TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY JULY 4

2005  Super Bowl winning coach Hank Stram died

2003  NYY give up 7 HRs to the Red Sox – most HRs given up by the Yankees in their history

1999  Jose Canseco of the Devil Rays gets his 30^th HR of the season – only player in MLB history to hit 30 with 4 different teams – Oakland, Texas, and Toronto

1992  Steffi Graf wins the 99^th Women’s Wimbledon Open

1988  Rays pitcher Charlie Hough strikes out 4 batters in an inning – pass ball on a strikeout

1984  Phil Niekro is the 9^th pitcher to record 3,000 strikeouts – ends with 3,342

1984  Red Sox Jim Rice goes 5 for 6 including a grand slam in the bottom of the 9^th for a 13-9 win

1983  NYY Dave Righetti pitches a no hitter vs. the Red Sox – 1^st Yankee no hitter since Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956 World Series

1982  Jimmy Connors wins Men’s Wimbledon Open

1981  John McEnroe wins 95^th Men’s Wimbledon Open

1980  Nolan Ryan strikes out his 3,000^th batter – ends with 5,714

1977  Red Sox hit MLB record tying 8 HRs to beat Toronto 9-6 – 7 of the 8 were solo HRs

1970  Cardinals send 3 pinch hitters to the plate in the 8^th – all 3 strikeout

1967  Phil Niekro beats rookie brother Joe as Braves beat Cubs 8-3

1964  Manny Jimenez of KC hits 3 HRs – did not hit one in 1963 and only 26 in 7 seasons – game ended in a 6-6 tie as fireworks show had to run

1954  West Germany wins World Cup

1939  A tearful Lou Gehrig gives his “luckiest man in the world” speech as 61,808 Yankee fans bid him goodbye – his #4 is retired

1930  George Steinbrenner was born

1929  Al Davis was born – principal owner of the Oakland Raiders