1928: Braves' pitcher Charlie Robertson has his glove removed from the game by umpire Moran after the Brooklyn Robins complain the ball is acting strangely. The Boston hurler still manages to win, 3-2.
1929: Cleveland outfielder Earl Averill becomes the first A.L. player to hit a home run in his first major league time at bat when he blasts an 0-and-2 pitch off Detroit's Earl Whitehillin the Indians' 5-4, 11-inning victory.....The Yankees become first team to wear digits on uniforms. Numbers are assigned based on the order in the lineup thus Earle Combs wore #1, Mark Koenig #2, Babe Ruth #3, Lou Gehrig #4, Bob Meusel #5, Tony Lazzeri #6, Leo Durocher #7, Johnny Grabowski #8, Benny Bengough #9, and Bill Dickey #10 (#’s 8-10 are all catchers ) rounding out the starting line-up.
1935: Babe Ruth's N.L. debut draws 25,000 to Braves Field. The Babe's two-hit debut includes a 430-foot home run off Carl Hubbell, as Boston beats New York 4-2. The Babe's contract includes a share in the team's profits.
1938: The Cardinals deal a declining Dizzy Dean to the Cubs for pitchers Curt Davis and Clyde Shoun and $200,000.
1940: A baseball game was televised for the first time, by WGN-TV. It was an exhibition game at Wrigley Field with Jack Brickhouse doing the play-by-play. The White Sox defeated the Cubs, 4-1.
1940: Working in 47-degree weather, Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians throws an Opening Day no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox, winning 1-0 at Comiskey Park. It's the first Opening Day no-hitter since Leon Red Ames pitched one for the Giants in 1909.
1948: The White Sox beat the Cubs 4-1 in an exhibition game at Wrigley Field with Jack Brickhouse at the WGN-TV mike. This is the first telecast in Chicago history.
1961: Beginning his historic home run chase of the Babe, Roger Maris finally connects for his first round tripper in the twelfth game of the season. The fifth-inning solo shot is off Tiger pitcher Paul Fovtack
1972: In Chicago, 22-year-old rookie Burt Hooton of the Cubs no-hits the Phillies 4-0. It is Hooton's fourth major league game over two seasons. He has allowed just eight hits in 30 innings with his knuckle-curve.
1977: Regulations force Oakland pitcher Vida Blue to discard his old, discolored lucky cap because it is no longer identical in color, trim and style to those of his teammates.
1978: Bob Forsch of the St. Louis Cardinals no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-0. Less than a year later, Bob's brother, Ken, of the Houston Astros pitched a no-hitter against Atlanta. They are the only brothers to throw no-hitters.
1983: Padres first baseman Steve Garvey plays in his 1,118th consecutive game, breaking Billy Williams' N.L. record. Garvey goes 2-for-4 in an 8-5 Padres loss at Los Angeles.
1984: Dave Kingman of the Oakland A's hit three home runs, including a grand slam, in his first three at-bats. He drove in a total of eight runs in a 9-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
1989: Kelly Gruber becomes the first member of the Blue Jays to hit for the cycle as Toronto beats Kansas City 15-8.
1997: Extending their losing streak to 12 with a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies, the Cubs set the record for worst start in league history surpassing the overall National League record of 0-11 established by the Detroit Wolverines in 1884.
1999: Beating the Padres, 6-4, Colorado skipper Jim Leyland becomes the 45th manager to win a 1,000 games.
2000: Indian starter Chuck Finley, who was already the only pitcher to strike out four batters in one inning twice, does it for the third time as the southpaw strikes out Tom Evans, Royce Clayton, Chad Curtis (who takes first on a passed ball) and Rafael Palmeiro in the third inning; Finley beats the Rangers 2-1 with the help of back-to-back ninth-inning homers from Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Today in NHL History April 16th
1939: Goaltender Frank Brimsek, alias “Mr. Zero”, allowed only one goal, his sixth in five Stanley Cup final games against Toronto, to lead the Boston Bruins past the Maple Leafs 3-1 to win the 1939 championship.
1949: The Toronto Maple Leafs swept the Detroit Red Wings to become the first NHL team to win three consecutive Stanley Cup titles (1947-49). The 3-1 series-ending victory also marked the Leafs’ ninth straight win in Final action.
1953: Assisted by linemate Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Elmer Lach scored the only goal in Game Five at 1:22 of overtime, and goalie Gerry McNeil blanked the Boston Bruins for the second time in three outings as the Montreal Canadiens earned the 1953 Stanley Cup championship.
1954: Tony Leswick’s Stanley Cup-winning tally was the second overtime goal ever scored in the seventh game of a Final series. Leswick, who notched the decisive goal at 4:29 of overtime in Detroit’s 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game Seven, matched the feat first accomplished by former Red Wings left winger Pete Babando in 1950.
1961: The Chicago Black Hawks earned their first Stanley Cup championship since 1938 and their third title since joining the NHL in 1926-27. The Black Hawks downed Detroit 5-1 to take the best-of-seven Final four games to two.
1964: Detroit's Alex Delvecchio scored with 17 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Red Wings a 4-3 win over Toronto in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals, in Detroit.
1970: Bobby Orr became the first defenseman in NHL history to score goals in four straight playoff games, when he scored twice as Boston won beat the Rangers 4-1 in New York, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Quarter-Finals.
1972: Kevin O'Shea (with an assist from his brother Danny) scored at 10:07 of overtime to give the St. Louis Blues a 2-1 win over the North Stars, in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Quarter-Finals, in Minnesota.
1980: Clark Gillies scored after 62 seconds of overtime to give the Islanders a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of the Quarter-Finals.
1990: Bobby Clarke left his post as General Manager of the Philadelphia Flyers. He later was named the GM of the Minnesota North Stars.
1991: Edmonton's Esa Tikkanen scored a hat trick, including the winner at 6:58 of overtime and added an assist as the Oilers won 5-4 at Calgary, in Game 7 of the Smythe Division Semi-Finals. Edmonton came back from a 3-0 deficit to win the game.
1992: Brett Hull became just the second player in NHL history to score 70+ goals in three consecutive seasons when the Blues beat the Minnesota North Stars, 5-3 in St. Louis.....Mike Gartner picked up his 500th career NHL assist in a Rangers' 7-1 win over Pittsburgh to become the first player in NHL history to get his 500th goal, 500th assist, 1,000th point and 1,000th NHL game all in the same season.
1998: Chicago defenseman Chris Chelios appeared in his 1,000th career NHL game, in the Blackhawks' 1-1 tie against the visiting New Jersey Devils. Chelios became the 128th player to appear in 1,000 NHL games.
2000: Doug Weight scored his 1st career playoff hat trick to lead the Oilers to a 5-2 win over the visiting Dallas Stars, in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarter-Finals. The victory ended a streak of 9 straight Oilers' playoff losses to the Stars.
2001: Raymond Bourque set an NHL record for most years in the playoffs (21) by appearing for the Colorado Avalanche in Game Three of their best-of-seven Western Conference quarter-final series against Vancouver. Bourque, who made his playoff debut in 1980 with Boston, passed the mark established by NHL great Gordie Howe.
