HOT
Most Significant Sports History on November 29th
Learn about November 29th's most significant sports history including the beginning of NFL Thanksgiving, Kobe's poetic retirement, and more!
Pro Football Hall of Fame
November 29th is certainly a special day in the history of professional sports. The start of a Thanksgiving tradition most NFL fans cannot imagine a world without, took place for the first time in the Motor City. Topped off with one of the greatest players in NBA history officially announcing his retirement tour, 11/29 is a day many sports fans will always remember.
November 29th, 1934
— Erik Stenger (@abitbig) November 26, 2020
Lions inaugural Thanksgiving Day game
Final score Bears:19 Lions:16
The Lions have played every Thanksgiving game since 1934 minus a stretch 1939-1944. pic.twitter.com/rH13ijFTSm
YEAR: 1934
SIGNIFICANCE: The Lions hosted the Bears in the very 1st nationally-televised football game — on Thanksgiving Day
A longstanding American tradition, Thanksgiving Day and NFL Football have grown to become synonymous since Dallas and Detroit each began hosting a game on the holiday. The Cowboys’ tradition began in 1966 when GM Tex Schramm sought publicity for his young team, but the Lions’ began way back in 1934 — their first season as the “Detroit Lions”. Formerly the Portsmouth Spartans, the team’s first four seasons in Ohio were quite successful (28-16-7) but the league’s second-smallest market at the time was unable to support an NFL team, which led to a sale.
George A. Richards, the owner of a Detroit-area radio station, purchased the Spartans and moved them to Detroit in 1934, adopting the “Lions” nickname to compliment the city’s “Tigers” baseball team. Experimenting with a game on Thanksgiving Day in the relocated team’s first season, Richards utilized his connections in radio and television to reach an agreement with NBC to broadcast the game across all affiliated networks in the country.
A rousing success, it sold out two weeks in advance and gatekeepers were estimated to have turned away at least 20,000 additional fans in addition to the national attention it received, leading to an uninterrupted, 86-year football tradition that has developed into the biggest NFL regular season day of the year.
"I’ll always be that kid
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) November 29, 2018
With the rolled up socks
Garbage can in the corner
:05 seconds on the clock
Ball in my hands.
5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1
Love you always,
Kobe."
On this day in 2015, @KobeBryant announced his retirement with "Dear Basketball."https://t.co/ZXzA7eubaY
YEAR: 2015
SIGNIFICANCE: Legendary Los Angeles Lakers SG Kobe Bryant announced that the 2015-16 NBA season would be his last
The greatness of Michael Jordan has inspired many, but perhaps nobody more than the cookie cut-out version of himself, Kobe Bryant. The late Laker legend Kobe Bryant not only had a similar playing style to MJ but delivered his retirement news in a similar fashion with a letter which began with the same two words, “Dear Basketball”. An adaption of his sentimental letter was made into an animated short film and would win an Oscar in 2018.
It was on this day exactly five years ago that the 5x NBA champion and 15x All-NBA guard announced the conclusion to his 20-year tenure. That season served as Bryant’s farewell tour as he would play in each city’s arena for the final time, each time receiving a grand applause of appreciation from NBA fans around the country. To cap it all off, Bryant put on a show in his farewell game, tallying a whopping 60 points—the most by any player in their final career game.
1987 “The Comeback Kid” Joe Montana completed an @NFL record 22 consecutive passes @49ers @49ersHub @NFL @ESPNNFL @nflnetwork @Chiefs pic.twitter.com/4AjWtVR4sD
— #OnThisDay (@Iain_McDougall) November 29, 2018
YEAR: 1987 & 1992
SIGNIFICANCE: Joe Montana set an NFL record w/ 22 straight CMP AND Jerry Rice became the 2nd ever with 100 REC TD
Known for their innovations with the West Coast offense, the 49ers under HC Bill Walsh were a meticulous offensive machine predicated on efficient short passes. Over a two-game span in 1987 during which he tossed six TDs, one INT, and 650 yards, Joe Montana also managed to complete 22 consecutive pass attempts to set an all-time NFL record. Beginning with 17 consecutive completions to close out a victory over the Cleveland Browns on this date, Montana would then complete his first five attempts in the 49ers’ victory at Lambeau Field to establish a record that would stand for 17 years.
Five years later to the date, Montana’s partner-in-crime also made NFL history in his own right by joining Steve Largent as the only players to record triple-digit reception TDs. In a 20-14 victory over the Eagles, Jerry Rice totaled 133 yards on eight receptions along with a TD, which tied Largent’s all-time record in just his eighth career season. Continuing for another 12 years, Rice would obviously shatter the previous mark and finished his illustrious career with a whopping 197 receiving TDs (207 total) over 20 seasons.
From 1959-1962, two All-Star games were played each season - the 2nd game was to raise funds for pension & other causes. #ASG #TriviaTuesday
— MLBPAA (@MLBPAA) July 15, 2014
YEAR: 1962
SIGNIFICANCE: After experimenting with multiple All-Star games, MLB decided to revert back to a single game
Back in 1959, Major League Baseball experimented with making the All-Star Game a two-game event, but after just four seasons, the MLB decided to revert back to the single-game fixture. The All-Star doubleheader used to be scheduled weeks apart and each game was hosted by a different city. Between 1959 and 1962, the National League won five of the eight Mid Summer Classics and drew (1-1) Game 2 in 1961. In July 9, 1963, the All-Star Game took place in Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium and officially marked the return of the single-game All-Star event, which has stayed in place ever since.
Today in Yankees History - 1976 - After listening to offers from the Expos and Orioles, Baltimore free agent Reggie Jackson, agrees to a five-year, $3.5 million deal to play for the Yankees. pic.twitter.com/KFgaqasPF8
— River Ave. Blues (@RiverAveBlues) November 29, 2018
YEARS: 1976 & 2019
SIGNIFICANCE: Reggie Jackson became the highest-paid MLB player AND Lane Johnson became the highest-paid OT ever
OF Reggie Jackson changed the baseball landscape forever when the Free Agent signed a 5y/$3.5M contract with the New York Yankees, making him the highest-paid player in league history. Jackson’s signing was a win for both parties, as the Yankees won the World Series in the very next two seasons, and Jackson cemented a legacy that led him all the way towards Cooperstown. In the 1977 World Series, Jackson, was named WS MVP after hitting five home runs, including three in the series-clinching Game 6, earning him the nickname “Mr. October”. In his five seasons with the Yankees, Jackson hit .283/.371/.897 with 144 HR and 461 RBI.
Also occurring on this date just a year ago was Lane Johnson’s extension with Philadelphia that shattered Trent Brown’s record OT contract from the Raiders from the previous offseason. Receiving a 4y/$72M deal, Philly also gave him the most guarantees ($54.6M) in addition to the highest annual salary of any OT in NFL history. A 3x Pro Bowler and a key cog during their miraculous run to Super Bowl LII, Johnson has unfortunately missed several games over the last two seasons with injuries to his MCL last year and a severe ankle injury that has now landed him on IR for the remainder of 2020. Already allowing 40 sacks on the season (most in the NFL), Philadelphia will sorely miss their franchise RT but can rest assured the Oklahoma product will remain a building block going forward.
Lane Johnson agrees to 4-year, $72M extension with Eagles. That's the largest contract for an offensive lineman in history on a per-year and guaranteed basis. pic.twitter.com/Dv0GjFkCW2
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) November 29, 2019
Learn something interesting about sports history on November 29th? Share with friends!
