69 Great Summer Sports Moments

69 Times Sport was Sensational in the Summer

For centuries, sports have impacted the lives and cultures of people across the world. From the first Olympic games taking place in Greece as far back as the 700s B.C. to the formation of the National Association of Base Ball Players—the first professional sports league in America—in the 1800s, the love for sports has always been apparent.

What makes sports so popular? Why do so many people gather around a big screen, or spend hundreds of dollars on tickets to appear in person at an event? While there doesn't seem to be one definitive reason that makes sports so beloved, there are eight points of motivation that bring audiences to their love of sports, according to sports-fan psychologist Daniel Wann. These range from building a sense of community, to having a distraction from real-world struggles, to gaining a sense of self-esteem through a winning team. Everyone has their own reason for finding love in a game or competition.

Each summer brings a new level of excitement to the world of sports as teams and leagues begin and end their respective seasons. Between 1955 and 1980, some of the most significant moments in the history of sports occurred. Using news archives and other public information sources, OLBG has compiled a list of the greatest sports moments from the summer you were born.

2023: Europe Ryder Cup Win

Due to the nature of the Ryder Cup’s format, it usually means that the bid for outright victory goes right to the wire. That was certainly not the case in 2023 and when Europe being ahead by five points going into the final day, their lead of 10.5 to 5.5 meant they only required two points going into the final day. A blistering performance across Friday and Saturday allowed the Europeans to take their collective foot off the gas ever so slightly and with they and the United States earning six points on the final day, it would mean a resounding European victory by 16.5 to 11.5.

2022: Lionesses Win European Championships

The Three Lions may have fallen at the final hurdle in 2021, the Lionesses would kick their way through it in 2022. A similar scenario in that England had home advantage going into the Women’s European Championship final but this time it was old foe Germany waiting for them. A foe that was finally vanquished in extra-time at Wembley. Chloe Kelly’s strike proved to be the difference in extra-time and a 2-1 win for Sarina Wiegmann’s side gave the nation a new set of heroes. 

2021: Italy win European Championships

As COVID still lingered in the background, the European Championships that were delayed from the previous summer finally got underway and as England’s young lions roared to the final and restored some hope and pride within the nation, they once again fell on the sword that has claimed them so many times in the past. A meeting in the final with Italy at Wembley promised so much and especially when Luke Shaw put the hosts ahead after three minutes. Unfortunately, Gareth Southgate’s safety-first tactics were punished by the Italians and the visitors would win via a penalty shootout

2020: Bayern win Truncated Champions League

With COVID running rife across the globe, competitive sport truly felt the pinch in 2020 and although football had a very different look and feel to it, the show still went on as far as the Champions League was concerned. A truncated edition with the last eight teams all descending on Portugal for knockout football and with Bayern Munich and PSG being paired together in the final, it was Kingsley Coman’s goal that won the game and the trophy for the German outfit.

2019: England Cricket World Cup

There has often been last over or even last ball drama within cricket but its 2019 World Cup took this to a new level. Hosts England went up against New Zealand and with the two scores tied thanks to Ben Stokes’ incredible 84 not out, it meant the two teams would have to go to a Super Over. Six balls each to find a winner and even then, the two sides could not be truly split. On the last delivery of the tournament, New Zealand needed two from the final delivery. They got one but Jos Buttler’s stumping of Martin Guptill meant that even though the Super Over scores were also tied, England would win due a better boundary count. You honestly could not script the events that unfolded.

2018: France Win World Cup

The FIFA World Cup took its first hosting foray into Russia and although the sight of the football fraternity cosying up to President Vladimir Putin was not the best of spectacles, the showing on the field was a lot more palatable. England won a penalty shootout against Colombia in the Round of 16 before finally being dumped out by Croatia in the semi-finals and the Three Lions could only watch on as the Croats were eventually beaten by France in the final. 

