Events in Sport

Events 1 - 100 of 162

• 1876-02-03 Albert Spalding invests $800 to start sporting goods company, manufacturing first official baseball, tennis ball, basketball, golf ball and football

Basketball's 1st Game

1891-12-21 First game of basketball, based on rules created by James Naismith, played by 18 students in Springfield, Massachusetts

• 1892-01-15 Basketball rules first published in Triangle Magazine, written by James Naismith
• 1892-03-11 1st public basketball game (Springfield, Massachusetts)
• 1893-02-07 Vanderbilt University claims it participated in the first organised intercollegiate basketball game at the Nashville YMCA Gymnasium; Vanderbilt beats YMCA, 9-3
• 1894-01-27 1st college basketball game, University of Chicago beats Chicago YMCA 19-11
• 1923-02-13 1st Black pro Basketball team, "Renaissance", organizes
• 1924-02-25 Marie Boyd scores 156 points in Maryland HS basketball game (163-3)
• 1930-02-15 Wenona Mustangs beat Toluca Wildcats in Illinois Basketball Tournament in 10 overtimes, 26-22
• 1930-03-07 Georgetown High of Chicago defeats Homer 1-0 in basketball
• 1933-10-19 Berlin Olympic Committee vote to introduce basketball in 1936
• 1934-12-29 First collegiate basketball doubleheader is played at Madison Square Garden, NYC; New York University beats Notre Dame, 25-18; Westminster edges St. John's, 37-33
• 1935-04-06 H Levitt sinks 499 basketball free throws, misses & sinks 371 more
• 1936-08-07 Twenty-two nations line-up as the first basketball competition in the Olympics Games starts in Berlin; Estonia beats France 34-29 in the first game
• 1936-08-14 United States beats Canada, 19-8 in poor conditions outdoors to win the gold medal in the inaugural men's basketball competition at the Olympic Games in Berlin
• 1938-11-24 National Semi-Pro Basketball Congress authorizes yellow basketball
• 1939-03-28 Renaissance Big 5 win 1st pro basketball championship
• 1940-02-28 1st televised basketball game (U of Pitts beats Fordham U, 50-37)
• 1941-03-24 LIU beats Ohio U 56-42 for NIT basketball championship
• 1943-01-02 University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team begins 129 home game winning streak that only ends in 1955; incorporates NCAA titles in 1948, 1949 and 1951
• 1944-02-18 15-year-old Joe Nuxhall signs a contract to play baseball with the Cincinnati Reds just one day after playing in a high school basketball game; debuts later that year
• 1945-01-08 University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team sets an NCAA record by holding Arkansas State to 6 points in a 75-6 win

• 1946-06-06 The Basketball Association of America is formed in New York City
• 1946-11-01 First Basketball Association of America game; New York Knicks beat Toronto Huskies, 68-66 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto
• 1946-11-11 New York Knicks play their first Basketball Association of American (BAA) home game at Madison Square Garden; lose, 78-68 to Chicago Stags in overtime
• 1947-04-22 1st Basketball Association of America Finals: Philadelphia Warriors beat Chicago Stags, 83-80 to take inaugural series, 4 games to 2
• 1948-04-21 Basketball Association of America Finals: Baltimore Bullets beat Philadelphia Warriors, 88-73 to take series, 4 games to 2
• 1948-08-13 The United States successfully defends its Olympic basketball title with a 65-21 win over France at the London Games
• 1949-04-13 Basketball Association of America Finals: Minneapolis Lakers beat Washington Capitols, 77-56 to take series, 4 games to 2; BAA and National Basketball League merge later that year to create the NBA
• 1949-08-03 Basketball Association of America (BAA) & National Basketball League (NBL) merge to form National Basketball Association (NBA), Maurice Podoloff elected head of new league
• 1951-03-03 Bill Mikvy of Temple University scores NCAA basketball record 73 points, including 54 straight, in 93-69 win on the road at Wilkes College [1]
• 1953-02-21 Longest collegiate basketball game (6 OTs) Niagara beats Siena 88-81
• 1954-02-02 Rio Grande College basketball forward Bevo Francis scores NCAA record 113 points vs Hillsdale College
• 1954-10-30 1st use of 24-sec shot clock in pro basketball (Rochester vs Boston)
• 1955-01-08 Furman sets NCAA basketball single-game scoring record with 154 pt
• 1955-01-08 Georgia Tech ends Kentucky's 130-game home basketball win streak

US Defeats Soviet Union

1956-12-01 Led by future Basketball Hall of Famers Bill Russell and K.C. Jones, the US wins it's 4th consecutive Olympic gold medal with an 89-55 victory over the Soviet Union at the Melbourne Games

Chamberlain's Varsity Debut

1956-12-03 Basketball icon Wilt Chamberlain makes his much anticipated varsity debut; scores 52 points and grabs 31 rebounds, breaking both all-time Kansas records in an 87–69 win against Northwestern

• 1958-03-15 Royals basketball star Maurice Stokes collapses during a playoff game with encephalitis; He goes into a coma & is permanently disabled
• 1959-01-28 Soviet Union wins 62-37 for 1st international basketball loss by US
• 1960-01-26 High-school basketball sensation Danny Heater scores 135 points

Olympic Gold

1960-09-10 Future Hall of Famer Jerry Lucas scores 23 points as the US wins its 5th straight men's basketball Olympic gold medal with a 90-63 drubbing of Brazil at the Rome Games

• 1961-02-25 Niagara ends St Bonaventura's 99-game home college basketball win streak
• 1961-10-27 American Basketball League starts play
• 1961-11-06 US government issues a stamp honoring 100th birthday of James Naismith (invented game of basketball - actually Canadian)
• 1962-12-31 American Basketball League announces suspension of operation

