Events in Sports History in May 1941

Sports History

May 2 MLB player Ted Williams' lowest average (.308) in year he hit over .400

67th Kentucky Derby

May 3 67th Kentucky Derby: Eddie Arcaro aboard Whirlaway, 1st leg of successful Triple Crown

May 10 66th Preakness: Eddie Arcaro wins aboard Whirlaway, 2nd leg of successful Triple Crown

DiMaggio Starts Streak

May 15 Joe DiMaggio starts 56-game hitting streak; Yanks lose 13-1

May 16 First US radio performance of Robert Russell Bennett's "Symphony in D for the Dodgers"
May 19 Germany occupiers in Holland forbid bicycle taxis
May 20 White Sox Taft Wright sets AL record of RBIs in 13 consecutive games

Louis KOs Baer

May 23 In his 20th World Heavyweight Boxing title defense Joe Louis knocks out Buddy Baer in round 1 at New York's Madison Square Garden

Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis

May 24 German athlete Rudolf Harbig runs world record 1,000m in 2:21.5 at Dresden, Germany
May 25 Ted Williams raises his batting average over .400 for 1st time in 1941
May 28 1st night game at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C. (NY Yankees pip the Senators 6-5)

29th Indianapolis 500

May 30 29th Indianapolis 500: Floyd Davis/Mauri Rose win final 500 prior to United States involvement in WWII; final time one car would carry 2 drivers to victory at Indy

May 31 German occupiers forbids Jews access to beach & swimming pools
May 31 Nazi occupiers forbid Jews access to beaches and swimming pools in the Netherlands