May is an exciting month for sports fans. The NBA and NHL playoffs are in full swing, MLB is heating up, and events like the Preakness Stakes, PGA Championship, FA Cup Final, and French Open are taking place. Over the years, May 31 has seen many memorable moments in sports history.
In 1914, Joe Benz of the Chicago White Sox pitched a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. The first rain-shortened Indianapolis 500 happened in 1926, won by Frank Lockhart. In 1927, Johnny Neun of the Detroit Tigers made an unassisted triple play. Bobby Jones won the British Amateur Championship in 1930, marking the start of his Grand Slam. Lou Gehrig played his 2,000th consecutive game in 1938, and Sam Snead claimed his first major title in 1942.
In 1961, Benfica defeated FC Barcelona 3-2 in the European Cup Final, making history as the first Portuguese team to win. The Philadelphia 76ers swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1983 NBA Finals, while the Boston Celtics edged out the Lakers in a thrilling 1984 series. Ila Borders made history in 1997 as the first woman to pitch in a professional baseball game.
In 1999, Sean Elliot’s last-second three-pointer gave the Spurs a dramatic win, known as the Memorial Day Miracle. The New Jersey Nets reached their first NBA Finals in 2002. LeBron James had a legendary performance in 2007, scoring the last 25 points in a double-overtime win. Usain Bolt broke the 100-meter world record in 2008, and Manny Ramirez hit his 500th home run that same year. In 2014, two UFC events took place on the same day, showcasing thrilling fights in Germany and Brazil.