2017: Federer Makes It Eight At Wimbledon

Roger Federer has been the king of Wimbledon and this only further solidified in 2017 when the Swiss ace won his eighth men’s singles title and in doing so, set a new record at SW19. Federer may have beaten the very best in order to earn the previous seven crowns but his opponent for number eight was not as much of a household name. With that said, the opponent really did not matter that afternoon as Marin Cilic was disposed of in straight sets by Federer. 

2016: Cristiano Ronaldo Leads Portugal Euro 2016

The first ever 24-team European Championships were won by Portugal and in doing so, it gave Cristiano Ronaldo redemption for the loss that he and the nation suffered to Greece 12 years earlier. However, the man in question had to go off injured during the final with France and with the game tied at 0-0, the then Real Madrid star then decided to all but manage the team itself. Whether that effect helped forward Eder score the winning goal we will never know but ultimately the Portuguese icon Ronaldo got to bask in the glory in the end. 

2015: Golden State Warriors First NBA Title in 40 years

The 2015 NBA Finals pitted the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers together and with the former lead by the duo of Klay Thompson and Steph Curry, it would see them aid the franchise to their first finals success in 40 years. The Cavaliers may have had Lebron James among their ranks and they were also 2-1 up at one stage, but unfortunately for them three successive wins for the Warriors would wrap up the series and see them collect the trophy at the end of Game 6.

2014: Germany 7-1 Brazil

With the 2014 FIFA World Cup being held in Brazil, the semi-final between themselves and Germany was meant to have a samba feeling attached to it. By the end of the first time, the Estadio Mineirao was more resembling a morgue. The Germans had obviously decided to gatecrash the party and where five-nil up in the first half hour. Tears from those supporting the Selecao by the time they had lost 7-1. Germany were the usual relentless self as they marched on to the final – a game they would beat in Argentina in to win that year’s tournament. 

2013: Andy Murray Wins Wimbledon

After winning Olympic gold in the men’s singles tennis the year before, it was clear that Andy Murray had developed a taste for winning at SW19 and with Wimbledon success now firmly in his sights, he would see that dream through to the end 12 months later. Victory over Roger Federer in the Olympics was followed up by victory over Novak Djokovic at the All-England club in straight sets and in doing so, he became the first British man to win the men’s singles since Fred Perry in 1936.

2012: London Olympics

2012 was the year when the Olympic Games came home to London and for all the medals that were picked up by Team GB, it was ‘Super Saturday’ that was the most special day of all. Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and Greg Rutherford all scooped gold in their respective disciplines as a raucous London Stadium cheered them on. Add successes in other sports such as Cycling and Rowing and it would lead to a third-place finish in the overall medal table as a total of 65 medals were collected. 

2011: Djokovic wins first US Open

Novak Djokovic has shown that he is the king of the hard court over the past decade or so and you can point his American reign back to 2011 and victory in the US Open. That year saw the Serbian meet Rafael Nadal for the second year in succession and whereas the Spainard came out on top 12 months previously, Djokovic would exact revenge in four sets to win the first of four titles at Flushing Meadows.

2010: Spain Win World Cup

After winning the European Championships two years before and Barcelona winning the 2009 Champions League final, Spanish football was definitely in vogue before the start of the 2010 World Cup. Vincente Del Bosque’s men were hotly tipped to win the first FIFA World Cup to ever be staged in Africa and they did not disappoint either. Their final with the Netherlands was certainly a bad tempered one but the mood was undoubtedly lifted when Spain’s Andres Iniesta scored the game’s only goal in extra-time to give La Rioja their first ever World Cup win.

2009: All Williams Wimbledon Final

The name Williams may be synonymous with Wimbledon and there was no stronger link than the 2009 final. Venus on one side of the net, Serena on the other. Family bragging rights up for grabs along with the women’s singles title. It was the latter who came out on top with a straight sets victory and not only did it mean a third Wimbledon title for the younger of the two sisters but also an 11th career Grand Slam title. 