Hall of Fame

1963-04-24 Future Basketball Hall of Fame point guard Bob Cousy plays his last NBA game for Boston as Celtics beat LA Lakers, 112-109 in Game 6 for their 5th straight NBA C'ship

• 1964-01-29 Most lopsided high-school basketball score 211-29 (Louisiana)
• 1964-02-29 NC high school basketball teams play to 56-54 score in 13 overtime
• 1967-02-01 The 10-team American Basketball Association (ABA) with George Mikan as Commissioner is formed and lasts 9 years; its three-point shot remains a feature of the game
• 1967-02-02 Formation of American Basketball Association is announced
• 1967-10-13 First American Basketball Association (ABA) game is played with Oakland Oaks beating Anaheim Amigos, 132-129; red, white & blue ball and 3-point field goal introduced
• 1968-01-20 Houston Cougars defeat the UCLA Bruins 71-69 to win basketball's Game of the Century and end UCLA's 47 game winning streak
• 1968-02-15 ABA basketball Anaheim Amigos Les Salvage scores 10 3-point baskets in game vs Denver Rockets
• 1968-02-17 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield, Massachusetts opens
• 1968-04-18 1st ABA basketball championship began
• 1968-10-25 US men's basketball team beats Yugoslavia 65-50 to win the gold medal at the Mexico City Olympics; 7th straight basketball title for the Americans

Elvin Hayes

1968-11-13 As a rookie, future Basketball Hall of Fame forward Elvin Hayes scores 54 points in San Diego Rockets' 122-120 win over Detroit Pistons, a career-high

Maravich 1st to 30,000

1970-02-02 Louisiana State University's Pete Maravich becomes 1st to score 3,000 college basketball points

• 1970-03-04 Jacksonville is 1st college basketball team to avg 100+ pts per game

Sports History

1970-10-13 2 future Basketball Hall of Famers debut; guard Calvin Murphy for San Diego Rockets in 111-96 loss in Chicago; forward Dave Cowens for Boston Celtics in 114-107 loss in New York

• 1971-01-30 UCLA starts 88 basketball game winning streak
• 1972-02-05 Bob Douglas is 1st African American elected to Basketball Hall of Fame
• 1972-03-19 1st AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament, Immaculata beats West Chester State 52-48 in Normal
• 1972-03-25 UCLA wins its 6th consecutive national basketball title
• 1972-03-28 Wilt Chamberlain plays his last pro basketball game
• 1972-09-09 Soviet Union beats the United States 51-50 in the most controversial game in international basketball history; with US leading 50-49 the final 3 seconds is replayed 3 times until the Soviets finally win
• 1973-01-27 UCLA's basketball team wins 61st consecutive game (NCAA record)
• 1973-02-15 Friendsville Academy (Tenn) ends 138-game basketball losing streak
• 1973-03-25 AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament, Immaculata beats Queens College, 59-52, Immaculata 1st undefeated team in New York
• 1973-07-01 1st US-China basketball game, US collegiates beats Shanghai 96-61
• 1973-09-07 Mike Storen becomes American Basketball Association's 4th commissioner
• 1973-12-15 Tennessee beats Temple 11-6 in low scoring NCAA basketball game
• 1974-01-19 Notre Dame beats UCLA, 71-70 in South Bend, Indiana to end Bruins' NCAA-record 88-game basketball win streak
• 1974-01-20 Essex Comm College beats Englewood Cliffs 210-67 in basketball
• 1974-02-05 Mats Wermelin, Sweden, scores all points in 272-0 basketball win
• 1974-03-24 36th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: North Carolina State beats Marquette, 76-64; Wolfpack first title; first tournament officially designated as a Division I championship
• 1974-09-03 Future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame guard Oscar Robertson retires; leaves NBA with 26,710 points, 9,887 assists & 7,804 rebounds in 1,040 games

Sports History

1974-10-03 Future Basketball Hall of Fame guard Jerry West (“Mr. Clutch”) retires after 14 NBA seasons with the LA Lakers; West has 25,192 career points; averages 29.1 ppg in 153 playoff games

• 1975-10-08 San Antonio Spurs, then members of the ABA, defeat the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, 109-107 in the first basketball game ever played in the Louisiana Superdome
• 1976-03-28 AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament, Delta States beat Immaculata, 69-64 at Pennsylvania State University
• 1978-02-05 Fred Newman makes 88 consecutive basketball free throws blindfolded
• 1978-02-14 In girls' HS basketball, Chicago Latin beats Harvard St George
• 1978-06-20 1st 6 teams of Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL) granted-Iowa, NJ, Milwaukee, Chicago, Minnesota & Dayton
• 1978-12-09 1st game of Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL), Chicago Hustle vs Milwaukee Does
• 1979-02-21 2 Iowa girls HS basketball teams play 4 scoreless quarters game was won 4-2 in 4th overtime period

Sports History

1979-10-12 Future Basketball Hall of Fame forward Magic Johnson makes his debut for Los Angeles Lakers at the San Diego Clippers; Lakers win, 103-102

• 1980-01-21 Les Henson, Virginia Tech, makes 89' 3" basketball field goal
• 1982-01-29 Old Dominion ends Louisiana Tech's women's basketball record 54-game winning streak
• 1982-02-24 Boston Celtics begin an 18 NBA game winning streak
• 1982-12-24 Chaminade, with a student body of only 850 students, beats #1 ranked Virginia 77-72 in a Honolulu holiday basketball classic
• 1983-12-21 NCAA rules rescinded last 2-minute men's basketball free throw rule
• 1984-01-08 NCAA announces that basketball tournament will have 64 teams
• 1984-01-22 Annette Kennedy of SUNY sets women's basketball record with 70 pts

