1971: Cooperstown opened its doors to the Negro Leagues. Pitcher Satchel Paige became the first Negro League player to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Paige pitched his first professional game for Birmingham in 1927, and threw his final game for the Kansas City A’s in 1965.
1980: A rain of threes. Houston’s Rick Barry became the first NBA player to nail eight three-pointers in a single game. That helped the Rockets beat Utah 117–95.
1989: The end of an incredible streak. Phoenix’s Kevin Johnson’s consecutive streak of successful free throws ended at 57. He still went 14-for-16 from the stripe, and notched 34 points total, as the Suns bested the Clippers 120–113.
Happy birthday today to former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman John Kruk, who’s 65. Ex–Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Jimmy Smith is 57. Montreal Expos Hall of Fame outfielder Vladimir Guerrero is 51, and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is 29.