Sports History Network

May 30, 1955 – Sadness gripped the large Indianapolis 500 crowd during the big race. The race’s two-time defending champion Bill Vukovich was killed in a violent crash while seemingly on his way to an unprecedented third consecutive Indy 500. Bob Sweikert made the checkered flag wave when he crossed the finish line first to head … Read more

May 29, 1971 –  Happy birthday to Al Unser Sr.! The driver gave himself a present on the annual celebration of his birth by finding Victory Lane at the Indianapolis 500 Race. Unser became the first driver to have won the grand open-wheel race on their birthday. To find more great daily sports history make sure … Read more

May 28, 1957 – Major League Baseball’s National League executives approved the move of two New York City area teams to the West Coast. The NL brass after careful consideration granted both the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants to move their baseball operations to California for the 1958 season. The NL also denied the … Read more

May 27, 1968 – Football’s legendary player, owner, and founding NFL member George Halas retired from coaching his beloved Bears. Coach Halas completed his illustrious career that spanned 40 different seasons with 318 regular-season wins and 6 NFL titles. Mr. Halas stepped away from coaching Chicago three different times since starting with the franchise when they … Read more

May 26, 1974 – The words “Gentlemen start your engines,” was declared for the first time on a Sunday schedule at the Indianapolis 500. The Indy car race had traditionally been conducted on May 30 regardless of the week for almost 60 years prior. In the great race at the old brickyard, it was Johnny Rutherford … Read more