April 21, 2018

120 years ago
1898

War
The United States Navy began a blockade of Cuban ports. When the U.S. Congress issued a declaration of war on April 25, it declared that a state of war had existed from this date.

Baseball
Philadelphia Phillies’ pitcher Bill Duggleby hit a grand slam in his first major league at bat to help the Phillies defeat the New York Giants 13-4 at National League Park in Philadelphia. In 1968 Bobby Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hit a grand slam in his first game (in his third at bat) against the Dodgers, but Mr. Duggleby's feat wasn’t accomplished again until August 31, 2005, when Jeremy Hermida of the Florida Marlins homered with the bases full against the Cardinals. Mr. Duggleby finished his career with a total of 6 home runs.

110 years ago
1908

Exploration
Frederick Cook claimed to have reached the North Pole on this date, a year ahead of U.S. Admiral Robert Peary. Dr. Cook's claim is generally disbelieved.

100 years ago
1918

Died on this date
Manfred von Richthofen, 25. German military aviator. Rittmeister (Cavalry captain) Richtofen, nicknamed the "Red Baron," was the leading air ace of World War I. He was credited with 80 combat victories before his death in combat on April 21, 1918, 11 days before his 26th birthday. While chasing novice Canadian pilot Wop May, Rittmeister Richthofen was shot down and killed over the Western Front during a dogfight with Captain Roy Brown of Carleton Place, Ontario, a flight leader in the 209th Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. Either Capt. Brown or Australian ground fire struck the Red Baron.

90 years ago
1928

At the movies
The Passion of Joan of Arc, directed and co-written by Carl Theodor Dreyer, and starring Renée Jeanne Falconetti, received its premiere screening at the Palads Teatret in Copenhagen.

Aviation
Captain George H. Wilkins and Lt. Carl B. Nielson, an Alaska mail flier, landed in Spitzbergen, Norway in an airplane which they had flown "over the top of the world, south of the Pole from Point Barrow, Alaska," where they departed on April 15.

Scandal
In Washington, Harry F. Sinclair, head of the oil corporations bearing his name and co-defendant with former Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall in the criminal and civil court actions arising from the Teapot Dome oil lease scandal of 1923, was acquitted by a District of Columbia jury of conspiring with Mr. Fall to defraud the government. This was the second trial for Mr. Sinclair; the first ended in a mistrial because of allegations of jury shadowing. Mr. Sinclair and Mr. Fall were tried together in the original trial, but severance was granted for the second trial because of Mr. Fall’s illness.

75 years ago
1943

War
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced with a "feeling of deepest horror" the barbarous execution of some U.S. fliers by the Japanese, and said that these efforts of intimidation would make Americans more determined "to blot out the shameless militarism of Japan." U.K. forces repulsed a strong German counterattack by 60-80 tanks and five battalions in the Medjez el Bab sector in Tunisia. Soviet troops again repelled German assaults in the Novorissiisk area of the Kuban valley.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Roosevelt and Mexican President Manuel Avila Camacho inspected the naval air training station at Corpus Christi, Texas, where U.S. and Latin American officers were training.

Defense
The U.S. House of Representatives passed and sent to the Senate a bill authorizing one million more tons of Navy auxiliary vessels.

Politics and government
A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee investigating Un-American Activities Committee charges against federal employees reported that Goodwin B. Watson and William E. Dodd of the Federal Communications Commission were "unfit" for government employment because of their pro-Communist connections.

Economics and finance
Turkey and Germany concluded a new commercial agreement to exchange $30 million worth of goods during the next year.

70 years ago
1948

Literature
The Goebbels Diaries, 1942-43, edited and translated by Louis Lochner, was published in New York by Doubleday.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 47, a plan for a UN-supervised plebiscite in Kashmir to determine whether the territory would join India or Pakistan. The Council also established a five-nation commission to mediate Hindu-Muslim conflict in Kashmir.

The Conference on Freedom of Information and of the Press in Geneva adopted three resolutions, all opposed by the U.S.S.R., urging free access to all sources of information and elimination of censorship.

U.S. President Harry Truman named Commerce Secretary Averell Harriman as special U.S. representative to the 16 European states participating in the Marshall Plan.

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King set a record of 20 years, 10 months, and 10 days of service as Prime Minister of a Commonwealth country.

Medicine
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission reported the successful use of irradiated cobalt in cancer treatment.

Basketball
BAA
Finals
Philadelphia 73 @ Baltimore 88 (Baltimore won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Chick Reiser scored 16 points and Buddy Jeannette and Paul Hoffman each scored 15 to help the Bullets defeat the Warriors before 4,500 fans at Baltimore Arena to win their first Basketball Association of America championship, ending the Warrior's reign as champions. Philadelphia's Joe Fulks led all scorers with 28 points.

