October 20, 2015

275 years ago
1740

Died on this date
Charles VI, 55. Holy Roman Emperor, 1711-1740. Charles VI succeeded his elder brother Joseph I as Holy Roman Emperor and several other titles. Charles VI had no male heirs and issued the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 in an attempt to allow for a daughter to take the throne; his daughter Maria Theresa was born four years later. Some countries recognized the Pragmatic Sanction and others didn't or later reneged on their support. Emperor Charles VI died 19 days after his 55th birthday as a result of taking ill after a day outdoors in cold, wet weather.

War
France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony refused to honour the Pragmatic Sanction, sparking the War of the Austrian Succession.

150 years ago
1865

Died on this date
Champ Ferguson, 43. C.S. guerrilla leader. Mr. Ferguson, a native of Kentucky and resident of Tennessee, claimed to have killed over 100 Union Army soldiers and Union civilians during the U.S. Civil War (1861-1865). He was hanged after being convicted by a military court of 53 murders.

125 years ago
1890

Died on this date
Richard Burton, 69. U.K. explorer. Sir Richard, who reportedly spoke 29 languages, was known for translating into English One Thousand and One Nights (aka The Arabian Nights); visiting Mecca and Medina in disguise in 1853; and journeying with fellow Englishman John Hanning Speke to the Great Lakes of Africa from 1857-1858 in search of the source of the Nile River.

Baseball
World Series
Brooklyn Bridegrooms 7 @ Louisville Colonels 7 (7½ innings) (Brooklyn led best-six-of-ten series 2-0-1)

The Colonels scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to tie the Bridegrooms before 2,500 fans at Eclipse Park, after which the game was called because of darkness. Brooklyn led the game 6-1 after 5½ innings. Adonis Terry, who had pitched an 8-inning shutout in game 1, had his second complete game of the Series for the Bridegrooms. Scott Stratton, the losing pitcher in game 1, started for the Colonels, but was relieved in the 4th by George Meakim.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Morrie Ryskind. U.S. playwright, screenwriter, and songwriter. Mr. Ryskind wrote scrips and lyrics for Broadway musicals and Hollywood movies. He and George S. Kaufman wrote the book for Of Thee I Sing (1931), which became the first musical to win the first Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Mr. Ryskind was known for his association with the Marx Brothers; he wrote the book for the musical (1929) and the screenplay for the movie (1930) Animal Crackers, and the screenplays for the movies The Cocoanuts (1929); A Night at the Opera (1935); and Room Service (1938). Mr. Ryskind was nominated for Academy Awards for his screenplays for My Man Godfrey (1936) and Stage Door (1937). He was a member of the Socialist Party of America in the 1930s, but eventually became a conservative. His testimony as a "friendly witness" before the U.S. House of Representatives in 1947 may have led to his inability to sell any scripts afterward. Mr. Ryskind died on August 24, 1985 at the age of 89.

Rex Ingram. U.S. actor. Mr. Ingram appeared in plays, films, and television programs in a career spanning more than 50 years. His movies included The Green Pastures (1936) and The Thief of Bagdad (1940). Mr. Ingram died of a heart attack on September 19, 1969 at the age of 73.

80 years ago
1935

Died on this date
Arthur Henderson, 72. U.K. politician. Mr. Henderson was leader of the British Labour Party from 1908-1910, 1914-1917, and 1931-1932, and was Foreign Secretary from 1929-1931 in the cabinet of Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. He worked with the World League of Peace and chaired the Conference for the Reduction and Limitation of Armaments in Geneva from 1932-1934, and was awarded the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize "for his work for the League, particularly its efforts in disarmament."

75 years ago
1940

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Engineer's Thumb

Defense
HMS Windflower, the first corvette built in Canada, was commissioned into the Royal Navy in Halifax with a Canadian crew; she was turned over to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1941.

