Tag: Sports History

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1899: James J. Jeffries retained his world heavyweight boxing title beating Tom Sharkey in the full 25 rounds.
• 1926: Ty Cobb resigned as the manager of the Detroit Tigers.
• 1934: Lou Gehrig won the American League Triple Crown.
• 1942: Ted Williams won the American League Triple Crown.
• 1960: The Pirates’ starting pitcher Vern Law won the Cy Young Award.
• 1962: Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain scored 72 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. This was the fourth-highest point total in NBA history at the time.
• 1963: Joe Weatherly retained his NASCAR Sprint Cup title.
• 1965: Sandy Koufax won the Cy Young Award for the second time.
• 1968: David Pearson won the NASCAR Grand National title.
• 1968: Driver Graham Hill won his second Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 1973: Receiver Jay Miller set an NCAA football single-game record, with 22 catches for 263 yards.
• 1975: Chris Evert became the first tennis player to get the No. 1 ranking when the WTA Tour rankings were introduced.
• 1981: Rollie Fingers won the American League Cy Young award.
• 1985: Bill Elliott became the first driver to win 11 super-speedway races in one season.
• 1987: The Rangers center Marcel Dionne became the second NHL player to pick up 1,700 career points.
• 1987: Mark McGwire won the American League Rookie of the Year.
• 1990: Center Moses Malone set an NBA record for career free throws, passing Oscar Robinson’s record of 7,694.
• 1993: Pitcher Greg Maddux became the first pitcher since Sandy Koufax to win the National League Cy Young award in back-to-back years.
• 1996: Lakers star Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to make his NBA debut. He was 18 years, 2 months, and 11 days old.
• 1996: Wide receiver Jerry Rice became the first player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career receptions.
• 2002: Janette Husárová won her first title with the Federation Cup for women’s tennis.
• 2013: Nick Foles became the seventh passer in NFL history with seven touchdowns in a game.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1895: Fred Taral rode Preakness to win the Belmont Stakes in a time of 2:11.
• 1938: Red Sox first baseman Jimmie Foxx won his third award as the American League’s most valuable player.
• 1947: The U.S. golf team won the Ryder Cup.
• 1958: The Rams beat the Bears 41-35 in front of a record attendance of 90,833.
• 1960: Roger Maris won the American League MVP.
• 1969: 41-year-old Gordie Howe picked up the 19th and final hat trick of his career. He was also the oldest player to score an NHL hat trick.
• 1969: Quarterbacks Billy Kilmer and Charlie Johnson combined to set a record of 12 passing touchdowns in an NFL game.
• 1971: The Orioles’ Pat Dobson pitched a no-hitter against the Yomiuri Giants, the first no-hitter in the history of exhibition play between American and Japanese teams.
• 1972: Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton won the National League Cy Young Award.
• 1977: Steve Carlton won his second Cy Young Award.
• 1985: The Los Angeles Kings scored five goals in 5:37, the fastest in NHL team history.
• 1986: Grete Waitz won her eighth New York City Marathon in a time of 2:28:06.
• 1990: The Warriors and Nuggets combined for 320 total points, the most combined points in a non-overtime game.
• 1997: Eric Metcalf returned two punts for touchdowns and became the second player in NFL history to achieve this feat.
• 2002: Boston College beat Notre Dame 14-7 in the 14th annual college football “Holy War.”
• 2002: Mark Messier played in his 1,616th career NHL game.
• 2008: Lewis Hamilton clinched his first F1 World Drivers’ Championship title.
• 2011: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th goal for Real Madrid.
• 2016: The Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians four games to three to win their first title in 108 years. Ben Zobrist was the World Series MVP.
• 2019: The Springboks defeated England 32-12 to win their third Rugby World Cup.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1913: In their first college football game, Notre Dame beat Army 35-13. Quarterback Gus Dorais went 14 of 17 for 243 yards and two touchdown passes.
• 1922: Mickey Walker defeated defending champion Jack Britton on points over 15 rounds.
• 1924: The Boston Bruins became the first U.S.-based team to join the NHL.
• 1938: The National League selected batting champion Ernie Lombardi as the most valuable player.
• 1946: The New York Knicks beat the Toronto Huskies 68-66 in the first Basketball Association of America game.
