Sports history provides fans with an outlet to go back in time and remember a wide spectrum of things from the past. September 1st holds strong significance in the history of sports as well as global affairs. Only one year ago, Verlander made MLB history and achieved an MLB benchmark no player had accomplished before him. Further in the past, the United States endured great shock as the MLB had a sudden stoppage due to World War 1. The events that occurred on this day in history remain remarkable to sports fans in the past and the present.

Verlander No-Hits Jays

YEAR: 2019

SIGNIFICANCE: Justin Verlander became the 1st pitcher ever with 2 no-hitters in the same road ballpark

On this day last year, Astros ace Justin Verlander became the first ever pitcher in history to pitch two no-hitters in the same visiting stadium. Verlander, a Detroit Tiger back then, threw his second career no-hitter on May 7th, 2011 against the host Toronto Blue Jays. Eight years later, he would no-hit the Canadians yet again, this time while wearing an Astros jersey. His 2011 no-hitter was great, but his 2019 no-no was unbelievably more dominant. He struck out 14 batters compared to only four back in 2011.

What makes Verlander’s no-hitters so special is not only the final box score, but how skillfully he saves energy throughout the game in order to be able to still throw in the upper 90s very deep into his pitch count. In 2011, Verlander recorded 2 of the last three outs with 97 and 98 mph fastballs. In 2019, he did it again, with the last pitch of the no-hitter clocking in at 97 mph. JV also became the third pitcher ever to no-hit the same team twice, and the sixth pitcher ever to have at least 3 career no-hitters.

1918 MLB Season Ends

https://twitter.com/MickBaseball/status/1035954266182230018?s=20

YEAR: 1918

SIGNIFICANCE: Due to the U.S.’s involvement in WWI, MLB’s regular season was stopped

On this day in 1918, a week or so after U.S. Secretary of War Baker granted an exemption to players in the World Series, the Major League Baseball regular season officially came to an end due to World War I. The regular season getting cut short meant that baseball would go straight into the World Series and had until September 15th to conclude and crown a champion. Baseball awarded the AL’s and NL’s first place teams with the pennant, which were the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs respectively.

The cancellation of the 1918 regular season was something that never seemed out of the realm of possibilities, even before the season started. As players received backlash from fans for not serving military time, and the Spanish Flu was causing panic globally.

1st All-Black Lineup

Today in 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates became the first major league team to field an all-Black lineup. pic.twitter.com/ySfabRgWk2
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) September 1, 2020

YEAR: 1971

SIGNIFICANCE: Pirates rolled out the 1st all-black (African-American and Latino) lineup in MLB history

The 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates are a historic team not only in the franchise’s history, but in baseball history. The ’71 Pirates were one of the most diverse teams in the Major Leagues, with 13 players of Latino or African-American descent. And on this day 49 years ago, the Pirates became the first team in MLB history to put out a lineup featuring only black or latino players.

The historic lineup featured three of their best players: 1B/LF Willie Stargell, RF Roberto Clemente, and SP Dock Ellis. The game was against their in-state rival Philadelphia Phillies and saw the Buccos win 10-7 at Pittsburgh’s Three River Stadium. The linuep was: 2B Rennie Stennett, CF Gene Clines, RF Clemente, LF Stargell, C Manny Sanguillen, 3B Dave Cash, 1B Al Oliver, SS Jackie Hernandez, and SP Ellies. Later that year, the Pirates won the World Series vs the Baltimore Orioles in seven games, and it’s considered one of the greatest WS matchups of all time.

1st Japanese-Born player

When the @SFGiants’ Masanori Murakami walked out to the mound at Shea Stadium #OTD in 1964, the crowd gave him a standing ovation before he’d even thrown a pitch. Murakami made history that day as the first Japanese-born player to play in @mlb. https://t.co/bTzGeEXFJs pic.twitter.com/JJBdrK331M
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) September 1, 2020

YEAR: 1964

SIGNIFICANCE: Masanori Murakami became the 1st Japanese-born player in MLB history

Exactly 56 years ago, Masanori Murakami became the first ever Japanese-born pitcher to appear in a Major League game. Murakami, a member of the San Francisco Giants, pitched a scoreless 8^th inning in relief against the New York Mets, striking out two in the process. Despite playing in just two seasons, Murakami, or “Mashi,” opened the door for Japanese baseball players to come to the U.S. and pursue a career in the big leagues.

There have been 67 Japanese-born Major Leaguers in history. And of those 67, there are nine Japanese-born players in the Major Leagues currently. When Murakami made his debut, it took 30 years for the next Japanese ballplayer to appear in the Majors, that was Rookie of the Year Hideo Nomo in 1995 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After Nomo, the most significant player was Ichiro Suzuki, who won the AL Rookie of the Year and MVP in 2001 and is now on his way to Cooperstown.

Goodell Became Commissioner

Happy anniversary @nflcommish! OTD in 2006 Roger Goodell took office as the 8th @nfl Commissioner. http://t.co/ycxoFRAvv5
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) September 1, 2013

YEAR: 2006

SIGNIFICANCE: Roger Goodell officially began his tenure as Commissioner of the NFL

In 2006, the NFL witnessed the birth of a new era when Paul Tagliabue concluded his 17-year tenure as Commissioner. Roger Goodell, who spent his career working up the in the ranks of NFL administration, was chosen over four finalists to fill the role. As commissioner, Goodell has prominently sent a message that his main responsibility is to protect the integrity of the game. Many of his actions however, have resulted in strong wide-spread criticism among fans, players, and media members.