People, Locations, Episodes

Magic Johnson, Businessman born

*On this date in 1959, Magic Johnson was born. He is an African American athlete, businessman and humanitarian.

Trent Tucker, Athlete, and Administrator born

Trent Tucker was born on this date in 1959. He was an African American basketball player and is an educator, administrator, and community humanitarian.

Florence Griffith Joyner, Track Sprinter born

This date marks the birth of Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1959. She was a Black track athlete who won three gold medals and one silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games.

Kirby Puckett, Baseball Player born

*Kirby Puckett was born on this date in 1960. He was a Black Baseball player.

From Chicago, Illinois as a player he showed no signs of being a great one until after he had left his team at Bradley University in 1980. He decided to give baseball a second chance a year later, after catching the eye of scouts while playing recreational ball in his home town. He moved on to Triton College (in Illinois) and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1982.

Tony Gwynn, Baseball Player born

*Tony” Gwynn was born on this date in 1960. He was an African American professional baseball player.

Yannick Noah, Singer, and Retired Tennis Player born

*Yannick Noah was born on this date in 1960. He is a Black French (Cameroon) professional tennis player (now retired) and singer.   Born in Sedan, north of France, Noah is the son of Cameroonian soccer or footballer Zacharie Noah and his French wife Marie-Claire, a former captain of France’s basketball team and teacher. After a sports injury in 1963, Noah’s father returned to […]

Dennis Rodman, Basketball Player born

*Dennis Rodman was born on this date in 1961. He is a Black former professional basketball player. Dennis Keith Rodman was born in Trenton, New Jersey, the son of Shirley and Philander Rodman, Jr., an Air Force enlisted man who later fought in the Vietnam War. When he was young, his father left his family, […]

Carl Lewis, Olympian born

*Carl Lewis was born on this date in 1961. He was an African American track and field athlete and a once aspiring politician.

Reggie Roby, Football Punter born

Reggie Roby was born on this date in 1961. He was an African American professional football player.

Born in Waterloo, Iowa, Reginald Henry Roby played football and baseball at Waterloo East High School, and was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds as a pitcher. He chose to attend the University of Iowa and play football where he would become an All-American punter. At 6 Foot 4 Inches and 250 pounds, Roby was known for his ability to kick deep. In 1981, the team had its first winning season in 20 years, and made its first Rose Bowl in 23 years.

American Professional Golf Integrates

*On this date in 1961, the Professional Golfers Tour (PGA) Tour lifted its whites-only clause.

However, the first Black golfer to play a PGA Tour event was Bill Spiller at the 1948 Los Angeles Open. The first black golfer to win a PGA Tour event Pete Brown won the Waco Open in 1964. Charlie Sifford was the first full-time black PGA Tour member after the whites-only clause was lifted. He became the first Black tour member to win at the Greater Hartford Open in 1967 and captured a second victory at the Los Angeles Open in 1969.

The First Black Player Wins American College Football’s Heisman Trophy

On this date in 1961, Ernie Davis became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy.

This award is given to America’s most outstanding college football player. Playing for Syracuse University, Davis, a halfback, broke ten of Jim Brown’s records and was a first- round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns.

Davis, nicknamed “The Elmira Express,” was stricken with leukemia, never played a professional game, and died in May of 1963.

Reggie White, Football Player born

*Reggie White was born on this date in 1961. He was an African American football player and minister.

Wilt Chamberlain Scores 100 Points in One Basketball Game

*On this date in 1962, Wilt Chamberlain set a National Basketball Association (NBA) scoring record of 100 points. In the game, the Philadelphia Warriors defeated the New York Knickerbockers, 169-147.

The game was played in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and the combined score was an association record too. Chamberlain toppled many records with his awesome display. The 7-foot-1-inch Warrior center set a league record for field goals (36), free throws (28 of 32), most points for a quarter (31), and most points for a half (59).

The First Black Coaches a Major League Baseball Team

*On this date in 1962 the first Black American coached in major league baseball. John “Buck” O’Neil started managing the Chicago Cubs on this date.

He stayed with the Cubs until 1988, signing Hall of Fame players Ernie Banks and Lou Brock to their first contracts.

Grant Fuhr, Hockey Player born

*Grant Fuhr was born on this date in 1962. He is a former Black Canadian ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League. From Spruce Grove, Alberta, Grant Scott Fuhr was born to a Black Canadian father and an Enoch Cree Canadian mother. He was adopted by parents Betty Wheeler and Robert Fuhr and raised in […]