• 1950: Celtics’ forward Chuck Cooper became the first African-American to play in the NBA while future Hall of Famer Bob Cousy made his Celtics debut.
• 1951: Dodgers’ catcher Roy Campanella won the first of three National League MVP awards.
• 1959: Running back Jim Brown ran in five touchdowns in the Browns’ 38-31 win over the Colts.
• 1964: Running back Jim Brown ran for 149 yards and became the first NFL player to exceed 10,000 in career rushing yards.
• 1964: Oilers quarterback George Blanda attempted an AFL record of 68 passes in a game.
• 1965: Ernie Terrell retained his WBA heavyweight boxing title.
• 1966: Dodgers’ pitcher Sandy Koufax became the first three-time winner of the Cy Young Award.
• 1981: Darrell Waltrip won his fourth straight NASCAR Cup race.
• 1987: Nelson Piquet clinched his third Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 1992: Jets wide receiver Al Toon became the 10th NFL player to make a reception in 100 straight games.
• 1997: Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne recorded his 250th NCAA career victory.
• 1998: Steve Young and Jerry Rice connected for their 80th career touchdown, exceeding the previous NFL mark.
• 2003: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald set a new NCAA record with a touchdown reception in his 14th straight game.
• 2006: The Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin became the first NHL player since 1917 to score goals in each of his first six games.
• 2017: The Houston Astros won their first World Series title.
• 2023: The Texas Rangers won their first World Series title.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1907: In their first game, Calgary City Rugby Football Club defeated Strathcona RFC.
• 1908: The IV Summer Olympic Games closed at White City Stadium.
• 1943: The Washington Redskins’ Sammy Baugh passed for six touchdowns in a game.
• 1950: Earl Lloyd became the first African-American to play a game in the NBA, scoring six points on his debut for the Washington Capitols.
• 1967: The San Francisco Giants’ Mike McCormick won the National League Cy Young award.
• 1968: The Milwaukee Bucks beat Detroit 138-118 to win their first game.
• 1972: Cleveland Indians pitcher Gaylord Perry won the American League Cy Young award.
• 1973: Tom Seaver won the National League Cy Young Award.
• 1987: Jockey Chris Antley became the first rider to win nine races in a day.
• 1988: The Indianapolis Colts beat the Denver Broncos 55-23 in the first Monday Night Football game.
• 1994: Venus Williams made her professional tennis debut at the age of 14, defeating the former NCAA champion and No. 58 Shaun Stafford at the Bank of the West Classic.
• 1999: Mika Häkkinen clinched his second straight F1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 2003: Surfer Bethany Hamilton lost an arm in a shark attack while surfing in Hawaii.
• 2010: Kim Clijsters beat Caroline Wozniacki, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 for her third season-ending WTA Championship title.
• 2015: New Zealand defeated Australia 34-17 to win the Rugby World Cup Final.
• 2019: The NBA suspended Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns for two games without pay following an altercation.
• 2020: England beat Italy 34-5 to clinch the Six Nations Rugby Championship.
• 2020: New Zealand defeated Australia 43-5 to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1889: In the World Championship Baseball Series, the New York Giants defended their title by defeating the Brooklyn Bridegrooms six games to three.
• 1931: Pitcher Lefty Grove won the American League’s most valuable player award.
• 1942: Branch Rickey became the president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
• 1950: Bill Rexford won the NASCAR Grand National Series Championship.
• 1950: Cleveland Browns player Marion Motley set an NFL record for the highest average gain in a game with 17.1. The Browns went on to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 45-7.
• 1950: The Lions Wally Triplet achieved a kickoff return yardage of 294 yards, the second highest total in a single game in NFL history.
• 1960: Muhammad Ali won his first professional fight, defeating Tunney Hunsaker on points in six rounds.
• 1961: Ned Jarrett won the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
• 1967: Danny Abramowicz began an NFL streak of 105 straight games of getting at least one reception.
• 1969: Tom Seaver won the National League Cy Young award.
• 1972: Don Cockroft kicked a 57-yard field goal for the Browns.
• 1984: Orlando Pizzolato won the New York Marathon in a time of 2:14:53.
