TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY DECEMBER 12

1997  Red Sox sign Pedro Martinez to a 6 year $69 million deal

1993  Orioles sign free agent Raphael Palmeiro

1988  Miami Heat set an NBA record for the most consecutive losses to start a season with their 17^th

1984  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar becomes the 1^st NBA player to surpass 32,000 points in his career

1980  St. Louis trades Rollie Fingers and Pete Vuckovick to the Brewers – Fingers will win the Cy Young in 1981 and Vuckovick in 1982

1971  LA Lakers win their 21^st consecutive game – NBA record – will win 33 in a row

1968  Arthur Ashe becomes the 1^st black to be ranked #1 in tennis

1965  Gale Sayers scores 6 TDs – 4 rushing, one in the air, and one on a 85 yard punt return in a 61-20 Bears win over the 49ers

1932  Bob Pettit born – 1^st NBA player to score 20,000 career points