Sports History

1984-04-02 46th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Georgetown beats Houston, 84-75; Hoyas center Patrick Ewing tournament MOP; John Thompson first African-American head coach to lead his team to any NCAA Division I title

• 1984-08-07 The US collects its first Olympic gold medal in women's basketball history with a 85-55 win over South Korea in the final at the LA Games

US Olympic Basketball Gold

1984-08-10 The US beats Spain 96-65 to win the men's basketball gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics; future 'dream team' members Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin feature

• 1984-12-25 Knicks basketball forward Bernard King scores 60 points, but New York loses, 120-114 to the New Jersey Nets on Xmas Day at Madison Square Garden

Birthdays in Sport

Birthdays 1 - 100 of 474

• 1865-12-04 Luther Gulick, American Basketball Hall of Fame contributor (basketball pioneer; international official), born in Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands (d. 1918)
• 1872-10-04 Ernest Blood, American Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Passaic HS, NJ, 200-1 record, 1915-24), born in Manchester, New Hampshire (d. 1955)
• 1875-07-15 Frank "Pop" Morgenweck, American Basketball HOF contributor (team owner/coach in 18 cities), born in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey (d. 1941)
• 1880-03-22 Ernie Quigley, Canadian Basketball HOF official (St. Mary's College, Kansas Uni), basketball umpire (1936 Olympics), MLB umpire (6xWorld Series) & football referee, born in Newcastle, New Brunswick (d. 1960)
• 1883-08-09 George Hoyt, American Basketball Hall of Fame referee (author "The Theory and Practice of Basketball Officiating"), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1962)
• 1883-12-10 Jesse Harper, American College Football HOF coach (Notre Dame 57–17–7 [football; 67–29 [basketball]; 88–53–1 [baseball]), born in Paw Paw, Illinois (d. 1961)
• 1884-01-26 Walter "Doc" Meanwell, English Basketball Hall of Fame coach (University of Wisconsin 1911–1917, 1920–1934), born in Leeds, England (d. 1953)
• 1889-07-12 Marty Friedman, American Basketball Hall of Fame guard and coach (tied World C'ship series, New York Whirlwinds 1921), born in New York City (d. 1986)
• 1890-06-20 Cum Posey, American Baseball HOF executive (owner NgL Homestead Grays; 9 x consecutive NL pennants 1937–45); and Basketball HOF guard (5 x Coloured World C'ships), born in Homestead, Pennsylvania (d. 1946)
• 1891-10-02 H. V. Porter, American basketball coach and administrator (created fan-shaped backboard; moulded basketball, rules films), born in Manito, Illinois (d. 1975)
• 1892-12-17 Sam Barry, American collegiate basketball, football and baseball coach (University of Southern California, 1929-50), born in Aberdeen, South Dakota (d. 1950)
• 1894-07-04 Henry "Doc" Carlson, American Basketball Hall of Fame collegiate coach (University of Pittsburgh, 1922-53: 367–248 [.597]), originated figure 8 play, born in Murray City, Ohio (d. 1964)
• 1896-03-02 Clair Bee, American College Basketball and Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Long Island University undefeated 1936, 39; National Invitation Tournament 1939, 41), born in Grafton, West Virginia (d. 1983)
• 1896-10-19 Nat Holman, American Basketball HOF coach (NCAA, NIT C'ships 1950 CCNY), born in New York City (d. 1995)
• 1897-07-12 Fred Enke, American College basketball coach (University of Arizona 1925–1961, record 522–344), born in Olmsted County, Minnesota (d. 1985)
• 1898-05-01 David Tobey, American Basketball Hall of Fame referee (1918-45; first game with a 3-man officiating crew), born in New York, New York (d. 1988)
• 1899-02-03 Forrest DeBernardi, American Basketball HOF center (5 × AAU C'ship; 5 × AAU All-American Westminster College), born in Nevada, Missouri (d. 1970)
• 1900-11-22 Bennie Borgmann, American Basketball Hall of Fame forward and coach (Kingston Colonials, Original Celtics; coach Syracuse Nationals), born in Haledon, New Jersey (d. 1978)
• 1901-05-01 Slats Gill, Basketball Hall of Fame coach (36 seasons Oregon State 1928-64), born in Salem, Oregon (d. 1966)
• 1901-06-24 Chuck Taylor, American Basketball Hall of Fame promoter (Converse All Star shoes), born in Azalia, Indiana (d. 1969)
• 1901-09-02 Adolph Rupp, American Basketball HOF coach (NCAA Div I Tournament 1948, 49, 51, 58; Uni of Kentucky; 5 × National Coach of the Year), born in Halstead, Kansas (d. 1977)
• 1902-04-14 Ken Loeffler, American College and Basketball Hall of Fame coach (National Invitation Tournament 1952; NCAA Basketball Tournament 1954, La Salle Explorers), born in Rumson, New Jersey (d. 1975)
• 1904-08-06 Henry Iba, American Basketball HOF coach (Olympic gold 1964, 68; NCAA C'ship 1945, 46 Oklahoma State Uni) and executive (AD Oklahoma State 1935-70), born in Easton, Missouri (d. 1993)
• 1905-02-10 Walter Brown, American basketball and ice hokey executive (founded and owned Boston Celtics, bought Boston Bruins), born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts (d. 1964)
• 1905-12-05 Bruce Drake, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (University of Oklahoma 1938-55, 200-181), born in The Gentry, Texas (d. 1983)
• 1906-01-03 Doc Hayes, American basketball coach (Southern Methodist University 1947-67), born in Krum, Texas (d. 1973)
• 1906-02-10 Cat Thompson, American college basketball player (hall of fame 1962), born in St. George, Utah (d. 1990)
• 1910-10-14 John Wooden, American basketball coach (UCLA-10 national championships), born in Hall, Indiana (d. 2010)
• 1911-04-01 Joe Fortenberry, American basketball forward (captain Olympic gold 1936), born in Leo, Texas (d. 1993)
• 1913-06-07 Dallas Shirley, American Basketball Hall of Fame referee (officiated 2,000+ games in 33-year career), born in Washington, D.C. (d. 1994)
• 1913-12-18 Ray Meyer, American basketball coach (d. 2006)
• 1914-01-07 Bobby McDermott, American Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame guard and coach (2 × NBL Coach of the Year 1944-45, Fort Wayne Pistons), born in New York City (d. 1963)
• 1915-08-31 Pete Newell, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Uni of San Francisco, Michigan State Uni; NCAA Men's C'ship 1959, Cal Berkeley; Olympic gold 1960), born in Vancouver, Canada (d. 2008)
• 1915-10-30 Ben Carnevale, American College-Basketball HOF coach (Uni of North Carolina, Navy) and executive (AD NY Uni, William & Mary), born in Raritan, New Jersey (d. 2008)
• 1916-06-16 Angelo "Hank" Luisetti, American collegiate basketball forward (Stanford, 1935-38), 1st to use a one-handed shot, born in San Francisco, California (d. 2002)
• 1916-11-08 Frank McGuire, American basketball coach (won 550 games in 30 college seasons), born in New York City (d. 1994)
• 1916-11-27 Chick Hearn, American basketball broadcaster (called 3,338 LA Lakers games), born in Aurora, Illinois (d. 2002)
• 1917-08-30 William "Pop" Gates, American Basketball Hall of Fame guard and coach (Harlem Globetrotters "Legends" Ring 1995), born in Decatur, Alabama (d. 1999)

