é√Jockey Isaac Murphy was born. He rode in 1412 races, winning 628. His yearly earnings were about $20,000, phenomenal at the time.'√Boxing legend Rocky Graziano was born.kⁿThe U.S. Chess Championship was successfully defended in New York by 16-yr-old chess wonder Bobby Fischer.)√Edgar Swindell and David Cone were born.²ⁿAn out-of-court settlement was reached in comic Richard Belzer's $5,000,000 suit against pro wrestler Hulk Hogan. Hogan demonstrated a "choke hold" on Belzer on Belzer's TV show. Belzer passed out and banged his head on the floor, requiring 8 stitches.╪√Hockey great Bobby Hull was born. Hull began skating at 3, joined the Black Hawks in 1957 and spent 16 seasons with Chicago. One of Hull's shots was measured at 116.3 mph and he was the NHL's leading scorer 3 times."√Football QB Jim Everett was born.(√Basketball star Cheryl Miller was born.ÿⁿThomas Stevens became the first man to bicycle around the world when he arrived back in San Francisco. The trip took him 2 years, 8 months and 12 days.6√Pro Football's winningest coach, Don Shula, was born. √Boxer Floyd Patterson was born.╤ⁿThe New York Yankees purchased promising pitcher "Babe" Ruth from the Boston Red Sox. Ruth already held several World Series pitching records, but the Yankees wanted him to play outfield! The rest is history.V√Chuck Noll, winner of four Super Bowls as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was born.ºⁿBoth the National and the American baseball leagues select a uniform ball to be used by both leagues, the first time in 33 years that both leagues used the same ball.)√Baseball pitcher Charlie Hough was born.mⁿ"Pistol" Pete Maravich died unexpectedly at the age of 40, after playing in a schoolyard game of basketball.°√Bancroft "Ban" Johnson was born. The American League of professional baseball owes its existence and its equal footing with the National League to Ban Johnson. Johnson encouraged a fierce competition with the N.L. that ended with a merger in 1903.!√Pro golfer Nancy Lopez was born.'√Football kicker Sean Landeta was born.%√Baseball's Tony Conigliaro was born.åⁿThe Minnesota North Stars defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 7-1 to stop the Flyers' NHL record of 35 consecutive games without a loss.≤ⁿAt the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Denver Colorado, Debi Thomas won the Women's Singles, Brian Boitano won the Men's Singles...In pairs Jill Watson and Peter Oppegard won and Suzanne Semanick and Scott Gregory won the Dance category.⌐ⁿThe first National Bowling Championships were conducted in Chicago by the American Bowling Congress. 41 teams from 17 cities competed for a total prize fund of $1,592."√Football's Dwight Clark was born.RⁿJackie Robinson announced in a "Look" article that he was retiring from baseball.âⁿThe NCAA announced that beginning in the fall, true freshmen would be allowed to compete on varsity football and basketball teams.▀ⁿThe first hot-air ballon flight in the U.S. lifted off in Philadelphia, with Jean-Pierre Blanchard of France as the Balloonist. Among the spectators were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe.G√Bart Starr, QB for the glory years of the Green Bay Packers, was born.╧ⁿSuper Bowl XI, Oakland Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings. Raiders win 32 to 14. Minnesota goes 0-3 in Super Bowls as the upstart Raiders blow them out. Oakland wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff wins MVP honors.¿ⁿThe highest scoring NHL Hockey game took place. The Montreal Canadiens clobbered the Toronto St. Patricks 14-7. Chicago and Edmonton equalled the total goals in 1985.0√Baseball Hall of Famer Willie McCovey was born.zⁿBen Hogan, recovering from a near-fatal car crash, tied Sam Snead for the Los Angeles Open title, but loses in a playoff. √Golf's Ben Crenshaw was born.√Tracy Caulkins was born.vⁿSuper Bowl IV, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Minnesota Vikings. Chiefs win 23 to 7. Quarterback Len Dawson wins MVP honors.εⁿThe designated hitter rule was adopted by the American League on a three-year trial basis by the owners of the 24 major league clubs. The rule was designed to stimulate fan interest in a time when American League attendance was slumping.9√Boxing heavyweight champ "Smokin'" Joe Frazier was born.┐ⁿMrs. Carol Mandel of Chicago led all skeet shooters, men and women, and set three world records. This was the first time that a woman achieved the best competitive average in skeet shooting.)√Basketball's Dominique Wilkins was born.¼ⁿSuper Bowl III. New York Jets and Baltimore Colts. Jets win 16 to 7. "Broadway" Joe Namath predicts victory and earns MVP honors as the AFC wins their first Super Bowl.íⁿSuper Bowl IX, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings. Steelers win 16 to 6. Steelers' RB Franco Harris wins MVP after rushing for 158 yards on 34 carries.δⁿSuper Bowl VIII, Miami Dolphins vs. Minnesota Vikings. Miami wins 24 to 7. Miami running back Larry Csonka wins MVP honors after rushing 33 times for 45 yards. The victory came at the end of the only undefeated season in NFL history.ëⁿHank Aaron and Frank Robinson, two of baseball's greatest sluggers, were elected to the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.Éⁿ99-yr-old Otto Bucher made a hole-in-one on the 130-yard twelth hole at the La Manga Course in Spain to become the oldest golfer to ace a hole.~ⁿThe first NFL Pro Bowl all-star game was held in Los Angeles. The American Conference defeated the National Conference 28-27.%ⁿJoe DiMaggio married Marilyn Monroe.xⁿSuper Bowl II. Green Bay and Oakland. The Packers defeat the Raiders 22 to 14. Bart Starr wins his second MVP award.╠ⁿSuper Bowl VII, Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins. Dolphins win 14 to 7. Miami dominated the game allowing one late score when the game was already decided. Miami safety Jake Scott wins MVP honorIⁿBobby Knight won his 500th career victory as a college basketball coach.àⁿThe rules for "basketball" devised by James Naismith, were first printed in the "Triangle" a newspaper in Springfield Massachusetts.:√Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame lineman Randy White was born.vⁿSuper Bowl I, between Green Bay and Kansas City. The Packers beat the Chiefs 35 to 10. Bart Starr earns MVP honors. ⁿSuper Bowl XII, Dallas Cowboys vs. Denver Broncos. Cowboys win 27 to 10. Dallas evens Super Bowl record to 2-2 as Roger Staubach wins QB duel against former Cowboy backup Craig Morton. Dual MVP honors go to Dallas linemen Harvey Martin and Randy White¥ⁿThe first college basketball game with five players on each side took place between the University of Chicago and the University of Iowa. Chicago won 15-12.π√Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Paul "Dizzy" Dean was born. Dean won 163 games and lost 101. His lifetime ERA was 3.03. He once struck out 17 batters in a single game, then a record, but since bettered (Roger Clemens fanned 20).,√Auto racing's megastar A. J. Foyt was born.bⁿMickey Mantle signed a $75,000 contract to become the highest paid player in the American League.tⁿSuper Bowl VI, Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins. Cowboys win 24 to 3. Dallas QB Roger Staubach earns MVP honors. ⁿThe PGA had its beginning at a luncheon in New York City attended by many top golfers. An organizing committee established the association, drew up bylaws and chose a permanent committee. The first PGA event was held on April 10th, under match play rules`√Boxing's three time heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali, "The Greatest," was born as "Cassius Clay."═ⁿSuper Bowl V, Baltimore Colts vs. Dallas Cowboys. Colts win 16 to 13. The closest Super Bowl yet. Chuck Howley, a Dallas linebacker, wins MVP honors. Many consider this to be the best Super Bowl ever.⌠ⁿSuper Bowl X, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys. Steelers win 21 to 17. The Cowboys again lose one of the closest Super Bowls ever. Steelers' receiver Lynn Swann is MVP, but both QBs (Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach) have a great day.²ⁿAt Delta Downs in New Orleans, 23-1 longshot Landing Officer won a $2,220 race in a thick fog. Jockey Sylvester Carmouche was soon suspended and arrested for attempted felony fraud for pulling up in the fog, then running only the stretch to the finish.«ⁿWilliam Muldoon, the most famous 19th century wrestler in America, won the Greco-Roman Wrestling Championship by defeating Thiebaud Bauer of France at Madison Square Garden.wⁿThe Professional Golfers Association Tournament Committee voted to allow black golfers to compete in golf tournaments.$√Tennis star Stefan Edberg was born.≤√Rogers Hornsby was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame. Hornsby hit .358 over 23 yrs, batting over .400 three times. In 1922 he led the majors with 250 hits, 46 doubles, 42 homers, 141 runs, 152 rbi's a .722 slugging percentage and a .401 avg.αⁿSuper Bowl XIV, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Los Angeles Rams. Steelers win 31 to 19. Steelers go to 4-0 in Super Bowls. Terry Bradshaw stole the show as he set several Super Bowl records and won his second straight MVP award.╝ⁿSuper Bowl XIX, San Francisco 49ers vs. Miami Dolphins. 49ers win 28 to 16. 49er QB Joe Montana wins second MVP award after passing for Super Bowl record 331 yards and three touchdowns.α√The undisputed "Golfer of the Century" Jack Nicklaus was born. Nicklaus won 4 U.S. Opens, 6 Masters, 5 PGAs and 3 British Opens, not to mention the U.S. Amateur title twice. This brings his total of "major" victories to 20.&√Football RB Dalton Hilliard was born.ΓⁿSuper Bowl XIII. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys. Steelers win 35 to 31. Rematch of Super Bowl X, with same results. Terry Bradshaw wins MVP honors after throwing four TDs. Steelers take Super Bowl record to 3-0.╤ⁿJohn McEnroe was disqualified for using abusive language while leading Mikael Pernfors 6-1, 4-6, 7-5, 2-4 in the Australian Open. "Mac" was the first player to be thrown out of a Grand Slam event in 27 years.2√Heavyweight champ, boxer George Foreman was born.ΩⁿWhat a birthday present! George Foreman won the world Heavyweight Boxing Championship by defeating Joe Frazier in the second round in Jamaica. This spoiled Muhammad Ali's bid to take his title back from Frazier, the man who beat him.┴ⁿSuper Bowl XVIII, Los Angeles Raiders vs. Washington Redskins. Raiders win 38 to 9. Raiders running back Marcus Allen wins MVP after rushing for 191 yards on 20 carries, a Super Bowl record.µⁿSuper Bowl XXIII, San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals. 49ers win 20 to 16. A close game was decided in the final moments by a 92-yard scoring drive ending with 34 seconds remaining. 49er wide receiver Jerry Rice was MVP.üⁿWarren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves signed a contract for an estimated $85,000...the highest salary for a major league pitcher.┌ⁿWillie Mays was elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility...receiving a record number of votes. In his 22 year career Mays hit .302 with 660 homers. He was rookie of the year in 1951, MVP in 1954.`ⁿOne-time lawyer Howard Cosell retires from a long and timultuous career in sports broadcasting.√Rob Dibble was born.ñ√Olympic "spark plug" Mary Lou Retton, gold medalist in woman's gymnastics, was born. Mary Lou was the first gymnast to be voted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.åⁿMike Bossy, of the New York Islanders, became the second player in NHL history to score 50 goals in the first 50 games of the season.«ⁿSuper Bowl XVII. San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals. 49ers win 26 to 21. Joe Montana wins MVP honors as Cincinnati fails to come back from a 20-0 halftime deficit.!√Football WR Mark Duper was born.ºⁿSuper Bowl XV, Oakland Raiders vs. Philadelphia Eagles. Raiders win 27 to 10. Oakland QB Jim Plunkett wins MVP honors as the Raiders completely dominate the Eagles.┤ⁿSuper Bowl XXI, New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos. Giants win 39 to 20. Giants QB Phil Simms wins MVP honors after setting a pass completion percentage record of 88% (22 of 25).≤ⁿJim Thorpe confessed in a letter to James E. Sullivan, Chairman of the Amateur Athletic Union, that he had played pro baseball in 1909 and 1910, thereby disqualifying himself from amateur competition and relinquishing his 1912 Olympic medals.╣√Hockey megastar Wayne "The Great" Gretsky was born. Gretzky became the youngest player to score 50 or more goals and 100 or more points in a season and was voted MVP from 1980 to 1986.üⁿSuper Bowl XX, Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots. Bears win 46 to 10. Chicago defensive end Richard Dent wins MVP honors. √Football's Art Rooney was born.wⁿCasey Stengel, manager of the Boston Braves since 1938, resigned to give the new management a free hand with the team.╕ⁿUCLA won its 61st consecutive college basketball game, over Notre Dame 82-63, to set a new record. Later that season Notre Dame avenged the loss and stopped UCLA's streak at 88 games.▐ⁿGeorge Halas transfers the Decatur Staleys to Chicago, into the newly christened National Football League (a name he suggested). He renamed the team the Chicago Bears and led them to 324 victories before retiring in 1967. √Golfer Nick Price was born.`ⁿThe National Football League voted to accept the Dallas Rangers as a Western Conference member.¼ⁿHockey star Wayne Gretzky's 51-game scoring streak, (considered comparable to Joe Dimaggio's 56-game hitting streak in baseball) is finally ended by the Los Angeles Kings.ßⁿBancroft B. "Ban" Johnson formed the American League in Chicago by expanding the Western League to include some eastern cities. The National League refused to recognize the "major league" status of the new league until 1903.¢ⁿJack Dempsey was named the greatest fighter of the past fifty years, receiving 251 votes to Joe Louis' 104. Voters were sportswriters of major newspapers.b√Olympic gold medalist diver Greg Louganis was born. Also born on this day, Baseball's Steve Sax. √Football's Andre Reed was born.#√Baseball's Davey Johnson was born.óⁿAt the Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, the U.S. won three gold medals, placing them third in unofficial team standings behind Sweden and Switzerland. √Golfer Curtis Strange was born.⌐ⁿSuper Bowl XVII, Washington Redskins vs. Miami Dolphins. Redskins win 27 to 17. Washington fullback John Riggins wins MVP honors after a 166 yard rushing performance.Y√Jackie Robinson, the first black baseball player to play in the major leagues, was born.-√Baseball Hall of Famer Ernie Banks was born.)√Baseball fastballer Nolan Ryan was born.╓ⁿSuper Bowl XXII, Washington Redskins vs. Denver Broncos. Redskins win 42 to 10. Denver's Super Bowl record goes to 0-3. Washington QB Doug Williams wins MVP honors for his 18 of 29 340 yard passing performance.|ⁿThe first recorded "clean and jerk" in weightlifting was performed by Charles Rigoulet of France. He lifted 402 1/2 pounds.âⁿGreen Bay Packers coach of 31 years, Curly Lambeau, left the Packers and joined the Chicago Cardinals as coach and vice-president.╜ⁿ40-yr-old backup goalie Terry Sawchuck shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-0. It was his first shutout since the '67-'68 season and the last of his career, setting the career record at 103.îⁿMike Ditka, Fred Biletnikoff, Jack Ham and Alan Page are elected to Football's Hall of Fame. Ditka becomes the first Tight End so honored.U√George "Papa Bear" Halas, the legendary coach of Football's Chicago Bears, was born.■ⁿBen Hogan suffered a fractured pelvis, broken collarbone and other injuries when his car hit a bus. During surgery a blood clot formed in his leg leading to speculation that he would never play golf again. He did, and well, but his career was shortened.lⁿThe formation of the second professional basketball league, the "American Basketball League" was announced.╬√Minnesota Viking's Hall of Fame QB Fran Tarkenton was born. Tarkenton holds records for Passing, yards gained, completed passes and passes attempted. He also holds the record for Super Bowls lost, at Five.(√Miami Dolphin's QB Bob Griese was born.╔ⁿIt was a clean sweep in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships for last years winners. Repeating were: Scott Hamilton, Rosalynn Sumners, Kitty and Peter Carruthers and Judy Blumberg & Michael Seibert.╛√John "Byron" Nelson was born. Learning golf as a caddy, Nelson become one of the greatest golfers ever, once winning eleven tournaments in a row. He won the Masters twice and the PGA twice.-√College Football coach Woody Hayes was born.sⁿJackie Robinson, of the Brooklyn Dodgers, became the first black executive of a major radio or television network.5√New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor was born.φⁿLegendary jockey Willie Shoemaker raced for the last time. He finished fourth at the Santa Anita Racetrack aboard 3-5 favorite "Patchy Ground." Shoemaker won 1,100 stakes and 8,833 wins in 40,350 races. His purses totalled $123,375,124.ä√Baseball's greatest slugger, Hank Aaron, was born. Hank broke Babe Ruth's home run record of 714 and finished his career with 755.⌠√Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame QB Roger "The Dodger" Staubach was born. Staubach chose the Naval Academy over 25 other scholarships. He won the Heisman Trophy in '63 and served a tour of duty in the Navy before joining the Dallas Cowboys in 1969.(√Auto racing's Darrell Waltrip was born. √George Herman "Babe" Ruth was born. Although his home run record was broken, the "Babe" is still considered by many to be the greatest to ever play the game. His lifetime Batting Average was .342 and he still holds pitching records for the World Series.ñⁿBill Russell, center for the Boston Celtics, broke his own rebounding record of 49 by pulling down 51 in a game against the Syracuse Nationals. Boston won 124-100.ƒⁿThe NBA expanded to 18 teams for the '70-'71 season. New franchises were granted to Buffalo and Cleveland in the East and to Houston and Portland in the West.'√American gymnast Kim Zmeskal was born.─ⁿJohnny Weissmuller ("Tarzan") was named the "Best swimmer of the half century" in an AP poll. Weissmuller was the "Mark Spitz" of his generation and won five Olympic gold medals in 1924 and '28.4√Baseball side-arm pitcher Dan Quisenberry was born.≤ⁿRobert Timm and John Cook set a flight duration record when they finally landed their Cessna in Las Vegas, Nevada. They had taken off on 12-4-58 and had remained airborne for 64 days, 22 hrs and 19 minutes. This required in-flight refueling.xⁿDiane Crump became the first woman to ride in a U.S. Pari-mutuel track. She finished tenth in a field of twelve horses.