2008: Nadal vs Federer At Wimbledon

Although there are many contenders to the greatest Wimbledon game of all-time. The only answer can be the men’s final in 2008. Four hours and 48 minutes were required to finally split Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and with the Spaniard winning the fifth and final set 9-7 it would mean the contest itself was not finished until 21:15 BST and both players were plunged into near darkness. With rain interruptions throughout, it would also be the last year before a retractable roof was installed on Centre Court.

2007: Asafa Powell Sets New 100m Record

Already holding the 100m world record before the IAAF Grand Prix in Rieti, Italy, Asafa Powell would shave even more time off it in the heats. What was a previous record of 9.77 was now 9.74 and had he not slowed down in the final few metres, his winning time would have been even quicker. After the race, Powell stated that he was saving his legs for the final. In that race, he ran 9.78 but ultimately left people wondering just what the new record could have ended up being. 

2006: Italy Win World Cup – Zidane Headbutts Materazzi

Just like in 1982 when Italy won the World Cup, a match fixing scandal had stolen the headlines that season. 24 years later and the exact same situation happened within Serie A. Italy’s top tier rocked by the Calciopoli scandal but the national team would rock their way to victory. A penalty shooutout win over France in the final may be in the history books but it is Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt on Marco Materazzi – in what was also in the legend’s final ever competitive game, that lives longer in the memory.

2005: Ashes Series Flintoff

Like 24 years previously, The Ashes was a play regarding one-man and whereas it was Ian Botham in the past, it was now Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff who was England’s saviour. Brilliance with both bat and ball would mean he was the tormentor of the Australian’s that summer. For all his wickets and sixes it was his consoling of Brett Lee at the Second Test which is etched into memories the most. Lee and Australia had just lost by two runs, before Flintoff started any celebrations he spoken to fallen foe on the crease and reminded everyone the true spirit of the game. 

2004: Greece Win Euro 2004

In a tournament where Wayne Rooney announced himself to the footballing world, Greece would go on to be unlikely kings of Europe. Overseen by a wily German tactician called Otto Rehagel, the Greeks would grind their way to the final and a meeting with hosts Portugal. It was all set up for a young Cristiano Ronaldo to get his first taste of international success but a certain Mr Rehagel had other ideas. He still had the nous for one more shock as the unfancied nation won 1-0 in the tournament’s showpiece event. 

2003: Ben Curtis Wins The Open

The Open is a tournament that breaks the big names but can just as easily make stars and with its brutal links nature, the form guide is not always a precursor to who wins one of golf’s four majors. It was certainly not the case in 2003 when a then unknown Ben Curtis would lift the Claret Jug. Two shots behind Thomas Bjorn before the final round but a sting of bogey’s on the final day by the Dane, allowed the American to eventually enter sporting folklore with a one-shot victory at Royal St George’s

2002: Ronaldo Returns And Wins 2002 World Cup

A peripheral figure at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the main character four years later and with Ronaldo scoring twice in the 2002 final in Japan. His brace would go on to beat fellow finalists Germany and give the South American nation their fifth overall win. More importantly, it was the ending of the redemption arc for Ronaldo who had been besieged by illness and injury in the years leading up to the tournament. A personal success that no football fan was ever going to begrudge.

2001: Goran Ivanisevic Wins Wimbledon As Wildcard

Wimbledon has a habit of throwing up remarkable stories and one of the most came back in 2001. That was the year in which Goran Ivanisevic was granted a wildcard to enter the men’s singles tournament. He may have been a wildcard but it did not stop the Croat going all the way to the final. Standing in the way of a fairytale win was Australian Patrick Rafter and although this one required a fifth-set tiebreaker to finally declare a winner, nothing was ever going to step in Ivanisevic’s way.

2000: Venus Williams Wins First Wimbledon

The surname Williams is synonymous with Wimbledon and that symbiotic link started in 2000. That was the year in which Venus would not only earn her first major singles title but also beat defending Lindsay Davenport in the process. Her straight sets win would usher in a new period of Williams-dominance as her and sister Serena would go on to carve up what was in front of them. 