Red Auerbach (1917-2006)

1917-09-20 American Basketball HOF coach (9xNBA C'ship; NBA Coach of the Year 1965 Boston Celtics; 11×NBA All-Star Game HC) and executive (President Boston Celtics 7× NBA C'ship), born in Brooklyn, New York

• 1917-10-04 Marv Harshman, American College/Basketball HOF coach (Pacific Lutheran, Washington State Uni, Uni of Washington; Pac-10 Coach of the Year 1982, 84), born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin (d. 2013)
• 1918-12-01 Bill Strannigan, American all-round athlete and basketball coach (Uni of Wyoming), born in Dalry, North Ayrshire, Scotland (d. 1997)
• 1919-01-01 Horace "Bones" McKinney, American basketball forward, coach and broadcaster (Washington Capitols, Wake Forest), born in Lowland, North Carolina (d. 1997)
• 1920-07-04 Norm Drucker, American basketball referee (NBA Supervisor of Officials 1977–81; ABA Supervisor of the Officials 1969–73), born in New York City (d. 2015)
• 1920-08-10 William "Red" Holzman, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (New York Knicks 14 seasons), born in Brooklyn, NY (d. 1998)
• 1922-03-01 Fred Scolari, American basketball point guard (NBA All-Star 1952, 53; Washington Capitols; Baltimore Bullets), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2002)
• 1922-10-28 Butch van Breda Kolff, American basketball player and coach, born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey (d. 2007)
• 1922-11-21 Abe Lemons, American basketball coach (Oklahoma City Uni, Pan American Uni; NABC Coach of the Year 1978 Uni of Texas Austin), born in Ryan, Oklahoma (d. 2002)
• 1923-03-31 Don Barksdale, American basketball forward (Olympic gold 1948, NBA All-Star 1953), born in Oakland, CA (d. 1993)
• 1923-05-01 Frank Brian, American basketball guard (NBA All-Star 1951, 52; Fort Wayne Pistons), born in Zachary, Louisiana (d. 2017)
• 1923-07-19 Alex Hannum, American Basketball HOF coach (1st ABA, NBA winning coach; ABA C'ship 1969 Oakland Oaks; NBA C'ship 1958 St. Louis Hawks, 1967 Philadelphia 76ers), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2002)
• 1924-05-29 Miloslav Kříž, Czech basketball coach (Czech Women's team, German Men's team), born in Prague, Czechoslovakia (d. 2013)

• 1924-07-10 Johnny Bach, American basketball coach (Fordham Uni, Penn State Uni; NBA C'ship 1991-93 Chicago Bulls assistant coach), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2016)
• 1924-10-09 Arnie Risen, Basketball Hall of Fame center (NBA All-Star 1952-55; NBA C'ship 1951, 57; Rochester Royals, Boston Celtics), born in Williamstown, Kentucky (d. 2012)
• 1924-12-03 Fred Taylor, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Ohio State University 1959-76; MLB Washington Senators 1950-52), born in Zanesville, Ohio (d. 2002)
• 1925-02-21 Jack Ramsay, American Hall of Fame basketball coach (Portland Trail Blazers, 1977 NBA Champions), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2014)
• 1925-06-25 Ted Stepien, American businessman and basketball team owner, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 2007)
• 1925-07-09 Borislav Stanković, Serbian Basketball Hall of Fame administrator (International Basketball Federation secretary general 1976-2002), born in Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina (d. 2020)
• 1925-07-29 Arnie Ferrin, American College Basketball HOF guard (NCAA C'ship, Final Four MOB 1944 Uni of Utah; NBA C'ship Minneapolis Lakers 1949, 50), born in Salt Lake City, Utah (d. 2022)
• 1925-09-19 Jack McCloskey, American basketball coach (Portland Trail Blazers 1972-74) and executive (GM Detroit Pistons NBA C'ship 1989, 90), born in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania (d. 2017)
• 1926-05-07 Charles Wolf, American basketball coach (Cincinnati Royals 1960-63, Detroit Pistons 1963-64), born in Covington, Kentucky (d. 2022)