2004: Toronto's Ed Belfour became the sixth NHL goaltender to record 14 playoff shutouts, in a 2-0 win over the visiting Ottawa Senators, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals.
1949: The Toronto Maple Leafs swept the Detroit Red Wings to become the first NHL team to win three consecutive Stanley Cup titles (1947-49). The 3-1 series-ending victory also marked the Leafs’ ninth straight win in Final action.
1953: Assisted by linemate Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Elmer Lach scored the only goal in Game Five at 1:22 of overtime, and goalie Gerry McNeil blanked the Boston Bruins for the second time in three outings as the Montreal Canadiens earned the 1953 Stanley Cup championship.
1954: Tony Leswick’s Stanley Cup-winning tally was the second overtime goal ever scored in the seventh game of a Final series. Leswick, who notched the decisive goal at 4:29 of overtime in Detroit’s 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game Seven, matched the feat first accomplished by former Red Wings left winger Pete Babando in 1950.
1961: The Chicago Black Hawks earned their first Stanley Cup championship since 1938 and their third title since joining the NHL in 1926-27. The Black Hawks downed Detroit 5-1 to take the best-of-seven Final four games to two.
1964: Detroit's Alex Delvecchio scored with 17 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Red Wings a 4-3 win over Toronto in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals, in Detroit.
1970: Bobby Orr became the first defenseman in NHL history to score goals in four straight playoff games, when he scored twice as Boston won beat the Rangers 4-1 in New York, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Quarter-Finals.
1972: Kevin O'Shea (with an assist from his brother Danny) scored at 10:07 of overtime to give the St. Louis Blues a 2-1 win over the North Stars, in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Quarter-Finals, in Minnesota.
1980: Clark Gillies scored after 62 seconds of overtime to give the Islanders a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of the Quarter-Finals.
1990: Bobby Clarke left his post as General Manager of the Philadelphia Flyers. He later was named the GM of the Minnesota North Stars.
1991: Edmonton's Esa Tikkanen scored a hat trick, including the winner at 6:58 of overtime and added an assist as the Oilers won 5-4 at Calgary, in Game 7 of the Smythe Division Semi-Finals. Edmonton came back from a 3-0 deficit to win the game.
1992: Brett Hull became just the second player in NHL history to score 70+ goals in three consecutive seasons when the Blues beat the Minnesota North Stars, 5-3 in St. Louis.....Mike Gartner picked up his 500th career NHL assist in a Rangers' 7-1 win over Pittsburgh to become the first player in NHL history to get his 500th goal, 500th assist, 1,000th point and 1,000th NHL game all in the same season.
1998: Chicago defenseman Chris Chelios appeared in his 1,000th career NHL game, in the Blackhawks' 1-1 tie against the visiting New Jersey Devils. Chelios became the 128th player to appear in 1,000 NHL games.
2000: Doug Weight scored his 1st career playoff hat trick to lead the Oilers to a 5-2 win over the visiting Dallas Stars, in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarter-Finals. The victory ended a streak of 9 straight Oilers' playoff losses to the Stars.
2001: Raymond Bourque set an NHL record for most years in the playoffs (21) by appearing for the Colorado Avalanche in Game Three of their best-of-seven Western Conference quarter-final series against Vancouver. Bourque, who made his playoff debut in 1980 with Boston, passed the mark established by NHL great Gordie Howe.
2004: Toronto's Ed Belfour became the sixth NHL goaltender to record 14 playoff shutouts, in a 2-0 win over the visiting Ottawa Senators, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
April 15th
CANUCKS FIRE GM NONIS
Fresh off a late-season collapse that saw the team fail to qualify for the playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks fired general manager Dave Nonis on Monday.
The decision to fire Nonis, who was promoted to the post in May 2004, comes after the Canucks finished ninth in the Western Conference and failed to make the post-season for the second time in three years.
Nonis, 41, was in the final year of his contract.
"The decision to relieve Dave of his duties was difficult," said Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini in a statement. "We want to thank Dave for the many contributions he has made helping to build our organization during his tenure. However, I think this important change in leadership is critical to the future of the team and the direction we need to take. It's not acceptable to our fans or to us as owners that our team isn't in the playoffs.
"As owners we made a commitment to deliver the kind of hockey our fans deserve. At the same time, with leadership comes responsibility. So, our search begins today for a new general manager, and our focus going forward is on a winning season in 2008-09."
Nonis, who replaced Brian Burke, was the person responsible for bringing all-star goalie Roberto Luongo to Vancouver in a trade that is regarded as one of the most lopsided NHL deals in recent memory.
Under Nonis, the Canucks set a franchise record for points in a season (105) during the 2006-07 campaign when they won the Northwest Division title.
But the team took a step backwards when they finished this season with a 39-33-10 record and three points out of the playoffs.
The Canucks sat in seventh place in the West in February, but Nonis couldn't pull off a significant deal at the trade deadline to bolster his team's struggling offence, and the club struggled for the remainder of the season.
AVERY ACT PROMPTS NHL TO AMEND UNSPORTSMANLIKE RULE
The National Hockey League acted swiftly on Monday, changing the interpretation of Rule 75 -- unsportsmanlike conduct -- to curtail the act of a player like Sean Avery waving his stick in the face of a goalie.
"An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play," Colin Campbell, the NHL director of hockey operations said in a statement.
During a 5-on-3 power play in New Jersey's 4-3 win overtime win Sunday night, Avery planted himself in the crease of Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur. Holding his stick upward, the New York Rangers forward waved it side to side to block Brodeur's vision.
Avery eventually scored with the man-advantage to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead, but it's what led to the goal was the pressing issue.
"That's not something that anyone writing the rule book has anticipated, and I don't think that we view that as part of our game," said Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford, an NHL goalie for 13 seasons. "With that being said, Sean Avery didn't do anything to break any rules.
"With every rule that is written, or how we try to change the game, somebody gets creative. Sean has gone beyond being a little bit creative on this one."
OIL INKS GREBESHKOV TO 1-YEAR CONTRACT
The Edmonton Oilers re-signed defenceman Denis Grebeshkov to a one-year contract, however financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 24-year-old posted three goals and 15 assists for 18 points with 22 penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating in 71 games this season, his first with Edmonton.
Grebeshkov has totalled three goals and 24 points with 42 penalty minutes and a minus-14 rating in 104 NHL games since he was drafted 18th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2002.
Edmonton acquired him from the New York Islanders fro defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron and a third-round draft pick on Feb. 18, 2007.
Grebeshkov is the third player in two days to re-sign with the Oilers. Defenceman Tom Gilbert inked a six-year, $24-million contract, while forward Robert Nilsson received a three-year, $6-million deal.
COYOTES SIGN HOBEY BAKER WINNER PORTER
The Phoenix Coyotes signed Kevin Porter, winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top college hockey player.
