THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 9/17

1917 – Baseball legend Honus Wagner retires at age 43.

1920 – The NFL is officially formed in Canton, OH as 12 teams pay $100 to join the American Professional Football Association. The league changes its name to the NFL in 1922.

1941 – Stan Musial makes his MLB debut, going 2-4 for the Cardinals.

1947 – Jackie Robinson is named the Rookie of the Year by Sporting News.

1953 – Ernie Banks becomes the first black player in Cubs history.

1955 – Future Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson makes his MLB debut.

1961 – The Minnesota Vikings play in their first game, beating the Bears 37-13.

1964 – Mickey Mantle hits his 450th career home run, along with hits #1,999 – #2,001 in the same game.

1967 – The New Orleans Saints play their first NFL game, with a 27-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. 

1976 – The Chesterton Trojans host the undefeated and eventual state champion Merrillville Pirates and give them all they can handle, before dropping a heartbreaker 14-13.

1979 – Royals hitter George Brett becomes just the sixth batter in MLB history to have 20 doubles, triples and homers in a season.

1983 – The Chicago White Sox clinch their first AL West championship. 

1984 – Reggie Jackson becomes the 13th player in MLB history to hit 500 career home runs.

1987 – In a Thursday night matchup, the Rogers Raiders stifle the Merrillville Pirates 15-2 in Michigan City. The Pirates finished at 2-8, their worst record since 1960.

1988 – The 24th Olympic games open up at Seoul, Korea. 

1993 – Laporte knocks off Hobart 14-7. The Slicers had lost their previous 17 meetings with the Brickies.

2000 – The Miami Dolphins retire Dan Marino’s #13. 

2004 – Andrean wins a shootout against the Red Devils 35-28. Led by quarterback Tommy Finn, the 59ers would ultimately prove to be the best team in Class 3A by the end of the season.

2004 – Barry Bonds hits career homer #700.