Football
NFL
Pittsburgh (1-4-2) 0 @ New York (3-1-1) 12
Washington (5-0) 34 @ Philadelphia (0-6) 17
Chicago Cardinals (1-4-2) 14 @ Cleveland (2-3) 26
Brooklyn (3-2) 7 @ Chicago Bears (4-1) 16
Detroit (3-2-1) 23 @ Green Bay (3-2) 14

AFL
Buffalo (1-4) 0 @ Boston (4-1) 20
Milwaukee (3-2) 7 @ New York (2-2) 30

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Till the End of Time--Perry Como with Russ Case and his Orchestra (Best Seller--6th week at #1; Airplay--6th week at #1; Juke Box--4th week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--5th week at #1)

Football
CRU
IRFU
Montreal (1-4) 5 @ Ottawa (4-1) 28
Hamilton (1-4) 10 @ Toronto (4-1) 13

Joe Krol played his first game as an Argonaut in the team's win over the Tigers at Varsity Stadium. Mr. Krol had played with the Hamilton Flying Wildcats of the Ontario Rugby Football Union in 1944 before joining the Detroit Lions of the National Football League and playing 2 games with them in 1945.

Canadian university
Alberta (1-0) 14 @ Saskatchewan (0-1) 5

Mickey Hajash rushed 95 yards for a touchdown late in the 3rd quarter to help the Golden Bears defeat the Huskies before 3,000 fans at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.

60 years ago
1955

At the movies
Lucy Gallant, directed by Robert Parrish, and starring Jane Wyman, Charlton Heston, Claire Trevor, and Thelma Ritter, opened in theatres.



50 years ago
1965

Music
The Beatles were at EMI Studios in London, where they began recording the song We Can Work it Out.

Space
The newly-discovered Comet Ikeya-Seki, named for its Japanese discoverers, began circling the Sun in a hairpin orbit. The comet had a tail of 10,000-20,000 miles.

Politics and government
The West German Bundestag re-elected Ludwig Erhard as Chancellor.

Hockey
NHL
All-Star Game @ Montreal Forum
All-Stars 5 Montreal 2

Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings scored 2 goals and 2 assists and was named the game's most valuable player as he led the All-Stars over the defending Stanley Cup champion Canadiens before 14,284 fans. After a scoreless 1st period, Montreal took a 2-0 lead on goals by Jean Beliveau and Jacques Laperriere. The All-Stars responded with goals by Norm Ullman of the Red Wings, Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks, and Mr. Howe to take a 3-2 lead after 2 periods. Johnny Bucyk of the Boston Bruins scored in the 3rd period to make it 4-2, and Mr. Howe scored shorthanded with 1:21 remaining to close the scoring. Glenn Hall of the Black Hawks made 39 saves in goal for the All-Stars; Gump Worsley and Charlie Hodge split the Montreal goaltending duties, facing 25 shots.

Baseball
The St. Louis Cardinals traded third baseman Ken Boyer to the New York Mets for pitcher Al Jackson and third baseman Charlie Smith. Mr. Boyer, the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1964, batted .260 with 13 home runs and 75 runs batted in in 144 games with the Cardinals in 1965. Mr. Jackson was 8-20 with an earned run average of 4.35 in 37 games with the Mets in 1965, while Mr. Smith hit .244 with 16 homers and 62 RBIs in 135 games with the Mets.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do--ABBA (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Toki no Sugiyuku Mama ni--Kenji Sawada (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Bella Sin Alma--Richard Cocciante

On television tonight
The Robert MacNeil Report, on WNET

This was the first program of what became The MacNeil/Lehrer Report; The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour; and what is now the PBS NewsHour. WNET is the Public Broadcasting Service's New York City affiliate.

Agriculture
The U.S.S.R. agreed to buy up to 8.8 million short tons (8 million metric tons) of U.S. corn and wheat each year for the next five years.

Basketball
ABA
The Baltimore Claws franchise was terminated after team president David Cohan missed a deadline to send $500,000 to the American Basketball Association office as a performance bond. The team had played as the New Orleans Buccaneers (1967-70); Memphis Pros (1970-72); Memphis Tams (1972-1974); and Memphis Sounds (1974-75), before moving to Baltimore, where the team was initially known as the Hustlers, but changed the name after a negative reaction from ABA officials. The Claws played three pre-season games, but the players weren't being paid, and other basic expenses weren't being met. The termination of the franchise came just five days before the beginning of the 1975-76 regular season.

