Today In Sports History 8/2

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

Baseball

• In 1907 Legendary pitcher Walter Johnson at the age of 19 begins his 21 year Baseball Hall of Fame playing career with Washington with a 3-2 loss versus Detroit.

Basketball

• In 1996 the star-studded United States men’s basketball team beats Yugoslavia 95-69 to win the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics.

Boxing

• In 1952 17 year-old future world champion Floyd Patterson wins the gold medal in the middleweight division at the Helsinki Olympic Games with a first round KO of Romanian Vasile Tita.

Football

• In 1961 St Louis Cardinals (NFL) beat Toronto Argonauts (CFL) 36-7 in an exhibition game in Toronto, Canada.

Golf

• In 1912 at the Men’s US Open, John McDermott successfully defends title by two strokes from Tom McNamara.

Miscellaneous

• In 1987 Michael Andretti runs fastest Indy car race in history (171.49mph) in winning the Marlboro 500 at the Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan.

Olympics 

• In 1936 Americans Cornelius Johnson, Dave Albritton and Delos Thurber sweep the high jump medals at the Berlin Olympics.