Porter, 22, completed his senior season at Michigan this year and was second in NCAA Division I in scoring with 33 goals and 33 assists in 43 games. The Wolverines' captain finished his college career with 85 goals and 98 assists.
He was selected by Phoenix in the fourth round of the 2004 entry draft, the 119th selection overall. He will report to the San Antonio Rampage, the Coyotes' affiliate in the American Hockey League.
San Antonio is playing the Toronto Marlies in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
Porter scored an NCAA record four goals in Michigan's 5-1 victory over Niagara in the East Region semifinals this year. He also had a goal and assists in the team's 2-0 victory over Clarkson that gave Michigan a berth in the Frozen Four.
Porter was captain of Team USA at the 2006 world junior championships.
Today's NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule
Montreal @ Boston--Game 4--6pm (Canadiens lead series 2-1)
Washington @ Philadelphia--Game 3--6pm (Series tied 1-1) Versus
Anaheim @ Dallas--Game 3--730pm (Stars leads series 2-0)
San Jose @ Calgary--Game 4--9pm (Flames leads series 2-1)
Minnesota @ Colorado--Game 4--9pm (Wild lead series 2-1) FSN
Fresh off a late-season collapse that saw the team fail to qualify for the playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks fired general manager Dave Nonis on Monday.
The decision to fire Nonis, who was promoted to the post in May 2004, comes after the Canucks finished ninth in the Western Conference and failed to make the post-season for the second time in three years.
Nonis, 41, was in the final year of his contract.
"The decision to relieve Dave of his duties was difficult," said Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini in a statement. "We want to thank Dave for the many contributions he has made helping to build our organization during his tenure. However, I think this important change in leadership is critical to the future of the team and the direction we need to take. It's not acceptable to our fans or to us as owners that our team isn't in the playoffs.
"As owners we made a commitment to deliver the kind of hockey our fans deserve. At the same time, with leadership comes responsibility. So, our search begins today for a new general manager, and our focus going forward is on a winning season in 2008-09."
Nonis, who replaced Brian Burke, was the person responsible for bringing all-star goalie Roberto Luongo to Vancouver in a trade that is regarded as one of the most lopsided NHL deals in recent memory.
Under Nonis, the Canucks set a franchise record for points in a season (105) during the 2006-07 campaign when they won the Northwest Division title.
But the team took a step backwards when they finished this season with a 39-33-10 record and three points out of the playoffs.
The Canucks sat in seventh place in the West in February, but Nonis couldn't pull off a significant deal at the trade deadline to bolster his team's struggling offence, and the club struggled for the remainder of the season.
AVERY ACT PROMPTS NHL TO AMEND UNSPORTSMANLIKE RULE
The National Hockey League acted swiftly on Monday, changing the interpretation of Rule 75 -- unsportsmanlike conduct -- to curtail the act of a player like Sean Avery waving his stick in the face of a goalie.
"An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play," Colin Campbell, the NHL director of hockey operations said in a statement.
During a 5-on-3 power play in New Jersey's 4-3 win overtime win Sunday night, Avery planted himself in the crease of Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur. Holding his stick upward, the New York Rangers forward waved it side to side to block Brodeur's vision.
Avery eventually scored with the man-advantage to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead, but it's what led to the goal was the pressing issue.
"That's not something that anyone writing the rule book has anticipated, and I don't think that we view that as part of our game," said Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford, an NHL goalie for 13 seasons. "With that being said, Sean Avery didn't do anything to break any rules.
"With every rule that is written, or how we try to change the game, somebody gets creative. Sean has gone beyond being a little bit creative on this one."
OIL INKS GREBESHKOV TO 1-YEAR CONTRACT
The Edmonton Oilers re-signed defenceman Denis Grebeshkov to a one-year contract, however financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 24-year-old posted three goals and 15 assists for 18 points with 22 penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating in 71 games this season, his first with Edmonton.
Grebeshkov has totalled three goals and 24 points with 42 penalty minutes and a minus-14 rating in 104 NHL games since he was drafted 18th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2002.
Edmonton acquired him from the New York Islanders fro defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron and a third-round draft pick on Feb. 18, 2007.
Grebeshkov is the third player in two days to re-sign with the Oilers. Defenceman Tom Gilbert inked a six-year, $24-million contract, while forward Robert Nilsson received a three-year, $6-million deal.
COYOTES SIGN HOBEY BAKER WINNER PORTER
The Phoenix Coyotes signed Kevin Porter, winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top college hockey player.
Porter, 22, completed his senior season at Michigan this year and was second in NCAA Division I in scoring with 33 goals and 33 assists in 43 games. The Wolverines' captain finished his college career with 85 goals and 98 assists.
He was selected by Phoenix in the fourth round of the 2004 entry draft, the 119th selection overall. He will report to the San Antonio Rampage, the Coyotes' affiliate in the American Hockey League.
San Antonio is playing the Toronto Marlies in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
Porter scored an NCAA record four goals in Michigan's 5-1 victory over Niagara in the East Region semifinals this year. He also had a goal and assists in the team's 2-0 victory over Clarkson that gave Michigan a berth in the Frozen Four.
Porter was captain of Team USA at the 2006 world junior championships.
Today's NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule
Montreal @ Boston--Game 4--6pm (Canadiens lead series 2-1)
Washington @ Philadelphia--Game 3--6pm (Series tied 1-1) Versus
Anaheim @ Dallas--Game 3--730pm (Stars leads series 2-0)
San Jose @ Calgary--Game 4--9pm (Flames leads series 2-1)
Minnesota @ Colorado--Game 4--9pm (Wild lead series 2-1) FSN
Today in MLB History April 15th
1876: The Alleghenies bring professional baseball to Pittsburgh playing their first game at Union Park. Next year, the team will be accepted into the minor-league International Association but will disband in 1878.
1909: Before an Opening Day crowd of 30,000 at New York, Red Ames pitches a no-hitter for nine innings against the Brooklyn Superbas, surrenders a hit with one out in the tenth, then loses the game 3-0 in the 13th. The Giants outfield has no putouts.
1918: The A.L. season opens with Babe Ruth pitching a four-hit 7-1 victory over the A's. Red Sox manager Ed Barrow will start Ruth's conversion to slugger by working him into 72 games in the outfield and first base.
1947: Jackie Robinson goes hitless in three trips in his debut but handles 11 chances at first base, a new position for him, in a 5-3 Brooklyn win over the Boston Braves. Coach Clyde Sukeforth, interim manager and the man credited with first scouting Robinson, guides the team to two wins before stepping down.
1954: Clint Courtney of the Orioles hits the first major league home run in Memorial Stadium. The Birds draw an Opening Day record crowd of 46,354 in a 3-1 afternoon win against the White Sox.
1958: The San Francisco Giants defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first major league game played at Seals Stadium, with Ruben Gomez pitching an 8-0 shutout. Giants shortstop Darly Spencer hits the first home run. The Giants set an attendance record for Seals Stadium by drawing 23,192 fans.