• 1926-09-04 Dennis Murphy, American sports entrepreneur (co-founder American Basketball Ass'n, World Hockey Ass'n, original World Team Tennis, Roller Hockey International), born in Shanghai, China (d. 2021)
• 1926-10-03 Marques Haynes, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame guard (Harlem Globetrotters), born in Sand Springs, Oklahoma (d. 2015)
• 1926-11-02 Myer "Whitey" Skoog, American basketball guard (NBA C'ship 1952, 53, 54 Minneapolis Lakers), born in Duluth, Minnesota (d. 2019)
• 1927-05-20 Harry "Bud" Grant, American Pro Football HOF coach (NFL Coach of the Year 1969 Minnesota Vikings; 4 x Grey Cup C'ship Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and basketball forward (NBA C'ship 1950 Minnesota Lakers), born in Superior, Wisconsin (d. 2023) [1]
• 1927-12-02 Ralph Beard, American basketball guard (Olympic gold 1948; NBA All-Star 1951; life ban point shaving scandal 1951), born in Hardinsburg, Kentucky (d. 2007)
• 1928-02-19 Garland F. Pinholster, American college basketball coach (USA: gold Pan American Games 1963; Oglethorpe University 1956-66), born in Clyattville, Georgia (d. 2020)
• 1928-03-22 Ed Macauley, American Basketball Hall of Fame center (7-time NBA All Star), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 2011)

Paul Arizin (1928-2006)

1928-04-09 American College/Basketball HOF small forward (NBA C'ship 1956; 10 x NBA All Star; NBA scoring champion 1952, 57; Philadelphia Warriors), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dolph Schayes (1928-2015)

1928-05-19 American basketball Hall of Famer (Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers, 1948-63) and coach (76ers, 1963-66; Buffalo Braves, 1970-72) and coach, born in New York City

• 1928-07-08 Jane Tehira, New Zealand sportsperson (triple international: basketball, softball, hockey), born in Kaikohe, New Zealand (d. 2023)

• 1928-11-20 Pedro Ferrándiz, Spanish basketball coach (EuroLeague 1965, 67, 68, 74 Real Madrid; Spain 1964-65), born in Alicante, Spain (d. 2022)
• 1928-11-30 Joe B. Hall, American Basketball HOF coach (NCAA Division I C'ship 1978; University of Kentucky 1972-85), born in Cynthiana, Kentucky (d. 2022)
• 1929-03-19 Jim Phelan, American college basketball coach (Mount Saint Mary's University 1954–2003), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2021)
• 1929-06-29 Paul Webb, American college basketball coach (Randolph–Macon College 1956-75, Old Dominion University 1975-85), born in Petersburg, Virginia (d. 2023)
• 1929-10-25 LaDell Andersen, American college basketball coach (Utah State, BYU), born in Malad City, Idaho (d. 2019)
• 1929-12-22 Dee Rowe, American college basketball coach (UConn Huskies men's team 1969-76; 103–78 [.569]), born in Worcester, Massachusetts (d. 2021)
• 1930-02-04 Jim Loscutoff, American basketball forward (NBA champion: 1957, 59–64; Boston Celtics), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2015)
• 1930-03-14 Don Haskins, American College Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Texas El Paso 1961-99; NCAA Tournament 1966), born in Enid, Oklahoma (d. 2008)
• 1930-07-10 Pete Carril, American basketball coach (13 × Ivy League champion, Princeton University), born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (d. 2022)
• 1930-07-20 Chuck Daly, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (2-time NBA champion Detroit Pistons), born in Kane, Pennsylvania (d. 2009)
• 1930-08-08 Jerry Tarkanian, American collegiate basketball coach (California State, UNLV, Fresno State; career record: 784–202), born in Euclid, Ohio (d. 2015)
• 1930-08-18 Gene Bartow, American College Basketball Hall of Fame coach (US National Team 1974; Valparaiso, Memphis State, Illinois, UCLA), born in Browning, Missouri (d. 2012)
• 1930-10-30 Don Meineke, American basketball forward (NBA Rookie of the Year 1953; Fort Wayne Pistons, Rochester/Cincinnati Royals), born in Dayton, Ohio (d. 2013)
• 1930-11-04 Dick Groat, American baseball shortstop (NL MVP & NL batting champion 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates; 8 x MLB All-Star; St. Louis Cardinals) and College Basketball HOF guard (Duke Uni; Fort Wayne Pistons), born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania (d. 2023)
• 1930-11-10 Gene Conley, American baseball pitcher (4 x MLB All Star; Boston/Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies) and basketball forward (NBA C'ship 1959–1961; Boston Celtics), born in Muskogee, Oklahoma (d. 2017)
• 1931-01-05 Walt Davis, American athlete (Olympic gold high jump 1952) and basketball center (NBA C'ship 1956, 58; Philadelphia Warriors, St. Louis Hawks), born in Beaumont, Texas (d. 2020)
• 1931-04-21 Morgan Wootten, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (46 seasons DeMatha Catholic HS, Hyattsville, Maryland; National C'ships 1962, 65, 68, 78, 84), born in Durham, North Carolina (d. 2020)
• 1931-05-17 Stan Albeck, American basketball coach (Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls), born in Chenoa, Illinois (d. 2021)
• 1931-09-03 Dick Motta, American basketball coach (NBA Championship, Washington Bullets 1977-78), born in Midvale, Utah
• 1931-09-07 Al McGuire, American basketball coach (Marquette), born in New York City (d. 2001)
• 1931-10-07 Cotton Fitzsimmons, American Basketball HOF coach (NJCAA C'ship 1966, 67, Moberly Area CC; Kansas State; NBA: Phoenix Suns; Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs), born in Hannibal, Missouri (d. 2004)
• 1931-12-18 Gene Shue, American NBA basketball guard, 1954-64, 5X All-Star (New York Knicks, Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons, and 2 other teams), and NBA coach, 1966-89, 2X Coach of the Year (Baltimore/Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, and 2 other teams), born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 2022)
• 1931-12-25 Lefty Driesell, American Basketball HOF coach (first to win 100+ games at 4 different NCAA Div I schools: Davidson College, Uni of Maryland, James Madison, Georgia State), born in Norfolk, Virginia (d. 2024)
• 1932-01-10 Lou Henson, American College Basketball Hall of Fame coach (all-time leader in victories University of Illinois and New Mexico State), born in Okay, Oklahoma (d. 2020)
• 1932-01-21 Don Donoher, American College Basketball HOF coach (University of Dayton 1964-89), born in Toledo, Ohio (d. 2024)
• 1932-01-21 John Chaney, American Basketball Hall of Fame college coach (Cheyney University, Temple University), born in Jacksonville, Florida (d. 2021)

