HOT
Most Significant Sports History on October 30th
Learn about October 30th's most significant sports history including the Nats' 1st title, MJ's 2nd return, the shot clock, and more!
David J. Phillip / AP Images
Though the baseball season has typically wrapped up by this date, just a year ago the nation’s capital finally tasted their first World Series victory in franchise history. Additionally, two NBA legends — a coach and a player — made their respective debuts, as did the NBA shot clock, while MJ officially began his third and final stint in the NBA. Lastly, “Johnny U” broke a career NFL record at just 33 years old with plenty left in the tank that set the bar for QBs to aspire to this day.
YEAR: 2019
SIGNIFICANCE: Nationals won Game 7 to win their 1st ever title; only WS ever where the road team won ever game
For the first time in franchise history, the Washington Nationals hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy after defeating the Houston Astros in seven games. The 2019 World Series proved to be very bizarre, becoming the first Fall Classic, and first professional championship round ever, where only the away team won every game. The game seemed to be in the Astros’ hands, but when Zack Greinke gave up a solo shot to 3B Anthony Rendon, who became the first player to hit a home run in three straight elimination games, and a walk to LF Juan Soto, manager AJ Hinch decided to go to his bullpen.
Instantly, the decision proved to be catastrophic as Will Harris‘ second pitch was a well-executed cutter to DH Howie Kendrick, who hit it off the right field foul pole. Kendrick is the only player with multiple go-ahead home runs in the final three innings of elimination games in a single postseason, cementing his status as the most clutch player in franchise history. The final score was 6-2 and the Nationals had just solidified one of the greatest playoff runs of all-time, becoming the first team ever to win more than three elimination games when trailing, doing so for the fifth time in Game 7.
Not to mention, their chances of winning it all dating back to May 28 was just 0.1%. Their 19-31 start is the worst among all championship winners in MLB history. Washington was 10-0 when Stephen Strasburg (the first ever WS MVP drafted No. 1 overall) and Max Scherzer started their playoff games, the greatest record for any duo in a single postseason. In the most improbable year for the Nationals, they prevailed as the champs; and it is difficult to not look in hindsight to their six-run 9th inning comeback vs the Mets as the indication that something special was indeed happening in the nation’s capital.
The sports front of The Sun in 1966 when Johnny Unitas broke Y.A. Tittle's #NFL record for career passing yards (28,339) . Tittle threw for 4,731 yards in the rival All-America Conference that weren't counted, but Unitas eventually would have passed him anyway. #Colts #Saints pic.twitter.com/Go0QY8spAj
— Dan Daly (@dandalyonsports) October 1, 2018
YEAR: 1966
SIGNIFICANCE: Johnny Unitas became the all-time leading passer in NFL history
Already a 2x MVP while leading the Baltimore Colts to two NFL Championships, Johnny Unitas’ name had become synonymous with football greatness. On this day, he further cemented that legacy with a 252-yard performance that moved him past Y.A. Tittle for first place on the all-time passing yards list. The Colts would defeat the Los Angeles Rams 17-3 and finish with a 9-5 record — good for second in the division behind the dominant Green Bay Packers. The next season, Unitas put together his third MVP season en route to an 11-1-2 record, but the Colts were left out of the newly-instituted NFL Playoffs after falling in the tie-breaking regular season finale to the Rams.
YEAR: 2001
SIGNIFICANCE: Michael Jordan made his Wizards debut after a 3-year retirement
After completing his second three-peat by nailing the game-winning, series-clinching “Last Shot” against Utah, Michael Jordan retired from the NBA for the second time. On top of the entire sports world at the time, his decision came as not much of a surprise, but with universal sadness. Nobody could blame the 6x champion, however, as he clearly gave everything he had to the game for the entirety of his career.
Then, after three seasons in retirement, the itch had returned for Air Jordan. After purchasing a minority stake in the Wizards in 1999, he officially announced his return to the court in September of 2001 after the 9/11 attacks and debuted on this date, just over a month later. He shook off the rust to the tune of 19 points, six assists, five rebounds, and four steals, but shot just 33% on 21 attempts. Not the most sentimental group, the Madison Square Garden crowd gave the obliged ovation and saw glimpses of the Jordan of old, but also laid into him after some uncharacteristic airballs and misses down the stretch of a close game.
https://twitter.com/ProHoopsHistory/status/1189676314342633473
YEAR: 1954
SIGNIFICANCE: The NBA officially implemented the use of a 24-second shot clock
Leading up to the 1954-55 season, the NBA had a scoring crisis on its hands. Possession-dominant basketball had been spreading throughout the league as teams would simply build a lead then play keep-away for the rest of the game. Syracuse Nationals owner Danny Biasone believed the problem could be alleviated by the adoption of a timer that would cap each possession and suggested the rule change at the inaugural owner’s meeting. Immediately implemented the upcoming season, the shot clock would debut on this date in the Rochester Royals’ victory over the Boston Celtics and has fundamentally changed the game forever.
October 30, 1981: Isiah Thomas had 31 points and 11 assists on debut for the Detroit Pistons.#isiahthomas #detroitpistons #80snba #nbadebut pic.twitter.com/s2gfTe3mMl
— NBA Time Machine (@NBA_TimeMachine) October 12, 2018
YEAR: 1981 & 2001
SIGNIFICANCE: HOF PGs Isiah Thomas made his NBA debut AND John Stockton began his record-setting 18th season with Utah
After leading the Indiana Hoosiers to a championship in 1981 while earning the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award, Isiah Thomas was selected second overall in the following NBA Draft. Debuting on this date for the Detroit Pistons in a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, Thomas led the entire game in scoring with 31 points along with 11 assists. He would eventually be named to the All-Star team as a rookie along with the All-Rookie First-Team, but lost out on Rookie of the Year to Buck Williams.
On the same exact day twenty years later, fellow HOF PG John Stockton began his 18th season with the Utah Jazz, breaking Hakeem Oluajuwon’s former record of 17 consecutive seasons with one single franchise. Playing one more year to finalize his record at 19 seasons, Stockton would finish his career as the NBA’s all-time leader in assists, steals, third in games played, and within the top-ten of minutes played. A member of the storied 1984 NBA Draft class, Stockton was a relative unknown out of Gonzaga when the Jazz selected him at 16th overall and turned into one of the greatest pure point guards in NBA history.
