This Day in Sports History

In 1939, Lou Gehrig pulled himself out of the lineup for the first time in 15 years, ending his Iron Man streak at 2130 games. In 1930, the Des Moines Demons beat the Wichita Aviators in the first night game featuring permanently installed artificial lighting. In 1954, St. Louis' Stan Musial hit five home runs in a single day, hitting 3 in game one of a doubleheader and followed with 2 in game two...

In 1994, Formula One driver Ayrton Senna was killed during a race a Imola. In 1999, three spectators were killed at Lowes Motor Speedway when debris from a crash flew into the stands. In 1920, the Boston Braves and Brooklyn Robins played the longest MLB game in terms of innings. They played 26 innings and ended the game tied 1-1. In 2003, Baltimore Orioles pitcher B.J. Ryan won a baseball game wit...

In 1993, Monica Seles was stabbed during a match in Germany. in 1971, the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship in only their third year as a franchise. In 1956., the St. Louis Hawks traded Bill Russell to the Boston Celtics. In 1922, Chicago White Sox rookie Charlie Robertson pitched a perfect game against the Detroit Tigers. In 1976, Muhammad Ali retained his heavyweight title with a 15-round...

In 1986, Boston's Roger Clemens became the first MLB pitcher to strike out 20 in a 9-inning game. In 2012, the LA Clippers erased a 27-point second half deficit to beat Memphis in their first round playoff series. In 1971, the New York Rangers got a Pete Stemkowski goal in the third overtime to beat Chicago and extend their playoff series. In 1970, LA Laker Jerry West sank a desperation 60-footer...

In 2009, the Carolina Hurricanes scored two goals in the final 90 seconds to beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 and advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In 1988, the Baltimore Orioles lost their 21st straight game to open the season, the MLB record for futility out of the gate. In 1974, PGA touring pro Mike Reasor posted the worst four-round score in a PGA Event. In 1967, Muhammad...

In 1956, boxer Rocky Marciano retired as the only undefeated heavyweight champ. In 1960, the Minneapolis Lakers got the go ahead to move to Los Angeles after concessions were made. In 1983, Nolan Ryan passed Walter Johnson on the all-time strikeouts list. In 1947, MLB celebrated Babe Ruth day at every ballpark in the league. And in today’s ‘nothing to do with sports’ fun fact … On April 27, 1792,...

In 1983, the Baltimore Colts drafted John Elway with the top pick of the NFL draft, despite his warning to not select him. In 1931, New York Yankee Lou Gehrig hit a home run but passed a baserunner on his trip around the bases. That erased the HR which would eventually leave him tied for the Major League lead at the end of the season. In 2006, Kobe Bryant decided to change his number from 8 to 24....

In 1950, the Boston Celtics drafted Chuck Cooper with the 13th overall pick, making him the first black player drafted to play in the NBA. In 1978, the Phillie Phanatic made its debut. In 1974, the NFL decided to move the goalposts to the back of the endzone and adopted an sudden death overtime format. In 2016, Tom Brady's 4-game suspension for deflategate was reinstated by the 2nd US Circuit Cour...

In 1963, the Boston Celtics beat the LA Lakers to win their fifth straight NBA Championship. It was Bob Cousy's final game as a Celtic. In 2004, the San Diego Chargers picked Eli Manning with the top overall pick despite Eli pleading with them to not select him. In 1927, golfer Bobby Jones holed his first ace on a 173 yard par 3 at East Lake Country Club in Atlanta. In 1945, Happy Chandler was nam...

In 1969, LA Laker Jerry West scored 53 and dished 11 assists to lift the Lakers to the win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. A picture taken that night soon became the inspiration for the NBA logo. In 1999, Fernando Tatis, Sr hit a pair of grand slams in the same inning, the first and only to do it. In 1976, Harry Caray entertained a Chicago crowd with the singing of 'Take me out to the ballgame,' thou...

In 1876 the first major league baseball game was played between the Boston Red Caps in Philadelphia Athletics. In 1947, the first championship series of the new Basketball Association of America with the Philadelphia Warriors beating the Chicago Stags. In 1982, the Atlanta Braves lost for the first time after setting the MLB record with 13 straight wins to start the season. In 1969, Robin Knox-Joh...

In 2009, Carolina's Jussi Jokinen redirected the game winner past New Jersey's Marty Brodeur with .02 left in the game. In 1951, Toronto's Bill Barilko scored an OT goal to win the Stanley Cup for the Maple Leafs. In 2025, the LA Kings rebounded from giving up two quick goals to score the game winner with 41 seconds left to beat the Edmonton Oilers. In 1980, Rosie Ruiz crossed the finish line at t...

