This Day in Sports History

In 1969, Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle retired. In 1997, Hector Camacho beat the 40-year old Sugar Ray Leonard.  In 2003, Mount St. Mary's head basketball coach Jim Phelan coached his last game, closing out his 49 year career.  And in 1953, Babe Zaharias won the Sarasota Open by 7 shots but not without some controversy.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I rese...

In 1976, Richard Petty dominated the Carolina 500 in Rockingham, NC In 1940, Jimmy Demeret won his third straight golf tournament within 11 days.  And in 1964, the Big O and Jerry Lucas combined for a 40-40 performance.  Also in 1964, the longest high school game in history. But there's more to the story than just that.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I rese...

On this day in 1986, eleven MLB players were suspended for the season.  In 1989, the Oilers and the Kings combined for the most penalties in a game.  And in 1999, Serena Williams one her first WTA singles title.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if you like the podcast, subscribe, rate and review and tell you...

In 1987, two days after the NCAA dropped the so-called 'Death Penalty' on SMU's football program, the landscape looked bleak. In 1960, the USA hockey team beat the Soviets in the Olympics and went on to win the gold medal just like in 1980.  And in 1987, the movie 'Hoosiers' was released in theaters.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and p...

In 1946, the Yankees released Babe Ruth and he quickly signed with the Boston Braves on the same day. His stint there was short and didn't go well.  In 1989, the Dallas Cowboys fired Head Coach Tom Landry. And in 1967, Mario Andretti won the Daytona 500 in his first and only appearance, becoming the first foreign born driver to win a NASCAR race.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one pe...

In 1964, Muhammad Ali became the champ after beating Sonny Liston.  In 1987, the 'Death Penalty' was handed down to SMU's football program. And in 1977, the movie 'Slap Shot' was released in theaters.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if you like the podcast, subscribe, rate and review and tell your friends about...

In 1985 - A USFL classic featuring future Hall of Famers Steve Young and Jim Kelly. In 1978 - Golden State Warrior Clifford Ray saved a dolphin's life.  And in 1961, Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp had a horrifying crash at Daytona. Here's the video clip I mentioned in the episode of the Petty and Beauchamp wreck. https://bit.ly/3T5neq4 'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I...

In 1985, Bobby Knight and his infamous chair throwing incident was influenced a great deal by the weather in Bloomington that day.  In 1958, Formula One driver Juan Manuel Fangio was kidnapped by one of Fidel Castro's men. And in 1980, speed skater Eric Heiden won his fifth gold medal of the Lake Placid Olympiad.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write,...

In 2020. David Ayres became the first emergency goalie to be credited with a win!  In 1980, it was the Miracle on Ice. In 1959, the first Daytona 500 run on the 2.5 mile track.  And in 1968, the NFL standardized the 'Slingshot' goalpost.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if you like the podcast, subscribe, ra...

In 1980, Hanni Wenzel won the first ever Gold medal for Liechtenstein.  In 1970, Pete Maravich and Dan Issel dueled in college basketball. In 1954, Dick Button landed the first ever triple jump in figure skating.  And in 1979, a girl's basketball game to NOT remember.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if you...

In 1955, golfer Mike Souchak set two records that would stand for more than 40 years.  In 1929, the Boston Red Sox had to move Sunday games for what reason? And in 1952, Emmett Ashford became the first African American to be certified to be an umpire.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if you like the podcast, subs...

In 1970, Denny McLain was suspended from baseball for his connections with gambling. In 1984, Phil and Steve Mahre won gold and silver in the men's Olympic Slalom, becoming the first brothers to win medals in the same event.  Happy 38th birthday to Brazil's Marta! Born on this day in 1986.  And in 2013, Oscar Pistorius appeared in front of a South African magistrate claiming he shot his...

In 1979, the Daytona 500 was shown live start to finish for the first time. And wintry weather increased the number of people watching. And then there was the final lap! In 2001, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was killed on the final lap of the Daytona 500. What happened as a result of this tragedy has saved the lives of other drivers.  In 1944, Joe Nuxhall was signed by the Cincinnati Reds and would be...

