Today In Sports History 4/8

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

Baseball

• 1963 – Detroit Tigers claim young pitcher Denny McLain from the Chicago White Sox for $25,000.
• 1966 – At the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, USA, the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers play baseball’s first game on synthetic grass. The Monsanto chemical company provided the experimental playing surface of nylon grass, dubbed Astro Turf.
• 1969 – First Major League Baseball game in Canada – Montreal Expos beats New York Mets 10-9.
• 1969 – In their first game in Major League Baseball franchise history, the Montreal Expos defeat the New York Mets, 11-10 at Shea Stadium in New York.
• 1969 – National League baseball debut of San Diego padres, winning against Houston Astros 2-1 at Jack Murphy Stadium.
• 1969 – The Kansas City Royals play their first Major League Baseball game in the history of the franchise, beating the Minnesota Twins in 12 innings, 4-3.
• 1969 – The Seattle Pilots make their Major League Baseball debut defeating the California Angels, 4-3.
• 1974 – Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s record of 714 homers.
• 1986 – Facing Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants’ rookie Will Clark homers in his first major league at-bat.
• 1986 – The Seattle Mariners’ Jim Presley hits two home runs in the ninth and tenth innings helping Seattle to beat the California Angels, 8-4 in a dramatic comeback victory on Opening Day.
• 1989 – One-handed pitcher Jim Abbott’s debut, but lasts only 4 2/3 innings.
• 1991 – Major League Baseball umpires and baseball reach a 4-year agreement.
• 1991 – Oakland Athletics Stadium becomes first outdoor arena to ban smoking.
• 1993 – Cleveland Indians’ Carlos Baerga is first to switch hit homeruns in same inning (vs New York Yankees).
• 1994 – Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Kent Mercker no-hits Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-0.

Boxing

• 1941 – Joe Louis TKO’s Tony Musto in 9 rounds for heavyweight boxing title.
• 1995 – Oliver McCall beats Larry Holmes in 12 for heavyweight boxing title.
• 1996 – Bruce Seldon TKOs Tony Tucker in 7 to win vacated WBA boxing title.

Football

• 1966 – AFL chooses 36-year-old Al Davis as commissioner.

Golf

• 1935 – Second Golf Masters Championship: Gene Sarazen wins, shooting a 282.
• 1956 – 20th Golf Masters Championship: Jack Burke Junior wins, shooting a 289.
• 1979 – 8th Colgate Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Sandra Post.
• 1984 – 13th Nabisco Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Juli Inkster.
• 1990 – 54th Golf Masters Championship: Nick Faldo wins, shooting a 278.
• 1990 – Kris Monaghan wins LPGA Red Robin Kyocera Inamori Golf Classic.
• 2007 – Zach Johnson wins the 2007 Masters Tournament.

Hockey 

• 1943 – Stanley Cup: Detroit Red Wings sweep Boston Bruins in four games.
• 1980 – New York Islanders’ Potvin’s two shorthanded goals tie NHL record vs Los Angeles Kings and set NHL record of two shorthanded playoff goals in one period.
• 1981 – New York Islanders score nine goals against Toronto Maple Leafs in playoffs.

Olympics 

• 1979 – People’s Republic of China joins International Olympic Committee.

Swimming 

• 1982 – Tracy Caulkins (19) wins her 36th US swimming title.