Houston Astros over the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 before 11,795 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

Bruce Benedict singled home Chris Chambliss from second base with 2 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Atlanta Braves a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates before 4,260 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

20 years ago
1991


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Tingles (EP)--Ratcat (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Se Stiamo Insieme--Riccardo Cocciante (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Grease Megamix--John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Joyride--Roxette (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Joyride--Roxette (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Désenchantée--Mylène Farmer (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Losing My Religion--R.E.M. (3rd week at #1)
2 One More Try--Timmy T
3 You--Ten Sharp
4 Going to the Run--Golden Earring
5 Joyride--Roxette
6 Always on the Run--Lenny Kravitz
7 Mega Mix--Snap!
8 Wind of Change--Scorpions
9 Liefde is Lekker Maar Lekker is Niet Altijd Liefde--Hanny
10 Love and Marriage--Frank Sinatra

Singles entering the chart were Just a Groove by Nomad (#25); What Comes Naturally by Sheena Easton (#30); Strike it Up by Black Box (#31); Her by Guy (#33); and Hello Afrika by Dr. Alban featuring Leila K. (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Joyride--Roxette
2 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
3 I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)--Hi-Five
4 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
5 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
6 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
7 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
8 I Don't Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
9 More than Words--Extreme
10 Cry for Help--Rick Astley

Singles entering the chart were Rush, Rush by Paula Abdul (#36); Part of Me, Part of You by Glenn Frey (#83); A Better Love by Londonbeat (#86); Kisses in the Night by Brandon (#88); I'm Dreamin' by Christopher Williams (#90); Over and Over by Timmy T. (#96); and Piece of My Heart by Tara Kemp (#98). I'm Dreamin' was from the movie New Jack City (1991).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Joyride--Roxette
2 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
3 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
4 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
5 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
6 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
7 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
8 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
9 I’ve Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
10 You’re in Love--Wilson Phillips

Singles entering the chart were Rush, Rush by Paula Abdul (#39); Part of Me, Part of You by Glenn Frey (#83); A Better Love by Londonbeat (#84); See the Lights by Simple Minds (#89); and Going Through the Motions by AfterShock (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Joyride--Roxette (2nd week at #1)
2 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
3 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
4 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
5 I’ve Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
6 Animal Heart--Glass Tiger
7 Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You--Robert Palmer
8 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
9 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
10 You’re in Love--Wilson Phillips

Singles entering the chart were World of Wonder by Rik Emmett (#56); I Like the Way (The Kissing Game) by Hi-Five (#60); Save Some Love by Kandy (#68); Someone to Love by Roger McGuinn (#77); Simple Words to Say by Zappacosta (#79); Strike it Up by Black Box (#87); If I Should Lose This Love by Gino Vannelli (#89); Wind of Change by the Scorpions (#90); Why Should I Cry for You by Sting (#94); Dream Lover by the Rebel Pebbles (#95); and Seal Our Fate by Gloria Estefan (#96).

Baseball
The California Angels released pitcher Ed Vosberg. Mr. Vosberg had previously pitched with the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants; he had been signed by the Angels on December 4, 1990, but had yet to appear in a major league game in 1991.

Cleveland Indians’ outfielder Albert Belle threw a baseball at a fan heckling him from the stands and hit him in the chest during the Indians’ 2-1 loss to the California Angels before 14,720 fans at Cleveland Stadium. Jim Abbott (2-4) allowed 5 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings to win the pitchers' duel over Greg Swindell (1-4), who allowed 8 hits and no earned runs in pitching a complete game.

10 years ago
2001


Died on this date
Douglas Adams, 49
. U.K. author. Mr. Adams was known for creating The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which began as a radio series in 1978, and evolved into a series of novels, a television series, and evenutally a movie in 2005. Mr. Adams moved to California in 1999, and died there of a heart attack after a workout at a gym. He described himself as a "radical atheist," but he isn't one now.

Labour
An arbitrator ruled that major league baseball had to reinstate 9 of 22 umpires who had lost their jobs when they had resigned the previous season.

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