Weddings in Sport

Deaths in Sport

Deaths 1 - 100 of 217

• 1918-08-13 Luther Gulick, American Basketball Hall of Fame contributor (basketball pioneer; international official), dies at 53

• 1941-12-08 Frank "Pop" Morgenweck, American Basketball HOF contributor (team owner/coach in 18 cities), dies at 66
• 1944-12-16 Don Meyer Basketball coach Northern State, Lipscomb, and Hamline
• 1946-03-28 Cum Posey, American Baseball HOF executive (owner NgL Homestead Grays; 9 x consecutive NL pennants 1937–45); and Basketball HOF guard (5 x Coloured World C'ships), dies from cancer at 55
• 1953-12-02 Walter "Doc" Meanwell, English Basketball Hall of Fame coach (University of Wisconsin 1911–1917, 1920–1934), dies at 69
• 1955-02-05 Ernest Blood, American Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Passaic HS, NJ, 200-1 record, 1915-24), dies at 82
• 1960-12-10 Ernie Quigley, Canadian Basketball HOF official (St. Mary's College, Kansas Uni), basketball umpire (1936 Olympics), MLB umpire (6xWorld Series) & football referee, dies at 80
• 1961-07-31 Jesse Harper, American College Football HOF coach (Notre Dame 57–17–7 [football; 67–29 [basketball]; 88–53–1 [baseball]), dies at 77
• 1962-11-11 George Hoyt, American Basketball Hall of Fame referee (author "The Theory and Practice of Basketball Officiating"), dies at 79
• 1963-10-03 Bobby McDermott, American Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame guard and coach (2 × NBL Coach of the Year 1944-45, Fort Wayne Pistons), dies at 49
• 1964-09-07 Walter Brown, American basketball and ice hockey executive (founded and owned Boston Celtics, bought Boston Bruins), dies at 59
• 1964-11-01 Henry "Doc" Carlson, American Basketball Hall of Fame collegiate coach (University of Pittsburgh, 1922-53: 367–248 [.597]), originated figure 8 play, dies at 70
• 1966-04-05 Slats Gill, Basketball Hall of Fame coach (36 seasons Oregon State 1928-64), dies of stroke at 64
• 1967-01-18 Reese "Goose" Tatum, basketballer (Harlem Globetrotters), dies at 45
• 1969-06-23 Chuck Taylor, American Basketball Hall of Fame promoter (Converse All Star shoes), dies of a heart attack at 67
• 1970-04-29 Forrest DeBernardi, American Basketball HOF center (5 × AAU C'ship; 5 × AAU All-American Westminster College), dies at 71
• 1973-02-26 Doc Hayes, American basketball coach (Southern Methodist University 1947-67), dies in an auto accident at 67
• 1975-01-01 Ken Loeffler, American College and Basketball Hall of Fame coach (National Invitation Tournament 1952; NCAA Basketball Tournament 1954, La Salle Explorers), dies from a heart attack at 72
• 1975-10-27 H. V. Porter, American basketball coach and administrator (created fan-shaped backboard; moulded basketball, rules films), dies at 84
• 1977-12-10 Adolph Rupp, American Basketball HOF coach (NCAA Div I Tournament 1948, 49, 51, 58; Uni of Kentucky; 5 × National Coach of the Year), dies of spinal cancer at 76
• 1978-11-11 Bennie Borgmann, American Basketball Hall of Fame forward and coach (Kingston Colonials, Original Celtics; coach Syracuse Nationals), dies at 77
• 1983-05-20 Clair Bee, American College Basketball and Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Long Island University undefeated 1936, 39; National Invitation Tournament 1939, 41), dies at 87
• 1983-12-04 Bruce Drake, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (University of Oklahoma 1938-55, 200-181), dies at 77
• 1984-06-16 Lew Andreas, American basketball coach (b. 1895)
• 1985-11-02 Fred Enke, American College basketball coach (University of Arizona 1925–1961, record 522–344), dies at 88
• 1986-01-01 Marty Friedman, American Basketball Hall of Fame guard and coach (tied World C'ship series, New York Whirlwinds 1921), dies at 96
• 1988-03-06 Dick Ricketts Jr., American basketball center (# 1 overall pick 1955 NBA draft St. Louis Hawks) and baseball pitcher (St. Louis Cardinals), dies from leukemia at 54
• 1988-07-25 David Tobey, American Basketball Hall of Fame referee (1918-45; first game with a 3-man officiating crew), dies at 90
• 1989-12-03 Fernando Martín, Spanish basketball center (first Spaniard in NBA 1986, Portland Trail Blazers; FIBA Club World Cup 1981, Real Madrid), dies in a car accident at 27
• 1993-01-15 Henry Iba, American Basketball HOF coach (Olympic gold 1964, 68; NCAA C'ship 1945, 46 Oklahoma State Uni) and executive (AD Oklahoma State 1935-70), dies at 88
• 1993-03-08 Don Barksdale, American basketball forward (Olympic gold 1948, NBA All-Star 1953), dies of throat cancer at 69
• 1993-04-28 Jim Valvano, American basketball coach (NC State), dies of cancer at 47
• 1993-06-03 Joe Fortenberry, American basketball forward (captain Olympic gold 1936), dies at 82
• 1994-03-01 Dallas Shirley, American Basketball Hall of Fame referee (officiated 2,000+ games in 33-year career), dies at 80
• 1994-07-10 Earl Strum, American NBA basketball referee, dies of brain cancer at 66
• 1994-11-11 Frank McGuire, American basketball coach (won 550 games in 30 college seasons), dies at 80
• 1995-02-12 Nat Holman, American Basketball HOF coach (NCAA, NIT C'ships 1950 CCNY), dies at 98
