THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 4/23

1903 – The New York Highlanders, later known as the Yankees, win their first game as a major league team, defeating the Washington Senators 7-2.

1939 – Ted Williams hits his first career home run.

1950 – For the first time in MLB history a day game is completed under the lights with the Phillies defeating the Braves 6-5.

1954 – Hank Aaron hits his first of 755 career home runs.

1962 – After starting the season with an 0-9 record, the New York Mets win the franchise’s first career game, beating the Reds 1-0.

1964 – Houston Colt 45’s pitcher Ken Johnson becomes the first player in MLB history to throw a nine inning no-hitter and still lose Houston commits two errors in the ninth inning to allow Cincinnati to score and win 1-0.

1989 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar plays in his final career regular season NBA game.

1989 – UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman is selected first overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Draft. 

2002 – St. Louis Blues goalie Brent Johnson becomes the first goalie in NHL to get his first three playoff wins via shutout. He’s also the fourth goalie in league history to record three straight post-season shutouts.

2005 – The San Francisco quarterbacks draft Utah quarterback Alex Smith #1 overall.

2008 – The Chicago Cubs become the second franchise in MLB history, after the San Francisco Giants, to win 10,000 games.