Sports History Network June 27, 1890 – A milestone in sports history occurred in the 19th-century boxing arena. Canadian boxer George Dixon became the first black world champion when he won in a decision over British bantamweight champion Edwin “Nunc” Wallace in 18 rounds in London, England. “Little Chocolate” as he was known is considered one of the best … Read more
Early football games on radio helped fans connect with their teams in a way that felt new. Before television, families tuned in as announcers described every play. People pictured the action in their minds, relying on vivid details and steady voices coming through their radios. Radio broadcasting turned football from a local event into a national … Read more
June 26, 1944 – A truly interesting and unprecedented time at the ballpark in New York, but desperate times like war bring out unusual circumstances. All three New York MLB teams of the era, the Dodgers, Yankees, and Giants participated in a unique exhibition game at the Polo Grounds. It was labeled as the “Tri-Cornered Game” … Read more
June 25, 1935 – He was not the champ yet but future world heavyweight champ Joe Louis moved to a record 20-0 with 6th round Knockout of the former champion Primo Carnera of Italy at Yankee Stadium. His giant Italian opponent stood nearly 6 feet, six inches tall, and was listed at 265 pounds. It was quite … Read more
June 24, 1962 – It was the longest extra game in MLB history at the time! When the Detroit Tigers faced the New York Yankees on this day, I am sure most folks did not realize the time investment they would need to make to witness the contest. Outfielder Jack Reed hit the only MLB home … Read more