Football
NFL
New York Giants (2-3) 17 @ Buffalo (4-1) 14

Baseball
The St. Louis Cardinals traded veteran outfielder Willie Davis to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Dick Sharon, who was assigned to the Tulsa Oilers of the AAA American Association. Mr. Davis began the 1975 season with the Texas Rangers, batting .249 with 5 home runs and 17 runs batted in in 42 games before being traded to the Cardinals on June 4, and batting .291 with 6 homers and 50 RBIs in 98 games with St. Louis. Mr. Sharon batted .194 with 4 home runs and 20 RBIs in 91 games with San Diego in 1975.

World Series
Cincinnati Reds @ Boston Red Sox (postponed, rain) (Cincinnati led best-of-seven series 3-2)

30 years ago
1985

Labour
A strike of 10,000 members of the Canadian Automobile Workers against Chrysler Corporation was settled.

Football
CFL
Calgary (3-11) 10 @ Toronto (5-9) 26
British Columbia (11-3) 42 @ Saskatchewan (5-10) 18

Defensive back Cliff Hewitt returned a fumbled punt 4 yards for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter, and Condredge Holloway completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Walter Bender in the 3rd quarter as the Argonauts defeated the Stampeders before an Exhibition Stadium crowd of 26,352. Lance Chomyc added 2 converts and 3 field goals, and Hank Ilesic punted for 3 singles. The only Stampeder touchdown came on an 18-yard rush by Dwight Beverly with just 2:14 remaining in the game. Mr. Beverly also rushed for a 2-point convert. J.T. Hay punted for 2 singles to complete the Calgary scoring.

The Lions jumped out to a 34-0 lead in the 3rd quarter and coasted to victory over the Roughriders before 19,940 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Keyvan Jenkins rushed for 46 yards and 2 touchdowns, and B.C. quarterback Roy Dewalt rushed 1 yard for a touchdown and passed 39 yards to Merv Fernandez for another as the Lions built up their big lead. The Roughriders scored 3 unconverted touchdowns in the second half, starting with a 5-yard run by Craig Ellis late in the 3rd quarter. Harold Smith completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Ray Elgaard at 2:45 of the 4th quarter, and Jitter Fields returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown just 27 seconds later. The Roughriders were unsuccessful on three 2-point convert attempts. Andre Jones returned an interception 91 yards for the final B.C. touchdown with less than 4 minutes remaining. Lui Passaglia kicked 5 converts and 2 field goals, and added a punt single in the final minute to complete the scoring.

Baseball
World Series
St. Louis Cardinals 4 @ Kansas City Royals 2 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Hits by Jack Clark, Tito Landrum, and Terry Pendleton with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning produced 4 runs for the Cardinals as they defeated the Royals before 41,656 fans at Royals Stadium. Mr. Pendleton’s hit was a double that drove in 3 runs. Danny Cox started on the mound for the Cardinals and pitched 7 innings. Ken Dayley relieved him to start the 8th inning and was credited with the win. Losing pitcher Charlie Leibrandt gave up just 2 hits in the first 8 innings, but was unable to get the final out in the 9th, being relieved by Dan Quisenberry.



25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Scandalo--Gianna Nannini

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): I Can't Stand It--Twenty 4 Seven (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): I've Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Kingston Town--UB40

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Show Me Heaven--Maria McKee (4th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Verdammt - Ich Lieb' Dich--Matthias Reim (3rd week at #1)
2 I've Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
3 Nah Neh Nah--Vaya con Dios
4 Tonight--New Kids on the Block
5 Suicide Blonde--INXS
6 The Joker--Steve Miller Band
7 Cult of Snap--Snap!
8 Have You Seen Her--MC Hammer
9 Promise Me--Beverley Craven
10 The Cult of Snap--Hi Power

