Take a journey back in sports history, as cllct looks at major anniversaries that occurred on this date:
April 29, 1986: 23-year-old Roger Clemens becomes the first MLB player to strike out 20 batters in a nine-inning game. Clemens accomplishes the feat in his fourth start of the year against a 1986 Mariners team that had trouble making contact throughout the season.
April 28, 1967: Muhammad Ali refuses to serve in the United States military during the Vietnam War. Sports Illustrated reported that "During his scheduled U.S. Armed Forces induction in Houston, Texas, on April 28, Ali refused to step forward three times as his name was called." His actions cost him both his heavyweight title and his boxing license.
April 27, 1983: Nolan Ryan passes Walter Johnson and becomes MLB's all-time strikeout king. Johnson's record had stood for 56 years before Ryan struck out Brad Mills at Montreal's Olympic Stadium for strikeout #3,509.
April 26, 2023: "Pelè" is added to the Portuguese edition of the Michaelis dictionary as an adjective to describe someone or something that is “out of the ordinary”.
April 25, 1976: Cubs' Rick Monday, who had been in the Marine Corps Reserves, snatches an American flag from two fans that were trying to burn it in the outfield during a Cubs-Dodgers game. President Gerald R. Ford gave him a congratulatory call after the game and he was later invited to the White House. He was presented with the Flag he saved by the Dodgers GM on the Cubs "Rick Monday Day" on May 4, 1976.
April 24, 2004: Three franchise quarterbacks come off the NFL Draft board in the first 11 picks as Eli Manning goes first to the Chargers, Philip Rivers goes 4th to the Giants and Ben Roethlisberger is selected 11th by the Steelers. Manning is dealt to the Giants for Rivers and three future picks.
April 23, 1954: Hank Aaron hits his first MLB HR for the Milwaukee Braves in a 14-inning battle with the Cardinals. The future HR king went 3-7 at the plate in the Braves' victory.
April 22, 2006: LeBron James logged an incredible triple-double performance in his first NBA Playoffs game against the Washington Wizards. LeBron recorded 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in the Cavs' 97-86 win.
April 21 1990: National League umpire Bob Engel is suspended indefinitely after being accused of stealing seven boxes of Score Baseball cards from a Target store in Bakersfield, Calif. He retired later that year after pleading "no contest" to the charges. Prior to the incident, he had umped three World Series and four All-Star Games. In case you are wondering about current value, a 1990 factory sealed box of Score Baseball sold four days ago on ebay for $21.50.
April 20, 1974: Today marks the 50th anniversary of first known streaker at a major sporting event. 25-year-old Australian Michael O'Brien went for a sprint in his birthday suit during the England-France ruby union match at Twickenham.
April 19, 1991: Evander Holyfield, 28, beats George Foreman, 42, in the fight that was billed as "The Battle of the Ages". The heavyweight boxing title bout goes 12 rounds and ends with Holyfield winning all three judges scorecards by scores of 116–111, 115–112, and 117–110.
April 18, 2017: Ronaldo scores a hat trick against Real Madrid and becomes the first player to score 100 goals in Champions League.
April 18, 1999: The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, has an assist in his final NHL game at Madison Square Garden vs. the Penguins.
April 18, 1998: The Indianapolis Colts select HOFer Peyton Manning with the first pick in the NFL Draft.
April 17, 1964: 60 years ago, the Mets opened Shea Stadium in front of 50,312 fans with a 4-3 loss to the Pirates. New York had lost both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants after the 1957 season. Both teams fled to California, citing the refusal by New York officials to provide land for a new stadium outside Queens, N.Y.
April 16, 1999: Wayne Gretzky announced his retirement from the NHL after a 21-year career. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame that Fall without having the usual three-year waiting period.
April 16, 2000: Patriots celebrate Bill Belichick's 48th birthday by drafting Tom Brady with the 199th overall in 6th round.
April 16, 2003: Michael Jordan plays the last NBA game of his career and is greeted with a three-minute standing ovation in Philadelphia.
April 16, 2005: Fresh off his third Super Bowl title two months earlier, Tom Brady hosts Saturday Night Live.
April 15, 1947: Every player in Major League Baseball will wear No. 42 on Monday as the game celebrates the 77th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.
April 14, 2002: Tiger Woods becomes the 3rd player to claim back-to-back Masters, 3 strokes ahead of Retief Goosen of South Africa.
April 13, 1975: Lee Elder becomes the first Black golfer to compete in The Masters.
April 13, 1985: Howard Cosell hosts Saturday Night Live.
April 13, 1997: Tiger Woods, 21, wins first major championship by winning the Masters with an 18-under 270.
April 12: In 2013, Kobe Bryant tears his Achilles in third-to-last game of the season against the Golden State Warriors. Bryant limped to the free throw line to hit both free throws and tie the game. He was removed from the game and taken to the locker room after the free thows. The Lakers went on to win 118-116.
April 11: At age 34, Phil Mickelson finally won the first major of his career in 2004, breaking through to win the Masters. The image of Mickelson leaping in the air after a birdie on the 18th hole became a logo for Mickelson's brand.
April 10: In 1989, Ken Griffey Jr homered on the first pitch he saw from White Sox hurler Eric King, going deep in his Kingdome debut. Making the milestone even sweeter was the fact that it came on his father's 39th birthday.
April 9: In 1975, Ted Giannoulas made his San Diego Chicken debut at a Padres game. Prior to the '75 Home Opener vs. the Houston Astros, the San Diego Chicken was created as a mascot for a local radio station.
April 8: In 1974, "Hammerin" Hank Aaron hit career HR #715, breaking Babe Ruth's legendary record of 714. The milestone HR came in the 4th inning against the Dodgers in Atlanta off of Al Downing.
April 8: In 1975, Frank Robinson became the first Black manager in major-league history when he debuted in the dugout for Cleveland. Robinson led Cleveland to a 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees.
April 8: In 2001, Tiger Woods won The Masters and completed what is now dubbed as the "Tiger Slam" -- winning all four major championships in a calendar year.
April 7: In 1989, "Major League" hits theaters as Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Wesley Snipes and crew capture the AL East pennant in a one-game playoff with the Yankees.
April 7: In 1993, "The Sandlot" was released and quickly became a cult classic. The country quickly fell in love with relatable group of boys playing baseball in the summer of 1962.