New York City sports history, like the city itself, is noisy, confident, and endlessly fascinating. This is the city where Joe Louis struck a blow against the Nazis, where major league baseball was integrated, and where marathons and professional tennis came into their own.
The 100 Greatest Days in New York Sports, Updated Edition,recounts New Yorks greatest sporting moments, from Jackie Robinson integrating baseball to the Ali-Frazier fight to the New York Giants stunning the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. It covers dramatic sporting events involving the likes of Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali, Serena Williams, Reggie Jackson, Dr. J, Joe Namath, and many more. This updated edition features a new, chronological approach to highlight the remarkable history and development of sports in the city and the nation. It also includes many new moments, an updated ranking, and a single list that incorporates events that took place outside the city but involved New York teams.
Pick a sportbaseball, football, basketball, boxing, tennisand in every case New York has had front-row seats for the sports major developments and most memorable events.The 100 Greatest Days in New York Sportsilluminates how important sports are to the life of New York and the citys preeminent place in American sports history. Its about all the firsts that occurred here, the many titles that have been won, and all the drama in between.
Stuart Miller has been a journalist for three decades, covering a wide variety of topics for publications including theNew York Times, theNew York Daily News, theWall Street Journal, theLos Angeles Times, theBoston Globe,Newsweek, theGuardian, andVariety. He is the author or co-author ofThe Other Islands of New York City: A History and Guide,Good Wood: The Story of the Baseball Bat, andWhere Have All Our Giants Gone. He is a third-generation Brooklynite and lives in the South Slope neighborhood with his wife and two sons.
Introduction
1. Wilmer Flores Becomes a New York Folk Hero, July 31, 2015, Citi Field
2. Roberta Vinci Stuns Serena Williams to Stop Her Grand Slam dreams, September 11, 2015, National Tennis Center
3. American Pharoah Ends the Triple Crown Wait, June 6, 2015, Belmont Park
4. The Rangers Finally Topple the Penguins in Seven, en Route to the Finals, May 13, 2014, Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh
5. Linsanity Takes over New York and the NBA, February 4, 2012, Madison Square Garden
6. The Patriots Are Again the Favorites, but the Giants Are Again the Champions, February 5, 2012, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
7. Novak Djokovic Dominates the Tennis World and Stuns Roger Federer, September 10, 2011, National Tennis Center
8. The Jets Cant Wait to Beat the Patriots in the Playoffs, January 18, 2011, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
9. Hideki Matsui Drives in Six as the Yankees Win Their Only Championship Post-2000, November 4, 2009, Yankee Stadium
10. Unheralded Juan Martin del Potro Upsets Invincible Roger Federer, September 14, 2009, National Tennis Center
11. Eli Manning Scrambles, David Tyree Uses his Head, and the Giants End the Patriots Dream Season, February 3, 2008, University of Phoenix Stadium, Phoenix
12. Aaron Boone Sinks the Sox, October 16, 2003, Yankee Stadium
13. Justine Henins Comeback Undoes and Outdoes Jennifer Capriatis, September 5, 2003, National Tennis Center
14. In a Match for the Ages, Pete Sampras Beats Andre Agassi One Last Time, September 8, 2002, National Tennis Center
15. Mike Piazza Picks Up New York with His Post-9/11 Game-Winning Homer, September 21, 2001, Shea Stadium
16. The Williams Sisters Take Womens Tennis into Prime Time, September 8, 2001, National Tennis Center
17. The Subway Series Rides Again, October 21, 2000, Yankee Stadium
18. Allan Houston Beats the Buzzer and Miami, May 16, 1999, Miami Arena