|ⁿThe first Midwest Ski Tournament was held in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was won by Mikkel Hemmestvedt, of Red Wing, Minnesota.╫ⁿMarie-Theres Nadig, a 17-yr-old Swiss skier, became the first double champion since Andrea Mead Lawrence of the U.S. by winning both the downhill and giant slalom events in the Olympic Games held in Sapporo, Japan.ºⁿBasketball's Kareem Abdul-Jabaar breaks Wilt Chamberlain's field goal record of 12,681 goals. Kareem would go on to score 15,836 field goals before retiring in 1989.êⁿThe first basketball game between two colleges took place. The rules were changed to allow only five players on each team a year later. √Golfer Sandy Lyle was born. √Baseball's John Kruk was born.¬ⁿFrance's Jean-Claude Killy captures the attention of the world in winning a dramatic down-hill Olympic ski race. Killy emerges from the Olympics with three gold medals.∙ⁿAw, you're kidding! In sworn testimony before the New Jersey Senate, World Wrestling Federation officials, including president Vince McMahon, admit that the "matches" are purely entertainment, with predetermined winners and no one is actually hurt.à√Olympic multiple gold medalist swimmer Mark Spitz was born. Spitz is the only person to have won 7 gold medals in ONE Olympic games. √Golfer Greg Norman was born.╓ⁿJames "Buster" Douglas pulled off what has to be the greatest upset in heavyweight boxing history, defeating Mike Tyson in 10 rounds. Douglas held the title shortly, losing to Evander Holyfield in his next fight.LⁿOlympic speed-skater Bonnie Blair won the gold medal in the 500-meter race.■√Tommy Hitchcock, the best polo player in history, was born. Hitchock's parents both played polo, but neither achieved the skill or fame of their son. Hitchcock led an American team to victory over England five times, winning the coveted Westchester Cup.Θ√Max Baer was born. Baer was one of the best heavyweight boxers in history, but only held the title for one year before losing to James Braddock. Joe Louis ended his hopes for a repeat as champion, but Baer still won 61 of 80 fights. ⁿSix cars from different countries began a lengthy race from Times Square in New York City to Paris, France. They went overland to San Francisco, by sea to Japan then were shipped to Russia and continued overland to France. The American Flyer won the race)√Baseball catcher Joe Garagiola was born.■√Basketball star Bill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana. Russell was the greatest college player of his time. In 1980 he was voted greatest player in NBA history. He played with the Celtics from '56 - '69 during which they won the NBA title 11 times.bⁿ16-yr-old Peggy Fleming won the U.S. Ladies Senior Figure Skating Title at Lake Placid, New York.CⁿJackie Joyner-Kersee wins the Olympic gold medal in the long jump.∙ⁿFormer Houston Rockets star Calvin Murphy watched from the stands as the Rockets played the Boston Celtics. Larry Bird, of the Celtics, had a streak of 71 consecutive free throws and threatened to break Murphy's record of 78. But Bird missed # 72.√Golfer Mary "Mickey" Wright was born. She won the U.S. Women's Open four times and was the Woman Athlete of the Year in 1963.ôⁿAn individual college basketball scoring record of 100 points was set by Frank Selvy, of Furman College in a 149-95 victory over Newberry College. √Football QB Jim Kelly was born.òⁿWilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia '76ers set a NBA career high of 20,884 points, in only 7 years of play, in a game in Charleston, West Virginia.#√Football QB Ken Anderson was born.≈ⁿA nation-wide poll of sportswriters determined the sports figures of the half century. So honored were: Jim Thorpe, Babe Ruth, George Mikan, Jack Dempsey, "Babe" Didrikson, Bobby Jones, Bill Tilden, Johnny Weissmuller, Jesse Owens and Man O'War.èⁿCBS contracted with the NCAA to attain full rights to televise NCAA football games for the next two years. The NCAA received $10,200,000.#√Racehorse Seattle Slew was foaled.P√John "SuperBrat" McEnroe, the brilliant but erratic tennis superstar, was born.■ⁿAt the Lake Placid Winter Olympics, American speed-skater Eric Heiden won the second of his five speed-skating gold medals. In the five events, the 500, 1,000, 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000-meter races, Heiden set Olympic records, the 5,000 was a world record.ÅⁿMartina Navratilova broke Chris Evert's woman's tennis match victory record of 157 by defeating Jana Novotna in the Virginia Slims tournament.Θ√Jim Brown, perhaps the most awe-inspiring running back in NFL history, was born. Brown was a star in high school and college. He also still holds the career touchdown mark with 126, although wide receiver Jerry Rice is closing fast.-√Basketball immortal Michael Jordan was born.%√George Gipp (the "Gipper") was born.┤ⁿSonja Henie (sometimes spelled "Sonia Henie") won her sixth straight World Women's Figure Skating Championship in Montreal, Canada, then retired to Hollywood to become an actress.╟ⁿDale Earnhardt had led the Daytona 500 for 499 miles, but blew a tire on the last lap, giving Derrike Cope the win. Copes averaged over 165 mph. Earnhardt limped over the finish line in fifth place.l√Eddie Arcaro, a jockey who rode five Kentucky Derby winners, as well as two Triple Crown winners, was born.(√Baseball pitcher Dave Stewart was born.&√Tennis star Hana Mandlikova was born.▌ⁿDick Howser, the former shortstop and gutsy World Series winning manager for the Royals, appeared at the Royals' training camp 8 months after taking a leave of absence due to a brain tumor. Howser would die on June 17th.!√Auto racer Bobby Unser was born.0√Basketball star "Sir" Charles Barkley was born.âⁿWillie Mays signed a contract with the San Francisco Giants for an estimated $100,000, becoming the games highest salaried player.├ⁿGordie Howe, retired since September of '71, returned to the ice to play pro hockey with his sons Marty and Mark for the Houston Aeros. His four-year contract guaranteed him at least $1,000,000.½ⁿA race to see how far a person could run in 24 hours was won by James Saunders in an arena in New York City. Saunders totalled 120 miles and won the cash prize of...$100.#√Baseball's Alan Trammell was born.╫ⁿWilt Chamberlain continued his amazing rookie year with the Philadelphia Warriors, scoring 58 points against the New York Knicks. Wilt would go on to score 50 or more points four times in the season, an NBA record.vⁿKristi Yamaguchi became the first woman since Dorothy Hamill to win the woman's Olympic gold medal in figure skating.0√Basketball's Julius "Doctor J" Erving was born.╖√Amy Alcott was born. Alcott was the LPGA Rookie of the Year in 1975. Her best year was 1980 when she won the U.S. Women's Open and three other tournaments, averaging 71.51 per round.òⁿThe first Daytona 500 Auto Race, on the new International Speedway at Daytona Beach, was run. Lee Petty won it with an average speed of 135.521 mph.JⁿBarbara Jo Rubin became the first woman jockey to win a pari-mutuel race.$√Tennis star Michael Chang was born.ºⁿCasey Stengel becme the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team...he said he seemed to be the the people's choice...being handed the job on a beefsteak platter.&√Football's Fred Biletnikoff was born.)√Football's Ed "Too Tall" Jones was born.═ⁿManager Branch Rickey finally broke the color barrier in major league baseball when he signed Jackie Robinson to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson went on to be the first black major league player.·√Honus Wagner was born. Honus may have been the best "all-around" player in history, he could run, hit, field and play any position, but preferred shortstop, where he played for 21 years. His 252 triples is still a record. He recorded 10,427 at-bats.²ⁿTony Conigliaro, one of baseball's great tragedies, died of kidney failure. Conigliaro had power and speed, but was nearly killed by a pitch from Jack Hamilton, resulting in vision damage that greatly reduced his skills. He still hit 36 homers in 1970.╟ⁿSamuel Colt secured his first patent for his revolving barrel multishot firearm. He lost his business and patents in 1842, but regained them in 1846 when the U.S. Government ordered 1,000 revolvers."√Tennis star Bobby Riggs was born.╙ⁿLeft-wing John Bucyk, Center Ed Westfall and Defenseman TEd Green, of the Boston Bruins, performed the seemingly impossible against the Vancouver Canucks...in just 20 seconds they scored 3 goals, an NHL record.gⁿPistol Pete Maravich set an NBA record of 68 points for a guard in a game against the New York Knicks.Ç√Baseball legendary pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander was born. Alexander is second only to Cy Young in major league games won.■ⁿThe API reported that NFL owners had voted to move the goalposts ten yards forward to the goal line. This was to encourage more field goals and reduce the number of ties. This was in spite of arguments that this would result in more injuries to players.QⁿBabe Ruth's career as a New York Yankee ended as he was released after 15 years.⌡√Gene Sarazen was born. Sarazen learned to play golf as a caddy and played his first Open in 1920, won his first in '22 and his second in '32. He also won the PGA 3 times. He is credited with inventing the sand wedge, a major innovation in golf.j√Raymond Berry was born. Berry holds the NFL record of five consecutive years with 50 or more receptions.ÖⁿThe U.S. Olympic Hockey team shocked the heavily favored Russian team in the medals round of the Olympics. The U.S. team went on to win the gold medal.$√Basketball's James Worthy was born.$√Auto racer Mario Andretti was born.┤ⁿThe U.S. Olympic Hockey team, trailing the Czechoslovakian team in the final game of the Olympics, exploded for six unanswered goals to win the U.S.'s first Gold Medal for hockey.yⁿJack Nicklaus won his second PGA Golf Tournament, giving him at least two wins in each of golf's four major tournaments.|ⁿDick Button won the men's Singles title for the fifth consecutive year at the World Figure Skating Championships in France.∩ⁿHank Aaron signed a contract with Atlanta that made him the first player to receive $200,000 a year. In 1971 Aaron hit .327 with a career-high 47 home runs. With 639 homers, "Hammerin' Hank" was close to breaking the Babe's record of 714. ⁿThis is data for February 30."√Football's Pete Rozelle was born."√Football RB Mike Rozier was born.6ⁿMickey Mantle announced his retirement from baseball.ªⁿRobyn Smith became the first woman jockey to win a Stakes Race, when she rode "North Sea" to victory in the Paumonok Handicap at Aqueduct Raceway in Queens New York.║ⁿWayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings, contributed to a game winning goal and the 1,050th assist in his nine year career...which broke tha NHL record set by Gordie Howe 26 yrs earlier. √Football's Mell Ott was born.±ⁿWilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors became the first basketball player in the NBA to score 100 points in a single game against the New York Knicks. Wilt made 36 goals and 28 foul shots in leading the Warriors to a 169-147 victory.çⁿIn the same game as Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points for a record, the total score for the two teams, 316 points, also set an NBA record.oⁿPeggy Fleming won her third world skating championship in a row and announced that she will turn professional.═ⁿThe new home of the San Fracisco Giants baseball team received its name from a "name the stadium" contest. The name? "Candlestick Park" of course, because the stairwells reminded a child of candlesticks. √Jackie Joyner-Kersee was born.▄ⁿRiccardo Hoffman began what has become the longest continuous swim on record. Hoffman traveled 299 miles down the river Parana', from Corrientes to Santa Elena Argentina. He emerged on March 6 after 84 hrs. and 37 min.Ω√Knute Rockne, the long-time coach of Notre Dame, was born. Rockne was also a hero as a player for Notre Dame. By the time of his death in an airplane crash, Rockne had amassed 105 wins to 12 losses and had five unbeaten seasons. Wow!▀ⁿA transcontinental race dubbed the "Bunion Derby" began in Los Angeles when 199 men started a 3,422 mile race to New York City. Andy Payne, 19, of Claremore, Oklahoma won with a time of 573 hours, 4 minutes and 34 seconds.¥ⁿBoston's Bill Russell, best known for rebounding and defensive play, scored his career best of 37 points as Boston defeated Philadelphia's Warriors 146-127.╜ⁿThe last Bendix Trophy airplane race took place. It was won by a B-58 "Hustler" bomber that flew from Los Angeles to New York and back in 4 hrs. 42 min., for an avg. speed of 1,214.71 mph. √Baseball's Ron Gant was born.$√Football WR Michael Irvin was born.!√Baseball's Lefty Grove was born.E√Willie Stargell, father figure for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was born.+√Basketball star Shaquille O'Neal was born.¡ⁿJack Nicklaus eclipses Arnold Palmer's all-time money earning total by winning the Doral Eastern Open. His total at the time was just under one and a half million dollars.ⁿⁿ13-yr-old eighth grader Jennifer Capriati made her debut on the Women's Tennis circuit in the Virginia Slims Tournament in Boca Raton, Florida...where she defeated Mary Lou Daniels 7-6,6-1. She went on to be the youngest player to reach a semi-finals.$√Football RB Franco Harris was born.¢ⁿRussia participated in their first International Ice Hockey competition in Stockholm, Sweden...where they won the World Ice Hockey Title over Canada, 7-2.!√Tennis star Ivan Lendl was born.⌠ⁿAmerican Phil Mahre won the Alpine World Cup Ski Championships for the third straight year...becoming the third person to accomplish this feat. Mahre went on to win the Slalom Gold in the '84 Olympics and his twin brother Steve won the silver! √Baseball's Jim Rice was born.╕ⁿSilky Sullivan, a big red horse with an unimpressive lineage, lived up to his reputation for thrilling stretch victories...he came from 41 lengths behind to win the Santa Anita Derby.≡ⁿJoe Frazier defended the World Heavyweight Boxing championship in a unanimous 15-round decison over Muhammad Ali in Madison Square garden. This, of course, set up the rematch, the "Thrilla in Manilla." The match grossed nearly $20,000,000.lⁿThe National Association of Baseball Players adopted a rule that a bat could not exceed 2 1/2" in diameter.╞ⁿNational Hockey League president Clarence Campbell expelled Billy Taylor of the New York Rangers and Don Gallinger of the Boston Bruins for life, on charges of being associated with known gamblers.$√Football's Brian Bosworth was born.¥ⁿForward Anthony Roberts of Oral Roberts University set a National Invitational Tournament Record by scoring 65 points in a 90-89 first round loss to Oregon.≥ⁿ"Boston Strong Boy" John L. Sullivan fought Englishman Charlie Mitchell in a rain-muddied stable in France. In 1883 Sullivan had soundly beaten Mitchell with gloves in New York, but this bare-knuckle bout was declared a draw after 39 rounds.≥ⁿRetired heavyweight boxer Rocky Marciano declined an offer of $1,250,000 to come out of retirement and fight Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title. Patterson was an unpopular champ and many still considered Marciano to be the true champ."√Football's Andre Waters was born.√Shannon Miller was born.±ⁿThe presidents of Stanford, the Univ. of Calif. and the Univ. of Southern Calif. spoke against rough play in college sports, saying that coaches should develop student-athletes, not galavant around the country scouting out ready-made stars.⌡ⁿFrance's Sports Dictator, Jean Borotra, ruled that French Professional Athletes must also work another job, because sports must be considered a means of acquiring health, and not a well-paid job. France was occupied by Nazi Germany at the time.√Cesar Geronimo was born.ÜⁿJennifer Capriati becomes the youngest player to reach a women's tennis tournament final at the age of 13. Capriati loses 4-6, 5-7 to Gabriela Sabatini.δ√Auto racer Johnny Rutherford was born. He became a race driver in 1959, and has since won 26 championship races. He won the Indy 500 3 times, in '74, '76 and '80. The '80 win was the first for a driver starting from the pole position.!√Baseball's Dale Murphy was born.'√Baseball's Darryl Strawberry was born.δ√Boxer Joe Louis was born. Louis began his pro heavyweight career in 1934. He won 23 fights, including knockouts of Primo Carnera and Max Baer, both former champs. Louis became champ in 1937 after knocking out Jim Braddock in 8 rounds. √Baseball's Will Clark was born.#√Baseball's Kirby Puckett was born.ⁿThe Cincinnati Royals announced that they would be moving thier NBA franchise to Kansas City, Missouri for the '72-'73 season.σⁿTai Babilonia and Randy Gardner won the World Figure Skating championships, the first American pair for 29 years. Gardner pulled a groin muscle soon after and the pair were unable to challenge for the Olympic Gold Medal in 1980.ΩⁿThe Cincinnati Red Stockings become the first professional baseball team. Organizers George Ellard and Harry Wright announce that they will start paying their players. Shortstop George Wright earned the top salary of $1,400 per year.'√Football's Norm Van Brocklin was born.íⁿBarney Oldfield set a new land speed record of 131.7 mph, which is pretty far short of the average speed of today's Indianapolis 500, which hovers near 200 mph.#√Baseball's Ozzie Newsome was born. √Football's Mel Gray was born.ƒⁿNFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle reinstated Hall of Fame players Paul Hornung and Alex Karras following an eleven month suspension for betting on football games.╙ⁿJames "Gentleman Jim" Corbett lost the heavyweight championship in Carson City, Nevada to Robert Fitzsimmons of England in 14 rounds. This was the first boxing match captured on film by a motion picture camera.û√Golfer Bobby "The Amateur" Jones, the greatest amateur golfer in history, was born. Jones was the first player to win the Grand Slam of golf in 1930.¼ⁿMaurice "the Rocket" Richard, of the Montreal Canadiens, became the 1st NHL player to score 50 goals in a season, helping his team to a 4-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.òⁿThe Boston Braves relocation to Milwaukee was approved by the National League, this was the first relocation of a major league franchise since 1903."√Ice skater Bonnie Blair was born.╕ⁿBo Jackson was released by the Kansas City Royals after suffering a potentially career-ending hip injury in an NFL playoff game while playing running back for the Los Angeles Raiders.