Baby Boomers have no shortage of iconic sporting events. These are the sorts of things that enter into popular history, achieving something close to mythology. So, let’s take a look at 10 of my absolute favorites, and maybe they’re your favorites as well.
The First Super Bowl
While it is a yearly institution these days, one of the most iconic sporting events of 1967 was the very first Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers would end up taking it all home, showing the seeds of a long-lasting dynasty only toppled by the likes of New England and Kansas City.
Roger Maris’s 61 Home Runs
The modern record has an asterisk for a good reason. 1961 saw one of the most iconic sporting events for professional baseball fans. Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s record, hitting 61 home runs through a single Major League season. Ruth had held the record since 1927.
Warriors vs. Knicks
Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for most points scored in a single game. That’s right, it isn’t Lebron or Michael Jordan. The 1961 Warriors vs. Knicks game is one of the most iconic sporting events in the history of the sport, showing Chamberlain as a dominant force in a hard-fought game between both teams. The Warriors would take it all, winning 169 to 147 points.
Ali vs. Quarry
There are few things as damaging to a boxer’s career as stopping during their physical prime. For Muhammad Ali, that was exactly the case in 1967, resulting in a nearly four-year ban from the sport. Ali would be granted a boxing license again in 1970, facing off against Joe Quarry in his first fight in nearly four years. As one of the most iconic sporting events of the 70s, Ali triumphed over Quarry via technical knockout.
The Munich Summer Olympics
The Olympics had not been to a German city since the 1936 Summer Olympics. 1972 saw one of the most iconic sporting events in history, but not for the reasons you’d think. The Munich Massacre overshadows the games, leading to the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes.
The 1972 Miami Dolphins
This 52-year record is still undisputed, so it certainly qualifies as one of the most iconic sporting events in recent memory. The 1972 Miami Dolphins was the team to beat, but no one rose to the challenge. While Washington would face the Dolphins at the Super Bowl, Miami finished the season with zero losses.
The Home Run King
Hank Aaron is one of the greatest players to ever swing a bat, and he proved it handily in 1974. What made this one of the most iconic sporting events was that Aaron toppled the last standing record for hits held by Yankees’ legend Babe Ruth. Aaron hit 715 home runs this year, going on to hit 755 before retiring from the game.
Battle of the Sexes
This list is rather short on tennis victories, but the 1970s played host to one of the most iconic sporting events ever seen. Bobby Riggs was a washed-out tennis star in 1973, prone to making chauvinistic comments. He challenged Billie Jean King, one of the best women to ever play tennis in the history of the sport. The match saw King shutting out Riggs over multiple straight sets.
The Miracle Mets
The New York Mets didn’t have the best record after being established in 1962. The Miracle Mets turned it around quite handily during the 1969 season, winning 100 games to 62 losses. The season ended with a Mets victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.
DiMaggio’s Last Game
Joe DiMaggio is one of the best players to ever don the Yankees uniform. This is a bittersweet sports moment, but one with a beautiful sentiment behind it. DiMaggio hung up his cleats in 1951, finishing his last season with a .263 batting average. “When baseball is no longer fun, it’s no longer a game,” DiMaggio stated during a 1951 interview.
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