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This day in history

Monday is Aug. 19, the 231st day of 2013. There are 134 days left in the year.

Today’s birthdays: Former MLB All-Star Bobby Richardson is 78. Rock musician Ginger Baker (Cream) is 74. Actress Jill St. John is 73. Former President Bill Clinton is 67. Tipper Gore, wife of former Vice President Al Gore, is 65. Singer Ivan Neville is 54. Actor John Stamos is 50. Actress Kyra Sedgwick is 48. Actor Kevin Dillon is 48. Actress Erika Christensen is 31.

In 1812, the USS Constitution defeated the British frigate HMS Guerriere off Nova Scotia during the War of 1812, earning the nickname ‘‘Old Ironsides.’’

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In 1848, the New York Herald reported the discovery of gold in California.

In 1951, the owner of the St. Louis Browns, Bill Veeck, sent in 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel to pinch-hit in a game against Detroit. In his only major league at-bat, Gaedel walked on four pitches and was replaced by a pinch-runner.

In 1960, a tribunal in Moscow convicted American U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers of espionage. Although sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, Powers was returned to the United States in 1962 as part of a prisoner exchange.