ßⁿThe first "big" football game played on the west coast was between Stanford and the University of California. Stanford won the game, played in San Francisco, 14-10. The game stirred interest in football on the Pacific coast.√Richie Ashburn was born.ⁿⁿSuffering from an ankle injury "Pistol" Pete Maravich was "held" to 20 points as his LSU Tigers lost to Marquette 101-79 in the NIT semifinals in his last college game. For the season Pete had 1,381 pts, 522 FG and a 44.5 scoring average, all records.π√Basketball coach Pat Riley was born. Besides leading the Los Angeles Lakers to multiple NBA championships, Riley also coined (AND PATENTED) the phrase "Three-peat" to describe winning a world championship three years in a row.∙√Hockey's Bobby Orr was born. Orr began skating at age 4 and was "adopted" by the Boston Bruins at 12. He began playing at 18, the youngest possible age, and earned Rookie of the Year honors in 1967. Orr won the James Norris Trophy 8 years in a row.▌ⁿIn a special vote, Roberte Clemente was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame just eleven weeks after his death in an airplane disaster. The only other player to have the 5-year waiting period waived was Lou Gehrig in 1939.ⁿⁿMildred "Babe" Didrikson pitched a full inning for the Philadelphia A's against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Fort Myers Florida. She didn't allow a hit; the first batter walked, she hit the second, who took his base, then the third hit into a triple play. √Football's Tom Flores was born.ªⁿRetiring NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced a new drug policy which required players to be tested for steriods from 7-10 days before reporting to training camp.öⁿThe first Masters golf championship began on this date in Augusta, Georgia (where it is still played). It was won three days later by Horton Smith.√Don Chaney was born.:√Football Heisman Trophy winning RB Marcus Allen was born.ΦⁿUCLA became the first collegiate team to capture 3 consecutive National Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball Championships by defeating Purdue 92-72. Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul Jabaar) won his third consecutive MVP award.#√Football QB Ron Jaworski was born.$√Basketball's Moses Malone was born.eⁿManfred Wolf of East Germany set a world record with a ski jump of 541.3 ft, at Planica, Yugoslavia.▀ⁿThe New York Yankees agree to continue playing in New York after getting the city to agree to renovate Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, the club's home stadium since it was built in the glory years of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.#√Baseball's George Sisler was born.!√Runner Roger Bannister was born.δ√Patrica "Pat" Bradley was born. A succesful English amateur, Pat entered Florida International University and was named an All-American golfer in 1970. She won 6 major tournaments between 1980 and '86, including the U.S. Open in 1981.τⁿIn the first heavyweight boxing match attended by significant numbers of women, Jess Willard and Frank Moran went 10 rounds for no decision. Promoter Tex Rickard was given credit for getting over 300 "fashionable" women to attend.√Howard Cosell was born.ëⁿYoung Johnny Weissmuller begins a remarkable career by setting his first two world records, in the 300 yard and the 300 meter freestyle./√Baseball Cy Young winner Tom Glavine was born.ÜⁿJoe DiMaggio said he would take the advice of Ty Cobb and switch from a 40 oz. bat to a 36 or 37 oz. bat to avoid getting tired at the end of the season.=√Football RB and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen was born.iⁿThe Los Angeles Lakers set a NBA record for winning percentage for a season, winning 69 games out of 82.ïⁿMichigan State, featuring Earvin "Magic" Johnson, defeated Indiana State, featuring Larry Bird, 75-64 in the NCAA Basketball championship.ÑⁿMike Tyson, the former heavyweight boxing champion, is sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of raping a beauty pageant contestant in July of 1991.▐ⁿManager John McGraw pontificated that "night baseball, despite the prominence and great crowds it has drawn, will never supplant baseball in its natural setting under a warm sun so far as the major leagues are concerned."═ⁿBasketball reached new heights, literally, when the National Invitation Tournament featured George Mikan from DePaul (6'9") Don Otten from Bowling Green (6'11 1/2") and Bob Kurland of Oklahoma A&M (7'0").)√Football QB Randall Cunningham was born.xⁿHoward Drew became the first black to tie or set the world record in the hundred-yard dash, with a time of 9.6 seconds.√Rick Barry was born.∞ⁿTwo new basketball rules were adopted by the NCAA/AAU rules committee. Goal-tending (touching the ball on its downward flight to the basket) was forbidden. Also, players were allowed 5 fouls instead of 4 before being ejected on a foul.■√Denton "Cy" Young was born. Young is generally considered the greatest pitcher in baseball history. He won 20 or more games in 16 seasons, no one else has come close. His 511-313 career record is tops in both wins AND losses! Young pitched in 906 games.7√One of the greatest horses ever, Man o'War was foaled.1√Earl Campbell, football's "Tyler Rose" was born.+√Tennis upstart Jennifer Capriati was born.╕ⁿWilliam Tilden, a tennis player, accused the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association of hampering the war effort by banning joint appearances of pro and amateur tennis players at military camps.╬ⁿThe line between professional and amateur tennis players was abolished by the International Lawn Tennis association and the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association, bowing to pressure from the public and the players.P√Perhaps the greatest race-horse in history, Secretariat was foaled in Kentucky.ⁿ√Jack Johnson was born. Johnson was poor and fought racial prejudice throughout his boxing career. He became the first black heavyweight champ in 1908, defeating then champ Tommy Burns in 14 rounds in Sydney Australia. Johnson lost only 7 of 114 bouts. √Hockey's Gordie Howe was born.¼ⁿThe American Football League's All-Star team defeated a Japanese team 46-0 in Japan before a crowd of 60,000, including Babe Ruth and members of the Japanese Royal Family.H√One of baseball's greatest knuckleball throwers, Phil Niekro, was born.!√Baseball's Rusty Staub was born.└ⁿThe first major league baseball players strike began as players walked out over a pension fund dispute. The strike was settled on April 13th and the season began on April 15th, ten days late. √Baseball's Don Sutton was born.²ⁿThe best college football player of the 19th century and the first professional football player, William "Pudge" Heffelfinger, died. "Pudge" is best remembered for his innovative method of pulling out of the line to run interference for running backs.┤ⁿIn an exhibition baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Texas Longhorns, Nolan Ryan pitched against his son Reid Ryan, the first such father-son duel in baseball history.ΩⁿThe shortest boxing match without gloves took place. Al Carr defeated Lew Massey in New Haven Connecticut, in a bout recorded as lasting 10 seconds in the first round. The fight was actually stopped in 7 seconds with Massey out cold.!√Football's Lyle Alzedo was born.ÑⁿThe National Football League announced plans to have the 1975 Super Bowl played in the newly completed New Orleans SuperDome, the largest indoor arena in the world.≤√Walter Camp, "the Father of American Football," was born. Camp began coaching at Yale in 1888 and his efforts initiated many changes to the game, including the 11-man team, signal calling, the system of downs and yards and the scrimmage line.σ√Tris Speaker, was born. Speaker's lifetime average was .344 and his 3,515 hits is still fifth on the all-time list. If asked to name the three best players in history, most experts would say: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Tris Speaker.░√Glen "Pop" Warner was born. Warner was an innovative football coach at seven different schools over a 49-year period. Among his achievements was the "discovery" of Jim Thorpe.vⁿJohnny Weissmuller swam the 200-meter freestyle in a record 2:08...beating his old record by more than seven seconds.ΓⁿThe University of Wisconsin withdrew their track team in protest from the scheduled meet at Columbia, Missouri. The University of Missouri barred black athletes from playing, and Wisconsin's star hurdler, Ed Smith, was black.`ⁿThe Olympics return after a 1,500 year break. The first "modern" Olympics were held in Greece.√Mickey Cochrane was born.)√Baseball pitcher Bert Blyleven was born.UⁿArnold Palmer won his first major golf championship, winning the Masters tournament.'√Baseball manager John McGraw was born.S√"TD" Tony Dorsett, Dallas Cowboy running back and Heisman Trophy winner, was born.├ⁿThe Boston Celtics win their fourth CONSECUTIVE NBA championship, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3. Bill Russell had 30 today in a 110-107 overtime victory to seal the championship.KⁿAt the tender age of 23, Jack Nicklaus won his first Masters Championship.G√Ice skating phenomenom and Olympic gold medalist Sonia Henie was born.%√Basketball's John Havlicek was born.OⁿThe first legal off-track betting system went into operation in New York City.╤ⁿ"Hammerin' Hank" Aaron hit his 715th home run, bettering Babe Ruth's decades old record for career home runs. Aaron finished the season with 733 homers. His career total was a new major league record of 755.√Curly Lambeau was born.`ⁿThe National Football League made it mandatory for players to wear socks during football games.║ⁿThe Houston Astrodome, the largest indoor arena in the world, was opened in Houston, Texas. President Lyndon Johnson was present for the first major league baseball game played indoors.~ⁿJack Nicklaus won his fourth Masters title, equalling Arnold Palmer's total victories in golf's most sought-after tournament.p√Super Bowl winning Football coach, beer salesman and award-winning television commentator John Madden was born.<√Football QB and television announcer Don Meredith was born.÷ⁿJackie Robinson became the first black player to achieve major league baseball status when the Brooklyn Dodgers bought his contract from the Montreal Royals of the International League. Robinson appeared in uniform for the Dodgers the next day. √Football's Mel Blount was born.qⁿThe NHL Stanley cup was won by the Detroit Red Wings who defeated the Montreal Canadiens in four straight games.╗ⁿThe National Committee on Women's Athletics of the American Physical Education Association approved resolutions calling for year-round athletic activities to be available for every girl.+√Baseball pitcher Bret Saberhagen was born.┴ⁿJack Nicklaus won his third Masters championship, and became the first to win the coveted green jacket two years in a row. To do it he shot a 70 in a playoff with Tommy Jacobs and Gary Brewer.{ⁿThe baseball catcher's mask was used for the first time in a baseball game in Lynn, Massachusetts by James Alexander Tyng.√Mike Garrett was born. ⁿArnold Palmer won his fourth Masters championship and set a golf record for career winnings of $506,496.84. By comparison, the average PGA tournament in 1993 had a winners check of close to $200,000, and the SEASON winnings of 4 golfers topped $1,000,000ÆⁿThe first 15-foot pole vault in history was performed by Cornelius Warmerdan, competing for the San Francisco Olympic Club at Berkely California.ÆⁿPete Rose recorded his first major league hit. By the time he retired 23 years later, he will have 4,256 career hits, breaking Ty Cobb's record.ÄⁿDistance runner Jim Ryun turned in the first professional track circuit sub-four-minute mile, running the distance in 3 minutes 59.8 seconds.@√Baseball's major league hit record holder, Pete Rose, was born.s√Multiple Cy Young award winner, Greg Maddux was born. Also born on this day was Baseball outfielder David Justice.'√Baseball pitcher Steve Avery was born.öⁿRandy "The Manster (half man, half monster)" White retires from the Dallas Cowboys and pro football after 8 all-pro selections in a 14-year career.█ⁿThe worst exhibition of free-throw shooting since Wilt Chamberlain missed 10 in a row in 1960 was done by Chris Duddley of New Jersey. The center hit just one of 18 throws, missing his final 13 to break Wilt's record.√Willie Davis was born.nⁿJackie Robinson played in his first major league baseball game as his Brooklyn Dodgers met the Boston Braves.≡ⁿPresident Eisenhower opened the baseball season by pitching two balls in Washington's Griffith stadium. The first ball was sent to the Hall of Fame as the ten millionth A.G. Spalding and Brothers ball made since 1876 for the major leagues.lⁿLos Angeles Laker's Magic Johnson breaks the NBA career assist record, ending the night with 9,897 assists.╔ⁿWild-west legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley demonstrated her skills by breaking 100 clay targets in a row at a trapshooting event at Pinehurst, N.C. This is believed to be a woman's shooting record.A√Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabaar was born (as Lew Alcindor).æⁿThe Big Ten college football conference banned television broadcasts of its games and also restricted films of the telecasts until the next day.√Cap Anson was born.%√Football QB Boomer Esiason was born.╨ⁿJerrie Mock became the first woman to fly solo around the world, landing in Columbus Ohio. Mock began the trip on March 19, and made 21 stops. She flew a total of 22,858.8 miles in her single engine plane.▌ⁿMike Schmidt, of the Philadelphia Phillies, set a modern National League record by hitting four consecutive home runs in a single game. He drove in 9 and his final homer broke a 15-15 tie, beating the Chicago Cubs 18-16.╟ⁿCharley Robertson of the Chicago White Sox, pitched a perfect game against the Detroit Tigers. This was the third perfect game since the adoption of modern pitching rules, and the first since 1908.╘ⁿThe New York Yankees opened Yankee Stadium, "The House that Ruth Built", before 74,200 fans, and turned away 25,000 more. The Bambino hit a 3-run homer off Howard Ehmke as the Yanks beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1.=√Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter was born.%√Football's Wilbur Marshall was born.ⁿ√Skier Andrea Mead was born. Mead was born into a skiing family and in 1949 she won the U.S. downhill, slalom and combined races. She went on to win 2 Olympic gold medals in 1952 and is the only American skier to win 2 gold medals in a single Olympics.'√Baseball pitcher Frank Viola was born.┐ⁿCharles "Chuck" Cooper of Duquesne University, was the first black basketball player drafted by an NBA club. The Boston Celtics acquired him and he became the first black to play in the NBA.#√Baseball's Don Mattingly was born.÷ⁿDuring a game between New York and Montreal, CBS broadcaster Jack Buck jokingly offered a thousand dollars to any cameraperson who could catch Mets outfielder Kevin McReynolds smiling. Deena Sheldon did, and Buck wrote her the check on the air.»ⁿHeisman Trophy winner and expected number one pick of the Dallas Cowboys, Rocket Ismail signs a $26 million deal to play for the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts.ªⁿBirth of a national past time: The first official National League baseball game was held in Philedelphia between teams from Philedelphia and Boston. Boston won 6-5.∞ⁿA new baseball rule was issued. From now on, a foul tip caught after two strikes constituted a third strike, and therefore an out. The only major rules change since this was the addition of the designated hitter in the American League.√Spencer Haywood was born.=√One of baseball's greatest pitchers, Warren Spahn, was born. ⁿTwo new rules were adopted by the NBA. A 24-second clock was set for a team to shoot a basket from the time it gained possession, and each team was limited to 6 personal fouls in a quarter, after which the opposing team would get to shoot two free-throws╕ⁿKen Johnson of the Houston Colts pitched a no-hitter, but lost to the Cincinnati Reds who scored on two errors. This was the first no-hit loss in modern major league baseball history.%√Football's Vince Ferragamo was born.aⁿGayle Hopkins set a world broad jump record of 26 ft., 2 in., breaking Jesse Owens' 1935 record.µⁿJim Abbott, the California Angels' rookie pitcher who was born with only one hand, won his 1st major league game in only his 3rd start...beating the Baltimore Orioles 3-2. Abbot went 6 innings, yielded 2 runs and allowed 4 hits.▄ⁿAn automatic pinsetter was approved by the American Bowling Congress. Invented by Fred Schmidt, in cooperation with the American Machine and Foundry Co., this was the first successful implementation of any such device.√Tony Phillips was born.èⁿThe National Football League adopted its 15-minute sudden death overtime rule. Games still tied after this period would be declared ties.√Sal Maglie was born.«√Francina Blankers-Koen, a Dutch track star, was born. Koen won four Olympic Gold medals in 1948, the most ever won in a single Olympics by a female track and field athlete.▀ⁿFrank Boucher of the New York Rangers was given permanent possession of the Lady Byng Trophy for the most sportsmanlike player in the NHL. He had won it for 7 of its 11 year history. A new trophy was awarded the next year. √Rogers Hornsby, the best right-handed batter in major league history, was born. His lifetime average was .358, second only to Ty Cobb's .367, and in 1924 he bettered Cobb's single season record of .420 with an incredible .424. Hornsby played 23 seasons.└ⁿA program for woman athletes was approved for the 1932 Olympics for track and field events. The 800-meter event was not approved for women because it was considered "too strenuous" for women.!√Football's Mark Bavaro was born.ôⁿThe 1974 basketball championships between the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks began on this date. Boston would go on to win, 4 games to 3.*√NFL Football coach George Allen was born.'√Baseball great Luis Aparicio was born.H√Golfer Johnny Miller was born. Also born on this date, runner Jim Ryun.σⁿAn American All-Star basketball team defeated a touring Russian National squad 83-65 in the opening game of a six-game series between the teams. The Russian team's 51-50 1970 Olympic victory was somewhat avenged by this victory.┴ⁿPete Rose had the only three-homer game of his career at Shea Stadium against the Mets. The final score for the game, Reds win 14-7. Rose would hit only seven home runs for the entire season.