ON THIS DATE
1903: Harry Vardon wins the British Open title over his younger brother Tom Vardon
1911: Broadcaster Russ Hodges (“The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!) is born in Dayton, Tenn. (d. 1971)
1913: Vince Lombardi is born in Brooklyn, N.Y. (d. 1970)
1919: Sir Barton wins the Belmont to become thoroughbred racing’s first Triple Crown winner.
1927: Babe Ruth hits 19th and 20th of 60 HRs (Strange but true: When Roger Maris hit 61 in ‘61, Nos. 19 and 20 also came on June 11.)
1934: Michael Geracie Sr., father of Bud Geracie, is born in Milwaukee, Wis. (d. 2015)
1938: Cincinnati Reds left-hander Johnny Vander Meer no-hits the Boston Braves en route to becoming the only pitcher in history to pitch consecutive no-hitters.
1950: In the “Miracle at Merion,” Ben Hogan wins the US Open 16 months after being severely injured in an auto accident.
1955: Le Mans race car accident kills 83 spectators (race continues).
1956: Happy birthday, Joe Montana (and, yes, they still love you at 64.)
1959: Charlie Sifford becomes the first African-American to play in the U.S. Open. (Not very open.)
1977: Seattle Slew runs wire to wire in the Belmont complete the Triple Crown. 1978: Nancy Lopez shoots a record 13-under par to win the LPGA Championship.
1981: Following Seattle’s 8-2 win over Baltimore, major league players go on strike.
1987: Ralph Guldahl, who won the U.S. Open on this day in 1938, dies on this day at 75
1989: Michael Chang, at 17 years and 110 days, becomes the youngest male to win a Grand Slam title, beating Stefan Edberg in five sets. (Chang will never win another major.).
1995: Mark McGwire homers in three consecutive at-bats at Fenway Park.
2003: The Yankees are no hit for the first time in 45 years, but it takes six Houston pitchers to do it.
2012: The Los Angeles Kings, under Darryl Sutter and Dean Lombardi, the former Sharks’ braintrust, win the Stanley Cup for the first time in their 45-year history.
2017: The Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row.