Monthly Archives: August 2013
The six touchdown quarter
Houston Cougar David Klingler set a record after throwing six touchdown passes in the second quarter of the August 31, 1991 football game against the Louisiana Tech Vikings. Klingler played a major role in the 73-3 victory on the Cougars home field. The record for most touchdown passes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Football Bowl Subdivision is […]
Henderson steals stolen base record
Rickey Henderson, left fielder of the Oakland Athletics passed Lou Brock‘s record for stolen bases in a single season on August 27, 1982. He stole four that day. Henderson stole three bases in the 5-4 away loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at County Stadium. Doc Medich came away with the win after pitching eight innings and […]
Durocher goes to Houston
Leo Durocher, 65, replaced Harry Walker as manager of the Houston Astros on August 26, 1972 after he was fired by the Chicago Cubs during the All-Star break. After some controversy, he was replaced by Whitey Lockman. Durocher had been manager of the Cubs for seven years and unlike the other teams he managed, there […]
Gooden wins 20
New York Met Dwight Gooden became the youngest pitcher to win 20 games in one season on August 25, 1985. The Mets took a 9-3 home victory over the San Diego Padres in historic Shea Stadium. Gooden pitched the first six innings. He was replaced by Roger McDowell to finish the seventh and eighth innings. […]
John Pennel passes 17 feet
In Miami, Florida on August 24, 1963, pole vaulter John Pennel became the first pole vaulter to clear 17 feet in competition when he jumped 17 feet and 3/4 inches. His record was taken by Wolfgang Nordwig of East Germany later the same year. Pennel was one of the pioneers of the fiber glass pole for vaulting in […]
300th seasonal Strikeout for Johnson
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson became the first pitcher to ever strike out more than 300 batters in three consecutive seasons on August 23, 2001. His streak of 300 strikeouts in a season ended after the 2002 season. The game was staged in front of the Pittsburgh Pirates home crowd. Johnson stayed in the game […]
Althea Gibson became the first African-American competitor in a national tennis competition on August 22, 1950. She was born in South Carolina and raised in Harlem by a poor family. Dr. Walter Johnson, a man from Virginia who wanted to bring tennis to the African-American community noticed her. The United States Lawn Tennis Association hosted the competition in Forest Hills, […]
Lambeau Leaps into the big time
Earl “Curly” Lambeau was granted a franchise in the National Football League on August 21, 1922. The Green Bay Football Club, better known as the Green Bay Packers had a chance to shine as a pro football team. The team was founded in 1919 by Lambeau who doubled as the first team’s real star. He […]
Mesa’s 37th straight winning save
Cleveland Indians reliever Jose Mesa walked off the pitcher’s mound on August 20, 1995, with a new major league record in a home game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Mesa had just thrown a record breaking 37 consecutive saves. The Indians were already winning 8-5 when he walked out to the pitcher’s mound in the ninth […]
“Gentleman Start Your Engines!”
The historic Indianapolis 500 could never happen without the race track that opened on August 19, 1909. The stands held the 12,000 spectators who came to watch the 440 yard race on the rectangular two-and-a-half mile dirt track. The track was built on 328 acres of farmland five miles northwest of Indianapolis. It was started as […]
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