60 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Twilight Time--The Platters (Best Seller--1st week at #1; Top 100--1st week at #1); He's Got the Whole World (In His Hands)--Laurie London (Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1)

Space
Project Vanguard director Dr. John Hagen warned the U.S. House of Representatives Select Astronautics and Space Exploration Committee that Earth satellites could be mistaken for attacking ballistic missiles, precipitating a retaliatory war.

Politics and government
Maltese Prime Minister Dom Mintoff submitted his resignation to British Governor Sir Robert Laycock on the grounds that his government no longer wanted to "remain responsible for public peace and order" while the United Kingdom refused settlement of Malta's political status.

Economics and finance
The Chilean government reversed an earlier decision to sell copper to the U.S.S.R. after the U.S.A. protested that Inter-American agreements prohibited the sale of such strategic materials to Soviet bloc nations.

Disasters
The League of Red Cross Societies reported that a smallpox epidemic in East Pakistan had caused 15,000 deaths.

49 passengers and crew members were killed in the collision of a United Air Lines DC-7 and a United States Air Force F-110F Super Sabre jet near Las Vegas.

Baseball
Frank House of the Kansas City Athletics scored two runs as a pinch hitter in an 8-run 8th inning as the Athletics beat the Cleveland Indians 9-4 before 6,416 fans at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. Mr. House drew a base on balls to lead off the inning and came around to score on a single by Hector Lopez, and climaxed the inning with a grand slam. His feat was just the sixth such occurrence in major league history. The last 6 Kansas City runs were unearned. Cleveland right fielder Roger Maris hit his 3rd homer of the season, a 2-run blast, to open the scoring in the 6th, and the Indians added 2 runs in the top of the 7th before Woodie Held hit a solo homer in the bottom of the 7th to get the Athletics on the scoreboard.

Don Larsen pitched 5 scoreless innings and hit a 2-run homer to provide the deciding runs as the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 before 10,450 fans at Yankee Stadium. Hank Bauer led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a home run to open the scoring, and Mr. Larsen hit a 2-run homer in the 2nd to make the score 3-0. He was removed from the game because of a tight arm after allowing 7 hits and 3 bases on balls, with 8 strikeouts, improving his record for the season to 2-0. Ted Williams homered in the 7th off Bob Grim for the Boston run. Whitey Ford pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings to get his first save of the season. Boston first baseman Pete Runnels hit 3 singles in 5 at bats.

Charlie Maxwell led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a double and pinch hitter Mickey McDermott followed with a single to score pinch runner Johnny Groth with the winning run as the Detroit Tigers edged the Chicago White Sox 2-1 before 5,334 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The White Sox opened the scoring in the 6th when Detroit pitcher Frank Lary loaded the bases on walks to Nellie Fox and Earl Torgeson and a pitch that hit Sherm Lollar, and after striking out Tito Francona and Al Smith, hit Bubba Phillips to force home Mr. Fox. The Tigers tied the game when, with 2 out in the 8th and pinch runner Billy Hoeft on first base, Harvey Kuenn singled and Al Kaline followed with a single to score Mr. Hoeft.

Pinch hitter Bob Thurman singled home Dee Fondy with the go-ahead run with 2 out in the top of the 14th inning and Dutch Dotterer reached first base on an error by shortstop Roy Smalley, allowing Don Hoak to score as the Cincinnati Redlegs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 before 11,764 fans at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia.

50 years ago
1968

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched the satellite Molniya 1-H, eighth satellite in their Orbita network for domestic communications.

War
One American and at least three North Koreans were killed when a U.S. 2nd Infantry Division patrol was attacked by North Korean troops inside the Demilitarized Zone. Three Americans were wounded in the attack.

Golf
Don January won the Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas with a score of 276. First prize money was $30,000.

Steve Reid won the Azalea Open in Wilmington, North Carolina in a playoff after posting a four-round score of 271. First prize money was $5,000.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Minnesota 3 @ St. Louis 5 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Los Angeles 101 @ Boston 107 (Boston led best-of-seven series 1-0)

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): It's a Heartache--Bonnie Tyler (7th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Rivers of Babylon--Boney M.

#1 single in France: How Deep is Your Love--Bee Gees

At the movies
Silver Bears, starring Michael Caine, Cybill Shepherd, and many others, opened in theatres.

Died on this date
Thomas Wyatt Turner, 101. U.S. biologist, botanist, and civil rights activist. Dr. Turner taught biology at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, and later taught at various public schools in Baltimore, Maryland before becoming a professor of botany at Howard University from 1914 to 1924. He was frequently consulted by the United States government about agricultural problems, especially plant diseases. Dr. Turner was a founding member, in 1909, of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1925 he founded Federated Colored Catholics.

