October 13th is the home of some of the most stand-out occasions in the history of professional sports. To begin, an extremely memorable play from one of the most decorated careers in MLB history took place right around the beginning of the 21st century. Additionally, the first ever World Series went down over a century ago, containing historical franchises that are still relevant to this day. These events will surely influence the course of the game forever.

Ricky Eisenbart also contributed to this article.

Jeter Makes “The Flip”

YEAR: 2001

SIGNIFICANCE: Derek Jeter‘s iconic “flip” helped the Yankees defeat the A’s in Gm3; Yanks were down 2-0 in the DS

19 years ago, New York Yankees SS Derek Jeter assisted in one of the most iconic plays of his career and one of the most memorable moments in MLB postseason history. After a Terrence Long’s hit down the right field line, Yankees RF Paul O’Neill throws home but sails the cutoff man. At that moment, Jeter noticed that the throw is over the cut, so he sprints from shortstop to the first base line and just flips the ball to Jorge Posada and they get the baserunner Jeremy Giambi right before he crosses the plate. It’s an absolutely crazy sequence that saved the Yankees’ season, as they were on the brink of elimination entering Game 3. The Yankees won this game 1-0 and then the two after that to advance to the ALCS; they went on to face the 116-game winning Seattle Mariners en route to their fifth AL pennant in six years.

World Series’ Firsts

#OTD in 1903, Big Bill Dinneen led the Boston @RedSox to a triumph in the first modern World Series with a 3-0 shutout of the @Pirates. Read the @SABRGames story by @RounderRedSox: https://t.co/NMal5IAZ3H #SABR pic.twitter.com/IbUzruvvVM
— SABR (@sabr) October 13, 2020

YEARS: 1903 & 1914

SIGNIFICANCE: Boston Americans (Red Sox) won in the 1st WS & the Braves completed the 1st sweep in WS history

On this day in 1903, the Boston Americans (Red Sox) won the first ever modern World Series (AL vs NL) after defeating Pittsburgh five games to three in a best-of-nine series. The Pirates got off to a 3-1 series start, but after a Game 5, 11-2 victory, the Americans never looked back. In the clinching game, Boston shutout Pittsburgh thanks to SP Bill Dinneen, who struck out seven Pirates and allowed just six baserunners. Dinneen and Cy Young led the Americans to four straight victories, with each throwing two complete games in the last four games of the series.

11 years later, the Boston Braves completed the first clean sweep in the history of the Fall Classic, when they took care of the three-time champions, Philadelphia Athletics, in four straight games. Game 4 ended 3-1 with SP Dick Rudolph throwing his second one-run complete game of the series. The Braves only used three arms during those four games: Rudolph (2-0, 0.50 ERA in 18 IP), Bill James (2-0, 0.00 ERA in 11 IP), and Lefty Tyler (ND, 3.60 ERA in 10 IP). The pitching was absolutely dominant, and it needed to be since all games besides Game 1 (7-1) were either one or two run ballgames. Since the first clean WS sweep in 1914 there have been 19, with the most recent occurrence coming in 2012 when the Giants swept the Tigers. The 1907 and 1922 World Series’ saw sweeps of the Tigers and Yankees, respectively, but are the only two series with ties; both ended 4-0-1.

This day in #Braves history: The Boston "Miracle" Braves sweep the Philadelphia Athletics to win the 1914 World Series. pic.twitter.com/fILTsJeHoL
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 13, 2016

Big Papi's Grand Slam

DAVID ORTIZ! DAVID ORTIZ! DAVID ORTIZ!

7 years ago, Big Papi's grand slam was yet another clutch #postseason hit for the @RedSox star. pic.twitter.com/HxefEJzbeq
— MLB Vault (@MLBVault) October 13, 2020

YEAR: 2013

SIGNIFICANCE: David Ortiz hit one of his most clutch HR to save Boston’s season en route to the World Series

One of the greatest designated hitters of all-time, David Ortiz is known for his clutch heroics in a Red Sox uniform as arguably the greatest clutch hitter in MLB history. Signing as a Free Agent before the 2003 season, “Big Papi” did nothing but come through when it matters most. Whether it was in 2004 when Ortiz’s multiple walk-offs in the ALCS sparked the most legendary comeback in sports history or on this day seven years ago when Boston’s season was on the line in an ALCS almost a decade later.

Earlier in 2013, the Boston Marathon Bombing occurred and as the face of the Sox, Ortiz proclaimed “This is our fucking city.” He proved exactly who’s city it was with their backs against the wall, when he ripped this Grand Slam over Torii Hunter’s glove to tie the game with two outs in the 8th inning and avoid a 2-0 series deficit in Fenway Park. The Sox would end up winning that game, the series in six games, and eventually, the World Series as Big Papi won his third and final ring as a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer.

The ABA Debuts

#OTDIH The first ABA game was played in league history. The Oakland Oaks defeated the Anaheim Amigos 132-129 #LegendsofBasketball pic.twitter.com/VgYh3w0NUC
— NBA Alumni 🏀 (@NBAalumni) October 13, 2017

YEAR: 1967

SIGNIFICANCE: The American Basketball Association (ABA) officially began play

Slightly over half a century ago on this day, the ABA officially debuted with a 134 to 129 victory for the Oakland Oaks over the Anaheim Amigos. Fielding 11 teams in its first season, four would eventually be admitted into the NBA during the 1976 merger — the Indiana Pacers, Denver Rockets (Nuggets), New Jersey Americans (Brooklyn Nets), and Dallas Chaparrals (San Antonio Spurs). The two leagues, however, where distinctly different for several reasons. Not only did the ABA use an eye-popping red-white-and-blue basketball, but they increased the shot clock to 30 seconds (versus 24) and also instituted a three-point line, an idea the NBA initially scoffed at.

Fans, on the other hand, found the ABA game faster, looser, flashier, and simply more entertaining due to its wide-open, full-court nature along with the prevalence of dramatic on-court altercations. After a 78-game regular season schedule, the Pittsburgh Pipers would face off with the New Orleans Buccaneers in the first ABA Championship with Pittsburgh emerging as the Game 7 victor in front of over 11,000 hometown fans. The league continually grew in popularity until ultimately forcing the NBA’s hand into a merger, much like its Pro Football counterpart (with the AFL). Within ten years of its debut, the ABA’s mission was a rousing success as it left a lasting impact on the game in several ways.

Giants Set Records

YEAR: 1985

SIGNIFICANCE: Phil Simms and the NY Giants set single-game NFL records in Pass Attempts and 1st downs

Despite a 35-30 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, both the New York Giants and QB Phil Simms set single-game NFL records with 34 first downs and 62 passing attempts. Completing 40 of those passes, Simms also set a franchise record with 513 passing yards — second-most in NFL history at the time. Throwing just a single TD, however, he also tossed two interceptions (one that was returned for a TD) and lost a fumble, accounting for three of the Giants’ four turnovers.

Falling behind 21-3 by halftime, Simms and the Giants mounted a ferocious comeback led by both sides of the ball. New York out gained Cincinnati by a whopping 271 total yards (470 to 199) and dominated the time-of-possession, but the Bengals won the turnover battle (four to none), recorded seven sacks to New York’s four, and had less than half of the Giants’ penalty yardage (92 to 42). Incredibly enough, the Bengals finished the game with less total yards (199) than they accumulated in the first half (202) due to -3 yards in the second half, yet somehow managed to weather the storm and barely hang on to the win on this historic day 35 years ago.