December is an exciting month for sports fans. The NBA and NHL seasons are in full swing, NFL teams are fighting for playoff spots, and college football wraps up. We also see F1 racing, UFC Fight Nights, and college basketball tournaments. December 23 has seen many memorable moments in sports history.
Here are some highlights from that date:
– 1923: The Yankees sold pitcher Carl Mays to the Reds for $85,000.
– 1933: Howie Morenz of the Montreal Canadiens scored his 249th career goal.
– 1951: The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cleveland Browns 24-17 to win the NFL Championship.
– 1962: The Dallas Texans won the AFL Championship in double overtime against the Houston Oilers.
– 1975: MLB free agency began when an arbitrator ruled that pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally were free agents.
– 1982: Chaminade pulled off a huge upset by beating top-ranked Virginia 77-72 in college basketball.
– 1996: Barry Sanders became the first NFL player to rush for 1,500 yards in three straight seasons.
– 2007: Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 career points in the NBA.
– 2022: Alexander Ovechkin moved into second place on the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list.
Three standout athletes from December 23 are Bryan Trottier, Barry Sanders, and Phil Jackson. Trottier was a top NHL player, Sanders electrified the NFL, and Jackson won 11 NBA championships. Each left a lasting mark on their sports.