• 1987: Thomas Hearns won his fourth different weight boxing title.
• 1989: Ozzie Newsome’s streak of 150 consecutive games with a reception came to an end.
• 2008: The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays four games to one to win their second title. Pitcher Cole Hamels was the MVP.
• 2014: The San Francisco Giants beat the Kansas City Royals four games to three to win their third World Series title in five years. Pitcher Madison Bumgarner was the MVP.
• 2017: Lewis Hamilton clinched his fourth F1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 2017: Caroline Wozniacki beat Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 to win the WTA Finals title.
• 2018: Warriors star Klay Thompson broke Steph Curry’s record for the most three-pointers in a game with 14.
• 2024: The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman set an MLB record by hitting at least one home run in six straight World Series games.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1887: The Detroit Wolverines beat the St. Louis Browns 10-5, ultimately winning the baseball world championship.
• 1911: The Philadelphia Athletics clinched their second consecutive World Series title, beating the New York Giants 4-2.
• 1950: Branch Rickey resigned as president of the Brooklyn Dodgers after having sold 25% of his stock in the team.
• 1951: Rocky Marciano crushed Joe Louis’s hopes of a comeback with a technical knockout in eight rounds.
• 1968: Diver Klaus Dibiasi won the first of three consecutive gold medals in the men’s 10-meter platform at the Mexico City Olympic Games.
• 1975: Cuba won its fourth Pan Am Games gold medal in baseball, defeating the United States.
• 1980: Grete Waitz won the New York Marathon for the third year in a row with a time of 2:25.41.
• 1980: The St. Louis Cardinals tied an NFL record by sacking Baltimore Colts quarterback Bert Jones 12 times.
• 1982: Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies became the first pitcher to win four Cy Young awards.
• 1985: The Montreal Canadiens retired Doug Harvey’s number 2 hockey jersey as a way to honor one of the greatest defensemen in the team’s history.
• 1986: Driver Alain Prost defended his Formula 1 World Championship title, becoming the first driver to do so since Jack Brabham in 1960.
• 1993: After winning the first seven games of the season, the New Jersey Devils lost 2-0 to the Montreal Canadiens.
• 1996: The New York Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 and won the club’s 23rd title.
• 1997: The Florida Marlins won their first-ever World Series title, beating the Cleveland Indians 4-3. The teams were tied for 10 innings before the underdog Marlins were able to pull ahead in the 11th.
• 1997: Following a controversial decision, driver Jacques Villeneuve became the first Canadian to win the F1 World Drivers Championship.
• 2000: The Yankees defeated the Mets in the “Subway Series,” 4-1. This was the team’s third World Series in a row and 26th overall.
• 2005: MVP Jermaine Dye led the Chicago White Sox in a four-game sweep against the Houston Astros, ultimately winning the World Series for the first time in 88 years.
• 2014: World-renowned tennis player Serena Williams defended her WTA Finals title against Simona Halep, 6-3, 6-0.

Notable sports events in October include the MLB playoffs, NBA and NHL preseason games, college football, the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series, track meets, the UEFA Champions League, and Formula One racing. In past years, Oct. 25 has been a day filled with brilliant sporting moments from gaming legends, some of the most outstanding of which are highlighted below.

The most outstanding athletes from Oct. 25 were Otto Graham, Evander Holyfield, and Freddie Freeman.

Graham was nicknamed Automatic Otto for his toughness and consistency. He won seven championships (four in the All-America Football Conference and three in the NFL) and holds the highest winning percentage among quarterbacks, at 81.3%. Holyfield is famous for being a dominant boxer who won world titles in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. He earned the nickname “The Real Deal” and is one of the few boxers to have won the heavyweight title multiple times. Freeman is recognized for his hitting ability and for winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 2020.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1892: The Boston Beaneaters beat the Cleveland Spiders 8-3 and won the World Championship in baseball. It was the last championship of the pre-modern era of the World Series.
• 1939: Joe DiMaggio won the American League MVP.
• 1954: Driver Juan Manuel Fangio won his second Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 1963: Sandy Koufax was the unanimous winner of the Cy Young award.
• 1968: Swimmer Debbie Meyer won the inaugural women’s 800 meter race with a time of 9:24.0.
