The history that’s taken place on October 3rd is nothing short of amazing. Not only did sports fans witness the first NFL (APFA) Sunday EVER, but America made major strides in its fight for equality as the first black Manager and Head Coach were hired. Canadian fans saw their team play their last game ever while one of MLB’s greatest legends put the final touches on an all-time record. These events on 10/3 have helped pave the way for some of the greatest athletes in the game today.

Jaime Segui also contributed to this article.

Pro Football Begins Play

October 3, 1920 – First APFA (later became NFL) Game played in Dayton, Ohio. #SB50 pic.twitter.com/DghazHotOD
— Derrick Blyberg (@DBlyberg) February 7, 2016

YEAR: 1920

SIGNIFICANCE: The American Professional Football Association (now the NFL) held its first full slate of games

On this day in 1920, the APFA, which was renamed the “National Football League” in 1922, played its very first full slate of games. Just one game was played on September 26th, a 48-0 drubbing of the St. Paul Ideals by the Rock Island Independents, but 10/3 is the first time the entire league played on the same day. Of the seven games, however, none were within one score and six of them ended in a shutout with West Buffalo being the only loser to score.

A dynamic rather than fixed schedule, teams decided their opponents as the season progressed, leading to a wide range of total games played by each team. While the second-place Decatur Staleys and Canton Bulldogs played 13 games, the Hammond Pros played just seven and the Muncie Flyers only one (on this day). The APFA’s first season ended with the Akron Professionals as Champions, who finished with an 8-0-3 record and allowed just seven points throughout the season. The title was determined simply by win percentage at the time and any sort of formal playoff structure was not adopted until 1932.

Black Coaches Hired

10/3

1974-Frank Robinson hired as 1st black manager in MLB history. 1989-Art Shell hired as 1st black HC in modern NFL.#TDiSH #SASM250 pic.twitter.com/mPkFrDcoZY
— Brandon M. Wright, J.D. (@wrightbefore) October 3, 2017

YEAR: 1974 & 1989

SIGNIFICANCE: The first African-American Manager and Head Coach in MLB and NFL history were hired

A two-time MVP, 14-time All-Star, Gold Glove (1958) and Triple Crown winner (1966), Frank Robinson was without a doubt one of the greatest all-around players of his generation. Batting .300 in nine seasons and hitting 30 home runs in eleven, Robinson ranked in the top-ten in career HRs (4th), total bases (6th), extra-base hits (6th) and games played (8th) when he fully retired from playing in 1976. In the later years of his career, Robinson began honing his managerial skills by coaching in the winter leagues during the offseason, and on this day in 1974, he became the very first black manager in MLB history as Cleveland named him player-manager.

In an effort to replace longtime figurehead Tom Flores, the first Hispanic QB in pro football and first minority HC to win a Super Bowl, the Los Angeles Raiders hired a young Mike Shanahan in 1988. The very first outside hire in the team’s history, Shanahan clashed with players, assistant coaches, and owner Al Davis almost immediately on a number of issues. After a subpar 7-9 season, tensions between the staff’s opposing factions escalated, which resulted in several firings and re-hirings of assistants. The team began the 1989 season just 1-3, so Davis took the opportunity to finally replace Shanahan with one of his favorite assistants and former players: Art Shell. Named interim HC on this day and shedding the label after the season, Shell became the very first black HC in NFL history.

The Most RBIs EVER

On This Day: in 1976, Hank Aaron singles in his last at bat & gets his 2,297th RBI. Check Out Hank's Cards: http://t.co/vZXwyhiY
— COMC.com - Check Out My Cards (@CheckOutMyCards) October 3, 2012

YEAR: 1976

SIGNIFICANCE: Hank Aaron drove in the 2,297th RBI of his career, which still stands as the all-time RBI record

A 42-year-old Hank Aaron stepped up to the plate for the last at-bat of his remarkable career. Aaron, the DH of the Milwaukee Brewers, hit a RBI single past the SS for his 2,297th career RBI. Hammerin’ Hank was already the all-time RBI leader, but this run driven in meant that his record tally was finally cemented. Currently, Albert Pujols stands third on the all-time RBI list behind Aaron and Babe Ruth*. Pujols trails the leading Aaron by 197 RBI.

After the base hit, Jim Gantner pinch ran for Aaron, making this the last time he would ever appear in a Major League game. Earlier that July, Aaron hit his 755th and last career home run, which at the time was also the all-time lead. The Hall of Famer also finished with the most total bases ever (6,856) and the highest amount of extra-base hits (1,477) as his legacy will live on forever.

"The Logo" Retires

YEAR: 1974

SIGNIFICANCE: Jerry West, also known as “The Logo”, officially retired after 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers

On this day in 1974, “The Logo” officially retired after an illustrious 14-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. A 14x All-Star with 12 All-NBA selections, West averaged an incredible 27 PPG in an era before the three-pointer. The Lakers won just a single title during his tenure (1972), but appeared in nine Finals over his career. In 1969, despite the Lakers’ seven-game series loss to the Boston Celtics, West was named Finals MVP, becoming the first and still the only player on a losing team to earn the award.

Following his retirement, West rejoined the Lakers as a coach in 1976. He spent three seasons at that post and not only brought the team to the playoffs each year, but even reached the Western Conference Finals in 1977. After being inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980, he then transitioned to the front office as a scout and earned the General Manager job by 1982. The Lakers went on to secure five NBA titles in the 80’s, and his re-tooling in the mid-90’s led to his first Executive of the Year Award in 1995.

Montreal Expos Final Game

October 3, 2004: The Montreal Expos play their last game in their 36-year history, losing to the @Mets, 8-1, at Shea Stadium. pic.twitter.com/B6dqis40ml
— MetsRewind (@metsrewind) October 3, 2016

YEAR: 2004

SIGNIFICANCE: The Montreal Expos played their last game; they would relocate to DC and become the Nationals

On this day in 2004, the Montreal Expos played their final game before relocating and rebranding as the Washington Nationals the next season; they lost 8-1 to the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. Montreal was awarded a Major League expansion team in 1969 with ‘04 being their 36th and final campaign. The Expos made the postseason just once in their lifetime; in the strike-shortened ’81 season they lost to the Dodgers in the NLCS. Ironically, their greatest season in franchise history was the ’94 season, which was eventually canceled by the strike.

Since then, the Expos declined, had financial problems, lost their key players, and fans just did not show up to the ballpark. It got so bad by the end, that team owner Jeffrey Loria bought the Florida Marlins, leaving the Expos in the hands of MLB in order to save the franchise. MLB had to improvise in order to increase revenue and decided to split their ’03 and ’04 home games between Olympic Stadium in Montreal and Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2005, the team officially moved to D.C., leaving the ‘Spos forever in history books with a record of 2,753 wins and 2,943 losses.