Events in Sports History in December 1983

  • Dec 3 48th Iron Bowl: Auburn beats Alabama 23-20 in Birmingham
  • Dec 3 49th Heisman Trophy Award: Mike Rozier, Nebraska (RB)
  • Dec 4 NJ Devils 1st shut-out, beating Minnesota North Stars 6-0
  • Dec 5 LA Dodger pitcher Steve Howe is suspended for 1 year for cocaine use

Navratilova Wins 8th Grand Slam

Dec 10 Australian Open Women's Tennis: Martina Navratilova wins 8th career Grand Slam singles event; beats Kathy Jordan of the US 6-2, 7-6

  • Dec 10 Last NFL game at Shea Stadium; Steelers beat NY Jets 34-7
  • Dec 13 9,655 see highest-scoring NBA game: Detroit 186, Denver 184 (3 OT)
  • Dec 15 MLB suspends 3 Kansas City Royals players - Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens, and Jerry Martin - due to cocaine usage

Yogi Berra for NY Yankees

Dec 16 Yogi Berra named New York Yankees manager for 2nd time

Gretsky's 800th Point

Dec 17 In his 352nd NHL game, Wayne Gretzky scores a goal & 5 assists in 8-1 rout of Quebec Nordiques to record his 800th point and 500th assist; averages 2.27 points, 1.42 assists, 0.85 goals per game to start career

  • Dec 18 NBA San Diego Clippers ends 29 game road losing streak
  • Dec 19 The original FIFA World Cup trophy, the Jules Rimet Trophy, is stolen from the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation in Rio de Janeiro

Lafleur Scores 500

Dec 20 Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens, becomes 10th NHLer to score 500 goals

  • Dec 20 NY Islanders score their most goals (11) vs Pitts Penguins
  • Dec 21 NCAA rules rescinded last 2-minute men's basketball free throw rule
  • Dec 22 Indiana Pacers win, 133-132 in Denver to end a 28 NBA game losing streak on the road
  • Dec 22 NHL NY Islanders score 3 shorthanded goals against Washington Capitols
  • Dec 26 Test Cricket debut of Gregory Richard John Matthews, v Pakistan at the MCG

Ballon d'Or

Dec 27 Ballon d'Or: Juventus' French midfielder Michel Platini claims first of 3 trophies for Europe's best football player ahead of Liverpool midfielder Kenny Dalgleish and Vejle BK striker Allan Simonsen

  • Dec 28 72nd Davis Cup: Australia beats Sweden in Melbourne (3-2)
  • Dec 29 2nd College Football Holy War: Notre Dame beats Boston College 19-18 in Memphis
  • Dec 29 Australian cricket batsman Graham Yallop completes a painstaking 268 (716 mins) v Pakistan in the drawn 4th Test in Melbourne

Gavaskar Surpasses Bradman

Dec 29 Indian cricket opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar scores an unbeaten 236 in drawn 6th Test v West Indies at Chennai; his 4th Test double century and 30th century, surpassing Don Bradman's record of 29