Today in Sports History: 12/17

by | Dec 17, 2025 | This Day in Sports History

NBA Playoff Schedule – 4/20

Raptors at Cavaliers – 6:00 (CLE leads 1-0)
Hawks at Knicks – 7:00 (NYK leads 1-0)
Timberwolves at Nuggets – 9:30 (DEN leads 1-0)

MLB Schedule – 4/20

Tigers at Red Sox – 10:10
Astros at Guardians – 5:10
Reds at Rays – 5:40
Cardinals at Marlins – 5:40
Braves at Nationals – 5:45
Orioles at Royals – 6:40
Dodgers at Rockies – 7:40
Blue Jays at Angels – 8:38
Athletics at Mariners – 8:40

NHL Schedule – 4/20

Flyers at Penguins – 6:00 (PHI leads 1-0)
Senators at Hurricanes – 6:30 (CAR leads 1-0)
Wild at Stars – 8:30 (MIN leads 1-0)
Ducks at Oilers – 9:00

1920 – AL votes to let spitball pitchers to continue using it.

1924 – The Hamilton Tigers and Ottawa Senators battle out the first scoreless game in NHL history.

1933 – National Football League Championship – 1st title game, Wrigley Field, Chicago: Chicago Bears beat New York Giants, 23-21; “Bronko Nagurski Rule” – forward pass is legal anywhere behind line of scrimmage.

1944 – National Football League Championship, Polo Grounds, NYC: Green Bay Packers beat New York Giants, 14-7 for 6th and final league title under long-time coach Curly Lambeau.

1957 – The largest trade in NHL history at the time in terms of quantity; Chicago Black Hawks move Nick Mickoski, Jack McIntyre, Bob Bailey & Hec Lalonde to Detroit Red Wings for Earl Reibel, Billy Dea, Bill Dineen & Lorne Ferguson.

1958 – Ted Lindsay becomes highest scoring left wing in NHL history, passing Aurel Joliat who retired with 270.

1983 – In his 352nd NHL game, Wayne Gretzky scores a goal & 5 assists in 8-1 rout of Quebec Nordiques to record his 800th point and 500th assist.

1991 – Cleveland Cavaliers beat Miami Heat 148-80, by record 68 pts.

1999 – Ray Bourque becomes just the 3rd player in NHL history to record 1,100 assists, and goaltender Byron Dafoe records his 100th NHL victory in Boston Bruin’s 3-1 win over the Thrashers in Atlanta.

2014 – 103-year-old Gus Andreone records the 8th ace of his career on the 113-yard, 14th hole of the Lakes Course, Palm Aire, Sarasota, FL; oldest golfer to record a hole-in-one. 

2022 – The Minnesota Vikings come back from a 33-0 deficit over the Indianapolis Colts, the largest comeback in NFL history.