Events in Sports History in April 1966

Sports History

Apr 3 Tom Seaver signs with the Mets for a reported $50,000 bonus

Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher Tom Seaver

Sports History

Apr 8 American Football League votes in 36-year-old Al Davis as commissioner after Joe Foss resigns; appointment lasts 3 months when AFL merges with NFL

American Football Coach and Executive Al Davis

Apr 9 Anaheim Stadium for California Angels opens

US Masters Golf

Apr 11 30th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jack Nicklaus becomes first back-to-back champion winning an 18-hole Monday playoff with Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer

Apr 11 Emmett Ashford becomes first African American major league baseball umpire in Washington Senators’ game against the Cleveland Indians at D.C. Stadium
Apr 12 Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium opens; Pirates beat Braves 3-2
Apr 17 100th international soccer match between Netherlands and Belgium (3-1)
Apr 18 70th Boston Marathon: Kenji Kimihara of Japan wins in 2:17:11; American Bobbi Gibb first woman in 3:21:40 (unsanctioned)

NBA Record

Apr 18 Bill Russell becomes first African American coach in NBA history (Boston Celtics)

Apr 22 Atlanta Braves win their 1st game, beating NY Mets 8-4
Apr 24 Atlanta Braves win NL-record 18 straight home games (17 in Milwaukee)
Apr 26 International Olympic Committee votes to award German city of Munich the right to host the 1972 Summer Olympic Games