The history of September 13th is full of notable events in professional sports. Both individuals and teams met and surpassed numerous benchmarks. To start, K-Rod engraved his name into the MLB record books. On top of that, the Atlanta Falcons achieved what many would have thought to be impossible. These occasions in history have set the precedent for athletes to continue chasing today.

Kaivan Tabatabai also contributed to this article.

K-Rod's Record Save

YEAR: 2008

SIGNIFICANCE: Francisco Rodriguez broke the MLB single-season record with his 58th save

Los Angeles Angels CP Francisco Rodriguez became the all-time single-season record holder for saves on this day in 2008. Rodriguez broke Chicago White Sox CP Bobby Thigpen‘s record of 57 (1990) when he closed down a 5-2 victory over Seattle Mariners. That season, K-Rod finished with 62 saves in 69 opportunities and leading all AL pitchers in games played with 76. Rodriguez helped the Angels to a 100-62 season (first place in AL West), and earned him third and sixth place in the AL Cy Young and MVP votes, respectively.

Fire in the Fourth

YEAR: 1981

SIGNIFICANCE: The Atlanta Falcons put up 31 points in the 4th quarter, tying an NFL record

There is little more exciting in sports than an unexpected comeback. Even more exciting is a comeback that seems impossible. Exactly 39 years ago, the Atlanta Falcons came back from a 17-0 deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Green Bay Packers 31-17. By scoring 31 points in the fourth alone, Atlanta tied an NFL record that was previously met by 3 different teams. Unfortunately, Atlanta’s fourth quarter luck would not remain in the most important of times, if not go completely against them. Against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI, the Falcons gave up 19 points in the fourth quarter to blow a 28-3 lead and make history by ultimately losing the game in overtime.

Mays and Robinson Hit 500

#OTD in 1965, the @SFGiants Willie Mays became the fifth member of the 500-home run club. https://t.co/ssPlaoznN1 pic.twitter.com/WCVZCCnwrh
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) September 13, 2018

YEARS: 1965 & 1971

SIGNIFICANCE: Willie Mays & Frank Robinson hit their 500th career HR

September 13th is a very important date for two of the greatest players in the history of the game. In 1965, San Francisco Giants CF Willie Mays hit his 500th career home run in a 5-1 win over the Houston Astros. The 24-time All-Star became the youngest National League player ever (34y, 130d) to hit his 500th career home run and was the fifth entrant of the half-millennium mark. Mays would continue to play for another eight years after joining the exclusive club, and accumulated the sixth highest home run tally ever with 660.

Six years after, Frank Robinson became the 11th member of the 500-HR club. The Baltimore Orioles had a doubleheader that day against the Detroit Tigers. In the first game, Robinson homered in the bottom of the first inning for his 499th career bomb, and followed that with his milestone dinger in the ninth inning. The two-time MVP finished his career with 586 HR, 10th in the all-time list.

Bobby Bonds' 1st 30-30 Season

Bobby Bonds was best known for his rare combination of speed and power. He had 30+ SBs & 30+ HRs in the same season (30-30 club) 5X. How rare was that? He did it 5 of 1st 10 times it occurred in #MLB history. His @sabr bio https://t.co/NFddtnBnbR pic.twitter.com/ipZTcd5Uck
— SABR BioProject (@SABRbioproject) May 5, 2020

YEAR: 1969

SIGNIFICANCE: Bobby Bonds became just the 4th 30-30 player in MLB history

Bobby Bonds joined Ken Williams, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron as the only players to have a 30-30 season exactly 51 years ago. Bonds finished the ’69 season with 32 HR and 45 SB, becoming the 30-30 member with most stolen bases in a season, until Eric Davis stole 50 in 1987. Bonds, alongside his son, Barry Bonds, is tied with the most 30-30 seasons in the history of baseball with five. Both Bobby and Barry count for 10 of the 62 30-30 campaigns in MLB history. There are currently 40 members in the prestigious club, with Ronald Acuña Jr. and Christian Yelich becoming the latest incomers.

Inside-the-Park HRs

#OTD in 1909 Ty Cobb hits his 9th and final home run of the year. It will be good enough to lead the major leagues (by 2). All 9 were inside the park #Slugger pic.twitter.com/pQsinoYoYf
— Tigers History (@TigersHistory) September 13, 2020

YEARS: 1909 & 1946

SIGNIFICANCE: Ty Cobb‘s 9th HR of the season led AL & Ted Williams hit the 1st and only inside-the-parker of his career

111 years ago, Ty Cobb became the only player of the 20th century to win a HR title with none leaving the yard. During the peak of the deadball era, nine home runs that never left the yard is all it took to become the 1909 HR King. In that season, Cobb slugged .571 in addition to his league-leading .377 batting average, nine home runs, and 107 RBI which netted him the Triple Crown.

37 years later, an actual home run hitter hit his first inside-the-park home run. Boston Red Sox OF Ted Williams went 3-for-4 in a 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians. His home run came with two outs in the top of the first inning off Red Embree. This was Williams’ only inside-the-parker out of his 521 career bombs. That season, Teddy Ballgame hit 38 bombs but finished second to Hank Greenberg‘s 44 home runs.