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 taking place. Over the years, May 24 has seen many memorable moments in sports history.
In 1877, C Holloway rode Cloverbrook to victory in the 5th Preakness, finishing in 2:45.5. In 1900, Nash Turner won the Belmont Stakes on Ildrim with a time of 2:21. Fast forward to 1918, when Stan Coveleski of the Cleveland Indians pitched an incredible 19 innings to secure a 3-2 win against the New York Yankees.
In 1926, Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi set a world record in the 3000 meters at 8:25.4. Two years later, a game between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Athletics featured 12 future Hall of Famers. Babe Ruth made headlines in 1930 by hitting home runs in both games of a doubleheader, totaling nine homers in one week.
The first official night baseball game occurred in 1935, with the Cincinnati Reds defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1. In 1972, the Glasgow Rangers won the European Cup Winners’ Cup, and Muhammad Ali scored a technical knockout over Richard Dunn in 1976 to reclaim the heavyweight title.
The New York Islanders won their first Stanley Cup in 1980, while Bobby Unser triumphed at the Indy 500 in 1981, despite a disqualification. In 1990, the Edmonton Oilers secured their fifth Stanley Cup in seven years.
These moments remind us of the thrilling history of sports on May 24.
