This Day in Sports History

In 1974, Gerd Muller scored the game winner to lead West Germany to the World Cup title over the Netherlands.

In 1985, 17-year old Boris Becker became the youngest to win the Wimbledon Men's Singles title and the first to do it as an unseeded player.

In 1912, Jim Thorpe won Gold in the first Olympic Pentathlon. That medal would be stripped from him in 1913.

In 1932, Chicago Cub shortstop Billy Jurges was shot by his girlfriend Violet Popovich.

Music from :44 - 8:04 composed by Lobo Loco and used under a Creative Commons license via Free Music Archive.

Music for the remainder of the episode composed by Thrive Sweet Productions.

in 1982, Italy's Paolo Rossi, suspended for two years for match fixing, returned to the National Team, scoring three goals in a win over Brazil in the World Cup.

In 2015, US striker Carli Lloyd scored a hat trick in 18 minutes as the US women beat Japan to win their third World Cup.

In 1992, the US Men's Basketball team, aka 'The Dream Team,' officially qualified for the Olympics.

In 1905, Philadelphia Athletics' pitcher Rube Waddell outlasted Boston's Cy Young in a 21-inning pitcher's duel.

In 1910, Heavyweight champ Jack Johnson knocked out James Jeffries in the first of the 'Great White Hope' fights.

In 1919, challenger Jack Dempsey beat Jess Willard to win the heavyweight title.

In 1954, Hungary was beaten in the World Cup final by West Germany. Hungary had not lost in 32 consecutive games.

In 1990, England lost to West Germany 4-3 on PKs.

In 1939, Lou Gehrig gave his 'luckiest man' speech at Yankee Stadium.

In 1985, Atlanta Braves' pitcher Rick Camp hit a pinch hit home run to tie up a game in extra innings.

In 1954, Babe Didrikson Zaharias won her third US Open while she battle cancer.

In 1968, NFL players went on strike for the first time, leading to the first Collective Bargaining Agreement.

In 1966, Atlanta's Tony Cloninger hit two Grand Slams in the same game, becoming the first and still only pitcher to hit two in one game.

In 1997, the Houston Oilers got the go-ahead to move to Nashville, TN.

In 2001, the Vancouver Grizzlies got the go-ahead to move to Memphis, TN.

In 1921, Jack Dempsey beat Georges Carpentier in a battle between a draft dodger and a war hero.

In 1903, Major Leaguer Ed Delahanty fell off a bridge and died after being kicked off a train.

In 1932, Englishman Henry “Bunny” Austin became the first man to wear shorts at Wimbledon instead of the traditional wool pants.

In 1967, Catherine Lacoste became the first foreign winner and the first amateur to win the Women's US Open Golf Championship.

In 2014, US goalkeeper Tim Howard set a World Cup record with 16 saves.

In 1902, Philadelphia's Rube Waddell pitched an immaculate inning.

In 1990, New York Yankee Andy Hawkins pitched a no-hitter but lost.

How are the New York Mets, Bobby Bonilla, and Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff connected?

In 1905, Nap Lajoie developed a blood infection that was attributed to his dyed socks running into a cut in his leg.

In 1978, the Chicago White Sox named Larry Doby as their manager, becoming the second black major league manager.

In 1984, the LA Express and Michigan Panthers played the longest game in Pro Football.

In 1929, Bobby Jones won his third US Open in a 36-hole playoff.

In 2014, the Netherlands beat Mexico in a round of 16 World Cup match after Arjen Robben's dramatic flop in what became known as 'No Era Penal.'

In 1986, Argentina scored the game winner in the 86th minute to beat West Germany to win their second World Cup title.

in 1958, Brazil won their first World Cup with Vavá and Pelé scoring a pair of goals each in a 5-2 win over Sweden.

In 1950, the US shocked England 1-0 in a World Cup in a group stage match.

In 1958, France's Just Fontaine scored four goals in a 6-3 win over West Germany. He finished the tournament with 13 goals to set the World Cup record.

