Sports in October are all about the MLB postseason, the start of the NBA and NHL seasons, college football games, the Xfinity 500 for NASCAR, track events, the UEFA Champions League, and Formula 1. Over the years, Oct. 27 has witnessed many notable moments and stories involving sporting legends. Here are some of them.
Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records
Great moments in sports history from Oct. 27 included:
- 1888:Â In the World Championship Baseball Series, the St. Louis Browns beat the New York Giants 18-7, but lost the series six games to four.
- 1931: Chuhei Numbu of Japan, set the then long jump record at 26′ 2½”.
- 1963: Red Wings right winger Gordie Howe scored career goal number 544, tying with Maurice Richard’s all-time NHL regular season record.
- 1974: Chantal Langlacé set a female world marathon record of 2:46:24.
- 1979: The Islanders scored two goals within six seconds and three goals within 44 seconds.
- 1980: Dave Gryllis set a world bicycle speed record of 94.37 km/h.
- 1984: Washington State’s running back Rueben Mayes set a collegiate football record of 357 yards rushing in one game.
- 1985:Â Grete Waitz won the New York City Women’s Marathon in a time of 2:28:34.
- 1985:Â Anthony Carter began an NFL streak of 100-plus consecutive game receptions.
- 1985: The Kansas City Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals four games to three to win the World Series. Bret Saberhagen was the most valuable player.
- 1986: The New York Mets defeated the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 at Shea Stadium to capture their second World Series championship.
- 1991: The Minnesota Twins defeated the Atlanta Braves four games to three to win the World Series. Jack Morris was the MVP.
- 1996: The U.S. beat Japan in the Nichirei International Golf Tournament.
- 1999: The New York Yankees swept the Atlanta Braves to win the World Series.
- 2001: In the 13th college football “Holy War,” Boston College defeated Notre Dame 21-17.
- 2002: The Anaheim Angels beat the San Francisco Giants four games to three to win their first World Series title. Troy Glaus was the MVP.
- 2002: Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith broke Walter Payton’s record by reaching 16,727+ rushing yards against the Seattle Seahawks.
- 2004: The Boston Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series for the first time since 1918. Manny Ramirez was the MVP.
- 2006: St. Louis beat the Detroit Tigers, 4-2 in Game 5 at Busch Stadium to win Cardinals’ 10th title in franchise history.
- 2011: St. Louis Cardinal 3B David Freese hit a game-tying two-run triple with two outs in the ninth and then hits a walk-off home run in the 11th.
- 2013: Serena Williams won the WTA Championship final, her fourth season-ending tennis title.
- 2013: Sebastian Vettel won the Indian Grand Prix to clinch his fourth straight F1 World Drivers’ Championship. It was also his sixth straight GP victory.
- 2015: Soccer player Abby Wambach announced her retirement from the sport.
- 2019: Tiger Woods won the first ZOZO Championship by three strokes.
- 2020: The LA Dodgers beat Tampa Bay Rays, 3-1 in Game 6 at Globe Life Field, Arlington to win first title in 32 years.
- 2025: Dodgers slugger Freddie Freeman hit a ‘walk-off’ solo home run to lead-off bottom of the 18th inning in 6-5 win over Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium; tied record for longest World Series game ever.
Three athletes who stood out on Oct. 27 were Gordie Howe, Manny Ramirez, and Abby Wambach.
Howe’s scoring ability, physical strength, and career longevity marked him as the only player to have competed in the NHL in five different decades. Ramirez’s power hitting with the Boston Red Sox won him nine Silver Sluggers and 12 All-Star selections. Wambach was the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. Women’s National Team, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a FIFA World Cup champion.
