August 24th has some specific events that surround the day with significant sports history. A man who was tabbed as the next big thing retired before even reaching his prime, far before most would have expected. In addition, one of the greatest players to ever pick up a football said his farewell to the National Football League. These are a couple of this day’s most notable sports events in history that continue to influence the game today.

A Retirement Too Young

YEAR: 2019

SIGNIFICANCE: Colts QB Andrew Luck retired just 2 weeks prior to the start of the 2019 season

In the year 2012, one of the most exciting young prospects emerged as the first overall pick of the NFL draft. That man was Stanford signal-caller Andrew Luck, the starlet expected to fill the shoes of the NFL legend Peyton Manning in Indy. There may be no greater pressure in professional sports than to live up to the name of a living legend, but Andrew Luck did not leave fans of Indianapolis doubting after a fantastic few seasons that included an AFC Championship berth.

While injuries hampered his career later on, his performances were special as it seemed he was just scratching the surface of his overall potential. Unfortunately on this day exactly one year ago, Luck’s retirement became public knowledge after failing to recover from injuries like he would’ve liked.

A Legend Departs

YEAR: 2006

SIGNIFICANCE: HOF WR Jerry Rice officially retired from the NFL

When the debate of the greatest wide receiver of all time comes to the premises, it is difficult to choose any over Jerry Rice. A man who has simply done it all, has three Super Bowl rings to his name, as well as an AFC championship with another team. In the length of his near two-decade career, Rice made the Pro Bowl an astounding 12 times. Above all, the NFL HOF is currently the record holder for most receiving yards in the NFL of all time by a LARGE margin. 14 years ago today, the NFL world witnessed Jerry Rice retire after signing a one-day contract with the team he made a name for himself with and won all of his Super Bowls, the San Francisco 49ers.

Struck by Lightning

This day in 1919: #Indians pitcher Ray Caldwell struck by lightning in 9th inning, finishes game (Chicago Tribune) pic.twitter.com/rMlPyXlmwB
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) August 24, 2015

YEAR: 1919

SIGNIFICANCE: SP Ray Caldwell was struck by lightning; recovered immediately and finished the game

Cleveland Indians SP Ray Caldwell was facing the Philadelphia Athletics. He had thrown a great game, giving up just four hits and allowed only one run to score. Looking for the final out to complete the game, as Caldwell went into his windup—a lighting bolt struck League Park. On the mound, laying flat on the ground was Caldwell. Fans and teammates thought he might be dead. Everyone on the scene was in shock, scared of what had just transpired.

Multiple reports say that players on the field felt a current from their metal spikes up to their legs, creating numbness, and that the lighting traveled throughout the metal railings of the ballpark. Still stunned, Caldwell got up, found a way to shake it off, and his teammates went back to their positions. Caldwell got the final batter to groundout to end what was certainly a rare circumstance on a baseball diamond.

WWI and Baseball

Ruth warming up, 1918 World Series pic.twitter.com/cOQdw45jHJ
— The Skimmers (@TheSkimmers) February 7, 2018

YEAR: 1918

SIGNIFICANCE: In the midst of WWI, Secretary of War Baker granted an exemption to players in the WS

1918 was a year filled with horrors. The first World War ended that November and the Spanish Flu would infect around a quarter of the world’s population. As for Major League Baseball, that meant the sport was facing a possible cancelation of the season. The league eventually cut the season short and began the World Series in September. The rescheduling of the Fall Classic was not because of the flu, but because of the rising pressure players were receiving to enlist and go to war.

The sport was ordered to close shop by September 1st, but thanks to the Secretary of War, Newton D. Baker, an extension was given to the league that would allow them to play until the 15th of September, on this day 102 years ago. The caveat was that 10% of revenues must be donated to war charities.

The World Series featured a matchup between two of the most historic teams in MLB history: the Boston Red Sox vs the Chicago Cubs. The Red Sox won the series in six games, with Babe Ruth winning two games. The Red Sox would not win a title for the next 86 years, and the Cubs had to wait 108 more years for their next ring (from their last title in 1908). Between Game 5 and Game 6 of the World Series, the influenza started to spread rapidly in the city of Boston, causing attendance to drop by almost 40%.

38 Consecutive Steals

On this day 1975 Davey Lopes set a MLB record with his 38th straight stolen base pic.twitter.com/JQG7Sc5ULY
— Jeffrey Reed (@JeffreyKReed) August 24, 2019

YEAR: 1975

SIGNIFICANCE: Davey Lopes extended his MLB record by successfully stealing his 38th consecutive bag

Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Davey Lopes is one of the best base-stealers of all time. And on August 22nd 45 years ago, the 4x All-Star and Gold Glove winner, became the first player ever to record 38 consecutive stolen bases without getting caught at the time. Later that same game, Rookie C Gary Carter, a future HOFer, threw him out in the bottom of the 12th inning of 2-2 game, ending the consecutive SB streak.

Lopes went 72 games and 11 innings without getting caught, which stretched from June 6th to August 24th. Ironic enough, the catcher who threw Lopes out before him beginning his streak was also Carter. Lopes is one of just 26 players in the history of baseball to have 557 or more career stolen bases. Currently, Vince Coleman holds the MLB record for consecutive bases stolen with 50 during the 1988-89 seasons.