A look at what happened this week in sports history.
June 30, 1978
The Giants Willie McCovey became the 12th player in major league history to hit 500 home runs with a blast to the opposite field against the Braves. McCovey finished his career with 521 long balls, which is tied for 20th all time with Frank Thomas and Ted Williams. The Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton is the leader among active players with 420 homers.
July 1, 1997
Three days after Mike Tyson bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear during a heavyweight championship bout, the Nevada Athletic Commission suspended Tyson and withheld a $20 million purse. The match had been billed by promoters as “The Sound and the Fury,” but became known as “The Bite Fight.” Tyson later apologized to Holyfield and the two became friends. Tyson now sells cannabis-infused candies that are shaped like ears.
July 2, 1996
Billie Jean King beat Maria Bueno of Brazil to claim the first of her 12 Grand Slam singles titles. King, who was known to talk to herself during matches, said after her win: “This is what I can do by keeping my mouth shut. I’m really concentrating now, as I never have before.”
July 4, 1981
In a taut 4-set match, John McEnroe beat Björn Borg, ending the Swede’s streak of five straight Wimbledon titles. Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said after the match: “Borg-McEnroe is one of the all-time rivalries. It was like the heavenly angel vs. the anti-Christ.”
July 5, 1998
Toronto’s Roger Clemens becomes the 11th player in major league history to strike out 3,000 batters. Clemens, who won more Cy Young Awards—seven—than any other pitcher in history, finished his career with 4,672 Ks, behind only Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan.
July 6, 1998
It took a 20-hole playoff, but South Korea’s Se Ri Pak beat American amateur Jenny Chuasiriporn to win the U.S. Open. On the 72nd hole, Chuasiriporn sank a 40-foot putt to force a playoff. Over more than two decades, Pak won 25 LPGA events, including eight majors. Chuasiriporn returned to Duke where her team won the NCAA championship, but her pro career was brief. She went on to become a nurse in Richmond.
The date for Billie Jean King isn’t 1996
Me too!