January 3
1920 — In a move that would forever change the landscape of baseball, Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee traded legendary pitcher and outfielder Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for a total of $475,000, ushering in an era significant for the Yankees.
1931 — Nels Stewart of the Montreal Maroons makes history by scoring two goals in just four seconds during a thrilling 5-3 victory against the Boston Bruins.
1946 — Tragedy strikes at Santa Anita Park when renowned equestrian George Woolf suffers a fatal accident while competing in Please Me. The talented jockey, affectionately nicknamed “The Iceman”, passed away the following day after a career that saw him record 721 wins in 3,784 rides.
1973 — A historic moment for the Yankees when a consortium led by George Steinbrenner purchases the famous club from CBS for a significant sum of $10 million.
1991 — Wayne Gretzky reaches a major milestone, scoring three goals, including his 700th career goal, as the Los Angeles Kings triumph over the New York Islanders with a score of 6-3.
1993 — In one of the most dramatic playoffs in American football history, the Buffalo Bills stage a stunning comeback to defeat the Houston Oilers 41-38 in overtime, thanks to four touchdown passes from Frank Reich and a goal from Steve Christie’s Victory Field.
1995 — The Nebraska Cornhuskers secure their first national title since 1971, solidifying their dominance with a perfect 13-0 record in the NCAA Division IA football season, being crowned the top team in the AP Poll.
1998 — The Michigan Wolverines capture their first national championship since 1948, officially recognized as No. 1 in the final AP poll despite the coaches’ poll proclaiming Nebraska as champions, resulting in a captivating shared title.
1999 — Brian Bellows reaches a career milestone, scoring his 1,000th NHL point while leading the Washington Capitals to a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
2003 — Ohio State completes an extraordinary undefeated season, securing its first national championship in 34 years with a dramatic 31-24 victory against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.
2007 — Big shock in the NFL when Miami Dolphins head coach Nick Saban resigns, returning to college football to coach Alabama.
2010 — Chris Johnson gives a stellar performance, rushing for 134 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Tennessee Titans to a narrow 17-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, capping his season with an impressive 2,006 yards.
2011 — Connecticut’s incredible streak comes to an end as it falls to No. 2 in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll, ending its nearly three-year dominance atop the rankings after its record-breaking 90-game winning streak stopped at the hands of Stanford.
2015 — In a remarkable feat, veteran forward Jaromir Jagr scores three goals, surpassing Gordie Howe to become the oldest player in NHL history to record a hat trick, leading the New Jersey Devils to a 5-game victory. -2 over the Philadelphia Flyers.
2016 — Jimmy Butler sets a new benchmark for the Chicago Bulls, breaking Michael Jordan’s record for most points in an NBA half, scoring 40 of his 42 points after halftime to secure a 115-113 victory against Toronto Raptors.
2023 — Star striker Cristiano Ronaldo makes headlines by joining Saudi club Al Nassr, reportedly for the biggest salary in football history, following his controversial departure from Manchester United.
January 4
1970 — The Minnesota Vikings make history as the first expansion team to claim the NFL title, defeating the Cleveland Browns 27-7 amid frigid temperatures in Bloomington, Minnesota.
1970 — In a defensive display, the Kansas City team establishes dominance with four interceptions, leading to a 17-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders in the final AFL title game.
1976 — The Dallas Cowboys break barriers as the first wild card team to advance to the Super Bowl after a resounding 37-7 victory against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC title game.
1986 — Eric Dickerson sets an unattainable playoff record with an astonishing 248 rushing yards and two touchdowns, leading the Los Angeles Rams to a 20-0 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
1991 — 12-year-old Fu Mingxia makes a splash in the world of competitive swimming, becoming the youngest world champion in aquatics by winning the women’s platform gold medal at the World Swimming Championships in Perth, Australia.
1992 — Mike Gartner becomes the latest member of the NHL’s elite, scoring his 1,000th point on a power-play goal for the New York Rangers during a tough 6-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
1997 — The Jacksonville Jaguars continue to defy expectations, advancing to the AFC championship game in just their second year, defeating the Denver Broncos.
2000 — In a surprising turn, Bill Belichick resigns from his newly accepted position as head coach of the New York Jets to join the New England Patriots.
2000 — No. 1-ranked Florida State holds its own against Virginia Tech, winning 46-29 in the Sugar Bowl to finish a perfect season as national champions, winning wire-to-wire in the AP Poll for the first time in more 50 years old.
2001 — Michael Jordan achieves a historic milestone by becoming the fourth player in NBA history to surpass 30,000 career points during a victory against his former team, the Chicago Bulls.
2003 — Bode Miller claims his second consecutive World Cup giant slalom title in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, climbing to the top of the overall World Cup standings for the first time since Phil Mahre in 1983.
2005 — Matt Leinart shines for USC, throwing five touchdown passes and leading his team to a resounding 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, repeating as AP national champions.
2006 — The Texas Longhorns end Southern California’s 34-game winning streak, claiming a 41-38 victory in the Rose Bowl for their first national championship since 1969.
2012 — In a record-breaking performance, Geno Smith ties the bowl game record with six touchdown passes as West Virginia sweeps Clemson 70-33 in the Orange Bowl.
2013 — Rising star Mikaela Shiffrin becomes the first American woman to win two World Cup races before turning 18, scoring a notable slalom victory in Zagreb, Croatia.
2014 — In a remarkable comeback, Andrew Luck leads the Indianapolis Colts from a four-touchdown deficit to a stunning 45-44 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in a wild-card playoff game.
2025-01-02 16:48:00