Most Significant Sports History on July 12th

Almost 120 years ago, the most prolific pitcher in MLB history became the very first ever to collect 300 career victories. About eight decades later, Comiskey Park hosted a promotional event as an attempt to raise ticket sales for a doubleheader that ended up turning into an unforgettable disaster. These two phenomenons are just a preview into some of the many memorable moments to transpire on July 12th in pro sports history.

Cy Young's 300th Win

Today in 1901, Cy Young wins his 300th game, mutters “Almost 60% there” to no one in particular, then chops down a tree with his bare hand. pic.twitter.com/pMuIbcROjA
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) July 12, 2017

YEAR: 1901

SIGNIFICANCE: Cy Young was the 1st pitcher to record his 300th victory

To start off the 20th century of professional baseball, one Boston ballplayer became the first SP in MLB history to reach the 300-win milestone. The RHP even had an annual award named after him, which is still given out to each league’s best pitcher at the end of every season. Cy Young will forever be among the greatest hurlers to set foot on the mound, as he registered a sub-3.00 ERA over 280+ innings pitched in 13 of his 22 seasons. Looking beyond his HOF resume and many all-time records, Young acted as the symbol of endurance and fortitude for the MLB during the early 1900s and the WWII era.

Disco Demolition Night

YEAR: 1979

SIGNIFICANCE: CWS’ Comiskey Park opted to throw an anti-Disco event in an attempt to increase ticket sales

South Side’s Comiskey Park is the home of many all-time legends and active stars, but there’s one particularly unusual event that will be remembered by baseball generations; “Disco Demolition Night”. Exactly 41 years ago today, Comiskey Park allowed fans to purchase tickets for the July 12th doubleheader for just 98 cents a pop.

The promotion was to create the largest anti-Disco rally by encouraging White Sox fans to bring in, and later destroy disco-related records. The stadium’s spectators became so disruptive and rowdy that they infiltrated the field and the Sox were forced to forfeit the second game of the DH with the Detroit Tigers after the crowd completely took over the field.

Birth of the MLBPA

It was on this day in 1954 that @MLB players organized a group we now call the Major League Baseball Players Association! @mlb_players
— MLBPAA (@MLBPAA) July 12, 2013

YEAR: 1954

SIGNIFICANCE: The MLBPA was officially founded to represent and support the best interests for all big-league ballplayers

Since it was certain that the 2020 season was not going to start on time in April, the MLB and MLBPA have been actively debating about how the new economics of a decreased revenue season would look like between the owners and players. With the 60-game plan now implemented, it’s important to remember the history behind the Players’ Association. Today marks the 66th anniversary of the MLBPA’s inaguration, which still has the purpose to represent all ballplayers preparing to negotiate major league contracts. The current MLB collective bargaining agreement (signed in 2016) will officially be evaluated at the end of next year as it typically runs for half a decade.

MJ Re-Signs for $30M

YEAR: 1996

SIGNIFICANCE: Michael Jordan signed to a record-breaking 1-year deal with the Bulls

Following his rookie deal (4y/$6.3M), Michael Jordan inked a new contract in 1988 (8y/$25.7M) to link him with the Chicago Bulls for eight more seasons. The future GOAT went on to be a 2x MVP while only making about three million per year, shockingly low compared to today’s compensation standards. On this day 24 years ago, “His Airness” finally received a deal that resembled his actual worth following the historic 1995-96 season: $30M salary while the next highest-paid player in the league was Horace Grant making less than half of that amount in 1996-97. The agreement is still the richest 1-year deal to ever be signed in the history of the Association.

7th No-No of the Season

On this day in sports (1990): Chicago @whitesox pitcher Melido Perez no-hits @Yankees in a rain shortened 6 inning game at Yankee Stadium (7th no-hitter of 1990). https://t.co/lbX0dZSFTc pic.twitter.com/5x9Dnb3iC1

— COMC.com – Safe & Easy Trading Card Consignment (@CheckOutMyCards) July 12, 2018

YEAR: 1990

SIGNIFICANCE: Melindo Perez pitched the 7th no-no of 1990, breaking the all-time MLB record in a single season

MLB no-hitters are some of the most memorable moments in the sport’s history. While the incredible Nolan Ryan holds the record for seven in a career, there have been 303 total no-hit occurrences since 1876. However, seven of them were thrown in one season. Three decades ago today, the White Sox SP blanked the Yankees in the 8-0 defeat of a rain-shortened, 6-inning game. SP Melido Perez may not be a Hall-of-Famer, but he will always be associated with an all-time MLB record by throwing the seventh Major League no-hitter of the 1990 campaign.