Stricken with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s baseball career came to an end early in the 1939 season. In a tribute to the Iron Horse the Yankees hold a day in his honor in 1939 and Gehrig makes his famous speech where he declares himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth” knowing the disease he had was fatal and not curable.
Defending Wimbledon women’s champion Chris Evert Lloyd falls to Martina Navratilova in 3 sets 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. It was the first of six consecutive Wimbledon titles for Navratilova who would win a total of 9 in her career at he All England Club. Martina and Chris faced each other in the Wimbledon finals five times between 1978 and 1985 with Navratilova winning them all.
In 1897 Wee Willie Keeler got a hit in 44 consecutive games. On this day The Yankee Clipper passed Keeler by getting a hit in his 45th consecutive game. DiMaggio would go on to hit in 11 more straight for a total of 56.
CLICK HERE TO SEE JOE DIMAGGIO HIT IN HIS 45TH CONSECUTIVE GAME
Amherst College takes on Williams College in the first ever baseball game between two college teams. The game was played in Pittsfield, MA won by Amherst by the score of 73-32 in 25 innings. To commemorate the game’s 150th anniversary a game was played May 3, 2009 between alumni of both schools using the rules of 1859.
With over 15,000 fans on hand at the Palace at Auburn Hills it was appropriate that the first selection in the NBA draft would be a Wolverine from Michigan. With the #1 pick the Orlando Magic select Chris Webber but the Magic end up trading the rights to Webber to the Golden State Warriors for the 3rd pick in the draft (Penny Hardaway) and three future first round picks. With the #2 pick in the draft the 76ers take 7′6″ center Shawn Bradley.
Brazil defeats the host nation of Sweden 5-2 to win the 1958 World Cup of soccer thanks in part to two goals by Pele. At age 17 Pele becomes the youngest player in World Cup competition.
Mike Tyson bites a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear off during the 3rd round of the match. Tyson is disqualified. Video shows the 3rd round, the bite, and post match interview with referee Mills Lane.
As a warm up to the 1992 Summer Olympics, the Tournament of the Americas is played in Portland, OR. The Dream Team plays their first game together and beats Cuba 136-57.
At age 15 years, 6 months, 28 days Tiger Woods becomes the youngest winner of the US Junior Amateur Championship. Woods would go on to win the tournament in each of the next two years for a run of three consecutive years becoming the only multiple winner of the tournament.
The Mets had won the first two games of this interleague matchup and were going for their first ever series sweep at Yankee Stadium, but with the bases loaded in the bottom on the 9th Jason Giambi comes up and delivers the game winning hit.
CLICK HERE TO SEE GIAMBI’S WALK OFF SINGLE
