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Most Significant Sports History on September 8th
Learn about September 8th's most significant sports history including a record during the iconic '98 HR chase, an MLB hit accolade, and more!
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Accolades and achievements set by players on the field collectively create the significance of sports history each day. September 8th is vastly composed of individual highlights from some of the best to ever play. 22 years ago today marked an unforgettable day during the iconic HR record chase of 1998. Over a decade earlier, Ty Cobb’s all-time MLB hit record got all tied up by one of the most controversial athletes in sports history. Milestones like these continue to influence professional sports each day.
YEAR: 1998
SIGNIFICANCE: Mark McGwire hit his record-breaking 62nd HR of the season
22 years ago, and a day after tying Roger Maris’ single-season Home Run record, St. Louis Cardinals 1B Mark McGwire hit his record-setting 62nd HR of the season. Similar to the night before, Chicago Cubs OF Sammy Sosa was in the outfield when McGwire hit the Home Run, adding even more to the moment and giving fans a sense of closure to what became one of the most iconic summers in baseball history.
McGwire and Sosa had spent the first few months of the season going after Maris’ record, hitting majestic Home Runs and giving fans something to look forward to every night. After the 1994 strike, MLB struggled in recapturing the fans’ attention. And this McGwire-Sosa Home Run chase in ’98 was one of the reasons why baseball’s popularity and stadium attendances went up. McGwire would go on and hit nine more bombs before the end of the season to bring his total up to 70. In 2001, Barry Bonds would break it by hitting 73 HR, and setting a record that has yet to be broken.
YEAR: 1985
SIGNIFICANCE: Pete Rose tied Ty Cobb’s career hit record with his 4,191st hit
On this day 35 years ago, Cincinnati Reds player-manager Pete Rose penciled his name in the starting lineup after the Chicago Cubs had a late scratch. SP Steve Trout had a bicycle accident the night before, so the Cubs went with Reggie Patterson. Rose would go 2-for-5 with a pair of singles, bringing up his career hit total to 4,191. The most controversial player in MLB history finished with an astounding 4,256 career hits, which isn’t close to being touched.
Today in 1965, Bert Campaneris is the first Major League player to appear at all nine positions in one game. pic.twitter.com/N4m44nEEnz
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) September 8, 2016
YEAR: 1965
SIGNIFICANCE: Bert Campaneris became the 1st player in MLB history to play all 9 positions in 1 game
Kansas City Athletics SS/UT Bert Campaneris played in all nine positions in the same game for the first time in MLB history exactly 55 years ago, in a 13-inning affair vs. the California Angels. Campaneris started the game in his primary position of Shortstop, and then moved to Second base in the top of the 2nd inning before moving over to Third base in the top of the 3rd.
It was like that all game with Campaneris going around the diamond and playing one inning at each position. In the 8th inning, Campaneris came in to pitch, recording three outs, while giving up one hit, two walks, and a run. To end that inning, he got a strike-him-out throw-him-out double play. The next inning, he was behind the plate and thus ending Campaneris’ trip around the field. Since Campaneris achieved such a feat, Cesar Tovar, Scott Sheldon, Shane Halter, and, most recently, Andrew Romine are the other four players to play all nine positions in a single game.
YEAR: 2002
SIGNIFICANCE: The Houston Texans became the the 2nd expansion franchise in NFL history to win it’s inaugural game
In 2002, the city of Houston held its first professional football game since the Oilers moved to Tennessee to become the Titans in 1997. Led by head coach Dom Capers, the Houston Texans won their inaugural game against the Dallas Cowboys 19-10. They were the second team to ever do so, 41 years after the Minnesota Vikings in 1961. The Texans finished the season with a 4-12 record, but one of those four came on a memorable day for Houston sports fans 18 years ago. Nowadays, the franchise is looking up, as they’ve won the AFC South the last two seasons and young stud QB Deshaun Watson is coming fresh off signing a monster deal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKHIs7me0M8
YEAR: 2019
SIGNIFICANCE: Lamar Jackson became the 1st player in Ravens history to finish with a perfect passer rating
The dawn of a new era is upon the NFL, and it is seen directly at the Quarterback position. While still performing at a high level for their ages, gone are the days of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees leading the future of the NFL. 2019 went down as the year Lamar Jackson solidified his name as an elite QB.
Exactly one year ago, Lamar Jackson tore the Miami Dolphins to shreds becoming the first Raven to ever finish with a perfect passer rating (158.3). In the 59-10 thrashing, Jackson threw over 300 yards and five touchdowns. The milestones would not stop there, as Jackson would break Mike Vick’s single-season rushing yards record later in the season. Heading into only his third season, Lamar Jackson is on the path to becoming the greatest dual-threat QB of all time.
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