▒√Fielding "Hurry-Up" Yost was born. Yost's record at Michigan from 1901 to 1927 was an unbelievable 55-1 with 2,821 points against a combined 42 points for ALL of his opponents.$√Basketball's Isiah Thomas was born.æⁿThe Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves played a 26-inning game. The game was finally called on account of darkness with the score tied 1-1.√Steve Cauthen was born.±ⁿNolan Ryan pitched his record seventh no-hitter, and his sixth in the American League. He fanned 16 as his Texas Rangers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0. The 44-yr-old right hander later said this was the best game he had ever pitched.ÇⁿThe first double-no-hit major league baseball game was played, with Cincnnati's Reds defeating Chicago's Cubs 1-0 in 9 innings.░ⁿWalter "Big Train" Johnson becomes the first (and only) 100 shutout pitcher in major league history. Johnson would go on to pitch 110 shutouts in a career with 416 victories.┤ⁿIn the Kentucky Derby, Alysheba, an 8-1 shot, ridden by Chris McCarron, came from behind in the stretch to edge "Bet Twice." His winning time (2:03.4) was the slowest in 13 years.9√Boxing middleweight champ "Sugar" Ray Robinson was born.⌡ⁿFrank "Bucko" Kilroy and Wayne Robinson, former Philadelphia Eagles football players, win an $11,600 settlement in their libel suit against Time, Inc. The two protested an article in "Life" magazine which accused them of dirty football playing.SⁿSweden defeated Canada 9-0 to win its first World Hockey Championship in 25 years.√Betsy Rawls was born.▀ⁿThe Kentucky Derby was won by Dancer's Image in 2 min. 1 1/5 sec. Whoops! Tests indicated that Dancer's Image had been taking an illegal pain-killer. "Forward Pass" became the winner when Dancer's Image was disqualified.∙ⁿParry O'Brien broke his two-year-old record in the shot put with a toss of 18.52 meters. This continued a string of victories which eventually stretched to 116. O'Brien would retire with 2 Olympic gold medals and the world record of 19.30 meters. ┤ⁿPete Rose, of the Cincinnati Reds, got his 3,000 hit today, at 37 the youngest player in history to get 3,000. He eventually went on to set a new record for hits before retiring.LⁿDr. Hans Liebold sets world record closed-track speed record of 250.96 mph.√Weeb Ewbank was born.}√The "Say Hey Kid," Willie Mays was born. Mays was the National League MVP in '54 and '65, and was Rookie of the Year in '51.─ⁿThe New York Yankees sign a deal with United Airlines to transport the team to and from away games. Doing so makes them the first professional sports franchise to travel by air for a full season.}ⁿThe first World Hockey Association title series was won by the New England Whalers who beat the Winnipeg Jets in five games.oⁿHarry Drake fires an arrow 2,047 feet and 2 inches from a crossbow, setting the world record for arrow flight.■ⁿBoston's young ace left-hander, Babe Ruth, outdueled Walter "Big Train" Johnson and drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in Boston's 1-0 win over the Washington Senators. Ruth hit so well he split time next season between pitching and outfield.f√Baltimore Colts QB Johnny Unitas was born. Unitas was the NFL Player of the Year in '59, '64 and '67.ÆⁿPaul Hines performed the first unassisted triple play in organized baseball in a game in Providence, Rhode Island, between Providence and Boston.&√Football safety Ronnie Lott was born.├ⁿThe news from Moscow is that the U.S.S.R. will not participate in the Olympics. This follows the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics of 1980, to protest the beginning of a war with Afhganistan.φ√Harry Vardon, the first of the great modern golfers, was born. Golf's most prestigous award, the Vardon Trophy, was named in his honor. The trophy is given to the golfer with the best scoring average in both the U.S. and Great Britain. √Baseball's Tony Gwynn was born.╝ⁿJim Gentile, 1B for the Baltimore Orioles, hit consecutive grand slams in the 1st and 2nd innings of a spanking of the Minnesota Twins, 13-5. Gentile hit 46 HR and had 141 RBIs this year.°√Phil Mahre was born. Mahre won the world cup skiing competition in 1981, the 1st American to do so. He won the U.S.'s first Olympic medal for skiing in 1980. Mahre suffered severe injuries in his career, including 2 broken legs and a broken ankle. √Charlie Gehringer was born.µⁿThe first Intercollegiate Gymnastics Team Championship was won the by University of Illinois in Chicago. Three schools actually had higher scores, but were represented by only one athlete, disqualifying them from the team title.ÆⁿRetired undefeated heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Marciano became a public relations counselor of the Raynham, Massachusetts Dog Racing Track.£ⁿThe Westminster Kennel Club was organized. It took its name from the hotel in which the meeting was held, which was a favorite for gentlemen dog fanciers.pⁿThe Kentucky Derby shortened its race to a mile and a quarter, and the race was won by Ben Brush, the favorite.3√Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra was born.√Boxer Joe Louis was born.[ⁿMickey Mantle hits three home runs in a single game, two left-handed and one right handed. ⁿMickey Mantle crushed Stu Miller's 7th-inning full-count change-up and became the sixth player to hit 500 career homers, also leading the Yankees to a 6-5 win over Baltimore. Mantle retired after the next season with 536 homers, 3rd overall at the time.√Big Ed Walsh was born.mⁿThe Olympic games were first held in the United States on this date. The host city was St. Louis, Missouri. √Baseball's Tony Perez was born.òⁿRick Mears sets the fastest qualifying time record for the Indianapolis 500 at over 220 mph. He also sets the fastest 4-lap average at 219.198 mph.┘ⁿThe Los Angeles Lakers woke up from sluggish start and rebounded from a first half deficit of 14-43 to shock the Seattle Supersonics and sweep the Western Conference semifinals. James Worthy led L.A. with 33 points.φⁿThe second of what were said to be the first two Football contests for which admission was charged was played. Harvard defeated McGill University of Montreal 3-0 in the first but this game ended 0-0. The game played was actually Rugby."√Baseball's George Brett was born.'√Baseball pitcher John Smoltz was born.(√Dallas Cowboy RB Emmitt Smith was born.ÅⁿThe International Olympic Committee officially ended all ties with South Africa, effectively barring its athletes from competing in the games.ùⁿThe American League's first night baseball game took place at Shibe Park in Philadelphia between the Philadelphia Athletics and the Cleveland Indians.8√Olympic gymnist and gold medalist Olga Korbut was born.'√Runner Joan Benoit Samuelson was born.*√Buffalo Bills RB Thurman Thomas was born.(√Tennis star Gabriela Sabatini was born.÷ⁿJunko Tabei of Japan became the first woman to ascend Mt. Everest. Her climb is almost 22 years after Sir Edmund Hillary first climbed the world's highest mountain, and five years before Reinhold Messner would become the first to climb it solo.L√Boxing welterweight and middleweight champion "Sugar" Ray Leonard was born.■ⁿWhat a game! In the 10th inning of a game between the Phillies and the Cubs, Mike Schmidt hit his second homer, giving the Phillies a 23-22 victory. 21 players had 50 hits in 109 at-bats...including ELEVEN homers! Dave Kingman hit 3 homers for the Cubs.ßⁿ15-yr-old Eddie Arcaro rode his first race, finishing sixth. Unable to win this year, Arcaro went on to have a brilliant career, winning 4,779 of 24,092 races, including 17 Triple Crown races and a record 549 Stakes races. ?√Baseball Hall of Fame third baseman, Brooks Robinson was born.'√"Mr. October" Reggie Jackson was born.÷ⁿThe Heavyweight Wrestling Championship was regained by Tom Jenkins in a match with Frank Gotch at Madison Square Garden. Jenkins took two of three falls, and Gotch was so badly injured, it was said he could not leave his hotel room for a week. √Baseball's Bill Fitch was born.%√Basketball's Bill Laimbeer was born.¢ⁿThe National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame inducted four coaches: William Ingram, Morley Jennings, Herb McCracken and James Phelan.rⁿThe first Jockey Club in the world was formed as the South Carolina Jockey Club...it was later disbanded in 1900.#√Baseball's Hal Newhouser was born.áⁿThe Seattle Supersonics defeated the Washington Bullets to win the NBA Basketball Championship. The 'Sonics won four straight games after dropping the opener.√Ara Parseghian was born.≤ⁿJohn Thomas equaled his world record in the high jump with a leap of 7' 1 3/4". Thomas was regarded as one of America's best hopes in the Olympics, but when he came in third despite a jump of 7' 1/4" the press unfairly labelled him a failure.&√Baseball pitcher Tommy John was born.╨ⁿLos Angeles Lakers' guard Magic Johnson won his second MVP trophy in three years, edging last year's winner, Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls. Johnson won it again in '90 and Jordon won his second in '91.fⁿJoe Borden of the National League Boston team pitched the first no-hitter in National League history.ºⁿJoe Louis successfully defended his heavyweight boxing championship for the 17th time by defeating Buddy Gaer when Gaer was ejected after a foul in the seventh round.$√Tennis star John Newcombe was born."√Basketball's Joe Dumars was born.■ⁿThe Indianapolis 500 ended in a controversy. Al Unser was disqualified for breaking a rule during a "slowdown period" during the race, giving Mario Andretti the win. However, the decision was reversed in October and Unser was reinstated as the winner.#√Basketball's K. C. Jones was born.╥ⁿJesse Owens set or equaled four world records in less than an hour in a Big 10 conference track meet at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Owens won the 100 and 220-yard dashes, the broad jump and the 220-yard low hurdles.ⁿThe U.S. Supreme Court declared a Louisiana law enforcing a ban on bouts between back and white boxers to be unconstitutional.éⁿJohnny Rutherford captured his third Indianapolis 500, with an average speed of 142.862 mph, the slowest winning time sicne 1962.√Darrell Evans was born.╫ⁿKathryn Schmidt set an American women's javelin record of 207' 10"...but she was still more than 6 feet off the world record, held by East Germany's Ruth Fuchs. In 1977 Schmidt threw for a record of over 227 feet.jⁿThe first Preakness Stakes was run at Pimlico Race Track at Baltimore Maryland...and was won by Survivor.#√Golfing legend Sam Snead was born."√Baseball's Frank Thomas was born.²ⁿJan Stephenson overcame shaky knees to sink a short putt and win the par-3 17th hole in the LPGAs first Skins Game. Stephenson won $200,000 on that putt. She had been shut out by Nancy Lopez, JoAnne Carner and Betsy King for two days before that putt.R√The Cherokee Indian sports star of the turn of the century, Jim Thorpe, was born.▐√Basketball's Jerry West was born. West was a 2-time All-American at West Virgina University and was the outstanding player in the NCA tournament in 1959. His Hall-of-Fame career featured a record 840 free throws in 1966.3√Al Unser, Sr., the auto racing champion, was born.pⁿJohn Buck O'Neil was signed by the Chicago Cubs, becoming the first black talent scout in major league history.■ⁿStefan Edberg became the first top-seed in French Open history to lose in the opening round when he was stunned by Sergi Brugeuera. Boris Becker also lost to Goran Ivanisvic. This was the first Grand Slam match to lose both top seeds in the first round.ìⁿThe first Indianoplis 500 race was won by Ray Harroun. Other races had been held at the track before, but this was the first 500 mile race.'√Chicago Bears RB Gale Sayers was born.xⁿAt the Ascot Speedway in Gardena, California Evel Knieval cleared 16 cars standing in a row in a stunt motorcycle jump.1√New York Jets QB "Broadway" Joe Namath was born.~ⁿWillie Turnesa beat Dick Chapman in the British Amateur Golf Championship in the first All-American final of that tournament.åⁿA.J. Foyt wins his third Indianapolis 500 over Al Unser and Parnelli Jones. Foyt will have to wait ten more years to win number four.P√Dean Chance, winner of the 1964 Cy Yound award for baseball pitchers, was born.ïⁿ340 lb. Claude "Humphrey" McBride knocked out 360 lb. Jimmy Black in the third round of the heaviest "heavyweight" boxing match on record.┐ⁿPat Bradley won the LPGA, becoming the first golfer to win the women's tour top four events. Earlier in the season Bradley became the first woman golfer to top $2,000,000 in career earnings.S√Olympic gold-medalist swimmer and movie star (Tarzan) Johnny Weissmuller was born. √Golfer Craig Stadler was born.∙ⁿRod Carew officially retired from baseball, ending a stellar hall-of-fame career. In 19 years Carew had 3,053 hits and a lifetime average of .328. He won the batting title seven times and hit .388 in 1977, after flirting with .400 all season long.ñⁿThe classic baseball poem "Casey at the Bat" was published for the first time. Written by Earnest L. Thayer, the poem was published in the San Francisco Examiner. √Golfer Hale Irwin was born.2√New Orleans Saints linebacker Sam Mills was born.~ⁿMike Hegan committed an error against the Boston Red Sox, ending his record streak of error-less games for first base at 178.√Bob Fitzsimmons was born.UⁿSandy Koufax tied Bob Fellers modern era baseball record of three career no-hitters.═ⁿEdwin Moses lost a 400-meter hurdles race in Madrid to Danny Harris, another American. This ended the longest winning streak in track history after 122 victories. Moses had last lost on August 26, 1977.ⁿⁿJames J. Corbett, a bank teller turned amateur boxer, defeated well-known pro boxer Joe Choynski in 27 bloody rounds. Corbett finished the fight with a vicious left hook, a punch he was said to have conceived to protect his knuckles from being broken.√Art Donovan was born.┴ⁿThe three-point basketball field goal was adopted by the newly formed American Basketball League. The new shot had to be performed from behind a line across the court 22 feet from the basket.≡√Baseball's Bill Dickey was born. Besides catching for some of the game's greatest pitchers, including Lefty Gomez, Dickey played 17 seasons, catching more than 100 games in 13 consecutive seasons and batting .313 lifetime with 202 homers.√Bobby Mitchell was born.'√Tennis superstar Bjorn Bjorg was born.╘ⁿJesse Owens carried the Ohio State track team in the Central Intercollegiate Track and Field Championships. He scored 15 of the teams 31 points with victories in the 100 and 220 yard dashes, and the broad jump.*√Baseball catcher Thurman Munson was born.√Walter Kennedy was born.ÅⁿOmaha, sired by 1930 Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox, wins the Belmont Stakes to become the third Triple Crown winner in horse racing history.hⁿThe Boston Red Sox set a major league single-team scoring record by whipping the St. Louis Browns 29-4.∩ⁿA merger of the American and National Football Leagues was announced, to become effective for the 1970 season. The move was comprehensive, also creating a combined college draft and beginning the yearly hype-fest we call the "Super Bowl."!√Baseball's Dave Parker was born.▒ⁿJockey Jimmy McLaughlin won his sixth Belmont Stakes on Sir Dixon. McLaughlin is the only jockey to win the Belmont Stakes three times in a row TWICE, 1882-1884 and 1886-1888.~ⁿJim Courier and Andre Agassi face off in a rare all-American final in the French Open. Courier wins 3-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.-√Football Hall of Fame QB Dan Fouts was born.┘ⁿCleveland's Rocky Colavito tied a major league record with four home runs in one game in a victory at Baltimore. Rocky got stronger as the game went on. His shots, in order, went 365, 400, 420 and finally, 425 feet.h√Nancy Lieberman becomes the first woman to play in a regular season man's professional basketball game.ßⁿSir Barton won the Belmont Stakes to sweep the three big races of the year, the other two being the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. In doing so, Sir Barton became the first horse to win the "Triple Crown" of horse racing.$√Auto racer Jackie Stewart was born.9√San Francisco (and Kansas City) QB Joe Montana was born.èⁿAmericans A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney drove a Ford to victory in the Le Mans, averaging a record 138.142 mph for the 24-hour endurance race.ëⁿNancy Lopez won the LPGA tournament with a record score of 13 under par. For the year Nancy won nine events, five of them consecutively.¬ⁿByron Nelson wins his first and only U.S. Open title as Sam Snead falters on the last hole and takes an eight. Nelson wins a playoff against Craig Wood and Denny Shute. √Baseball's Mario Soto was born.αⁿThe Chicago Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 108-101 to win the championship in five games. Michael Jordan was the series MVP and was overcome with emotion as he and his team won their first title in his seventh year.2√Football's "Galloping Ghost" Red Grange was born.∞ⁿBabe Ruth made his last appearance in Yankee Stadium "The House That Ruth Built" to see his number (3) retired and to acknowledge his many fans. The revered Sultan of Swat suffered from throat cancer and died on August 16 of this year.δⁿThe first closed-circuit transmission of a boxing match was between Joe Louis and Lee Savold on this date. Louis knocked out Savold in the 6th round, but his comeback bid for the title was stopped later in the year by Rocky Marciano.+√Olympic speed Skater Eric Heiden was born."√Tennis star Steffi Graf was born.╣ⁿThe N.L. All-Stars defeat the A.L. on a dramatic 13th inning two-run triple by Expos left fielder Tim Raines after a three hour and thirty-nine minute pitchers duel. Final score: 2-0.9ⁿThe cork center baseball was patented by Benjamin Shibe.πⁿ22-yr-old American Paul Anderson amazed 15,000 onlookers during a weightlifting competition in Moscow between teams from the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This was the first athletic competition solely between the two countries.#√Baseball star Wade Boggs was born.íⁿJack Nicklaus won his fourth U.S. Open title at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield New Jersey. Nicklaus carded a 272, the lowest 72-hole score in Open history.»ⁿRudolph Bourman, a Swiss, completed a walk across the United States. He arrived in San Francisco having left New Jersey on January 19th and completed the journey in 135 days./√Boxer Roberto "Hands of Stone" Duran was born.oⁿBrian Piccolo, the football player whose story became the award winning television movie "Brian's Song," died.UⁿTom Seaver pitches the only no-hitter of his career against the St. Louis Cardinals.