1999: US Ryder Cup Win – The Battle of Brookline

The Ryder Cup used to be a rather sedate affair. That was until 1999 and the ‘Battle of Brookline” Going into the final day, the Europeans were leading 10-6 and needed just four points to retain the cup. An incredible comeback from the United States saw them snatch the victory 141⁄2 to 131⁄2, but their celebrations certainly left a bitter test in their opponents mouth and created the modern era of Ryder Cup warfare that we know today. 

1998: France 98 Final – Ronaldo Pre-Match Illness 

The stage was set for the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final. Hosts France going up against the might of Brazil and the prowess of Ronaldo. That prowess was powerless after suffering a pre-match illness and although the Brazilian forward did feature, he played as if he was mind was elsewhere. A forlorn figure on the pitch, even more by the time he was substituted and most definitely, by the time the French ran out 3-0 winners.

1997: Tyson Bites Holyfield

After losing to Evander Holyfield in November 1996, Mike Tyson would find himself going up against his adversary the following June. Once again, the result would be the same, but the reasoning would be far different. In the third round, Holyfield leapt into the air in pain, not from a resulting punch but because of Tyson biting a chunk out of his ear. Unsurprisingly referee Mills Lane would throw the fight out soon after.

1996: Michael Johnson 200m Record 

Coming into the 1996 Olympics, Michael Johnson was always expected to run well in the 200m. Then again, nobody knew just how well he would run. The answer to this would be discovered in the final when he not only won at Atlanta in front of a legion of home support but he would also go on to claim the world record. 19.32 was the winning time, leaving both Frank Fredericks and Ato Boldon in his wake. 

1995: Frank Bruno Heavyweight Champ

After being denied by both Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis in his bid for heavyweight glory, Frank Bruno would not be denied at the fourth time of asking and with a raucous Wembley Stadium crowd doing their best to help him beat American Oliver McCall, the road to glory would finally be complete in September 1995 with a win on the judges’ scorecard. 

1994: Brazil Win Stateside World Cup

1994 saw a fourth success for Brazil in the FIFA World Cup and a first success in 24 years. The final against Italy went someway to exacting revenge for that historic exit in 1982 but it must be noted it was arguably the dullest final of all time. Going down to a penalty shootout, Franco Baresi’s miss put Italy’s hopes on a knife-edge. Those same hopes were up in smoke by the time Roberto Baggio ballooned his effort over the bar and gave Brazil an historic victory.

1993: Chicago Bulls Win First Threepeat

After winning their first NBA crown in 1991, the Chicago Bulls would go on to win a threepeat between then and the two years that followed. After downing the Portland Trail Blazers in 1992, the Phoenix Suns would be downed the following year and if there was any doubts regarding the talents of Michael Jordan, this three-year stretch of dominance would have put quelled all those doubts for good. 

1992: Linford Christie Olympic 100m Win

After eventually winning the silver medal at the Seoul Olympics 100m, Linford Christie would aim to go one better in Barcelona four years later. The Brit’s form had peaked at the right time and although critics will argue that Christie had a far less competitive field than in other races or years, you still have to finish first and that is exactly what the Brit did in a time of 9.96 seconds. 

1991: Chicago Bulls Win First Championship

All sporting dynasties have to start somewhere and for the Chicago Bulls it started in 1991. The Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls took on the Western Conference champion Los Angeles and it was billed as Michael Jordan versus Magic Johnson. A finals series that not only saw the Bulls win their first NBA crown but it also saw the passing of the torch in terms of on-court greatness. 

1990: Gazza’s Tears

West Germany may have won the 1990 FIFA World Cup but Paul Gascoigne won the hearts of a nation during the semi-final between the eventual winners and England. Gascoigne’s rash second-half tackle warranted a caution from the referee and one that meant a disciplinary ban for the final if the Three Lions came out on top. Once the realisation kicked in so did the tears and then Bobby Robson’s men lost on spot kicks. 

