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Most Significant Sports History on October 21st
Learn about October 21st's most significant sports history including Carlton Fisk's Game 6 walk-off, the end of Philly's 98-year wait, and more!
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When looking back at all the significant sports history on October 21, there are a few events that stand above the rest. One of them being the most iconic fair/foul HR in the history of baseball that lifted the Red Sox to a Game 7 in the 1975 World Series. Other MLB Championship memories along with a NFL points record, and a flurry of sizable NBA extensions just last year stack up to make October 21st full of important sports events.
YEAR: 1975
SIGNIFICANCE: Carlton Fisk hit an iconic walk-off home run in the 12th inning against the Reds, forcing a Game 7
In the 12th inning of a back-and-forth Game 6, Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk delivered one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history. The Reds entered the game with a 3-2 series lead, leaving the Red Sox with no room for error as they looked to win their first title since 1918. Boston got out to a three-run lead, but Cincinnati took the lead after a three-run 5th inning and a two-run 7th inning.
In the 8th inning, the Reds added one more, but pinch-hitter Bennie Carbo stepped up big time with a game-tying three-run bomb to dead center field in the home part of the inning. Fast forward to the bottom of the 12th inning, and Fisk hit the game-winner just two pitches into the bottom half. As the ball flew through the Boston night sky, Fisk hopped towards first base, trying to wave the ball fair. The towering fly ball crashed into the foul pole, giving Boston a 7-6 win, forcing a decisive Game 7.
YEARS: 1976 & 1998
SIGNIFICANCE: Reds became the 1st team to sweep the postseason & the Yankees’ 125 wins set all-time record (incl. playoffs)
On this day in history, two of the most historic franchises in baseball had record-setting postseason runs culminate. First, the 1976 Cincinnati Reds defended their World Title in dominating fashion, sweeping their way through the World Series. They became the first team ever to sweep both the LCS and World Series in a single postseason, a record that still stands to this day (granted, the playoffs expanded to three rounds in 1995). The Reds took care of the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS by sweeping them in a best-of-five series. Next up were the New York Yankees, who stood no chance against the Big Red Machine. Cincinnati swept the Yankees, limiting them to just eight runs in the entire series. Johnny Bench took home the series MVP honors, after smashing two home runs, driving in six runs, and posting a 1.667 OPS.
Exactly 22 years later, the 1998 Yankees set the all-time record for most wins in a calendar year. After an incredible 114-win regular season, the Yankees won the 11 games needed to win the World Series. En route to their second title in three years, the Yankees swept the Rangers in the ALDS, eliminated Cleveland in six games during the ALCS, and swept the Padres in the Fall Classic to claim their 24th championship. The magic of the ’98 Yankees was their incredibly deep roster, one that boasted the likes of Hall of Famers Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Tim Raines, but also had the likes of Ricky Ledde and Scott Brosuis, who both had an OPS over 1.000 in the World Series. Brosius won WS MVP after hitting a whopping .471 with two home runs, including an eventual game-winning three-run bomb off Trevor Hoffman in Game 3. The Yankees’ finished ’98 with an absurd 125-50 W-L record, the most wins ever.
YEAR: 1980
SIGNIFICANCE: The Phillies won the WS over the Royals (4-2) for the 1st world title in their 98-year existence
It took the Philadelphia Phillies six games to win the first World Series championship in the franchise’s 98-year history. The Phillies took care of the Kansas City Royals 4-1 in Game 6 behind a Steve Carlton seven inning masterpiece. Carlton allowed just one run on four hits while striking out seven Royals. Closer Tug McGraw came in to get the six-out save, which he did. McGraw got Willie Wilson to strikeout swinging for the final out, resulting in utter bedlam in Philly’s Veterans Stadium. The Phillies were destined to win it all in 1980, with Mike Schmidt (48 HR, 121 RBI), the ’80 NL MVP and WS MVP, and Carlton (24-9, 2.34 ERA), who won the NL Cy Young. It would be the Phillies’ only championship until 2008, where they beat the Tampa Bay Rays, who are currently playing in their second Fall Classic ever.
YEAR: 2019
SIGNIFICANCE: Before their 4th season, many young NBA stars signed their 1st contract extensions
The deadline for 2016 draftees to sign an extension before hitting restricted free agency the following summer was exactly one year ago. Four young, budding stars cashed in with multi-year deals on the eve of what would be an unprecedented 2019-20 season. A draft class that has matured well as a whole, each player received a four-year deal as the Celtics gave Jaylen Brown the most by far with $115 million, followed by Buddy Hield ($94M from Sacramento), Domantas Sabonis ($75M from Indiana), and then Dejounte Murray ($64M from San Antonio). These four extensions would bring the first-round class’ total to nine, tying them with the 2010 class for the most under the rookie-scale rules.
Brown’s team has found the most success of the group, yet this past season was his very first over the 20-PPG benchmark. Hield has consistently shown off his scoring ability, including consecutive seasons with 20.7 and 19.2 PPG, but the Kings have struggled to exceed a .400 win percentage over that time. Sabonis, on the other hand, averaged a double-double this past year (18.5 PPG, 12.4 RPG) and was named to his very first All-Star team with the playoff-bound Pacers, solidifying himself as the cream of the crop currently. Lastly, Murray was named to the All-Defense Second-Team in 2017-18, but his third year was completely wiped out in the preseason by a torn ACL, which he has successfully returned from.
It’s important to note Ben Simmons, Jamal Murray, Caris LeVert, Pascal Siakam, and Malcolm Brogdon all signed mega-deals prior to this deadline, while No.2 overall pick Brandon Ingram will be the only premier Restricted Free Agent among the 2016 Draft class.
We end the day with nine extensions:
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 21, 2019
3 max players (Simmons, Murray and Siakam)
4 with bonuses built in (Hield, Sabonis, Prince and Brown)
2 coming off an injury shortened season (LeVert and Murray) that now have financial security for life https://t.co/H2Lr1h5gxN
10/21/07: Who remembers this? This was a THRILLER in Houston! Rob Bironas sets an NFL record 8 FG’s in a game, but that wasn’t even the highlight of the game! A total collapse by the Titans, but Kerry Collins hits Roydell Williams at the end to set Bironas up for the win. pic.twitter.com/9cwDaXErT8
— 2nd & Victory (@2ndandVictory) June 18, 2020
YEAR: 2007
SIGNIFICANCE: Rob Bironas set an NFL record for the most points scored without a TD (26)
Before capitalizing on his opportunity with the Tennessee Titans in 2005 at the age of 27, Rob Bironas bounced around a few offseason and preseason rosters before landing with the Arena Football League’s Carolina Cobras and New York Dragons. Converting well under 50% of his Arena League FGs, Rob Bironas surprisingly earned the starting job in Tennessee, yet would go on to convert 23 of his first 29 attempts (79%). He would follow that up with another solid season (22 for 28) in which he nailed a 60-yard attempt — the longest in franchise history.
On this day in his third season, Rob Bironas’ improbable career trajectory took yet another turn. Converting all eight FG attempts to defeat the Houston Texans 38-36, he set the NFL single-game record for FGs made and points scored without a TD (26). On the back of his five first-half makes, the Titans built a 32-7 lead but blew it in the fourth quarter, falling behind 36-35 with a minute left — until Bironas saved the day. Released and retired in 2013 as the franchise’s second all-time leading scorer, along with a few other NFL records to his name, Rob Bironas tragically passed away in a fatal car accident just over a year later.
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