This Day in Sports History

In 1991, the Chicago Bulls beat the Detroit Pistons to advance to the NBA Finals. In 1937, New York Giant pitcher Carl Hubbell won his 24th straight game. In 1981, Seattle Mariner Lenny Randle blew a slow roller, foul. In 1943, the plane that former Olympian Louis Zamperini was flying in, suffered mechanical difficulties and crashed into the ocean 850 miles from Oahu. In 2001, Tony Stewart became...

In 1959, Harvey Haddix pitched 12 innings of perfect baseball but lost it and the game in the 13th. In 1987, Larry Bird stole an Isaiah Thomas inbound pass, found a cutting Dennis Johnson to the basket in a Boston Celtics win in the playoffs. In 1969, the NFL and ABC agreed to put a professional football game on Monday night beginning in 1970.

In 1965, Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston in the first round of their rematch with what many thought was a 'phantom punch.' In 1935, Babe Ruth hit the final home runs of his career when he hit three in a loss at Pittsburgh. His final career homer was belted completely out of Forbes Field, the first time that had happened since it opened in 1909. In 1964, 328 people died in Lima, Peru in the w...

In 1981, the 65th running of the Indianapolis 500 featured horrific accidents and an illegal move under yellow that left the winner of the race unknown for five months. In 1935, the first night Major League Baseball game was played at Cincinnati's Crosley Field. In 1920, undercover officers cracked down on betting at Wrigley Field, arresting 47.

In 1923, Gene Tunney fought Harry Greb, aka the Pittsburgh Wildcat, for the Light Heavyweight title. Greb won a controversial split decision. In 1924, Tunney and Greb fought again with Tunney winning a unanimous decision. In 2021, Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship at Kiawah, becoming the oldest to win a major tournament. In 1977, Jack Nicklaus won The Memorial at Muirfield on a course he des...

In 2009, LeBron James hit his first playoff game-winner against Orlando. In 1975, the Kentucky Colonels beat the Indianapolis Pacers in game five of the ABA Championship to win the title. In 1976, boxer Oscar ‘Ringo’ Bonavena was shot and killed outside the Mustang Ranch brothel. In 1963, New York Yankee Mickey Mantle hit a monster shot at Yankee Stadium.

In 1986, Houston's Ralph Sampson scored the game winner as time expired to propel the Rockets into the NBA Final. In 2009, the Denver Nuggets beat the LA Lakers in a playoff game for the first time in 24 years. In 1989, Rusty Wallace sent Darrell Waltrip spinning through the infield grass in what became known as the 'Tide Slide.' In 1952, the Brooklyn Dodgers scored 15 runs in the first inning to...

In 2002, Kobe Bryant ate something that didn't agree with him leading some to wonder if somebody had put something in his food. In 2000, Rasheed Wallace was handed a technical foul and ejected for staring at a ref. In 2012, Jim Peruto was able to reach a top speed of 243.7 mph and over the 90 mile course, averaged 217.55 mph, both records for an open road event. In 1922, Kenesaw Mountain Landis re...

In 1974, the Philadelphia Flyers became the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup. In 1974, the Houston Aeros of the WHA won the AVCO Cup. In 1991, Willie T. Ribbs became the first black driver to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. In 1995, boxer Jimmy Garcia died 13 days after losing his bout with Gabriel Ruelas.

In 1963, Syracuse great and Cleveland Browns running back Ernie Davis died after a 10-month fight against Leukemia. In 2023, Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown died. In 2004, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson threw a perfect game against Atlanta. In 1912, Detroit Tigers pitcher Alan Travers gave up 26 hits and 24 runs to Philadelphia. In 1996, the US Women's National Team beat China...

In 1983, the New York Islanders won their fourth straight Stanley Cup, becoming the only US based NHL team to win four in a row. In 1979, the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs combined for 45 runs in an extra inning game. In 1987, Dale Earnhardt pulled off 'The Pass in the Grass' in the Winston All-Star Race. It wasn't a pass though, he maintained control of his car and the lead of the race d...

In 1957, New York Yankee players, Billy Martin, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, Hank Bauer, Gil McDougald, and Johnny Kucks were involved in an altercation at The Copacabana. It led to Martin getting traded soon after. In 1985, Boston's Larry Bird got into a fight with a bar patron at Chelsea's. In 1976, Golden States' Rick Barry got into a fight with Phoenix's Ricky Sobers. None of Barry'...

