7 January in Sports History

Celebrating the milestones in sports history made on January 7 throughout history, by remembering the athletes and the jersey numbers that they wore.

Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from at least 3 great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore.

19 - 20 - 31 - 41 - 34 - 10 - 20

January 7, 1899 - Walter Camp published his 1st All-American football team in Collier's Magazine. On this list of eleven players all were from Penn, Yale, Harvard, or Princeton save one. Carlisle's Issac Seneca. From the Penn Quakers: Truxton Hare, Josiah McCracken, and Peter Overfield made the list. Yale members included Gordon Brown, George Stillman, and Malcolm McBride. For Harvard Charles Daly and David Campbell were joined by Princeton Tigers R T Hillebrand and Arthur Pie.

January 7, 1927 - Harlem Globetrotters played their 1st game in Hinckley, Illinois. The iconoc red, white, and blue uniforms of this talented bunch still entertain millions across the world. The uniform has changed over the past almost century of their existence but thier colors, and unique jersey style still ring true. Check out this great post on Globe Trotters uniform history on UniWatch.

Our sweater Number 19 belongs to Bryan Trottier who on January 7, 1982 completed his 10th career hat trick while playing for the New York Islanders. With the Islanders he won four Stanley Cups as one if its core players that carried the dynasty on the ice.

Number 20 stands for Lou Brock. This legend was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 7, 1985. The 6-time All Star win two World Series during his career which was most notably played with the St Louis Cardinals. That same day legend Number 31, Hoyt Wilhelm was also inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Wilhelm played Major League baseball for over 20 seasons from 1952 through 1972. He wore multiple numbers but perhaps the Number 31 with the Chicago White Sox was his longest stint. The right handed pitcher might be most well known for being on the roster of the 1954 World Series Champions New York Giants.

Speaking of legendary pitchers, Tom Seaver is our Number 41 that is remembered today. On January 7, 1992 the 3-time Cy Young winner and 12-time All-Star had his name registered in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Joining Seaver at the induction ceremonies that day was another great hurler, Rollie Fingers, most famously who wore the Number 34 with the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers was also elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame that same January day.

January 7, 1998 - Los Angeles Lakers center Number 34, Shaquille ONeal blocks 3 shots in a 114-102 win over Milwaukee to bring his career total to 1,002

January 7, 2013 - FIFA Ballon d'Or: Barcelona forward Number 10, Lionel Messi wins award for a record 4th consecutive year; US forward Number 20, Abby Wambach wins women's award

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