Jan. 4 – First black baseball league organizes
In 1920, the first black baseball league was organized. The league was known as the National Negro Baseball Leage and provided the chance for black baseball players to finally play ball. The league operated until there was no longer a use for it due to integrated sports.
Jan. 5 – Thomas becomes first woman to purchase a baseball team
Lucille Thomas purchased the Topeka Senators, a team in the Western League, becoming the first women to do so. The purchase, which took place in 1931, was the first of its kind. Women were not known to purchase sports teams at the time, but now, this has become commonplace as the L.A. Rams, Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Angels have all been owned by women.
Jan. 6 – Miami Dolphins win the AFC championship
In 1985, the Miami Dolphins beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Miami Orange Bowl. The score was 45-28 and was for the AFC Championship. The AFC Championship is the final match for the conference, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
Jan. 7 – Floyd Patterson beats Willie Troy at Madison Square Garden
Floyd Patterson, in 1955, won a middleweight match against Willie Troy in a fifth-round TKO. Although the bout was not a title match, Patterson would go on to become the world heavyweight boxing champion.
Jan. 8 – University of Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team sets NCAA record
In 1945, the University of Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team set a record for the NCAA. The record was for lowest opposing score in one game where Arkansas state only scored six points. The final score was 75-6. The record still stands today.
Jan. 9 – New Orleans names NFL team the “Saints”
By vote, the citizens of New Orleans decided to name their NFL football team the “New Orleans Saints.” The vote was cast in 1967 and was similar to many other team-naming efforts done around the same time. The name “Saints” likely won due to the famous jazz song “When the saints go marching in” which has become synonymous with the Louisiana city.
Jan. 10 – PGA of America pulls the 2022 PGA Championship from Trump National
After supporters of the former president raided the Capitol in an insurrection attempt, the PGA of America canceled its championship that was planned to take place at the Trump National GC in Bedminster, New Jersey. The former president is a fan of the sport and owns multiple golf courses around the world.