1989: Greg Lemond TDF

The greatest ever end to a Tour De France and a rare ending that saw a time-trial through the streets of Paris. Before the final stage American Greg Lemond had to claw back 50 seconds on Laurent Fignon of France. Lemond would set a blistering time and then it was down to Fignon to safely bring his bike home. Problem was that safety was 58 seconds slower than what had been previously set and Le Professeur subsequently saw victory slip out of his hands by just eight seconds.

1988: Ben Johnson Seoul Olympics

The Seoul Olympics pitted the United States’ Carl Lewis versus Canada’s Ben Johnson in a bid to be the king of the men’s 100m. A race that Johnson not only won but also in a new world record time. Lewis dethroned and a new era of track and field had begun. However, it was over as soon as it had got underway and with Johnson testing positive for steroids, both the Olympic gold and the 100m record would be stripped immediately. 

1987: Mike Tyson wins WBA, WBC and IBF Heavyweight Championships

Mike Tyson versus Tony Tucker was the biggest heavyweight fight of 1987 and it put the former’s WBA and WBC crowns and the latter’s IBF all on the line. Three prizes up for grabs and ‘Iron Mike’ would claim them all via unanimous decision. The three scorecards were 119-111, 118-113 and 116-112 in Tyson’s favour and it would also extend the New York-based fighters’ record to 31-0 (27 KO)

1986: Hand Of God

Argentina may have won the 1986 FIFA World Cup but the most memorable moment of the competition was the ‘Hand of God’. A moment that saw the diminutive Diego Maradona leap higher than the lofty Peter Shilton. Or did he? The Argentine on closer inspection had punched the ball into the net and although England cried foul, Maradona claimed it was nothing more than divine intervention.

1985: Boris Becker Wimbledon Aged 17

Boris Becker arrived at the 1985 edition of Wimbledon ranked No. 20 by the ATP but back then only the top 16 would be worthy of seeding for the competition. He also arrived there as a 17-year-old but neither of these points were a stumbling block as the German became the first ever unseeded player to win the men’s singles competition and more importantly, also the youngest. 

1984: Michel Platini Leads France To The European Championship

Although England did not qualify for Euro 84’, this is still a tournament that is revered by many and the reason for this is due to the flair that was displayed by Michel Platini and his French teammates. With Les Blues playing on home soil, the pressure was certainly on them to deliver but they dealt with any stress with ease and the team’s crowning moment was victory over Spain in the final. 

1983: Australia win America's Cup

This was the year in which the United States’ 132-year grip on the American’s Cup was finally removed by Australia. The Australia II yacht made the best of seven final series and at one stage found itself 3-1 down. However, winning the remaining three races would sink their American rivals and bring the trophy down under for the first time ever. 

1982: Brazil Dumped Out Of The World Cup

They say that Brazil’s 1982 side is the greatest to never win the FIFA World Cup and as they and Italy played out a second round group stage game for the ages. Paolo Rossi’s hat-trick for Italy would dump the South Americans out of the competition and send the Azzurri to the semi-finals. From there, subsequent victories over Poland in the semi’s and West Germany in the final would round off a perfect showing in Spain. 

1981: Botham's Ashes

With England up against it in the 1981 edition of the Ashes, only one man could save them, and that man was Ian Botham. Beefy, as he is otherwise known, was Player of the Match in the three England wins of that series. His 149 not out at Headingley played a fundamental part in winning that test but also in getting the better of Australia that summer. 

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1980: Jack Nicklaus continues dominance, wins two majors

Jack Nicklaus won both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, giving the legendary golfer 17 career major victories. Nicklaus captured the two titles despite speculation that he was on the back end of his career, which included a total of 117 professional wins. Six years later, Nicklaus would win the Masters Tournament at age 46, marking his 18th career major title—the most in PGA history.

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1979: Seattle SuperSonics capture franchise's only NBA title

The Seattle SuperSonics won the 1979 NBA Finals over the Washington Bullets to give the franchise its first and only championship. Led by Hall of Famers Jack Sikma and Dennis Johnson, the SuperSonics finished the 1978-79 season with a 52-30 record. The franchise wouldn't reach the Finals again until 1996.

