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Most Significant Sports History on October 15th
Learn about October 15th's most significant sports history including an iconic World Series finish, Nationals winning their 1st pennant, and more!
Sports Illustrated
In a time of year heavily involved with postseason professional baseball, October 15th delivered a day full of noteworthy memories. To begin, an iconic pinch-hit walk-off HR went down under unbelievable circumstances. Additionally, the Washington Nationals conquered a franchise demon which loomed over the team for far too long. Events as such are constantly and will forever be talked about among every day sports fans.
YEAR: 1988
SIGNIFICANCE: “I don’t believe what I just saw!”; Kirk Gibson hit a pinch-hit, walk-off HR in WS Game 1
“And look who’s coming up!”, said radio announcer Vin Scully as Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Tommy Lasorda called on the injured NL MVP, Kirk Gibson, to pinch-hit against the best closer in baseball at the time, Oakland Athletics CP Dennis Eckersley. Gibson, in dramatic fashion, hit a walk-off bomb to give the Dodgers the Game 1 victory in the 1988 World Series. Gibson had hurt both of his legs during the NLCS and was kept out of the starting lineup. However, Lasorda knew that the MVP had enough in the tank to do damage when it mattered most.
After the ball landed into the right field bleachers, the camera pointed to Gibson, who was punching his fists as he memorably hobbled around the bases. That was Gibson’s only appearance in that ’88 Fall Classic, but he still managed to help the Dodgers win their sixth World Title. The walk-off home run prompted some of the most iconic calls in sports history. First, Jack Buck’s “I don’t believe what I just saw” still echoes in every highlight baseball video played on TV or uploaded to YouTube to this day. Also, Scully’s “In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened” call is considered one of the greatest calls of his own tremendous career.
YEAR: 2019
SIGNIFICANCE: The Nats clinch the 1st WS in franchise history; became the 1st team to have SPs K 11+ in 3 straight playoff games
After eight years of constant postseason disappointment, the Washington Nationals had finally clinched the National League pennant, thus giving the franchise its first trip to the World Series. It was also the first Fall Classic to be played in the nation’s capital since 1933 (Senators vs NY Giants). After taking care of the #1 seed Dodgers in five games, Washington swept the NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals. During those four games, the Nats used their strength to dispose of the Cards—and they did it in dominating fashion.
In Game 1, Anibal Sanchez nearly threw a no-hitter, ultimately keeping the red birds’ offense to just one hit. The next three games were taken care of by their big three. The three-headed monster of Stephen Strasburg (12 Ks), Max Scherzer (11), and Patrick Corbin (12) became the first trio to strikeout at least 11 batters in three consecutive postseason games. They reminded many around baseball that stacking up on relievers helps, but it all revolves around a team’s starting pitching. Corbin’s 12 Ks in Game 4 were the most by any pitcher in MLB history in a potential clinching game.
YEAR: 2019
SIGNIFICANCE: LA Rams acquired Jalen Ramsey from the Jags for 2 1st Rd & a 4th Rd Pk AND traded Marcus Peters to BAL
After completing two deals earlier in the day, acquiring Austin Corbett from the Cleveland Browns and sending Marcus Peters to Baltimore, the Rams immediately replaced the latter with All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey. Vocal in his displeasure with the direction of the Jacksonville Jaguars franchise, he requested a trade after a 13-12 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 2. The next game, a 20-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans, turned out to be his last in a Jaguar uniform as Ramsey missed their next three games for the birth of his child and to ‘recover from a back injury’.
Forking over their next two first-round picks and a 2020 fourth rounder, the steep price followed a sequence of bold moves by GM Les Snead. Notwithstanding their trade-back in the 2019 Draft, the Rams’ deals for Jared Goff, Brandin Cooks, and now Ramsey would result in five consecutive seasons without a first-rounder (2016-21) — not to mention the numerous second, third, fourth, and fifth-rounders given up in the trades for Goff, Dante Fowler Jr., and the aforementioned Peters. Though many still cringe at the price tag a year later, especially considering Los Angeles’ recent contract purge, Jalen Ramsey has helped lead the Rams’ defensive resurgence as they currently rank fifth in the NFL in pass defense, first in yards allowed per attempt, and just five passing touchdowns allowed (2nd least) through five weeks in 2020.
