TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1940 — Commissioner Kenesaw Landis gives free agency to 91 Detroit Tigers.
1943 — Alex Smart (Montreal Canadiens) is first NHL player to score hat trick in his first game.
1961 — Chicago Bears’ Willard Dewveall becomes first NFL player to join the AFL.
1968 — Super Bowl II: Green Bay Packers beat Oakland Raiders, 33-14 in Miami, Florida; MVP: Bart Starr, quarterback.
1974 — World Football League founded.
1976 — Ted Turner becomes CEO of the Atlanta Braves.
1985 — Martina Navratilova is third to win 100 tennis tournaments (Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert).
1987 — Catfish Hunter and Billy Williams are elected to Baseball Hall of Fame.
2002 — Barry Bonds agrees to a five-year, $90 million deal with the San Francisco Giants.
2007 — The Toronto Blue Jays and first baseman Lyle Overbay agree to a four-year contract worth $24 million to stay in Toronto.