THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 1/5

1931 – Lucille Thomas becomes the first woman in history to purchase a baseball team. She buys the Topeka franchise in the Western League.

1934 – For a year before 1934 Major League Baseball used different balls ranging in size and weight. Finally, both the American and National leagues select a uniform baseball.

1957 – Playing 10 years with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the first African American to play major league baseball and to break the color bearer Jackie Robinson announces his retirement rather than be traded to the New York Giants.

1971 – Combining athleticism, theater, and comedy into their style of play the Harlem Globetrotters had racked up a 2,495-game winning streak. That came to an end as the New Jersey Reds defeated the Trotters 100-99. With three seconds left to play Meadowlark Lemon delivered his famous hook shot that he had made thousands of times before and missed.

1971 – At the age of 40 the body of former world heavyweight boxing champion Charles “Sonny” Liston is found by his wife Geraldine at their home in Las Vegas. He had been dead for an estimated six hours, foul play suspected.

1989 – Major League Baseball signs a $400 million deal with ESPN to show 175 games in 1990.

1991 – Playing for US International, Kevin Bradshaw shot his way into the record books by scoring 72 points against Loyola Marymount. It broke the NCAA single-game record for points that was set by LSU’s  Pete Maravich 21 years earlier when he put up 69.

1993 – Receiving 93.6 percent of the votes from members of the Baseball Writers of America, the 10th highest percentage ever achieved, Reggie Jackson “Mr October” becomes the 29th layer to make it into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

1995 – With a 95-93 win over the Philadelphia 76ers head coach of the LA Clippers Bill Finch becomes the 5th coach in NBA history to register 850 career victories.

1996 – Setting numerous records in his 33 years of seasons as a head coach. He is first in most games coached (526), most consecutive seasons coached 33, and Super Bowl appearances – six. Once with the Baltimore Colts and five times with the Miami Dolphins Don Shula announces his retirement.

2007 – After 15 years at the helm of the Pittsburg Steelers which included being named the NFL’s Coach of the Year in 1992, Bill Cowher announces his retirement.

2010 – Leading the Denver Broncos to consecutive Super Bowl Championships in 1997 & 1998. Mike Shanahan is formally introduced as the head coach of the Washington Redskins.

2019 – The Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings combine to set a new NBA record of 41 three-pointers. Stephen Curry hits 10 while Buddy Hield leads the Kings with 8, and Justin Jackson adds 5.