This Day in Sports History

In 1959, Pumpsie Green became the first black player to play for the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox were the last MLB team to integrate their roster.

In 2024, San Francisco Giants' manager Bob Melvin was ejected before the first pitch was thrown.

In 2007, David Beckham made his MLS debut with the LA Galaxy.

In 2003, Ben Curtis won the Open Championship at Royal St. Georges. It was first appearance in a golf major and his first professional win.

In 1985, Mary Decker Slaney dusted Zola Budd and the rest of the field in a rematch of the 3000 meter debacle at the LA Olympics the previous summer.

In 1969, Gaylord Perry proved his former manager Alvin Dark to be quite a fortune teller when he hit a home run about an hour after Neil Armstrong stepped on the surface of the moon.

In 1986, Greg LeMond became the first American to...

In 2009, 59-year old Tom Watson came within a shot of becoming the oldest to win a major golf championship.

In 1946, home plate umpire Red Jones ejected 14 players and coaches in an effort to silence a critic and yet he never found him.

In 1990, Pete Rose was sentenced to prison for tax evasion.

In 1909, Neal Ball recorded the first unassisted triple play in MLB history.

In 1912, tennis players Karl Behr and Richard Norris Williams, both Titanic survivors played each other in a Boston Tennis Tournament.

In 1999, Jean Vandevelde came to the final hole at Carnoustie needing only a double bogey to win the Claret Jug, instead, a triple-bogey plunged him into a three-way playoff and lost.

In 1962, Bob Allison and Harmon Killebrew both hit grand slams in the same inning in a 14-2 win over Cleveland.

In 1987, Don Mattingly hit a home run, matching a MLB record for homering in 8 straight games.

in 1930, American Bert Patenaude scored the first hat trick in World Cup history, but it took 76 years to recognize it.

In 1993, Graeme Obree set a new cycling hour record on a bike he built from scrap metal and parts from his washing machine.

In 1990, the Minnesota Twins turned two triple plays against the Boston Red Sox. It's the only time that's ever happened in MLB.

In 1941, Joe DiMaggio went 0-3 with a walk, ending his hitting streak at 56 games.

In 1950, Uruguay stunned Brazil in the World Cup Final, winning 2-1.

In 1983, Hale Irwin's whiff of a tap-in during Saturday's round cost him a shot at the Claret Jug on Sunday.

In 1959, Bill Wright became the first African American to win a USGA event when he won the PubLinks Championship.

In 1941, Joe DiMaggio hit safely in his 56th consecutive game.

In 1994, Chicago manager Gene Lamont questioned the legality of Cleveland's Albert Belle's bat. It set off a wild situation.

In 1912, American Jim Thorpe won Gold in the Olympic Decathlon.

In 1913, the IOC stripped Thorpe of his Gold medals.

In 2022, the IOC finally restored Thorpe's Gold medals to his family and recognized him to be the winner of the 1912 Olympic Pentathlon and Decathlon.

In 2006, Terrell Owens claimed he was misquoted in his Autobiography.

In 1970, Cincinnati's Pete Rose bowled over Cleveland catcher Ray Fosse in the MLB All-Star to score the winning run.

in 1967, Houston's Eddie Matthews hit career home run #500.

In 1968, Atlanta slugger Hank Aaron his career home run #500.

In 2019, Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in the longest men's single final. The match took four hours, 57 minutes.

In 1930, France beat Mexico 4-1 and the US beat Belgium 3-0 in the first ever World Cup matches ever played.

In 1972, Baltimore Colts' owner Carroll Rosenbloom traded his franchise to Robert Irsay in exchange for the Los Angeles Rams.

In 1971, Oakland A's Reggie Jackson belted a 539-foot home run in the All-Star game.

In 1993, NASCAR driver Davey Allison died the day after crashing his helicopter.

In 1998, Dennis Rodman teamed up with Hulk Hogan and Karl Malone was partnered with Diamond Dallas Page at the Bash at the Beach n San Diego.

In 1979, Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey went way off the rails.

In 1992, Nigel Mansell took the lead on corner number two and led the rest of the way to win the British GP at Silverstone.

In 1914, Babe Ruth made his major league debut for the Boston Red Sox.

In 1973, Gene Sarazen aced the par 3 8th hole at Troon as a 71-year old.

In 1979, Bobby Knight was arrested in San Juan, Puerto Rico after punching a police officer.

In 1967, the MLB All-Star game went a full 15 innings to become the longest All-Star game in terms of innings.

In 1999, Brandi Chastain hit the deciding shot in the PK Shootout against China to win the World Cup.

In 2011, Abby Wambach's goal in the final seconds against Brazil tied the match at 2 and the US went on to win the quarterfinal match on PKs and advanced to the Semis of the World Cup.

In 2010, Jack Nicklaus hit a 101-foot putt to prove to Johnny Miller it could be done.

In 1953, Ben Hogan won the British Open.

In 2006, Italy beat France 5-3 in PKs to beat France. Zinedine Zidane was given a red card late in extra time for head-butting to Marco Mattarazi.

In 1932, New England got its first football team when George Marshall was awarded a franchise to play in Boston. They spent five years there before moving to Washington D.C.

In 1978, the Houston Aeros of the WHA folded.

In 1949, Bobby Locke won the first of his four Claret Jugs as the winner of the Open Championship.

In 2014, Germany shocked Brazil and the world, winning 7-1.

In 1982, West Germany beat France in a World Cup Semifinal match in a penalty shootout, the first ever in a World Cup.

In 2010, LeBron James announced live on ESPN that he was taking his talents to South Beach.

In 2000, Venus Williams won her first Wimbledon and her first Grand Slam title.

In 1960, the Havana Sugar Kings left Cuba and moved their operation to New Jersey.

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...