• 1976: Driver James Hunt won the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 1976: Bill Rodgers won the New York City Marathon, with a time of 2:10.10. It was his first time winning the race.
• 1982: Steffi Graf played in her first pro tennis match.
• 1988: The New York Islanders Mike Bossy retired from the NHL.
• 1992: Australia beat Great Britain 10-6 to win the Rugby League World Cup.
• 1992: The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 and won their first-ever title.
• 2004: Driver Michael Schumacher won his fifth straight Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship and a record seventh career world title.
• 2004: Manchester United beat Arsenal 2-0, ending Gunners’ English Premier League record of a 49-game unbeaten streak.
• 2009: In the 19th annual college football Holy War, Notre Dame beat Boston College 20-16. It was Notre Dame’s first win in the series in nine years.
• 2018: Joel Embiid became the first NBA player to reach 30 points and 19 rebounds in the same game since Charles Barkley did it in 1991.
• 2018: Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge was named the United Nations Person of the Year for setting a new marathon world record.
• 2021: Michael Jordan’s 1984 Nike Air Ship shoes sold for almost $1.5 million. It was a new record for sneakers at an auction.
• 2021: Tom Brady became the first quarterback in NFL history to record 600 touchdown passes. He connected with Mike Evans in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1903: In the eighth Iron Bowl game, Alabama beat Auburn 18-6.
• 1910: The A’s beat the Cubs 4-1 and won their first World Series title.
• 1921: The Green Bay Packers played the first American Professional Football Association game and beat the Minneapolis Marines 7-6.
• 1935: Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett won the National League MVP.
• 1945: Jackie Robinson signed a contract with the Montreal Royals, a minor league farm team of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
• 1964: Anton Geesink won an open gold medal in the first-ever Olympic judo competition.
• 1964: Joe Frazier beat Hans Huber on points and won the Olympic heavyweight gold medal.
• 1964: Gymnast Larisa Latynina won the floor exercise gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
• 1973: Chris Evert retained her Women’s Tennis Association Tour Championship title.
• 1977: Niki Lauda won his second Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 1977: Bill Rodgers defended his title and won the New York City Marathon with a time of 2:11.38.
• 1984: Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe was selected as the unanimous choice for the National League Cy Young award.
• 1993: The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 and won the World Series.
• 2000: The Monday Night Miracle happened. The New York Jets were down 30-7 at the end of the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins. The Jets scored four touchdowns and a field goal in the fourth quarter, eventually winning 40-37 in overtime.
• 2004: In the 16th annual college football Holy War game, Boston College beat Notre Dame 24-23.
• 2008: Joe Sakic scored the final goal of his NHL career at No. 625.
• 2011: New Zealand beat France 8-7 and won the Rugby World Cup Final.
• 2019: Kyrie Irving scored 50 points and set a new NBA record for points in a debut with a new team. However, the Brooklyn Nets still lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-126 at home.
• 2022: Brock Purdy played against the Kansas City Chiefs and threw for 66 yards and an interception.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1930: The SC Genemuiden soccer team was formed.
• 1933: Boxer Primo Carnera beat challenger Paulino Uzcudun on points and retained his IBU heavyweight title.
• 1935: Johnny Revolta won the PGA Championship. This was his only major title.
• 1950: The Los Angeles Rams beat the Baltimore Colts 70-27 in football.
• 1966: Hockey legend Bobby Orr scored his first NHL career goal.
• 1967: Denny Hulme became the first New Zealander to win the F1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 1967: The United States beat Great Britain at the Ryder Cup.
• 1972: The Oakland Athletics beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 and won the World Series. It was the Athletics’ first title since 1930 and the first in Oakland.
• 1976: Rick Barry began the then longest NBA free-throw streak, which amounted to 60 throws.
• 1978: Grete Waitz won the New York City Marathon on her racing debut, with a world record time of 2:32:30.
• 1984: Football Hall of Fame quarterback Ken Stabler announced his retirement from the NFL.
• 1989: Alain Prost claimed his third F1 World Drivers’ Championship title.
• 1996: New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams hit a record-tying seventh postseason home run.
• 1999: Hockey goalie Grant Fuhr won his 400th career game.
