This Day in Sports History

In 1914, Babe Ruth made his major league debut for the Boston Red Sox. In 1973, Gene Sarazen aced the par 3 8th hole at Troon as a 71-year old. In 1979, Bobby Knight was arrested in San Juan, Puerto Rico after punching a police officer. In 1967, the MLB All-Star game went a full 15 innings to become the longest All-Star game in terms of innings.

In 1999, Brandi Chastain hit the deciding shot in the PK Shootout against China to win the World Cup. In 2011, Abby Wambach's goal in the final seconds against Brazil tied the match at 2 and the US went on to win the quarterfinal match on PKs and advanced to the Semis of the World Cup. In 2010, Jack Nicklaus hit a 101-foot putt to prove to Johnny Miller it could be done. In 1953, Ben Hogan won the...

In 2006, Italy beat France 5-3 in PKs to beat France. Zinedine Zidane was given a red card late in extra time for head-butting to Marco Mattarazi. In 1932, New England got its first football team when George Marshall was awarded a franchise to play in Boston. They spent five years there before moving to Washington D.C. In 1978, the Houston Aeros of the WHA folded. In 1949, Bobby Locke won the firs...

In 2014, Germany shocked Brazil and the world, winning 7-1. In 1982, West Germany beat France in a World Cup Semifinal match in a penalty shootout, the first ever in a World Cup. In 2010, LeBron James announced live on ESPN that he was taking his talents to South Beach. In 2000, Venus Williams won her first Wimbledon and her first Grand Slam title. In 1960, the Havana Sugar Kings left Cuba and mov...

In 1974, Gerd Muller scored the game winner to lead West Germany to the World Cup title over the Netherlands. In 1985, 17-year old Boris Becker became the youngest to win the Wimbledon Men's Singles title and the first to do it as an unseeded player. In 1912, Jim Thorpe won Gold in the first Olympic Pentathlon. That medal would be stripped from him in 1913.

In 1932, Chicago Cub shortstop Billy Jurges was shot by his girlfriend Violet Popovich. Music from :44 - 8:04 composed by Lobo Loco and used under a Creative Commons license via Free Music Archive. Music for the remainder of the episode composed by Thrive Sweet Productions.

in 1982, Italy's Paolo Rossi, suspended for two years for match fixing, returned to the National Team, scoring three goals in a win over Brazil in the World Cup. In 2015, US striker Carli Lloyd scored a hat trick in 18 minutes as the US women beat Japan to win their third World Cup. In 1992, the US Men's Basketball team, aka 'The Dream Team,' officially qualified for the Olympics.

In 1905, Philadelphia Athletics' pitcher Rube Waddell outlasted Boston's Cy Young in a 21-inning pitcher's duel. In 1910, Heavyweight champ Jack Johnson knocked out James Jeffries in the first of the 'Great White Hope' fights. In 1919, challenger Jack Dempsey beat Jess Willard to win the heavyweight title.

In 1954, Hungary was beaten in the World Cup final by West Germany. Hungary had not lost in 32 consecutive games. In 1990, England lost to West Germany 4-3 on PKs. In 1939, Lou Gehrig gave his 'luckiest man' speech at Yankee Stadium. In 1985, Atlanta Braves' pitcher Rick Camp hit a pinch hit home run to tie up a game in extra innings.

In 1954, Babe Didrikson Zaharias won her third US Open while she battle cancer. In 1968, NFL players went on strike for the first time, leading to the first Collective Bargaining Agreement. In 1966, Atlanta's Tony Cloninger hit two Grand Slams in the same game, becoming the first and still only pitcher to hit two in one game. In 1997, the Houston Oilers got the go-ahead to move to Nashville, TN. I...

In 1921, Jack Dempsey beat Georges Carpentier in a battle between a draft dodger and a war hero. In 1903, Major Leaguer Ed Delahanty fell off a bridge and died after being kicked off a train. In 1932, Englishman Henry “Bunny” Austin became the first man to wear shorts at Wimbledon instead of the traditional wool pants. In 1967, Catherine Lacoste became the first foreign winner and the first amateu...

In 2014, US goalkeeper Tim Howard set a World Cup record with 16 saves. In 1902, Philadelphia's Rube Waddell pitched an immaculate inning. In 1990, New York Yankee Andy Hawkins pitched a no-hitter but lost.

