Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore.
3 - 4 - 1 - 19
April 16, 1929 - The New York Yankees became the first MLB team to permanently feature numbers on backs of uniforms. There was a methodology to the digits too, as the numbers corresponded to position in batting order. Yes you guessed it Babe Ruth batted 3rd with his Number 3, and Number 4 was Lou Gehrig. In a little know bit of trivia the lead off hitter that day was Number 1 Earl Combes. The Yankee uniforms have never displayed the manufacturers logo or the player name anywhere on them making the pinstripes of New York one of the most iconic and traditional uniforms out there.
April 16, 1935 - Speaking of George Herman Ruth, the 40-year-old future Baseball Hall of Fame hitter debuted in the National League with a HR and single in the Boston Braves 4-2 win over the New York Giants, in Boston.
April 16, 1940 - Cleveland Indians legendary pitcher Bob Feller, accomplished something no one else has ever done before. On this particular day Feller, Number 19 pitched the only Opening Day No-Hitter in MLB history. It was the Indians over the Chicago White Sox, 1-0 at Comiskey Park.
The website of NBA.com offers these nuggets of history for the day.
April 16, 1967 - Number 13, Wilt Chamberlain grabbed an NBA Finals record 26 rebounds in one half as Philadelphia defeated San Francisco 126-95 in Game 2. Also, both teams combined for 169 rebounds, tying an NBA Playoffs record.
Here are a couple of items from the Vintage Hockey Jerseys website
April 16, 1972 - The St. Louis Blues defeated the Minnesota North Stars 2-1 in game seven of the Stanley Cup Quarter-Finals. Kevin O'Shea, Number 21 assisted by his brother Number 22, Danny O'Shea scored at 10:07 of overtime to propel the Blues into the finals. Kevin O'Shea played in only four games during the regular season for the Blues in 1971-72, with no goals or assists.
April 16, 1992 - St. Louis Blues Hockey Hall of Fame Right Wing, Number 16, Brett Hull became the second player with three straight 70 goal seasons. Hull scores his 70th goal in a 5-3 victory over the Minnesota North Stars, joining Number 99, Wayne Gretzky, who accomplished the feat twice.
