A slew of sports legends did historic things on September 24th. Two of the merger era’s most iconic QBs met for a Super Bowl III rematch, Jimmie Foxx joined a list consisting only of Babe Ruth, and a future Hall-of-Famer finally reached a career milestone just before his retirement. Additionally, the legendary Babe Ruth achieved hallowed milestones in consecutive years and said farewell to Yankee Stadium 15 years later on this day.
YEAR: 1972
SIGNIFICANCE: Hall-of-Fame QBs Joe Namath and Johnny Unitas combined for a record 872 passing yards
Three seasons after their iconic matchup in Super Bowl III, the New York Jets and Baltimore Colts engaged in one of the greatest passing displays the league had ever seen. Future Hall-of-Famers Joe Namath and Johnny Unitas combined for an NFL-record 872 total passing yards, but the former stole the show with nearly 500 yards and 6 TDs himself. The Colts, much like their QB, were a great, but aging team in decline just one year removed from their Super Bowl V victory. Namath and the Jets, on the other hand, had dealt with a handful of injuries, resulting in two losing seasons since their famous upset.
That day, however, the nearly 57,000 fans in Baltimore were treated to an instant-classic between two all-time legends. A quiet first quarter (NYJ 6 – 7 BAL) gave way to a second that saw 34 total points and 3 TD passes from Namath alone as the Jets held a 27-20 lead at halftime. After just three total points scored in the third quarter, New York held a 30-20 lead, the offenses got going again as the Colts brought the score within a field goal twice (30-27, 37-34).
“Broadway” Joe came back to bite the Colts yet again, however, as he extended the lead then sealed the victory for New York with two long TD passes to TE Rich Caster (75, 80 yards). Both teams would struggle to disappointing records (NYJ: 7-7, BAL: 5-9) and Unitas would finally lose his starting position later in the season, but that day reminded the football world of what these two legends were capable of on any given Sunday.
OTD 1967: #BigRed kicker Jim Bakken set an NFL record by kicking 7 field goals in 28-14 win over the #Steelers. Bakken is still the Cardinals all-time leading scorer. pic.twitter.com/OXs6NrkILJ
— St. Louis Football Cardinals (@BigRed_STL) September 24, 2019
YEAR: 1967
SIGNIFICANCE: Cardinals K Jim Bakken converted a record 7 FGM on 9 Att in St. Louis’ 28-14 victory over the Steelers
On this day 53 years ago, Cardinals K Jim Bakken set two kicking records in the St. Louis Cardinals’ victory over Pittsburgh — seven field goals made, nine attempts. Combined with a first-quarter PAT, Bakken totaled 22 of their 28 points, outscoring the Steelers all by himself. One of the league’s last straight-legged kickers, the distance of his makes were average at best — 18, 24, 33, 29, 24, 32, and 23 — and his misses were relatively long for the day’s standards (50, 45).
In addition to the single-game record, this was also his 13th consecutive game with a conversion, leaving him just one game short of the record (he would set it at 19). Bakken finished his 17-year career as the Cardinals’ all-time scoring leader (1,380), and his single-game records held firm through the placekicking revolution, standing until Rob Bironas‘ eight makes in 2007 (nine attempts remains the record).
On this date in 1940, Jimmie Foxx hit his 500th career HR.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 24, 2016
He finished with 534 (19th all-time) pic.twitter.com/tq3q1PlMqH
YEAR: 1940
SIGNIFICANCE: Jimmie Foxx joined Babe Ruth as the only 2 members in the 500-HR club
Jimmie Foxx connected for his 500th career home run exactly 80 years ago, joining Babe Ruth as the only two hitters in the 500 HR club at the time. Foxx broke into the league as a 17-year-old with the Philadelphia Athletics. He played with the Athletics during his first 11 years in the bigs, winning two MVP awards and making three All-Star appearances. In 1936, Foxx joined the Boston Red Sox, where he was selected for six All-Star games and won his third and final MVP.
Foxx, who was nicknamed “Beast”, was one of the sluggers that emerged right after Ruth’s power hitting revolution in the early 1920’s. In 1932, Foxx hit 58 HR, one home run shy of Ruth’s single-season record. Foxx and Ruth were the only two players in the 500-HR club until Mel Ott joined them five years later in 1945. As for Red Sox history, Ted Williams, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Foxx all hit their 500th career bomb while wearing a Red Sox uniform. That is more than any other team.
YEAR: 1974
SIGNIFICANCE: Al Kaline became the 12th player ever to collect 3,000 career hits
Approaching the finale of his outstanding 22-year career, Detroit Tigers OF Al Kaline hit his 3,000th career hit on this day in 1974. Kaline hit a double to the opposite field to become the 12th batter ever to reach the 3,000-hit mark. Kaline would go on to finish his career with 3,007 career hits and currently sits right above Roberto Clemente in 31st place on the all-time list. Mr. Tiger was a career .297/.376/.855 hitter, a 10x Gold Glover, 18x All-Star, and the 1955 Batting Champion. The class of 1980 Hall of Famer is one of just eight outfielders ever with 3,000+ hits and 1,500+ RBI.
On this day in 1920, Babe Ruth became the first player in MLB history to hit 30 HRs in a season
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) July 19, 2020
YEARS: 1919, 1920, & 1934
SIGNIFICANCE: Babe Ruth broke the single-season HR record 2x in 2 years & made his final home appearance at Yankee Stadium
On this day in 1919, Babe Ruth broke the single-season HR record as a member of the Red Sox by hitting his 28th home run in a loss to the New York Yankees, the team he would join three months later. The Babe set a new single-season record in 1919 with his 29-HR campaign, breaking Ned Williamson‘s record of 27. Ruth was one of baseball’s first true power hitters and was the face of baseball’s transition out of the dead ball era. Soon after the 1919 season, the Red Sox traded Ruth to the Yankees, eventually changing the course of baseball history forever.
In his first year in New York, Ruth followed up his record-setting ’19 season by surpassing his own all-time single-season home run record, but this time he absolutely shattered his previous mark. The Great Bambino hit an incredible 54 HRs and became the very first player in MLB history to hit 50+ home runs in a single campaign. The very next year, Ruth had his legendary 59 HR season, finalizing a four-year stretch where he would surpass his own record. 14 years later on September 24th, Ruth made his final home appearance in front of the Yankee Stadium faithful, drawing a walk in the 1st inning and promptly leaving for a pinch runner. During his tenure in New York, Ruth hit an absurd .349/.484/.1.195 and amassed 659 HRs, 1978 RBI, an MVP award, and seven World Titles.
Slow motion footage of Babe Ruth’s swing. Cleveland, 1920. @OTBaseballPhoto pic.twitter.com/fElkqDgZVr
— Jeff Nichols (@backwards_river) August 9, 2020
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