Today in Sports History: April 14th
(Taft. Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame)
4/14/1910 - Taft throws the first pitch
William Howard Taft, the 27th United States president, throws the "first ball" to Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson. Traditionally, the commissioner of the District of Columbia would throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Senators' first game of the season. But with Taft in the audience, the ball was handed to him instead. Taft was unaware that would be throwing the pitch, as he had been sitting in the stands. Rather than throwing it to the catcher, as norm, Taft threw the ball in to Johnson -- reasoning that he would need the ball anyway.
And just that like, a Major League Baseball tradition was born. From 1910 to 1972, every acting president threw out the first pitch of the year at least once at the Senators' home stadium. There were a few instances, including four straight years during World War II, when national issues prevented the president from attending. In 1912 for instance, Vice President James Sherman attended in place of Taft, who was the mourning the loss of Archibald Butt, who died on the Titanic.
In 1973, the Senators moved out west and became the Texas Rangers. Washington eventually regained a baseball team at around the turn of the century, but the tradition of presidential opening day pitches persisted nonetheless. In 1973, Richard Nixon threw out the first pitch at Anaheim Stadium. A year later, Gerald Ford threw out the first pitch in Texas. The presidential streak came to an end with Jimmy Carter, who threw out the first ball prior to Game 7 of the 1979 World Series, but never to begin the season. Ronald Reagen started a new streak by throwing out the first pitch in 1984.
4/14/1962 - Baylor scores 61
In Game 5 of the 1962 NBA Finals, Los Angeles Lakers forward Elgin Baylor has the greatest game of his career. Facing off against the Boston Celtics, Baylor scores 61 points and pulls down 22 rebounds as the Lakers beat the Celtics, 126-121. Baylor's point total exceeded that of Bob Pettit, who scored a then-record 50 points in 1958. Baylor's 61 points remains the most ever scored in an NBA Finals game.
With the win, L.A. took a 3-2 series lead and appeared on the verge of winning it all. But the Celtics won the final two games, including a back-and-forth overtime victory in Game 7. The Lakers’ loss began a long trend of failure when facing off against the Boston Celtics. From 1962 to 1984, the Lakers lost to the Celtics all seven times they met in the Finals -- finally defeating them in 1985.The lack of success was particularly unfortunate for Elgin Baylor, who never won an NBA title despite playing with superstars such as Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain. In 1973, he announced his retirement one game before the Lakers went on a 33-game win streak. That year, Los Angeles finally won it all, giving West his first title after seven failed attempts. Baylor’s lack of success followed him in his executive career as well. He held the general manager position of the Los Angeles Clippers for 22 years and oversaw one of the worst franchises in the history of professional sports.
4/14/1968 - Goalby wins Masters on Roberto’s gaffe
Lots of golfers have made mistakes that cost them from winning a major, but only Roberto De Vicenzo did it after the tournament was actually over.
After four rounds of golf, De Vicenzo and Bob Goalby were tied at the 1968 Masters. The two should have been scheduled to meet for an 18-hole playoff the next day, to decide who would come away with the green jacket. But Tommy Aaron, Roberto’s playing partner, had inadvertently given him a 4 on a hole when he shot a 3. De Vicenzo did not check the scorecard, and due to an antiquated rule saying that scorecards are to be taken literally, De Vicenzo handed in a card saying he was minus-10 and not minus-11.
Goalby was awarded the championship while De Vicenzo could only blame himself. Conjuring what little english he knew, Roberto cried, “What a stupid I am!” following his defeat. It was an especially tough loss considering that it was the closest he ever came to winning and the Masters, and that it fell on his 45th birthday.
(Faldo celebrates, with Norman on the right. Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
4/14/1996 - Norman blows lead in Masters
Through three rounds of the 1996 Masters Tournament, Greg Norman was shooting 13-under par and held a six-shot lead over Nick Faldo. Norman was 41 years old and was one of the most respected golfers in the world, but he was dubiously known as an underachiever and a choker. He had experienced heartbreak and disappointment at major tournaments before, particularly at the Masters, where he had blown three tantalizing chances to claim a green jacket.
Entering the final round with a nearly insurmountable lead, Norman had a chance to reverse every negative perception about him. His first round 63 tied as the lowest score in Masters history and he was aiming to become the first competitor in 20 years to win wire-to-wire. He was even aiming to take down the tournament scoring record, a mark of 17-under which had been held by Raymond Floyd and Jack Nicklaus. Everything was in his favor.
Unfortunately, Norman did the unthinkable and blew a six-stroke lead in the final round, losing it to Nick Faldo. Unlike the previous three Masters he had choked away, Norman did not lose subtly by one or two mistakes; he straight-up gave it away.
In one of the most monumental collapses in all of sports, Norman shot a six-over 78 that included bogeys on nine, 10, 11, and a double bogey on 12. In the end, Faldo had won with a score of -12, a five-shot win over Norman and an unimaginable 11-shot turnaround. After watching his tee shot on 16 sail into the water -- one of two Norman shots that landed in the drink -- CBS’ Verne Lundquist stated, “This one, candidly, might go down as one of the great final round collapses in major tournament history.” It was indeed the largest final round lead ever lost in a major.
“I didn’t think it would end that way,” said Faldo, who embraced with Norman after sealing the victory. “I honestly and genuinely feel sorry for Greg and what he’s going through. He’s a great man. It’s part of golf.”
“It’s not the end of the world,” Norman told reporters with a smile. “I’ll get up tomorrow morning still breathing, I hope. There’s not a whole lot of anguish. I’m happy. I have a pretty good life. Some things have worked out and some haven’t. I’m very very philosophical. It’s one of my very good strengths.”
It was the eighth time he had finished second in a major.
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