July 26 has delivered some unforgettable moments in sports history. Fans who love big events will enjoy this quick trip through the day’s highlights.
In the early years, Philippe Thys won the Tour de France in 1914. Gene Tunney defended his heavyweight title in 1928 with an 11th-round TKO of Tom Heeney. That same year the Yankees exploded for 11 runs in the 12th inning to beat the Tigers 12-1.
The Tour showed up again in 1931 with Antonin Magne’s victory. France also beat Great Britain 3-2 in the International Lawn Tennis Challenge that year. June Beebe took the LPGA Western Open—the only major of her career. In 1933, Joe DiMaggio’s famous 61-game hitting streak ended. Bill Dickey blasted three homers in a row in 1939.
Patricia Todd won the French women’s tennis championship in 1947. In 1950, Jim Russell became the first to hit two switch-hit homers in one game. Mickey Mantle hit his first grand slam in 1952 and his 200th homer in 1957. Louison Bobet won the Tour in 1953. Doug Ford claimed the PGA Championship in 1955.
Johnny Bench had a monster day in 1970, going 4-for-5 with seven RBIs, including three straight homers, and later hit his 300th career homer in 1978. Pete Rose tied Ty Cobb’s hit total in 1984. In 1987, Catfish Hunter, Billy Williams, and Ray Dandridge entered the Baseball Hall of Fame. Mike Schmidt set an NL games-at-third record in 1988.
Other notable moments: Mark Gardner threw a no-hitter in 1991 but lost. Nolan Ryan notched his 23rd straight season with 100 strikeouts in 1992. Patty Sheehan and Hale Irwin won big senior and women’s titles in the ’90s. In recent years, Chris Froome won the Tour in 2015. Juventus secured their ninth straight Serie A in 2020. At Tokyo 2021, Adam Peaty repeated as 100m swim champ, and Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines’ first Olympic gold.
