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On This Day in Sports History: June 26th
The Yankees broke an all-time MLB record, the Hornets drafted a future sports icon, and more!
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On this day last year, the New York Yankees broke an all-time HR record that was previously held by the 2002 Texas Rangers. 16 years before that, basketball witnessed one of the greatest top-5s in the history of NBA drafts. These outstanding occurrences are just a few of the many significant events that have occurred on June 26th that still impacts the game today.
YEAR: 2019
SIGNIFICANCE: The Yankees broke the all-time MLB record by hitting a HR in 28 straight games
Home Runs are becoming increasingly more common as the MLB transforms into a generation of youth and power. While players like Mike Trout, Cody Bellinger, and Ronald Acuna Jr. have been taking the league by storm, the New York Yankees as a team have been destroying baseballs at an unprecedented rate.
En route to their most homers in franchise history (306), the Yankees broke the all-time big league record (previously held by the 2002 Rangers) by blasting a HR in their 28th consecutive game on this day last year. With the MLB implementing a universal DH, baseball fans can look forward to the uptick in HRs per game continuing in the Senior Circuit as well.
YEAR: 2003
SIGNIFICANCE: The King, Flash, Melo, and Bosh were each selected in the top-5 picks of the draft
On this day 17 years ago, basketball fans witnessed four future All-Stars get selected in the first five picks of the 2003 NBA Draft. Arguable one of the greatest players of all-time, LeBron James was taken first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by the Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, and Miami Heat landing Carmelo Anthony (third), Chris Bosh (fourth), and Dwayne Wade (fifth), respectively. The four incredible athletes combined for over 100,000 career points, 50 All-Star appearances, eight NBA titles, and counting. The odd man out Darko Milicic was a blasphemous bust that the Detroit Pistons surely regret with three other future HOF’s on the board.
YEAR: 1996
SIGNIFICANCE: The Hornets drafted Kobe Bryant out of high school with the 13th overall pick, then traded him days later
Another star-studded draft that took place on this day in sports history was the 1996 Draft. Exactly 24 years ago, the Philadelphia 76ers selected the ‘obvious’ No. 1 pick in Georgetown PG Allen Iverson. The Answer had a decorated, HOF career as an 11x All-Star and 4x Scoring Champ, but his legacy does not compare to the high school product that was picked at 13th overall, Kobe Bryant.
The Hornets took the gamble on the teenage future-legend, but failed to keep him on the roster by sending him to the Lakers just days later for Vlade Divac (now the Kings GM). Other noteworthy products that came out of this draft were Stephon Marbury (fourth), Ray Allen (fifth), Peja Stojakovich (14th), and Steve Nash (15th).
June 26, 1935—Lloyd Waner sets a #MLB record with 18 putouts in center field in a doubleheader as the #Pirates take a pair from the #Braves at Boston. He will retire with a lifetime fielding % of .983 pic.twitter.com/KasnS4Enh2
— Base•ball•ia (@Baseballia) June 26, 2018
YEAR: 1935
SIGNIFICANCE: CF Lloyd Waner collected an all-time MLB record of 18 putouts in a single game
Occurring over eight decades ago today, one Pittsburgh Pirate recorded 18 putouts in a single game. This MLB record holds up to this day by CF Lloyd Waner. There weren’t many strikeouts in that era of baseball like there were today, but it’s still pretty amazing that one of the nine defenders on the field was responsible for 18 of the 27 outs in the game. Before entering the Hall of Fame in 1967, he spent 18 years in the Bigs (17 with the Pirates), generating a career batting average of .316 with 2,459 hits in 7,772 at-bats.
JUNE 26,1994 Kirby Puckett pass Rod Carew with 2,088 hit as Twin’s top hit leader #RIP #KIRBY pic.twitter.com/qYncOIeHAZ
— Raptor Power Systems (@RaptorPower) June 26, 2015
YEAR: 1994
SIGNIFICANCE: Kirby Puckett became the Twins’ all-time hits leader
The Minnesota Twins are among the most powerful teams currently in the MLB as the Bomba squad. However, since entering the league in 1961, the franchise has only amassed two World Series championships (1987 & 1991). Playing for both of those teams was speedy CF Kirby Puckett.
The 10x All-Star was also a 6x Silver Slugger and 6x Gold Glove winner. During his 12-year stint in the majors (all with the Twins), he accumulated 2,304 hits with a .318/.360/.477 batting line. It was on this day 26 years ago that Puckett recorded his 2,088th career hit, passing Rod Carew as the franchise’s all-time leader. His most memorable hit was of course this legendary walk-off HR in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2001, five years before passing away on March 6, 2006.
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