This Day in Sports History: September 7
Sports in September are all about baseball, the start of the NFL season, the start of college football, UFC, the Ryder Cup, and F1. Over the years, Sep. 7 has…
Sports in September are all about baseball, the start of the NFL season, the start of college football, UFC, the Ryder Cup, and F1. Over the years, Sep. 7 has witnessed notable sports moments and stories from legends of the game. Here's a closer look at some of these.
Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records
Great moments in sports history from Sep. 7 included:
- 1892: James Corbett knocked out the defending champion John L. Sullivan in 21 rounds and won the world heavyweight boxing title. It was Sullivan's only loss, and it was his last fight.
- 1916: The New York Giants began a record 26-game winning streak.
- 1923: Howard Ehmke pitched a no-hitter against the A's.
- 1941: Bobby Riggs wins the US Men's Tennis Open.
- 1941: Sarah Palfrey Cooke wins the US National Championship for Women's Tennis, and she swept all three women's titles.
- 1942: Pauline Betz wins the US Open for Women's tennis, and it was the first of three straight US singles titles.
- 1952: Alberto Ascari wins the Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship.
- 1953: Roy Campanella sets a catcher record of 125 RBIs in a season. He eventually ended the season with 142 RBIs.
- 1953: Tony Trabert wins the U.S. Open men's singles title, and it was the first of five major titles.
- 1953: Maureen Connolly became the first woman to complete a calendar-year Grand Slam.
- 1955: Whitey Ford became the fifth MLB pitcher to pitch consecutive one-hitters.
- 1958: Althea Gibson defends her title and wins the US Open for Women's Tennis.
- 1960: The United States sweeps the medals in the men's discus at the Rome Olympics.
- 1963: The Pro Football Hall of Fame officially opened its doors in Canton, Ohio, enshrining its 17-member charter class.
- 1968: Virginia Wade wins the US Open Women's Tennis title, and it was her first Open-era US singles title.
- 1969: Jackie Stewart wins his first Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship.
- 1970: Jockey Willie Shoemaker became the winningest jockey in history (6,033 wins).
- 1974: Billie Jean King wins the US Open Women's Tennis title, and it was her fourth and final US singles title.
- 1979: The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) went on the air for the first time at 7:00 PM Eastern Time. Its broadcast kicked off with the very first episode of its flagship news show, SportsCenter, anchored by George Grande and Lee Leonard.
- 1980: John McEnroe defends his title and wins the US Men's Open.
- 1986: Dan Marino throws his 100th career touchdown pass, and he was the fastest QB to get to that mark.
- 1991: Monica Seles defeated Martina Navratilova for her first U.S. Open title.
- 1996: Steffi Graf defends her title and wins the US Open for Women's Tennis. It was her fifth and final U.S. singles title.
- 1996: Mike Tyson knocked out Bruce Seldon in 109 seconds.
- 2002: Serena beat her older sister Venus and won the US Open for Women's Tennis. It was her second US title.
- 2003: Andy Roddick won the US Open for Men's Tennis, and it was his only career Grand Slam title.
- 2008: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady suffered a season-ending ACL tear, ending his 128-game starting streak.
- 2019: Bianca Andreescu secured her first major title against Serena Williams.
- 2020: Dustin Johnson won the Tour Championship by three strokes.
- 2025: Carlos Alcaraz captured his second U.S. Open crown.
Three athletes who stood out on September 7 were Sarah Palfrey Cooke, Whitey Ford, and Dan Marino.
Cooke's accomplishments extended beyond the court as she was a pioneering sports commentator and an influential figure in breaking down racial barriers in the sport. Ford is best known for his dominant pitching, winning six World Series championships, earning a Cy Young Award, and setting multiple World Series records. Marino was recognized for his record-setting 1984 season with 5,084 passing yards and 48 touchdowns, and for his incredible arm strength and fast, accurate release, making him a revered figure in football history.
