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Most Significant Sports History on October 18th
Learn about October 18th's most significant sports history including Mr. October's clincher, the NBA's 1st quadruple-double, and more!
Jim Accordino
Not only the day that one of the NBA’s all-time greats made his debut, October 18th also marks the moment that “Mr. October” officially solidified his nickname — in the World Series. Additionally, this day is known for an impressive NBA first along with some significant records from two of the NFL’s greatest passers. Lastly, the Athletics found their final hope before the Dodgers would eventually close out their last Championship run.
YEAR: 1977
SIGNIFICANCE: Reggie Jackson hit 3 HRs helping New York claim their 21st title & solidified his nickname “Mr. October”
On this day in 1977, New York Yankees OF Reggie Jackson became “Mr. October”. The highest-paid player in baseball at the time (5yrs/$3.5M) walked in his first at-bat of the night, but then hit a home run on the very first pitch during each of his next three at-bats. The 1993 Hall of Fame inductee drove in 5 runs in an 8-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers to clinch New York’s 21st World Series, their first since 1962. Jackson hit .450/.542/1.792 with five home runs and eight driven in, earning him the series’ MVP.
Mr. October’s three-homer game in the World Series was just the third ever, but he was the second player to ever accomplish such a feat. Yankees immortal Babe Ruth had two three-home run games in the 1926 and ’28 World Series’. Since Jackson’s magical night in ’77, only Albert Pujols (2011 vs Texas) and Pablo Sandoval (2012 vs Detroit) have hit three home runs in the same World Series game.
YEAR: 1988
SIGNIFICANCE: Mark McGwire hit a walk-off HR to defeat the Dodgers 2-1 in Game 3 of the WS
After dropping two games at Dodger Stadium, the series shifted to Oakland with the Athletics poised to comeback in the series. The A’s and Dodgers headed into the 9th inning tied at one, with the Oakland offense once again failing to get anything going. In the bottom half, after a Jose Canseco pop fly, the 1987 Rookie of the Year Mark McGwire took Dodgers closer Jay Howell deep to walk it off and give the A’s their first and only win that series. This walk-off dinger proved to be McGwire’s only hit of the World Series, one that was dominated by L.A.’s pitching.
On 10/18/74 Nate Thurmond became 1st in NBA history to post an official quadruple-double: 22 pt-14 reb-13 ast-12 blk pic.twitter.com/cZgclKVGzg
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) July 16, 2016
YEAR: 1974
SIGNIFICANCE: Nate Thurmond recorded the 1st quadruple-double in NBA history
In his very first game with the Bulls after 12 seasons with the San Francisco/Golden State Warriors, Nate Thurmond immediately made his presence felt in Chicago. A 120-115 overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks, Thurmond posted a stat line of 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks — the very first quadruple-double in NBA history. Explaining that the Bay Area fans never fully appreciated his ability, former Warriors teammate Clyde Lee believed it was the home crowd that got Thurmond going — “when he got that ovation before the game started, you could see it pick him up”.
Granted, blocks and steals were not kept track of until the previous season, so the feat very well may have unofficially occurred well before 1974. Regardless, the 33-year-old Thurmond made history in the opening game of what would be his final season as a full-time starter after years of under-appreciation. Since Thurmond, only three other players have ever recorded a quadruple-double in a game (David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, & Alvin Robinson).
#OnThisDay ... in 1992, @DanMarino equalled Johnny Unitas' record of 17 games with four or more passing touchdowns. In better times for the @MiamiDolphins, Marino equalled the mark in a 38-17 win against the @Patriots, and eventually extended his haul to 21 such games.#NFL100 pic.twitter.com/F9iWWTQsql
— Gridiron (@Gridiron) October 18, 2019
YEAR: 1992 & 2009
SIGNIFICANCE: Dan Marino had his record-tying 17th career 4-TD game AND Tom Brady tossed a record 5 TDs in a QTR
In 1992, Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins had one of the league’s most prolific offenses as the HOF QB led the NFL in passing yards (4,116), completions (330), and attempts (554) en route to an AFC Championship appearance. Coming into a meeting with the 0-5 Patriots, New England held the undefeated Dolphins at bay through halftime, down only 17-10. Taking the game into his own hands from that point with two more TD passes, bringing his total to four, Dan Marino tied Johnny Unitas’ record of 17 such games throughout his career. Ironically, he would break the record against the Patriots on opening day of 1994 — a masterpiece in his first game back from a torn Achilles.
Then, exactly 17 years later, the New England Patriots handed the Tennessee Titans the largest shutout defeat in NFL history — 59-0 — on the back of Tom Brady’s six TD passes. Beginning the second quarter with a 10-0 lead, he proceeded to rip the Titans secondary for an NFL-record five TDs in one quarter — one to Kevin Faulk and two each to Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Completing 85% of his passes despite the snowy conditions, TB12 finished the game with less incompletions (5) than TDs while his counterparts, Kerry Collins and Vince Young, completed just 2-14 for -7 yards and an INT while losing three fumbles.
YEAR: 1969
SIGNIFICANCE: Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) made his NBA debut for the Milwaukee Bucks
On this date in 1969, the NBA’s all-time leader in career points and games played made his NBA debut for the Milwaukee Bucks. In a 119-110 victory over the Detroit Pistons, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who previously went by Lew Alcindor immediately proved his worth as the number one overall pick with a 29-point, 12-rebound outing. Averaging nearly 29 points 14 rebounds per game as a rookie, he was named an All-Star along with All-NBA Second-Team and All-Defense Second-Team honors, ultimately resulting in the Rookie of the Year Award.
After Milwaukee finished their inaugural season with a dismal 27-55 record that resulted in the top overall pick, Kareem led an instant turnaround to a 56-26 season and the East’s second seed. Following their acquisition of future Hall-of-Fame PG Oscar Robertson in the summer of 1970, the Bucks would go on to win their only title in franchise history as Abdul-Jabbar earned the first of his six MVPs. Just one day after their Championship victory, Lew Alcindor legally changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and would play four more seasons in Milwaukee until a trade to Los Angeles in 1975, where his career would reach even greater heights alongside Magic Johnson and the “Lake Show.”
October 18, 1969: After a decorated career at UCLA, @Kaj33 (then Lew Alcindor) makes his @NBA debut w/ the @Bucks (29 points, 12 reb. 6 ast) pic.twitter.com/Or2gPwhRkd
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) October 18, 2016
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