╖ⁿThe first NCAA Track and Field Championships were held at the University of Chicago. The University of Illinois won the first championship, Notre Dame was second and Iowa was third.%√Baseball's Dave Concepcion was born.ⁿⁿIn one of the most dramatic events in sports history, young Jack Nicklaus defeated heavily favored crowd favorite Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole playoff by three strokes to win his first of many U.S. Open titles. Nicklaus had just turned pro in January.*√Baseball base-stealer Lou Brock was born.öⁿThe Cleveland Indians set a record for runs scored in one inning with 14 runs in the first inning against the Philadelphia Athletics, winning 21-2.cⁿJack Nicklaus beats Arnold Palmer for his second U.S. Open title. He will win his fourth in 1980.╧ⁿCurtis Strange does a double-take with his second straight U.S. Open victory with a two-under-par 278. Strange was the 6th to win back-to-back Opens, and the first to do so since Ben Hogan in 1950 and 1951.àⁿThe earliest recorded baseball game took place in Hoboken, New Jersey between the New York Baseball Club and the Knickerbocker Club.$√Yankee slugger Lou Gehrig was born.■ⁿGordie Howe, the highest scorer in NHL history, came out of retirement to accept a $1,000,000 contract with the Houston Aeros in order to play with his sons, Mark and Marty. Houston won the World Hockey Association title and Gordie won his seventh MVP.ⁿ√Glenna Collett Vare was born. Vare was the best woman golfer of the '20s and '30s. She won 49 titles as an amateur golfer and won a U.S.G.A. record of 19 consecutive tournament wins. In 1924 Vare won 59 of 60 events, including her 2nd Canadian Open.√Dickie Thon was born.$√Baseball's Rick Sutcliffe was born.ßⁿJames Bunning of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched the National League's first perfect game in 84 years, beating the New York Mets 6-0. In doing so Bunning became the only pitcher to pitch a no-hitter in both major leagues.FⁿJohn Pennel pole vaulted to 17 ft, 10 1/2 inches, a new world record.É√Baseball pitcher Carl Hubbell was born. Hubbell spent 18 years with the New York Giants winning 253 games and losing 154 with 1,678 strikeouts.6√Basketball superstar "Pistol" Pete Maravich was born.√Wilma Rudolph was born.╔ⁿStefan Edberg defeated Stefan Eriksson 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, in the first round of Wimbledon. This was the first Wimbledon shutout since Sweden's Torsten Johansson beat Belgium's P. Geelhand forty years ago.╘ⁿAbel Kiviat, the oldest living Olympic medalist in the U.S., celebrated his 95th birthday by jogging along fifth avenue in New York City. Kiviat won the silver medal in the 1500-meter race in the 1912 Olympics.▌√Heavyweight boxing champ Jack Dempsey was born. Dempsey was known for his savage attacking style of boxing and lost only 5 bouts in 69 fights. He fought his first bout in 1914 and won the heavyweight title 5 years later.√Billy Casper was born.√Willis Reed was born.¢ⁿA marathon tennis match was played at Wimbledon. The match, between Jaroslav Drobny and Budge Patty went five hours before Drobny finally defeated Patty.φⁿThe Derby and Preakness winner for this year, Kauai King, would not get a chance at the Triple Crown. He went lame in the Arlington Classic on this date and was retired three days later. In that race, Buckpasser set a new world record.I√Abner Doubleday, credited with inventing the game of baseball, was born.\√Babe Didrikson Zaharias, generally considered to be the best female athlete ever, was born.┴ⁿOver 75,000 enthusiastic fans fill Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany to watch America's Harlem Globetrotters play an exhibition game, the largest crowd in history to attend a basketball game.]ⁿTed Allen won the world title in horseshoes when he pitched seventy-two consecutive ringers.D√U.S. Cycling hero and Tour de France champion Greg LeMond was born.àⁿTexas Ranger shortstop Toby Harrah could have stayed home. He played an entire double-header without making a single fielding play.)√Billiards great Willie Mosconi was born.îⁿThe first College World Series began at Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. California won the baseball series 8-7 over Yale.NⁿWayne Gretzky was named the MVP for the NHL for the seventh consecutive year.àⁿNancy Ramey swam the women's 100-meter butterfly in a world record time of 1 min, 9 3/5 sec during a meet in Los Angeles California. √Denver QB John Elway was born.ΦⁿMark McGwire had his second straight four-hit game and led the Oakland A's to a 10-0 win over Cleveland. McGwire became the 1st rookie and the 14th player overall to hit 5 homers in 2 games. He also scored 9 runs in the two games.±ⁿThe first trans-continental auto race ended in Seattle, Washington, with Ford Car-2 placing first. Six autos had started from New York City on June 1st, sent off by President Taft and Mayor George B. McClellan. The winner received $2,000.3√Minnesota Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew was born. √Football WR Roy Green was born.'√Heavyweight champ Mike Tyson was born.|ⁿThe Cincinnati Reds opened a new $45 million Riverfront Stadium to replace Crosley Field, their home for the last 58 years.╜ⁿMeg Mallon outdueled Pat Bradley and Ayako Okamoto down the stretch to capture the LPGA tournament at the Bethesda Country Club in Maryland. She finished at 10 under par and won $150,000.2√Olympic track and field star Carl Lewis was born.╣ⁿA. J. Foyt, three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, won his first 500 mile auto race in six years at the Schaefer 500 at Pocono International Raceway at Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. óⁿNorm Bagrie of New Zealand jumped his one-and-one-half ton jetboat Valvolene 172 feet to land from the Shotover River, the longest boat jump in recorded history.ß√Stock car legend Richard Petty was born. Petty won the Daytona 500 seven times, no one else has won it more than twice. He has also won the NASCAR championship seven times and has won the most NASCAR races at 200 victories.%√Baseball star Jose Canseco was born.ÇⁿAmerican tennis phenomenon Billie Jean King defeats Maria Bueno 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to capture the first of her six Wimbledon titles.╕ⁿ25-yr-old Raul Alcala became the first Mexican to win a stage of the Tour de France bicycle competition. He captured the third leg, with a time of 6 hrs, 34 min, 7 sec for 150 miles.9√Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders owner Al Davis was born.C√New York Yankees temperamental owner George Steinbrenner was born.∞ⁿBillie Jean King and Rosemary Casals won Wimbledon's women's doubles title for the third time in four years. Casals teamed with Ilie Nastase to win the mixed doubles and King lost to Margaret Smith Court in the women's singles finals.$√Baseball great John McKay was born.;ⁿHelen Wills won her third straight Wimbledon championship.#√Football WR James Lofton was born.εⁿOakland 1st baseman, Mark McGwire, homered in the A's winning run, becoming the 17th player and first rookie to hit 30 home runs before the All Star break. Mark went on to hit 49 round-trippers, setting a new record for a rookie player.√Valerie Brisco was born.₧ⁿBaseball's All-Star game was won by the A.L., routing the N.L. 13-3 for its first win since 1971. Fred Lynn of California hit the first All-Star grand slam.Ç√Satchel Paige, baseball's longest playing pitcher, was born. At least that's what they say, who knows when he was really born?%√Basketball's Ralph Sampson was born.²ⁿ14-yr-old American swimmer Mary Meagher set her first of several consecutive world records in the 200-meter butterfly in 2 min 9.77 sec. Deprived of an Olympic appearance in 1980 by the boycott, she beat the odds to win two golds at the 1984 Olympics.αⁿNan Jane Aspinwell...who left San Francisco on September 11, 1910, arrived in New York City, and became the first person to ride a horse across the United States. She travelled 4,500 miles, riding 108 days and resting 193.àⁿThe A.L won the third annual baseball All-Star game 4-1. The National League teams were accused of "not taking the game seriously."4√Pittsburgh Steeler's lineman Jack Lambert was born.╜ⁿThe 13th annual baseball All-Star game was won by the A.L., which shut out the N.L. 12-0. Ted Williams went 4 for 4, including two home runs, playing to his home-town fans in Fenway Park.c√Buffalo Bills' Hall of Fame running back and Heisman Trophy winner O. J. "Juice" Simpson was born.sⁿArtificial turf is installed in the Houston Astrodome, coining the phrase "astroturf" and changing sports forever.σⁿJack Nicklaus won the British Open with a score of 282 at Muirfield. With this win he joined Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Gary Player as the only golfers to have won the "Big Four"...the PGA, Masters, U.S. Open and British Open.ÄⁿIn Paris, France, Paavo Nurmi won two Olympic events within 50 minutes. He completed the 1,500 and 5,000-meter events, both in record times.7√Tennis star and sports ambassador Arthur Ashe is born.¿ⁿThe Maryland Racing Commission refused to change the official Time of the 1973 Preakness...leaving Secretariat without a clean sweep of the Triple Crown speed records.√Al MacInnis was born.ⁿⁿBo Jackson, hitting lead-off for the A.L., homered off N.L. starter Rick Reuschel in the game's first at-bat. Jackson added another RBI, stole a base and made a dramatic running catch to lead the A.L. to a 5-3 win and earned M.V.P. honors for himself.╡ⁿNorman Van Brocklin, QB from the U. of Oregon, signed a pro contract with the Los Angeles Rams in his junior year. Although common today, this practice was unheard of at the time.<√Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi was born. ⁿThe starting catcher in today's baseball All-Star game was Oakland's Terry Steinbach, despite a .217 average and 19 RBIs, because a bunch of A's fans stuffed the ballot box. Steinbach homered off Dwight Gooden and added a sacrifice fly to win the M.V.P.╚√Boxer Mickey Walker was born. Walker never weighed more than 170 pounds but held both the welterweight and middleweight crowns. The "Toy Bulldog" won 91 of 140 fights in his career, 51 by knockout.1√Football QB and U.S. Senator Jack Kemp was born.ôⁿJoann Osterud sets outside loop record of 208. (Outside loops are performed by looping the airplane with the pilot on the "outside" of the loop.)√Golfer Lee Elder was born.┐ⁿCitation becomes the first horse to win more than $1,000,000 in his career when he won the Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park in Inglewood California. His career earnings reach $1,085,760.√Robin Ventura was born.²ⁿFive competitors in the 100-meter Olympic trials complete the race in under 10 seconds, the most to achieve the feat in one race in history. Carl Lewis wins in 9.78 sec. None of the times go into the record books because the race was "wind-assisted."-√Football Hall of Famer Alex Karras was born.ΘⁿA line drive hit down the foul line in New York's Polo Grounds was ruled a home run, igniting a fight between players and umpires. A screen was put on the foul pole to prevent further arguments and soon other stadiums did likewise.8√Chicago White Sox star "Shoeless" Joe Jackson was born.+√Tennis star Margaret Smith Court was born.|ⁿOn this day a record 37 home runs were hit in major league action, 25 by the National league and 12 by the American League.£ⁿPresident Lyndon B. Johnson signed a Congressional Act granting a charter of Federal Incorporation to Little League Baseball, the only sport so recognized.3√Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders was born.eⁿPittsburgh opened Three Rivers stadium, replacing Forbes Field as the baseball home for the Pirates. ⁿA 19-year old Rookie pitcher debuted for the New York Giants. He walked his first two batters and hit three others. He went 0-3 for the season. Undaunted, Christy Mathewson went on to become one of the greatest pitchers of all time, winning 373 games. √Daryle Lamonica was born.úⁿBeverly Hanson won the first LPGA golf tournament. Hanson and Louise Suggs were tied at the end of regulation and Hanson won an 18-hole playoff by three strokes. √Dick Button was born. While a Harvard student in '48 and '49 he became the 1st person to hold at one time the five major titles in figure skating...The U.S., North American, European, World and Olympic. Button was the 1st to perform a triple loop jump.-√International golf star Nick Faldo was born.║ⁿWha' happened? The first unassisted triple play in modern major league baseball was performed by Neal Ball, the shortstop, of Cleveland in a game against Boston of the American League.0√Tennis "bad boy" Ilie "Nasty" Nastase was born.»ⁿCalifonia Angels' Nolan Ryan tied two American League strike-out records in a game against the Baltimore Orioles. Ryan fanned 30 in two games and 41 in his last three games.IⁿNick Faldo defeats Paul Azinger to win the British Open golf tournament.*√Cincinnati Reds star Tony Oliva was born.▀ⁿMaureen Connolly, one of the great women tennis players, was killed at age 19 in a horse-back riding accident. "Little Mo" won the U.S. Women's Singles title in 1951-1953, Wimbledon in '52 and '54 and a Grand Slam in '53. √Golfer Gene Littler was born.┬ⁿHank Aaron hit his 700th career home run in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Most people realized that the most treasured record in sports, Babe Ruth's 714 home runs, would be broken.zⁿIn an ironic twist of fate, jogging enthusiast and exercise guru, James Fixx dies of a sudden heart attack while jogging.╓ⁿLady's Secret, a mare sired by the great Secretariat, became the richest filly or mare in racing history when she won a race at Monmouth Park, Oceanport, N.J. The victory brought her total winnings to $3,015,764.!√Baseball's Sparky Lyle was born.▒ⁿFloyd Patterson tried to regain his heavyweight crown from Sonny Liston, who had beaten Patterson in 2 min. 6 sec. to gain the crown. This time Patterson lasted 2 min. 10 sec.WⁿAmerican cyclist Greg LeMond wins his third Tour de France. Greg also won it in 1989.╖ⁿThe first swimming pool in the U.S. opened in Boston. Among its attendees were John Quincy Adams (reputed to have dived from the 6-foot high board at age 61) and John James Audobon.#√Baseball's Pee Wee Reese was born.,√Hall of Fame Pitcher Don Drysdale was born.⌠ⁿCleveland beat an all-star team with Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson and Tris Speaker 5-3 in a benefit for the widow of Cleveland hurler Addie Joss who died at 31 on April 14. Joss won 160 games, pitched a perfect game and had a lifetime ERA of 1.88.#√Basketball's Karl Malone was born.D√Baseball's highest paid player (as of 1993), Barry Bonds, was born.rⁿJoann Osterud sets inverted flight record with an upside down flight lasting 4 hours, 38 minutes and ten seconds.ôⁿRobert Moses Grove of the Chicago White Sox became the 12th pitcher in major league history to win at least 300 games by defeating Cleveland 10-6.@√Chicago Bears Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton was born.├ⁿAmerican Edwin Moses won the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles. Moses went on to win 107 consecutive races from September, 1977 until June, 1987, the longest victory streak in sports history. √Football's Bob Lilly was born.JⁿTed Allen made 72 ringers in a row at horseshoe pitching in Murray, Utah.T√America's "ice queen," Olympic gold medalist figure skater Dorothy Hamill was born.2√Baseball manager Leo "The Lip" Durocher was born.&√Figure skater Peggy Fleming was born.δⁿ17-year-old Don Schollander, an American swimmer, broke the two-minute barrier in the 200-meter freestyle with a time of 1:58.8. Schollander retired in 1968 after having set 22 world records and winning 5 gold medals in two Olympics.8√Basketball star and U.S. Senator Bill Bradley was born. √Baseball's Vida Blue was born.√Greg Minton was born.^ⁿKathy Cornelius won the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament in a playoff over Barbara McIntyre. ⁿTalk about a bad day in court! The fledgling United States Football League (USFL) lost a suit against the NFL. Although the jury agreed that the NFL had violated anti-trust laws, instead of the over $1 1/2 billion asked for in damages, they awarded $1.1√Legendary baseball coach Casey Stengal was born.òⁿThe Los Angeles Summer Olympics began. Featured in the event were Mildred "Babe" Didrikson (track), Eleanor Holm (swimming) and Eddie Tolan (track).╝ⁿShannon Miller wins the Olympic silver medal for the all-around competition, the first female gymnast to compete against Eastern bloc nations in the Olympics and win any individual medal. √Football's Andre Ware was born.╘ⁿJose Canseco cracked his bat, but still managed to hit his second homer of the night and 30th of the season tying a major league record by hitting 30 home runs in each of his first 3 seasons in the major league.<ⁿThe first national softball tournament was held in Chicago.⌠ⁿThe Olympic games opened in Berlin, with Chancellor Adolph Hitler presiding over opening ceremonies. Hitler intended to use the Olympics to showcase his "Aryan" athletes and was furious when Jesse Owens, a black American, emerged as the star.uⁿArthur Ashe, at the age of twenty, becomes the first black player invited to play on the U.S. Davis Cup tennis team.P√Louisiana State University's most famous football hero, Billy Cannon, was born.²ⁿMark Spitz, already an Olympic champion, regained the world record in the 200-meter butterfly for the third time with a time of 2 min. 1.87 sec. Mark set his eighth and final record in the event at the 1972 Olympics where he won six other gold medals.^ⁿThe Saratoga Racetrack opened its doors with 26 horses running in eight races over four days.ºⁿThe American Automobile Association (AAA) announced that it would end its support of auto racing due to the inordinate number of racing fatalities over the last year.&√Football's Todd Christensen was born.(√Track star Mary Decker Slaney was born.,√Baseball fastballer Roger Clemens was born.¡ⁿJack Lambert, Franco Harris, Bob Griese and Tom Landry are inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. Also inducted today are Ted Hendricks, Buck Buchanan and Bob St. Clair.÷ⁿThe Boxing Hall of Fame announces results of their first elections. Inducted were Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and Henry Armstrong. 15 other boxers from the "pioneer" era were also inducted, including Jim Corbett, Jack Johnson and John L. Sullivan.