18 October 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 October 18. 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.

77 - 14 - 42 - 44 - 18 - 12

October 18, 1924 - University of Illinois running back, Number 77, Red Grange, had his best day on the collegiate gridiron with 4 long TD runs. Per the source of a New York TImes archive article from the day from the Associated Press, Grange in front of 67,000 fans packed into the new Illinois Memorial Stadium witnessed the Ghost and his Illinois teammates take apart their rival Michigan University. Red Grange, the University of Illinois phenomenon, All- America halfback, was the star attraction and his play did not disappoint the onlookers. Grange displayed a remarkable exhibition of running and passing in the game and set this college game as what would be the measuring stick of a truly great individual performance for the gridiron for years to come.
The Ghost galopped hard that afternoon as he scored five of Illinois' six touchdowns leaving no doubt in anyone's mind on how hard it was to defend against him. It started on the opening kickoff as Grange scooped up the ball on the Illinois five-yard line and raced 95 yards through the Michigan eleven for a touchdown in less than ten seconds into the contest! Before the Michigan team could catch their breath and collect themselves, Red Grange had struck paydirt multiple more times in rapid succession with runs of 66, 55 and 40 yards, respectively, for his next three scores. Coach Bob Zuppke took him out of the line-up before the first quarter ended. He returned later to launch several successful passes and score a fifth touchdown in the second half. Final score had the Illini with 39 points, and the Wolverines scoring 14. Red was the first collegiate star to turn pro, signing with the Chicago Bears in 1925 and he became the face of the pro game, eventually making a name not only for himself, but for a young National Football League.

October 18, 1925 - Salt Lake City (Pacific Coast League) Tony Lazzeri hit his 60th HR of the season

October 18, 1953 - Chicago Bears signal caller, Willie Thrower, Number 14 became the first African-American quarterback in NFL modern history when he entered a game against the San Francisco 49ers.at Wrigley Field, Chicago. Willie Thrower had the perfect name for an NFL quarterback. What was truly remarkable is what a pioneer in American professional football history. The contest pitted the Chicago Bears against the San Francisco 49ers and Bears starting quarterback George Blanda was struggling. Papa Bear, George Halas could not watch any more of Blanda's ineffective play in the contest so looking for an offensive spark, he sent in the promising backup QB Willie Thrower. Thrower was a collegiate quarterback with the National Champion Michigan State Spartans of 1952. The Niners rendered Willie's effectiveness too allowing him to throw for a mere completion rate of 3 of 8 for 27 yards. Halas returned Blanda to the game but the San Fran squad had the Bear's number on that day as the game resulted in a close 35-28 Niners victory. Willie played in only one more game for the Bears in 1953 before being released by Halas but though his playing career was short, it certainly had a tremendous impact. Thrower helped to pave a path that many others followed. NFL legend Warren Moon mentioned Willie Thrower in his Pro Football Hall of Fame acceptance speech, thanking him for providing inspiration to Moon's football journey.

October 18, 1974 - Chicago Bulls Number 42,  Nate Thurmond became the first in NBA to complete a quadruple double-22 pts, 14 rebounds, 13 assists & 12 blocks

October 18, 1977 -  New York Yankee Number 44, Reggie Jackson hits 3 consecutive home runs tying Babe Ruth's World Series record and earning Jackson the Series Most valuable Player Award; NY Yankees beat LA Dodgers, 8-4 to clinch, 4-2 series win.

October 18, 1981 - New York Giant Number 18,  Joe Danelo tied NFL record of 6 field goals in a game

October 18, 1992 - Philadelphia Eagle Number 12,  Randall Cunningham set an NFL quarterback scramble record of 3,683

October 18, 2009 - New England Patriots QB Number 12, Tom Brady threw five second quarter touchdowns against the Tennessee Titans, an NFL record for touchdown passes in one quarter

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 Toronto Maple Leafs manager Tony Lazzeri, 1939 or 1940 photo taken by etiher Lou or Nat Turofsky.