In 1998, France beat Paraguay on a Golden Goal in extra time. It was the only Golden Goal winner of the '98 WC.

In 1997, Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ears twice before the fight was stopped.

In 1957, MLB commissioner Ford Frick overruled the fan vote for the All-Star game and inserted three players he felt were more deserving.

In 1954, Hungary and Brazil played an overly physical match that resulted in fights breaking out on the pitch and in the lockerrooms. Hungary won 4-2 in a match called, 'the Battle of Bern.'

In 1975, Lee Trevino was struck by lightning during the third round of the Western Open.

In 1977. San Francisco Giant Willie McCovey hit two home runs in the same inning for the second time.

In 1992, Denmark, who had not even qualified for the UEFA Euro Cup, beat Germany to win the tournament.

In 1959, Sweden's Ingemarr Johansson knocked out Floyd Patterson in the third round to win the title.

In 2003, LeBron James was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the top pick of the NBA draft

In 1996, the Charlotte Hornets drafter Kobe Bryant with the 13th pick of the NBA draft. He was traded to the LA Lakers soon after.

In 1982, West Germany and Austria played a farce of a World Cup match so that they could both go through to the next round.

In 2006, a World Cup match between Portugal and the Netherlands resulted in a record 17 yellow cards and 4 reds.

In 1947, Sugar Ray Robinson knocked out Jimmy Doyle in the 8th round. Doyle later died at the hospital.

In 2007, Benny Fellhaber scored an amazing goal on a volley to lift the US 2-1 over Mexico.

In 1995, the New Jersey Devils won their first Stanley Cup in a sweep of the Detroit Red Wings.

In 1921, golfer Bobby Jones got frustrated during the third round of the Open Championship and walked off the course after the 11th hole.

In 2010, Landon Donovan scored a goal in stoppage time to give the US a 1-0 win over Algeria and advance to the knockout round.

In 1996, the Scottish Claymores beat the Frankfort Galaxy 32-27 to win the World Bowl.

In 2012, Jim Thome hit his 13th career walk-off home run, the most of any Major Leaguer.

In 1917, Babe Ruth was ejected as the starting pitcher after arguing with the home plate umpire after the first batter. Ernie Shore came on in relief and retired the next 26 batters for a combined no-hitter.

In 1986, Argentina's Diego Maradona scored his 'Hand of God' goal and his 'Goal of the Century' in a 2-1 win against England.

In 1994, Columbia's Andres Escobar scored an own goal in a 2-1 loss to the US. He was murdered on the streets of Medellin a few weeks later because of it.

In 1938, American Joe Louis knocked out German Max Schmelling in a rematch.

In 1978, Argentina beat Peru 6-0 to advance to the final of the World Cup. Some believe Peru were coerced into laying down.

in 1970, Brazil beat Italy 4-1 to win its third World Cup with Pelé scoring a goal and assisting two others.

In 1988, the LA Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons in seven games to win back-to-back NBA titles. But this game ended weirdly. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIs_G4zpjis

In 2012, the Miami Heat beat OKC to win the NBA title. LeBron James was named series MVP a...

In 1982, Tom Watson sank a tricky chip in to take the lead at the US Open and went on to beat Jack Nicklaus by two shots at Pebble Beach.

In 1999, Payne Stewart won his second and final US Open at Pinehurst.

In 1964, Ken Venturi nearly died on his way to winning the US Open at Congressional.

In 1984, Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry testified as a character witness for his QB Danny White.

In 1986, former Maryland basketball star and recently drafted Boston Celtic Len Bias died.

In 2006, the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 in game 7 to win the Stanley Cup.

In 1943, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles merged due to a player shortage due to WWII.

In 2000, Tiger Woods blitzed the field at the US Open, winning by a record 15 shots.

In 1985, four golfers competed at TPC Sawgrass to determine the World's Worst Avid Golfer.

In 1941, Joe Louis narrowly escaped with a win, knocking out Billy 'the Kid' Conn in the 13th round.

In 1953, the Boston Red Sox scored a modern major league baseball record 17 runs in the inning.