└ⁿWhat's that again? Detroit Manager Jimmy Dykes was traded to Cleveland for its manager Joe Gordon... a trade that is thought to be the first time major league baseball teams traded managers.%√Basketball's Patrick Ewing was born.!√Baseball's John Olerud was born.╘ⁿWhat a race! Five horses crossed the line in a quintuple dead-heat at the Astley Stakes in Lewes, England. Officially Mazurka, Wandering Nun and Scotbell tied for the win, the other two horses tied for fourth.$√Baseball's Tony Fernandez was born.πⁿHere we go again... The second baseball player's strike in five seasons began after nine months of negotiation failed to reach an agreement between players and owners. Play resumed on August 8, after an agreement was reached.&√Baseball pitcher Don Larsen was born.╚ⁿThe U.S. 400 meter relay team was disqualified for illegal baton passing and their medals were awarded to the British team. Four days later the decision was reversed upon viewing films of the event.`ⁿBillie Jean King defeated Evonne Goolagong of Australia in the Wimbledon Women's Singles final.¢ⁿDavis Cup play was inaugurated in a match between Great Britain and the U.S. at Boston. The U.S. won 3-0 with one match unfinished and another cancelled.⌡ⁿThe U. S. Olympic basketball "Dream" team wins the gold medal. The Team: Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Clyde Drexler, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippin, Chris Mullin, John Stockton and Christain Laettner.ⁿ√Bob Cousy was born. At 6'1", Cousey was rather short, but his speed and agility more than made up for his size. Cousy spent 13 of his 14 seasons with the Boston Celtics, in every one of them Boston made the playoffs. He averaged 18.4 points a game.Q√Atlanta Braves outfielder and Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders was born.MⁿDavid Childs sets the "inside" loop record for an airplane with 2,368 loops.pⁿAl Unser, Jr. sets world record for 500 mile auto race at the Michigan 500 with an average speed of 189.73 mph.√Rocky Colavito was born.ôⁿThe Brooklyn Dodgers baseball club gained new owners as the controlling interest was acquired by Branch Rickey, Walter O'Malley and John L. Smith.╜ⁿDallas Cowboys' star running back and Heisman Trophy winner Hershel Walker performs with the Fort Worth Ballet to a crowd of thirteen hundred people. Hershel decided to stick to football.öⁿWhen 12-year-old Karen Muir set a world record in the 110-yard backstroke, she became the youngest person to ever hold a world record in any sport.qⁿPGA rookie John Daly stuns the sports world by winning the PGA tournament, one of golf's four major tournaments.╦ⁿ15-year-old Jennifer Capriati won her second straight tournament over Katerina Maleeva in the Player's Challenge Tournament in Toronto. The $100,000 purse was the largest of her seventeen-month career.6√Baseball pitching legend Christie Mathewson was born.#√Tennis star Pete Sampras was born.╬ⁿJack Nicklaus won the PGA championship to eclipse the record of the great Bobby Jones by winning his 14th major championship. Jack would go on to win 20 major championships, his last, the Masters in 1986.√Golfer Ben Hogan was born.ºⁿBritish runner Sebastian Coe stumbled over a fallen runner 1,000 meters into a 1,500 meter race, but recovered and took the lead with 30 meters to go to win the race.'√Baseball manager Earl Weaver was born.èⁿMildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias announced that she would relinquish her amateur status and accept $300,000 for a series of golf movies.FⁿVic Power of the Cleveland Indians stole home twice in a single game!G√Earvin "Magic" Johnson, one of sport's greatest ambassadors, was born.├ⁿ19-year-old Hockey phenom Wayne "the Great" Gretzky was named the National Hockey League's Most Valuable Player. He was the youngest to ever win it, and won it for the next five years in a row.│ⁿCroquet was introduced to the U.S. from England. The game was popular because it allowed men and women to compete together. It became as much a social event as an athletic one.√Lionel Taylor was born.'√Football's Amos Alonzo Stagg was born.¢ⁿCleveland Indians shortstop Ray Chapman is beaned by a pitch and dies soon after, becoming the only professional baseball player to be killed by the game.?√Frank Gifford, the football hero turned sportscaster was born.ΣⁿGeorge Herman "Babe" Ruth died at the age of 53. The "Sultan of Swat" was unquestionably baseball's greatest attraction in his glory days. An ungainly looking man, Ruth was a superior athlete and batted a career .342 average..√Baseball slugger John "Boog" Powell was born. √Golfer Dottie Mochrie was born.■ⁿThe PGA (one of golf's four "major" tournaments) was won by Raymond Floyd by 1 stroke over Gary Player. The tournament was marred by protests over the presence of Gary Player, who was from South Africa, where black athletes were not allowed to compete."√Tennis star Jim Courier was born.&√Baseball's Roberto Clemente was born.■√Rafer Lewis Johnson was born. At age 14 Rafer caught his leg in a conveyer belt and sustained severe injuries. His determination to overcome this injury is one of the great stories in sports. Rafer won the Olympic Gold Medal in the Decathlon in 1960.╓ⁿLarry Bird, tired of fighting excruciating back pain, announces his retirement from basketball. Even in the reign of Michael Jordan, many still consider Larry to be the greatest team player in basketball history.ÜⁿA dirt track in Indianapolis was opened for the testing of automobiles. This track later became the Indianapolis Speedway, site of the Indianapolis 500.íⁿManagers John McGraw of the New York Giants and Christy Mathewson of the Cincinnait Reds were arrested for violating a New York law prohibiting Sunday baseball.*√Legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker was born.╞ⁿSt. Louis Browns manager Bill Veek sends 3'7" midget Eddie Gaedel to "pinch-hit." Unable to hit the tiny strike zone offered by Mr. Gaedel, the opposing pitcher walks him on four straight pitches.;√New Orlean's Saints' placekicker Morten Anderson was born.¿ⁿHelen Wills Moody continued her dominance of the U.S. National Women's title, by defeating Eileen Whittingstall 6-4, 6-1. This was her seventh victory in seven tries.#√Baseball's Graig Nettles was born.@√Basketball Hall of Famer Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain was born.G√Football's only double Heisman Trophy winner, Archie Griffin was born."√Football QB Jim McMahon was born.√ⁿMary Decker Slaney set a new world record for the mile at 4 min. 16.7 secs, defeating fivals Zola Budd and Maricica Puica. This was sweet revenge for Slaney, whose collision with Budd in the Olympic 3,000 meter finals took them both out of the race.áⁿThe world record for the fastest speed for a wheel-driven land vehicle is set by Al Teague at the Bonneville salt flats. The official top speed was 432.7 mph.8√Baseball Hall of Famer Carl "Yaz" Yastrzemski was born.░ⁿA group of college all-stars upset the Chicago Bears 16-0, the first time in the 14 year history of the Chicago Tribune's annual football game that the professionals had lost.âⁿFloyd Pattterson successfully defended his heavyweight championship against Pete Rademacher, the Olympic champion, by a knock-out.ⁿⁿVictoria Brucker was the first girl to play for an American team in the Little League World Series. The 5'3" 1st baseman went one for two, walked twice and scored three runs while batting cleanup as her San Pedro CA team won 12-5 over Tampa, Florida.*√Hall of Fame QB Sonny Jurgenson was born.╠√Duke Kahanamoku was born. His many swimming records have since been broken, and Duke is now remembered primarily for popularizing surfing, but in his day he was the best swimmer the world had ever seen.%√Baseball's Cal Ripken, Jr. was born.*√Baseball pitcher Rollie Fingers was born.D√Football's Cornelius Bennett and Baseball's Albert Belle were born.┐ⁿDwight "Dr. K" Gooden became the youngest major league pitcher to win 20 games in a season. He was less than 20 years old when he won his 20th game, a 9-3 victory over the San Diego Padres.▒ⁿDon Bankhead became major league baseball's first black pitcher when he appeared in a game for the Brooklyn Dodgers in which he hit a home run in his first major league at bat.AⁿThe International Hockey Hall of Fame opened in Toronto, Canada.-√Track and field star Roger Kingdom was born.╛ⁿAn American Professional Football Association (which will change its name to the National Football Leage in 1922) grants J.W. Clair of the Acme Packing Company a franchise in Green Bay, WI.√Joe Cunningham was born.ìⁿThe first contolled flight in a glider was made by John J. Montgomery at Wheeler Hill, CA. He soared 603 feet at a height of about 15 feet."√Baseball's Lou Piniella was born.┬ⁿAmerican and National League owners agreed to give players some representation in formulating rules and policies and agreed to set minimum salaries for players, and to establish a pension fund.&√Olympic swimmer Janet Evans was born.M√Olympic long jump gold medalist and world record setter Bob Beamon was born.∙ⁿDennis Ralston was suspended from the American Davis Cup team and declared ineligible for amateur competition by the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association after displaying "bad conduct" during the finals. Obviously this was before the days of John McEnroe.^ⁿSan Francisco pitcher Jim Barr set a major league record when he retired 41 batters in a row..√Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams was born.5√Olympic skiing sensation Jean-Claude Killy was born.:√Boston Celtics' long-time center, Robert Parish was born.╠ⁿBob Beamon's 23 year old long-jump record of 29' 2-1/2" is broken by Mike Powell in Tokyo who jumps 29' 4-1/2" to edge out Carl Lewis, whose best jump was 29' 2-3/4". A remarkable day, to say the least.7√Baseball Hall of Fame slugger Frank Robinson was born.(√Legendary hurdler Edwin Moses was born.╛ⁿCurtis Strange set a new single-season earnings record for the PGA tour with a total of $697,385. In 1992, in contrast, Fred Couples had won over $1,000,000 by the mid-point of the season.&√Boxer Gentleman Jim Corbett was born.?ⁿThe major league baseball season was called on account of war.b√Boxer Rocky Marciano was born. Rocky retired undefeated as a heavyweight, with a record of 49-0.╪ⁿChris Evert won her 100th U.S. Open Tennis match, defeating Patricia Tarabini, 6-2, 6-4. 34 years old, Chris made it to the quarterfinals before losing to Zina Garrison in her last appearance in a major tournament.$√Tennis star Jimmy Conners was born.&√Running back Eric Dickerson was born.■ⁿFrancis Ouimet died. In 1913 he ended regulation play tied with golf legends Harry Vardon and Edward Ray. He beat them both in an 18-hole playoff to win the U.S. Open title. Ouimet was from a poor family and caddied as a youngster to earn extra money.√Bennie Blades was born.ÆⁿDavid Pearson came in second at the Southern 500 Stock Car race at Darlington, S.C., becoming the fifth $1,000,000 winner in auto racing history.CⁿThe New York Yankees clinch their twelfth American League Pennant. √Golfer Tom Watson was born. √Baseball great Nap Lajoie was born. Lajoie batted .422 in 1901 and his 3,251 hits is still tenth on the all-time list. Lajoie hit 82 home runs in a career when 10 home runs in a year was enough to win the home run title (which he did, with 10, in 1897).X√Football and track star Willie Gault was born. Also born on this day, Candy Maldonado.√Ron Boone was born.╪ⁿAmerican Rafer Johnson finished the 1500 meter race of the decathlon with just enough points to win the gold medal over a gallant Taiwanese, C.K. Yang. Yang is the only Taiwanese competitor to win an Olympic medal.ΘⁿThomas Edison used his newly invented "kinetoscope" to record the heavyweight boxing bout between Gentleman Jim Corbett and Peter Courtney. Corbett won in the sixth round. The film itself appears never to have been publicly shown.√Paul Brown was born.!√Football QB Bert Jones was born.çⁿWillie Shoemaker rode this 633rd winner at Del Mar Race Track in California, breaking Johnny Londen's record of most wins by a jockey.«ⁿ34 yr. old Martina Navratilova is denied her fifth U. S. Open victory by 17 yr. old Monica Seles, whose 7-6, 6-1 victory gives the young phenom her first U. S. Open victory.·ⁿThe third meeting of Sandy Saddler and Willie Pep to decide the Featherweight boxing title: Pep was ahead on points but dislocated his left shoulder in a clinch, giving Saddler the crown. The two met again in a 1951 brawl which ended Pep's career.√Maurice Cheeks was born.?√Washington Redskins QB and ESPN analyst Joe Theisman was born.·ⁿSandy Koufax was perfect on this day against the Chicago Cubs, leading the L.A. Dodgers to a 1-0 victory. Koufax fanned 14 and retired all 27 Cubs, his first perfect game but his fourth no-hitter. This was only the eighth perfect game in history.çⁿThe first U.S. Open Tennis Championships were won by Arthur Ashe over Tom Okkerf and by Virginia Wade in an upset of Billie Jean King.T√Golf's favorite son and the man who popularized the sport, Arnold Palmer, was born.+√Hall of Fame slugger Roger Maris was born.√Bob Lanier was born.ßⁿEthiopian Abebe Bikila ran barefoot through the torchlit streets of Rome, winning the first Olympic marathon held at night in a record time of 2 hrs., 15 min., 16.2 secs. Bikila was the first black African to win the event.A√Alabama's legendary football coach, Paul "Bear" Bryant was born.8√Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys' coach Tom Landry was born.√Ellis Burks was born.A√Olympic gold medalist track and field star Jesse Owens was born.>√Pittsburgh Steeler's Hall of Fame QB Terry Bradshaw was born.≈ⁿThe U.S. Open Tennis Singles Championships began. Martina Navratilova defeated Steffi Graf of West Germany, and Ivan Lendl won his third consecutive U.S. Open title. Martina also won in the doubles and mixed doubles category, a rare triple win.╡ⁿChris Lilly won his bare-knuckle prize fight in convincing fashion, knocking out Tom McCoy, who died a short time later, marking professional boxing's first recorded ring fatality.├ⁿJoe "Iron Man" McGinnity of the New York National League club pitched and won both games of a doubleheader for the third time in the season. McGinnity pitched for three hours and three minutes.<ⁿThe Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) was formed.'√Tennis star Goran Ivanisevic was born. ⁿIn a true street-brawl Jack Dempsey defended his heavyweight crown against challenger Luis Angel Firpo in a fight which featured 7 knock-downs, Dempsey being knocked out of the ring and a final knock-out of Firpo 3 minutes and 57 seconds into the fight. √Tim Wallach was born. ⁿOh my! The Philadelphia Athletics and the New York New Yorks were evicted from the National League. Out of the pennant race, the two teams refused to make a final trip to the west coast to complete their schedule. They were not reinstated for 12 years!F√Hall of Fame pitcher (and reputed spitballer) Gaylord Perry was born.(√Miami Dolphin's QB Dan Marino was born.é√Basketball legend Elgin Baylor was born. Baylor had a game scoring average of 27.4 points for his 14-year pro basketball career.*√Baseball pitcher Orel Hershiser was born.µⁿOh what a deal! Twelve teams paid a fee of $100.00 each to obtain franchises to the American Professional Football Association, which would become today's National Football League, where a franchise is worth an absolute fortune.*√Football iron man George Blanda was born.$√Baseball's Orlando Cepeda was born.»ⁿBaseball added a new rule. From now on a runner would be called out if any fielder held the ball on first base before the runner got there, negating the need to tag him out.√Jim Abbott was born.∙ⁿWhen St. Louis pitcher Ray Washburn tossed a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants, it was sweet revenge. Gaylord Perry of the Giants had no-hit the Cardinals the day before. This is the only case of back-to-back no-hitters in the same park. GⁿFord Frick, once a sportswriter, was elected Commissioner of Baseball.√Dan Hampton was born.cⁿJanet Evans wins the 400 meter swimming medley and gets her first gold medal of the Olympic games.6√Boston Celtics long-time coach Red Auerbach was born.√Jim Taylor was born.·ⁿRoger Maris hit his 59th home run in his 154th game. Commissioner Ford Frick declared that if Maris should break or tie Ruth's record after the 154th game, the record would be marked with an asterisk. (Ruth set the mark of 60 in a 154 game season.)^ⁿGary Sentman sets world record by drawing a longbow weighing 176 pounds to its full capacity.═ⁿMarcel Cerdan, a dapper Frenchman from Morocco, defeated Tony Zale, the heavily favored middleweight champ, in the twelth round, becoming the first non-American to hold the crown in the twentieth century.#√Baseball's Cecil Fielder was born.√Bob Lemon was born.∙ⁿIn what has come to be known as the "long count" fight, Gene Tunney retained the heavyweight title against Jack Dempsey, from whom he had taken it. Dempsey floored the champion but did not retire to a neutral corner, giving Tunney 5 extra seconds.√Al Richardson was born.áⁿAnother of Ty Cobb's seemingly endless string of records was broken tody as Maury Wills stole his 97th base, going on to amass 104 stolen bases for the season.eⁿJim Breech of the Cincinnati Bengals set an NFL record of 152 games in which he scored a field goal.&√Golfing legend Tommy Armour was born.√John Mackey was born.*√Hall of Famer "Mean" Joe Greene was born.√Phil Rizzuto was born.╓ⁿSay hey! Did you see that!? Willie Mays made the play of his career in the World Series with a running back-to-the-plate catch of Vic Wertz's long fly ball. The Giants go on to win the game and sweep the series.&√Basketball's Scottie Pippin was born.ÉⁿWade Boggs hits four times against the Yankees, becoming the first player in the modern era to get 200 or more hits in seven consecutive years.!√Football's Dave Casper was born.ΘⁿWilt Chamberlain jumped from the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers to the San Diego Conquistadors of the American Basketball Association. Wilt would become a player-coach with a reputed salary of $600,000 a year.╙ⁿOne of the great achievements in sports happened today when Bobby Jones completed a sweep of golf's four major tournaments, a Grand Slam that had been considered impossible to attain. Jones retired soon after.!√Golfer Kathy Whitworth was born."√Baseball's Mike Schmidt was born.√Todd Worrell was born.