• 2000: Racing driver Michael Schumacher won his first of five consecutive F1 World Drivers’ Championships.
• 2000: The United States beat the International team and won the Presidents Cup for golf.
• 2006: Driver Fernando Alonso retained his F1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 2020: The NHL postponed the All-Star Weekend and Winter Classic to no earlier than 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 2022: Ai Mori won gold in bouldering and lead climbing at the International Federation of Sport Climbing World Cup.
• 2024: LeBron and Bronny James became the first father-son duo in NBA history to appear in a game together.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1911: This date witnessed the formation of the Western Canada Rugby Football Union.
• 1964: Ethiopian Abebe Bikila set a world record time of 2:12:11.2 to win the men’s marathon at the Tokyo Olympics.
• 1964: The U.S. men’s 4×400-meter relay team defeated Great Britain by 0.9 seconds and set a world record time of 3:00.7 to win the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
• 1973: Benny Parsons won the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
• 1973: The Oakland Athletics defended their World Series title by defeating the New York Mets 4-3. Reggie Jackson was the most valuable player.
• 1973: Fred Dryer became the first player in NFL history to score two safeties in the same game.
• 1974: Goalie Billy Smith got his first shutout win as the Islanders beat the Capitals 5-0.
• 1975: Carlton Fisk hit a 12th-inning home run to beat the Reds and force a game seven in the World Series.
• 1976: The New York Knicks retired Willis Reed’s No. 19, their first number retirement.
• 1979: Bill Rodgers won the New York City Marathon in 2:11:42, making it his fourth straight men’s title.
• 1979: Ozzie Newsome began his NFL streak of 150 straight game receptions.
• 1984: Niki Lauda became a three-time Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion.
• 1984: Cleveland Browns’ kicker Steve Cox set a club record with a 60-yard field goal.
• 1990: Ayrton Senna clinched his second Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 1997: Outfielder Marquis Grissom recorded a hit in his 15th straight World Series game.
• 1998: The Yankees swept the Padres in the World Series to win their second title in three years.
• 2007: Driver Kimi Raikkonen claimed his first World Drivers’ Championship by one point.
• 2007: Titans kicker Rob Bironas set an NFL record for most points scored in a game with 26 in a 38-36 win over the Texans.
• 2009: The Phillies beat the Dodgers 4-1 to win the National League pennant.
• 2015: Climber Alex Puccio ascended Free Range in Boulder Canyon, Colorado.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1912: Hannes Kolehmainen set a marathon world record, with a time of 2:29:39.2.
• 1924: In the first Negro League World Series, the Kansas City Monarchs shut out the Hilldale Club 5-0 to clinch the title.
• 1936: Carl Hubbell won the National League MVP.
• 1946: In the Cards vs. Giants game, Frank Seno returned a 105-yard kickoff for touchdown.
• 1963: Jim Brown set the NFL single-season rushing record with 1,863 yards.
• 1965: The 19th NHL All-Star game was played in Montreal, and the All-Stars beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-2.
• 1968: Sprinter Jim Hines anchored the United States men’s 4 x 100 meter relay team and won his second gold medal at the Mexico City Olympics.
• 1979: John Tate beat the local favorite Gerrie Coetzee in 15 rounds and won the WBA heavyweight boxing title.
• 1982: The Cardinals beat the Brewers, four games to three, and won the World Series.
• 1990: The Reds beat the A’s, 2-1, and swept the World Series. It was their fifth title in team history.
• 1991: Driver Ayrton Senna clinched his second straight and third overall Formula One World Drivers’ Championship title.
• 1993: The highest scoring and longest lasting World Series game took place between the Blue Jays and Phillies. The Jays scored six runs in the eighth inning to beat the Phillies 15-14. The game took four hours and 14 minutes.
• 2007: In the sixth Rugby World Cup Final, South Africa beat England 15-6.
• 2023: Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber surpassed Reggie Jackson for the most career postseason home runs by a left-handed batter.
• 2024: The Dodgers beat the Mets, four games to two, and won the National League pennant. The Dodgers went on to play the Yankees in the World Series for the 12th time.
• 2024: New York Liberty beat the Lynx and won their first WNBA championship. Jonquel Jones was named MVP.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1932: Jimmie Foxx won the American League MVP, and Chuck Klein won the National League MVP.
