THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 4/29

1892 – Charlie Reilly of the Philadelphia Phillies is the first pinch hitter in Major League Baseball history.

1901 – In the only Kentucky Derby raced in April, His Eminance wins the race by 1.5 lengths over Sannazarro.

1936 – The first pro baseball game in Japan takes place with Nagoya defeating Daitokyo 8-5.

1961 – ABC’s Wide World of Sports debuts.

1980 – The Detroit Lions drafted Oklahoma running back Billy Sims with the #1 overall draft pick.

1981 – Steve Carlton becomes the first left-handed pitcher in MLB history to strike out 3,000 batters in a career.

1981 – South Carolina running back George Rogers is the first pick in the NFL Draft, going to the New Orleans Saints.

1986 – Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens racks up 20 strikeouts in a win over the Mariners. He’s the first pitcher in MLB history to accomplish that feat in just nine innings.

1986 – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Auburn running back Bo Jackson with the #1 overall draft pick. Jackson refused to play for the team after they misled him about meetings with the organization, which cost him his baseball eligibility.

1988 – After starting the season with an 0-21 record, the Baltimore Orioles pick up their first victory, defeating the White Sox 9-0.

1995 – John Nonely of the Kansas City Royals is the 70th player in MLB history to homer in his first at bat.

2006 – The Houston Texans draft North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams with the first pick in the NFL Draft.

2010 – The NCAA Board of Directors approves the expansion of the men’s basketball tournament to 68 teams.

2014 – The NBA bans Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life due to racist comments.

2015 – The Orioles defeat the White Sox 8-2 at Camden Yards in a game played with no crowd due to riots and protests in the city of Baltimore.