Today In Sports History 12/31

Our past has shaped the present by many things in history including sports, here is how sports marked our history today.

Baseball

• In 1918 Kid Gleason replaces Pants Rowland as White Sox manager.

Boxing

• In 1952 Danny Nardico stops former world middleweight champion Jake LaMotta in 7 rounds in a light heavyweight non-title bout. LaMotta is knocked down for the only time in his career, his corner stopping fight after the round.

College Football

• In 1972 at the 39th Sugar Bowl #2 Oklahoma beats #5 Penn State 14-0.

Hockey

• In 1988 Pittsburgh center Mario Lemieux accounts for all his team’s goals in Penguins 8-6 win over the NJ Devils. Lemieux famously scores 5 goals, each in a different way: even strength, power play, shorthanded, penalty shot and empty net; also 3 assists.

Miscellaneous

• In 1950 Jockeys Bill Shoemaker and Joe Culmone set record of 388 wins in a year.

NBA

• In 1962 the American Basketball League announces suspension of operation.

NFL

• In 1961 at the National Football League Championship the Green Bay Packers shutout NY Giants 37-0. It is the first of 5 NFL titles won in 7-season span by Packers and head coach, Vince Lombardi.