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Most Significant Sports History on November 15th
Learn about November 15th's most significant sports history including Elgin's scoring record, Paul Brown's "greatest victory", and more!
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November 15th holds multiple notable events in sports history, particularly in the 1960s. Before the Lakers were in Los Angeles, a monster forward set an astounding NBA scoring record. Further, one of the closest AL MVP runs went down and it was between two iconic teammates. Events like these remind fans of the magic that took place in professional sports that have paved the way for today’s superstars.
This Date in @NBAHistory (Nov. 15, 1960) Elgin Baylor scores then-NBA record 71 points; In 45 minutes, Elgin made 28 of 48 field goals, 15 of 19 from the free-throw line AND grabbed 25 rebounds! Final Score: @Lakers 123 @nyknicks 108 pic.twitter.com/1eMbTnvdI6
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) November 16, 2017
YEAR: 1960
SIGNIFICANCE: Minneapolis Lakers’ SF Elgin Baylor dropped 71 points, setting a new NBA scoring record
In the hay-day of the NBA, the struggling Minneapolis Lakers drafted a gem in Elgin Baylor who wasted no time lighting up the scoring column, keeping the statisticians busy each and every game. In just his third season, Baylor hit the pinnacle of single-game points production where he improved his squad’s mediocre early-season record to 5-7 behind a 71-point bludgeoning of the New York Knicks which set a new league scoring record.
This came just a year after he set the record at 64 points, but Baylor made sure that record didn’t last too long. Elgin Baylor will, without a shadow of a doubt, go down as one of the most prolific scorers basketball fans have ever seen as he averaged the third-most career points per game of 27.36 (only behind Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan).
The M & M Boys, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, 1961. pic.twitter.com/XUkpyC1iTK
— Baseball In Pics (@baseballinpix) November 11, 2020
YEAR: 1961
SIGNIFICANCE: After a record-breaking 61 HRs, Roger Maris won AL MVP with 4 more votes than teammate Mickey Mantle
On this day in 1961, New York Yankees OF Roger Maris won the AL MVP on the strength of his record-breaking 61-HR season. The 1961 MVP voting was close, with Maris just barely beating his teammate Mickey Mantle by a mere four points. The close vote in ’61 was a reflection of what went on the previous season, where Maris beat Mantle by just three points.
Maris became the sixth player in MLB history to win back-to-back MVP awards. One could make the case that Mantle (.317/.448/1.135, 10.4 WAR) had the better season, but Maris (.269/.372/.993, 6.4 WAR) owned the narrative factor that certainly pushed the writers to vote for the Midwest slugger once again. Maris had just broken Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record, and also led the AL in runs (132) and RBI (141).
LeBron James puts up 44 PTS (13-19 FG, 5-6 3PT), 10 REB, 9 AST & passes Wilt Chamberlain to become 5th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list!
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 15, 2018
Kareem: 38,387
Karl Malone: 36,928
Kobe: 33,643
Jordan: 32,292
LeBron: 31,425
Wilt: 31,419
pic.twitter.com/UTweaGuO40
YEAR: 2018
SIGNIFICANCE: LeBron James dropped 44 points on Portland to pass Wilt Chamberlain for 5th on the all-time scoring list
It has been nothing short of, arguably, the greatest career of all-time for recent Finals champion LeBron James who will inevitably join the brotherhood of Laker legends when he decides to finally hang ’em up. Bolstering his ridiculous resume, the self-proclaimed greatest of all-time continued his ascension on the loaded list of all-time point scorers by passing Wilt Chamberlain for fifth place in 2018 after passing Dirk Nowitzki for sixth just three weeks prior.
It was only James’ first year with L.A. and already he was dethroning past Lakers whose jerseys hang in the rafters. The historic night was no ordinary one either as James dropped 44 points (13-19 FGM) on the Trail Blazers to raise his overall point total to a whopping 31,425. Today, King James sits third on the all-time points list only trailing Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Nov 15, 1970: Paul Brown called it his "best victory" when the team he started (the @Bengals ) defeated the team that fired him that was also named after him (the @Browns ) by a score of 14-10 pic.twitter.com/c8890lTvbs
— Sad CLE Sports (@SadCleveland) November 15, 2017
YEAR: 1970
SIGNIFICANCE: As HC of the Bengals, Paul Brown exacted his revenge on the Browns for his “greatest victory”
Widely considered one of the absolute greatest and most forward-thinking coaches in football history, Paul Brown helped turn the Cleveland Browns into an AAFC powerhouse. Winning four consecutive championships (1946-49) until moving to the NFL, the Browns assimilated into the new league immediately and won their fifth straight championship in 1950. As the years progressed, however, Brown’s effectiveness and ability to connect with and motivate players began waning and he was ultimately fired by owner Art Modell in 1962.
Slighted by his firing, he never again attended a single Browns game until this date in 1970. Exiled from the sidelines after nearly two decades and seven championships to his name, Paul Brown was admittedly miserable despite a secure financial standing. He desperately wanted to return to coaching, but desired a situation that would give him more control over player personnel decisions as he had in Cleveland. In 1968, that perfect situation came around as the AFL was looking to put an expansion franchise in Cincinnati, Ohio — right in Cleveland’s backyard.
Paul Brown invested heavily into the new franchise and was promptly named their first HC and GM. On this date in 1970, after the AFL-NFL merger, the Cleveland Browns hosted the Cincinnati Bengals for the very first time. Outplaying the Browns despite three turnovers, the young Bengals delivered a 14-10 road victory to give their legendary coach the sweet revenge he had plotted years for, which became known as his “greatest” victory.
OTD 1964: Chiefs QB Len Dawson fumbles an unbelievable NFL single-game record 7 times as the Chargers claim a 28-14 victory in the relentless Kansas City rain. pic.twitter.com/qBNjs6GLi1
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) November 15, 2017
YEAR: 1964
SIGNIFICANCE: Len Dawson fumbled the ball a pro football record 7 times
Before joining the AFL’s Dallas Texans in 1962, Len Dawson spent the first five years of his career warming the bench in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Upon arrival in the AFL, however, Dawson made the NFL scratch their heads by leading the league in completion percentage, TDs, yards per attempt, and passer rating while marching the Texans to an AFL Championship. They would relocate to Kansas City the following year and despite a losing record (5-7-2), Dawson still ranked near the top of the league in most passing categories.
Though he once again reached new career highs in 1964, he reached an unusual low in a loss to the San Diego Chargers on this date. Of the Chiefs’ nine team fumbles in the game, an all-time record of seven were committed by Len Dawson. Though only three were recovered by the Chargers, he also added two INTs into the mix to bring the turnover total to five on the day. Though occurring in the AFL, Dawson’s rainy, muddy, unlucky day remains a pro football record even since the merger.
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