September 20th is a day in sports history that has seen its share of culminating performances along with monumental decisions over the years. “Sweetness” set a career mark that hadn’t been sniffed in 30 years, Gehrig broke one of his own single-season records, a 1st-ballot Hall of Famer was traded, and 2 record-long streaks were snapped. A record-filled day, the history of 9/20 is loaded with intrigue.

Ricky Eisenbart also contributed to this article.

Payton Breaks TD Record

YEAR: 1987

SIGNIFICANCE: Walter Payton broke Jim Brown‘s rushing TD record with his 107th

In the second game of his final season in the NFL, Bears RB Walter Payton scored his 107th rushing TD in the first quarter of a 20-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, breaking the career record long held by the legendary Jim Brown (retired in 1965). A 1993 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Payton earned 5 All-Pro selections and was named MVP in 1977 following his 1,852-yard season, the 3rd-highest single-season total at the time.

Affectionately known as “Sweetness”, Payton remains widely regarded as one of the greatest RBs the NFL ever saw, finishing his career as the all-time leader in both rushing TDs (110) and yards (16,726, now 2nd to Emmitt Smith). He retired following the strike-shortened 1987 season, but his legacy lives on stronger than ever due to his work off the field, as the NFL renamed their “Man of the Year” award (1977 recipient) in his honor shortly after his death in 1999.

Single-Season RBI Record

#OTD 1931: Lou Gehrig, who was once a Sept. call-up, breaks his own AL RBI record on way to 185 for the season. http://t.co/NS3rnmGm7t
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) September 20, 2015

YEAR: 1931

SIGNIFICANCE: Lou Gehrig broke his own single-season RBI record (set in 1927) of 173

After setting a Major League single-season record in 1927, when he hit 173 RBI, New York Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig surpassed that mark driving in his 175th RBI of the season. Gehrig would extend his total to 185 by season’s end, which set a new AL record, but was still six RBI shy of Hack Wilson‘s 1930 record of 191 RBI. The 28-year-old Gehrig finished second in the AL MVP voting that season behind Athletics SP Lefty Grove. That campaign, Gehrig hit .341/.446/.1.108 and had 46 HR to go along his league-leading 185 runs driven in. During the ’31 season, Gehrig was in the midst of a 13-season long streak of driving in at least 100 RBI, which is tied for the most consecutive seasons ever alongside Jimmie Foxx and Alex Rodriguez. During that span, The Iron Horse had a league-leading 472 HR and 1913 RBI.

Knicks Trade Ewing

YEAR: 2000

SIGNIFICANCE: The New York Knicks traded their aging franchise cornerstone in a massive deal

After an illustrious 15-year run with the New York Knicks, where he earned 11 All-Stars, seven All-NBA, and three All-Defensive team selections, C Patrick Ewing’s NYK tenure officially ended with his trade to the Seattle Supersonics in a massive 4-team (Lakers, Suns), 12-player deal including the likes of Glen Rice, Horace Grant, Chuck Person, Chris Dudley, and Vernon Maxwell, along with three 1st-round picks and two 2nd-rounders.

He was drafted first overall in a class that included two Hall of Famers (Chris Mullin — 7th, Karl Malone — 13th), but 1985 was the very first season of the draft lottery’s existence, and many found the situation a bit too coincidental. Not only was New York, the NBA’s largest media market, lacking in star-power, but then-Commissioner David Stern was on a mission to reverse public perception of the league after reports of widespread drug usage by players in the early 1980’s.

Despite the controversy, Ewing won Rookie of the Year and grew the Knicks into a perennial contender, leading the team to two Finals appearances (1994, 1999) and 13 consecutive playoff berths (1988-2000), but never managed to bring a title to New York. He would spend just one season in Seattle, where he averaged only 9.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks on 26.7 minutes over 79 starts. He left the following offseason to spend his final year in Orlando, where he started only four games (played 65) and averaged just under 14 minutes. In 2008, Patrick Ewing was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for the 2nd time, the first being alongside the “Dream Team” of the 1992 Olympics.

Ripken's Streak Ends

YEAR: 1998

SIGNIFICANCE: Cal Ripken Jr.‘s record streak of 2,632 consecutive games played ended

After 17 years and 2,632 games, Baltimore Orioles SS Cal Ripken Jr.’s consecutive game streak finally came to an end after he decided on his own to sit out right before the game. Ripken Jr. had not missed a game since May 30, 1982, which was his 66th career game. During his infamous streak, the Iron Man hit .277/.345/.794 with 381 home runs, which ranks as the fifth highest within that span. Ripken decided to end his streak a little over three years after he surpassed the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig. As injuries and age continue to mount, Ripken’s playing time fell off after the ’98 season, playing in just 297 games during the last three seasons of his career.

REC Streak Snapped

#NFLTBT: 9-20-87

Chicago RB Walter Payton scored his NFL record 107th rushing TD in the Bears’ 20-3 victory over Tampa Bay, while in Cincinnati, San Francisco WR Dwight Clark’s record streak of 105 consecutive games with a reception came to an end. pic.twitter.com/ei37UN5wll

— After Hours (@AfterHoursCBS) September 20, 2018

YEAR: 1987

SIGNIFICANCE: Dwight Clark‘s record streak of 105 games with a reception ended

While San Francisco 49ers WR Dwight Clark is known mainly for his famous “Catch” to defeat the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFC Championship, the 2x Pro Bowler also held the all-time record for consecutive games with a reception (105). His streak began all the way back in a Week 2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980, lasting over seven years. Clark’s 105-game streak has since been more than doubled by numerous players, but the record is still held by his teammate, WR Jerry Rice (274). The current active leader in the NFL is Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald at 243, which actually sits second all-time behind Rice.