Some days in the calendar year just love to repeat events. This is evident looking back on the events that occurred in sports history on September 12th. To start, it was a day of hope for the Detroit Lions as they snapped a streak absolutely nobody wants to hold. Additionally, the Boston Red Sox witnessed multiple career milestones among their players on 9/12. Further occasions go to show that this day in history is enriched with notable encounters in pro sports and it may be something to look out for each year.

Jaime Segui also contributed to this article.

Detroit Conquers a Demon

YEAR: 2004

SIGNIFICANCE: The Detroit Lions snapped a NFL record 24-game road losing streak

When thinking of some of the notorious streaks going against teams, one could well argue the Detroit Lions have some of the worst. Over the course of a staggering 24 games on the road, the Lions could not pull off a single victory. That all changed on September 12th, 2004 when QB Joey Harrington and Detroit defeated a division rival in the Chicago Bears 20-14 at Soldier Field.

The Lions are still active holders of an unwanted streak, with nine consecutive postseason losses since 1991. However, this season may be one to excite the fans of Detroit, as QB Matthew Stafford is healthy and ready to push towards success. With all the weapons to do so in WRs Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones, TE T.J. Hockenson, along with an extremely talented backfield, this could be the season Detroit snaps another forsaken streak.

Yaz's 3,000 & Papi's 500

YEARS: 1979 & 2015

SIGNIFICANCE: Carl Yastrzemski recorded his 3,000th hit & David Ortiz hit his 500th career HR

In the bottom of the 8th inning of a Yankees-Red Sox game 41 years ago, Boston LF/1B Carl Yastrzemski singled to RF for his 3,000th career hit. Yaz became the 15^th player in MLB history to join the 3,000-hit club and he did so in front of the Fenway faithful against their bitter rivals. The Hall of Famer made his debut in 1961 and took no more than two seasons to become one of the stars of the team and a perennial All-Star. Boston’s No.8 was an 18x All-Star, a 3x Batting Champion, an MVP, and is one of only ten players ever to win a Triple Crown. Yastrzemski finished his career with 3,419 hits, ninth on the all-time list.

On the same exact day 36 years later, another Botn legend, DH David Ortiz, had a multi-home run performance that gave him his 500th career home run. Ortiz is the most recent member to the 500-HR club and the 27th player to enter the exclusive club. Big Papi had a 3-for-4 night against the Tampa Bay Rays in which he drove in four runs, including his two bombs off Matt Moore. The long-time Red Sox DH is considered one of the greatest hitters of all-time, especially when it matters most. Ortiz had an incredible career with the Sox, slugging .570 and averaged over 30 bombs a year from 2003-16.

Inaugural Pain

YEAR: 1976, 1988, & 1999

SIGNIFICANCE: Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, and Cleveland Browns all played (and lost) their inaugural NFL games

If there’s one fact to acknowledge through the displays of each NFL expansion, it’s that it is not easy to start a brand new franchise and see immediate success on the field. Way back in 1976, the Seattle Seahawks took a loss in their debut game against the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1988, the Cardinals lost their first Phoenix, Arizona franchise match up against the Dallas Cowboys.

Lastly, in the final season of the millennium the Cleveland Browns lost their inaugural game against the Pittsburgh Steelers just three years after moving to Baltimore and becoming the Ravens. After many years of painful beginnings, the NFL witnessed a turnaround in their most recent expansion, as the Houston Texans saw victory in their first game ever in 2002.

Spahn's 363rd Win

Warren Spahn, no left handed pitcher ever won more games than him- 363 wins, Hall of Famer 1973 @Braves pic.twitter.com/oZXQxRh0ig
— Sports Days Past (@SportsDaysPast) August 29, 2018

YEAR: 1965

SIGNIFICANCE: Warren Spahn recorded the 363rd and final victory of his MLB career, the most ever among LHP

On this day in 1965, Warren Spahn recorded his 363rd win with a 2-run complete game against the Chicago Cubs. That was Spahn’s final victory of his historic career and it came at the age of 44. The Braves legend finished his career with the sixth most wins in MLB history, two wins behind HOFer Pud Galvin. Those 363 wins are the most ever by a left-handed pitcher, 34 more wins than fellow southpaw Steve Carlton’s 329. Spahn finished his career with a record of 363-245, a 3.09 ERA, and is one of the 32 players ever to have a career WAR of at least 100.

Infamous Illness

YEAR: 2019

SIGNIFICANCE: New York Jets QB Sam Darnold was memorably diagnosed with mono, missing 3 weeks of the 2019 season

In the midst of a global pandemic, the world has now seen just how impactful a contagious virus can be. One of the most common viruses seen among the population has been mononucleosis for many years. Exactly one year ago, New York Jets starting QB Sam Darnold was diagnosed with mono and had to miss the following three games. After drafting an OT in the first round and revamping the entire O-line, as well as adding some receiving weapons, there is plenty to be optimistic about for Darnold and the New York Jets in 2020.