Events in Sports History on December 13

  • 1901 Test debut of English cricketer Sydney Barnes vs Australia at the SCG, took 5-65 in 1st innings
  • 1930 George Sisler's career ends when Boston Braves release him
  • 1931 National Football League Championship: Green Bay Packers (12-2-0) win 3rd straight first past the post title

Packers Defeat Redskins

1936 National Football League Championship, Polo Grounds, NYC: Green Bay Packers beat Boston Redskins, 21-6; Packers 4th title; Redskins move to Washington, D.C. for 1937 season

  • 1942 National Football League Championship, Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.: Washington Redskins upset Chicago Bears, 14-6
  • 1952 NFL Dallas Texans (former NY Yanks) play final game, losing 41-6 to the Lions in Detroit; finish with record of 1-11

Dodgers Attempt Robinson Trade

1956 Dodgers trade Jackie Robinson to Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield & $35,000. Robinson will retire rather than be traded.

Ballon d'Or

1960 Ballon d'Or: Barcelona midfielder Luis Suárez is named best football player in Europe ahead of Real Madrid's Hungarian forward Ferenc Puskás and Hamburg striker Uwe Seeler

  • 1960 Italy beats US in Davis Cup (1st time in 24 years US not in finals)
  • 1966 Test debut of Clive Lloyd, v India Bombay, 82 & 78

Billy Martin Fired

1969 MLB manager Billy Martin fired by the Minnesota Twins

Chappell's Debut Century

1970 Greg Chappell scores 108 on Test debut v England at the WACA

  • 1975 West Indian cricket opener Roy Fredericks smashes 169 in 2nd Test win v Australia in Perth; hundred in 71 balls
  • 1977 14 University of Evansville basketball players die in plane crash
  • 1981 70th Davis Cup: USA beats Argentina in Cincinnati (3-1)
  • 1982 Australian Open Men's Tennis: South African Johan Kriek wins 2nd straight Australian title; repeats previous year's win over American Steve Denton 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
  • 1983 9,655 see highest-scoring NBA game: Detroit 186, Denver 184 (3 OT)

Boons' 1st Test Century

1985 Australian cricketer David Boon's 1st Test century, 123 v India at Adelaide

  • 1985 Test debut of cricketers Merv Hughes, Geoff Marsh and Bruce Reid (v India)
  • 1989 Walter Davis (Denver) ends NBA free throw streak of 53 games
  • 1991 Ricky Pierce (Seattle) ends NBA free throw streak of 75 games

Clemens Signs with Blue Jays

1996 Free agent Roger Clemens signs with Toronto Blue Jays

  • 1997 63rd Heisman Trophy Award: Charles Woodson, Michigan (CB)

International Team's 1st Win

1998 Presidents Cup Golf, Royal Melbourne GC: International team wins for first time; Shigeki Maruyama and Steve Elkington unbeaten as Internationals beat US 20½–11½

  • 1999 65th Heisman Trophy Award: Ron Dayne, Wisconsin (RB)
  • 2003 69th Heisman Trophy Award: Jason White, Oklahoma (QB)

Ballon d'Or

2004 Ballon d'Or: Milan's Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko is named best football player in Europe ahead of Deco (Porto/FC Barcelona) and Barcelona midfielder Ronaldinho

  • 2007 The Mitchell Report is publicly released listing the names of 89 Major League Baseball players that have presumably used anabolic steroids and human growth hormones. Notable players named include Roger Clemens and Miguel Tejada.
  • 2010 76th Heisman Trophy Award: Cam Newton, Auburn (QB)
  • 2014 80th Heisman Trophy Award: Marcus Mariota, Oregon (QB)

Derrick Henry Wins

2015 81st Heisman Trophy Award: Derrick Henry, Alabama (RB)

McGregor vs. Aldo

2015 Irishman Conor McGregor knocks out Brazilian Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to win his 1st featherweight title in Las Vegas

  • 2018 German basketball forward Dirk Nowitzki takes the court for his record 21st NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks, surpassing Kobe Bryant's 20 seasons with the LA Lakers

Hamilton Record 7th Title

2020 British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton finishes 3rd in season-ending Abu Dhabi GP to claim record equalling 7th F1 World Drivers C'ship by 124 points from teammate Valtteri Bottas; Mercedes' 7th straight Constructors title

Ovechkin Scores 800

2022 Washington Capitals center Alex Ovechkin scores a hat trick in 7-3 away win over Chicago Blackhawks to join Wayne Gretzky & Gordie Howe as the only players in NHL history to score 800 goals