In 1912, Detroit Tiger Ty Cobb went into the stands after a fan. In 1941, Joe Dimaggio singled in the first game of what would become his 56 game hitting streak. In 1981, Cleveland's Len Barker threw the 8th perfect game in modern Major League Baseball history. In 1990, Edmonton and Boston played the longest Stanley Cup Final.

In 1970, Boston Bruins Head Coach Harry Sinden retired a few days after winning Boston's first Stanley Cup in 29 years. In 2010, the Philadelphia Flyers came back from a 3 goal deficit to beat Boston 4-3 in game seven of their Stanley Cup playoff series. The Flyers also came back from a 3 games to none deficit to win the series 4-3. In 1938, the English starting 11 was photographed giving the Nazi...

In 2012, Man City scored two goals in stoppage time on the final day of the EPL season to beat QPR and win the league crown. In 2025, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred lifted the lifetime ban on Pete Rose, opening up a path for him to be elected to Hall of Fame. In 1845, an Alabama horse named Peytona beat a New Jersey horse named Fashion in a match race. It is considered to be the first significant sp...

In 1957, Alphonso de Portago was killed during the 24th running of the Mille Miglia road race. In 2000, 19-year old Adam Petty died after crashing during practice at Loudon, New Hampshire. In 1997, Kobe Bryant shot air ball after air ball in a decisive NBA playoff loss to Utah.

In 1977, Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner managed his team for a game before being told that was illegal. In 1919, the New York Yankees and the Washington Senators played to a scoreless tie. In 1980, Philadelphia's Julius Erving defied gravity in one of the most iconic moves in NBA history.

In 1994, the Atlanta Braves rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the ninth and then won it in the 15th. This is a This DiSH homage to longtime Braves manager Bobby Cox who died yesterday at the age of 84. In 1970, the Boston Bruins won their first Stanley Cup in 29 years on Bobby Orr's 'flying goal.' In 2015, Lebron James hit the game winner to beat the Chicago Bulls in a little payback for dec...

In 1970, Richard Petty had a horrible wreck at Darlington that resulted in NASCAR mandating window nets as a safety feature. In 1984, the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers played a 25 inning marathon game that is still the longest game in terms of innings in American League history and is the longest game in Major League Baseball history in terms of time. In 1991, a pigeon landed on the cour...

In 1970, the New York Knicks beat the LA Lakers to win their first NBA title. In 2016, Washington National Bryce Harper came to the plate 7 times but was not credited with an official at-bat. In 2005, Sergio Garcia gave up a six-shot lead in the final round of the Wachovia Championship and lost in a playoff. In 2001, Randy Johnson struck out 20 in 9 innings … but it is not recognized along with Ro...

In 1989, Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers to propel the Chicago Bulls onto the second round. In 1994, the Denver Nuggets became the first 8-seed to beat a 1-seed in the NBA playoffs. In 2002, Allen Iverson spent two minutes talking about practice. In 1957, Gil McDougald hit a sharp line drive that hit Herb Score in his right eye. He nearly lost his vision.

In 1954, England's Roger Bannister became the first human to run a four-minute mile. In 1933, two jockeys started fighting during the Kentucky Derby. They finished 1-2 and then finished their fight in the locker room. In 1991, Philadelphia Phillies' Lenny Dykstra and Darren Daulton were injured in a car accident. In 1998, 20-year old Kerry Wood became just the second pitcher in MLB history to stri...

A more in-depth story about Roger Bannister's historic four-minute mile, including two others who came close to eclipsing him prior to this day.

In 1904, Cy Young pitching the first perfect game in the 20th century. In 1946, Newark Eagles' pitcher Leon Day threw a no-hitter on opening day. In 1969, Bill Russell scored 6 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in his final NBA game as his Celtics beat the LA Lakers to win their 11th World Championship in 13 seasons. In 1991, Larry Bird suffered a concussion in the first half of a playoff game agains...

In 1989, Alexander Mogilny defected from the Soviet Union after helping the Soviets win a tournament in Sweden. In 1975, a pit crew member of Richard Petty's, who also happened to be his brother-in-law, was killed in the pit area after a highly pressurized water canister exploded. In 1986, a fan stole the pace care and took it for a spin prior to the start of the Talladega 500. In 1984, Oakland's...