1877 – The first ever Wimbledon tennis tournament begins. It is the first official grass tournament in tennis history. 1914 – The Boston Red Sox purchase the contract of minor-leaguer Babe Ruth from the Baltimore Orioles. 1922 – Johnny Weissmuller is the first swimmer...

1889 – John L. Sullivan defeats Jake Kilrain in the last championship bare-knuckle boxing fight. The fight lasts 75 rounds 1941 – Ted Williams hits a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give the AL a 7-5 win over the NL at the All-Star Game. 1953 –...

1933 – The first MLB All-Star Game takes place at Comiskey Park. The American League wins 4-2, thanks to Babe Ruth’s home run. 1941 – The Yankees unveil a monument to Lou Gehrig in center field at Yankee Stadium. 1956 – MLB introduces the Cy Young Award, honoring the...

1898 – Lizzie Arlington becomes the first woman to play professional baseball when she pitches the ninth inning for the Reading Coal Heavers against the Allentown Peanuts. She allows two hits and walks a batter, but still preserves a 5-0 win. 1934 – Lou Gehrig hits...

1911 – White Sox pitcher Ed Walsh ends Ty Cobb’s 40-game hitting streak, as Cobb goes 0-4 against him. 1914 – The Harvard men’s crew team becomes the first American squad to win the Grand Challenge Cup. 1919 – Jack Dempsey wins the world heavyweight title when Jess...

1912 – New York Giants pitcher Rube Marquard wins his 19th consecutive decision, setting an MLB record that still stands. 1931 – German boxer Max Schmeling beats American Young Stribling by TKO in the 15th round in the first boxing match broadcast live on national...

1902 – John McGraw is hired as manager of the New York Giants, a position he would hold until 1932. 1903 – MLB batting champion Ed Delahanty disappears after being removed from a train by force. He is found dead at the bottom of Niagara Falls two weeks later. 1930 –...

1859 – Amherst defeats Williams 66-32 in the first-ever intercollegiate baseball game. 1904 – The Olympic Games open in St. Louis. They are the first Olympics held in the United States. 1910 – Comiskey Park opens on the South Side of Chicago, with the St. Louis Browns...