1966: Bob Gibson's 9-2 win at Forbes Field is the 18th straight for St. Louis in Pittsburgh. St. Louis ties the major league record (set by the Dodgers against the Phillies in 1945-46) for consecutive road wins against one club.
1968: Three records are smashed when the Astros score an unearned run in the 24th inning to squeeze by the Mets 1-0 after six hours and six minutes. It sets the mark as the longest N.L. game played to completion, the longest major league night game, and the first 23 innings are the longest major league scoreless game. The game ties the A.L.'s longest complete game (A's 4, Red Sox 1 in 24 innings on September 1, 1906).
1972: Reggie Jackson sports a mustache as the A's top the Twins 4-3 in 11 innings. Jackson is reported to be the first major league player with facial hair since Wally Schang in 1914.
1976: Newly remodeled Yankee Stadium is jammed with 52,613 fans for Opening Day ceremonies. The 1923 Yankee team is honored, and Bob Shawkey, winner of the 1923 Stadium opener, throws out the first ball. The Yankees beat the Twins 11-4 on 14 hits, but the only home runs are two hit by Minnesota's Dan Ford.
1983: Detroit pitcher Milt Wilcox is one out away from a perfect game when pinch hitter Jerry Hairston singles, and Wilcox settles for a 6-0 one-hitter over the White Sox. This is only the third time in major league history a perfect bid has been stopped with one out to go.
1987: Juan Nieves throws the first no-hitter in Brewers history, winning 7-0 against Baltimore. Milwaukee runs its record to 9-0.
1993: Andre Dawson became the 25th player to hit 400 home runs as the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 4-3.....Sparky Anderson got his 2,000th victory as a manager in the Detroit Tigers' 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics.
1994: With only 115 fans in attendance on a cold and rainy night at Pohlman Field, Kelly Wunsch becomes the third player and first starting pitcher to strikeout five batters in one inning in professional baseball. The Beloit Brewer hurler, who was drafted by Milwaukee in the first round (26th pick overall) of the 1993 amateur draft, makes this possible when two of those victims reached first base on wild pitches during 7-3 loss to Springfield (IL) of the Midwest League.
1997: The 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking the color barrier in baseball is celebrated before 54,047 at Shea Stadium during a game between the Mets and the Dodgers. President Bill Clinton and Jackie's widow, Rachel Robinson, both speak during the 35-minute presentation, but the surprise of the evening occurs when acting commissioner Bud Selig announces that the number 42 will be retired in perpetuity for every team. On the field, the Mets beat the Dodgers 5-0.
1998: The first-ever American League-National League doubleheader ends up a good day for New York. The Yankees are forced to come to Shea Stadium after a beam falls into the stands at Yankee Stadium on April 13. The Yankees earn their first victory in Queens in 22 years as they defeat the Angels 6-3. Former Mets star Darryl Strawberry, the all-time home run leader at Shea, adds to his total with a shot into the left field bleachers. In the regularly-scheduled night game, the Mets beat the Cubs 2-1. The Yankees, who played at Shea in 1974-75 while Yankee Stadium was renovated, are the winner in the attendance department (40,743 to 16,012).
2000: In the 2,800th game of his career, Oriole infielder Cal Ripken lines a base hit to center off the Twins Hector Carrasco to become the 24th major leaguer to reach the 3,000 career hit milestone. The single also makes him only the seventh player to get 3,000 hits and 400 home runs in major league history.
2005: A Fenway fan is ejected from the game after he takes what appears to be a swipe at Gary Sheffield as the Yankee outfielder fields a ball hit by Jason Varitek. The right-fielder's response, which includes shoving the fan, making a fist and exchanging words, will be investigated by major league baseball.
1909: Before an Opening Day crowd of 30,000 at New York, Red Ames pitches a no-hitter for nine innings against the Brooklyn Superbas, surrenders a hit with one out in the tenth, then loses the game 3-0 in the 13th. The Giants outfield has no putouts.
1918: The A.L. season opens with Babe Ruth pitching a four-hit 7-1 victory over the A's. Red Sox manager Ed Barrow will start Ruth's conversion to slugger by working him into 72 games in the outfield and first base.
1947: Jackie Robinson goes hitless in three trips in his debut but handles 11 chances at first base, a new position for him, in a 5-3 Brooklyn win over the Boston Braves. Coach Clyde Sukeforth, interim manager and the man credited with first scouting Robinson, guides the team to two wins before stepping down.
1954: Clint Courtney of the Orioles hits the first major league home run in Memorial Stadium. The Birds draw an Opening Day record crowd of 46,354 in a 3-1 afternoon win against the White Sox.
1958: The San Francisco Giants defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first major league game played at Seals Stadium, with Ruben Gomez pitching an 8-0 shutout. Giants shortstop Darly Spencer hits the first home run. The Giants set an attendance record for Seals Stadium by drawing 23,192 fans.
1966: Bob Gibson's 9-2 win at Forbes Field is the 18th straight for St. Louis in Pittsburgh. St. Louis ties the major league record (set by the Dodgers against the Phillies in 1945-46) for consecutive road wins against one club.
1968: Three records are smashed when the Astros score an unearned run in the 24th inning to squeeze by the Mets 1-0 after six hours and six minutes. It sets the mark as the longest N.L. game played to completion, the longest major league night game, and the first 23 innings are the longest major league scoreless game. The game ties the A.L.'s longest complete game (A's 4, Red Sox 1 in 24 innings on September 1, 1906).
1972: Reggie Jackson sports a mustache as the A's top the Twins 4-3 in 11 innings. Jackson is reported to be the first major league player with facial hair since Wally Schang in 1914.
1976: Newly remodeled Yankee Stadium is jammed with 52,613 fans for Opening Day ceremonies. The 1923 Yankee team is honored, and Bob Shawkey, winner of the 1923 Stadium opener, throws out the first ball. The Yankees beat the Twins 11-4 on 14 hits, but the only home runs are two hit by Minnesota's Dan Ford.
1983: Detroit pitcher Milt Wilcox is one out away from a perfect game when pinch hitter Jerry Hairston singles, and Wilcox settles for a 6-0 one-hitter over the White Sox. This is only the third time in major league history a perfect bid has been stopped with one out to go.
1987: Juan Nieves throws the first no-hitter in Brewers history, winning 7-0 against Baltimore. Milwaukee runs its record to 9-0.
1993: Andre Dawson became the 25th player to hit 400 home runs as the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 4-3.....Sparky Anderson got his 2,000th victory as a manager in the Detroit Tigers' 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics.
1994: With only 115 fans in attendance on a cold and rainy night at Pohlman Field, Kelly Wunsch becomes the third player and first starting pitcher to strikeout five batters in one inning in professional baseball. The Beloit Brewer hurler, who was drafted by Milwaukee in the first round (26th pick overall) of the 1993 amateur draft, makes this possible when two of those victims reached first base on wild pitches during 7-3 loss to Springfield (IL) of the Midwest League.