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1978: Argentina becomes best soccer team in the world amid controversy

Argentina won the 1978 FIFA World Cup as the tournament's host nation. The nearly monthlong event saw Argentina capture its first World Cup title despite controversy throughout the competition. Argentina's championship was marred by accusations of match-fixing, highlighted by a second-round 6-0 victory over Peru when the team needed a four-goal margin.

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1977: Montreal Canadiens repeat as NHL Stanley Cup champions

The Montreal Canadiens won back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals with a 4-0 series sweep over the Boston Bruins. Led by Jacques Lemaire and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Guy Lafleur, the Canadiens finished the season with a 60-8-12 record. The team's arduous playoffs included series wins over the St. Louis Blues and New York Islanders.

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1976: USA strings together strong Olympic performances

The 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal would create several historic moments. The U.S. Olympic boxing team—which included Sugar Ray Leonard, Howard Davis Jr., Leon Spinks, and others—won five gold medals at the event. This group has been called one of the greatest Olympic boxing teams ever assembled. Caitlyn Jenner—who competed in the men's decathlon decades before coming out as a transgender woman—won a gold medal in the decathlon with 8,618 points, setting a new world record.

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1975: The Masters host the tournament's first Black golfer

In 1975, Lee Elder became the first Black golfer to play in the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. Elder qualified for the prestigious tournament by winning the 1974 Monsanto Open in a playoff. However, Elder missed the cut at the Masters after round two, with Jack Nicklaus going on to win the tournament. Elder also participated in the Masters between 1977 and 1981.

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1974: Babe Ruth's career home run record broken

Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's career home run record with 715 home runs—the most in MLB history at the time. The Hall of Famer and former Atlanta Brave would break the historic record in front of 50,000 fans during an Opening Day game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Aaron would finish his illustrious MLB career with 755 home runs, ranking second highest of all-time behind Barry Bonds.

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1973: Secretariat becomes first Triple Crown winner in 25 years

Secretariat became the first Triple Crown winner in a quarter-century with a resounding victory at the Belmont Stakes, following earlier victories at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1973. This three-year-old stallion, nicknamed Big Red, is considered one of the greatest racehorses to ever grace a track. A year later, Secretariat was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame following his retirement.

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1972: Billie Jean King shows no signs of slowing down

In 1972, tennis legend Billie Jean King won the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. She claimed the U.S. Open title in September of that year, bringing her Grand Slam singles win total to nine. King chose not to participate in the Australian Open to dominate other events in the U.S.

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1971: Muhammad Ali suffers first professional loss

Joe Frazier remained the world heavyweight champion with a win over Muhammad Ali in what was called the "Fight of the Century" at Madison Square Garden. Frazier would defeat Ali by unanimous decision after 15 rounds, which gave Ali his first loss as a professional boxer. The bout would be the first of three fights between Frazier and Ali, with the last being the "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975.

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1970: First World Cup held outside of Europe or South America

Mexico hosted the 1970 FIFA World Cup, which saw Brazil win its third championship. The tournament's final featured another blue-chip team in Italy. The 32-match event was the first time that the World Cup was held outside of Europe or South America.

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1969: Boston Celtics go the distance in NBA Finals

The Boston Celtics won the NBA Finals over the Los Angeles Lakers in a series that stretched to seven games. Led by coach Bill Russell, the Celtics pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NBA history as the Lakers were heavily favored due to a roster that included Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West. Despite the Lakers losing the series, West would be named Finals MVP—the only time the award has been given to a member of the Finals' losing team.

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1968: Arthur Ashe becomes first Black man to win U.S. Open

Arthur Ashe became the first Black man to win the U.S. Open singles title—a feat that has yet to be repeated. The late tennis legend made history with a final win over Tom Okker. Ashe also went on to capture the Australian Open singles title in 1970 and won Wimbledon in 1975. Ashe finished his career with 76 titles before his death at 49 years old in 1993.

