This Day in Sports History
April 20

Copyright © 2006-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
URL: http://kpolsson.com/thisday/sports/
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What happened in history on this day: April 20?

On April 20 in ...

  • 1903 - 7th Boston Marathon won by John Lorden of Massachusetts in 2:41:29.8.
  • 1903 - New York Highlanders play their first game, with Jack Chesbro losing 3-1 to Al Orth and Washington Nationals.
  • 1908 - 12th Boston Marathon won by Tom Morrissey of New York in 2:25:43.2.
  • 1910 - Cleveland Naps' Addie Joss second no-hitter, beats Chicago White Sox, 1-0.
  • 1912 - Boston's Fenway Park officially opens, Boston Red Sox beat New York Highlanders 7-6 in 11 innings.
  • 1912 - Tiger Stadium in Detroit opens, Detroit Tigers beat Cleveland Naps 6-5.
  • 1914 - 18th Boston Marathon won by James Duffy of Canada in 2:25:01.2.
  • 1916 - First National League game at Weeghman Park (Wrigley Field) in Chicago opens, Chicago Cubs beat Cincinnati Reds 7-6.
  • 1920 - (to September 12) The Games of the VII Olympiad are held in Antwerp, Belgium.
  • 1920 - Philadelphia Phillies' manager Gravvy Cravath puts himself in as pinch hitter, makes a three-run homer and beats New York Giants 3-0.
  • 1925 - 29th Boston Marathon won by Charles Mellor of Illinois in 2:33:00.6.
  • 1931 - 35th Boston Marathon won by Jim Henigan of Massachusetts in 2:46:45.8.
  • 1931 - British House of Commons agrees to allow sports play on Sunday.
  • 1936 - 40th Boston Marathon won by Ellison Brown of Rhode Island in 2:33:40.8.
  • 1944 - NFL legalizes coaching from the bench.
  • 1945 - Cleveland Browns' organization formed by Arthur "Mickey" McBride.
  • 1946 - First televised baseball broadcast in Chicago, Illinois, Saint Louis Cardinals versus Chicago Cubs.
  • 1946 - 50th Boston Marathon won by Stylianos Kyriakides of Greece in 2:29:27.
  • 1949 - Jockey Bill Shoemaker wins his first race, in Albany, California.
  • 1950 - Baltimore's Memorial Stadium opens - Orioles of International League.
  • 1953 - 57th Boston Marathon won by Keizo Yamada of Japan in 2:18:51.
  • 1957 - 61st Boston Marathon won by John J Kelley of Connecticut in 2:20:05.
  • 1957 - New York Yankees' Bill Skowron becomes third player to hit a ball out of Fenway Park.
  • 1958 - Louise Suggs wins LPGA Babe Didrikson-Zaharias Golf Open.
  • 1958 - Montreal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins 4 games to two for the Stanley Cup.
  • 1959 - 63rd Boston Marathon won by Eino Oksanen of Finland in 2:22:42.
  • 1964 - 68th Boston Marathon won by Aurele Vandendriessche of Belgium in 2:19:59.
  • 1967 - New York Mets' Tom Seaver's first victory, beats Chicago Cubs, 6-1.
  • 1969 - Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA Lady Carling Golf Open.
  • 1970 - 74th Boston Marathon won by Ron Hill of Great Britain in 2:10:30 (new US marathon record).
  • 1972 - Kallicharran scores his second Test century in his second Test Cricket.
  • 1975 - 4th Colgate Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Sandra Palmer.
  • 1980 - Donna White wins LPGA Florida "Lady Citrus" Golf Tournament.
  • 1981 - 85th Boston Marathon won by Toshihiko Seko of Japan in 2:09:26.
  • 1981 - 10th Boston Women's Marathon won by Allison Roe of New Zealand in 2:26:46.
  • 1982 - With a 4-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds, the Atlanta Braves record their 12th consecutive victory to establish a major-league record for the most victories from the beginning of the season.
  • 1985 - Carlos Lopes runs world record marathon (2:07:12).
  • 1985 - Firestone World Bowling Tournament of Champions won by Mark Williams.
  • 1985 - Karyn Marshall of New York City, New York lifts 303 pounds in a clean-and-jerk lift.
  • 1986 - Michael Jordan sets NBA playoff record with 63 points in a game.
  • 1987 - 16th Boston Women's Marathon won by Rosa Mota of Portugal in 2:25:21.
  • 1987 - 91st Boston Marathon won by Toshihiko Seko of Japan in 2:11:50.
  • 1988 - Baltimore Orioles set worst record to start a season 0-14 (will go 0-21).
  • 1988 - New Jersey Devils' first playoff hat trick-Eric Broten.