σⁿOh no! The National League pennant race ended in a tie today, with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Brooklyn Dodgers having the same win-loss record. The Cardinals would go on to win a special playoff series to win the pennant.√Sebastian Coe was born.nⁿDon Mattingly of the New York Yankees set a major league record for Grand Slams with his sixth of the season.│ⁿThe longest winning streak in modern baseball history was stopped at 26 games when the New York Giants were beaten by the Boston Braves 8-3 in the second game of a double-header.╢ⁿBabe Ruth hit his 60th home run of the season, on the last day of the regular season, setting a record that would stand until 1961 when it would be broken by Roger Maris who hit 61.#√Baseball's Johnny Podres was born.+√Baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew was born."√Baseball's Mark McGwire was born.╜ⁿMuhammad Ali and Joe Frazier meet in the famous "Thrilla in Manila" where Ali successfully defends his heavyweight title. This is the third and final meeting between the two heavyweights.÷ⁿBaseball Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis announced that coach Cozy Dolan and outfielder Jimmy O'Connell were ineligible for World Series play after they were charged with attempted bribery in an incident in which they were to throw a game.,√Baseball base-stealer Maury Wills was born.òⁿCarl Erskine, pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers, struck out 14 New York Yankees in a World Series Game, setting a World Series record for strikeouts."√Football QB Mark Rypien was born.#√Baseball's Dave Winfield was born./√Baseball relief ace Dennis Eckersley was born.+√Record Setting NFL WR Jerry Rice was born.«ⁿBillie Jean King became the first professional women's tennis player to win $100,000 in one year by winning the $4,000 Virginia Slims-Thunderbird Tournament held in Phoenix.nⁿThe final round of the first U.S. Open golf tournament is concluded at the Newport Golf Club in Rhode Island.)√Baseball manager Tony La Russa was born.#√Baseball's Bobby Bonilla was born.iⁿThe highest scoring game in major college football history ended with Oklahoma on top of Colorado 82-42.┼ⁿThe first radio coverage of the World Series was carried by a wireless station set up at the Electrical Show at the 71st Regiment Armory in New York City, and by station WJZ in Newark, New Jersey.╛ⁿCasey Stengel leads his "Bronx Bombers" the New York Yankees, to their fifth straight World Series victory, setting a record for consecutive world championships for teams and for a manager.)√Hockey superstar Mario Lemieux was born.(√Tennis star Helen Wills Moody was born.√Blair Thomas was born.╒ⁿA new lifetime NFL rushing record was set by Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears when he ended today's game against New Orleans with 12,400 yards. Walter would eventually finish his career with over 15,000 yards.ÿⁿKnute Rockne of Notre Dame meets fellow football coaching legend Howard Jones of Iowa on the playing field for the first time. Iowa won the game 10-7.!√Auto racer Bill Elliott ws born.0√Olympic swimming champion Matt Biondi was born.%√Football's Mike Singletary was born.▒ⁿYogi Berra appeared in his tenth World Series, tying the record held by Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio. Yogi would eventually set a new record with appearances in 13 World Series.⌠ⁿThe Oakland A's, on the strength of Rollie Fingers and Catfish Hunter's combined 5-hitter defeat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 to win the American League championship series. The A's went on to beat the Dodgers in 5 games to win the World Series.√Gus Williams was born.║ⁿThe Columbia Lions set a new record for college football futility, losing their 35th straight game. The Lions would continue to lose, eventually setting a record of 41 straight losses.╛ⁿThe National Boxing Association announced plans for stricter enforcement of a rule that champions must defend their titles at least once every six months or lose recognition of their title.ÉⁿChip Beck shoots a front nine 29 and a back nine 30 to record a 59 for the round, the second PGA golfer to do so (Al Geiberger did it in 1977).∞ⁿMan o'War defeated Sir Barton in his last race. Man o'War was the reigning Triple Crown winner and Sir Barton had won it the previous year. (Racing's Triple Crown consists of the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness.)√Tony Kubek was born.#√Baseball's Eddie Mathews was born.éⁿA rubber coated football was first used in a major college game. The game was between Georgia Tech and L.S.U. Georgia won 25-7.;√Football record-setting wide receiver Jerry Rice was born.$√Football's Charlie Joiner was born.─ⁿSandy Koufax completes a career-year by shutting out the Twins (2-0) to win the World Series for the L. A. Dodgers. (He was the winner in game 5 7-0). Sandy will win the Cy Young award as well.╫ⁿA twelve-inning World Series game sets a new duration record of 4 hrs. 13 min. The two teams, the Oakland A's and the New York Mets, use a total of 38 players, 11 of which were pitchers. New York finally won 10-7.¬ⁿJerry Rice, the unstoppable all-pro receiver and QB Joe Montana's favorite target, tie the NFL record with 5 TD passes to lead the 49ers past the Atlanta Falcons, 45-35.!√Boxer John L. Sullivan was born.3√Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer was born.▐ⁿThe NFL Players Association ended a 14-day strike which commenced on Sept. 22. The Union failed to win significant gains and the owners fielded teams of non-union players considered by most fans to be below NFL standards.èⁿOfficial rules for women's basketball were issued for the first time. At that time basketball was more popular with women than with men.(√Basketball's Dave DeBusschere was born.öⁿThe New York Yankees defeat the San Francisco Giants in the deciding seventh game of the World Series, claiming their twentieth world championship.╩ⁿIn a victory over Baylor, placekicker Tony Franklin of Texas A&M converted field goals of 65 and 64 yards, to become the first player on any level to kick two 60 yard plus field goals in the same game.τⁿThe U.S. Golf Association announced that participants in the Miniature Golf Championships to be held at Chattannooga, TN would forfeit amateur status if they accepted cash...because the game was too close to actual golf to ignore.√Bob Seagren was born.√ⁿDetroit, Michigan dedicated a memorial to Joe Louis, one of boxing's all-time greats. It was an enormous black fist cast in bronze as a tribute to the fighter who had grown up in Detroit. The memorial was paid for by a grant from Sports Illustrated.I√Hall of Fame tight end and Super Bowl winning coach Mike Ditka was born./√Tennis superstar Martina Navratilova was born.äⁿCasey Stengel, New York Yankees manager sice 1949, was dismissed ostensibly because he had reached the club's retirement age limit.√Tim Belcher was born.╢ⁿIgor Ter-Ovanesyan equaled Ralph Boston's 1965 world record long jump with a leap of 27'4-3/4", a record that would be eclipsed in 1968 by Bob Beamon's astounding leap of 29'2-1/2".²ⁿThe first international 6-day bicycle race began in Madison Square Garden. Riders used high-wheelers and rested when exhausted before starting again, for a total of 142 hours. The record under these rules was by Charlie Miller who rode 2,093.4 miles!-√Hall of Fame slugger Mickey Mantle was born.%√Baseball's Keith Hernandez was born.+√Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford was born.!√Baseball's George Bell was born.lⁿDick Williams resigns as manager of the Oakland Athletics, after taking them to two World Series Victories.╦ⁿA wild one in college football. The Houston Cougars, led by QB Andre Ware, defeat SMU 95 - 21. The Cougars gain over a thousand yards in total offense. Ware passes for more than 500 yards in one half.6√Golfer (and part-time model) Jan Stephenson was born.7√Olympic champion figure skater Brian Boitano was born.÷√Pele' was born. Pele' became a professional soccer player at 16, joining the Santos team of Brazil. Pele' is generally regarded as the greatest player in the history of soccer and is largely responsible for a worldwide resurgence of the sport.,√Heisman trophy winner Doug Flutie was born.eⁿA land-speed record is set in the natural gas powered "Blue Flame." The record speed is 622.41 mph..√Football Hall of Famer Y. A. Tittle was born.╧ⁿWorld indoor pole vault champion and record holder Steve Smith announces that he will turn pro to "avoid the hypocrisy of the Amateur Athletic Union, to avoid illegal payments, and to make some real money."Ä√Baseball's Bobby Thompson was born. Bobby hit the dramatic 9th inning homer to give the New York Giants the National League pennant in 1951."√Football's Pat Swilling was born.iⁿThe Minnesota Twins defeat the St. Louis Cardinals to win the deciding seventh game of the World Series.⌐ⁿEvander Holyfield defeats James "Buster" Douglas to become the heavyweight champion. Douglas had beaten Mike Tyson in the upset sporting event of the year in February.*√Heavyweight boxer Primo Carnera was born. ⁿRon Suemnick, a 17 yr. old tackle for New Boston High School in Michigan was prohibited from playing against Monroe Jefferson High School because of a National High School Federation rule forbidding players from competing while wearing an artificial limb║ⁿBaltimore Colts QB Bert Jones had a tough day. The St. Louis Cardinals sacked Bert twelve times, tying the NFL record set by the Dallas Cowboys against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1966. √Golfer Patty Sheehan was born.┘ⁿPut this one in the record books. Twins pinch-hitter Gene Larkin's tenth inning bases loaded single defeats the Braves in the deciding seventh game of what many describe as the most exciting World Series in history.╛ⁿAn exhibition baseball game between the New York Giants and the Chicago White Sox was attended by less than 20 people. The game, played in Dublin, Ireland, conflicted with church services.8√Olympic decathlon gold medalist, Bruce Jenner was born.îⁿ14 year old Jennifer Capriati won her first professional tennis tournament, defeating Zina Garrison 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in the Puerto Rican Open.√Jesse Barfield was born.╪ⁿBuffalo Bills RB O.J. Simpson sets two records against Kansas City. The first was # of carries with 39. His 157 yards gave him more than 1,000 yards at the seventh game of the season, the first RB to achieve that.┘ⁿSteffi Graf won her thirteenth tennis title of the year by defeating 15 year old Monica Seles 7-5, 6-4 at the Brighton Indoor Tournament. Seles tough play served notice that the reign of Steffi Graf was near an end.0√Hall of Fame first baseman Bill Terry was born.T√Frank Shorter, winner of the Olympic Gold Medal in 1972 for the marathon, was born."√Baseball's Fred McGriff was born.τⁿEric Dickerson scored four TDs as the Indianapolis Colts blew out the Denver Broncos 55 - 23. The game put Dickerson over 1,000 yards for the sixth time in his six seasons as a pro, the first running back to accomplish this feat.+√South African golfer Gary Player was born.)√Baseball's Fernando Valenzuela was born.≤ⁿTerry Bradshaw, the top QB of the 70s and Joe Montana, the top QB of the 80s, met in a regular season game. Montana won the duel handily, throwing for 205 yards and a TD. Bradshaw had one TD but threw for only 125 yards and 3 interceptions.çⁿThe first organized automobile race in the U.S. took place in Chicago. The course was 52 miles long along the shore of Lake Michigan. √Johnny Vander Meer was born.óⁿIt was announced that George Herman "Babe" Ruth applied for the job of Manager of the St. Louis Browns after being released as a coach from the Brooklyn Dodgers.√Willie McGee was born.3√Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller was born.!√Football QB Phil Simms was born.iⁿMargaret Breedlove set the women's land speed record of 308.56 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. ⁿThomas "Hit Man" Hearns rebounded from the canvas to win a split decision over James "The Heat" Kinchen to take the first ever Super Middleweight boxing championship. Doing so, the "Hit Man" became the first boxer to win world titles in five divisions.#√Basketball's Bill Walton was born.ûⁿThe Los Angeles Lakers won the first of 33 straight games, which would become the longest winning streak in professional major league sports history.âⁿPersonal Ensign won the one million dollar Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs, then retired undefeated after thirteen races.ºⁿThe first recorded intercollegiate football game, between Rutgers and Princeton ended with Rutgers winning 6-4. The game's rules were much different then, obviously.:√Hall of Fame pitcher Walter "Big Train" Johnson was born.#√Football RB Gerald Riggs was born."√Football's Gerald Riggs was born.√Jim Kaat was born.&√Baseball pitcher Joe Niekro was born.âⁿSam Snead was named the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Golfer of the Year in a PGA poll. Sam won six events during the year.WⁿJim Palmer won the American League Cy Young award. His stats: 22 - 9 with a 2.40 ERA.$√Jockey Angel Cordero, Jr. was born.)√Football receiver Dwight Smith was born.ΣⁿTom Dempsey set the NFL record for a field goal with a 63 yard effort, lifting his New Orleans Saints to a 19-17 victory over the Detroit Lions. Tom was born without a right hand and with only half of his right (kicking) foot.╩ⁿThe St. Louis Cardinal's posted the (up to then) greatest comeback in NFL history, scoring 28 unanswered fourth quarter points against a shell-shocked Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, winning the game 31-28.*√Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson was born. √Golfer Tom Weiskopf was born.ÖⁿLarry Holmes knocked out James "Bonecrusher" Smith in 12 rounds in Las Vegas in the first IBF (International Boxing Federation) heavyweight title match.√ⁿCleveland Brown's starting QB, Bernie Kosar, is unexpectedly cut from the team. Picked up by Dallas, Bernie leads the defending Super Bowl champs to a Nov. 14th victory over the Phoenix Cardinals as an injured Troy Aikman watches from the sidelines.√Norm Cash was born. ⁿOrel Hershiser of the Los Angeles Dodgers was the unanimous selection for the National League Cy Young award. His season stats were: 23-8 with a 2.26 ERA, 8 shutouts and 59 consecutive scoreless innings. He was 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA in post-season play. √Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller was born.┐ⁿThe International Olympic Committee announced that all Olympic Judges would be required to take an oath of impartiality to reverse a disturbing trend of nationalism that had been increasing.kⁿAn NCAA rushing record of 377 yards was set by Indiana's Anthony Thompson in crushing defeat of Wisconsin.qⁿGeorge Hancok, reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade, devised the game that has since developed into Softball.*√Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci was born.█ⁿDallas Cowboys' QB Troy Aikman passed for an NFL rookie record of 379 yards in a losing effort to the Phoenix Cardinals. The Cowboys went on to post their worst record ever at 1-15 under new head coach Jimmie Johnson.?√Earl Sande, the leading American Jockey of the 1920s was born.'√Football QB Vinny Testaverde was born.wⁿRoger Clemens, perhaps the most dominating pitcher in baseball, wins his third Cy Young award for the American League.ⁿⁿNotre Dame (#2) defeats Florida State (#1) to gain the number 1 ranking, only to lose that spot one week later after being upset by Boston College in a heartbreaker. Down in the fourth quarter 38 - 24, the Irish take a 39-38 lead, only to lose 41-39.█ⁿCassius Clay defeated Cleveland Williams by TKO in front of the largest crowd (until then) in boxing history in the Houston Astrodome. Cassius Clay went on to change his name to Muhammad Ali and entered boxing history.ÅⁿGeorge Allen, coach of the Washington Redskins, publicly denied rumors of widespread use of "Pep" pills by his aging band of football players.~ⁿThe New York Giants announced plans to add lights to the famous Polo Grounds stadium to allow baseball to be played at night.±ⁿReigning Olympic champion Olga Korbut led a contingent of Soviet gymnasts in a performance at Madison Square Garden. The graceful young Russian had won the hearts of America and the world and had vaulted gymnastics out of obscurity forever./√Football Hall of Famer Harvey Martin was born.┬ⁿJim Brown, fullback for the Cleveland Browns, ran for 152 yards, setting an NFL rushing record of 1,163 yards after only eight games. The Browns beat the Washington Redskins 20-10 in the game.öⁿCenter Bill Russell led his Boston Celtics to victory over the Philadelphia Warriors, scoring 28 points and pulling down an NBA record 49 rebounds.$√Tennis star Zina Garrison was born./√Baseball pitcher Dwight "Doc" Gooden was born.*√Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver was born.bⁿCheng Fenj-Jung of China set the world record for the woman's high jump, at just under five feet.vⁿRetired Air Force General William D. Eckert was named Commissioner of Baseball, replacing the retiring Ford C. Frick.Ä√1936 Olympic Springboard Diving Gold Medalist Marjorie Gestring was born. Marjorie was, at the time, the youngest woman to win a gold medal.ìⁿKennesaw Mountain Landis, Baseball's Commissioner, banned Philadelphia Phillies President Wiliam Cox from baseball, for betting on his team."√Football QB Warren Moon was born.¼ⁿJoe Montana adds to his legend as he becomes the first QB to throw for 3,000 yards in seven seasons. The victory (31 - 7) over Tampa Bay is Montana's 49ers 18th in a row.$√Baseball's Roy Campanella was born.#√Olympic star Gail Devers was born.ⁿⁿCal Ripken, Jr. won his second American League MVP award, the first baseball player to become MVP while playing on a losing team (the Orioles were 67-95). Cal batted .323 and hit 34 homers with 114 RBI, extending his consecutive game streak to 1,572.G√Kennesaw Mountan Landis, long-time Commissioner of Baseball, was born. √Golfer Don January was born._ⁿWillie Pep won the World Featherweight boxing title on a 15-round decision over Chalky Wright.`ⁿChicago won the National League Baseball Championship after a season with 90 wins to 34 losses.+√Baseball's Stan "the Man" Musial was born.'√Dallas Cowboy QB Troy Aikman was born.ⁿⁿBobby Knight was ejected from an exhibition basketball game against the touring Soviet National team. Bobby took his team with him in typical "I'll take my ball and go home" style, ending the game with 15:05 remaining and his Hoosiers trailing 66-43.,√Tennis superstar Billie Jean King was born.