• 1941: Anna Lee Wiley became the first female jockey in North America.
• 1957: The Montreal Canadiens Maurice “Rocket” Richard became the first NHL player to score 500 career goals.
• 1958: Mike Hawthorn won the World Drivers’ Championship.
• 1964: Sprinter Edith McGuire ran an Olympic record time of 23.05 seconds and won the women’s 200-meter race.
• 1966: Bobby Orr made his regular-season NHL debut for the Boston Bruins.
• 1968: Swimmer Michael Wenden swam a world record time of 52.2 seconds and won the men’s 100-meter freestyle gold medal.
• 1969: Jackie Stewart won his first F1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 1974: Evonne Goolagong won her first WTA Tour Tennis Championship.
• 1975: Browns kicker Don Cockroft kicked a club record by scoring five field goals in a game.
• 1983: The Philadelphia Flyers began a 13-game winning streak.
• 1991: The longest NCAA football game took place, where Rhode Island beat Maine 58-55 in six overtimes. The game took three hours and 52 minutes.
• 1999: The Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets four games to two and won the National League Pennant.
• 2005: The Houston Astros beat the St. Louis Cardinals four games to two and won the National League Pennant.
• 2007: Patrick Kane scored his first NHL goal against the Colorado Avalanche.
• 2013: The Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers four games to two and won the American League Pennant.
• 2022: Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola faced his brother, San Diego Padres catcher Austin Nola, in the first MLB playoff, sibling pitcher-batter faceoff. Austin went 1-for-2 in the game.
• 2024: The Yankees beat the Guardians four games to one and won the American League Pennant. Juan Soto hit a three-run home run in the 10th. It was also the Yankees first World Series appearance since 2009.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1889: The first all-NYC “World Championship” baseball series happened when the New York Giants played the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. The Giants won the series six games to three.
• 1902: Auburn beat Alabama 23-0 in the seventh ever Iron Bowl.
• 1924: Football player Harold Edward “Red” Grange got four long touchdown runs.
• 1925: Tony Lazzeri hit his 60th home run of the season.
• 1955: Track and Field magazine called Jesse Owens the best track athlete of all time.
• 1964: Swimmer Kevin Berry set a world record time of 2:06.6 in the men’s 200-meter butterfly at the Tokyo Summer Olympics and won gold.
• 1968: The U.S. Olympic Committee suspended Tommie Smith and John Carlos for their Black Power salute to protest racism and injustice against African-Americans.
• 1974: Nate Thurmond became the first player in NBA history to complete the quadruple double of 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks.
• 1977: Reggie Jackson hit three consecutive home runs and tied Babe Ruth’s World Series record of three home runs in a game.
• 1978: The New York Islanders had their first scoreless tie.
• 1981: Giants kicker Joe Danelo tied an NFL record of six field goals in a game.
• 1992: The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Atlanta Braves in six games and became the first non-American team to win a Baseball World Series game.
• 1995: The Winnipeg Jets were sold and moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they became the Phoenix Coyotes.
• 2009: Jenson Button won his first F1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 2009: Tom Brady threw five touchdown passes against the Titans in one quarter, an NFL record.
• 2012: The Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees four games to zero and won the American League pennant.
• 2013: The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers four games to two and won the National League pennant.

Sports in October are all about the MLB postseason, the start of the NBA and NHL seasons, some big college football games, the Xfinity 500 for NASCAR, track events, the UEFA Champions League, and Formula 1. Over the years, Oct. 17 has witnessed many notable moments and stories involving sporting legends. Here’s a closer look at some of them.

Cuthbert set world records in a celebrated career before retiring in 1964, while Yount’s accolades included two American League MVP awards and three All-Star selections. Coffey won four Stanley Cups and was a three-time Norris Trophy winner as the league’s best defenseman.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1899: The Cleveland Spiders ended their season by losing both games of a doubleheader. Their end-of-year record was 20-134, which remains the worst single-season record in the MLB.
• 1912: Tris Speaker made the only World Series unassisted double play, accomplishing it from the outfield.
• 1923: The Yankees beat the Giants, four games to two, and won their first World Series title.
