This Day in Sports History: April 17
April is always a big month for sports events — the return of Major League Baseball, the NBA and NHL playoffs, some NCAA Basketball title games, the NFL Draft, and…
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 28: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Julius “Dr. J” Erving, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, attends the Advancement of Blacks in Sports (ABIS) Champions and Legends Awards at Resorts World Las Vegas on May 28, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
April is always a big month for sports events — the return of Major League Baseball, the NBA and NHL playoffs, some NCAA Basketball title games, the NFL Draft, and the Masters. Several notable sports moments and stories from legends of the game happened on the 17th. Let's take a closer look.
Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records
Great moments in sport that occurred on April 17th include:
- 1860: Tom Sayers and John Heenan fought for over two hours with the fight ending in a draw.
- 1939: World heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis knocked out Jack Roper in one round.
- 1966: The Netherlands and Belgium competed in the 100th international soccer match.
- 1981: The New York Islanders' Denis Potvin tied the NHL record with three power-play goals in a single playoff game.
- 1994: Lee Trevino defeated Jim Colbert by one stroke to win his second Senior PGA Championship.
- 1999: With the first pick in the NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected quarterback Tim Couch from the University of Kentucky.
- 2021: San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau tied Gordie Howe's NHL record for most regular-season games played — 1,767.
MLB History
April 17th featured a few legends of the diamond:
- 1925: New York Yankee Babe Ruth had ulcer surgery.
- 1947: Jackie Robinson's first major league hit was a bunt single.
- 1951: Mickey Mantle went one for four in his MLB debut with the New York Yankees.
- 1960: The Cleveland Indians traded Rocky Colavito to the Detroit Tigers for Harvey Kuenn.
- 1976: The Philadelphia Phillies were down 12-1 but came back to beat the Chicago Cubs 18-16 in ten innings. Mike Schmidt hit four consecutive home runs in the game.
- 1983: Nolan Ryan struck out his 3,500th batter.
Sports History
Some of the biggest names in sport came through on April 17th:
- 1967: Nino Benvenuti defeated Emile Griffith in a 15-round decision to win the world middleweight crown at Madison Square Garden.
- 1976: Evonne Goolagong Cawley beat Chris Evert and won her second WTA Tour Championship.
- 1987: Julius Erving became the third player in NBA history to score 30,000 points in his combined ABA and NBA career.
- 1997: Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils was the second NHL goalie to score in a playoff game.
- 2006: Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot won his second Boston Marathon with a time of 2:07:14.
Looking back on these April 17th statistics, two sports legends stand out.
Nolan Ryan finished his career with 5,714 strikeouts, the most in MLB history. He had a record-breaking baseball career, highlighted by his dominance as a pitcher. Ryan was known for his high-velocity fastball, incredible strikeout numbers, and seven no-hitters, more than any other pitcher in MLB history. He is also recognized for his remarkable longevity, playing 27 seasons, the most in league history.
Julius Erving, also known as "Dr. J", is famous for his iconic and innovative basketball style, particularly his aerial skills and flashy dunks, which redefined the forward position and helped popularize the sport. He is recognized as one of the greatest and most influential players in NBA history.
