This Day in Sports History: 4/8

by | Apr 8, 2026 | 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

1941 – Joe Louis retains his heavyweight title with a ninth round TKO of Tony Musto. It is the fourth title defense for Louis in nine weeks.

1943 – The Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup, sweeping the Red Wings in two games.

1966 – Al Davis is hired as commissioner of the AFL.

1968 – Major League Baseball delays Opening Day following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4.

1969 – The Montreal Expos beat the Mets 10-9 in the first baseball game played in Canada.

1971 – The first legal off track betting location in the United States open in New York City.

1974 – Hank Aaron becomes baseball’s home run king, hitting career homer #715, passing Babe Ruth for the most in history.

1975 – Frank Robinson becomes the first black manager in Major League Baseball, debuting as player-manager for the Cleveland Indians.

1989 – Alex English of the Denver Nuggets becomes the first player in NBA history to score 2,000 or more points in eight consecutive seasons.

1990 – Nick Faldo becomes the second golfer in history to win consecutive Masters titles.

2001 – Tiger Woods wins the Masters, giving him a sweep of the four golf majors in a span of 294 days.

2008 – Led by Candace Parker’s 17 points and nine rebounds, the Tennessee women’s basketball team wins its eight college hoops national championship.