References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 August 9.

1950 January 8 George Rowe cricketer (15 wickets in four Tests for South Africa 1895-1902), dies. [1] January 18 Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller, after 15-14 season, takes $20,000 salary cut to $45,000, pay cut is Feller's own suggestion. [1] January 22 Polly Riley wins LPGA Tampa Golf Open. [1] January 23 NFL rule changes open way for two-platoon system (offense and defense). [1] February 14 Moroney scores cricket twin centuries for Australia at Johannesburg. [1] February 16 David Denton cricketer (England batsman in 11 Tests 1905-10), dies. [1] Writers fail to elect anyone to Baseball's Hall of Fame. [1] March 3 Three months as National-American Football League takes back NFL name. [1] March 7 World Ice Pairs Figure Skating Championship in London won by Karol Kennedy and Peter Kennedy (USA). [1] World Ladies Figure Skating Championship in London won by Alena Vrzanova (Czechoslovakia). [1] World Men's Figure Skating Championship in London won by Richard Button (USA); this is his third consecutive win. [1] March 18 CCNY beats Bradley 69-61 for the NIT championship. [1] March 19 5th US Women's Open Golf Championship won by Babe Didrikson-Zaharias. [1] March 23 Douglas Carr England cricket leg-spinner (Test 1909), dies. [1] March 24 Gracie de Moss wins LPGA Pro-Ladies Golf Championship. [1] US Ladies Figure Skating Championship won by Yvonne C Sherman. [1] US Men's Figure Skating Championship won by Richard Button. [1] March 28 12th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: City College of New York beats Bradley 71-68; CCNY becomes first to win NCAA and National Invitation Basketball in same year. [1] April 9 14th Golf Masters Championship: Jimmy Demaret wins, shooting a 283. [1] April 18 First opening night-game, Saint Louis Cardinals beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-2. [1] New York Yankees win 15-10 after trailing Boston Red Sox 9-0 in 6th. [1] April 19 54th Boston Marathon won by Kee Yong Ham of Korea in 2:32:39. [1] April 20 Baltimore's Memorial Stadium opens - Orioles of International League. [1] April 23 First major league day game completed under lights (Philadelphia Phillies 6, Braves 5). [1] 4th NBA Championship: Minneapolis Lakers beat Syracuse Nationals, 4 games to 2. [1] Stanley Cup: Detroit Red Wings beat New York Rangers, 4 games to 3. [1] April 25 Chuck Cooper becomes the first black to play in the NBA. [1] April 26 University of Miami ends William and Mary straight tennis match victories at 82. [1] April 30 Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA 144-hole Golf Weathervane. [1] May 6 76th Kentucky Derby: William Boland on Middleground wins in 2:01.6. [1] May 14 Pittsburgh Johnny Hopp goes 6 for 6 including two homeruns. [1] May 20 76th Preakness: Eddie Arcaro aboard Hill Prince wins in 1:59.2. [1] May 30 Patty Berg wins LPGA Eastern Golf Open. [1] May 31 Due to rain, Indianapolis 500 shortened to 345 miles, Johnny Parson wins. [1] Laker takes 14-12-2-8 in Test Cricket trial. [1] June 8 Boston Red Sox beats Saint Louis Browns 29-4. [1] June 20 Joe Dimaggio's 2,000th hit, New York Yankees beat Cleveland Indians 8-2. [1] June 23 New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers hit record 11 home runs, Detroit Tigers win 10-9. [1] June 24 New York Giants Wes Westrum hits three home runs and a triple. [1] July 11 National League beats American League 4-3 (14 inn) in 17th All Star Game (Comiskey Park Chic). [1] July 12 ILTF re-admit Germany and Japan in Davis Cup, Poland and Hungary withdraw. [1] July 16 Single day 16 team home run record set at 37 (National League-25, American