This Day in Sports History

In 1953, a first half injury to Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham led to the first face mask being added to a helmet at halftime so he could play the second half. In 1992, Alan Kulwicki nursed his car around Atlanta Motor Speedway to win the points championship by the slimmest of margins. In 1960, Elgin Baylor scored 71 in the nightcap of an NBA doubleheader at Madison Square Garden. In 1991, PGA To...

In 1970, the plane carrying Marshall's football crashed short of the runway, killing all 75 aboard. In 1988, the plane carrying Davis Love, Jr, and three others crashed short of the Jacksonville, FL airport, killing all aboard. In 1899, the Sewanee football team completed a tour of playing five games in six days. They won all of them and did not allow a single point to be scored on them. In 2012,...

In 1994, Michael Schumacher beat Damon Hill by one point to win the Formula One. In 1977, Houston Oilers Head Coach Bum Phillips said Oakland's Ray Guy had to be puttiing helium in the football. In 1967, Indiana Pacer Jerry Harkness hit the longest shot in professional basketball history. In 1947, Wataru Misaka became the first person of color to play professional basketball. In 1979, Daryl Dawkin...

In 2016, Pitt beat #2 Clemson in Death Valley, coming up with a goal line interception, stopping them on a late 4th and 1, and getting a game winning 48-yard FG. In 1892, Pudge Heffelfinger became the first professional football player. In 1990, Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Buddy Ryan promised to put Washington Redskins in body bags in their MNF matchup. Nine Washington players were injured in a...

In 1911, Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School upset powerhouse Harvard 18-15. In 1985, Philadelphia Flyers goalie Pelle Lindbergh died after being involved in a car accident on the 10th. In 1990, Kansas City's Derrick Thomas sacked Seattle QB Dave Kreig seven times to set an NFL record that still stands. In 1961, a University of South Carolina fraternity pulled a pre-game prank against rival...

In 1928, Knute Rockne delivered his 'Win one for the Gipper' speech to fire up his Notre Dame team to go beat Army. In 1984, Maryland erased a 31-point halftime deficit against Miami to win 42-40. In 2018, Davidson rushed for 789 yards in a 56-52 loss to San Diego. In 1957, Charlie Sifford became the first black player to win a professional golf tournament. In 1985, Ron Jaworski hit receiver Mike...

In 1974, Michigan State upset #1 Ohio State. The Buckeyes final TD was denied. It took 45 minutes for game officials and the Big Ten commissioner to determine who actually won it. In 1984, Julius Erving and Larry Bird got in a fight in the Boston Garden. In 1946, in a game between #2 Notre Dame and top-ranked Army that was billed as the Greatest Offensive Battle in the History of College Football’...

In 1958, Ohio State's Jim Marshall returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and followed that up later with an interception return for a touchdown. The guy who became known for going the wrong way on a fumble recovery in the NFL in 1964, actually knew how to get to the right endzone. In 1997, the Nebraska Cornhuskers benefitted from a missed call to score a touchdown with no time left in regulation...

In 1896, students at Auburn played one of the greatest pranks on the Georgia Tech football team. In 2015,. Nebraska benefitted from a controversial call and referee review to beat undefeated Michigan State. In 1925, Northwestern kicker Tiny Lewis kicked a field goal on the way to handing Michigan a 3-2 loss. In 1991, Magic Johnson announced he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS and retired from b...

In 1993, it was the REPEAT or REVENGE fight outside at Las Vegas’ Caesars Palace between Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe. The fight became known for 'Fan Man' crashing into the ringside ropes and lights. In 1869, Rutgers and the school that would soon become known as Princeton played what is considered to be the first college football game. In 1995, Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell announced t...

In 1989, Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Jerry Burns went on a post-game rant defending his Offensive Coordinator Bob Schnelker. In 1994, 45-year old George Foreman shocked the boxing world, knocking out Michael Moorer in the 10th round to win the Heavyweight title. In 2000, Tiger Woods coughed up his 54-hole lead for just the second time in his career. Phil Mickelson started the day a shot behind an...

In 1951, golfer Skip Alexander won 8 and 7 in his singles Ryder Cup match. The amazing thing is that he was even on the golf course after being the sole survivor of a plane crash 14-months prior. In 1977, Los Angeles High School WR Steve Martinez caught 19 passes for 312 yards and five TDs in one half. He would have had more but the other team hopped on the bus and left. In 2001, the Chicago Bears...

In 1979, retired Dallas Cowboy Defensive End, Ed 'Too Tall' Jones stepped into the boxing ring for the first time. In 1962, a meeting between Oakland Raider team officials and a reporter led to what we know today as Fantasy Football. In 1990, the 16th ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets beat #1 Virginia. In 1990, Houston and TCU engaged in an aerial battle over the state of Texas. In 2012, the Broo...

