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Most Significant Sports History on December 20th
Learn about December 20th's most significant sports history including OJ's TD record, Kobe's 3-quarter explosion, and more!
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Notable for the birth of a beloved, now-relocated NBA franchise in Seattle, December 20th also represents the anniversary of a late legend’s iconic scoring output exactly 15 years ago. While the “Juice” finalized another record-setting season, two MLB HOFers were traded for one another nearly a century ago, after baseball returned to its traditional World Series format for good. Filled with a number of distinctive events in the world of sports, the history of 12/20 is bound to pique the interest of baseball, football, and basketball fans alike.
See what happened on this day in: 2020 | 2019
YEAR: 1975
SIGNIFICANCE: OJ Simpson set an NFL record with his 23rd RUSH TD of the season
Two years removed from his unprecedented 2,000-yard campaign, OJ Simpson returned to form after a down year in 1974. Totaling 1,817 YDS and 16 TDs on the ground in ’75, he also became much more of a threat through the air with 426 yards on 28 RECs. Despite a 35-14 walloping at the hands of Fran Tarkenton‘s Vikings, Simpson scored the Bills’ only TDs (1 RUSH, 1 REC) for his 22nd & 23rd score on the year, breaking Gale Sayers’ single-season record from a decade earlier. While the “Juice” would gain another 1,500 RUSH YDs the next season, he would miss half of his final season in BUF before finishing his career back home in SF.
Best 2 words in sports!! I’ll say it again and again and again! GAME 7
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 13, 2019
YEAR: 1921
SIGNIFICANCE: MLB Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis’ reinstated the 7-Game format for the World Series
In 1919, both the American and National League agreed to expand the World Series from a best-of-seven format to a best-of-nine. That format lasted until Dec. 20, 1921 when Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis’ deciding vote reestablished the seven-game format for the Fall Classic. The AL voted to return to a best-of-seven series, while the NL voted to retain the best-of-9 structure.
The NL won two of the three World Series under the best-of-nine format, which could be an explanation to their voting decision. The NL had also lost four World Series in a row prior to the nine-game format being implemented, which could support their preference over the traditional best-of-seven. So thanks to this voting that took place almost exactly a century ago, we now have the two greatest words in sports—“Game Seven”.
YEAR: 2005
SIGNIFICANCE: Through 3 quarters versus the Dallas Mavericks, Kobe Bryant scored 62 points while Dallas only had 61 points
Five days before the 25th of December in 2005 Kobe Bryant conjured up some Christmas magic as a gift for the Los Angeles fans at Staples Center. In the 2005-06 season, the “Black Mamba” set the league on fire with an 81-point performance and a league-high of 35.4 points per game. 12/20/05 served as the date he burned the Dallas defense for a then-career-high 62 points (18-of-31 FG and 22-25 FT). The 27-year-old Bryant didn’t hold back through the first three quarters, exerting all his energy in 33 minutes and acquiring 62 points.
He sat out the fourth quarter with the win well in hand — single-handedly outscoring a Nowitzki-navigated Mavericks — with the Lakers leading, 95-61. No other Laker logged double-digit points that night, while no Maverick scored in double-figures other than HOFer Dirk Nowitzki. Bryant’s scoring outburst came as a result of a lackluster offensive outing during the previous game versus the Rockets as they were frustratingly beaten 76-74, with No. 8 collecting 24 points.
On this day in 1966, the NBA awarded the Seattle Supersonics a franchise for the upcoming season.
— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) December 20, 2017
RT if you think the NBA should #BringBackTheSonics pic.twitter.com/5CCs9VI0NN
YEAR: 1966
SIGNIFICANCE: The NBA officially granted Seattle, Washington an expansion franchise (Supersonics)
In the final season of the Bill Russell-guided Celtics’ reign of terror — during which they won eight straight championships — an expansion franchise was born. On this day in 1966, the NBA awarded the city of Seattle, Washington the SuperSonics, serving as Seattle’s first major league sports franchise. The squad from the Pacific Northwest limped to the finish line in their inaugural season (23-59 record), captained by All-Stars Walt Hazzard and Tom Meschery. The new west coast team saw steady improvement over the next five years, finally putting together a season above .500 at 47-35 in 1971-72.
In 1975, the aforementioned Bill Russell became the head coach and took them to the playoffs for the first time. Seattle’s first Finals run came when Lenny Wilkens took the reigns as coach, turning them into title contenders. In the 1979 season, their dream came into fruition as they dismantled the Bullets 4-1 in the Finals, granting the franchise its only championship. Despite Washington state’s frenetic fanbase, the SuperSonics were relocated to Oklahoma City, OK in 2008 to be rebranded as the Thunder. The franchise, still residing in OKC, has drafted three MVPs and made a Finals appearance since relocating.
#ThisDateInCardsHistory Dec. 20, 1926. #STLCards trade Rogers Hornsby to the #Giants for Jimmy Ring/Frankie Frisch. pic.twitter.com/YdzTKwlDyJ
— The Birds On The Bat (@BirdsOnTheBat13) December 20, 2015
YEAR: 1926
SIGNIFICANCE: Cardinals traded HOF 2B Rogers Hornsby to the Giants for HOF 2B Frankie Frisch and SP Jimmy Ring
A year removed from winning his first career MVP award, the St. Louis Cardinals traded 2B Rogers Hornsby to the New York Giants for 2B Frankie Frisch and SP Jimmy Ring. Eventually, this trade saw the swapping of two future Hall of Famers in Hornsby and Frisch, who were inducted in 1942 and 1947 respectively. The trade was a win for the Cardinals, who despite letting go of one of the greatest to ever wear the Cardinals uniform, played just one season for the Giants. Frisch on the other hand, despite not having Hornsby’s power bat, won the 1931 MVP and helped lead St. Louis to two championships (‘31 and 1934) that hang forever.
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