League-12). [1] Uruguay beats Brazil 2-1 for soccer's fourth World Cup in Rio de Janeiro. [1] August 1 First Major League baseball player to fight in Korea (Curt Simmons). [1] American Bowling Congress ends all-white-males rule. [1] August 11 Boston Braves pitcher Vern Bickford no-hits Brooklyn Dodgers, 7-0. [1] August 12 New York Giants (NFL) beat Ottawa Roughriders (Canadian Football League) 20-6 in Ottawa. [1] August 22 Althea Gibson becomes first black competetor in national tennis competition. [1] August 25 Sugar Ray Robinson knocks out Jose Basora to win middleweight boxing title. [1] August 29 International Olympic Committee votes admission to West Germany and Japan in 1952. [1] August 31 Dodger Gil Hodges hits four home runs and a single in a game vs Braves. [1] September 10 Joe DiMaggio becomes first to hit three home run in a game at Griffith Stadium. [1] September 15 Longest game in Philadelphia's Shribe Park, Philadelphia Phillies beat Cincinnati Reds 8-7 in 19. [1] New York Yankees player Johnny Mize hits three homers (sixth time he has done that). [1] September 16 Cleveland Rams (formerly AAFC) play first NFL game, beat Philadelphia. 35-10). [1] September 17 San Francisco 49ers (formerly AAFC) play first NFL game, lose 21-17. [1] September 23 Philadelphia Athletics Joe Astroth is fourth to get six RBIs in an inning (6th). [1] September 27 Heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles defeats Joe Louis. [1] October 1 Philadelphia Phillies win National League pennant on last day of season (10th inning home run). [1] October 2 Bob Shaw of the Chicago Cardinals sets NFL record with five touchdown catches. [1] Chicago Cardinals Jim Hardy passes for six touchdowns vs Baltimore Colts (55-13). [1] October 7 New York Yankees sweep Philadelphia Phillies in 47th World Series. [1] October 21 Tom Powers of Duke scores six touchdowns. [1] October 26 Branch Rickey resigns as Brooklyn Dodgers' president. [1] October 29 Wally Triplett averages 735 yards on three kickoff returns. [1] November 12 Gene Roberts sets NFL New York Giants rushing record (218 yards) vs Chicago Cardinals. [1] November 15 First Negro player in organized hockey-Arthur Dorrington signed. [1] November 22 Lowest NBA score, Fort Wayne Pistons (19), Minneapolis Lakers (18). [1] December 3 Cleveland Browns last NFL team with no-pass game (beat Philadelphia 13-7). [1] Cleveland Browns' Horace Gillom sets club record with 12 punts. [1] December 5 Ezzard Charles knocks out Nick Barone in 11 for heavyweight boxing title. [1] December 11 Baseball owners vote 9-7 not to renew Commissioner Chandler's contract. [1] December 12 16th Heisman Trophy Award: Vic Janowicz, Ohio State (HB). [1] Baseball owners vote to drop 4-year old bonus and high school rule. [1] December 14 Baseball owners choose Lou Perini (Braves), Phil Wrigley (Chicago Cubs), Del Webb (New York Yankees), and Ellis Ryan (Cleveland Indians) to select new commissioner. [1] December 15 Ezzard Charles knocks out Nick Barone to retain heavyweight boxing title. [1] December 24 Cleveland Browns win NFL championship, beat Los Angeles 30-28. [1] December 25 Cleveland Browns beat Los Angeles Rams 30-28 in NFL championship game. [1] December 26 Gillette and Mutual buy All Star and World Series rights ($6 million for six years). [1] December 31 Jockeys Willie Shoemaker and Joe Culmone set record of 388 wins in a year. [1] 1951 January 3 Fred Wilt wins AAU Sullivan Memorial Trophy (US athlete of 1950). [1] January 5 Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA Ponte Vedra Beach Women's Golf Open. [1] January 6 Indianapolis beats Rochester 75-73 in NBA-record six overtimes. [1] January 9 Washington Capitals NBA club