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1967: First woman officially runs in Boston Marathon

Kathrine Switzer became the first woman, officially, to run in the Boston Marathon. Switzer changed the course of history despite backlash from the event's director. She would go on to win the New York City Marathon in 1974 and ran in the Boston Marathon again in 2017.

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1966: FIFA World Cup breaks attendance records

The 1966 FIFA World Cup set a new standard for one of the world's largest sports tournaments. The competition, which was hosted by England, had an average attendance record of 48,847 throughout the entire tournament—breaking a previous record of 47,511 during the 1950 World Cup. England would go on to win its first World Cup title with a 4-2 win over West Germany.

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1965: Willie Mays remains MLB's best hitter

Willie Mays reclaimed his dominance as one of MLB's best players by hitting 52 home runs for the San Francisco Giants in 1965—leading the entire league. A year prior, Mays finished the season with 47 home runs, which also led all of MLB. Mays would finish the 1965 campaign as a National League All-Star and the league's MVP.

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1964: Arnold Palmer captures last major win

Arnold Palmer won the Masters to become the tournament's first four-time winner. The Hall of Famer would win the tournament by six strokes ahead of Jack Nicklaus and Dave Marr. The victory at Augusta National marked Palmer's last major win on the PGA Tour.

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1963: Bill Russell leads Boston Celtics to NBA title

The Celtics capped a historic run with an NBA Finals win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The victory would mark Boston's seventh straight trip to the Finals with a team that included Bill Russell and point guard Bob Cousy. The Celtics needed only six games to win the team's sixth title.

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1962: Jacques Anquetil wins second consecutive Tour de France

Jacques Anquetil conquered the Tour de France, winning the 2,656-mile race for the second consecutive year. Anquetil would go on to win the Tour de France three more times, bringing his total to five wins—the first rider in the race's history to reach that mark. Lance Armstrong would win the Tour de France seven times in a row but those victories were rescinded for doping.

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1961: Tottenham clinches first double of 20th century

Tottenham Hotspur made history by becoming the first top-flight soccer club in the 20th century to win both the FA Cup and the Football League First Division. Tottenham would claim the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over Leicester City in front of a crowd of roughly 100,000 at Wembley Stadium.

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1960: Cassius Clay wins 1960 Olympic gold medal

Cassius Clay, later more famously known as Muhammad Ali, won the gold medal in the men's light-heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Clay, who conquered the single-elimination tournament of 19 boxers, beat Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland in the final. The victory would give Clay his only Olympic medal.

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1959: The American Football League is birthed

The American Football League was first established in 1959, creating direct competition with the NFL. The AFL operated for 10 seasons until it merged with the NFL to create a professional football powerhouse and the league football fans know today. The merger would bring over some of football's most historic franchises, including the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and Oakland Raiders.

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1958: MLB makes its first move to West Coast

The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers became the first MLB teams to play a game on the West Coast—a monumental moment in sports history. Prior to 1958, the Giants had called New York City home, while the Dodgers played home games in Brooklyn.

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1957: Carmen Basilio wins middleweight boxing title

Boxer Carmen Basilio won the world middleweight championship by split decision after 15 competitive rounds against Sugar Ray Robinson. The "Upstate Onion Farmer" won three fights in 1957, which included technical knockouts of Johnny Saxton and Harold Jones. He would later be named "Fighter of the Year" by The Ring for his efforts.

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1956: Larsen throws only perfect game in World Series history

New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen closes out the MLB season by throwing the only perfect game in the history of the World Series in Game 5 against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Yankees won that game 2-0 and would then finish the series in seven games to claim the franchise's 17th World Series title. Larsen was named World Series MVP for his historic performance.

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1955: Detroit Red Wings emerge as back-to-back NHL champs

The Detroit Red Wings repeated as Stanley Cup Final champions with a seven-game series win over the Montreal Canadiens. The matchup was a rematch of the 1954 Stanley Cup Final and would mark the Canadiens' fifth straight appearance in the series. The Red Wings wouldn't reach the pinnacle of professional hockey again until a 1997 Stanley Cup win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Written by: Justin Byers - Story editing by Jeff Smith. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.