July 22 is packed with sports history that reads like a setlist of legendary moments. From baseball and golf to cycling and boxing, the day has seen unforgettable wins and landmark records.
In 1912 the Stockholm Olympics closed. Jim Barnes won the 1921 U.S. Open. In 1923 Henri Pélissier took the Tour de France, and Walter Johnson notched his 3,000th career strikeout — the first pitcher to reach that mark. The Yankees picked up Leo Durocher in 1925. Curt Walker hit two triples in one inning in 1926, and Johnny Moore smashed three straight homers in 1936.
Fast-forward: the Phillies capped an 11-game streak in 1955. Floyd Robinson went 6-for-6 with all singles in 1962, the same year Gary Player won the PGA Championship. Sonny Liston defended his heavyweight crown in 1963. Eddy Merckx grabbed his fourth straight Tour title in 1972. Susie Maxwell Berning and Bernard Hinault scored big wins in the ’70s.
More recent highs: Don Mattingly hit his 200th homer in 1993. Greg Maddux threw a 78-pitch complete game in 1997. David Duval (2001), Pádraig Harrington (2007), and Ernie Els (2012) won British Opens. Bradley Wiggins took the 2012 Tour. Branden Grace shot a record 62 in a major in 2017. Sue Bird played her 500th WNBA game in 2018.
Standouts across the years include Walter Johnson for sheer power, Eddy Merckx for dominance on two wheels, and Sue Bird for long-term excellence. Short, sharp, and full of legends — July 22 is a highlight reel worth replaying.
