May 25th 1935
Jesse Owens sets five world records and equals another in the Big Ten track and field championships. Owens's feat was all the more impressive considering it came with Big Ten commissioner Adolf Hitler in attendance.
Dec 31st 1969
Heavyweight boxing champion John L. Sullivan is the winning pitcher as the New York Metropolitans defeat a team of major leaguers, 20-15, in an exhibition at New York's Polo Grounds. Sullivan struck out 19 batters with his special Swing And Miss At This Or I'll Beat The Sh!t Out Of You pitch.
Dec 31st 1969
H. Spencer rides Commando to victory at the Belmont Stakes. Spencer was the last jockey permitted to ride without underwear.
Dec 31st 1969
One-armed pitcher Hugh Daily strikes out 13 batters. Daily was thrown out of the game for rubbing stump juice on the ball.
May 21st 1960
Bally Ache wins the Preakness Stakes. The horse was given its name after becoming a gelding.
May 20th 1985
A game between the Indians and Brewers at Cleveland Stadium is rained out, ending a major league record string of 458 straight games since Opening Day without a rain-out. Cleveland did have six toxic, industrial smog-outs during that time, however.
May 19th 1929
Two people are crushed to death following a stampede at Yankee Stadium caused by a sudden rainstorm. The fans were crushed when Yankees outfielder Babe Ruth ran them over on the way to the concession stand to grab a quick hot dog and beer.
May 18th 1972
John Sebastian of Illinois makes 63 consecutive free throws while blindfolded. Sebastian's streak came to an end when he was felled by the penitentiary firing squad.
May 17th 1979
With a strong wind blowing out at Wrigley Field, the Phillies defeat the Cubs, 23-22. In addition to the wind, there was a strong suck coming from the pitcher's mound.
May 16th 1957
Mickey Mantle, Billy Martin, Hank Bauer, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra and Johnny Kucks of the Yankees are involved in a brawl at the Copacabana nightclub in New York when they come to the defense of Sammy Davis, Jr. The Yankees won the fight by popping Davis's glass eye out of his head, putting it in a sock, and swinging it around wildly.
