Contents
A blog dedicated to providing a daily recap of what happened in sports history.
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Major League Baseball (MLB)
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization, the oldest of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. A total of 30 teams play in the National League (NL) and American League (AL), with 15 teams in each league. The NL and AL were formed as separate legal entities in 1876 and 1901, respectively. After cooperating but remaining legally separate entities beginning in 1903, the leagues merged into a single organization led by the Commissioner of Baseball in 2000. The organization also oversees Minor League Baseball, which comprises about 240 teams affiliated with the Major League clubs. With the World Baseball Softball Confederation, MLB manages the international World Baseball Classic tournament.
National Basketball Association (NBA)
The National Basketball Association (NBA) was founded on June 6, 1946, as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The league adopted its current name on August 3, 1949, after merging with the National Basketball League (NBL). The NBA is the premier professional basketball league in the United States and Canada, and is composed of 30 teams. 28 of the teams are located in the United States, while two are located in Canada.
National Football League (NFL)
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world.
National Hockey League (NHL)
1917 – The National Hockey League (NHL) is formed as a successor to the National Hockey Association (NHA). The NHL adds two more Canadian teams, the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators, to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Wanderers.
NCAA Football
On this day in NCAA football history, there were several key games and events that took place. In 1869, the first intercollegiate football game was played between Rutgers and Princeton. This game is considered to be the start of college football as we know it today. In 1934, Notre Dame defeated Stanford in the Brutus Hamilton Memorial Game, which was the first night game played at Notre Dame Stadium. This game is also notable for being the first college football game broadcast on national radio. In 1977, Penn State defeated Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl, which was the first major bowl game played between two undefeated and untied teams. This game is also considered to be one of the most important games in the history of college football.
NCAA Basketball
March Madness is the most awaited annual sporting event in the United States. Every year, 68 college basketball teams compete in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion. The tournament began on March 18, 1939, and has been held every year since then with few exceptions. It is currently the biggest and most important basketball event in America.
Boxing
In 1892, the first recorded instance of using gloves in boxing took place in a prize fight between John L. Sullivan and Dominick McCaffrey. The fight was held in New York City and was refereed by Richard K. Fox, publisher of National Police Gazette, which offered a silver cup as a prize to the winner. Both men wore gloves during the fight, which was declared a draw.
Golf
Today in golf history, Arnold Palmer won the Masters Tournament for the fourth time, becoming the first player to do so. He would go on to win it again in 1964, making him the only player to win it five times.
Tennis
On this day in 1997, U.S. tennis player Michael Chang wins the French Open, becoming the youngest male player in history--at age 17 years and 3 months--to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Chang, who was unseeded in the tournament, defeated Switzerland’s Stefan Edberg in the final 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to become the first American winner at Roland Garros since Tony Trabert claimed the title in 1955. Prior to Chang’s stunning upset victory over defending champion and third-seeded Edberg, the last time a Frenchman had won at Roland Garros was in 1946.
Other
In 1892, the first professional baseball players were signed to the Cincinnati Reds.
In 1903, the Boston Americans (later the Red Sox) played their first game, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Americans won, 7-6.
In 1910, Cy Young threw a perfect game for the Cleveland Naps (later the Indians) against the Philadelphia Athletics. It was the first perfect game in the modern era of baseball.
In 1916, Babe Ruth hit his first home run as a member of the Boston Red Sox.
In 1922,Ty Cobb got his 4,000th career hit.
