Most Significant Sports History on July 10th

Exactly 31 years ago, the Chicago Bulls officially hired a future HOF head coach to guide a star-studded, Michael Jordan-led squad. 45 years earlier, one popular sports tradition was canceled for the first time in its history. These long-lasting memories continue to make a major impact on some of the teams and players seen in today’s game.

Bulls Hire Phil Jackson

YEAR: 1989

SIGNIFICANCE: The Chicago Bulls made one of the best HC hires in NBA history

The Chicago Bulls utterly dominated the NBA throughout the 1990’s, winning six Championships on two separate three-peats. SG Michael Jordan certainly played a major role in the decade-long dynasty, but it may have played out differently if it wasn’t for one of the greatest coaches of all-time. On this day 31 years ago, the Bulls hired Phil Jackson as their newest head coach.

Between the years of 1978-81 and 1987-89, Jackson was Chicago’s assistant coach for a total of five full seasons. At first, Jordan was hesitant to the HC change because it was public knowledge that Jackson’s mindset prioritized team-success over individual development. However, Jordan clearly warmed up quickly to the HC, as the franchise immediately became the top-dog of the entire Association. Jackson is without a doubt among the most accomplished HCs in NBA history, collecting 1,155 wins (seventh all-time) on a career .707 win percentage (first all-time with 1000+ games) and winning 11 Championships (most ever) over 20 seasons.

MLB ASG Canceled

ON THIS DAY
On July 6, 1933, the very first Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Since then, the game has been played every year with it being cancelled only twice: in 1945 due to World War II and in 2020 thanks to COVID-19. #OTD pic.twitter.com/Fnb51VZF7m
— Mr. Hogan (@MrAndyHogan) July 7, 2020

YEAR: 1945

SIGNIFICANCE: The MLB ASG has only been canceled twice since its birth in 1933

For the first time in over eight decades, the MLB officially decided to cancel the annual All-Star Game. While that is a small price to pay for the return of professional baseball, its always disappointing to see a yearly tradition broken. On the other hand, its rather impressive that multiple generations of baseball fans have had the chance to watch ASGs annually for close to a century. 75 years ago today, the MLB first scrapped the ASG due to the travel restrictions enforced during the era of WWII. The MLB just announced last week that the 2020 All-Star Game will be canceled as well due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rung Up 5 Straight HOFs

July 10, 1934. “King” Carl Hubble of the New York Giants strikes out Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin (not pictured) consecutively. Hubble’s stat line for the day was 3 innings pitched, 6 strikeouts, 2 hits and no earned runs. pic.twitter.com/tiQcOQL0Fx
— Throwback Athletes (@tbtathlete) April 19, 2020

YEAR: 1934

SIGNIFICANCE: Carl Hubbell struck out 5 consecutive MLB legends in the 2nd ASG

Today marks the 86th anniversary of a pitcher striking out five straight Hall of Famers in the second-ever ASG. Taking the mound for the first three innings for the NL was Carl Hubber, who ended up fanning Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin, consecutively. The NYG went on to throw three shutout innings with six strikeouts and just two walks. While this was, and still is a fantastic feat, Hubbell impressed everyone who was lucky enough to witness his special career. The prodigious pitcher accumulated 253 total wins on his way to becoming a 9x All-Star, 2x MVP, a World Series Champ (1933), and an eventual Hall of Famer himself.

NL Splits into 2 Divisions

YEAR: 1968

SIGNIFICANCE: The Senior Circuit formally became a 2-division league (East & West)

30 MLB franchises are currently preparing to start the 2020 regular season with six total divisions but schedules that only feature opponents in two divisions. Once upon a time, only 20 teams were competing for the World Series with 10 in the American League and 10 in the National League.

On this day 52 years ago, the MLB officially agreed to split up the 10-team National League into two separate divisions. While discord between teams like the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals existed for years prior to this point, the 1968 league-restructuring absolutely sparked many of the games’ biggest divisional rivalries that continue through the 21st century.

3rd GS of the Week

YEAR: 1982

SIGNIFICANCE: OF Larry Parrish tied the all-time MLB record of 3 Grand Slams in a single week

Lou Gehrig leads all players in most career grand slams of all-time, as recognized last week on the anniversary of that significant event. Today, baseball fans remember one Rangers outfielder who belted his THIRD 4-run HR of the week. On July 10th nearly four decades ago, Larry Parrish tied Jim Northrup’s record of three Grand Slams in one week, originally set in the summer of 1968. The accomplishment has not been reached since, but with the MLB setting new all-time HR records on an annual basis recently, it could be inevitable a player surpasses this record in the near future.