In 1970, a flurry of goals by West Germany and Italy in extra time in a World Cup Semifinal had some calling this the best World Cup game ever.

In 2002, the US beat Mexico 2-0 in a round of 16 match at the World Cup.

In 1973, Johnny Miller shot a 63 to win the US Open. It was the lowest round at a US Open until 2024.

In 1994, the OJ Bronco chase enraptured television viewers despite there being several sporting events taking place such as the NBA Finals, the World Cup starting and Arnold Palmer playing his...

In 2013, Justin Rose won the US Open; to date his only major tournament win despite coming close several times.

In 1989, four golfers hit a hole in one on the same hole on the same day.

In 1970, Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo died at the age of 26.

In 1975, Milwaukee traded Kareem Abdul Jabbar to Los Angeles for four players.

In 1986, Raymond Floyd shot a final round 66 to win the US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

In 1938, Johnny Vander Meer pitched his second consecutive no-hitter.

In 1976, a game at the Houston Astrodome was rained out.

In 1988, the movie 'Bull Durham' was released in movie theaters.

In 1979, Rocky II was released in theaters.

Congrats to the New York Knicks on winning their first NBA title in 53 years.

In 1994, the New York Rangers broke a 54-year championship drought when they beat Vancouver to win their first Stanley Cup since 1940.

In 1998, Michael Jordan hit the championship winner over Utah's Bryon Russell to lift Chicago to their sixth NBA title in the '90s.

In 1990, Detroit's Vinnie Johnson hit the championship winner over Portland's Jerome Kersey to life the Pistons to their second consecutive title.

In 1949, Philadelphia's Eddie Waitkus was shot by an obsessed fan in a...

In 1953, Ben Hogan won the US Open in a year that he would win three of golf's major championships.

In 1997, Detroit Red Wing Vladimir Konstantinov along with teammate Slava Fetisov and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov were involved in a car accident. Konstantinov suffered a head injury and has been confined to a wheelchair since. Fetisov returned to the ice. Mnatsakanov was paralyzed from the waist down.

In 1935, James J. Braddock defeated Max Baer to win the heavyweight boxing title. He was a huge longshot and became known as 'The Cinderella Man.'

In 1997...

In 1970, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis claimed he pitched a no-hitter against San Diego under the influence of LSD.

In 2006, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was seriously injured when he was involved in an accident when riding his motorcycle.

In 1991, the Chicago Bulls won their first NBA Title in franchise history.

In 1930, Germany's Max Schmelling was awarded the Heavyweight title after his opponent delivered a below the belt punch.

In 2011, Jenson Button came from last to first to win the Canadian Grand Prix.

In 1955, a horrific crash during the 24 Hours of LeMans race led to the death of one driver and 83 spectators.

In 1984, the Marques sank in the Cutty Sark Tall Ships race with 19 of the 28 crew members drowning in the tragedy.

In 1997, Michael Jordan scored 38 points in a win against Utah in the NBA Finals. Jordan fought through 'flu-like' symptoms.

On November 25, 1953, Hungary beat England in a friendly in what's been called, 'the Match that Changed the Game.'

On June 24, 2007, Benny Fellhaber scored one of the most important goals in USMNT history.

On July 10, 2011, the US Women's National Team came up with a huge win over Brazil.

This episode first dropped on March 18. A few things have changed since the original airing of the podcast on 'An American Game.' The Iranian team is not boycotting the World Cup but instead of staying in close proximity to where they are playing their matches, they'll be staying in Mexico and having to travel long distances and go through security checks each day. Iranian fans have had their ticket requests pulled. A Somali referee was denied entry into the US and fans of Scotland also had their travel visas pulled just days before the start of the tournament...

In 1944, Joe Nuxhall became the youngest ever to play in MLB, pitching 2/3 of an inning at the age of 15 years, 10 months, 11 days.

In 1981, Tony Gwynn was drafted by the San Diego Padres and the San Diego Clippers.

