This Day in Sports History

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.

In 1979, the Seattle SuperSonics beat the Washington Bullets in game 5 of the NBA Finals to win the first major professional sports title for Seattle since 1917.

In 2014, LA King Justin Williams scored his seventh goal in career game playoff game sevens, earning him the nickname of 'Mr. Game Seven.'

In 1957, Cal-Berkeley junior Don Bowden became the first American to run a sub 4-minute mile.

In 1925, Lou Gehrig started his 2,130 game consecutive games played streak.

In 1988, the original version of John Madden Football was released to be played on a Commodore 64 or...

In 2002, Senegal upset France 1-0 in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup.

In 1999, San Antonio's Sean Elliott hit his 6th 3-pointer to give the Spurs the win over Portland in game 2 of the WCF.

In 1927, Detroit's first baseman Johnny Neun recorded an unassisted triple play against Cleveland. It was the second day that an unassisted triple play had been recorded in MLB. There wasn't another one for 40 years.

In 2013, Australian golfer Andrew Dodt became the first player on the European golf tour to drop two aces during the same competitive round.

In 1946, Bama Rowell hit a monster home run at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field that shattered glass on a clock above the scoreboard, raining shards down on the field. It inspired the triumphant scene in the movie, "The Natural."

In 1976, Janet Guthrie became the first woman to start a NASCAR race when she raced the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In 1973, a crew member working the Indianapolis 500 was killed by an emergency vehicle going the wrong way on pit road. Driver Swede Savage was badly injured in a wreck and died in the hospital 33 days later. <...

In 1995, Indiana beat Orlando in game four of the ECF as Rik Smits hit the game winner with no time left. The Magic and Pacers scored 11 points in the final 13.3 seconds.

In 1976, Joe Niekro hit a homer off his brother Phil in a win for the Houston Astros.

In 1982, the Minnesota Twins pulled off a strikeout triple play.

In 1974, Texas' Lenny Randle laid down a bunt and then attacked the pitcher covering it as retaliation for a purpose pitch.

In 2015, a rain soaked Texas golf course caused a par four to...

In 1985, prior to a European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus, a fight broke out in the stands. By the time the dust settled, 38 people died and 580 were injured. A 39th victim died later at the hospital.

In 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants given the go-ahead to move west.

in 1956, Pittsburgh's Dale Long hit a home run in his 8th straight game.

In 2006, Barry Bonds hit career homer #715, passing Babe Ruth for second on the all-time list.

In 1985, Philadelphia goalie Pelle Lindbergh requested a water bottle to put on top of the net. Edmonton asked if he wanted a picnic basket or a charcuterie board to go with it.

In 1983, American Kathy Horvath toppled top-seeded Martina Navratilova in the fourth round of the French Open...

In 1991, the Chicago Bulls beat the Detroit Pistons to advance to the NBA Finals.

In 1937, New York Giant pitcher Carl Hubbell won his 24th straight game.

In 1981, Seattle Mariner Lenny Randle blew a slow roller, foul.

In 1943, the plane that former Olympian Louis Zamperini was flying in, suffered mechanical difficulties and crashed into the ocean 850 miles from Oahu.

In 2001, Tony Stewart became the first and still only driver to drive all 1100 miles on Memorial Day, finishing sixth after driving 500 miles at Indy and finishing third at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte.

In 1959, Harvey Haddix pitched 12 innings of perfect baseball but lost it and the game in the 13th.

In 1987, Larry Bird stole an Isaiah Thomas inbound pass, found a cutting Dennis Johnson to the basket in a Boston Celtics win in the playoffs.

In 1969, the NFL and ABC agreed to put a professional football game on Monday night beginning in 1970.

In 1965, Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston in the first round of their rematch with what many thought was a 'phantom punch.'

In 1935, Babe Ruth hit the final home runs of his career when he hit three in a loss at Pittsburgh. His final career homer was belted completely out of Forbes Field, the first time that had happened since it opened in 1909.

In 1964, 328 people died in Lima, Peru in the world's worst soccer stadium disaster.

In 1981, the 65th running of the Indianapolis 500 featured horrific accidents and an illegal move under yellow that left the winner of the race unknown for five months.

In 1935, the first night Major League Baseball game was played at Cincinnati's Crosley Field.

In 1920, undercover officers cracked down on betting at Wrigley Field, arresting 47.

In 1923, Gene Tunney fought Harry Greb, aka the Pittsburgh Wildcat, for the Light Heavyweight title. Greb won a controversial split decision.

In 1924, Tunney and Greb fought again with Tunney winning a unanimous decision.

In 2021, Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship at Kiawah, becoming the oldest to win a major tournament.

In 1977, Jack Nicklaus won The Memorial at Muirfield on a course he designed.

In 1958, Wilt Chamberlain signed a contract to play for the Harlem Globetrotters, giving his final year of college eligibility.

In 1984, a coin flip gave Houston the...

In 2009, LeBron James hit his first playoff game-winner against Orlando.

In 1975, the Kentucky Colonels beat the Indianapolis Pacers in game five of the ABA Championship to win the title.

In 1976, boxer Oscar ‘Ringo’ Bonavena was shot and killed outside the Mustang Ranch brothel.

In 1963, New York Yankee Mickey Mantle hit a monster shot at Yankee Stadium.

In 1986, Houston's Ralph Sampson scored the game winner as time expired to propel the Rockets into the NBA Final.

In 2009, the Denver Nuggets beat the LA Lakers in a playoff game for the first time in 24 years.