1997: The 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking the color barrier in baseball is celebrated before 54,047 at Shea Stadium during a game between the Mets and the Dodgers. President Bill Clinton and Jackie's widow, Rachel Robinson, both speak during the 35-minute presentation, but the surprise of the evening occurs when acting commissioner Bud Selig announces that the number 42 will be retired in perpetuity for every team. On the field, the Mets beat the Dodgers 5-0.
1998: The first-ever American League-National League doubleheader ends up a good day for New York. The Yankees are forced to come to Shea Stadium after a beam falls into the stands at Yankee Stadium on April 13. The Yankees earn their first victory in Queens in 22 years as they defeat the Angels 6-3. Former Mets star Darryl Strawberry, the all-time home run leader at Shea, adds to his total with a shot into the left field bleachers. In the regularly-scheduled night game, the Mets beat the Cubs 2-1. The Yankees, who played at Shea in 1974-75 while Yankee Stadium was renovated, are the winner in the attendance department (40,743 to 16,012).
2000: In the 2,800th game of his career, Oriole infielder Cal Ripken lines a base hit to center off the Twins Hector Carrasco to become the 24th major leaguer to reach the 3,000 career hit milestone. The single also makes him only the seventh player to get 3,000 hits and 400 home runs in major league history.
2005: A Fenway fan is ejected from the game after he takes what appears to be a swipe at Gary Sheffield as the Yankee outfielder fields a ball hit by Jason Varitek. The right-fielder's response, which includes shoving the fan, making a fist and exchanging words, will be investigated by major league baseball.
Today in NHL History April 15th
1929: Chicago Black Hawks named Tom Shaughnessy as their new coach.....New York Rangers traded Clarence "Taffy" Abel to Chicago for $15,000.
1937: In Game Five of the 1937 Stanley Cup series, referee Mickey Ion awarded Rangers right winger Alex Shibicky the first penalty shot in Final history. Red Wings rookie goaltender Earl Robertson stopped Shibicky’s shot and posted his second straight shutout, 3-0 against New York, as Detroit became the first American team to repeat as Cup champions.
1952: In his fourth shutout in eight postseason games, Detroit Red Wings goalie Terry Sawchuk blanked the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 to complete a four-game sweep of the 1952 Final. The Wings, who had also swept the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Semifinal, distinguished themselves as the first NHL team to win every playoff game in one year.
1958: Fleming Mackell picked up two assists, to give him an-NHL record 14 for the playoffs, in Boston's 3-1 win over Montreal, in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, at Boston Garden.....Former NHL center Keith Acton born in Newmarket, Ont. Acton played in the NHL 1979-80 thru 1993-94 with Montreal, Minnesota, Edmonton, Philadelphia, Washington, and the New York Islanders.
1971: Bobby Rousseau scored a goal and added two assists to lead Minnesota to a 5-2 playoff win over St. Louis, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Quarter-Finals. With the win, the North Stars advanced to the Semi-Finals against Montreal.
1976: Philadelphia picked up a playoff record 30 penalties in a 5-4 loss at Toronto, in Game 3 of the Quarter-Finals. The record was broken in 1981 when the Rangers got 31 in a game against Los Angeles.
1977: Clark Gillies set a playoff record with his fourth consecutive game winning goal and Billy Smith made 45 saves as the Islanders won 4-3 at Buffalo, in Game 3 of the Stanlely Cup Quarter-Finals.
1983: Edmonton's Paul Coffey tied a playoff record for defensemen, with a goal in his fourth consecutive playoff game, a 5-1 Oilers win over the visiting Calgary Flames, in Game 2 of the Smythe Division Finals.
1984: Philadelphia Flyers fired head coach Bob McCammon. Mike Keenan was later named as his replacement.
1986: Greg Paslawski scored a hat trick and added two assists, and Doug Gilmour set a team record with five assists, in a 6-3 Blues' playoff win over the North Stars, in Minnesota, in Game Five of the Division Semi-Finals.
1992: Al Arbour set a record for coaching the most games in NHL history, with #1,438, a 7-0 Islanders' win over the Devils, in Long Island. Arbour passed Dick Irvin. Steve Thomas led the scoring with 4 goals (his 5th career hat trick) and an assist.
1993: Teemu Selanne scored his 76th goal of the season, and added an assist, to lead the Jets to a 3-0 win over the Oilers in Winnipeg. Selanne's 76 goals and 132 points set NHL rookie records. Goaltender Bob Essensa recorded his 13th career shutout.....Alexander Mogilny scored his 75th and 76th goals of the season, which tied him with Winnipeg Jets' rookie Teemu Selanne for the 1992-93 goal scoring championship. The two goals came as the Sabres lost 7-4 to the Flyers in Buffalo.....Vancouver's Cliff Ronning scored his second career hat trick and added three assists in the Canucks 8-6 win over the Kings at Los Angeles. Vancouver broke the 100 point barrier for the first time, finishing with 101 points and a record 46 wins.....Detroit Red Wings won 5-3 over the Minnesota North Stars at Joe Louis Arena, to finish the 1992-93 season with a club record 103 points.....San Jose Sharks lost 7-3 to the Flames at Calgary, to finish their second season with an NHL record 71 losses and just two ties.
1998: Tie Domi set a Toronto Maple Leafs record for most penalty minutes in a season, when his 17 PIM (in a 3-2 win over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks) broke the season record of 351 set by Dave "Tiger" Williams in 1977-78.
1937: In Game Five of the 1937 Stanley Cup series, referee Mickey Ion awarded Rangers right winger Alex Shibicky the first penalty shot in Final history. Red Wings rookie goaltender Earl Robertson stopped Shibicky’s shot and posted his second straight shutout, 3-0 against New York, as Detroit became the first American team to repeat as Cup champions.
1952: In his fourth shutout in eight postseason games, Detroit Red Wings goalie Terry Sawchuk blanked the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 to complete a four-game sweep of the 1952 Final. The Wings, who had also swept the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Semifinal, distinguished themselves as the first NHL team to win every playoff game in one year.
1958: Fleming Mackell picked up two assists, to give him an-NHL record 14 for the playoffs, in Boston's 3-1 win over Montreal, in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, at Boston Garden.....Former NHL center Keith Acton born in Newmarket, Ont. Acton played in the NHL 1979-80 thru 1993-94 with Montreal, Minnesota, Edmonton, Philadelphia, Washington, and the New York Islanders.
1971: Bobby Rousseau scored a goal and added two assists to lead Minnesota to a 5-2 playoff win over St. Louis, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Quarter-Finals. With the win, the North Stars advanced to the Semi-Finals against Montreal.
1976: Philadelphia picked up a playoff record 30 penalties in a 5-4 loss at Toronto, in Game 3 of the Quarter-Finals. The record was broken in 1981 when the Rangers got 31 in a game against Los Angeles.
1977: Clark Gillies set a playoff record with his fourth consecutive game winning goal and Billy Smith made 45 saves as the Islanders won 4-3 at Buffalo, in Game 3 of the Stanlely Cup Quarter-Finals.
1983: Edmonton's Paul Coffey tied a playoff record for defensemen, with a goal in his fourth consecutive playoff game, a 5-1 Oilers win over the visiting Calgary Flames, in Game 2 of the Smythe Division Finals.
