What Happened in Sports: February 20, 2022

2019: San Diego Padres signed 3B Manny Machado to a 10y/$300M contract which was by far the largest deal in franchise history at the time. Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14y/$340M deal surpassed it, but Machado’s $30M AAV is still the Padres record

2017: 1 day after playing in the All-Star Game, the Sacramento Kings traded C DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans for 4 players (including SG Buddy Hield), a 1st, and 2nd round pick

2011: Los Angeles Lakers SG Kobe Bryant earned his 4th (and final) ASG MVP in LA with 37 PTS and 14 REB, tying Bob Petit for the most ASG MVP’s in NBA history, which has since been re-named the Kobe Bryant award 

1996: Utah Jazz PG John Stockton became the NBA’s all-time leader in career steals (2,311). Stockton finished his career with 3,265 STL which is still by far the most in NBA history with Jason Kidd having the 2nd most ever (2,684)

1983: Sacramento Kings G Mike Woodson recorded the highest FG% (91.7% on 22-24 FGA) by a player with 20+ FGM in NBA history as he put up a career-high 48 PTS

1972: Denver Rockets PG Larry Brown set ABA records for AST in a game (23), half (18), and quarter (10) in a victory over the Pittsburgh Condors

1952: Emmett Ashford became the very 1st African-American to become a certified MLB umpire

1929: Boston Red Sox announced they’d begin playing Sunday games for the very 1st time, but since Fenway Park was located too close to a church, they’d need to play at Braves Field on Sundays

1923: HOF SP Christy Mathewson officially became President of the Boston Braves after purchasing the team for $300,000 (did not include Braves Field)

1887: The very 1st minor league baseball organization was formed in Pittsburgh, PA