20 November 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 November 20. 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.

18 - 4 - 7 - 41 - 10 - 44 - 34 - 25 - 23 - 24 - 9 - 45

November 20, 1928 - As the Boston Gardens opens, Montreal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins, 1-0 with George Hainsworth between the pipes for Montreal

November 20, 1934 - In exhibistion baseball, a 17 year old pitcher Number 18, Eiji Sawamura surrendered just 1 hit, a Lou Gehrig (Number 4) HR, as US All Stars beat Japan, 1-0

November 20, 1934 - Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Busher Jackson became first NHL player to score 4 goals in a period in 5-2 win over St. Louis Eagles at St. Louis Arena

November 20, 1962 - Mickey Mantle, Number 7 won the American League MVP for the 3rd time

November 20, 1967 - Mets pitcher Number 41, Tom Seaver (16-12) was named NL Rookie of Year

November 20, 1969 - Brazilian soccer icon, Number 10, Pele scored his 1,000th goal

November 20, 1969 - San Francisco Giant Willie McCovey, Number 44 edged out Number 41, Tom Seaver as the National League MVP

November 20, 1977 - Chicago running back, Number 34, Walter Payton rushed for NFL record 275 yards

November 20, 1983 - NY Giants Butch Woolfolk, Number 25 tied an NFL record of 43 attempts rushing

November 20, 1985 - NY Yankee Number 23, Don Mattingly easily won the American League MVP

November 20, 1990 - Oakland's Number 24, Rickey Henderson won the American League MVP

November 20, 1991 - Atlanta Braves Number 9, Terry Pendleton won the National League MVP

November 20, 1997 - Dallas Mavericks' Number 45, A C Green sets NBA record of 907 consecutive games played

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 the Kitchener Hockey Club (also known as the Kitchener Greenshirts) during the 1917–18 season when they claimed the Allan Cup as senior amateur champions of Canada
Standing, from left: Albert Leroux, Albert Ferriman, George Karges, Frank Trushinski, Otto "Sully" Solomon
Bottom row, from left: George Hiller, George Hainsworth, Ernie Parkes, taken by an unknown.