1984: Philadelphia Flyers fired head coach Bob McCammon. Mike Keenan was later named as his replacement.
1986: Greg Paslawski scored a hat trick and added two assists, and Doug Gilmour set a team record with five assists, in a 6-3 Blues' playoff win over the North Stars, in Minnesota, in Game Five of the Division Semi-Finals.
1992: Al Arbour set a record for coaching the most games in NHL history, with #1,438, a 7-0 Islanders' win over the Devils, in Long Island. Arbour passed Dick Irvin. Steve Thomas led the scoring with 4 goals (his 5th career hat trick) and an assist.
1993: Teemu Selanne scored his 76th goal of the season, and added an assist, to lead the Jets to a 3-0 win over the Oilers in Winnipeg. Selanne's 76 goals and 132 points set NHL rookie records. Goaltender Bob Essensa recorded his 13th career shutout.....Alexander Mogilny scored his 75th and 76th goals of the season, which tied him with Winnipeg Jets' rookie Teemu Selanne for the 1992-93 goal scoring championship. The two goals came as the Sabres lost 7-4 to the Flyers in Buffalo.....Vancouver's Cliff Ronning scored his second career hat trick and added three assists in the Canucks 8-6 win over the Kings at Los Angeles. Vancouver broke the 100 point barrier for the first time, finishing with 101 points and a record 46 wins.....Detroit Red Wings won 5-3 over the Minnesota North Stars at Joe Louis Arena, to finish the 1992-93 season with a club record 103 points.....San Jose Sharks lost 7-3 to the Flames at Calgary, to finish their second season with an NHL record 71 losses and just two ties.
1998: Tie Domi set a Toronto Maple Leafs record for most penalty minutes in a season, when his 17 PIM (in a 3-2 win over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks) broke the season record of 351 set by Dave "Tiger" Williams in 1977-78.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Today in MLB History April 14th
1910: William Howard Taft becomes the first president to throw out the first ball at a baseball opener in Washington. Walter Johnson catches it, then pitches the first of his 14 Opening Day games. An easy fly hit into the overflow crowd becomes a ground-rule double, marring a 3-0 Big Train pitching gem.
1915: The Athletics' Herd Pennock comes within one out of pitching the first Opening Day no-hitter. A scratch single by Harry Hopper is the only Red Sox hit in a 5-0 loss.
1917: Eddie Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitched an 11-0 no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns.
1925: In the first regular-season Cubs game to be broadcast on the radio, Quin Ryan announces the contest from the grandstand roof for WGN. Grover Alexander wins for the Cubs 8-2 over the Pirates and adds a single, double, and home run.....The Cleveland Indians opened the season with a 21-14 victory over the St. Louis Browns, the most runs scored by one team on opening day. The Indians scored 12 runs in the eighth inning when the Browns made five errors, four of them by first baseman George Sisler.....Two future Hall of Famers make their major league debuts for the A's in the same game. Lefty Grove starts against Boston and leaves in the fourth after walking four and striking out nobody. He gives up five runs on six hits. In the eighth, Mickey Cochrane pinch-hits for catcher Cy Perkins, singles, and stays in behind the plate while the A's go on to score nine runs in the last four innings to win 9-8 in ten innings. Grove, known as Groves in Baltimore, is also listed that way in the New York Times box score. Grove will become the first pitcher to lead the A.L. in strikeouts and walks in the same year.
1931: At Braves Field, Robin's pitcher Jack Quinn becomes the oldest pitcher to start an Opening Day game. The 47-year old Pennsylvanian gets tagged with the lost as Boston beats Brooklyn, 7-4.
1946: Manager Mel Ott of the Giants hits his 511th and final home run on Opening Day, an 8-4 home victory over the Phillies. The next day Ott will injure his knee diving for a ball and play only occasionally thereafter.
1955: Elston Howard becomes the first black to wear a Yankees uniform. He singles in his first at-bat, against the Red Sox, as the Yanks win 8-4.
1964: Sandy Koufax throws his ninth complete game without allowing a walk as he beats St. Louis 4-0 in his only start as an Opening Day pitcher.
1967: Red Sox rookie Billy Rohr debuts at Yankee Stadium. He startles everyone by taking a no-hitter to the ninth inning, but Elston Howard lines a 3-2 pitch for a single to right-center with two outs. Carl Yastrzemski had kept the no-hitter alive with a spectacular grab of a Tom Tresh drive to deep left field to open the ninth. Rohr wins the game 3-0, but he will pitch only once more for Boston before returning to the minors.
1968: Jim Bunning's first win with Pittsburgh, 3-0 at Los Angeles, is his 40th career shutout and includes his 1,000th N.L. strikeout, making him the first pitcher since Cy Young with 1,000 in each league.
1969: The first major league game outside the United States was played in Montreal's Jarry Park with the Expos defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7.
1990: Bret Saberhagen gets the win and Mark Davis earns the save as Kansas City beats Toronto 3-1. It is the first time ever that two reigning Cy Young Award winners have figured in the same victory.....Oriole Cal Ripken begins a streak which leads to a major league record for the most errorless games [95] and total chances [431] by a shortstop.
1991: Nolan Ryan becomes the 12th pitcher to surpass 5,000 innings pitched and gets plenty of hitting help as Texas whips Baltimore 15-3.
1993: The first-ever Australian battery comes from Milwaukee. Left-hander Graeme Lloyd and backstop Dave Nilsson, who make up half of the total number of Australian players to ever make the major leagues, make history in the Brewers' 12-2 loss to the Angels.
1998: Mark McGwire hits three home runs, breaking an eight-game homerless drought, as the Cardinals rout the Arizona Diamondbacks 15-5. After tying Willie Mays' major league record by homering in the first four games of the season, McGwire had not homered since April 4.
2006: Thanks to the outstanding pitching of Brett Meyers, and the Phillies bullpen, Philadelphia beats the Rockies, 1-0. It is the first time Colorado has lost a 1-0 game in the 10 years of playing at Coors Field.
1915: The Athletics' Herd Pennock comes within one out of pitching the first Opening Day no-hitter. A scratch single by Harry Hopper is the only Red Sox hit in a 5-0 loss.
1917: Eddie Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitched an 11-0 no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns.
1925: In the first regular-season Cubs game to be broadcast on the radio, Quin Ryan announces the contest from the grandstand roof for WGN. Grover Alexander wins for the Cubs 8-2 over the Pirates and adds a single, double, and home run.....The Cleveland Indians opened the season with a 21-14 victory over the St. Louis Browns, the most runs scored by one team on opening day. The Indians scored 12 runs in the eighth inning when the Browns made five errors, four of them by first baseman George Sisler.....Two future Hall of Famers make their major league debuts for the A's in the same game. Lefty Grove starts against Boston and leaves in the fourth after walking four and striking out nobody. He gives up five runs on six hits. In the eighth, Mickey Cochrane pinch-hits for catcher Cy Perkins, singles, and stays in behind the plate while the A's go on to score nine runs in the last four innings to win 9-8 in ten innings. Grove, known as Groves in Baltimore, is also listed that way in the New York Times box score. Grove will become the first pitcher to lead the A.L. in strikeouts and walks in the same year.
