THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 12/14

1901 – 1st table tennis tournament is held.

1915 – Jack Johnson is 1st African American world heavyweight boxing champion.

1920 – Jack Dempsey KOs Bill Brennan in 12 for heavyweight boxing title in NYC.

1930 – NY Giants defeat Notre Dame 22-0 in a charity game.

1938 – Major League Baseball agrees on use of a standard ball; disagrees on increasing rosters from 23 to 25 players, although Commissioner Judge Landis eventually decides on 25.

1941 – 1st NFL division playoff, Bears beat Packers 33-14.

1947 – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is founded in Daytona Beach, Florida.

1953 – Brooklyn Dodgers sign pitcher Sandy Koufax.

1958 – Pat Summerall kicks game winning field goal for the New York Giants against the Cleveland Browns at Yankee Stadium.

1960 – Washington Senators joins American League.

1982 – Marcel Dionne, LA, becomes 9th NHLer to score 500 goals.

1988 – CBS’ $1.1 B bid wins exclusive 1990-94 major-league baseball rights.

1988 – NBA’s Miami Heat wins 1st game ever, 89-88 (Clippers), after 17 loses.

1992 – Lennox Lewis given WBC title, when Riddick Bowe refused to fight him.

1997 – Phoenix Coyote Mike Gartner is 5th NHLer to score 700 goals.

1998 – 64th Heisman Trophy Award: Ricky Williams, Texas (RB).

2009 – 75th Heisman Trophy Award: Mark Ingram, Jr., Alabama (RB).

2019 – 85th Heisman Trophy Award: Joe Burrow, Louisiana State University (QB). 

2021 – Stephen Curry makes his 2,974th three to pass Ray Allen as the all-time leader in three pointers made.