Sports History Network

In 1984, the Braves and Padres had more fights than runs. 17 players and 4 coaches were ejected. In 1978, New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley was paralyzed after a vicious hit by Oakland Raider Jack Tatum. In 1973, golfer Jack Nicklaus won what was thought at the time to be his 14th major golf tournament. Two of those in that count were US Amateur wins but those were later disallowe...

Timothy Brown treats us to a barrage of quick-hitting football quips that range from the perhaps the punt with the longest hangtime in history, to schools upgrading their training areas, and more—all with the keen eye of detail by the Football Archaeologist himself. Factoid Tim presents the Feast XV Tidbits, found initially at: https://www.footballarchaeology.com/p/factoid-feast-xv-0fc Join us at...

There are teams that linger on in the memory long after they had vanished from the scene. One such team was the Brooklyn dodgers who was one if the winningest teams in the mid 20th century and had a storied and devoted following in the borough that was known as the bedroom of New York. The Montreal Expos was not as storied as the boys of summer Brooklyn Dodgers but over its 36 years of existence,...

Today, we focus on Ralph Hay, the person responsible for organizing the league that is now the NFL. Later, we will sit down with Pro Football Hall of Fame selector and member of the Hall of Fame’s Blue-Ribbon Committee for Contributors Clark Judge to discuss Ralph Hay. To learn more about trailblazing contributors in NFL history, visit our Historical Scouting Reports class, where the greats in NFL...

In 1974, Lee Trevino won the PGA Championship. In 1991, John Daly won the PGA Championship as the 9th alternate. In 1950, legendary New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio was benched for the first time in his career. In 1968, the Atlanta Braves signed Satchel Paige. In 2020, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning set an NHL record, combining for 151 shots on goal. THIS DAY IN SPORTS BACKGROUND Re...

The focal point of this podcast episode is the exploration of some of the most remarkable upsets in the history of the National Football League. Throughout our discussion, we delve into instances where teams that were ostensibly on the verge of defeat emerged victorious against all odds, thereby redefining the narrative of American football. We recount the extraordinary events from Super Bowl III,...

In 1932, the Chicago Bears and Portsmouth Spartans took part in the first postseason NFL Title Game in league history. Technically a regular season game, and played indoors at Chicago Stadium, this type of game had never been seen before. And in many ways it would never be seen again. Books and articles to complement this episode: The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched a Sports E...

In 1974, the NFL players decided to end their strike after the commish and the owners were okay using scab players. But it, along with John Mackey's challenge of the Rozelle Rule, it did put some pressure on the league that led to change in two years. In 1984, Mary Decker tripped over Zola Budd's bare feet and fell during the Olympic Women's 3000 meter Final. In 1953, Lew Worsham dropped a shot in...

In 1988, Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. In 2012, Usain Bolt won the 200 meter sprint at the Olympics becoming the first Olympian to win both the 100 and the 200 in back to back Olympics. In 1936, it was Jesse Owens rounding out his Olympic performance with another gold medal. In 1976, Cal Hubbard was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. THIS DAY IN SPO...

In 1905, Ty Cobb's mother Amanda shot and killed his father, W.H. Cobb on the front porch of their home. In 1988, the lights were finally turned on at Wrigley Field. In 2024, Steph Curry sank 9 threes and scored 36 points to help Team USA erase a 17-point deficit to beat Serbia 99-95. In 1992, the US Men's 4 x 100 relay team set a new World Record in the final fun for Carl Lewis in the Olympics. T...

This podcast episode delves into the rich tapestry of football history while simultaneously illuminating the forthcoming rule changes for the 2025 NFL season. We engage in a thorough examination of the anticipated adjustments, particularly the efforts to reinstate the excitement of kickoff returns, a facet long yearned for by avid fans. Furthermore, we traverse the annals of football lore, uncover...

In 1938, Brooklyn Dodgers manager Burleigh Grimes protested an umpire's changed call with a prop that got him ejected. In 1954, the Mile of the Century was contested at the Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada between Englishman Roger Bannister and Australian John Landy. In 2016, golfer Jim Furyk shot a PGA Tour record 58 in the final round of the Travelers Championship. In 1956, Boston Red Sox...