• 1925: The Pirates overcame a three-games-to-one deficit to win the World Series.
• 1933: The Eagles played their first-ever NFL game and lost to the Giants 56-0.
• 1946: The St. Louis Cardinals achieved their sixth World Series title.
• 1961: Mickey Wright won her third LPGA Championship.
• 1964: Al Oerter won his third of four consecutive Olympic gold medals for men’s discus.
• 1964: Craig Breedlove set a land speed record of 526.28 mph.
• 1969: Earl Weaver became the first manager since 1935 to be ejected in a World Series game.
• 1970: The Orioles won the World Series, beating the Reds four games to one. The MVP was Brooks Robinson.
• 1972: Chris Evert won the inaugural Women’s Tennis Association Tour Championship.
• 1979: The Knicks retired Walt Frazier’s number 10 jersey.
• 1983: Nelson Piquet won his second Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 1983: The Blackhawks and the Maple Leafs achieved the fastest five goals in a time of 84 seconds.
• 1988: Oklahoma rushed for 768 yards, setting the NCAA record for most rushing yards.
• 1989: Wayne Gretzky passed Gordie Howe as the NHL’s all-time top scorer.
• 1995: The Carolina Panthers won their first game ever, beating the New York Jets, 26-15.
• 2003: The Marlins won the National League Pennant by defeating the Cubs, four games to three.
• 2008: The Phillies beat the Dodgers, four games to one, and won the National League Pennant.
• 2011: The Rangers defeated the Tigers, winning the American League Pennant.
• 2014: The Royals beat the Orioles, four games to zero, and clinched the American League Pennant.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1881: Golfer Bob Ferguson successfully defended his British Open title.
• 1905: Christy Mathewson pitched his third consecutive complete-game shutout of the World Series.
• 1906: In an all-Chicago Fall Classic, the White Sox beat the Cubs 8-3 in Game 6 of the World Series to clinch the championship.
• 1926: Walter Johnson retired from MLB.
• 1929: The Athletics won their first World Series title in 16 years.
• 1949: Ezzard Charles defeated Pat Valentino with a technical knockout in the eighth round to retain his heavyweight boxing title.
• 1951: The Lions’ Jack Christiansen returned two punts for touchdowns in a game against the Rams.
• 1961: The United States won the Ryder Cup.
• 1962: Houston Oilers quarterback George Blanda threw six touchdown passes against the Titans.
• 1964: Swimmer Dick Roth set a world record time of 4:45.4 and won the men’s 400-meter individual medley gold medal.
• 1964: Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle hit home runs on consecutive pitches.
• 1965: The Dodgers won their third World Series title since moving to Los Angeles.
• 1968: Jim Hines ran a world record time of 9.95 seconds in the 100-meter race.
• 1973: Willie Mays got his last MLB career hit.
• 1978: Denis Potvin scored a hat trick for the New York Islanders.
• 1979: Wayne Gretzky scored his first career NHL goal.
• 1985: The Jets retired Joe Namath’s No. 12 jersey.
• 1990: Joe Montana passed for six touchdowns in a game against Atlanta.
• 2001: Michael Schumacher won his fourth Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
• 2003: A fan named Steve Bartman prevented Cubs outfielder Moises Alou from catching a foul ball. The Marlins ended up scoring eight runs in the inning, ultimately winning the game and the series.
• 2012: Felix Baumgartner became the first person to break the sound barrier during a skydive, jumping from an altitude of around 24 miles.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1902: Laurie Auchterlonie won the men’s U.S. Open golf championship, claiming his only major title. He also set a new 72-hole event scoring record.
• 1906: Pitcher Ed Walsh set a record with 12 strikeouts in a World Series game.
• 1911: Ty Cobb and Frank Schulte were named the first MVP winners in MLB.
• 1927: Lou Gehrig was named the American League MVP.
• 1943: The Yankees beat the Cardinals 2-0 to secure their 10th World Series title.
• 1948: The Indians defeated the Braves 4-2, claiming their second World Series championship.
• 1971: The United States beat Romania to clinch the Davis Cup.
• 1971: Brooks Robinson set a World Series record by reaching base five consecutive times.
• 1975: The Islanders’ Bryan Trottier got his first career hat trick.