In 1935, Notre Dame scored twice in the final two minutes to beat Ohio State 18-13. In 2016, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. In 1990, Golden State and Denver combined to score 320 points. It's the most in an NBA game that ended in regulation. In 2002, Manchester United's Diego Forlan scored and then ripped his shirt off to celebrate. he had trouble re-dressing and it led to FIFA ruling that...

In 2012, former MLB pitcher Pascual Perez was found dead after a home invasion. In 2005, the New Orleans Hornets opened their season in Oklahoma City. What happened on this day and the next two years led to the move of the Sonics to OKC. In 2015, Drew Brees threw for an NFL record tying 7 TDs while Eli Manning threw 6 TDs, 0 Ints. In 1964, George Blanda set an AFL record with 68 pass attempts. In...

In 1987, the Indianapolis Colts pulled off a 3 team, 10 player trade to land Eric Dickerson. In 1959, LSU's Billy Cannon returned a punt 89-yards for a touchdown that turned out to be the game winner in a 7-3 win over Ole Miss. In 1950, Earl ‘Big Cat’ Lloyd became the first black player to play in an NBA game. In 1993, Greg Norman coughed up a lead on the back nine on Sunday at the PGA Tour Champi...

In or around this day in 1935, Montreal Maroons player Herb Cain was nearly killed during a practice. In 1897, University of Georgia football player Richard von Gammon died after suffering an injury during a game. It nearly led to college football being outlawed. In 1974, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman fought for the Heavyweight title in Kinshasa, Zaire in 'The Rumble in the Jungle.' In 1954, , t...

In 1985, Chicago's Michael Jordan injured his left foot. In 1999, it was a somber day on the PGA tour. This was the first round after Payne Stewart's plane crash on Monday. In 2023, Christian McCaffrey scored a touchdown for the 17th consecutive game. That tied him with Hall of Famer Lenny Moore. In 1921, tiny Centre College beat Harvard 6-0 in one of the all-time great college football upsets.

In 1995, Steve Spurrier and his Florida Gators became the first and still only team to score 50 points against Georgia at home. In 1995, David Justice quieted the boos in Atlanta to lead the Braves to their first World Series title in Atlanta. In 1981, a questionable mandate by George Steinbrenner wrecked the Yankees chances to beat the Dodgers. In 1975, Dallas Cowboy QB Roger Staubach suffered hi...

In 1979, freshman Anthony Carter reeled in a John Wangler pass and scampered to the endzone to score the game winner against Indiana. In 2007, an excessive celebration sent a message from Georgia to Florida. In 2007, Tennessee beat South Carolina 27-24 to put their season into gear and send the Gamecocks into a tailspin. In 1991, Minnesota pinch hitter Gene Larkin plated the game winning run in th...

In 1996, the New York Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves to win the World Series just 6 years after being the worst in baseball. In 1985, the Citadel' Marc Buonicotti was paralyzed attempting to make a tackle in a game against East Tennessee State. In 1970, Muhammad Ali returned to the boxing ring after his 3 1/2 year exile.. In 1984, Michael Jordan made his NBA debut with the Chicago Bulls. In 1990,...

In 1970, Minnesota's DE Jim Marshall recovered a fumble but returned it the wrong way, scoring a safety rather than a touchdown. In 1986, the New York Mets rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the 10th that included an unfortunate error by Bill Buckner. In 2003, the Florida Marlins beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, giving manager Jack McKeon a World Series title that had e...

In 2015, Georgia Tech blocked a field goal and returned the ball for a game winning score with no time left. In 1999, Pete Rose made his first appearance on a baseball field in a decade and instead of allowing him to enjoy the moment, NBC's Jim Gray decided to grill him. In 1971, Detroit Lion Chuck Hughes collapsed during a game and died later that day. In 1985, the Chicago Bulls traded for George...

In 2000, the New York Jets pulled off the improbable 'Monday Night Miracle' win over the Miami Dolphins. In 1993, Toronto's Joe Carter hit the game winner in game 6 of the World Series to beat the Philadelphia Phillies. It's only the second time the series ended on a walk-off home run. In 2021, Penn State and Illinois played 9 OTs before a winner could be decided in the longest college football ga...

In 2016, Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield lit up the scoreboard in a 66-59 shootout. In 2012, UCI stripped the 7 Tours de France titles and banned Lance Armstrong for life. In 1989, Ayrton Senna's attempted pass of his teammate, Alain Prost ended up with the two wrecking. In 1993, the movie "Rudy" debuted in theaters.