In 1950, the Celtics became the first NBA team to draft an African American player when they selected Chuck Cooper in the 2nd round.
— Only In Boston (@OnlyInBOS) June 8, 2020
In 1966, Bill Russell became the first African American coach in North American professional sports when he took over the reins from Red Auerbach. pic.twitter.com/hZwbQM00N5
YEAR: 1966
SIGNIFICANCE: Bill Russell became the 1st African-American Head Coach in North American professional sports history
Aside from his heartwarming cackle, lanky 6’10” frame, and white hair, Bill Russell is widely recognized as the man with more NBA Championship rings than fingers. After winning their ninth championship, however, the Boston Celtics’ legendary HC Red Auerbach decided to step down after an extremely successful 17 years at the helm. The vacant position was offered to three of Auerbach’s former players — Frank Ramsey, Bob Cousy, and Tom Heinsohn — but all declined. Heinsohn, the third to be offered the job, however, suggested his former teammate for the position: current Celtics C Bill Russell.
He humbly accepted the position with a player-coach designation and a public announcement was made on April 18th, 1966 with Russell commenting to reporters, “I wasn’t offered the job because I’m a negro; I was offered it because Red figured I could do it.” Opening the 1966-67 season on this day 54 years ago in the midst of a Civil Rights movement, Bill Russell officially became the very first black HC in the history of North American professional sports with a 121-113 victory over his hometown San Francisco Warriors.
He would win two more championships with the Celtics (1968, ’69) before retiring as a player in 1969 and moving on to the Seattle SuperSonics and eventually the Sacramento Kings. In 2011, 23 years after his retirement from coaching, Russell would be given the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his incredible range of accomplishments on and off the court.
#Onthisday in 1933, the Philadelphia Eagles played their first game in franchise history, losing to the Giants 56-0 in front of 18,000 people at the Polo Grounds in New York. pic.twitter.com/Z9mCHfgUs5
— Shibe Vintage Sports (@ShibeSports) October 15, 2018
YEAR: 1933 & 1995
SIGNIFICANCE: Philadelphia Eagles lost NFL debut 56-0 AND Carolina Panthers won their very 1st game after an 0-5 start
On this date over 85 years ago, the Philadelphia Eagles officially made their NFL debut in horrifying fashion. Facing off with the eventual runners-up for the 1933 NFL Championship, the New York Giants, the brand-new Philly franchise was absolutely trounced by a score of 56-0. Quickly falling into a 21-point first-quarter deficit, the Eagles were given no chance at all and completely folded in the fourth quarter, allowing another 21-point outburst to end the game. Failing to muster a single point in their next game and just nine (to 35) in their third, the Eagles would finally taste victory in their fourth game — a 6-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
62 years after the Eagles’ humiliating debut, the Carolina Panthers experienced a similar rough start but finally secured the franchise’s very first victory on October 15th after an 0-5 start. After being outscored by 73 points in their first four games, the Panthers came extremely close to breaking through in Week 5 after inserting first-round QB Kerry Collins, who completed 14/28 for 228 yards, a TD and an INT in a 31-27 loss to the Chicago Bears. The next week in this monumental win against the New York Jets, however, saw the Panthers dominate on defense to the tune of three interceptions (one pick-six) and only 138 total yards allowed. Collins tossed two INTs himself (one pick-six), but helped the team cling on to the franchise’s evasive first victory.
📽️ 10.15.1995 - The first win in #Panthers franchise history, a 26-15 victory over the Jets at Clemson Memorial Stadium. The signature play of game was 36-yard #Pick6 by Sam Mills. After 0-5 start, Panthers would finish inaugural season 7-4. #TBT #KeepPounding #PanthersRewind pic.twitter.com/19FvJFwl3e
— Panthers Rewind (@PanthersRewind) August 20, 2020
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