• 1995-07-19 James Smiddy, American basketball coach (national high school record 1,216 wins; Charleston HS, Bradley Central HS), dies at 71
• 1997-05-16 Horace "Bones" McKinney, American basketball forward, coach and broadcaster (Washington Capitols, Wake Forest), dies at 78
• 1997-09-07 Bill Strannigan, American all-round athlete and basketball coach (Uni of Wyoming), dies at 78
• 1997-12-02 Steve Hamilton, American baseball pitcher (New York Yankees) and basketball forward (Minneapolis Lakers), dies of cancer at 63
• 1998-11-13 William "Red" Holzman, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (New York Knicks 14 seasons), dies leukemia at 78
• 1999-10-08 John McLendon, American basketball coach (b. 1915)
• 1999-12-01 William "Pop" Gates, American Basketball Hall of Fame guard and coach (Harlem Globetrotters "Legends" Ring 1995), dies at 82
• 2000-02-21 Antonio Díaz-Miguel, Spanish basketball coach (b. 1933)
• 2002-01-06 Fred Taylor, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster (Ohio State University 1959-76; MLB Washington Senators 1950-52), dies at 77
• 2002-01-18 Alex Hannum, American Basketball HOF coach (1st ABA, NBA winning coach; ABA C'ship 1969 Oakland Oaks; NBA C'ship 1958 St. Louis Hawks, 1967 Philadelphia 76ers), dies at 78
• 2002-09-02 Abe Lemons, American basketball coach (Oklahoma City Uni, Pan American Uni; NABC Coach of the Year 1978 Uni of Texas Austin), dies from Parkinson's disease at 79
• 2002-09-14 Jim Barnes, American basketball center (Olympic gold 1964; #1 NBA draft pick 1964; NBA C'ship 1969 Boston Celtics), dies of a stroke at 61
• 2002-10-17 Fred Scolari, American basketball point guard (NBA All-Star 1952, 53; Washington Capitols; Baltimore Bullets), dies at 80
• 2002-12-17 Angelo "Hank" Luisetti, American collegiate basketball forward (Stanford, 1935-38), 1st to use a one-handed shot, dies at 86
• 2004-07-24 Cotton Fitzsimmons, American Basketball HOF coach (NJCAA C'ship 1966, 67, Moberly Area CC; Kansas State; NBA: Phoenix Suns; Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs), dies of lung cancer and stroke at 72
• 2006-09-08 Erk Russell, American football, basketball, baseball and track coach, dies at 80
• 2007-11-29 Ralph Beard, American basketball guard (Olympic gold 1948; NBA All-Star 1951; life ban point shaving scandal 1951), dies at 79
• 2009-02-26 Johnny Kerr, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1956, 59, 63; Syracuse Nats/Philadelphia 76ers), coach (Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns) and broadcaster (Chicago Bulls), dies of prostate cancer at 76
• 2009-02-26 Norm Van Lier, American basketball point guard (NBA All-Star 1974, 76, 77; Chicago Bulls) and broadcaster (Comcast SportsNet), dies at 61
• 2009-05-09 Chuck Daly, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (2-time NBA champion Detroit Pistons), dies of pancreatic cancer at 78
• 2010-06-04 John Wooden, American basketball coach (UCLA-10 national championships), dies at 99
• 2010-06-19 Manute Bol, Sudanese-American NBA basketball center, 1985-95 (Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and 3 other teams), political activist, and philanthropist, dies from acute kidney failure at 47
• 2011-04-02 Larry Finch, American college basketball coach (University of Memphis 1986-97), dies at 60
• 2011-06-09 Mike Mitchell, American basketball small forward (NBA All-Star 1981; Italian League top scorer 1998), dies from cancer at 55
• 2011-11-08 Ed Macauley, American Basketball Hall of Fame center (7-time NBA All Star), dies of Alzheimer’s disease at 83
• 2012-01-03 Gene Bartow, American College Basketball Hall of Fame coach (US National Team 1974; Valparaiso, Memphis State, Illinois, UCLA), dies of stomach cancer at 81
• 2012-02-01 Charlie Spoonhour, American basketball coach (Southwest Missouri State, Saint Louis, UNLV), dies at 72
• 2012-05-19 Bob Boozer, College/Basketball Hall of Fame forward (Olympic gold 1960), dies of a brain aneurysm at 75
• 2012-08-04 Arnie Risen, Basketball Hall of Fame center (NBA All-Star 1952-55; NBA C'ship 1951, 57; Rochester Royals, Boston Celtics), dies at 87
• 2012-08-06 Dan Roundfield, American basketball forward (3-time NBA All Star), dies from drowning at 59
• 2012-12-01 Rick Majerus, American college basketball coach (5 × WAC Coach of the Year; Uni of Utah), dies of heart failure at 64
• 2013-03-05 Calvin Fowler, American basketball point guard (Olympic gold 1968 co-captain; Saint Francis University), dies at 73
• 2013-04-12 Marv Harshman, American College/Basketball HOF coach (Pacific Lutheran, Washington State Uni, Uni of Washington; Pac-10 Coach of the Year 1982, 84), dies at 95
• 2013-05-20 Miloslav Kříž, Czech basketball coach (Czech Women's team, German Men's team), dies at 88
• 2013-08-27 Zelmo Beaty, American Basketball HOF center (2 × NBA All-Star; 3 × ABA All-Star; St Louis Hawks, Utah Stars, LA Lakers), dies at 73
• 2013-09-03 Don Meineke, American basketball forward (NBA Rookie of the Year 1953; Fort Wayne Pistons, Rochester/Cincinnati Royals), dies at 82