1931: At Braves Field, Robin's pitcher Jack Quinn becomes the oldest pitcher to start an Opening Day game. The 47-year old Pennsylvanian gets tagged with the lost as Boston beats Brooklyn, 7-4.
1946: Manager Mel Ott of the Giants hits his 511th and final home run on Opening Day, an 8-4 home victory over the Phillies. The next day Ott will injure his knee diving for a ball and play only occasionally thereafter.
1955: Elston Howard becomes the first black to wear a Yankees uniform. He singles in his first at-bat, against the Red Sox, as the Yanks win 8-4.
1964: Sandy Koufax throws his ninth complete game without allowing a walk as he beats St. Louis 4-0 in his only start as an Opening Day pitcher.
1967: Red Sox rookie Billy Rohr debuts at Yankee Stadium. He startles everyone by taking a no-hitter to the ninth inning, but Elston Howard lines a 3-2 pitch for a single to right-center with two outs. Carl Yastrzemski had kept the no-hitter alive with a spectacular grab of a Tom Tresh drive to deep left field to open the ninth. Rohr wins the game 3-0, but he will pitch only once more for Boston before returning to the minors.
1968: Jim Bunning's first win with Pittsburgh, 3-0 at Los Angeles, is his 40th career shutout and includes his 1,000th N.L. strikeout, making him the first pitcher since Cy Young with 1,000 in each league.
1969: The first major league game outside the United States was played in Montreal's Jarry Park with the Expos defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7.
1990: Bret Saberhagen gets the win and Mark Davis earns the save as Kansas City beats Toronto 3-1. It is the first time ever that two reigning Cy Young Award winners have figured in the same victory.....Oriole Cal Ripken begins a streak which leads to a major league record for the most errorless games [95] and total chances [431] by a shortstop.
1991: Nolan Ryan becomes the 12th pitcher to surpass 5,000 innings pitched and gets plenty of hitting help as Texas whips Baltimore 15-3.
1993: The first-ever Australian battery comes from Milwaukee. Left-hander Graeme Lloyd and backstop Dave Nilsson, who make up half of the total number of Australian players to ever make the major leagues, make history in the Brewers' 12-2 loss to the Angels.
1998: Mark McGwire hits three home runs, breaking an eight-game homerless drought, as the Cardinals rout the Arizona Diamondbacks 15-5. After tying Willie Mays' major league record by homering in the first four games of the season, McGwire had not homered since April 4.
2006: Thanks to the outstanding pitching of Brett Meyers, and the Phillies bullpen, Philadelphia beats the Rockies, 1-0. It is the first time Colorado has lost a 1-0 game in the 10 years of playing at Coors Field.
Today in NHL History April 14th
1902: Hall of Famer Sylvio Mantha born in Montreal, Que. Mantha played in the NHL 1923-24 through 1936-37 with Montreal and Boston.
1928: In only their second season as an NHL franchise, the New York Rangers captured the 1928 Stanley Cup with a 2-1 triumph over the Montreal Maroons in the final game of the best-of-five title series. The Rangers became only the second American team in history to win the Stanley Cup, joining the 1917 champion Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association.
1931: Goaltender George Hainsworth blanked the Chicago Black Hawks 2-0 as the Montreal Canadiens became the second NHL team to win Stanley Cup championships in two consecutive seasons. The Ottawa Senators first accomplished the feat in 1920 and 1921.
1942: Brothers Don Metz (3-2-5) and Nick Metz (1-2-3) led the Toronto Maple Leafs to a record-tying 9-3 victory against the Detroit Red Wings in the 1942 Final. The Leafs’ nine-goal outburst matched the Final scoring mark for an NHL team set by Detroit on April 7, 1936, in a 9-4 win against Toronto.
1948: The Toronto Maple Leafs repeated as Stanley Cup champions with a 7-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings, thus completing a four-game sweep of the 1948 Final. The game marked the end of a career for Toronto captain Syl Apps, who punctuated his stint in the NHL with a goal in this series-ending victory.
1953: Maurice “Rocket” Richard became the second NHL player to register two hat tricks in Final history, joining Howie Morenz in achieving the feat. Richard, who led Montreal to a 7-3 win against Boston, later added a four-goal performance to his record on April 6, 1957.
1955: Right winger Gordie Howe scored the winning goal in Game Seven of the 1955 Stanley Cup Final to lead the Detroit Red Wings past the Montreal Canadiens 3-1. The goal gave Howe a 5-7-12 scoring mark in the series, setting a new individual mark for Final competition.....Former NHL left winger Steve Jensen born in Minneapolis, Mn. Jensen played in the NHL 1975-76 through 1981-82 with Minnesota and Los Angeles.
1960: Goaltender Jacques Plante blanked the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 as the Montreal Canadiens captured their record-setting fifth straight Stanley Cup championship. The victory marked the end of a career for Maurice “Rocket” Richard, the NHL’s all-time leader with 34 goals in the Stanley Cup Final.
1968: Bobby Schmautz scored a goal from 90 feet out, and added an assist to lead the Black Hawks to a 2-1 win over the Rangers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Quarter-Finals, at New York.
1969: Former NHL center Dave Archibald born in Chilliwack, B.C. Archibald played in the NHL 1987-88 through 1996-97 with the Minnesota North Stars, the New York Rangers, Ottawa and the New York Islanders.
1970: Minnesota's Charlie Burns became the final player/coach in NHL history to score a goal, when he tallied once for the North Stars in a 6-3 loss in St. Louis, in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Quarter Finals.
1979: Sabres helped set a Stanley Cup Playoff Record for fastest two goals by two teams. Gil Perreault and Pittsburgh's Jim Hamilton scored five seconds apart in the 1st, as the Penguins went on to win 4-3 in Game 3 of the Preliminary Round.
1980: Chicago veteran Stan Mikita announced his retirement after 22 seasons in the NHL.
1982: Detroit's Steve Yzerman scored his 15th career hat trick (including 2 shorthanded goals) and picked up an assist to give him 100 points in a season for the 5th straight year in a 7-4 Red Wings' win over the North Stars at Minnesota.
1989: Just 13 days after being fired by the New York Rangers, Michel Bergeron was named coach of the Quebec Nordiques for the second time in his career. Bergeron replaced Jean Perron.
1992: Detroit's Steve Yzerman scored his 15th career hat trick (including 2 shorthanded goals) and picked up an assist to give him 100 points in a season for the 5th straight year in a 7-4 Red Wings' win over the North Stars at Minnesota.....Playing in the final regular season game of his 20 year NHL career, Larry Robinson scored his final NHL goal (#208) and picked up his final career point (#958 -- 4th highest among defensemen in NHL history) in the Kings' 3-2 loss to Vancouver.
