Sports in June include the Stanley Cup and NBA Finals, midseason MLB, the NBA Draft, the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the Belmont Stakes, and some Grand Prix races. Over the years, June 27 has brought many memorable sports moments involving legends. Here are some highlights.
In 1876, Dave Force of the Philadelphia Athletics became the first National League player to get six hits in a nine-inning game. In 1890, George Dixon became the first Black boxer to win a world title. In 1891, Mabel Cahill won the U.S. National Championships in women’s tennis, beating defending champ Ellen Roosevelt. Willie Anderson took the U.S. Open in 1903 after a two-stroke playoff over David Brown. Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman won her first of three straight U.S. National titles in 1909.
Jack Johnson retained his heavyweight crown in 1914, beating Frank Moran on points after 20 rounds. Walter Hagen won the British Open for a second time in 1924. The U.S. beat Great Britain 9-3 in the 1931 Ryder Cup. In 1939, the Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Bees played a 23-inning 2-2 tie that was called for darkness.
Chandler Harper won the PGA Championship in 1950. Hungary beat Brazil 4-2 in the 1954 World Cup quarterfinal in the match dubbed the Battle of Berne. Mickey Wright defended her U.S. Women’s Open in 1959. Johnny Callison hit for the cycle for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1963. JoAnne Carner won the U.S. Women’s Open by seven strokes in 1971. Willie McCovey became the first player to twice hit two homers in one inning in 1977.
Muhammad Ali’s 1979 comeback attempt failed. Jerry Reuss threw a no-hitter for the Dodgers in 1980. The Mariners batted out of order in 1983. France beat Spain 2-0 to win Euro 1984. Mike Tyson knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds in 1988. Jim Colbert won the Senior Players Championship in 1993. Juli Inkster completed the LPGA career Grand Slam in 1999, the same year Tony Hawk landed the first “900” at the X Games.
