Many noteworthy events went down in sports on this day in history. The legend, sports household name Babe Ruth hit a HR that has since developed into a milestone for generations to come. The first ever Hall of Fame Game in the NFL occurred and became a spectacle football fans look forward to each year. A handful of events that happened on August 11th, stretching to the previous century, are still relevant to this day.

Babe Ruth Reaches 500

#OTD in 1929, @Yankees Babe Ruth becomes the first player in baseball history to hit 500 home runs. https://t.co/e66WFPBr17 pic.twitter.com/mewk4jEdtj
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) August 11, 2017

YEAR: 1929

SIGNIFICANCE: Yankees’ OF Babe Ruth becomes the 1st player in MLB history to reach the 500 HR mark

In a Sunday afternoon game in Cleveland, the Sultan of Swat stepped up to the plate looking to hit his 500th career HR. Entering the game, Ruth was scorching; having hit four bombs in his last five games. Facing the Indians’ Willis Hudlin, Ruth (on his first at-bat of the day), turned on a high fastball and drove it over Dunn Field’s right field fence.

In classic Ruth fashion, the Babe called his shot before the game and asked the stadium personnel to be ready to look for the ball, according to The Plain Dealer’s Gordon Cobbledick. The ball was retrieved and exchanged for an autographed baseball and a $20 bill (Tip of the hat to SABR’s Chad Osbourne). It took 11 years until another player (Boston Red Sox’ 1B Jimmie Foxx) joined Ruth in the prestigious plateau. As it stands, there are only 27 players in the prestigious 500 HR club.

1st HOF Game

#OTD in 1962 the Giants and Cardinals met in the first NFL Hall of Fame Game. https://t.co/EagpSS4VeO pic.twitter.com/soKDESwjvI
— SportsPaper (@SportsPaperInfo) August 11, 2019

YEAR: 1962

SIGNIFICANCE: The very 1st Hall of Fame Game is played by the Giants and the Cardinals

The Hall of Fame Game is an event NFL fans get excited for every year as it’s the official kick off of football season (besides 2020 with the entire preseason canceled). It is an annual exhibition match that is held the weekend of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony. Over half a century ago, the New York Giants played against the Arizona Cardinals in this game only to tie 21-21. With 58 years of Hall of Fame games, fans will have to wait until 2021 for the 59th annual edition.

Green Bay Packers Founded

The Green Bay Packers were born on this day in 1919 — in the midst of a pandemic — and somehow survived. Not only those first turbulent years, but a whole century.
An incredible 101 years of persevering.
As the Packers, and the people of Wisconsin have shown, this will pass.
— PackersHistory.com (@PackersHistory1) August 11, 2020

YEAR: 1919

SIGNIFICANCE: The Green Bay Packers were founded by Curly Lambeau

The Green Bay Packers are one of the largest franchises in all of football. Countless NFL legends have been in and out of the team since its establishments. Names like Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers will never be forgotten by sports fans all around the globe. Over a century ago, this iconic team was established and the franchise went on to win a NFL record 13 Championships (4 Super Bowls + 9 NFL Championships before Super Bowl era).

McGwire Ties Rookie Record

YEAR: 1987

SIGNIFICANCE: Oakland Athletics’ 1B Mark McGwire hit his 38th HR of the season, tying the all-time Rookie Home Run record

Oakland A’s slugger Mark McGwire hit his 38th HR of the 1987 season, breaking Al Rosen‘s AL Rookie Home Run record (1950) and tying the Major League rookie record shared by Wally Berger (1930) and Frank Robinson (1956). McGwire hit a 7th inning bomb off Seattle Mariners’ pitcher Mike Moore in front of 10,000-plus in the Kingdome. Two games later McGwire would hit his 39th HR of the season against the California Angels, breaking the all-time record at the time. McGwire would go on to hit 49 round trippers and eventually becoming the second unanimous AL Rookie of the Year winner ever.

300 Wins for Warren Spahn

YEAR: 1961

SIGNIFICANCE: Milwaukee Braves’ southpaw Warren Spahn gets his 300th career win.

Warren Spahn became just the 13th pitcher at the time to have at least 300 career wins. Spahn threw a complete game vs. the Chicago Cubs, allowing just one run and six hits, leading the Braves to a 2-1 victory in front of 40,000 fans in Milwaukee’s County Stadium. He became the first 300-game winner since Red Sox’ hurler Lefty Grove did so 20 years prior. Spahn still stands as the winningest left-hander and sixth all-time with 363 career victories. Spahn was a 17x All-Star, a 3x ERA Title holder, the 1957 NL Cy Young winner, and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973.