Sandy Denny, 31. U.K. singer-songwriter. Miss Denny was regarded as Britain’s pre-eminent folk-rock singer in the 1960s and 1970s, as a solo performer, and, especially, as a member of the group Fairport Convention. Miss Denny was also, at various times, a member of the Strawbs, Fotheringay, and The Bunch. In both 1971 and 1972 she was voted "Best Female Singer" by Melody Maker magazine. Unfortunately, by the mid-’70s, heavy smoking and drinking had taken their toll on both her voice and her life. In March 1978, while on a vacation with her parents, Miss Denny fell down a flight of stairs at a cottage. A month later, she collapsed at a friend’s home, and died of a brain hemorrhage.

Music
American jazz trumpeter Don Ellis's last known public performance took place at the Westside Room in Century City, California. He died on December 17, 1978 of a heart attack at the age of 44.

War
U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced that only 800 troops and 2,600 support personnel would be withdrawn from South Korea in 1978. In 1977 President Carter had said that about 32,000 troops would leave over a 4- to 5-year period. The reason for the slowdown was Congressional inaction on Mr. Carter’s proposed transfer of $800 million in military equipment and $275 million in arms credits to the South Korean government.

Crime
Thieves stole the Rubens painting The Three Graces and nine other Flemish works from Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Montreal 4 @ Detroit 2 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Boston 4 @ Chicago 3 (OT) (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-0)
New York Islanders 0 @ Toronto 2 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Peter McNab scored at 10:17 of the 1st overtime period to give the Bruins their win over the Black Hawks at Chicago Stadium.

Mike Palmateer posted the shutout in goal for the Maple Leafs to win the goaltending duel over Glenn Resch as they blanked the Islanders at Maple Leaf Gardens.



WHA
Avco World Trophy
Quarter-Finals
New England 9 @ Edmonton 1 (New England led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Houston 0 @ Quebec 3 (Quebec led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Winnipeg 5 @ Birmingham 1 (Winnipeg led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
San Antonio 105 @ Washington 118 (Washington led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Western Conference
Semi-Finals
Milwaukee 111 @ Denver 127 (Denver led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Seattle 93 @ Portland 96 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Together Forever--Rick Astley (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): On kesäyö/Viimeinen laulu--Topi Sorsakoski & J. Karjalainen (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
I.A.L. Diamond, 67. Romanian-born U.S. screenwriter. Mr. Diamond, born Ițec Domnici, emigrated with his family to Broklyn, New York at the age of 9. He was best-known for his screenplays written with and for Billy Wilder from the late 1950s through 1981: Love in the Afternoon (1957); Some Like it Hot (1959); The Apartment (1960); One, Two, Three (1961); Irma La Douce (1963); Kiss Me, Stupid (1964); The Fortune Cookie (1966); The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970); Avanti! (1972); The Front Page (1974); Fedora (1978); and Buddy Buddy (1981). Some of these movies are regarded as classics; the screenplay for The Apartment won the Academy Award. However, Kiss Me, Stupid was a disaster that almost ended Mr. Wilder’s career, and Buddy Buddy was so bad that it did end the careers of both Mr. Wilder and Mr. Diamond. Other movies for which Mr. Diamond wrote screenplays included Murder in the Blue Room (1944); Monkey Business (1952); Merry Andrew (1958); and Cactus Flower (1969).

Politics and government
Al Gore, United States Senator from Tennessee, ended his active campaign for the 1988 Democratic Party U.S. presidential nomination after taking just 10% of the vote in the New York primary two days earlier.

Economics and finance
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 312-107 to approve a trade bill that would mandate tougher steps by the United States government to open up foreign markets and punish unfair trade practices by other countries. Some protection would be granted to industries injured by imports, and the windfall profits tax on oil would be repealed. President Ronald Reagan threatened to veto the bill because he objected to a provision requiring that workers receive 60 days’ notice of a plant closing or layoffs. Mr. Reagan argued that this would discourage the creation of jobs and the expansion of business.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference
Division Finals
St. Louis 0 @ Detroit 6 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Edmonton 5 @ Calgary 4 (OT) (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Wayne Gretzky's second goal of the game, a shorthanded goal at 7:54 of the 1st overtime period, gave the Oilers their win over the Flames at Olympic Saddledome.

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Informer--Snow

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference
Division Semi-Finals
St. Louis 2 @ Chicago 0 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Toronto 2 @ Detroit 6 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Winnipeg 2 @ Vancouver 3 (Vancouver led best-of-series 2-0)
Los Angeles 4 @ Calgary 9 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

IIHF World Men's Championship @ Munich
Canada 4 Sweden 1

10 years ago
2008

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference
Quarter-Finals
Boston 0 @ Montreal 5 (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-3)
Washington 4 @ Philadelphia 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Basketball
NBA
Playoffs
Eastern Conference
First Round
Washington 86 @ Cleveland 116 (Cleveland led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Western Conference
First Round
Utah 90 @ Houston 84 (Utah led best-of-seven series 2-0)