Singles entering the chart were Candy by Iggy Pop (#22); Duet by Brigitte Kaandorp en Herman Finkers (#26); Crying in the Rain by A-ha (#31); La Colegiala by Sandra Reemer (#36); Brother Sagitarius by Hessel (#37); and That's Freedom by John Farnham (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I Don't Have the Heart--James Ingram
2 Black Cat--Janet Jackson
3 Praying for Time--George Michael
4 Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice
5 Close to You--Maxi Priest
6 Romeo--Dino
7 Giving You the Benefit--Pebbles
8 Everybody Everybody--Black Box
9 Can't Stop--After 7
10 (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection--Nelson

Singles entering the chart were I'm Your Baby Tonight by Whitney Houston (#42); Each and Every Time by Sweet Sensation (#79); And So it Goes by Billy Joel (#83); Fairweather Friend by Johnny Gill (#88); So Hard by Pet Shop Boys (#93); Tick Tock by the Vaughan Brothers (#95); and Love is the Ritual by Styx (#96).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Praying for Time--George Michael (2nd week at #1)
2 I Don’t Have the Heart--James Ingram
3 Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice
4 Black Cat--Janet Jackson
5 Close to You--Maxi Priest
6 (Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection--Nelson
7 Romeo--Dino
8 Suicide Blonde--INXS
9 Everybody Everybody--Black Box
10 Giving You the Benefit--Pebbles

Singles entering the chart were Misunderstanding by Al B. Sure! (#65); Tick Tock by the Vaughan Brothers (#68); B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)? by Bell Biv DeVoe (#70); New Power Generation by Prince (#75); Each and Every Time by Sweet Sensation (#85); and And So it Goes by Billy Joel (#89).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Something Happened on the Way to Heaven--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)
2 Praying for Time--George Michael
3 Suicide Blonde--INXS
4 Release Me--Wilson Phillips
5 Blaze of Glory--Jon Bon Jovi
6 Oh Girl--Paul Young
7 Heart of Stone--Taylor Dayne
8 Girl with a Problem--The Northern Pikes
9 Close to You--Maxi Priest
10 More than Words Can Say--Alias

Singles entering the chart were Pray by MC Hammer (#66); Something to Believe In by Poison (#71); Better Not Tell Her by Carly Simon (#73); When a Heart Breaks by Rik Emmett (#74); Let's Try it Again by New Kids on the Block (#83); Can't Feel the Pain by Brent Bourgeois (#86); From a Distance by Bette Midler (#87); Rain on Me by Corey Hart (#92); Lost Brotherhood by Gowan (#94); Heart Like a Wheel by the Human League (#97); and The Obvious Child by Paul Simon (#98).

Died on this date
Joel McCrea, 84. U.S. actor. Mr. McCrea starred in movies such as Foreign Correspondent (1940); Sullivan's Travels (1941); The Palm Beach Story (1942); and The More the Merrier (1943), but appeared almost exclusively in Westerns later in his career, most notably Ride the High Country (1962). He died 16 days before his 85th birthday.

Scandal
Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry was sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined $5,000 and costs on the conviction of a misdemeanour charge of possessing cocaine. U.S. Federal District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson said that an example should be set for other public officials, and said that Mr. Barry had "given aid, comfort, and encouragement to drug culture at large."

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (8-8) 15 @ Toronto (9-7) 59

Darrell K. Smith caught 7 passes for 212 yards and 3 touchdowns, each from a different quarterback, in a game in which the Argos got stronger as it went along. Matt Dunigan started at quarterback for Toronto and completed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Mr. Smith in the 1st quarter. He then rushed twice for 1-yard touchdowns in the 2nd quarter before reinjuring his left hamstring. John Congemi relieved him and handed off to Paul Nastasiuk for a 2-yard touchdown in the 3rd quarter and then passed 10 yards to Mr. Smith for a touchdown with 4:05 remaining in the game. Willie Gillus then entered the game and lit up the scoreboard with a 1-yard touchdown rush at 12:22; a 35-yard touchdown pass to Mr. Smith just 15 seconds later, after a turnover on the kickoff; and a 65-yard touchdown pass to Mike "Pinball" Clemons with 47 seconds remaining. The late splurge amounted to 4 touchdowns in a span of 3 minutes and 18 seconds. Lance Chomyc added 8 converts and a field goal. Mr. Smith’s touchdowns gave him 19 on pass receptions for the season, breaking the record of 18 set by Brian Kelly of the Edmonton Eskimos in 1984. Mr. Clemons’ touchdown gave him a league record of 2,913 combined (rushing, receiving, kick return) yardage for the season, breaking the record of 2,896 of Rufus Crawford of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1984. The Argos led 21-0 at halftime and 28-0 in the 3rd quarter before Saskatchewan quarterback Kent Austin connected with Ray Elgaard for an 11-yard touchdown, converted by Dave Ridgway. Mr. Chomyc’s 10-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining in the quarter made the score 31-7, and Mr. Austin completed a 12-yard pass to Mr. Elgaard for a touchdown 3:40 into the 4th quarter, followed by a 2-point convert pass to Mr. Elgaard. A crowd announced at 40,029 attended the game at SkyDome.



