April is an exciting month for sports fans, featuring NBA and NHL playoffs, the start of MLB, The Masters, the NCAA Basketball title game, the NFL Draft, and Grand Prix events. April 9 has seen many memorable moments in sports history.
In 1880, golfer Bob Ferguson won his first of three consecutive Open Championship titles. Fast forward to 1896, Australian athlete Edwin Flack claimed victory in the 800-meter final at the Athens Olympics. In 1925, Babe Ruth faced a mysterious ailment known as “the bellyache heard round the world.”
The Montreal Canadiens lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1931 Stanley Cup Finals but later won the series. In 1941, golfer Dorothy Kirby dominated the LPGA Titleholders Championship, winning by 16 strokes. The Canadiens also triumphed over the Boston Bruins in 1946 to secure the Stanley Cup.
In 1950, Jimmy Demaret became the first three-time Masters champion. The Boston Celtics made history in 1959 by sweeping the NBA Finals and starting a streak of eight consecutive titles. That same year, Bill Sharman set an NBA record with 56 consecutive free throws.
Arnold Palmer won his third Masters title in 1962, while Mickey Mantle hit the first indoor home run in MLB history in 1965. Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player both made headlines in the Masters in the 1970s.
In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela debuted for the Dodgers, later winning Rookie of the Year. Wayne Gretzky scored seven points in a Stanley Cup game in 1987. Nick Faldo and Rickey Henderson also made their marks in 1989.
April 9 has been a day filled with unforgettable sports achievements, showcasing legends like Dorothy Kirby, Bill Sharman, and Mickey Mantle.