The episode elucidates a groundbreaking advancement in football statistics, featuring our guest, Thomas from Gridiron Intelligence. He introduces an innovative platform that provides self-service access to play-by-play statistics and exclusive data, enabling enthusiasts to analyze football dynamics with unparalleled depth. This episode delves into the intricacies of defensive line penetration metr...

NO NONSENSE, OLD SCHOOL WEIGHTLIFTING HISTORY is presented by the  Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear . EPISODE SUMMARY Mark sits down with his son again to talk about how weightlifting competitions have changed over the years. This is the first of a 2-part episode covering these changes. SHOW BACKGROUND My name is Mark Morthier, and I host yesterda...

In 1990, this is the most likely date for Wade Boggs to have drunk 73 beers on a cross country flight and finished the day with 107. In 1969, Minnesota Twins manager Billy Martin punched one of his own players outside of Lindell AC's Bar in Detroit. In 1978, golfer John Mahaffey erased a 7 shot deficit to Tom Watson to win the PGA Championship in a sudden death playoff. In 1926, American Trudy Ede...

 The formal professional dunk contest was the 1976 ABA Dunk Contest. It featured Dr. J, David Thompson, and George "Ice Man" Gervin. It was a great idea, but nobody knew how to run a dunk contest. What were the rules? And should the dunkers plan out their dunks, or just improvise? CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher   MUSIC "D...

Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . EPISODE SUMMARY Mark covers the life and career of enigmatic Billy "The Kid" Martin, long time player and manager in the MLB. Many say he should be in the Hall of Fame for his incredible coaching prowess. Others say his off-field antics don't deserve a place in the Hall. This is part 2 of a 3 part s...

In 1984, American Joan Benoit won the first women's Olympic marathon. In 2012, Jamaican Usain Bolt set an Olympic record in winning the 100m. In 1963, Craig Breedlove set a a new land speed record of 407 mph. In 1967, an AFL team played an NFL team for the first time in an exhibition game. In 1921, it was the first ever radio broadcast of a baseball game on Pittsburgh' KDKA. In 1968, Pittsburgh's...

The salient focus of this podcast episode is the exploration of Heisman Trophy winners who have transitioned to play in the Canadian Football League (CFL). We delve into the intriguing narrative of Billy Vessels, the 1952 Heisman recipient, who opted for a career in the CFL after a brief stint with the NFL. This episode elucidates the circumstances that led several Heisman winners to pursue opport...

In 1936, American Jesse Owens won the Gold medal in the Olympic Gold Medal. In 1936, American Helen Stephens won the 100m Final in record time but was soon accused of being a man. In 2002, Rich Beem won the International using the modified Stableford scoring system. Steve Lowery holed two shots from the fairway in three holes to make it a bit interesting at the end. In 1983, New York Yankees Cente...

The episode delves into the intriguing etymology of various terminologies within the realm of football, with a particular focus on the word "Cornhuskers," which designates the esteemed football team from the University of Nebraska. We explore how this appellation emerged from the historical context and cultural significance surrounding corn farming in Nebraska, ultimately becoming a source of regi...

In 1921,  Chicago White Sox players Eddie Cicotte, Chick Gandil, Happy Felsch, Lefty Williams, Buck Weaver, Swede Risberg, Fred McMullin, and Shoeless Joe Jackson were banned from baseball 24 hours after being acquitted in their trial.  In 1987, Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Niekro was caught with an emery board in his pocket which he used to scuff the baseball. In 1939, catcher Joe Sprinz...

In 1979 New York Yankee catcher Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash. In 1960, the Continental Baseball League disbanded. In 1928, it was the women’s 800 meter final, the last to be run by women for another 32 years. In 2012, Gabby Douglas won the women’s all-around gold medal at the Olympics. In 1997, the Barons became the first team to do a bobblehead giveaway. THIS DAY IN SPORTS BACKGROUN...

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 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 For A Record America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer...

In 1978, Pete Rose's quest to catch Joe Dimaggio's 56-game hitting streak came to an end at 44 games. In 1996, Michael Johnson became the first man to win both the 200 and 400 in the same Olympic games. In 1976, Formula One race car driver Niki Lauda nearly died in a fiery crash at the Nurburgring. In 1928, Gene Tunney retired. In 2004, Daigo Umehara pulled off an incredible 15-strike parry of Jus...