26 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 26. As a bonus, we also place the jersey number worn at the time with the athlete.

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 - 76 - 7 - 9 - 10 - 6 - 5 - 27 - 66 - 25 - 8

December 26, 1917 - The first NHL defensemen to score a goal: Toronto Maple Leaf Harry Cameron

December 26, 1919 - The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox reached an agreement to move future Baseball Hall of Fame pitching slugger Babe Ruth to New York. Ruth would eventually don the Number 3 in Yankee pinstripes.

December 26, 1925 - NY Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates set an NHL record by recording a combined 141 shots on goal in Americans' 3-1 win, Roy Worters made incredible 70 saves for Pittsburgh and Jake Forbes has 67 for NY

December 26, 1954 - National Football League Championship, Cleveland Municipal Stadium: Cleveland Browns thrash Detroit Lions, 56-10; Browns' placekicker, "The Toe," Number 76, Lou Groza made 8 extra points, a new title game record

December 26, 1967 - Ballon d'Or: Ferencváros forward Number 9, Flórián Albert won the award for best European soccer player ahead of Manchester United midfielder Number 10, Bobby Charlton and Celtic winger Number 7, Jimmy Johnstone

December 26, 1968 - Boston Bruins Number 6, Ted Green set an NHL penalty record of 3 minors, 2 majors and 2 game misconducts in a game against NY Rangers in NY's Madison Square Garden

December 26, 1972 - Ballon d'Or: Bayern Munich defender Number 5, Franz Beckenbauer won the award for best European football player ahead of tied fellow German duo of Number 9, Gerd Müller and Number 10, Günter Netzer

December 26, 1986 - Hartford Whalers center, Number 27, Doug Jarvis set an NHL record of 916 consecutive games as the Whalers tie 1-1 after OT against his old club Montreal Canadiens

December 26, 1989 - Ballon d'Or: Milan's second straight 1-2-3; Dutch striker Number 9, Marco van Basten won his 2nd best football player in Europe title ahead of Number 6, Franco Baresi and Number 5, Frank Rijkaard

December 26, 1991 - Future Hockey Hall of Fame right wing Number 7, Joe Mullen scored 4 goals for the second straight NHL game as the Pittsburgh Penguins routed the Toronto Maple Leafs, 12-1; Number 66, Mario Lemieux added 2 goals along with 5 assists and Number 25, Kevin Stevens had 2 goals & 4 assists

December 26, 2006 - At 40 years, 268 days, Number 8, Teddy Sheringham scores for West Ham United in a 2-1 loss to Portsmouth at Upton Park, London; becomes oldest goalscorer in EPL history

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

Banner photo is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons of Photograph - The Torontos, Stanley Cup champions 1913-14, Silver salts on glass - Gelatin dry plate process circa 1913 and 1914