May is an exciting month for sports fans. The NBA and NHL playoffs are in full swing, MLB is heating up, and major events like the Preakness Stakes, PGA Championship, FA Cup Final, and French Open are on the calendar. Over the years, May 18 has seen many memorable moments in sports history.
In 1880, George Garrett Lewis rode Fonso to victory in the sixth Kentucky Derby, finishing in 2:37.5. Fast forward to 1897, when Bill Joyce of the New York Giants made history by hitting four triples in a single game. In 1912, the Detroit Tigers experienced the first player strike in MLB, forcing them to use replacement players against the Philadelphia Athletics.
The year 1956 saw Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees hit home runs from both sides of the plate, leading his team to an 8-7 win over the Chicago White Sox. In 1957, jockey Eddie Arcaro won his sixth Preakness Stakes on Bold Ruler. Real Madrid dominated Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1960 European Cup Final, winning 7-3.
In 1971, the Utah Stars claimed the ABA Championship, while the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup against the Chicago Blackhawks. Johnny Sebastian made headlines in 1972 by sinking 63 consecutive free throws while blindfolded.
The 1990 Stanley Cup Finals featured Jari Kurri of the Edmonton Oilers, who scored three goals and two assists in a 7-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. In 1994, Milan triumphed over FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Final, winning 4-0.
Randy Johnson threw a perfect game for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004, and in 2013, Vitor Belfort knocked out Luke Rockhold with a spinning heel kick in the UFC. May 18 has truly been a day filled with unforgettable sports moments.