In 1977, Al Geiberger became the first PGA Tour Pro to shoot a sub-60 round.

In 1950, Ben Hogan won the US Open after hitting an amazing 1-iron on the 18th hole in the final round.

In 1977, Lusia Harris became the first woman officially drafted by and NBA team.

In 1999, New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine went full on ‘undercover boss.’

In 1946, Ted Williams hit one of the longest balls ever hit at Fenway Park.

In 1973, Secretariat became the first horse in 25 years to win the Triple Crown.

In 1993, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup. It's the last time a Canadian team won it.

In 1919, golfer Willie Chisholm carded an 18 on a par 3, the worst recorded score during a US Open golf event.

In in 2004, Roosevelt Brown died. Brown is the lowest drafted player into the NFL to b...

In 1989, the Pittsburgh Pirates scored 10-runs in the first inning but ended up losing the game 15-11. Pirates radio man Jim Rooker made a first inning boast that led him to walking 300 miles.

In 1986, Larry Bird scored 29 points, dished 12 assists, grabbed 11 rebounds, and had 3 steals against the Houston Rockets in game 6 of the NBA Finals. He called his greatest he ever played.

In 2000, the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup. Interim Head Coach Larry Robinson became the 15th person to win the cup as both a player and a coach.

In 1979, the...

In 1993, Drazen Petrović was killed in a car accident in Germany.

In 1986, Bo Jackson was drafted by the Kansas City Royals to play Major League Baseball and decided to play baseball instead of play for Tampa Bay in the NFL after they lied to him.

In 1892, Jack Doyle of the Cleveland Spiders became the first successful pinch hitter in major league baseball history.

In 1998, the Chicago Bulls beat the Utah Jazz by 42 points in an NBA Finals game. That margin of victory is an NBA Finals record.

In 1997, a scoring mistake a...

In 1956, the NHL's six teams vote 5-1 to change the power play, releasing the penalized player after a goal was scored by team with the man advantage.

In 1984, Boston's Kevin McHale clotheslined LA's Kurt Rambis, sending him flying. The foul set the tone for the remainder of the series.

In 1993, Baltimore's Cal Ripken was involved in a bench-clearing brawl. He twisted his knee in the melee and came close to not playing in the next day's game which would have ended his pursuit of Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak prematurely.

In 1969, New York...

In 2006, the Carolina Hurricanes won a wild game one, with Rod Brind'Amour scoring a late third period goal and Cam Ward repelling every shot in the final frantic seconds.

In 1974, Dave Winfield was drafted by the San Diego Padres with the third overall pick. It was the fourth professional team that had drafted him to play in four different leagues.

In 1977, the Portland Trailblazers won the NBA Championship, becoming the first team to come back from an 0-2 deficit.

In 1937, War Admiral won the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown.

In 1976, the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns played 3OTs in the 'Greatest NBA Game Ever Played.'

In 2008, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup with Chris Chelios becoming the oldest active player to win the cup.

In 1974, 10 cent beer night in Cleveland led to debauchery and violence.

In 1992, Michael Jordan hit 6-10 from 3-point range as the Chicago Bulls beat the Portland Trailblazers in game one of the NBA Finals.

In 1975, the New York Cosmos signed Pelé to play in the NASL.

In 2012, Tiger Woods won the Memorial Tournament to equal Jack Nicklaus' for career wins.

In 2013, former NFL great Deacon Jones died. Jones was the one who coined the term 'sack.'

In 1888, the poem 'Casey at the Bat' was published for the first time in the San Francisco Examiner.

In 2010, Detroit Tiger pitcher Armando Galarraga pitched a perfect game for 26 batters. The 27th was called safe at first but replays showed he was out.

In 1993, Charles Smith was denied on multiple occasions on a potential go-ahead bucket in an ECF game against Chicago.

In 2000, Indiana's Reggie Miller scored 17 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter to sink the hopes of the New York Knicks in the ECF.

In 1935, Babe Ruth retired from baseball.

In 1941, New York Yankee great Lou Gehrig died from ALS.