May 4th 1963
Milwaukee pitcher Bob Shaw sets a dubious record when he is called for five balks in one game. Shaw, who had epilepsy, sued baseball for discrimination.
May 3rd 1975
Track announcer Chic Anderson mistakenly calls Prince Thou Art the winner of the Kentucky Derby, even though Prince Thou Art is never in contention and finishes sixth - more than 12 lengths behind the real winner, Foolish Pleasure. It was later found that Anderson had bet $10,000 on Prince Thou Art to win.
May 2nd 1970
Diane Crump becomes the first female jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby. Crump's entry proved to critics that females could be small, dainty and elfin, too.
May 1st 1948
Citation catches stablemate Coaltown and takes a 3 1/2-length victory in the Kentucky Derby. Coaltown's fatigue down the stretch was thought to be because of black lung.
Apr 30th 1940
Belle Martell is licensed in California by state boxing officials as the first female prizefight referee. In Martell's first fight she screamed, starting crying and than ran to get a police officer as soon as the first punch was thrown.
Apr 29th 1941
The Boston Bees change their name to the Braves. The name change came under pressure from bee enthusiasts who felt the original name denigrated and trivialized the insects.
Apr 28th 1930
The first organized night baseball game is played in Independence, Kansas. The game ended in a dispute in the top of the first inning when the starting pitcher claimed every pitch he had thrown was a strike, while the batters claimed they were all balls. The umpire admitted he had no idea, and the teams eventually decided things would go more smoothly if they lit the field the next time they played at night.
Apr 27th 1995
The Rockies beat the Mets 11-9 in the first game played at Denver's Coors Field. It was quickly realized the ball traveled well in the stadium when Mets leadoff hitter Brett Butler opened the game with a bunt that landed in third deck in right field for a home run.
Dec 31st 1969
A rare quadruple dead heat occurs as four horses cross the finish line together in the Omnibus Stakes in England. Since photo finish technology had yet to be invented, race officials had to rely on painting finish technology for such finishes, but it was rarely reliable.
Apr 25th 1951
The Soviet Union applies to compete in the Olympics. Nikita Khrushchev made the declaration while banging one of his track spikes on the podium at the United Nations.
