A Moment In Time ~ October

BY » Mickey Dunaway

In 2020-21, The Year of the Pandemic, almost every person was inundated by the changing rules and regulations—many of them constantly changing, it seemed. Very few entertaining pursuits bore the brunt of the number of rules and regulations like sports. In the Year of the Pandemic, they were hardly recognizable as sports at all.

Now that sports have returned with crowds, albeit also with COVID protocols reduced but still present, I thought it might be fun to check out some sporting events to have occurred through the years in October.

First Baseball World Series game was played. The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Americans 7-3 at Huntington Avenue.

Babe Ruth pointed to centerfield then hit the famous homer to that exact spot. Yankees won this game three of the World Series 7-5.

Ali defeated Joe Frazier to maintain the Heavy Weight title. Known as “The Thrilla in Manila.”

Atlanta Braves Hank Aaron hit the final home run of his career. Hammerin’ Hank’s 733rd HR.

Tennis star Billie Jean King became the first female athlete to win $100,000 in prize money in a single year. Wins the $4,000 Virginia Slims Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jerry West retired after 14 seasons playing with the LA Lakers. He scored 25,192 career points and averaged 29.1 points per game in 153 playoff games.

OJ Simpson was acquitted of the murders of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. “If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” – Attorney Johnny Cochran.

No. 12 Colorado defeated Missouri 33-31 by scorning on an extra play from scrimmage. The refs gave Colorado a 5th down. Coach McCartney refused to forfeit. UC went on to share a portion of the National Championship!

Unranked Stanford defeated No. 2 Southern Cal 24-23. Stanford was 41-point underdog.

Georgia Tech, coached by legendary John Heisman, defeated Cumberland 222-0. The most lopsided victory in the history of US college football.

New Orleans QB Drew Brees broke Johnny Unitas’ record for consecutive games with a TD pass. Brees threw TD passes in 48 consecutive games. October 8, 1953

Birmingham, Alabama, barred Jackie Robinson’s All-Stars Team of black and white players from playing there. Robinson gave in & dropped the white players from his group. I was in the first grade and don’t remember the event, but I am nonetheless ashamed. This is a good reminder that greatness has no place for prejudice and its ugly twin, injustice.

Ty Cobb, the Georgia Peach, stole home in a World Series game. Cobb stole home 54 times in his career. Amazing.

NY Giants retire OLB Lawrence Taylor’s #56 jersey. Taylor was also an All-American at the University of North Carolina.

Deion Sanders played for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLB’s Braves. Both teams on the same day!

“Hitman” Hart defeated Charlotte’s Ric Flair for WWF heavyweight title. Can you say, “Wooooo!”

No. 5 Baylor defeated No. 9 TCU by a score of 61-58. Baylor was down 21 points in the 4th quarter. The two teams combined for 1,300 yards of total offense.

Simone Biles became the world’s most decorated gymnast, winning a record 25th medal at the World Championships. Two years later, she’s still the best.

Willie Mays got his last MLB career hit in World Series Game 2 in Oakland. The “Say Hey Kid” was 42 years old.

No. 1 USC defeated No. 9 Notre Dame 34-31. This was USC’s 28th consecutive win.

Linda Ronstadt sang the national anthem before World Series Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles. OK. It is not really sports, but I really like Linda Ronstadt!

Lance Armstrong lost a host of endorsements in the wake of his doping scandal. A sad day for cycling and sports.

No. 7 Michigan State defeated at No. 23 Michigan 27- 12. With Michigan leading and seconds remaining, the Michigan punter fumbled the snap. State picked it up and returned it 38 yards for the winning touchdown.

Satchel Paige was born in my hometown of Mobile, Alabama. He remains one of America’s greatest sports heroes. A humble man, Paige also was a star in the Negro League and later the Major Leagues. He remains one of my sports heroes. His career lasted five decades, ending with his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Satchel Paige was famous for many quotes. Two of my favorites are appropriate for America today.

“Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way.” Perhaps his most famous quote was this one: “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.”

Michigan State defeated Northwestern 41 – 38. The biggest comeback in college football history after trailing 38-3 in the middle of the 3rd quarter.

Princeton defeated Chicago 21-18. It was the first national radio broadcast of a college football game.