Tomorrow many sports fans will enjoy a long standing American tradition. They will spend the day enjoying the 94th running of the Indy 500 Auto race, the greatest that racing has to offer. Today we are marking the 99th anniversary of the first running of that race, May 29, 1911.
The first running of the race was won by Ray Harroun, a local racing legend. Harroun won the race with an average speed 74.6 mph. He would not however defend his title the following year as this was the last race of his career.
The race has through the years produced many exciting races and many legends. This years has all the promise of living up to the standards set by the many drivers who have run the race in the past 99 years.
Tomorrow we look at a hitter who hit five home runs in one game for club that lost the game.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Lets go to the movies
One of the best things about being a big sports fan is that when a really good sports movie comes out you can very easily appreicate the movie. Today we mark the May 28, 1982 release of the movie "Rocky III". There is not alot that can tell you the great sports fans dont already know about this movie. Although the movie was a fiction piece it was still a great movie. I recently took the opportunity to share this movie with my six year old son. It was great bonding time with a great kid.
That goes to show you that one does not have to watch a game to enjoy being a sports fan. So pick a movie, just make sure that it is over by game time!
Tune in tomorrow when we take a look at an auto racing first.
That goes to show you that one does not have to watch a game to enjoy being a sports fan. So pick a movie, just make sure that it is over by game time!
Tune in tomorrow when we take a look at an auto racing first.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
NL Makes History
New major sports teams do not just appear out of nowhere. When a new team reaches the playing field it is usually the result of years of planning. The award of a new franchise is only a small part of the process.
Today we look at the awarding of two new clubs that the National League made on May 27, 1969. The National League chose to admit its new clubs from opposite ends of the continent. They chose to admit San Diego, California and Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Many critics believed the league had made two big mistakes.
San Diego, who for the preceding 33 years been a member in good standing of the Pacific Coast League, was described as a sleepy town with Los Angeles to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Mexican border to the south. Through the years the team has proving those critics as very much wrong.
Montreal was described as a French speaking city that did not understand the game. Although Montreal had been a member of the International League for many years, critics believed the city only got the team because they wanted to cross the Canadian border before the American League did. For many years the team proved those naysayers wrong, coming close to the World Series on a couple occassions. Although the city fell on rough times losing its team to Washington, DC a few years ago. I firmly believe the city will return to the big leagues soon.
Tomorrow we will change things up with a trip to the movies.
Today we look at the awarding of two new clubs that the National League made on May 27, 1969. The National League chose to admit its new clubs from opposite ends of the continent. They chose to admit San Diego, California and Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Many critics believed the league had made two big mistakes.
San Diego, who for the preceding 33 years been a member in good standing of the Pacific Coast League, was described as a sleepy town with Los Angeles to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Mexican border to the south. Through the years the team has proving those critics as very much wrong.
Montreal was described as a French speaking city that did not understand the game. Although Montreal had been a member of the International League for many years, critics believed the city only got the team because they wanted to cross the Canadian border before the American League did. For many years the team proved those naysayers wrong, coming close to the World Series on a couple occassions. Although the city fell on rough times losing its team to Washington, DC a few years ago. I firmly believe the city will return to the big leagues soon.
Tomorrow we will change things up with a trip to the movies.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Two Great Pitching Performances
Most great baseball fans know the signifinace of the date May 26, 1959. The will tell you oh, yeah that is the date Harvey Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings and lost the game in the 13th inning against the Braves. That statement is of course true, on that fateful night, Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates did retire the first 36 batters he faced in order. 12 perfect innings by one pitcher retiring Braves batter after Braves batter at County Stadium in Milwaukee.
Only the best of baseball historians would be able to tell about the perforance of one Richard L. Stigman of the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League. Stigman pitched 10 2/3 innings of hitless baseball against the Salt Lake City Bees at Westgate Park in San Diego. Stigman left the game after pitching 12 innings and allowing only two hits. In the bottom of the 13th inning the Padres scored the winning run.
Both games ended with 1-0 scores for the home team. Neither pitcher who carried a no-hit game into extra innings got the win for a once in a lifetime pitching performance.
I am not saying that Stigmans gem was any better then that of Haddix. I will say that is quite unusual that two pitchers would take no-hitters into extra innings on the same day and neither would win the game. Stigman had pitched 7 seasons in the majors but, had already pitched his last MLB game by the time he pitched this gem.
