Known for some impressive single-game records in baseball and football history, October 28th also marks the day that a World Series marred by incredibly odd circumstances finally came to a close. Also of interest, MLB tried to grow the game in Ireland but failed miserably on this day nearly a century ago, and the NBA made a pair of monumental life-changing hires that not only influenced sports, but had a big impact on society as a whole.

Jaime Segui also contributed to this article.

Pass TD Record

Y.A. Tittle throws for over 500 yards and ties the record of 7 TD passes (27-39-505-7).
Walton 3-63-3
Gifford 4-127-1
Morrison 2-24-2
49-34 #Giants #1962GiantsThread pic.twitter.com/XDUp5bzvw0
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) August 22, 2020

YEAR: 1962

SIGNIFICANCE: Y.A. Tittle tied an NFL record with 7 TD passes in a game

By the time he arrived in New York, Yelberton Abraham “Y.A.” Tittle was nearing the twilight of his career at 35 years old. Ten years in San Francisco brought decent success as he earned four Pro Bowls, an All-Pro selection in 1957, and a spot in the team’s Hall of Fame. After compiling a 45-31 record as a starter, he was traded to the Giants to make way for the younger John Brodie, whom HC Red Hickey preferred in his scheme.

Though many thought he’d be washed up, Tittle won eight of his ten starts and led the Giants to the 1961 NFL Championship (37-0 loss to the Packers). Then, on this day in a 49-34 victory over the Washington Redskins, he became just the third player in NFL history to toss seven TDs in a single game, joining Sid Luckman and Adrian Burk. Leading the NFL in TD passes that season (33) and the following year (36), he would lead the Giants to three consecutive NFL Championship appearances but lost all three, throwing just one TD and 10 INTs in those critical games.

NBA Blocks Record

October 28, 1973 - Elmore Smith set the @NBA record with 17 blocked shots against the @trailblazers in the @Lakers 111-98 victory. Blocks were an official stat starting in the 1973/74 season

1 of 4https://t.co/rVZI7lDIk7 #Blazers #ripcity #thisdateBlazerHistory #Blazers50 pic.twitter.com/hkMxS2Cec7
— Blazers History (@77Blazers) October 28, 2019

YEAR: 1973

SIGNIFICANCE: Elmore Smith set an NBA record with 17 blocked shots

Up until the 1973-74 season, the NBA surprisingly did not keep track of the “blocks” stat — after Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell‘s retirements, unfortunately. That season began, however, with Chamberlain’s supposed replacement, Elmore Smith, setting the record books instead, with games of 10, 14, and then 17 blocks on this day against the Portland Trail Blazers. Following that up with another 14-block performance just two games later, Smith would easily become the NBA’s very first season-leader in blocks with nearly five per game (4.85) — a mark that would only be topped twice (Mark Eaton, Manute Bol).

1st Female Refs

Today in 1997, Violet Palmer & Dee Kantner became the first top-level women officials in the @NBA. pic.twitter.com/spiTAzTt2m
— Sons & Brothers (@sonsandbros) October 29, 2015

YEAR: 1997

SIGNIFICANCE: The NBA hired the very 1st female officials ever in any male professional sport

On this date in 1997, Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner smashed barriers by becoming the very first women to be named to not only the NBA’s regular season referee staff, but that of any male professional sport. An NCAA official for 13 seasons prior, Kantner had worked multiple Final Fours, NBA Summer League games, and was the inaugural WNBA Supervisor of Officials that summer. Also a WNBA and NCAA official, Palmer had also officiated NBA Summer League games and would make further headlines in 2014 by coming out as openly lesbian. Kantner would be fired by the league in 2002, while Palmer would retain a prominent role through her retirement from on-court duties in 2016.

A's Sweep the Bay

YEAR: 1989

SIGNIFICANCE: The Athletics swept the Giants to win the World Series after a 10-day delay due to an earthquake

11 days after an earthquake postponed Game 3 and delayed the World Series, the Oakland Athletics finally swept the San Francisco Giants in four games. This championship came a year after the A’s lost to the Dodgers despite being the irrefutable favorites. They took their frustrations out on the rivals from across the bay, limiting them to just one run through the first two games, and scoring a total of 22 runs in the last two games of the series. Dave Stewart won WS MVP after going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA. The A’s had finally won the title with the legendary core of Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Rickey Henderson, and Dennis Eckersley. The very next year, the A’s would win their third-straight AL Pennant but got swept by the 1990 Cincinnati Reds.

Baseball in Dublin

Oct. 28, 1924: 20 in Dublin, Ireland watch @whitesox & @SFGiants; Oct. 28, 2005: Millions parade w/ Sox to celebrate #WoldSeries title
— SoxNerd (@SoxNerd) October 29, 2017

YEAR: 1924

SIGNIFICANCE: White Sox & Giants played in Dublin in front of 20 fans; next day’s game was canceled and moved to London

For the first time in MLB history, the league headed overseas to showcase the world’s best players. The Chicago White Sox travelled to Dublin, Ireland to face the New York Giants, who won 93 games during the ’24 regular season and had just lost the World Series to the Washington Senators in seven games. The game was played at Croke Park, Ireland’s largest sporting arena to this day.

The Giants and White Sox played in front of less than 20 spectators, with journalists coming to the conclusion that the lack of publicity the event had, and the fact that most people were at church, resulted in the meager crowd. The following day’s game was canceled due to bad weather and was relocated to be played at London, England. 95 years later, MLB sent the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees to play at London Stadium; the first ever regular season game in Europe.