THIS WEEKEND IN SPORTS HISTORY
Saturday 1831 “Spirit of the Times” begins publishing (weekly horse racing sheet). 1896 1st intercollegiate basketball game (Wesleyan beats Yale 4-3). 1919 NL votes to ban the spitball’s use by all new pitchers. 1922 Pete Henry makes longest known NFL drop-kicked field goal, 45 yards. 1924 Agreement reached on permanent rotation of World Series with each league, getting games 1,2, 6, 7 in alternating years. 1939 Green Bay Packers win NFL championship, beating the New York Giants 27-0. 1940 1941 NFL Draft: Tom Harmon from University of Michigan first pick by Chicago Bears. 1968 Joe Frazier beats Oscar Bonavena in 15 for heavyweight boxing title. 1970 North American Soccer League awards New York and Toronto franchises. 1982 Heavyweight Michael Doakes KOs Mike Weaver in 1:03 in Las Vegas. 1983 In the last NFL game played at New York’s Shea Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Jets 34-7. 1992 NHL awards franchises to Miami and Anaheim for 1994-95. 1992 New York Yankees sign Toronto Blue Jay free agent pitcher Jimmy Key. 1995 In the first meeting of NBA expansion teams, the Toronto Raptors beat the Vancouver Grizzlies 93-81. 2001 67th Heisman Trophy Award: Eric Crouch, Nebraska (QB). 2005 71st Heisman Trophy Award: Reggie Bush, USC (RB) (Bush would later forfeit the trophy). 2012 78th Heisman Trophy Award: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (QB) (first freshman to win the award). Sunday 1866 1st yacht race across Atlantic Ocean. 1928 NL President John Heydler proposes designated hitter for pitchers. 1934 Ford C. Frick becomes president of baseball’s National League. 1934 NL votes to permit night baseball (up to 7 games per home team). 1949 Cleveland Browns beat the San Francisco ’49ers 21-7 in final AAFC championship game. 1951 Joe DiMaggio announces his retirement from baseball. 1973 North American Soccer League awards Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver franchises. 1981 Muhammad Ali loses his 61st and last fight to Trevor Berbick. 1981 Washington Capitals celebrate their largest margin of victory, trouncing the Toronto Maple Leafs 11-2. 1983 72nd Men’s Australian Open: Mats Wilander beats Ivan Lendl (6-1, 6-4, 6-4). 1983 72nd Women’s Australian Open: Martina Navratilova beats Kathy Jordan (6-2, 7-6). 1986 A. Bartlett Giamatti becomes president of baseball’s National League. 1995 Thomas O. Hicks buys NHL Dallas Stars for $84 million. 2000 66th Heisman Trophy Award: Chris Weinke, Florida State (QB). 2003 Joe Sakic scores his 500th career goal at Vancouver. 2004 70th Heisman Trophy Award: Matt Leinart, USC (QB). 2009 Tiger Woods announces an indefinite leave from professional golf to focus on his marriage.