Sports
66 facts
Jackie Robinson Breaks Baseball's Color Barrier
Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era when he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Jesse Owens Wins Four Gold Medals
Jesse Owens won his first of four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, defying Nazi ideology.
Jackie Robinson Born
Baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who broke the MLB color barrier, was born in Cairo, Georgia.
Muhammad Ali Born
Boxing legend and activist Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jesse Owens Born
Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, was born in Alabama.
Hank Aaron Breaks Babe Ruth's Home Run Record
Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth's all-time record despite receiving death threats throughout the pursuit.
Muhammad Ali Refuses Induction
Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War.
Hank Aaron Breaks Babe Ruth's Record
Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe Ruth's all-time record.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos Raise Fists
Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a Black Power salute at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Colin Kaepernick Takes a Knee
Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality, sparking a nationwide movement.
Arthur Ashe Wins Wimbledon
Arthur Ashe became the first Black man to win the Wimbledon singles title.
Hank Aaron Born
Baseball legend Hank Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama.
Althea Gibson Wins U.S. National Championships
Althea Gibson became the first Black player to win a Grand Slam tennis title.
Wilma Rudolph Wins Three Gold Medals
Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games.
Paul Robeson Born
Paul Robeson, athlete, singer, actor, and political activist, was born in Princeton, New Jersey.
Wilt Chamberlain Scores 100 Points
Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single NBA game, a record that still stands.
Willie Mays Born
Willie Mays, one of the greatest baseball players in history, was born in Westfield, Alabama.
Serena Williams Wins First Grand Slam
Serena Williams won the U.S. Open, her first Grand Slam title, at age 17.
Tiger Woods Wins First Masters
Tiger Woods became the first African American and Asian American to win the Masters Tournament, at age 21.
Wilma Rudolph Wins Three Olympic Golds
Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games.
Althea Gibson Wins Wimbledon
Althea Gibson became the first African American to win a Grand Slam tennis title at Wimbledon.
Michael Jordan Born
Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
Jack Johnson Wins Heavyweight Title
Jack Johnson became the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion.
Muhammad Ali Dies
Muhammad Ali, heavyweight boxing champion, activist, and cultural icon, died at age 74 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Joe Louis Defeats Max Schmeling
Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch, a bout with enormous racial and political significance.
Alice Coachman Wins Olympic Gold
Alice Coachman became the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal.
South Africa Wins Rugby World Cup Under Mandela
South Africa won the Rugby World Cup, with President Nelson Mandela presenting the trophy wearing a Springbok jersey, symbolizing racial reconciliation.
Satchel Paige Born
Satchel Paige, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, was born in Mobile, Alabama.
Althea Gibson Born
Althea Gibson, the first African American to win a Grand Slam tennis title, was born in Silver, South Carolina.
Jackie Robinson Dies
Jackie Robinson died at age 53 in Stamford, Connecticut.
Pelé Born
Pelé, widely regarded as the greatest soccer player of all time, was born in Três Corações, Brazil.
Ozzie Davis Delivers Malcolm X Eulogy
Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman in the "Rumble in the Jungle" in Kinshasa, Zaire.
Tiger Woods Born
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods, one of the greatest golfers of all time, was born in Cypress, California.
Simone Biles Makes Gymnastics History
Simone Biles became the most decorated gymnast in history at the 2023 World Championships.
Serena Williams Wins 23rd Grand Slam Title
Serena Williams won the Australian Open while pregnant, claiming her record 23rd Grand Slam singles title.
Satchel Paige Debuts in Major Leagues
Satchel Paige became the oldest rookie in Major League Baseball history at age 42.
Jackie Robinson's Final World Series Game
Jackie Robinson played his final major league game in the 1956 World Series.
Satchel Paige Pitches in World Series
Satchel Paige became the first African American pitcher in a World Series game.
Negro National League Founded
Rube Foster organized the Negro National League, the first successful major African American baseball league.
Carl Lewis Wins Four Olympic Golds
Carl Lewis won four gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, matching Jesse Owens' 1936 achievement.
Wilt Chamberlain Born
Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 100 points in a single NBA game, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
LeBron James Born
LeBron James, one of the greatest basketball players in history, was born in Akron, Ohio.
Venus Williams Born
Venus Williams, tennis champion and businesswoman, was born in Lynwood, California.
Josh Gibson Born
Josh Gibson, legendary Negro Leagues catcher known as the "Black Babe Ruth," was born in Buena Vista, Georgia.
Walter Payton Born
Walter Payton, one of the greatest NFL running backs in history, was born in Columbia, Mississippi.
Jesse Owens Dies
Jesse Owens, four-time Olympic gold medalist who defied Nazi ideology, died in Tucson, Arizona.
Jack Johnson Born
Jack Johnson, the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion, was born in Galveston, Texas.
Jackie Robinson Retires from Baseball
Jackie Robinson announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after 10 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Jack Johnson Defeats Jim Jeffries
Jack Johnson defended his heavyweight title against Jim Jeffries, the "Great White Hope," sparking race riots across America.
Gabby Douglas Born
Gabby Douglas, the first African American to win the individual all-around gold medal in Olympic gymnastics, was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Kobe Bryant Born
Kobe Bryant, NBA legend and five-time champion, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Ernie Davis Wins Heisman Trophy
Ernie Davis became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy.
Oscar Robertson Born
Oscar Robertson, basketball pioneer known as "The Big O," was born in Charlotte, Tennessee.
Sha'Carri Richardson Wins World Championship Gold
Sha'Carri Richardson won the 100m gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Naomi Osaka Wins U.S. Open with Protest Masks
Naomi Osaka wore face masks honoring Black victims of violence during each round of the 2020 U.S. Open, which she won.
LeBron James Opens I PROMISE School
LeBron James opened the I PROMISE School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, for at-risk students.
Sugar Ray Robinson Born
Boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson, widely considered the greatest pound-for-pound boxer in history, was born.
Sugar Ray Leonard Born
Sugar Ray Leonard, Olympic gold medalist and world champion boxer, was born in Wilmington, North Carolina.
South Africa Readmitted to Olympics
South Africa returned to the Olympic Games after being banned for 28 years due to apartheid.
Oscar Charleston Born
Oscar Charleston, considered one of the greatest baseball players in history, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Eddie Murray Born
Eddie Murray, Hall of Fame baseball player and one of the most consistent hitters in MLB history, was born in Los Angeles, California.
Reba McEntire and First Black Rodeo Cowboys
Bill Pickett, the first African American inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame, invented bulldogging.
Commodore Perry Opens Japan
The first known African American jockey, Oliver Lewis, won the first Kentucky Derby on Aristides.
Wild Bill Hickok and Bass Reeves
The first African American heavyweight champion of the world, Tom Molineaux, fought his famous match against Tom Cribb in London.
Princess Diana and Landmines
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods turned professional in golf, announcing "Hello, world" in his debut.
Allen Iverson Born
Basketball icon Allen Iverson, who revolutionized NBA culture, was born in Hampton, Virginia.