On this Date in Sports

April 30 is a significant date in sports history.  In 1982, the Atlanta Braves set a franchise-best win streak at 12 games.  Six years later, the Baltimore Orioles ended their 21-game losing streak.

Today is the birthday of basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas and the wedding anniversary of golfing legend Walter Hagen.  This date also featured a dozen significant events from the world of sports.  Here are some of our favorites.

In 1903, the New York Highlanders played their first home game, beating the Washington Senators, 6-2, at Hilltop Park in Manhattan.  The Highlanders changed their name to Yankees for the 1913 season, then won their first World Series a decade later.

In 1939, Lou Gehrig set a major league record by playing in his 2,130th consecutive and final game for the New York Yankees.  New York lost to Washington, 3-2, before 23,712 at Yankee Stadium.  The Iron Horse went 0-4 in his last appearance in pinstripes and died two years later of ALS.

Bob Feller tossed his second career no-hitter on this date in 1946.  Rapid Robert struck out 11 and walked six while beating the Yankees, 1-0.

In 1958, Ted Williams [4] became the tenth major league player to collect 1,000 extra-base hits.  The Splendid Splinter homered off Ned Garver in the ninth inning of a 11-4 loss to Kansas City at Fenway Park.

Today is a memorable day for Mickey Wright.  In 1961, she won her fifth major title at the LPGA Titleholders tournament at Augusta Country Club.  Wright successfully defended her crown, winning the Titleholders one year later to claim her eighth major.  The World Golf Hall of Famer won 20 events in the 1961 and ’62 seasons.

In 1962, Willie Mays became just the ninth player to join the Four Homer Club.  Mays went deep in the first, third, sixth and eight innings in a 14-4 Giants win over the Braves at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Jim Maloney threw his third career no-hitter on this date in 1969 to beat the Houston Astros, 10-0.  The next night, Don Wilson of the Astros returned the favor, pitching his second career no-hitter to blank Cincy, 4-0.

A true ironman, Billy Williams missed only two games in eight seasons between 1963 and 1970.   On this date in 1970, the Cubs Hall of Famer became the first National Leaguer to play in 1,000 consecutive games.  On a long day in Atlanta, Williams went hitless in four trips in a 9-2 loss to the Braves.

Today marks the 48th anniversary of the only NBA championship in Milwaukee Bucks history.  On this date in 1971, the Bucks swept the Baltimore Bullets, 118-106.  Oscar Robertson led all scorers with 30 points while handing out nine assists.  Finals MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabber added 27 points and 12 rebounds.

On this date in 1976, Muhammed Ali defeated Jimmy Young in a unanimous 15-round decision to retain the heavyweight boxing title.  Coming in to the fight at an all-time high of 230 pounds, Ali ran his record to 51-2 during a nationally televised bout from the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland.

In 1985, the Buffalo Bills used the first pick of the NFL draft to select Virginia Tech defensive end Bruce Smith.  The best defensive player in Bills history, Smith would land in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

Mike Bossy skated for the New York Islanders for the last time on this date in 1987.  One of the greatest goal-scorers of all time, Bossy was part of all four Islander teams ever to win the Stanley Cup.