• 1980: The Dallas Mavericks played their first NBA game and beat the San Antonio Spurs 103-92.
• 1991: Chip Beck shot a 59 in the third round of the Las Vegas Invitational, tying the PGA record for the lowest 18-hole score.
• 1992: Deion Sanders tried to play in an NFL game and an MLB game on the same day, but the Braves manager Bobby Cox didn’t let him play.
• 1999: Pedro Martinez threw six no-hit innings in relief, helping the Red Sox win the American League Division Series.
• 2009: The U.S. beat the International team and got their second straight Presidents Cup.
• 2015: The United States won the President’s Cup for the sixth time in a row.
• 2018: Thierry Henry became the new head coach of the AS Monaco football club.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1909: Ty Cobb stole home in a World Series game.
• 1919: The Reds beat the White Sox to win the World Series 5-3.
• 1921: Babe Ruth hit his first World Series home run.
• 1934: The Cardinals beat the Tigers in Game 7 of the World Series and won their third championship.
• 1938: The Rams and Bears played one of only four penalty-free games in NFL history.
• 1949: The Yankees beat the Dodgers 4-1 to claim the first of their five straight World Series titles.
• 1951: Gil McDougald hit a World Series grand slam for the Yankees.
• 1961: The Yankees won their 19th World Series title.
• 1965: The United States defeated Great Britain in the Ryder Cup.
• 1974: The Washington Capitals played in their first NHL game, losing 6-3 to the New York Rangers.
• 1983: Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Joe Ferguson threw for 419 yards and scored five touchdowns, leading his team to a 38-35 overtime victory over the Dolphins.
• 1988: In the ninth Rugby League World Cup, Australia beat New Zealand 25-12.
• 1988: Pitcher Dennis Eckersley became the first pitcher to save all four games in a championship series.
• 1989: Art Shell became the first African American to coach an NFL game in the league’s modern era. Shell’s Raiders defeated the Jets 14-7.
• 1991: The San Jose Sharks beat Calgary 4-3 to score their first NHL win.
• 1997: University of North Carolina’s Dean Smith, the winningest coach in college basketball, retired.
• 2011: Sebastian Vettel clinched his second consecutive Formula 1 drivers’ championship.
• 2022: Emily Sisson ran a U.S. women’s record of 2:18.29 at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
• 2022: Brock Purdy, the final pick in the NFL Draft, made his regular-season debut.
• 2022: Max Verstappen won his second straight Formula 1 drivers’ championship.

Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records

• 1887: The Phillies set a club record with their 16th straight win.
• 1888: Jack Burns won the British Open for men’s golf — it was his lone open title
• 1915: The Phillies won their first and only World Series game before 1980.
• 1927: The Yankees swept the Pirates and won the World Series.
• 1929: The A’s Howard Ehmke set a World Series record with 13 strikeouts against the Cubs.
• 1939: The Yankees swept the Reds and won their fourth consecutive World Series title.
• 1956: Yankees pitcher Don Larsen pitched a perfect game in the World Series.
• 1960: In the third Rugby League World Cup, Great Britain beat Australia 10-3.
• 1961: Yankee pitcher Whitey Ford broke Babe Ruth’s record of 29 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings in the World Series.
• 1972: Harold Carmichael began an NFL streak of 127 straight game receptions.
• 1975: In the first basketball game played at the Louisiana Superdome, the Spurs beat the Hawks 109-107.
• 1982: The New Jersey Devils got their first NHL victory and beat the New York Rangers 3-2.
• 1983: The Washington Capitals played their first NHL overtime game and lost to the New York Islanders 8-7.
• 1994: In the sixth College Football Holy War, Boston College beat Notre Dame 30-11.
• 1995: Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino broke Tarkenton’s NFL career completions record.
• 2000: Driver Michael Schumacher won the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship for the third time.
• 2000: Team Europe regained the Solheim Cup for women’s golf.
• 2005: Wayne Gretzky got his first win as a coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.
• 2016: New Zealand beat South Africa and won their fourth Rugby Championship.
• 2018: Saints quarterback Drew Brees became the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards.
• 2023: Max Verstappen won his third consecutive Formula One title.