THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 7/31

1928 – American sprinter Elizabeth Robinson ties her own world record of 12.2 seconds in the 100 meter to win the gold medal in the first-ever women’s Olympic track event.

1954 – Milwaukee first baseman Joe Adcock becomes the third player in MLB history to have a four-home run game.

1961 – The MLB All-Star Game is ruled a tie when rain in Boston forces the game to end in the ninth inning.

1972 – Dick Allen of the White Sox hits two inside-the-park home runs in the same game. He’s just the seventh player in MLB history to accomplish that feat.

1973 – In the ABA, the Virginia Squires traded “Dr. J” Julius Erving to the New Jersey Nets.

1978 – Pete Rose extends his hitting streak to 44 games, tying Willie Keeler’s record for the longest hitting streak in National League history.

1981 – MLB players and owners agree to end a strike that lasted 42 days and caused the cancellation of 713 games.

1987 – Baltimore Orioles first baseman Eddie Murray hits his 299th and 300th career home runs. 

1988 – Former Pittsburg Pirates first baseman and left fielder, Willie Stargell, becomes the 200th man inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. 

1988 – Jose Canseco becomes the first player in MLB history to hit 30 or more home runs in each of his first three seasons.

1990 – Nolan Ryan, then with the Texas Rangers, picks up career victory #300. He’s the 20th pitcher in MLB history to reach that milestone.

1993 – The Oakland A’s trade Rickey Henderson to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers.

1997 – The Oakland A’s trade Mark McGwire to the St. Louis Cardinals.

2007 – The Boston Celtics trade seven assets (combo of players and draft picks) to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett.

2012 – American swimmer Michael Phelps breaks the Olympic medals record by winning his 19th career medal, passing Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most in history.

2021 – American swimmer Katie Ledecky wins the 800m Olympic gold medal for the third consecutive time.