In 1989, Rusty Wallace sent Darrell Waltrip spinning through the infield grass in what became known as the 'Tide Slide.'

In 1952, the Brooklyn Dodgers scored 15 runs in the first inning to set a major league record for runs scored in the opening frame.

In 2002, Kobe Bryant ate something that didn't agree with him leading some to wonder if somebody had put something in his food.

In 2000, Rasheed Wallace was handed a technical foul and ejected for staring at a ref.

In 2012, Jim Peruto was able to reach a top speed of 243.7 mph and over the 90 mile course, averaged 217.55 mph, both records for an open road event.

In 1922, Kenesaw Mountain Landis reinstated Babe Ruth and two other players after suspending them following the 1921 season.

In 1974, the Philadelphia Flyers became the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup.

In 1974, the Houston Aeros of the WHA won the AVCO Cup.

In 1991, Willie T. Ribbs became the first black driver to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.

In 1995, boxer Jimmy Garcia died 13 days after losing his bout with Gabriel Ruelas.

In 1963, Syracuse great and Cleveland Browns running back Ernie Davis died after a 10-month fight against Leukemia.

In 2023, Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown died.

In 2004, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson threw a perfect game against Atlanta.

In 1912, Detroit Tigers pitcher Alan Travers gave up 26 hits and 24 runs to Philadelphia.

In 1996, the US Women's National Team beat China 1-0 in the US Women's Cup.

In 1983, the New York Islanders won their fourth straight Stanley Cup, becoming the only US based NHL team to win four in a row.

In 1979, the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs combined for 45 runs in an extra inning game.

In 1987, Dale Earnhardt pulled off 'The Pass in the Grass' in the Winston All-Star Race. It wasn't a pass though, he maintained control of his car and the lead of the race despite driving through the front-stretch grass.

In 1957, New York Yankee players, Billy Martin, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, Hank Bauer, Gil McDougald, and Johnny Kucks were involved in an altercation at The Copacabana. It led to Martin getting traded soon after.

In 1985, Boston's Larry Bird got into a fight with a bar patron at Chelsea's.

In 1976, Golden States' Rick Barry got into a fight with Phoenix's Ricky Sobers. None of Barry's teammates came to help out. Barry got upset and refused to shoot for a large portion of the second half.

In 1912, Detroit Tiger Ty Cobb went into the stands after a fan.

In 1941, Joe Dimaggio singled in the first game of what would become his 56 game hitting streak.

In 1981, Cleveland's Len Barker threw the 8th perfect game in modern Major League Baseball history.

In 1990, Edmonton and Boston played the longest Stanley Cup Final.

In 1970, Boston Bruins Head Coach Harry Sinden retired a few days after winning Boston's first Stanley Cup in 29 years.

In 2010, the Philadelphia Flyers came back from a 3 goal deficit to beat Boston 4-3 in game seven of their Stanley Cup playoff series. The Flyers also came back from a 3 games to none deficit to win the series 4-3.

In 1938, the English starting 11 was photographed giving the Nazi salute to German leaders prior to their international friendly against Germany.

In 1967, Mickey Mantle hit career home run number 500.

In 1986, Reggie Jackson hit career...

In 2012, Man City scored two goals in stoppage time on the final day of the EPL season to beat QPR and win the league crown.

In 2025, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred lifted the lifetime ban on Pete Rose, opening up a path for him to be elected to Hall of Fame.

In 1845, an Alabama horse named Peytona beat a New Jersey horse named Fashion in a match race. It is considered to be the first significant sporting event in US history.

In 1973, Bobby Riggs beat Margaret Court in straight sets in the original 'Battle...

In 1957, Alphonso de Portago was killed during the 24th running of the Mille Miglia road race.

In 2000, 19-year old Adam Petty died after crashing during practice at Loudon, New Hampshire.

In 1997, Kobe Bryant shot air ball after air ball in a decisive NBA playoff loss to Utah.

In 1977, Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner managed his team for a game before being told that was illegal.

In 1919, the New York Yankees and the Washington Senators played to a scoreless tie.

In 1980, Philadelphia's Julius Erving defied gravity in one of the most iconic moves in NBA history.

In 1994, the Atlanta Braves rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the ninth and then won it in the 15th. This is a This DiSH homage to longtime Braves manager Bobby Cox who died yesterday at the age of 84.

In 1970, the Boston Bruins won their first Stanley Cup in 29 years on Bobby Orr's 'flying goal.'

In 2015, Lebron James hit the game winner to beat the Chicago Bulls in a little payback for decades of misery.

In 2019, authoritarian dictator Vladimir Putin scored either 8 or 10 goals in an exhibition hockey game in Sochi...

In 1970, Richard Petty had a horrible wreck at Darlington that resulted in NASCAR mandating window nets as a safety feature.

In 1984, the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers played a 25 inning marathon game that is still the longest game in terms of innings in American League history and is the longest game in Major League Baseball history in terms of time.

In 1991, a pigeon landed on the court a couple of times during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons. Larry Bird started to play better after, leading Boston...

In 1970, the New York Knicks beat the LA Lakers to win their first NBA title.

In 2016, Washington National Bryce Harper came to the plate 7 times but was not credited with an official at-bat.

In 2005, Sergio Garcia gave up a six-shot lead in the final round of the Wachovia Championship and lost in a playoff.

In 2001, Randy Johnson struck out 20 in 9 innings … but it is not recognized along with Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood, or Max Scherzer’s 20 strikeout performances by Major League Baseball.