Tomorrow we look at the birth of two National Leasgue clubs.
Only the best of baseball historians would be able to tell about the perforance of one Richard L. Stigman of the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League. Stigman pitched 10 2/3 innings of hitless baseball against the Salt Lake City Bees at Westgate Park in San Diego. Stigman left the game after pitching 12 innings and allowing only two hits. In the bottom of the 13th inning the Padres scored the winning run.
Both games ended with 1-0 scores for the home team. Neither pitcher who carried a no-hit game into extra innings got the win for a once in a lifetime pitching performance.
I am not saying that Stigmans gem was any better then that of Haddix. I will say that is quite unusual that two pitchers would take no-hitters into extra innings on the same day and neither would win the game. Stigman had pitched 7 seasons in the majors but, had already pitched his last MLB game by the time he pitched this gem.
Tomorrow we look at the birth of two National Leasgue clubs.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Even the Women Score big
The men do not get all the records in professional sports, sometimes its the women who make the records and the history. Personally, I enjoy seeing womens sports do well and not just because I have four daughters. Today we look at a game played in the Women's National Basketball Association on May 25, 2007.
The game was played less then a week after the season opened at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona between the Phoenix Mercury and the Houston Comets. The game was the first of four games involving the Mercury where the winning team scored 111 points. Fortunately for the Mercury it was them that won the game by a score of 111-85. The Mercury on their way to the league title would go 2-2 in these contests. The Comets would finish the season with a 13-21 record 10 games behind the Mercury in the Western Conference.
Fortuneately the WNBA continues to thrive producing thrilling games throught out the season. Tomorrow we look at two great pitching performances on the same day.
The game was played less then a week after the season opened at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona between the Phoenix Mercury and the Houston Comets. The game was the first of four games involving the Mercury where the winning team scored 111 points. Fortunately for the Mercury it was them that won the game by a score of 111-85. The Mercury on their way to the league title would go 2-2 in these contests. The Comets would finish the season with a 13-21 record 10 games behind the Mercury in the Western Conference.
Fortuneately the WNBA continues to thrive producing thrilling games throught out the season. Tomorrow we look at two great pitching performances on the same day.
Monday, May 24, 2010
A Boxing first
Today we look at a first for the sport of boxing. On May 24, 1901 at Toronto, Ontario the first title fight to held in Canada took place between welterweights James "Rube" Ferns of Kansas and William "Matty" Matthews of New York. It was the third time that the two fighters had met for the championship in the past year. The two fighters had split their last two meetings in Detroit.
At the time this bout was held, Matthews held the title going in but, lost it when he suffered a 10th round knockout. It was the last time that Matthews would fight a title fight. The fighters would fight three more times before their careers ended. Ferns fought his last fight in 1906 and Matthews fought one fight after that in 1908. Matthews died in 1948 and Ferns in 1952.
Tomorrow we will look at a high scoring game in Womens Basketball.
At the time this bout was held, Matthews held the title going in but, lost it when he suffered a 10th round knockout. It was the last time that Matthews would fight a title fight. The fighters would fight three more times before their careers ended. Ferns fought his last fight in 1906 and Matthews fought one fight after that in 1908. Matthews died in 1948 and Ferns in 1952.
Tomorrow we will look at a high scoring game in Womens Basketball.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
A horse racing first
Today we are looking at a first in the sport of Kings, horse racing. On May 23, 1873 at baltimore, Maryland the first running of the Preakness Stakes was held. The winner of the rasce was Survivor with hall of fame jockey George Barbee aboard. Not much is known of Survivor record after this race. What is known is that he won the race by 10 lengths a record that held up until 2004 when Smarty Jones won the race by 11 1/2 lengths.
Barbee was about 23 years old at the time of the historical race. He continued torace until 1884. He died in 1940 and is buried near Belmont Park. He was voted into the hall of fame in 1996.
Tomorrow we look at a Boxing first.
Barbee was about 23 years old at the time of the historical race. He continued torace until 1884. He died in 1940 and is buried near Belmont Park. He was voted into the hall of fame in 1996.
Tomorrow we look at a Boxing first.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)