19. Jim Leyritz Powers a Yankees Comeback, October 23, 1996, Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta
20. Steffi Graf, Struggling with Her Fathers Arrest, Faces Off against Monica Seles, Struggling to Overcome Her Stabbing Injury, September 9, 1995, National Tennis Center
21. Fifty-four Years Later, the Rangers Finally Win the Stanley Cup, June 14, 1994, Madison Square Garden
22. Patrick Ewing Lifts the Knicks into the NBA Finals, June 5, 1994, Madison Square Garden
23. Stephane Matteau Scores in Double Overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, May 27, 1994, Madison Square Garden
24. Grete Waitz and Fred Lebow Run Side by Side, November 1, 1992, Central Park
25. Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati Introduce Power to Womens Tennis, While Martina Navratilova Does Her Best Jimbo, September 6, 1991, National Tennis Center
26. Jimmy Connors Defies Father Time, September 2, 1991, National Tennis Center
27. Buffalo Misses Wide Right and the Giants Escape with Their Second Super Bowl, January 27, 1991, Tampa Stadium, Tampa
28. The Knicks Beat Boston in Boston, Finally, May 6, 1990, Boston Garden
29. Phil Simms Is Almost Perfect as the Giants Win Their First Super Bowl, January 25, 1987, Rose Bowl, Pasadena
30. The Mets Come Back One More Time in Game 7, October 27, 1986, Shea Stadium
31. Mookie Wilson Hits a Ground Ball to First in Game 6 of the World Series, October 25, 1986, Shea Stadium
32. The Mets Finally Vanquish Houston in the 16th, October 15, 1986, Astrodome, Houston
33. Every Match Goes the Distance on Super Saturday, September 8, 1984, National Tennis Center
34. Bernard King Buries Detroit, April 27, 1984, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
35. St. Johns Revs Up the Big East, March 12, 1983, Madison Square Garden
36. The Jets Win and Help the Giants, too, December 20, 1981, Shea Stadium
37. John McEnroe Gets Revenge against Bjorn Borg, September 7, 1980, National Tennis Center
38. Bobby Nystroms OT Goal Gives the Islanders Their First of Four Straight Stanley Cups, May 24, 1980, Nassau Coliseum
39. The Rangers Beat the Islanders to Reach the Stanley Cup Finals, May 8, 1979, Madison Square Garden
40. Bucky Dent Tops the Green Monster, October 2, 1978, Fenway Park, Boston
41. Affirmed Edges Alydar for the Third Straight Time to Win the Triple Crown, June 10, 1978, Belmont Park
42. Reggie, Reggie, Reggie, October 18, 1977, Yankee Stadium
43. The Marathon Expands to All Five Boroughs, and Bill Rodgers Wins It, October 24, 1976, Central Park
44. Chris Chambliss Homers the Yankees Back into the World Series, October 14, 1976, Yankee Stadium
45. Dr. J Leads the Nets Back from 22 Down to Win the Final ABA Finals, May 13, 1976, Nassau Coliseum
46. The Upstart Islanders Stun the Comeback Rangers in the Playoffs in OT, April 11, 1975, Madison Square Garden
47. The Ya Gotta Believe Mets Win a Miracle Finish in the 13th against the Pirates, September 20, 1973, Shea Stadium
48. Secretariat Ends Horse Racings Triple Crown Drought by Dominating at the Belmont Stakes, June 9, 1973, Belmont Park
49. The Knicks Finally Beat Boston in Game 7, April 29, 1973, Boston Garden, Boston
50. The Fight: AliFrazier I, March 8, 1971, Madison Square Garden
51. Willis Reed Hobbles to the Rescue, May 8 1970, Madison Square Garden
52. The Amazin Mets Win the World Series, October 16, 1969, Shea Stadium
53. Tommie Agee Saves the Day, Then Does It Again, October 14, 1969, Shea Stadium
54. Broadway Joe Makes Good on His Guarantee, January 12, 1969, Orange Bowl, Miami
55. The Jets Avenge Their Heidi Loss and Win the AFL Title, December 27, 1968, Shea Stadium
56. Arthur Ashe Wins the First U.S. Open, September 9, 1968, West Side Tennis Club
57. This Time Ralph Terry Finds Success in the Ninth Inning of a Game 7, October 16, 1962, Candlestick Park, San Francisco
58. Roger Maris Beats the Babe, October 1, 1961, Yankee Stadium
