28 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 28. 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.

15 - 10 - 14 - 12 - 88 - 5 - 11 - 1 - 20 - 7 - 9

December 28, 1918 - Montreal's Georges Vezina became the first NHL goalie to record an assist during the Canadiens’ 6-3 win over the Toronto Arenas

December 28, 1944 - Montreal right wing Number 15, Maurice Richard became the first player in NHL history to score 8 points in one game. 'Rocket' Richard tallied 5 goals and 3 assists in the Canadiens' 9-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings

December 28, 1965 - Ballon d'Or: Benfica striker Number 10, Eusébio took home the award for best European football player; first Portuguese national to win, and still only Benfica player

December 28, 1971 - Ballon d'Or: Ajax forward Number 14, Johan Cruyff won the award for best European football player ahead of Inter forward Number 10, Sandro Mazzola and Manchester United winger Number 11, George Best. Cruyff became the first Dutch national and Ajax player to win award

December 28, 1975 - "The Hail Mary", with 32 seconds left in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game, Cowboys quarterback, Number 12, Roger Staubach threw a legendary 50-yard winning touchdown pass to Number 88, Drew Pearson to defeat the Minnesota Vikings, and the "Hail Mary" play is born

December 28, 1976 - Ballon d'Or: Bayern Munich defender Number 5, Franz Beckenbauer won the title of Europe's best football player for a 2nd time; beats Anderlecht winger Number 11, Rob Rensenbrink and Dukla Prague goalkeeper Number 1, Ivo Viktor

December 28, 1982 - Ballon d'Or: Juventus striker Number 20, Paolo Rossi was named best European football player; beats Bordeaux midfielder Number 12, Alain Giresse and Juventus' Polish midfielder Number 7, Zbigniew Boniek

December 28, 1993 - Ballon d'Or: Juventus' Italian striker Number 10, Roberto Baggio was named Europe's best football player ahead of Inter forward Number 10, Dennis Bergkamp and Manchester United striker Number 7, Eric Cantona

December 28, 1993 - Number 15, John Maclean passed Number 9, Kirk Muller as all-time NJ Devils scorer (521 pts)

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 National Hockey Association game on February 22, 1913 between the Quebec Bulldogs and Montreal Canadiens in Montreal, QC. Quebec Bulldogs cinched the NHA championship for the 1912–13 season by winning the game 7 goals to 6. Quebec players on the left in white sweaters are Joe Malone and Rusty Crawford. Montreal players on the right in striped sweaters are Ernie Dubeau, Don Smith, Jack Laviolette and Georges Vézina.