Highlighted by record-setting days by Nolan Ryan and Barry Bonds, along with the establishment of a longstanding NFL record, September 26th was also the day that an underestimated problem for the NFL was finally resolved in 2012. Along with the impressive individual performances throughout the years, this day in 1967 also marks a big milestone towards redemption for a major pro football icon and the sport’s re-introduction to the city of Cincinnati.

Jaime Segui also contributed to this article.

Ryan's Record No-No

YEAR: 1981

SIGNIFICANCE: Nolan Ryan set an MLB record by throwing his 5th career no-hitter

In his penultimate start of the 1981 season, Houston Astros SP Nolan Ryan became the first pitcher ever to throw five no-hitters in his career, breaking Sandy Koufax‘s record of four set in 1965. The Ryan Express threw nine masterful innings, striking out 11 Dodger hitters and walking just three. His season ERA dropped to 1.74 after this start and would eventually drop to a league-low 1.69 after his start on Oct. 1, 1981 (the lowest ERA of his 27-year career). Ryan, who was 34 at the time, was already on his way to Cooperstown, having already joined the 3,000 strikeout club the year before. The member of the 1999 Hall of Fame class finished his career with over 5,000 strikeouts and seven no-hitters, both MLB all-time highs.

Bonds Joins 40-40 Club

YEAR: 1996

SIGNIFICANCE: Barry Bonds achieved just the 2nd 40 HR-40 SB season ever

On this day in 1996, Barry Bonds became the second player in MLB history to have a 40 home run, 40 stolen base season, since Jose Canseco did in 1988. Bonds finished the season with 42 HR and 40 SB, to cap off an All-Star season that also saw him earn Gold Glove and Silver Slugger honors. Bonds still had a lot of speed in ’96 and along with a .461 OBP, he became an incredible threat on the base paths. The following season, Bonds came close to back-to-back 40-40 campaigns, but came up three stolen bases short. In 1998, Alex Rodriguez became the third player ever to have a 40-40 year, followed by Alfonso Soriano in 2006, the last to ever do it.

Record TD Streak Ends

YEAR: 1965

SIGNIFICANCE: Colts RB Lenny Moore‘s record streak of 18 consecutive games with a TD finally ended

During an 18-game stretch that spanned over three seasons, RB Lenny Moore scored a TD in every single game until this day in 1965, when his Baltimore Colts were defeated by the Green Bay Packers. Ironically, the streak began against the Packers on October 27th, 1963, the final game that he primarily played “end” and did not register a carry, so it was a fitting finish to a record run that saw him transition towards the backfield and score 24 total TDs. HOF RB LaDanian Tomlinson was the first to threaten his record almost exactly 40 years later, but his was also halted at 18 consecutive games on October 23rd, 2005.

"Replacement Refs" Replaced

YEAR: 2012

SIGNIFICANCE: The NFL and NFL Referees Association officially agreed to end the referees’ lockout

Deadlocked in a labor dispute regarding their Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NFL Referees Association instituted a lockout in June of 2012. The Referees Association had initially planned to exercise an option to re-negotiate their CBA a year early, but those plans were impacted by the league-wide lockout in 2011. Once the union accused the NFL of planning to impact their negotiations through the use of the 2011 Lockout, they proceeded with one of their own. The “replacement officials” that resulted were so heavily criticized for their performance and impacts on regular-season games that the NFL finally conceded, ending the lockout three weeks into the season (along with four weeks of preseason games).

AFL Grants the Bengals

YEAR: 1967

SIGNIFICANCE: AFL officially granted an expansion franchise in Cincinnati to a group led by former Browns HC Paul Brown

One of the men responsible for the founding of Cleveland’s All-America Football Conference franchise, Paul Brown became an NFL icon during his time as HC and executive with the ‘Browns’. He led the team to four consecutive AAFC Championships (1946-49) and ushered the Browns into the NFL with three more championships (1950, ’54, ’55). Following a growing rift between Brown and owner Art Modell, the franchise namesake and figurehead was fired in January of 1963.

After exploring various coaching opportunities, Brown decided that his best option would be to find a situation that would allow him to have complete control of his team. When the rising AFL was looking to place another expansion franchise in Ohio (this time in Cincinnati), Brown pounced on the opportunity and became heavily invested in the team. On this day that the Cincinnati Bengals, who were named after the franchise from previous incarnations of the AFL, officially became a new AFL franchise, Paul Brown became HC, GM, and represented the team in any and all league matters — precisely what he set out for.