May is an exciting month for sports fans. The NBA and NHL playoffs are in full swing, while Major League Baseball is heating up. Horse racing fans look forward to the Preakness Stakes, and golf enthusiasts gear up for the PGA Championship. Soccer fans can catch the FA Cup Final, and tennis lovers anticipate the French Open. There are also several Grand Prix events to enjoy.
May 15 has seen many memorable moments in sports history. In 1906, New York Giants pitcher George “Hooks” Wiltse struck out four batters in one inning, thanks to a dropped third strike. In 1918, Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators pitched an incredible 18-inning shutout against the Chicago White Sox, leading his team to a 1-0 win.
The year 1941 marked the start of Joe DiMaggio’s legendary 56-game hitting streak when he recorded a run-scoring single. In 1948, Citation won the Preakness Stakes on his way to the Triple Crown. Johnny Longden became the second jockey to ride 4,000 winners in 1952.
Rocky Marciano defended his heavyweight title for the first time in 1953, knocking out Joe Walcott in the first round. In 1963, Tottenham Hotspur won their third European Cup Winners’ Cup, defeating Atlético Madrid 5-1. Nolan Ryan pitched his first no-hitter in 1973, leading the Angels to a 3-0 victory.
Other highlights include Len Barker’s perfect game in 1981, the longest playoff game in NHL history in 1990, and Laura Davies winning the LPGA Championship in 1994. In 2004, Roy Jones Jr. faced Antonio Tarver in a major boxing match, where Tarver scored a stunning knockout. More recently, in 2021, Charles Oliveira won the UFC lightweight title with a second-round knockout at UFC 262.