folds. [1] January 12 Ezzard Charles TKOs Lee Oma in 10 for heavyweight boxing title. [1] January 14 NFL Pro Bowl: first since 1942, Americans beat Nationals 28-27. [1] January 18 NFL rules tackles, guards and centers ineligible for forward pass. [1] NFL takes control of the failing Baltimore Colts. [1] January 21 Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA Tampa Women's Golf Open. [1] January 22 Fidel Castro ejected from a Winter League game after beaning batter. [1] January 26 Mel Ott and Jimmie Foxx elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. [1] January 29 Baseball signs six year All-Star pact for TV-radio rights for $6 million. [1] February 3 Dick Button win US skating title for 6th time. [1] February 4 US female Figure Skating championship won by Sonya Klopfer. [1] US male Figure Skating championship won by Richard Button. [1] February 9 Saint Louis Browns sign pitcher Satchel Paige, 45. [1] February 18 Three City College of New York basketball players admit to accepting bribes. [1] February 24 Ice Pairs Championship at Milan won by Ria Baran and Paul Falk of Germany. [1] Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Milan won by Jeanette Altwegg of Great Britain. [1] Men's Figure Skating Championship in Milan won by Richard Button USA. [1] February 25 First Pan American Games open (Buenos Aires Argentina). [1] Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins Orlando Florida 2 Ball Golf Tournament. [1] March 2 First NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 111-94 at Boston. [1] March 3 Bill Mikvy (Temple) scores NCAA basketball record 73 points. [1] March 7 Ezzard Charles wins 15-round heavyweight decision against Jersey Joe Walcott. [1] March 8 International Table Tennis Federation bans Egypt (for refusing to play Israel). [1] March 10 FBI director J Edgar Hoover declines post of baseball commissioner. [1] March 12 Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler loses fight (9-7) to stay in office. [1] March 17 Test Cricket debut of Brian Statham, England vs New Zealand Christchurch. [1] March 18 Pat O'Sullivan wins LPGA Titleholders Golf Championship. [1] March 25 Edward Collins Hall of Fame infielder (Chicago White Sox, Athletics), dies at age 63. [1] March 26 Patty Berg wins LPGA Sandhills Women's Golf Open. [1] March 27 13th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Kentucky beats Kansas 68-58. [1] April 7 15th Golf Masters Championship: Ben Hogan wins, shooting a 280. [1] American Bowling Congress begins first masters tournament. [1] April 17 New York Yankees Mickey Mantle's first game, he goes 1 for 4. [1] April 18 New York Yankees Mickey Mantle goes 1-for-4 in his first game. [1] April 19 55th Boston Marathon won by Shigeki Tanaka of Japan in 2:27:45. [1] April 21 5th NBA Championship: Rochester Royals beat New York Knicks, 4 games to 3. [1] Stanley Cup: Toronto Maple Leafs beat Montreal Canadiens, 4 games to 1. [1] April 23 Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA Richmond Women's Golf Open. [1] April 24 Betsy Rawls wins LPGA Sacramento Women's Golf Invitational Open. [1] April 27 Philip Albert Myburgh Hands cricketer (7 Tests for South Africa), dies. [1] May 1 Mickey Mantle's first homerun. [1] Minnie Minoso becomes the first black to play for the Chicago White Sox. [1] May 3 New York Yankees player Gil McDougald is 5th to get six RBIs in an inning (9th). [1] May 5 77th Kentucky Derby: Conn McCreary aboard Count Turf wins in 2:02.6. [1] May 6 Pittsburgh Pirates player Cliff Chambers no-hits Boston Braves, 3-0. [1] May 7 International Olympic committee allows Russia to participate in 1952 Olympics. [1] May 19 77th Preakness: Eddie Arcaro aboard Bold wins in 