59. Pat Summerall Kicks a Field Goal in the Snow, December 14, 1958, Yankee Stadium
60. The Yankees Resurrect Themselves with a 10-Inning Win, October 8, 1958, County Stadium, Milwaukee
61. Carmen Basilio and Sugar Ray Robinson Go to War, September 23, 1957, Yankee Stadium
62. The Giants Crush the Bears in the NFL Championship Game, December 30, 1956, Yankee Stadium
63. Don Larsen Pitches a Perfect Game in the World Series, October 8, 1956, Yankee Stadium
64. Next Year Finally Arrives for Brooklyn, October 4, 1955, Ebbets Field
65. Willie Mays Makes The Catch, September 29, 1954, Polo Grounds
66. The Yankees Win a Fifth Straight World Series on Billy Martins Series-Record 12th Hit, October 5, 1953, Yankee Stadium
67. Billy Martins Lunging Catch of Jackie Robinsons Popup Saves Game 7 of the World Series, October 7, 1952, Ebbets Field
68. Sugar Ray Robinson Melts against Joey Maxim, June 25, 1952, Yankee Stadium
69. The Giants Win the Pennant, October 3, 1951, Polo Grounds
70. CCNY Wins Its Second National Championship . . . of the Month, March 28, 1950, Madison Square Garden
71. Columbia Ends Armys Winning Streak, October 25, 1947, Baker Field
72. Cookie Lavagetto Ruins Floyd Bevenss World Series No-hitter, October 3, 1947, Ebbets Field
73. Jackie Robinson Shatters the Color Barrier, April 15, 1947, Ebbets Field
74. Army and Notre Dame Shut One Another Out in the Battle of the Century, November 9, 1946, Yankee Stadium
75. Tony Zale Drops Rocky Graziano, September 27, 1946, Yankee Stadium
76. Joe DiMaggio Hits in his 45th Straight Game, a New Record, July 2, 1941, Yankee Stadium
77. Joe Louis Comes Back to KO Billy Conn, June 18, 1941, Polo Grounds
78. Lou Gehrig Proclaims Himself the Luckiest Man, July 4, 1939, Yankee Stadium
79. The Giants Hold Off the Packers for the NFL Championship, December 11, 1938, Polo Grounds
80. Joe Louis Annihilates Max Schmeling, June 22, 1938, Yankee Stadium
81. Lazzeri, DiMaggio, and the Yankees Make a Statement against the Giants and Start a New Yankees Dynasty, October 2, 1936, Yankee Stadium
82. Ned Irish Launches College Basketball with the First Doubleheader, December 29, 1934, Madison Square Garden
83. The Giants Win the NFL Championship in the Sneaker Game, December 9, 1934, Polo Grounds
84. At the All-Star Game, Carl Hubbell Strikes Out Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, Simmons, and Cronin in a Row, July 10, 1934, Polo Grounds
85. Columbia Pulls Off a Stunning Rose Bowl Upset, January 1, 1934, Rose Bowl, Pasadena
86. Babe Ruth Calls His World Series Home Run, October 1, 1932, Wrigley Field, Chicago
87. Notre Dame Wins One for the Gipper, November 10, 1928, Yankee Stadium
88. The Babe Hits 60, September 30, 1927, Yankee Stadium
89. Harry Greb Bests Mickey Walker, July 2, 1925, Polo Grounds
90. The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame Triumph over Army, October 18, 1924, Yankee Stadium
91. Jack Dempsey Outslugs Luis Firpo, September 14, 1923, Polo Grounds
92. Babe Ruth Christens the House That Ruth Built with a Home Run, April 18, 1923, Yankee Stadium
93. The Giants Win, 10, to Capture the First Modern Subway Series, October 13, 1921, Polo Grounds
94. Bill Tilden Becomes Tennis First Superstar with a Revenge Win against Bill Johnston, September 6, 1920, West Side Tennis Club
95. Man o War Comes Back to Beat John P. Grier at the Dwyer Stakes, July 10, 1920, Aqueduct Race Course
96. Marathon Mania Reaches Its Peak, April 3, 1909, Polo Grounds
97. Matty Shuts Out the As, Again, October 14, 1905, Polo Grounds
98. Charles Miller Rides (and Rides) into the Record Books, December 10, 1898, Madison Square Garden
99. The Brooklyn Atlantics Hand the Cincinnati Red Stockings Their First Defeat, June 14, 1870, Capitoline Grounds
100. New York Gets Its First Glimpse of a Sports-Mad Future, May 27, 1823, Union Course
Selected Bibliography
About the Author