In 1986, Chicago Bull Michael Jordan set a new NBA playoff record, scoring 63 against the Boston Celtics in a loss. In 1912, Boston's Fenway Park opened for business with a game between the Red Sox and the team that would soon become known as the Yankees. In 1957, American John J. Kelley broke a 12-year drought of an American winning the Boston Marathon, running the newly redesigned and re-measure...

In 1990, the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers got into an epic fight at the end of a 10-point Philly win. In 1960, the exploding scoreboard debuted at Chicago's Comiskey Park after Minnie Minoso's Grand Slam homer in the fourth inning. In 1967, Katherine Switzer became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon even though women were not permitted to enter.

In 1962, Bill Russell scored 30 points and grabbed an NBA Finals Game 7 record 40 rebounds as Boston beat LA to win the championship. In 1966, Bill Russell was named coach of the Celtics, becoming the first black head coach in the NBA. In 1996, Orlando's Dennis Scott hit an NBA record 11 three point shots in a win against Atlanta. Klay Thompson now has the record with 14. Scott's 11 isn't even in...

In 1953, New York Yankee Mickey Mantle belted a 535-foot home run. It was measured and from that point on, any long homer is called a tape measure shot because of it. In 1976, Philadelphia Phillie Mike Schmidt hit 4 consecutive home runs against the Chicago Cubs in an 18-16 win. In 1943, F1 Driver St. John Horsfall drove two British intelligence officers and a corpse to be used in 'Operation Mince...

In 1976, arrest warrants were issued for three Philadelphia Flyers for assault in fights that occurred during an NHL playoff game against Toronto the previous night. In 1961, the Chicago Blackhawks broke a 23 year drought to win their third Stanley Cup. In 1940, Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller pitched the only opening day no-hitter. In 1929, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians wore num...

In 1947, Jackie Robinson integrated major league baseball, making his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in a 5-3 win over the Boston Braves. In 1965, John Havlicek stole the inbounds pass to secure a Boston Celtic victory to advance to the NBA Finals. In 1989, 94 Liverpool fans died and 766 were injured in a crowd crush during the FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in...

In 1968, golfer Roberto De Vincenzo signed a card for a round of 66 instead of what he shot, a 65, costing him a shot an 18-hole playoff for the Masters. In 1910, President William Howard Taft threw out the first pitch at a Washington Senators game. In 1960, the Maurice Richard led Montreal Canadiens won their fifth straight Stanley Cup with a 4-0 win in a sweep of Toronto. In 2024, Houston Rocket...

In 2016, Kobe Bryant scored 60 in his final game to beat the Utah Jazz. In 1957, Tommy Heinsohn scored 37 and Bill Russell grabbed 32 rebounds as the Boston Celtics beat the St. Louis Hawks in game 7 of the NBA Finals to win their first title. In 1984, Pete Rose became only the second major leaguer to reach the 4000 hit plateau in MLB history. In 2009, former MLB pitcher Mark ‘the Bird’ Fidrych di...

In 1987, Augusta's native son Larry Mize sank a miracle birdie chip to beat Greg Norman and win the Masters. In 1954, Sam Snead beat Ben Hogan in an 18-hole playoff to win his third and final Masters Green Jacket. In 1980, Ted Stepien bought the Cleveland Cavaliers. It turned into such a disaster that the NBA would institute the Stepien Rule after he sold the team. In 1877, Harvard's James Tyng be...

In 2009, Boston University scored two goals in the final minute of regulation to force overtime and then scored the game winner in OT to win the National Championship. In 1989, Philadelphia Flyers' goalie Ron Hextall scored an empty net goal, becoming the first goalie to score in a Stanley Cup playoff game. In 2003, the Miami Heat retired Michael Jordan's #23. In 1966, Emmett Ashford became the fi...

In 1949, Sam Snead won his first Masters and became the first to receive a green jacket. Past winners were given a green jacket retroactively. In 1975, Lee Elder became the first black man to play in The Masters. In 1999, the Chicago Bulls only managed 49 points in a loss to the Miami Heat. It's the lowest point output in an NBA game in the shot clock era. In 1938, French race car driver René Drey...

In 1965, the Houston Astrodome opened for business featuring an exhibition game between the New York Yankees and the Astros. In 2024, Boston and Milwaukee set an NBA record when the two teams combined for just 2 free throws. Boston became the first and only team (so far) to not attempt a free throw in an NBA game. In 1989, golfer Scott Hoch missed a 2-foot par putt on the first playoff hole that w...

In 1974, Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run to pass Babe Ruth. In 1975, Frank Robinson became the first black manager in Major League Baseball. In 1975, the Boston Celtics ended a dismal season. Head Coach Dave Cowans was fired soon after. Cowans is the last player/coach in the NBA.