THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 10/3

1920 – St. Louis Browns first baseman George Sisler sets an MLB record by recording his 257^th hit of the season.

1951 – Bobby Thomson of the New York Giants hits “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” – a walk-off three run homer against the Dodgers to win the pennant for the Giants.

1973 – The World Football League is formed.

1974 – The Cleveland Indians hire Frank Robinson as player-manager, making him the first black manager in MLB history.

1974 – Jerry West retires from the NBA after 14 seasons with the Lakers.

1976 – In his final career at bat, Hank Aaron singles and drives in a run.

1989 – The Raiders hire Art Shell as head coach, making him the first black coach in NFL history.

1990 – George Brett becomes the first player in MLB history to win a batting title in three different decades, having previously won one in 1976 and 1980.

1990 – Detroit Tigers slugger Cecil Fielder becomes the 11th player in MLB history to hit 300 homeruns. 

1997 – At age 69, hockey legend Gordie Howe skates the first shift for the Detroit Vipers of the IHL, making him the only professional athlete to compete in his sport in six different decades.

1998 – University of Texas running back Ricky Williams sets an NCAA record with 65 career rushing touchdowns and career points by a non kicker with 394.

2001 – Barry Bonds draws his 171st walk of the season, breaking Babe Ruth’s 1923 single season record.

2004 – Ichiro Suzuki finishes his season with 262 hits, an MLB record. 

2012 – Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers becomes baseball’s first Triple Crown winner since 1967 as he leads the AL in batting average (.330), homers (44) and RBI (139).

2021 – Tom Brady sets the NFL record for career passing yards with 80,358.