12 'First-Time' Moments that Made Sports History

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Charlotte Hopkins

2.    A captured moment from the first Indianapolis 500 race on May 30, 1911. This date was chosen to coincide with Memorial Day. The race was won by Ray Harroun who won a cash prize of $14,250, a unique trophy that featured an artistic depiction of his winning car, the Marmon Wasp, and a relief map of the track.

3.    The first game played at what is now known as Wrigley Field, originally named Weeghman Park, was on April 23, 1914. This was the opening game of the Federal League, a short-lived rival league to Major League Baseball, and the ballpark was the home of the Chicago Federals (later renamed the Chicago Whales) of the Federal League.

4.    On January 22, 1929, the New York Yankees announced they were going to start putting numbers on the backs of their uniforms. Initially, the numbers corresponded to the players' positions in the batting order, with Babe Ruth wearing number 3 and Lou Gehrig wearing number 4. In the weeks that followed, the Cleveland Indians announced their intention to also use numbers on their uniforms. By 1931, all American League teams had adopted this practice, and in 1933, it became a league-wide tradition as all National League players also began wearing numbers on their uniforms.

5.    On July 8, 1933, the Pittsburgh Steelers made their NFL debut under the name Pittsburgh Pirates. Unfortunately, in their inaugural game, they suffered a 23-2 defeat to the New York Giants. Their name was changed to the Steelers in 1940. The team adopted the name "Steelers" to reflect the city's strong ties to the steel industry.

6.    One of the first radar-based baseball tracking systems, employed at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn in 1953. When radar guns were first introduced to measure pitch speed, some players and managers doubted the accuracy of the readings and were resistant to embracing this new technology.

7.    On May 30, 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay achieved the historic feat of being the first individuals to reach the summit of Mount Everest. This historic achievement is often cited as one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of mountaineering.

8.    On May 1, 1954, Roger Bannister achieved the historic milestone of becoming the first person to complete a mile run in less than four minutes, with a time of 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. After breaking the 4-minute mile barrier, he exclaimed, "It's amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit." Bannister was in medical school at the time and went on to become a Neurologist.

9.    An image from the opening baseball game at Three Rivers Stadium on July 16, 1970, in which the Pirates suffered a 3-2 defeat to the Reds. Three Rivers Stadium's last baseball game was played on this date between the Pirates and the Chicago Cubs.

10. The first broadcast of Monday Night Football took place on September 21, 1970, featuring a game between the NY Jets and the Browns in Cleveland. The final score was 31-21 in favor of the Browns. It was one of the first programs to use multiple cameras, instant replays, and on-screen graphics.

11. On October 12, 1979, Chris Ford, a member of the Boston Celtics, scored the NBA's inaugural 3-point shot. The 3-point shot has become a fundamental part of the modern NBA game.

12. John McEnroe celebrates his first Wimbledon championship on July 5, 1981. This victory came in the final match of the tournament. He became known for his outbursts and fiery temperament which earned him a reputation as one of the most temperamental players in tennis history.