Baseball
World Series
Cincinnati Reds 2 @ Oakland Athletics 1 (Cincinnati won best-of-seven series 4-0)

The Reds manufactured 2 runs in the top of the 8th inning to defeat the Athletics before 48,613 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum to win their first World Series in 14 years. Cincinnati starting pitcher Jose Rijo gave up a run in the 1st inning and then retired the next 20 batters he faced. Dave Stewart went the distance in taking his second loss of the Series despite giving up just 7 hits. Trailing 1-0 in the 8th inning, the Reds loaded the bases with none out. Glenn Braggs drove in the tying run with a ground ball, and then Hal Morris drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly. Mr. Rijo earned his second win of the Series, and Randy Myers retired the last 2 batters to get the save. The Athletics got just 2 hits.



Nippon Series
Seibu Lions 5 @ Yomiuri Giants 0 (Seibu led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Boombastic--Shaggy

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Boombastic--Shaggy (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, on PBS

This evening's program marked the last for Robert MacNeil as co-anchor, on the 20th anniversary of the first program of what is now the PBS NewsHour.

Died on this date
John Tonkin, 93. Australian politician. "Honest John," a member of the Labour Party, represented North-East Fremantle (1933-1950) and Melville (1950-1977) for a record total of 44 years in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. He held several cabinet posts, and was elected party leader in 1967, becoming Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Tonkin led Labour to electoral victory in 1971, and served as Premier of Western Australia until 1974, when Labour lost power in the state election. Mr. Tonkin resigned as W.A. Labour Party leader in 1976, and retired from politics in 1977.

Christopher Stone, 53. U.S. actor. Mr. Stone, born Thomas Edward Bourassa, played Dr. "Pooch" Hardin in the television series The Interns (1970-1971), before appearing with his wife Dee Wallace Stone in movies such as The Howling (1981) and Cujo (1983). He died of a heart attack 16 days after his 53rd birthday.

Crime
In Chicago, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Michael Toomin sentenced stable owner Ken Hansen, 62, to three sentences of 200-300 years each for the October 16, 1955 murders of Bobby Peterson, 13; Tony Schuessler, 13; and John Schuessler, 11. The story of the murders and trial was told in the book Shattered Sense of Innocence: The 1955 Murders of Three Chicago Children by Richard C. Lindberg and Gloria Jean Sykes (2006).

Football
CFL
Memphis (9-8) 28 @ Toronto (3-14) 10

Gary Anderson rushed 1 yard for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter and Damon Allen connected with Joe Horn for a 22-yard TD as the Mad Dogs took a 17-0 halftime lead and coasted to victory over the Argonauts before 14,122 fans at SkyDome. Al Shipman rushed 18 yards for the final Memphis touchdown in the 3rd quarter. Mike "Pinball" Clemons rushed 1 yard for the Toronto touchdown late in the game.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Slick Goodlin, 82. U.S. aviator. Chalmers Hubert Goodlin was a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, U.S. Naval Air Force, and Israeli Air Force, but was best known as a test pilot. He was the second test pilot to fly the Bell X-1 rocket plane, and the first to operate it in powered flight.

Shirley Horn, 71. U.S. musician. Miss Horn was a jazz singer and pianist who was known for her collaborations with Miles Davis.