How are the New York Mets, Bobby Bonilla, and Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff connected?

In 1905, Nap Lajoie developed a blood infection that was attributed to his dyed socks running into a cut in his leg. In 1978, the Chicago White Sox named Larry Doby as their manager, becoming the second black major league manager. In 1984, the LA Express and Michigan Panthers played the longest game in Pro Football. In 1929, Bobby Jones won his third US Open in a 36-hole playoff.

In 2014, the Netherlands beat Mexico in a round of 16 World Cup match after Arjen Robben's dramatic flop in what became known as 'No Era Penal.' In 1986, Argentina scored the game winner in the 86th minute to beat West Germany to win their second World Cup title. in 1958, Brazil won their first World Cup with Vavá and Pelé scoring a pair of goals each in a 5-2 win over Sweden. In 1950, the US shoc...

In 1958, France's Just Fontaine scored four goals in a 6-3 win over West Germany. He finished the tournament with 13 goals to set the World Cup record. In 1998, France beat Paraguay on a Golden Goal in extra time. It was the only Golden Goal winner of the '98 WC. In 1997, Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ears twice before the fight was stopped. In 1957, MLB commissioner Ford Frick overruled the...

In 1954, Hungary and Brazil played an overly physical match that resulted in fights breaking out on the pitch and in the lockerrooms. Hungary won 4-2 in a match called, 'the Battle of Bern.' In 1975, Lee Trevino was struck by lightning during the third round of the Western Open. In 1977. San Francisco Giant Willie McCovey hit two home runs in the same inning for the second time.

In 1992, Denmark, who had not even qualified for the UEFA Euro Cup, beat Germany to win the tournament. In 1959, Sweden's Ingemarr Johansson knocked out Floyd Patterson in the third round to win the title. In 2003, LeBron James was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the top pick of the NBA draft In 1996, the Charlotte Hornets drafter Kobe Bryant with the 13th pick of the NBA draft. He was tr...

In 1982, West Germany and Austria played a farce of a World Cup match so that they could both go through to the next round. In 2006, a World Cup match between Portugal and the Netherlands resulted in a record 17 yellow cards and 4 reds. In 1947, Sugar Ray Robinson knocked out Jimmy Doyle in the 8th round. Doyle later died at the hospital.

In 2007, Benny Fellhaber scored an amazing goal on a volley to lift the US 2-1 over Mexico. In 1995, the New Jersey Devils won their first Stanley Cup in a sweep of the Detroit Red Wings. In 1921, golfer Bobby Jones got frustrated during the third round of the Open Championship and walked off the course after the 11th hole.

In 2010, Landon Donovan scored a goal in stoppage time to give the US a 1-0 win over Algeria and advance to the knockout round. In 1996, the Scottish Claymores beat the Frankfort Galaxy 32-27 to win the World Bowl. In 2012, Jim Thome hit his 13th career walk-off home run, the most of any Major Leaguer. In 1917, Babe Ruth was ejected as the starting pitcher after arguing with the home plate umpire...

In 1986, Argentina's Diego Maradona scored his 'Hand of God' goal and his 'Goal of the Century' in a 2-1 win against England. In 1994, Columbia's Andres Escobar scored an own goal in a 2-1 loss to the US. He was murdered on the streets of Medellin a few weeks later because of it. In 1938, American Joe Louis knocked out German Max Schmelling in a rematch.

In 1978, Argentina beat Peru 6-0 to advance to the final of the World Cup. Some believe Peru were coerced into laying down. in 1970, Brazil beat Italy 4-1 to win its third World Cup with Pelé scoring a goal and assisting two others. In 1988, the LA Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons in seven games to win back-to-back NBA titles. But this game ended weirdly. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.c...

In 1982, Tom Watson sank a tricky chip in to take the lead at the US Open and went on to beat Jack Nicklaus by two shots at Pebble Beach. In 1999, Payne Stewart won his second and final US Open at Pinehurst. In 1964, Ken Venturi nearly died on his way to winning the US Open at Congressional. In 1984, Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry testified as a character witness for his QB Danny White.

In 1986, former Maryland basketball star and recently drafted Boston Celtic Len Bias died. In 2006, the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 in game 7 to win the Stanley Cup. In 1943, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles merged due to a player shortage due to WWII.