Some of the most profound things in the history of sports aren’t necessarily what happened, but who was involved with the occasion. That is certainly the case for September 10th. What may not feel like exactly 14 years ago now, NFL icons Peyton and Eli Manning met in a high-stakes match up never to be forgotten. Additionally, the baseball world had the pleasure of witnessing its first ever grand slam, well over a century ago. Mannings might not be in the game today anymore but Grand Slams have certainly become a major highlight in America’s pastime.

Jaime Segui also contributed to this article.

The Manning Bowl

YEAR: 2006

SIGNIFICANCE: NFL icons Peyton Manning and brother Eli Manning went head to head in the NFL’s 1st battle of brother QBs

There is always an edge added to a game when it comes to two star Quarterbacks going head to head on the field. There’s an even greater edge, although it is much more rare, when family members clash in professional sports. 14 years ago on September 10th, the NFL world held the privilege of watching Peyton and Eli Manning clash in an early season match up that was termed the ‘Manning Bowl’.

Peyton Manning goes down in history as the better player, evidenced by four MVP awards. Ranked in the top three when it comes to passing yards and touchdowns on top of two rings, Peyton is one of the best to ever play. In no shadow, Eli Manning has landed himself two Super Bowl rings and is in the top-10 for passing yards of all time. When the two matched up in 2006, Peyton and the Colts earned a victory over Eli and the Giants 26-21.

1st Ever Grand Slam

Baseball's first power hitter, #HOFer Roger Connor hit the first grand slam in MLB history. He was born 160 yrs ago! https://t.co/Y1DtuniFxB pic.twitter.com/pzfWRupjpK
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) July 1, 2017

YEAR: 1881

SIGNIFICANCE: Roger Connor hit the 1st grand slam in Major League history

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Troy Trojans 1B Roger Connor made National League history on this day in 1881 when he hit the first ever grand slam in league history. This grand slam came at the right time for the Trojans, as they were down three runs with the left-handed Connor up to bat. The 23-year-old was one of the best hitters on the team already, having had a remarkable rookie year (.332/.357/.816) followed with a solid 1881 season.

Connor, known as one of the first ever true power hitters of the sport, smoked the ball hard to deep right field for MLB’s first ever grand slam, leading them to a 8-7 victory over the Worcester Ruby Legs in front of only 100 fans. Connor had an 18-year career, accumulating over 2,400 career hits. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame through the Veteran’s Committee in 1976.

New Single-Season SB Record

#OTD 1974: Lou Brock sets a MLB record of 105 SB in one season, passing the mark of 104 set by Maury Wills in 1962. pic.twitter.com/GpOzdHJ7j4
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) September 10, 2016

YEAR: 1974

SIGNIFICANCE: Lou Brock set a new single-season record with his 105th SB of the year

St. Louis Cardinals Legend Lou Brock set a new single-season record for stolen bases 46 years ago, when he stole his 105th bag of the season. Brock surpassed Maury Willis‘ 104 SB single-season record (1962) with two stolen bases in a 8-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Brock finished the ’74 campaign with 118 stolen bases, a record which stood until Rickey Henderson stole 130 in 1982.

Brock became the all-time SB leader in 1977 and is currently second on the career stolen bases list with 938. On September 6, 2020, Brock passed away at the age of 81 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a 6x All-Star, 2x World Series champion, a member of the 3,000 hit club, and was inducted into the 1985 HOF class.

Fastest to 10K

YEAR: 1989

SIGNIFICANCE: RB Eric Dickerson became the fastest to ever reach 10,000 rushing yards in NFL history

There are few more exciting things in the NFL then to come across an elite running back. Whether it’s a quick and elusive back, or a bulky power back, the RB position in football is heavily spotlighted in every game. Someone who possessed the best of both worlds was Colts RB Eric Dickerson. In just his 91st career game, Dickerson recorded 10,000 career rushing yards. In doing so, he became the fastest to reach the 10K club in NFL history. To outline just how special his talent was, the Indy RB also holds the highest percentage of team scrimmage yards in a playoff game (76.5%) when he rushed for a playoff record 248 yards!

Welcome to Primetime

YEAR: 1989

SIGNIFICANCE: Within 5 days, Deion Sanders became the only player to ever hit a HR and return an NFL punt for a TD

One of the most impressive accomplishments in professional sports is to become a dual-sport athlete. Some that frequently come to mind are Bo Jackson, Michael Jordan, Brian Jordan, and none other than Deion Sanders. Sanders played baseball during nine out of the 14 seasons he played in the NFL. 31 years ago, “Primetime” belted a home run for the New York Yankees and returned a punt for a TD in his NFL debut with the Atlanta Falcons. In doing so, he is the only player to accomplish both feats at the professional level within the same week.

In a long career, Deion Sanders played on eight total teams within the NFL and MLB. On top of that, he is the only player ever to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. The defensive back saw his career conclude with an induction to the NFL Hall of Fame, and will never be forgotten for his exceptional talent across multiple professional sports and the vibrant personality he now brings to his post-career role as an NFL analyst.