1993: Bruins' Joe Juneau had three assists to tie Peter Stastny's NHL rookie record, with 70 assists for the season. His three points gave him 100 points on the year, and came in the Bruins' 8th straight road win, a 4-2 victory at Ottawa.....Mario Lemieux scored two goals and an assist to lead the Penguins to a 6-6 tie at New Jersey. The NHL's longest winning streak ended at 17 straight games, but with the tie the Penguins extended their unbeaten streak to 18 games.
1994: Chicago Stadium, the second oldest major league arena in North America, hosted its final regular season game as the Blackhawks lost 6-4 to Toronto.
1996: Detroit wrapped up the winningest season in NHL history with a 5-1 win at Dallas. The Red Wings finished the season with 62 wins, two more than the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens.....Mario Lemieux scored a goal and four assists to win his fifth scoring title with a total of 161 points (69 goals, 92 assists) in the Penguins' 6-5 loss at Boston. Also in that game, Jaromir Jagr had two assists to set an NHL record for most points in a season by a right wing, breaking the old record of 147 points set by Mike Bossy.
1999: Dallas' Ed Belfour became the first goaltender in NHL history to win 35 (or more) games five times in his NHL career, when the Stars beat the visiting Phoenix Coyotes 4-2.....NJ Devils tied an NHL record for road wins in a season (27) set by the 1976-77 and '77-78 Canadiens, with a 2-1 victory at Buffalo.
2001: Tommy Salo recorded his first career victory at Reunion Arena in Dallas as the Oilers scored three power play goals to end a 13-game losing streak at Dallas with a 4-3 Edmonton win, in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarter-Finals.
1928: In only their second season as an NHL franchise, the New York Rangers captured the 1928 Stanley Cup with a 2-1 triumph over the Montreal Maroons in the final game of the best-of-five title series. The Rangers became only the second American team in history to win the Stanley Cup, joining the 1917 champion Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association.
1931: Goaltender George Hainsworth blanked the Chicago Black Hawks 2-0 as the Montreal Canadiens became the second NHL team to win Stanley Cup championships in two consecutive seasons. The Ottawa Senators first accomplished the feat in 1920 and 1921.
1942: Brothers Don Metz (3-2-5) and Nick Metz (1-2-3) led the Toronto Maple Leafs to a record-tying 9-3 victory against the Detroit Red Wings in the 1942 Final. The Leafs’ nine-goal outburst matched the Final scoring mark for an NHL team set by Detroit on April 7, 1936, in a 9-4 win against Toronto.
1948: The Toronto Maple Leafs repeated as Stanley Cup champions with a 7-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings, thus completing a four-game sweep of the 1948 Final. The game marked the end of a career for Toronto captain Syl Apps, who punctuated his stint in the NHL with a goal in this series-ending victory.
1953: Maurice “Rocket” Richard became the second NHL player to register two hat tricks in Final history, joining Howie Morenz in achieving the feat. Richard, who led Montreal to a 7-3 win against Boston, later added a four-goal performance to his record on April 6, 1957.
1955: Right winger Gordie Howe scored the winning goal in Game Seven of the 1955 Stanley Cup Final to lead the Detroit Red Wings past the Montreal Canadiens 3-1. The goal gave Howe a 5-7-12 scoring mark in the series, setting a new individual mark for Final competition.....Former NHL left winger Steve Jensen born in Minneapolis, Mn. Jensen played in the NHL 1975-76 through 1981-82 with Minnesota and Los Angeles.
1960: Goaltender Jacques Plante blanked the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 as the Montreal Canadiens captured their record-setting fifth straight Stanley Cup championship. The victory marked the end of a career for Maurice “Rocket” Richard, the NHL’s all-time leader with 34 goals in the Stanley Cup Final.
1968: Bobby Schmautz scored a goal from 90 feet out, and added an assist to lead the Black Hawks to a 2-1 win over the Rangers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Quarter-Finals, at New York.
1969: Former NHL center Dave Archibald born in Chilliwack, B.C. Archibald played in the NHL 1987-88 through 1996-97 with the Minnesota North Stars, the New York Rangers, Ottawa and the New York Islanders.
1970: Minnesota's Charlie Burns became the final player/coach in NHL history to score a goal, when he tallied once for the North Stars in a 6-3 loss in St. Louis, in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Quarter Finals.
1979: Sabres helped set a Stanley Cup Playoff Record for fastest two goals by two teams. Gil Perreault and Pittsburgh's Jim Hamilton scored five seconds apart in the 1st, as the Penguins went on to win 4-3 in Game 3 of the Preliminary Round.
1980: Chicago veteran Stan Mikita announced his retirement after 22 seasons in the NHL.
1982: Detroit's Steve Yzerman scored his 15th career hat trick (including 2 shorthanded goals) and picked up an assist to give him 100 points in a season for the 5th straight year in a 7-4 Red Wings' win over the North Stars at Minnesota.
1989: Just 13 days after being fired by the New York Rangers, Michel Bergeron was named coach of the Quebec Nordiques for the second time in his career. Bergeron replaced Jean Perron.
1992: Detroit's Steve Yzerman scored his 15th career hat trick (including 2 shorthanded goals) and picked up an assist to give him 100 points in a season for the 5th straight year in a 7-4 Red Wings' win over the North Stars at Minnesota.....Playing in the final regular season game of his 20 year NHL career, Larry Robinson scored his final NHL goal (#208) and picked up his final career point (#958 -- 4th highest among defensemen in NHL history) in the Kings' 3-2 loss to Vancouver.
1993: Bruins' Joe Juneau had three assists to tie Peter Stastny's NHL rookie record, with 70 assists for the season. His three points gave him 100 points on the year, and came in the Bruins' 8th straight road win, a 4-2 victory at Ottawa.....Mario Lemieux scored two goals and an assist to lead the Penguins to a 6-6 tie at New Jersey. The NHL's longest winning streak ended at 17 straight games, but with the tie the Penguins extended their unbeaten streak to 18 games.
1994: Chicago Stadium, the second oldest major league arena in North America, hosted its final regular season game as the Blackhawks lost 6-4 to Toronto.
1996: Detroit wrapped up the winningest season in NHL history with a 5-1 win at Dallas. The Red Wings finished the season with 62 wins, two more than the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens.....Mario Lemieux scored a goal and four assists to win his fifth scoring title with a total of 161 points (69 goals, 92 assists) in the Penguins' 6-5 loss at Boston. Also in that game, Jaromir Jagr had two assists to set an NHL record for most points in a season by a right wing, breaking the old record of 147 points set by Mike Bossy.
1999: Dallas' Ed Belfour became the first goaltender in NHL history to win 35 (or more) games five times in his NHL career, when the Stars beat the visiting Phoenix Coyotes 4-2.....NJ Devils tied an NHL record for road wins in a season (27) set by the 1976-77 and '77-78 Canadiens, with a 2-1 victory at Buffalo.
2001: Tommy Salo recorded his first career victory at Reunion Arena in Dallas as the Oilers scored three power play goals to end a 13-game losing streak at Dallas with a 4-3 Edmonton win, in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarter-Finals.
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