Sports History Network

In 2020, Oklahoma and Texas played 4 overtimes in a wild edition of the Red River Rivalry. In 1871, Octavius Catto was murdered in Philadelphia. In 1920 the Cleveland Indians did a couple of things that had never been done before in the World Series. In 1968, a Curt Flood mistake led to the winning runs scoring. Mentioned in this episode: Stirling Soap - Shave Soaps - This DiSH Testimonial This ep...

The Pro Football Time Machine is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . THE PRO FOOTBALL TIME MACHINE BACKGROUND Every two weeks, you’ll take a trip with me and Zo-Zo the cat to discover events and people who contributed, each in their own way, to building a league that has become the king of professional sports. Sometimes we will visit an event or star playe...

In 1983, Richard Petty's STP Pontiac won the race but a post-race inspection uncovered a larger than legal engine. In 1960, 26-year old New York Titan OL Howard Glenn died after a game in Houston. In 1999, then Oklahoma assistant coach Mike Leach put into action a plan to get Texas to discover a fake script to gain an advantage against the Longhorns in the Red River Rivalry game. In 1934, St. Loui...

In 1956, New York Yankee Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history. In 1995, Seattle Mariner Edgar Martinez hit the most famous double in Major League Postseason History. In 2000, Michael Schumacher used savvy pit strategy to win a race and wrap up another F1 Championship. In 1988, Columbia University snapped their 44-game losing streak against Princeton. Mentioned in this e...

Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season presented a series of unexpected upsets, a phenomenon that we meticulously analyzed and predicted on Pigskin Dispatch. In this episode, we not only reflect on the results of the preceding week but also extend our foresight to the forthcoming Week 6 matchups. Our discourse encompasses the leading teams and their trajectories, as well as the anticipated outcomes of this...

UCLA won 10 National Championships under Coach John Wooden. But what many don’t know is that behind the scenes a booster named Sam Gilbert had been providing improper financial benefits to UCLA players for decades. This is his story.  CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher   MUSIC "Funky Retro Funk [Funk Music]" by MokkaMusic "Ho...

Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . EPISODE SUMMARY Mark's friend and fellow sports historian, Dave DePaola, joins Mark to talk about the "2 careers of George Foreman." This is part 2 of that conversation. YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s,...

In 1950, twelve players from the Czech National Hockey team were put on trial for espionage and treason and found guilty. In 1945, the Green Bay Packers scored 41 points in the second quarter to set the NFL record. In 1916, Georgia Tech rolled up 222 points in a game against Cumberland College. In 2023, Georgia Tech took advantage of a boneheaded decision by Miami, forcing a fumble to take possess...

The focal point of today's discussion revolves around the phrase "three yards and a cloud of dust," a term deeply entrenched in the lexicon of American football. We are privileged to host Timothy P. Brown of Football Archaeology, who elucidates the historical origins of this expression, which is often erroneously attributed to the renowned coach Woody Hayes. Brown reveals that the phrase's incepti...

Between the years of 1985 thru 1996, the New Orleans Saints had risen from the cellar of the NFL to become a perennial playoff team. Though they never won a playoff game during that time, the Saints, behind quarterback Bobby Hebert and a legendary linebacking corps known as the Dome Patrol, became one of the NFL's elite teams. Behind it all was the quotable head coach with ties to the USFL, Jim Mo...

In 1990, Colorado got an extra down by mistake and used it to score the game-winning touchdown. In 2007, the Stanford Cardinal beat the #2 USC Trojans despite being a 41-point underdog. In 2007, LSU overcame a 10-point deficit to beat Florida. In 1993, Michael Jordan retired from the NBA for the first time. Was it due to his gambling debts? In 1845, it was the first time an umpire was used to offi...

The discourse in this episode centers around a detailed exploration of the ten most exemplary teams that have unfortunately succumbed to defeat in the Super Bowl. Our esteemed guest, Ed Kleese, delineates the intricate narratives of these teams, beginning with the historical context of their respective seasons and culminating in the pivotal moments that defined their losses. These reflections not...