In 1924, Johnny Weismuller, who would go on to play Tarzan in 12 movies in the 30s and 40s broke the 100 meter swimming record.  In 1974, tragedy in Egypt prior to a soccer match. And in 2001, Baron Davis sank the longest shot in NBA history.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if you like the podcast, subscribe, ra...

In 1984, Bill Johnson became the first American to win gold in the Olympic Downhill. In 1953, Boston's Ted Williams crash landed his fighter jet in Korea. He escaped unharmed and returned to baseball several months later.  And in 2005, the NHL cancelled the entire season after an agreement could not be reached.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, v...

In 1998, after 19 previous attempts, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. finally won NASCAR's biggest race. In 2004, his son, Dale, Jr. won his first Daytona 500 in only his fifth try.  In 1994, down 31 points with 15:30 to play, Kentucky stormed back to beat LSU 99-95.  And in 2004, Arizona State's baseball team lost 6-0 to Oklahoma. It was the first game in nearly 10 years the Sun Devils had failed to...

In 1988, Eddie the Eagle became a hero to underdogs everywhere, competing in the Olympics as a ski jumper.  Also in 1988, Richard Petty survived a horrifying crash at the Daytona 500.  And in 1990, Michael Jordan wore #12 in a game because his usual #23 had been stolen.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if yo...

In 1977, Eric Heiden's coming out party at the World All-Around Championships In 1954, Furman's Frank Selvy scored 100 points in a game.  In 1990, Larry Bird came up a little short.  And in 1968, the East Germans were disqualified, but should they have been?  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if you like the p...

On this day in 1908, a transcontinental car race took the starting gun.  And in 1909, a marathoner runs the fastest marathon at the time, in wing tips! 'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if you like the podcast, subscribe, rate and review and tell your friends about it! Visit the show's website: https://this-day-in.blubr...

In 1990, James "Buster' Douglas beat Mike Tyson, shocking the world. In 1982, Ozzie Smith finally became a St. Louis Cardinal. And in 1988, Dave 'Tiger' Williams was released by the Hartford Whalers. 'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if you like the podcast, subscribe, rate and review and tell your friends about it! Visit th...

In 1962, Jim Beatty did something no previous human had ever done inside.  In 1996, IBM's Deep Blue beat chess champion Gary Kasparov And in 2012, Jeremy Lin dropped 38 on Kobe and the LA Lakers.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if you like the podcast, subscribe, rate and review and tell your friends about it! V...

In 2006, a sports broadcaster was traded from one network to another for the rights to a long lost cartoon rabbit.  In 1920, Major League Baseball outlawed the Spit Ball ... kind of ... And in 2003, Michael Jordan played in his final NBA All-Star game.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if you like the podcast, sub...

In 1996, the city of Cleveland reached an agreement with the NFL and Art Modell, keeping the name 'Browns', the team colors and the history of the organization in Cleveland.  In 1986, Spud Webb defied his height to win the NBA Slam Dunk competition.  And in 1998, Women's Hockey debuted in the Winter Olympics.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write...

In 1994, Michael Jordan signed with the Chicago White Sox to pursue a dream of playing Major League Baseball. In 1949, Joe DiMaggio became the first $100,000 ball player.  In 1976, Toronto's Darryl Sittler scored 10 points in a game (6 goals, 4 assists), the most in an NHL game.  And in 2023, LeBron James became the NBA's all-time leading scorer.  'This Day in Sports History' is a o...

On this day in 1958, a plane carrying 44 people, including the Manchester United Football Club, crashed killing 23.  'This Day in Sports History' is a one person operation. I research, write, voice, and produce each show. So if you like the podcast, subscribe, rate and review and tell your friends about it! Visit the show's website: https://this-day-in.blubrry.net/ If you would like to suppor...