THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 4/17

1947 – Jackie Robinson picks up his first career hit, reaching safely on a bunt.

1951 – Mickey Mantle goes one for four in his first career major league game.

1976 – Mike Schmidt of the Phillies hits four consecutive home runs as the Phillies come back from a 13-2 deficit to defeat the Cubs 18-16.

1983 – Nolan Ryan records his 3,500th career strikeout.

1987 – “Dr. J.” Julius Erving becomes the third player in NBA history to record 30,000 career points.

1995 – Wayne Gretzky picks up an assist to record his 2,500th career point.

1997 – New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur becomes the second goalie in NHL history to score in the playoffs. Brodeur picked up an empty net goal in a 5-2 Devils win over Montreal.

1999 – The first three picks of the NFL Draft are quarterbacks as the Browns select Tim Couch from the University of Kentucky, the Benglas draft Oregon’s Akili Smith and the Eagles pick Donovan McNabb from Syracuse.

2001 – Barry Bonds hits career home run #500.

2010 – Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jiminez throws the first no-hitter in franchise history, shutting down the Braves.