  • 1988 - New York Yankees homerun 9,999 (Dave Winfield), 10,000 (Claudell Washington), and 10,001 (Jack Clark).
  • 1990 - Eight and 2/3 inning perfect game pitched by Brian Holman of the Oakland Athletics is spoiled by a home run hit by Ken Philips.
  • 1990 - Pete Rose pleads guilty to hiding $300,000 in income.
  • 1991 - Mark Lenzi is first diver to score 100 points on a dive (101.85).
  • 1991 - Raghib "Rocket" Ismael signs with Toronto Argonauts for $26.2 million.
  • 1992 - 21st Boston Women's Marathon won by Olga Markova of Russia in 2:23:43.
  • 1992 - 96th Boston Marathon won by Ibrahim Hussein of Kenya in 2:08:14.
  • 1994 - Sohail and Inzamam make world record ODI partnership of 263.
  • 1996 - Chicago Bulls win record 72 games in a season.
  • 1997 - First baseball game in Hawaii, Saint Louis Cardinals beat San Diego Padres in doubleheader.
  • 1997 - 58th PGA Seniors Golf Championship: Hale Irwin.
  • 1997 - Chicago Cubs beat New York Mets ending National League worst opening, lost 14 straight games.
  • 1997 - Karrie Webb wins LPGA Susan G Komen International.
  • 1997 - Mark McGwire is fourth to homerun on Detroit Tigers' left field roof (others are Frank Howard, Harmon Killibrew, and Cecil Fielder).
  • 1997 - Nick Price wins golf MCI Classic.
  • 1997 - PGA Seniors Championship; Hale Irwin wins.
  • 2009 - Ethiopia's Deriba Merga wins the Boston Marathon (2:08:42), while Kenya's Salina Kosgei wins the women's race (2:32:16).
  • 2022 - At T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Seattle Mariners beats Texas Rangers by score 4-2.
  • 2022 - At Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Kansas City Royals beats Minnesota Twins by score 2-0.
  • 2022 - At Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Toronto Blue Jays beats Boston Red Sox by score 6-1.
  • 2022 - At Citi Field in New York City, New York, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: San Francisco Giants beats New York Mets by score 5-2.
  • 2022 - At Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Arizona Diamondbacks beats Washington Nationals by score 11-2.
  • 2022 - At LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, USA , Major League Baseball regular season game: Saint Louis Cardinals beats Miami Marlins by score 2-0.
  • 2022 - At Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: New York Yankees beats Detroit Tigers by score 5-3.
  • 2022 - At Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Los Angeles Angels beats Houston Astros by score 6-0.
  • 2022 - At Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Tampa Bay Rays beats Chicago Cubs by score 8-2.
  • 2022 - At RingCentral Coliseum, Oakland, California, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Baltimore Orioles beats Oakland Athletics by score 1-0.
  • 2022 - At Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: San Diego Padres beats Cincinnati Reds by score 6-0.
  • 2022 - At Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Philadelphia Phillies beats Colorado Rockies by score 9-6.
  • 2022 - At Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Los Angeles Dodgers beats Atlanta Braves by score 5-1.
  • 2022 - At Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, Major League Baseball regular season doubleheader game 1: Cleveland Guardians beats Chicago White Sox by score 11-1.
  • 2022 - At Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, Major League Baseball regular season doubleheader game 2: Cleveland Guardians beats Chicago White Sox by score 2-1.
  • 2022 - At American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Milwaukee Brewers beats Pittsburgh Pirates by score 4-2.
  • 2022 - At Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, USA, NHL regular season game: Seattle Kraken beats Colorado Avalanche by score 3-2.
  • 2022 - At T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, NHL regular season game: Vegas Golden Knights beats Washington Capitals by score 4-3.
  • 2022 - At Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, USA, NHL regular season game: Chicago Blackhawks beats Arizona Coyotes by score 4-3.
  • 2022 - At Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, NHL regular season game: Edmonton Oilers beats Dallas Stars by score 5-2.

