This Day in Sports History: April 14
April is a busy month for sports, with the return of Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association and National Hockey League playoffs, some National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball title games,…
CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 10: Carlos Rodón #55 of the Chicago White Sox pitches against the Boston Red Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 10, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
April is a busy month for sports, with the return of Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association and National Hockey League playoffs, some National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball title games, the National Football League Draft, and the Masters. April 14 has been a day of notable sports moments in hockey, marathon racing, rugby, cricket, golf, and baseball.
Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records
Great moments in sports that occurred on April 14 include:
- 1931: The Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Black Hawks 2-0 to win the series 3-2 and capture back-to-back Stanley Cups.
- 1962: In rugby, France beat Ireland 11-0 in the Five Nations Championship.
- 1995: In cricket, India beat Sri Lanka and won the 1995 Asia Cup.
The Masters
April 14 has witnessed some notable victories at Augusta, including:
- 1974: Gary Player won the second of his three Masters titles.
- 1985: Bernhard Langer won his first Masters title by finishing two strokes ahead of Seve Ballesteros, Curtis Strange, and Raymond Floyd.
- 1996: Nick Faldo won his third Masters title, which was also his sixth and final major title.
- 2002: Tiger Woods became the third player to claim back-to-back Masters titles.
- 2024: World number one golfer Scottie Scheffler defeated Ludvig Åberg by four strokes and won his second Masters title in three years.
Baseball History
Several memorable achievements in baseball are associated with April 14, such as:
- 1910: United States President William Howard Taft began the tradition of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day of the baseball season.
- 1917: Chicago White Sox pitcher Eddie Cicotte pitched a no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns.
- 1955: Elston Howard became the first African American to play for the New York Yankees. He hit one single in an 8-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox.
- 1964: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and future Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Sandy Koufax threw his ninth complete game without allowing a walk, leading the team to a 4-0 Opening Day win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
- 2021: Chicago White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodón threw a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians.
Looking back on these April 14 statistics, the main theme is incredible baseball records. The White Sox had two no-hitters, and the franchise ranks second all-time in no-hitters pitched, with 20. The Dodgers are first with 23, and the San Francisco Giants are third with 18.
Sandy Koufax is renowned for having pitched a perfect game and four no-hitters. He has won two World Series Most Valuable Player Awards and three Cy Young Awards.
