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 various Grand Prix events. Over the years, April 30 has seen many memorable moments in sports history.
In 1900, Bob Fitzsimmons knocked out Ed Dunkhorst in Brooklyn. Cricket star Donald Bradman scored 258 for Australia in 1938. The legendary Lou Gehrig played his 2,130th and final MLB game in 1939. In 1944, Mel Ott of the New York Giants scored six runs and had five walks in a single game. Bob Feller threw a no-hitter for the Cleveland Indians in 1946, defeating the Yankees 1-0.
In 1958, Ted Williams became the 10th player in MLB history to reach 1,000 extra-base hits. Mickey Wright won the LPGA Titleholders Championship in 1961, while Willie Mays hit four home runs in one game that same year. Jim Maloney recorded a no-hitter for the Cincinnati Reds in 1969.
In 1970, Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs played in his 1,000th consecutive game. Muhammad Ali retained his heavyweight title by defeating Jimmy Young in 1976. Bill Elliott set a NASCAR qualifying record in 1986, and Dave Winfield tied the MLB record for RBIs in April in 1988.
Kobe Bryant hit a game-winning buzzer-beater in 2006, and in 2012, Manchester City beat Manchester United in a crucial derby. In 2022, the San Francisco 49ers selected Brock Purdy as Mr. Irrelevant in the NFL Draft.
Three standout athletes from April 30 are Lou Gehrig, Muhammad Ali, and Kobe Bryant, each leaving a lasting legacy in their sports.