Births of sports figures on April 20

  • 1907 - Birth of Miran Bux; cricket player (his one season of Test and first-class play 1954-55).
  • 1912 - Birth of David Townsend; cricket player (3 Tests England versus West Indies 1935).
  • 1925 - Birth of Ernie Stautner; NFL defensive tackle (Pittsburgh Steelers)/WLAF head coach (Frankfurt Galaxy).
  • 1930 - Birth of Alan Oakman; cricket player (England batsman against Australia 1956).
  • 1938 - Birth of Bernard Malivoire in France; cox pair (Olympics-gold-1952).
  • 1938 - Birth of Betty Cuthbert in Australia; 100 metre/200 metre/400 metre dash (Olympics-gold-1956, 1964).
  • 1954 - Birth of Peter Toohey; cricket player (New South Wales and Australian batsman 1977-80).
  • 1957 - Birth of Graeme Fowler; cricket player (England left-handed opener early 1980s).
  • 1958 - Birth of Viacheslav Fetisov in Moscow, Russia; NHL defenseman (Team Russia, Detroit Red Wings).
  • 1960 - Birth of Rodney Holman; NFL tight end (Detroit Lions).
  • 1961 - Birth of Don "Hitman" Mattingly in Evansville, Indiana, USA; New York Yankees first baseman (Most Valuable Player 1985).
  • 1961 - Birth of Marci Bozarth in Lampasas, Texas, USA; LPGA golfer (1994 Lady Keystone Open-37th).
  • 1964 - Birth of John Carney; NFL kicker (San Diego Chargers).
  • 1964 - Birth of Paul Nobes; cricket player (prolific opening batsman for Victoria and South Africa).
  • 1965 - Birth of Jim Terrell in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; sprint canoe (Olympics-1996).
  • 1967 - Birth of Miroslav Stefanovic; soccer player (FC Volendam).
  • 1967 - Birth of Townsend Saunders in White Sands, New Mexico, USA; freestyle wrestler (Olympics-silver-1992, 1996).
  • 1968 - Birth of LeShundra Nathan in Birmingham, Alabama, USA; heptathlete.
  • 1969 - Birth of John van Halst; soccer player (FC Twente).
  • 1969 - Birth of Takayuki Kobori; hockey defenseman (Team Japan 1998).
  • 1970 - Birth of Ben Weir in Rock Island, Illinois, USA; Canadian Tour golfer (1993 Bogey Hills-second).
  • 1971 - Birth of Chris Penn, NFL wide receiver (Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears).
  • 1971 - Birth of Grant Smith; Australian field hockey forward (Olympics-1996).
  • 1971 - Birth of John Senden in Brisbane, Queensland; Australasia golfer.
  • 1971 - Birth of Terry Smith; NFL wide receiver (Indianapolis Colts).
  • 1971 - Birth of Yonel Jourdain; NFL running back/kick returner (Buffalo Bills).
  • 1973 - Birth of Itula Mili; tight end (Seattle Seahawks).
  • 1973 - Birth of Lamond Murray; NBA forward (Los Angeles Clippers).
  • 1973 - Birth of Todd Hollandsworth in Dayton, Ohio, USA; outfielder (Los Angeles Dodgers).
  • 1974 - Birth of Ben[jamin] Lincoln Holbrook in Hartland, Wisconsin, USA; rower (Olympics-1996).
  • 1974 - Birth of Kevin Sullivan in Brantford, Ontario, Canada; 1.5k runner (Olympics-1996).
  • 1974 - Birth of Paul Bradford; cornerback (San Diego Chargers).
  • 1976 - Birth of Lenka Nemeckova Brno in Czechoslovakia; tennis star (1993 Futures-Maribor-SLO).
  • 1977 - Birth of Lisa Ervin; figure skater (US Nationals-4th-1992).

Deaths of sports figures on April 20

  • 1908 - Henry Chadwick, sports reporter (baseball), dies at age 85.
  • 1918 - Reginald Harry Mybirgh Hands, cricket player (one Test for South Africa), dies.
  • 1977 - Len Johnson, cricket player (one Test for Australia, 3-66 and 3-8), dies.
  • 1982 - Andrew Sandham, cricket player (325 England 1930, 879 runs in 14 Tests), dies.
  • 1995 - R E S Wyatt, cricket player (England captain 16 times), dies.
  • 1995 - Sunil Jayasinghe, Sri Lankan wicketkeeper (1979 World Cup), death by suicide.
  • 1999 - Death of Richard Rood, American professional wrestler (born 1958).
  • 2001 - Death of Bert Sutcliffe, New Zealand cricket player (born 1923).
  • 2003 - Death of Daijiro Kato, Japanese motorcycle rider, after crashing into a Suzuka wall on April 6 (born 1976).
  • 2005 - Death of Zygfryd Blaut, Polish football player (born 1943).
  • 2014 - Death of Rubin Carter, American boxer (born 1937).
  • 2017 - Death of Roberto Ferreiro, Argentine football player and manager (born 1935).
  • 2017 - Death of Germaine Mason, Jamaican-British Olympic high jumper (born 1983).

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