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 the French Open are on the calendar. Over the years, May 8 has seen many memorable moments in sports history.
In 1907, Tommy Burns defended his heavyweight boxing title by defeating Philadelphia Jack O’Brien. That same year, Big Jeff Pfeffer pitched a no-hitter for the Boston Doves against the Cincinnati Reds. In 1909, Albert Raines set a world record marathon time of 2:46:04.6 in New York City.
The Kentucky Derby has also seen historic wins on this date. In 1915, Regret became the first filly to win, with Joe Notter as the jockey. Paul Jones won in 1920, and War Admiral took the title in 1937.
Baseball fans remember 1946 when Johnny Pesky of the Boston Red Sox scored six runs in a single game. In 1968, Jim “Catfish” Hunter pitched a perfect game for the Oakland A’s. The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 1970, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers.
Fast forward to 2001, when Randy Johnson struck out 20 batters in a game for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2014, the Houston Texans made headlines by selecting Jadeveon Clowney first in the NFL Draft.
These moments remind us of the thrill and excitement that sports bring to our lives.
