Today is Thursday, March 20, 2025

Today in
Sports History

1897 - The first intercollegiate basketball game that used five players per team was held. The contest was Yale versus Pennsylvania. Yale won by a score of 32-10.

1911 - The National Squash Tennis Association was formed in New York City.

1914 - The first international figure skating championship was held in New Haven, CT.

1918 - The Toronto Arenas beat the Vancouver Millionaires to become the first NHL team to compete in the Stanley Cup Finals.

1948 - The University of Michigan beat Dartmouth to win the first NCAA men's hockey championship.

1968 - Wilt Chamberlain became the first center in NBA history to lead the league with assists. He ended the season with 702 for an average of 8.6.

1971 - For the first time in NHL history two brothers faced each other in goal. Ken Dryden (Montreal Canadiens) beat Dave Dryden (Buffalo Sabres) 5-2.

1981 - NFL owners adopted a disaster plan for re-stocking a team should a club be involved in a fatal accident.

1989 - It was announced that Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose was under investigation.

1990 - The Los Angeles Lakers retired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's #33.

1992 - Kenny Bernstein became the first drag racer to break the 300mph barrier. He averaged 301.7mph in a qualifying run at the National Hot Rod Association's Gatornationals.

2004 - Wade Belak (Toronto Maple Leafs) slashed Ossi Vaananen (Colorado Avalanche) in the face. Belak was later suspended by the NHL for 8 games for attempt to injure.

2005 - LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) became the youngest, at age 20 years and 80 days, NBA player to score 50 points in a game (56). The Cavaliers lost the game to the Toronto Raptors 105-98. The 56-point performance by James was a franchise record.

2005 - Major league baseball players and owners agreed to remove fines a possible discipline for positive testing of steroids. This left suspensions as the only punishment.


Sports Quote

If I'm hitting, I can hit anyone. If not, my twelve-year-old son can get me out. - Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder