May is an exciting month for sports fans, featuring NBA and NHL playoffs, MLB games in full swing, the Preakness Stakes, the PGA Championship, the FA Cup Final, the French Open in tennis, and various Grand Prix events. Over the years, May 22 has seen many memorable moments in sports history.
In 1883, Cubs player Billy Sunday had his first at-bat, starting a streak of 14 consecutive strikeouts. A year later, one-armed pitcher Hugh Daily struck out 13 batters. In 1902, John Bullman won the Belmont Stakes on Masterman with a time of 2:22:6. Fast forward to 1930, when Lou Gehrig became the first player to hit three home runs in a game for the third time.
In 1946, the New York Yankees executed a triple play, and in 1949, Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers shut out Cincinnati in his first big league start. The 1955 Grand Prix saw 55-year-old Louis Chiron finish sixth, making him the oldest competitor in the race.
In 1963, the NBA approved the move of the Syracuse Nationals to Philadelphia, where they became the 76ers. That same year, AC Milan won their first European Cup title by edging Benfica 2-1.
Other highlights include Andre Dawson being intentionally walked five times in 1990, Juventus winning the UEFA Champions League in 1996, and Tiger Woods winning Sportsman of the Year in 2001. In 2003, Annika Sörenstam became the first woman to play on the PGA Tour in 58 years.
May 22 has truly been a day filled with unforgettable sports achievements.
