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Most Significant Sports History on November 19th
Learn about November 19th's most significant sports history including the "Malice at the Palace", a MNF shootout, "Miracle at the Meadowlands", and more!
G. Paul Burnett / AP Images
November 19th brings an extremely exhilarating and high-energy filled date in the history of sports. The trip down memory lane begins with two of the most iconic, instant NFL classics of all-time. While over in the NBA, a notorious brawl broke loose that caused more chaos in a sporting arena than ever witnessed before. Events like these occur once in a blue moon, and 11/19 seems to have been a destination for them.
YEAR: 1978 & 2018
SIGNIFICANCE: Original “Miracle at the Meadowlands” AND 3rd-highest scoring game in NFL history (1st each team scored 50+)
On this date over four decades ago, the New York Giants led the Philadelphia Eagles 17-12 late in the fourth quarter. The Eagles had no timeouts remaining and the two-minute warning had already passed, so New York was looking to run out the clock and secure the home victory. Though just a few seconds remained on the clock, QB Joe Pisarcik received the snap and turned to hand the ball off to HOF RB Larry Csonka to his left.
However, Pisarcik bobbled the handoff and Csonka knocked the ball loose on his way to the hole. Second-year DB Herm Edwards, who totaled 13 INTs in his first two seasons, snatched it up and sprinted 26 yards to the end zone for a miraculous game-winner that has had a wide-ranging impact greater than any single score in what became known as the “Miracle at the Meadowlands.”
Then, just two years ago today, the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs met in what would turn into arguably the greatest Monday Night, prime time, and potentially any regular season game in NFL history. Though originally scheduled for Mexico City as part of the NFL’s International Series, Estadio Azteca’s playing field was deteriorated by heavy rains and a loaded event schedule, so the game was moved to LA. Both teams entered the night at 9-1 with historically explosive offenses, and yet both teams still found a way to exceed any and all lofty expectations.
A back-and-forth affair that featured 14 total TDs, the Rams won 54-51 in the 3rd-highest scoring game in NFL history and the very first in which each team scored over 50 points, making the Chiefs the very first team to ever lose when scoring 50. First-year starter and eventual MVP Patrick Mahomes threw six of his 50 TDs that season — along with nearly 500 yards — while former number-one pick Jared Goff threw four. Though the Chiefs outgained the Rams 546-455, their five turnovers to LA’s two did them in as one of Mahomes’ three INTs was returned for a TD and two others came in crunch time.
In 2018 the Chiefs and Rams faced off in what becomes the greatest regular-season game of all time. This game was and remains the highest-scoring Monday Night Football game as well as the third highest-scoring game in NFL history.#ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/0e8zeWByMx
— Chiefs Focus (@ChiefsFocus) December 31, 2019
YEAR: 2004
SIGNIFICANCE: The “Malace at the Palace” was one of the most violent fights & fan interferences in sports history
The chaotic scene which transpired in Auburn Hills, Michigan on November 19, 2004, will forever be remembered as the “Malice at the Palace.” An all-out brawl took place between the reigning champion Detroit Pistons, who were defending their home court, and the Indiana Pacers (and even the Detroit fans in the stands). The incident was sparked by a hard foul on Ben Wallace from Ron Artest with 45.9 seconds left in a game that was already decided with the Pacers up 15. A frustrated Wallace forcefully shoved Artest which escalated into both squads needing to be broken up by their respective coaching staff.
Just when one thought the mayhem was over, a Pistons fan threw a beverage-filled cup at Ron Artest who was lounging on the sideline scorer’s table. This prompted a vicious response from Artest and other players who lept into the spectator section and fought Detroit fans in the most violent player-fan skirmish in NBA history. The rest of the game was called off as fans rained down debris from their seats at the Pacers. Ron Artest was suspended for the remainder of the season while countless Pacers-Pistons players were also given suspensions for the brutal melee.
.@KingJames is the only player to put up a triple-double against all 30 NBA teams 👑 (via @EliasSports)
— ESPN (@espn) November 20, 2019
🏀 LeBron James - 30 teams
🏀 Russell Westbrook - 29 teams
🏀 Jason Kidd - 28 teams pic.twitter.com/glGsrpBHul
YEAR: 2019
SIGNIFICANCE: LeBron James became the 1st player ever to record a triple-double against all 30 NBA franchises
Just this past season, history was made by one of the NBA’s all-time greats, Los Angeles Lakers F LeBron James. The King has made his rounds around the league throughout his 17-year career and, being the stat sheet stuffer he is, was able to record a triple-double against all 30 NBA franchises a year ago. The final notch on his belt was versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, with him recording 25 points, 10 assists, and 11 boards in his squad’s fifth straight win, 112-107.
He was able to beat Russell Westbrook to the punch, who only needed to topple OKC as well, as he would end up joining James just a couple of months later. Even at 35 years of age, LeBron James continues to climb the ladder for the most career triple-doubles ever (94 and counting) as he’s currently fifth on the all-time list behind Jason Kidd.
Today in Football History: 1961 - Jim Brown rushes for an NFL record 242 yds and 4 TDs as the Browns beat the Eagles. pic.twitter.com/f0RBTDChi7
— EvoShield (@EvoShield) November 19, 2013
YEAR: 1961
SIGNIFICANCE: Jim Brown set a single-game rushing record with 242 yards and 4 TDs
Already a 2x MVP, Jim Brown was well-established as the NFL’s most dominant rusher by his fifth season. Owner of numerous single-season and single-game records, Brown led the league in rushing each year since entering the league out of Syracuse, including a record 1,527 yards in 1958. On this date in 1961, however, he topped his own single-game rushing record of 237 yards (from his rookie year) in a 45-24 victory over the Eagles.
Cleveland thoroughly dominated in the trenches, creating gaping holes to gallop through, which led Brown to give his offensive line the bulk of credit: “The blocking was tremendous. I don’t think I ran any better than usual.” A humble response by a man who had gotten used to dominant, record-setting performances, Jim Brown would yet again lead the league in rushing and yards from scrimmage in 1961, but it would take another three years before he claimed his lone championship.
YEARS: 1979 & 1996
SIGNIFICANCE: Nolan Ryan became the 1st pro athlete to sign for more than $1M/year & Albert Belle was the 1st to $10M/year
On this day in 1979, SP Nolan Ryan became the first professional athlete to sign a contract that would pay over $1 Million per year. Ryan, 33, signed a four-year deal with the Houston Astros worth $4.5M ($1.13M AAV). During those four years, Ryan would prove more than worth it for the Astros, pitching to a 2.91 ERA in 120 starts. In 1981, he led the majors with a 1.69 ERA. After this record-breaking deal expired in 1983, Ryan would re-sign back with Houston and play there for five additional seasons.
17 years later, Cleveland Indians LF Albert Belle became the first player in MLB history to have a salary of eight digits ($10,000,000) in one season. Belle was coming off an unreal year where he led the majors with 52 home runs and finished second in the AL MVP voting. Belle managed to get the highest AAV in baseball history in his final year of arbitration eligibility. Being paid $10M in 1996, Belle came back strong by hitting .311/.410/1.033 and leading the AL in RBI (148).
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