1:56.4. [1] May 24 Willie Mays begins playing for the New York Giants. [1] May 25 New York Giants Willie Mays first major league game (goes 0 for 5). [1] May 28 After going 0-for-12, Willie Mays connects for his first homerun (also his first major league hit). [1] May 30 Ezzard Charles beats Joey Maxim in 15 for heavyweight boxing title. [1] June 4 Pirate's Gus Bell hits for the cycle helps beat Philadelphia Phillies 12-4. [1] June 16 Ben Hogan wins golf's US open for second year in a row. [1] July 1 Cleveland Indian Bob Feller, third no-hitter beats Detroit Tigers, 2-1. [1] July 9 Harry Heilmann, baseball hall of famer outfielder (Detroit), dies at age 56. [1] July 10 National League beats American League 8-3 in 18th All Star Game (Briggs Stadium, Detroit). [1] July 12 New York Yankees Allie Reynolds no-hits Cleveland Indians, 8-0. [1] July 14 First color telecast of a sporting event (CBS-horse race). [1] July 18 Jersey Joe Walcott knocks out Ezzard Charles in five for heavyweight belt. [1] Jersey Joe Walcott at age 37 becomes oldest to win heavyweight champion. [1] August 11 First color baseball game (Braves vs Brooklyn Dodgers) telecast (WCBS-New York City). [1] New York Giants (NFL) beat Ottawa Roughriders (Canadian Football League) 38-6 in Ottawa. [1] New York Giants lose and 13.5 games behind Brooklyn Dodgers, later win pennant. [1] August 22 Harlem Globetrotters play in Olympic Stadium, Berlin before 75,052. [1] August 28 Pittsburgh Pirates snap New York Giants 16 game win streak. [1] September 16 Betsy Rawls wins the US Women's Open Golf title. [1] September 20 Ford Frick elected commissioner of baseball. [1] September 21 Emil Zatopek runs 15,000 m. in record 44 min, 54.6 sec. [1] September 28 Allie Reynolds' second no-hitter of 1951; New York Yankees clinch pennant #18. [1] Norm Van Brocklin of the Los Angeles Rams passes for NFL-record 554 yards. [1] September 29 First color telecast of football game on network, Philadelphia (CBS). [1] October 3 Bobby Thomson home run-The New York Giants win the pennant defeating Brooklyn Dodgers. [1] October 8 Ford C Frick replaces Happy Chandler as third commissioner of baseball. [1] Warren C Giles becomes president of baseball's National League. [1] October 9 Gil McDougald's world series grand slam helps New York Yankees beat New York Giants 13-1 (World Series #48). [1] October 10 New York Yankees beat New York Giants four games to two in world series, DiMaggio's final game (World Series #48). [1] October 14 Detroit Lions' Jack Christiansen returns two punts for touchdowns versus Los Angeles Rams. [1] November 4 New York Giants and New York Yankees score back-to-back touchdowns on kickoff returns. [1] November 19 Roy Campanella named National League Most Valuable Player on his 30th birthday. [1] November 25 Cleveland Browns penalized a record 209 yards against Chicago Bears. [1] December 1 17th Heisman Trophy Award: Dick Kazmaier, Princeton (HB). [1] December 2 Philadelphia sets NFL record of 25 first-downs rushing. [1] December 5 "Shoeless" Joe Jackson of baseball's black sox scandal, dies. [1] December 8 American League alters its restrictions on night games, adopting National League's suspended game rule and lifting its ban on lights for Sunday games. [1] December 11 Joe Dimaggio announces his baseball retirement. [1] December 22 Australia cricket all out 82 vs West Indies at Adelaide. [1] December 23 First coast-to-coast televised football game (Dumont paid $75,000); Los Angeles Rams beat Cleveland Browns 24-17 in NFL championship game. [1] December 25 West Indies defeat Australia by six wickets on third day of third Test Cricket. [1] December 27 40th Davis Cup: Australia beats USA in Sydney (3-2). [1]