Oct. 15
Today in sports history
Today is Oct. 15. On this date in:
1917: The Chicago White Sox defeated the New York Giants to win the World Series, capturing the franchise’s second championship.
1923: The New York Yankees rallied from a 4-1 deficit to defeat the New York Giants 6-4 in Game 6 and win the first World Series championship in franchise history.
1925: The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Washington Senators 9-7 in Game 7 of the World Series, becoming the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven World Series. Kiki Cuyler’s two-run double off Walter Johnson broke a tie in the eighth inning.
1946: Enos Slaughter scored from first base on Harry Walker’s eighth-inning hit in his famed “Mad Dash,” giving the St. Louis Cardinals a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 and their sixth World Series championship.
1961: Mickey Wright won the LPGA Championship by nine strokes over Louise Suggs for her third LPGA Championship title.
1964: Al Oerter of the United States won the Olympic discus throw in Tokyo, earning his third consecutive Olympic gold medal and setting an Olympic record despite competing through injuries.
1964: Bob Gibson pitched a complete game as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Yankees 7-5 in Game 7 to win the World Series, with Gibson earning Series MVP honors.
1970: The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Cincinnati Reds in Game 5 to capture their second World Series championship in five seasons.
1986: The New York Mets scored three runs in the 16th inning and survived Houston’s rally to defeat the Astros 7-6 in Game 6 of the NLCS, clinching the third National League pennant in franchise history.
1987: The NFL Players Association ended its 24-day players’ strike and ordered players to return to work without a new contract, while continuing its dispute with league owners in court.
1988: No. 4 Notre Dame upset No. 1 Miami 31-30 when Pat Terrell broke up a 2-point conversion pass with 45 seconds remaining, ending the Hurricanes’ 36-game regular-season winning streak.
1988: Injured Los Angeles Dodgers star Kirk Gibson hit a two-out, two-run walk-off homer off Dennis Eckersley in the ninth inning to beat the Oakland Athletics 5-4 in Game 1 of the World Series. It was Gibson’s only plate appearance of the Series.
1989: Los Angeles Kings star Wayne Gretzky scored his 1,851st career point against his former Edmonton Oilers team, passing Gordie Howe to become the NHL’s all-time scoring leader.
1995: The expansion Carolina Panthers defeated the New York Jets 26-15 for the first victory in franchise history.
2000: Dale Earnhardt charged through the field at Talladega Superspeedway to win the Winston 500, earning his 76th and final NASCAR Cup Series victory and a record 10th win at Talladega.
2003: The Florida Marlins defeated the Chicago Cubs 9-6 in Game 7 of the NLCS, completing a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit and advancing to the World Series.
2005: Top-ranked Southern California defeated Notre Dame 34-31 when Matt Leinart scored on a 1-yard sneak with three seconds remaining, aided by Reggie Bush’s push from behind on the play that became known as the “Bush Push.”
2008: Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a home run and Cole Hamels earned the victory as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 5 of the NLCS to clinch their first National League pennant since 1993.
2010: New England Sports Ventures, the ownership group later renamed Fenway Sports Group, completed its purchase of Liverpool Football Club from Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
2014: The Kansas City Royals defeated the Baltimore Orioles to complete an ALCS sweep and win their first American League pennant since 1985, becoming the first MLB team to begin a postseason with eight consecutive victories.
2019: The Washington Nationals completed a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals to win the first National League pennant in franchise history and advance to their first World Series.
2021: The Chicago Sky routed the Phoenix Mercury 86-50 in the WNBA Finals, setting a Finals record with a 36-point margin of victory.
— USA TODAY Network
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Today in sports history, October 15