#√Baseball's Greg Luzinski was born.rⁿFemale tennis legend Molla Bjurstedt Mallory died. Molla won the U.S. National title nine times in twelve years.,√Baseball Hall of Famer Luis Tiant was born.√Andrew Toney was born.╡ⁿTy Detmar of Brigham Young University, passed for 378 yards and 5 TDs in a 48-17 victory over Utah. This was his last NCAA game and set the career passing record at 15,031 yards.√Oscar Robertson was born.¿ⁿAustralian swimmer Dawn Fraser set the eleventh of her twelve world records...and the eight of nine in a row... in the 100-meter freestyle. Her time was 59.5 seconds.4√Joltin' Joe Dimaggio, the Yankee Clipper, was born.lⁿThe first radio broadcast of a college football game was made in College Station, Texas, from station WTAW..√Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs was born.#√Football QB Bernie Kosar was born.|ⁿJack Nicklaus wins $240,000 on a single hole during a "Skins Game" match against Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Watson.HⁿJose Canseco wins the Rookie of the Year award for the American League.┴ⁿConnie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics win the Professional Football Championship over Pittsburgh. Playing fullback for Pittsburgh was none other than Baseball Hall of Famer, Christy Mathewson.+√Hall of Fame pitcher Lefty Gomez was born.-√Football place-kicker Jan Stenerud was born.|ⁿBen Hogan won his third straight Vardon Trophy, beating out Byron Nelson and Sam Snead for golfing's most prestigous award.$√Football star Ken O'Brien was born.█ⁿA whopper of a football game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants ended with the Redskins in front 72-41. This game set records for most points scored by one team and most points scored in one game.╜ⁿThe New York Knicks set an NBA record winning streak of 18 games with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Cincinnati Royals. The Knicks continued on to win the NBA Championship.UⁿO.J. Simpson ran for a record-setting 273 yards on his way to his 2,003 yard season.├ⁿLarry Bird is introduced to the nation as "College Basketball's Secret Weapon" with a cover story in Sports Illustrated. Larry goes on to have one of the most storied careers in sports history.YⁿThe first Army-Navy game was played at West Point, New York. Navy shut out Army 24 - 0.'√Baseball star Howard Johnson was born.δⁿThe once-lowly New Orleans Saints ensure their first winning season in the 22 year history of the franchise by defeating Pittsburgh 20-16. The win gives the Saints an 8-3 record. The season was shortened one game by a players strike./√San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh was born.>√Two sport star and Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson was born.ÇⁿKathy Whitworth was named the Player of the Year for the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the seventh time in eight years.uⁿCeltics Larry Bird scores 21 points against the Bullets, becoming the 15th NBA player to reach 20,000 career points.·ⁿIn an effort to create an indoor sport for winter physical education, James Naismith nailed two peach buckets up on opposite ends of a gym and instructed teams of his students to toss soccer balls into them, thus the game of basketball was invented.╧√"SuperMex" golfer Lee Trevino was born. Lee quit school to become a greenskeeper and caddy at a local golf course. He served 4 years in the marines and turned pro in 1966, winning Rookie of the Year honors.√George Foster was born."√Football QB Steve Walsh was born.EⁿThe United States wins its first Davis Cup tennis trophy since 1982.BⁿBabe Didrikson Zaharias wins the LPGA Women's Golfer of the Year.(√Tennis superstar Monica Seles was born.≥ⁿAndre Ware, the junior QB of the Houston Cougars won the Heisman Trophy. Earlier on the same day Ware passed for 400 yards on 36 of 51 passing in a 64-0 demolition of Rice. He set records for yards (4,699) and completions (366) for a season.#√Auto racer Bobby Allison was born.╫ⁿMajor league baseball reduced the height of pitcher's mound from 15" to 10" in an attempt to improve scoring. The strike zone was also reduced from the knees to the shoulders to the top of the knees to the armpits.╛ⁿJack Nicklaus won the Walt Disney Open and set a new record for earnings when he went over the $300,000 mark for the year. He won PGA Player of the Year honors for the second straight year.┼ⁿBob Gage made a 97-yard run from scrimmage equaling the NFL record in a game between Pittsburgh and the Chicago Bears. Tony Dorsett would eventually break that record by running 99 yards for a TD.√Bernard King was born.÷ⁿKareem Abdul Jabaar was ejected from a game against the Milwaukee Bucks for punching Milwaukee's Center, Kent Banson, in the nose. This kept Jabaar under ten points, but he set an NBA record of 787 games in double figures starting the next game.«ⁿKareem Abdul Jabaar, of the Los Angeles Lakers, was held to just 7 points by Milwaukee's center Randy Bruer. This snapped Jabaar's NBA record of 787 games in double figures.-√Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett was born.0√Record-setting wide receiver Art Monk was born.3√Olympic gold medal swimmer Pablo Morales was born.ΦⁿHazel Hotchkiss Wightman, one of America's best tennis players, died. She won her first national title in 1909 and her last in 1955 at the age of 68! In her career she won 50 national titles in singles and doubles, indoors and out.¿ⁿO.J. Simpson ran for 203 yards against Miami. The previous week he had run for 273 yards. This is the second time he has run for over 200 yards in consecutive games.+√Baseball pitcher Steve Bedrosian was born.╕ⁿPresident Nixon fueled a controversy when he handed a plaque to the U. of Texas team honoring it as the best in the nation, in spite of Penn State's three-year 30-game winning streak.óⁿJockey Sandy Hawley won his 486th and 487th races of the year at the Laurel Race Track in Maryland, breaking Willie Shoemaker's one-year record of 485 victories.,√Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench was born.'√Basketball legend Larry Bird was born.╤ⁿSan Francisco 49ers' Joe Montana threw for 2 TDs and ran for another, as the 49ers came back from a 35-7 halftime deficit to tie the New Orleans Saints. In overtime the 49ers won on a Ray Wershing field goal.#ⁿBo Jackson won the Heisman Trophy.tⁿThe Chicago Bears defeated the Washington Redskins in the most lopsided victory in NFL history. The Bears won 73-0..√Football running back George Rogers was born.ƒⁿRon Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers became the first goalie to shoot a goal in NHL history. His goal helped the Flyers to a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins.┼ⁿA conference was called by Chancellor Mac Cracken of New York University, along with 13 other eastern universities, to determine whether the violent sport of football should be banned or reformed.RⁿThe United States Golf Association legalized the use of steel-shafted golf clubs.$√Hall of Famer Dick Butkus was born.ΩⁿThat rubber shortage really hurt! Ed Dudley, president of the PGA and John Kelly, Chairman of the Manpower Commission's Physical Fitness Committee, described the shortage of golf balls as a serious threat to veterans' rehabilitation.öⁿThe "Spirit of the Times" a weekly racing sheet was founded. The publication was intended to raise the reputation of horse racing and other sports.√Allie Reynolds was born.ⁿⁿThe longest non-scoring pass in NFL history was made when Jim Hart of the St. Louis Cardinals passed from his own one-yard-line to Bobby Moore (now Ahmad Rashad) who was tackled on the Los Angeles Rams' one-yard-line. The pass was officially 98 yards.±√Baseball pitcher Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn was born. In 1884 he won 60 games and lost 12, pitching a total of 672 innings, the equivalent of almost 75 nine-inning games. He retired with 308 wins and 35 shutouts. So who needs 3 days rest? σⁿUmpires Bill Klem and James Johnstone testify to N.L. president Harry Pulliam that William "Doc" Creamer, a trainer for the New York Giants, tried to bribe them before an October 8 playoff game. Creamer was banned from baseball. √Karen Hantze Susman was born.ñⁿU.S. Olympic Association President Avery Brundage stated that the Olympic Committee did not consider any person receiving an athletic scholarship to be an amateur.╔ⁿConnie Powers set a National Bowling Tournament record (for men AND women) with a 4-game series of 234, 247, 247 and 259 - a total of 987. This broke Ralph Smith's record of 976 set two years earlier.%√Tennis phenom Tracy Austin was born.╟ⁿToni Ihler, a 15-yr-old guard on the Portola High School Jr. Varsity Football team, was one of the first girls in California to complete a football season and receive a letter for the contact sport.∙√Archie Moore was born. (The year may not have been 1916.) Moore won 136 of 220 fights, all by knockout. A light-heavyweight champ for ten years, he once challenged heavyweight Rocky Marciano and knocked him down in the 2nd round, but lost the bout.»ⁿThe Green Bay Packers defeated the Boston Redskins 21-6 for the NFL championship. This was the last game for the Redskins in Boston as they moved to Washington the next year.0√Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins was born.╚ⁿThe American League rejected the revival of the spitball, which had been outlawed since 1920. The National League had no plans to revive the pitch, which remains outlawed in both leagues to this day.╔ⁿIn an exhibition game between current and former Notre Dame all-stars and the New York Giants, the pros overwhelm the amateurs 22-0. The quality of professional players is not questioned for a while.√Stan Smith was born.╕ⁿWimbledon officials defied tradition and the world's Tennis Associations by accepting the principle of open tennis, whereby pros and amateurs competed and won substantial cash prizes.é√J√Nick Buoniconti was born.├ⁿBabe Didrikson Zaharias set the women's single season money winning mark of $14,800 by winning 6 golf tournaments during the year. Sam Snead led the men's congingent with prize money of $35,758.╠ⁿLouisiana Tech won the NCAA's first National Small College crown with a 34-0 victory over Western Kentucky in the Camellia Bowl at Sacramento, California. QB Terry Bradshaw led the Bulldogs to the title.6√Football's William "The Refrigerator" Perry was born.∙ⁿWilt Chamberlain scored 68 points to lead a 143-123 Philadelphia 76er victory over the Chicago Bulls. This was the seventh highest game in Wilt's career, but the last time he scored this high as he decided to concentrate on other parts of the game.∙ⁿThe Miami Dolphins, led by Larry Csonka and Bob Griese, and a vaunted defense, became the first NFL team to go undefeated and untied in 14 regular season games by beating the Baltimore Colts 16-0. They won the Super Bowl to complete a 17-0 season. ∞ⁿThe NFL held its first "playoff" game with the Chicago Bears defeating the New York Giants 23-21. This year the league was divided into two "divisions." Previously the team with the highest winning percentage was declared the champion.╢ⁿArchie Moore won a 15-round decision over Joey Maxim and became Light-Heavyweight champion at age 36. He became the oldest boxer to hold the title and then retained it for 10 years!%√Baseball pitcher Bob Ojeda was born.√√Tyrus "Ty" Cobb, was born. He was with the Detroit Tigers for 22 years, starting in 1905. He set more records than any other player and his career average of .367 is still the best. He won the A.L batting title 12 times and scored a record 2244 runs.$√Tennis player Bobby Jones was born.âⁿOlympic Gold Medal Winner Wilma Rudolph was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press for the second year in a row.)√Hall of Fame slugger Al Kaline was born.,√Basketball superstar Kevin McHale was born.EⁿPenn State beat Alabama 7-0 in the first Liberty Bowl Football game."√Football's Reggie White was born.ΦⁿWayne Gretzky, in his 632nd game, scored his 1,000th point on an assist in a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky went on to break Gordie Howe's career record of 1,850 points in 1989 and continues to play as of this writing.)√Baseball manager Branch Rickey was born.¥ⁿWilliam B. Curtis performed one of the most incredible weight-lifting feats imaginable. Listed as "with harness" Curtis lifted an unbelievable 3,239 pounds!E√Football wide receiver and Olympic gold medalist Bob Hayes was born.∙ⁿJerry Rice set two records with a 20-yard TD pass from Steve Young, subbing for an injured Joe Montana. The TD was Rice's 19th of the season and the 12th game in a row in which he caught a TD pass, both NFL records. His 49ers beat the Falcons 35-7.°ⁿJosiah Prescott shot a moose at 100 yards, killing it instantly. Before he could advance another moose appeared and suffered the same fate, then another and another. On his way home he killed a wildcat. The four moose were killed in Massachusetts.≤√Tennis superstar Chris Evert was born. Evert began playing at age 6 and turned pro at 18. She played in her first U.S. Open in 1971, winning it in 1975, '76, '77, '78, '80, and '82. She also won the French Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon.9√Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner was born. ⁿThe United States Golf Association (USGA) was founded. The USGA is the governing body for golf in the U.S. and sponsors the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open tournaments. The USGA makes and enforces the rules of golf, the PGA, by contrast, organizes tournamentsΓⁿThe National Rifle Association announced that a new world pistol record had been established by 17-yr-old Gloria Jacobs who beat FBI agent Walter Walsh who had held the record for 2 years at 298 out of 300. Gloria scored 299.-√Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton was born.,√Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Garvey was born.²√Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy "Connie Mack" was born. Connie Mack had the longest baseball career ever, 67 years. As manager of the Philadelphia Athletics he won 3776 games but lost 4025, both records. His A's won 9 League titles and 5 World Series.)√Football immortal Paul Hornung was born.°ⁿThe first nationally televised NFL championship game was held. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cleveland Browns 24-17 on Norm Van Brocklin's "Perfect Pass" to Tommy Fears, who caught it on his fingertips, in stride, and raced to the game winning TD.ƒⁿKnute Rockne announced that he was opposed to a proposal to abolish the forward pass, which had been adopted in 1906...to eliminate the brutality in football.╬ⁿCoach Gilmour of Cornell responded to a question concerning abolishing the forward pass by saying it increased football's popularity by giving uncertainty to the game, something that fans seemed to desire.^ⁿThe NFL championship was won by the Cleveland Browns who defeated the Los Angeles Rams 30-28.√Paul Pressey was born.φⁿTwo teams of Union Army men played a baseball game at Hilton Head, South Carolina before a crowd estimated at 40,000. This game is credited with popularizing the game as soldiers went home after the war and organized teams of their own..√Football QB Ken "the Snake" Stabler was born.'√Hall of Fame RB Larry Csonka was born.:√Future Hall of Fame outfielder Rickey Henderson was born.⌡ⁿThe NFL's longest football game finally came to a close as Garo Yepremian kicked a field goal in the second quarter of sudden-death overtime, giving the Miami Dolphins a 27-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs after 82 minutes and 40 seconds.╪ⁿJohnny Weissmuller announced his retirement from amateur swimming. In his 8 years of competetion Weissmuller had never lost a free-style race. He held ALL world records for free-style swimming, from 50 to 880 yards."√Baseball's Carlton Fisk was born.!√Baseball's Ozzie Smith was born.╥ⁿSan Antonio's Larry Kenon set an NBA record with 11 steals against the Kansas City Kings. The previous record of ten had been held by Jerry West (Los Angeles), Larry Steele (Portland) and Fred Brown (Seattle).╪ⁿThe Sporting News made its annual selection of "Baseball Men of the Year," honoring Larry McPhail (a baseball executive), Leo Durocher (manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers) and Joe DiMaggio (outfielder for the Yankees).áⁿTony Trabert and Vic Seixas gave the U.S. its first Davis Cup in four years by defeating Australians Lew Hoad and Hen Rosewall in doubles, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 10-8.√Andre Tippett was born.ªⁿThe Cleveland Browns won the NFL championship by shutting out the Baltimore Colts 27-0. This was before the "merger" of AFL and NFL teams and was not a "Super Bowl."≡ⁿIn response to threats from President "Teddy" Roosevelt, a 62-college conference was called, eventually forming the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the U.S. In 1910 it changed to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).OⁿHeavyweight boxer Joe Louis was named fighter of the year for the fourth time.IⁿThe Detroit Lions defeat the Cleveland Browns 17-7 to win the NFL title.°ⁿFred P. Newton completed what is thought to be the longest swim ever, a distance of 1,826 miles. He swam in the Mississippi River from Ford Dam, Minnesota, to New Orleans. He began his journey on July 6 and spent a total of 742 hours in the water.√Devon White was born.▒ⁿGeorge Allen, who led the Washington Redskins to championship contention in his first year as their head coach, was named Coach of the Year by a poll of the NFL's head coaches.■√Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax was born. Koufax's career record was 165 - 87. He was the first pitcher to throw four no-hit games. In the '63 series Koufax fanned 25 Yankees in 4 games, a record. In '65 he had a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs.¡ⁿHeisman Trophy candidate and eventual winner Barry Sanders rushed for 222 yards and scored five touchdowns in just three quarters as Oklahoma State bombarded Wyoming 62-14.√Rick Aguilera was born.∙ⁿAn NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers, in Green Bay, became known as the "Ice Bowl" because of the extreme conditions on the field. In 13 below zero conditions, the Packers beat the Cowboys for the NFC Championship 21-17.²ⁿThe "Fog Bowl," an NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears, took place. Visibility varied but was sometimes as limited as 20 feet. Eagles QB Randall Cunningham was 27 of 54 for 407 yards in a losing effort as the Bears won 20-12.*√Baseball slugger Hank Greenberg was born.
