Events in Sports History in October 2001

Baseball Record

Oct 2 Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa becomes first player in MLB history to total 60 home runs in three seasons; Chicago slugger connects off Reds starter Lance Davis to reach milestone in 5-4 loss

Paul Coffey Retires

Oct 3 After a 21-season career, Paul Coffey officially retires from the NHL, having won 4 Stanley Cups with Edmonton Oilers, finishing 2nd on all-time list for points by defensemen (1,531 in 1,409 games), and playing in 14 All-Star Games

Henderson Equals Cobb

Oct 3 San Diego outfielder Rickey Henderson scores a run in the 3rd inning of the Padres' 12-5 loss to LA Dodgers to tie the MLB record of 2,245 runs scored held by the legendary Ty Cobb

Barry Bonds Walks to a Record

Oct 3 San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds Is walked for the 171st time in 11-8 win at Houston; breaks Babe Ruth's 1923 MLB single-season record for walks

Sports History

Oct 4 Boston Bruins retire future Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Ray Bourque's #77 jersey in the NHL season opener at Boston Garden; beat visiting Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 4-2

Oct 4 Brendan Shanahan scores a hat trick in Red Wings 4-3 OT win at San Jose; becomes second player in NHL history to score an opening-night hat trick twice in his career
Oct 4 SF Giants slugger Barry Bonds hits his 70th home run in 10-2 win v Houston; ties Mark McGwire for the most MLB home runs in a single season
Oct 5 Barry Bonds hits his 71st and 72nd home runs in 11-10 loss v LA Dodgers at Pacific Bell Park; breaks Mark McGwire's MLB single season HR record
Oct 5 MLB's Atlanta Braves become first pro sports team to win 10 straight division titles after mauling the Marlins, 20-3 to clinch the NL East title; NBA's Boston Celtics (1957-65) & LA Lakers (1982-90) both won 9 in a row

F1 World Champion

Oct 14 German Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher wins his 4th F1 World Drivers Championship by 58 points from David Coulthard; takes out Japanese GP at Suzuka for 9th win of the season

Oct 20 Despite 20-14 final round loss to Ireland in Dublin, England retains Six Nations Rugby Championship; set new records for points scored (229), tries scored (29) and overall points-difference (+149)
Oct 21 MLB National League Championship: Arizona Diamondbacks beat Atlanta Braves, 4 games to 1
Oct 22 MLB American League Championship: New York Yankees beat Seattle Mariners, 4 games to 1
Oct 27 13th College Football Holy War: Boston College beats Notre Dame 21-17 in Chestnut Hill
Oct 27 Breeders' Cup Horse Racing, Belmont Park; winners: Tiznow, Johannesburg, Unbridled Elaine, Fantastic Light, Val Royal, Banks Hill, Tempera, Squirtle Squirt