Sports History Network Sean Conley is an ex-NFL and University of Pittsburgh kicker. He joined the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent in 1993 and spent some time with the Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets. This week Sean Conley rides shotgun in the DeLorean to share some stories both, on and off, the field as … Read more
June 28, 1907 – In baseball history when one hears the name of Branch Rickey, the thoughts of the bravery of a brilliant baseball executive who inked Jackie Robinson to a deal where he would play in the MLB for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The knowledgeable sports historian might also know that Rickey introduced the batting helmet … Read more
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