17 December in Sports History

In this edition of the Sports Break, we cover the top events in sports history along with the players and athletes that were a part of them on December 17.  As a bonus, we place the jersey number worn at the time with the athlete as well.

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 - 56 - 9 - 7 - 1 - 11 - 31 - 5 - 99 - 77 - 34 - 8 - 10 - 22

December 17, 1924 - The Hamilton Tigers and Ottawa Senators battle out the first scoreless game in NHL history. Goaltenders Jake Forbes of Hamilton and Alex Connell of Ottawa each recorded shutouts

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons of Jake Forbes and Alex Connell circa 1925

December 17, 1933 - National Football League Championship - 1st title game, Wrigley Field, Chicago: Chicago Bears beat New York Giants, 23-21; "Bronko Nagurski Rule" that stated that a forward pass would then be legal anywhere behind line of scrimmage. Prviously one had to be five or more yards behind it. Nagurski wore the Number 3 jersey for the Bears in the Title game when in the closing minutes, with the ball on the Giants' 33-yard line, Bronko throws a jump pass to end Number 56, Bill Hewitt, who reaches the 19, when he makes a long lateral to the other end, Billy Karr. Eluding two Giant defenders, Karr races into the end zone for his second touchdown, giving the Bears the lead. The pass play was extremely controversial as to where Nagurski was when he threw the ball.

December 17, 1957 - Ballon d'Or: Real Madrid forward Number 9, Alfredo Di Stéfano won award for best football player in Europe ahead of Englishmen Billy Wright and Duncan Edwards

December 17, 1958 - Chicago Black Hawks Number 7, Ted Lindsay becomes highest scoring left wing in NHL history, passing Aurel Joliat who retired with 270; scores twice and adds an assist In the Black Hawks' 5-2 victory over the Boston Bruins at Chicago Stadium

December 17, 1963 - Ballon d'Or: Dynamo Moscow goalkeeper Number 1, Lev Yashin wins award for best European football player; beating out Milan midfielder Number 11, Gianni Rivera and Tottenham striker Jimmy Greaves. Yashin became the first Russian national to win trophy

December 17, 1975 - 1st time NY Islanders shut-out NY Rangers, 3-0. It was goal tender, Number 31, Billy Smith's 5th career shutout at that point. Smithin his overall career provided 22 goose egg games by opponents.

December 17, 1977 - Rookie Rockies defenseman Number 5, Barry Beck scored his first career hat trick and adds an assist in Colorado Rockies' 5-1 win versus Minnesota North Stars; sets NHL record for rookie defensemen with a goal in his 6th straight game

December 17, 1983 - In his 352nd NHL game, Number 99, Wayne Gretzky scored a goal & 5 assists in 8-1 in a rout of the Quebec Nordiques to record his 800th point and 500th assist; averages 2.27 points, 1.42 assists, 0.85 goals per game to start career

December 17, 1986 - Edmonton's Number 99, Wayne Gretzky scores 4 goals, including a natural hat trick in the 1st period and also records an assist as the Oilers win 5-3 over the visiting Quebec Nordiques; his 41st NHL career hat trick

December 17, 1999 - Ray Bourque, Bruins Number 77, became just the 3rd player in NHL history to score 1,100 assists, and goaltender Number 34, Byron Dafoe recorded his 100th NHL victory in Boston Bruin's 3-1 win over the Thrashers in Atlanta

December 17, 2014 - 103-year-old Gus Andreone records the 8th ace of his career on the 113-yard, 14th hole of the Lakes Course, Palm Aire, Sarasota, FL; oldest golfer to record a hole-in-one

December 17, 2017 - Brazilian footballer and former AC Milan and Real Madrid player Kaka retired, The legend wore Number 8, Number 10, and Number 22 each for long periods of his career.

A Very Special thanks to information obtained from the following brilliant internet sites: On This Day Sports, the Sports Reference's family of website databases & Stathead.com.

Banner photo is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons of goalies Jake Forbes and Alex Connell circa 1925