In 1985, the New York Jets beat Buffalo 14-13 in the 'givin' him the business' game. In 2001, Barry Bonds hit his 71st home run of the season to become the single season home run King. In 2003, Dante Hall, a.k.a. the Human Joystick, returned a punt for a touchdown. It was his fourth straight game with a return for a touchdown. In 1985, Grambling Head Football Coach Eddie Robinson became the all-ti...

We travel back in time to half a century ago and discuss the major events in sports in the year 1975. In the first of two parts we cover baseball and boxing--highlighted by the Thrilla in Manilla and one of the most exciting World Series in baseball history. Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe, Jack Nicklaus, and Bruno Sammartino all come up as well. Enjoy and look out for Part 2 soon! Books to Compleme...

In 1995, the New York Yankees won a post-season thriller in the 15th inning. In 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers won the decisive game 7 of the World Series against the New York Yankees. In 1997, the Kentucky Wildcats beat the Alabama Crimson Tide for the first time since 1922. In 1992, a hilarious prank was pulled off during a mid-game giveaway against Toronto's Derek Bell.

In 2003, the Indianapolis Colts scored 21 points in the final five minutes to force overtime against Tampa Bay and then they won it in OT 38-35. In 1920, the first NFL game was played between the Columbus Panhandles and the Dayton Triangles. In 1989, the Oakland Raiders hired Art Shell as their head coach. Shell was the first black coach in the MODERN NFL. In 1951, New York Giant Bobby Thomson bla...

In 1988, Roy Jones, Jr was robbed of a Gold Medal in the Olympic middleweight title fight. In 1978, New York Yankee Bucky Dent hit a dramatic three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox in a one-game playoff. In 1968, St. Louis Cardinal pitcher Bob Gibson set a World Series record with 17 strikeouts against the Detroit Tigers. In 1995, the Chicago Bulls, needing rebounding help, added Dennis Rod...

Pro Football in the 1970s is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear . JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run...

In 1932, Babe Ruth appeared to call his shot in Game 3 of the World Series. In 1961, New York Yankee Roger Maris hit home run #61. In 1962, the San Francisco Giants grounds crew took some artistic license with the dirt around first base to slow down the speedy Maury Wills. In 1975, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier faced each other in the Philippines in the 'Thrilla in Manilla.' Mentioned in this episo...

Ed Kleese and I engage in a thorough discussion regarding Week 5 of the NFL's 2025 season, during which we offer our bold predictions for the upcoming matchups. This episode is underpinned by our collective assertion that the outcomes may indeed astonish listeners as we delve into various games and their intricacies. We scrutinize the ramifications of injuries and performance fluctuations across t...

 The NBA was struggling financially in the late 1970s. They needed something to turn things around. In 1979, two rookies joined and led their teams to the two best records in the entire league and made the NBA popular and fun again. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher   MUSIC "Take Care" by Julian Avila "Horizons" by Roa &nbsp...

Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . EPISODE SUMMARY Mark's friend and fellow sports historian, Dave DePaola, joins Mark to talk about the "2 careers of George Foreman." This is part 1 of that conversation. YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s,...

In 2007, the Detroit Lions scored 31 in the fourth quarter to beat Chicago. In 2012, the European side erased a four point deficit on the final day to win the Ryder Cup. In 1990, NASCAR rookie Rob Moroso was killed in a crash on his way home after a race in Wilkesboro, NC. In 1916, the New York Giants won their 26th straight MLB game and then had it ended in game two of a doubleheader. In 1945, De...

In 1954, New York Giants centerfielder Willie Mays made the catch to save a couple of runs from scoring in game 1 of the Cleveland Indians. In 1989, boxer Tony Wilson got a little help from his mom. In 1985, Washington QB Joe Theismann punted for the first and only time. His career punt average was 1.0 yard. In 1923, Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen played what many consider to be the greatest match...

The focus of this podcast episode is an engaging discussion with author Hank Gola, who recounts the extraordinary story of a high school football team that achieved remarkable success just before World War II. Gola's book, entitled " City of Champions ," delves into the 1939 National Championship High School Football Game, where Garfield High School from New Jersey triumphed over the formidable Mi...