September 17th is the home of some of the most revolutionary events in the entire history of sports. None other than Jackie Robinson achieved his first professional honor recognizing his talent on the field. Additionally, the official formation of what is now known as the NFL took place exactly 100 years ago. Events on 9/17 truly laid the pavement for the sports world forever.

Kaivan Tabatabai also contributed to this article.

Jackie Wins ROY

Jackie Robinson’s rookie season with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

BA: .297
H: 175
R: 125
HR: 12
RBI: 48
SB: 29

Robinson won the 1947 Rookie of the Year Award #JackieRobinsonDay pic.twitter.com/qmlU3LS5WW
— Andscape (@andscape) April 15, 2020

YEAR: 1947

SIGNIFICANCE: Jackie Robinson is named the inaugural “Rookie of the Year”

On this day in 1947, Sporting News officially named Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Jackie Robinson as the inaugural nationally recognized “Rookie of the Year”. Prior to 1947, only the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA awarded a ROY award. When the award became a national honor in 1947, there was a single recognition for both leagues. However, starting in 1949 the award has been awarded to one player each in the National and American League.

Robinson finished his rookie campaign with a .297/.383/.810 slash line and played in 151 games. The Dodgers’ legend finished ahead of pitchers Larry Jansen and Spec Shae. This was a fitting way to cap off a historic season for an iconic player; an end-of season award for baseball’s first African-American ballplayer. Later in 1987, that same award would eventually be named the “Jackie Robinson Award”.

Birth of Pro Football

100 Years Ago Today (1920)

15 reps from 10 football clubs cram into Canton Bulldogs business manager Ralph Hay's tiny Hupmobile auto showroom to form the American Professional Football Association (APFA) — which would become the NFL in 1922.

Jim Thorpe is elected its president. pic.twitter.com/xDGXEtNqLn
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) September 17, 2020

YEAR: 1920

SIGNIFICANCE: The American Pro Football Association (later became the NFL) was formed in Canton, Ohio

Exactly one century ago, one of the largest sports leagues on the globe was officially formed. Just a few weeks after its first meeting also in Canton, 12 teams each paid a $100 buy-in to make up the APFA. Two years later, the association was re-named to the National Football League (NFL). September 17th marks the birthday for a league that impacts the lives of an estimated 400 million fans, and many more throughout the century. Is it a coincidence that potentially the guy who will go down as the greatest player ever was born exactly 75 years later and in his prime during its 100th anniversary?

Reggie's 500th HR

YEAR: 1984

SIGNIFICANCE: Reggie Jackson hit his 500th career home run on the anniversary of his 1st career HR

California Angels OF Reggie Jackson joined 12 other hitters when he hit his 500th career home run 36 years ago. Jackson hit a bomb into the right field second deck off Kansas City Royals SP Bud Black. Mr. October’s solo-shot was the only run the Angels scored that game, as they fell to the Royals 10-1. This milestone home run came exactly 18 years after his first career home run for the Kansas City Athletics in 1967, the year before their relocation to Oakland.

Jackson played 21 seasons in the Majors and despite being an Athletics player for half of his career, he became an icon when he joined the Yankees in 1977 due to his postseason heroics. Jackson currently sits 14th on the all-time HR list with 563 career dingers. He led the league in home runs four times in his career and was the 1973 AL MVP. The 14x All-Star and 5x World Champion is often looked at as one of the legends that resembles the present day hitter most: home runs and strikeouts. Jackson struck out 2,597 times in his career which is the most in baseball history.

Hall of Fame Debuts

.@Cardinals legend Stan Musial made his @MLB debut on this date in 1941. pic.twitter.com/N8ogJHhUeO
— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 17, 2013

YEARS: 1941 & 1953

SIGNIFICANCE: Stan Musial & Ernie Banks MLB debuts for the Cardinals & Cubs; Banks was the 1st black player in team history

Stan Musial made his MLB debut in 1941 for the St. Louis Cardinals at age 20, recording two hits and RBIs en route to a 3-2 victory over the Boston Braves. Musial is often in the conversation of the greatest hitters of all-time. Stan the Man became a 24x All-Star, 3x MVP, and a 7x Batting Champion. He finished his career with a .331 batting average and a 3,630 hits, which is the fourth highest tally ever.

12 years later, Chicago Cubs SS Ernie Banks made his debut for the North Siders and became the franchise’s first black ballplayer. Banks only played in 10 games for the 1953 Cubs, but did play a league-leading 154 games in 1954 and finished in second-place for NL Rookie of the Year honors. What followed was nothing short of historic for Banks and the Cubs. The shortstop became known as Mr. Cub, winning back-to-back MVPs and making 14 All-Star games over his Hall of Fame career.

Today we also celebrate the anniversary of Ernie Banks' @MLB debut: Sept. 17, 1953. #MrCub #15for14 pic.twitter.com/PAkjHblQ3h
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 17, 2015

3 Franchise Debuts

#History Sep 17th 1950 #49ers play 1st game in new #NFL (After 4 seasons in #AAFC ) at #Kezar Stadium https://t.co/WN5vScdhnH #goniners Sadly we lost to the #NewYork #Yanks 21-17 But we now have 5 #SuperBowl Titles #questforsix pic.twitter.com/7h42dV6b1N
— Lamo (@LamoTheLion) September 17, 2018

YEAR: 1950, 1961, & 1967

SIGNIFICANCE: The San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, and New Orleans Saints all played their 1st NFL games

A trio of franchises had their inaugural NFL games on September 17th, all over half a century ago. History shows that it is an extremely difficult task to get the victory in the first ever game, however 9/17 holds an exception. The first of three was the San Francisco 49ers, who gave the New York Yanks a run 21-17. Not entirely a new franchise though, as the 49ers were formerly playing in the AAFC.

11 years later, the near impossible was achieved. The Minnesota Vikings in their debut game absolutely thrashed the Chicago Bears 37-13. Led by their future HOF QB Fran Tarkenton in his NFL debut, the Vikings became the first and only team until 2002 to win their inaugural game. The next expansion occurred only six years later and the New Orleans Saints showed no signs of doing the same as they took a hefty 27-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Tulane Stadium.

#TBT On Sept. 17, 1961, the #Vikings defeated the Bears 37-13 at Metropolitan Stadium in the team's first regular season game ever. pic.twitter.com/4A2xTakjpO
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 27, 2018