• 2013-11-02 Walt Bellamy, American Basketball HOF center (NBA All-Star 1962, 63, 64, 65; NBA Rookie of Year 1962; Chicago Packers/Zephyrs/Baltimore Bullets; New York Knicks; Olympic gold 1960), dies at 74
• 2014-12-02 Josie Cichockyj, British wheelchair athlete (wheelchair racing [WR 5,000m], basketball, tennis, table tennis), dies from cancer at 49
• 2015-02-06 Norm Drucker, American basketball referee (NBA Supervisor of Officials 1977–81; ABA Supervisor of the Officials 1969–73), dies at 94
• 2015-02-11 Jerry Tarkanian, American collegiate basketball coach, 1961-2002 (California State, UNLV, Fresno State; career record: 784–202), dies at 84
• 2015-03-16 Jack Haley, American NBA basketball center, 1988-98 (Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, and 2 other teams), dies of heart disease at 51
• 2015-05-15 Bob Hopkins, American basketball forward and coach (Syracuse Nationals; Seattle SuperSonics), dies of heart and kidney failure at 80
• 2015-05-22 Marques Haynes, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame guard (Harlem Globetrotters), dies at 88
• 2015-06-03 Bevo Francis, American basketball forward (NCAA record for points scored in a game [113] 1954–2012), dies at 82
• 2015-07-25 Bob Kauffman, American basketball forward (3 x NBA All-Star; Buffalo Braves) and coach (Detroit Pistons 1977-78), dies of heart failure at 69
• 2015-08-27 Darryl Dawkins, American basketball center (Philadelphia 76ers, NJ Nets; NBA breaking a backboard rule), dies of a heart attack at 58

• 2015-12-01 Jim Loscutoff, American basketball forward (NBA champion: 1957, 59–64; Boston Celtics), dies from Parkinson's disease and pneumonia at 85

• 2015-12-27 (Meadow) "Meadowlark" Lemon, American basketball star (Harlem Globetrotters, 1955-80, 1990, and 3 other teams), and clergyman, dies at 83
• 2016-01-18 Johnny Bach, American basketball coach (Fordham Uni, Penn State Uni; NBA C'ship 1991-93 Chicago Bulls assistant coach), dies at 91
• 2016-01-23 Bobby Wanzer, American basketball guard (NBA All-Star 1952–56; Rochester Royals) and coach (NBA All-Star Game 1957), dies at 94
• 2016-06-28 Pat Summitt, American Basketball HOF coach (8 × NCAA Division I tournament; 18 × NCAA Regional—Final Four; University of Tennessee), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 61

• 2017-05-14 Frank Brian, American basketball guard (NBA All-Star 1951, 52; Fort Wayne Pistons), dies at 94
• 2017-06-01 Jack McCloskey, American basketball coach (Portland Trail Blazers 1972-74) and executive (GM Detroit Pistons NBA C'ship 1989, 90), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 91
• 2017-07-04 Gene Conley, American baseball pitcher (4 x MLB All Star; Boston/Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies) and basketball forward (NBA C'ship 1959–1961; Boston Celtics), dies at 86
• 2017-09-06 Jim McDaniels, American basketball forward (All American 1971; Western Kentucky Uni; No. 1 overall pick ABA Draft 1971; ABA All-Star 1972; Carolina Cougars), dies from diabetes complications at 69
• 2018-01-16 Jo Jo White, American basketballer (Olympic gold - 1968), dies of complications of dementia at 71
• 2018-05-03 Bob Prewitt, American college basketball coach (SMU Mustangs), dies at 93
• 2018-05-04 Larry Hunter, American college basketball coach (Wittenberg Tigers, Ohio Bobcats, Western Carolina Catamounts), dies at 68

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