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Most Significant Sports History on August 8th
Learn something new about the history of the game including the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team", MLB records being broken, and more!
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE
On this day in sports history, the US enjoyed glory in the 1992 Olympics as one of the greatest teams ever assembled and illustrated to the world what is meant by the word ‘dominance’. Similarly, nearly a century ago the Pittsburgh Pirates showed their own dominance by destroying their opponents over the course of two games. In addition, Americans and Canadians came together in a football game that would be never be repeated again.
YEAR: 1992
SIGNIFICANCE: The USA Basketball “Dream Team” defeated Croatia for the Olympic gold medal
28 years ago today, one of the most defining moments in US sports history occurred. The USA “Dream Team” beat Croatia led by Chicago Bulls SF Tony Kukoc by 32 points. This capped off an 8-0 Olympic campaign with an average margin of victory of 43 points for Team USA. A team full of icons and stars would be formed like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, who all put on the same jersey driven to achieve the same prize. They got what they aspired almost exactly three decades ago.
YEAR: 1961
SIGNIFICANCE: CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the AFL’s Buffalo Bills
In an exhibition match 59 years ago in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the AFL’s Buffalo Bills 38-21. This marked not only the first time an AFL or NFL team lost to a CFL team, but the last time a team from either league played an exhibition with the CFL. After that, the American Football League and the National Football league would merge in 1970 and form one league with two conferences (NFL today). No games between the CFL and any pro football team have been scheduled since Hamilton’s upset victory.
YEAR: 1992
SIGNIFICANCE: Dennis Eckersley’s record run of 40 consecutive saves was snapped in a loss to Kansas City
On the same day the Dream Team captured their gold medal, Oakland Athletics RP Dennis Eckersley’s historic run of 40 consecutive saves was broken as he blew a 2-1 lead to the Kansas City Royals. Eckersley would hold this record until 2003, when Eric Gagne recorded 55 consecutive saves, only two fewer than the record for non-consecutive saves. Eckersley had a successful career on a wide variety of teams. Above all, he was elected into the MLB Hall of Fame in 2004, cementing his legacy in Cooperstown forever.
#checkyourrearview for Aug. 8, 1990 when Carlton Fisk (White Sox) tied Johnny Bench with 327 HR’s by a catcher! pic.twitter.com/hehQkDN1bJ
— Rearview Clothing (@RearviewDuds) August 8, 2013
YEAR: 1990
SIGNIFICANCE: C Carlton Fisk hit his 327th career HR, tying the record for the most all-time among catchers
Chicago White Sox C Carlton Fisk hit his 327th career home run three decades ago. That number was special because it tied Johnny Bench for the most all-time among catchers. Fisk held this record well into the millennium. However, C Mike Piazza of the New York Mets would eventually surpass him as the current leader in Home Runs by any Catcher ever with 427.
Sportsipedia OTD: August 8…On this day in 1922 the Pittsburgh Pirates set baseball record of 46 hits in doubleheader against the Phillies.
— Sportsipedia (@Sportsipedia) August 8, 2016
YEAR: 1922
SIGNIFICANCE: The Pittsburgh Pirates set an MLB record with 46 hits over 2 games
The Pittsburgh Pirates had a double-header against the Philadelphia Phillies almost a century ago that made MLB history. As a result, the Pirates set an MLB record from obliterating the Phillies with 46 hits in a single day over the two games. The scores of these games were 19-8 and 7-3, which can be summarized as complete domination. The Pirates would go on to finish fourth in the MLB in 1922, with 28 more wins than the Phillies.
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