Nostalgic America
17 Most Memorable Sports Moments Of The Last 100 Years
By Nostalgic America · May 15, 2024
Jerry West ‘73 Buzzer Beater
Down by two points, Jerry West tied the third game of the 1970 NBA Finals with a 60-foot heave at the buzzer. (there were no 3-pointers back then). Despite the shocking turn of events, the Knicks managed to win the game in overtime 111-108, and also went on to win the series in 7 games. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
Shot Heard Round The World
Bobby Thomson hits the most famous home run in baseball history, leading the Brooklyn Dodgers to the pennant against the New York Giants, on October 3, 1951. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
What a Season!
In Steve Carlton’s first season with Philadelphia, he led the league in wins with 27, winning 46% of the Phillies 59 victories that season, the highest percentage in modern major league history. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
Fran Tarkenton – Greatest Scrambling QB Ever in the NFL
Fran Tarkenton wasn’t taken in the 1961 NFL Draft until the 3rd round, when he was selected by the Minnesota Vikings. Tarkenton is the only QB to throw 4 TD passes in a debut. He led the Vikings to three Super Bowl appearances in a four-year period in the 1970’s, was a nine-time Pro Bowler, and once the league’s MVP. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
Bob Feller – The First 100 MPH Fastball
Bob Feller’s fastball was more than 100 mph, he was the first 20th-century pitcher to pitch three no-hit games (1940, 1946, 1951) and also pitched 12 one hitters during his career. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
Doug Flutie Leads BC in Greatest College Football Game Ever!
On Friday, November 23, 1984 Doug Flutie threw the Hail Mary TD pass that led BC to a 47-45 victory over defending National Champion U. of Miami. For the game, Flutie completed 34 passes for 472 yards, three TDs and also ran for another TD. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
Wilt Chamberlain – Greatest Statistical Season Ever
7 ft 1 inch tall Wilt Chamberlain was a basketball legend. In the 1961-1962 Season, he scored 50.4 Points per game with 26.65 Rebounds per game. Chamberlin played all 48 minutes of each game. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
Harvey Haddix Lost this Game – HOW?
On May 26, 1959, Harvey Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings against the Milwaukee Braves and lost the game in the 13th. His final line was 13 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 8 K. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
Mark Spitz – 7 Gold Medals and 7 World Records
Before the 1972 Olympics, Spitz became undoubtedly the world's greatest swimmer, and is considered by many to be the greatest ever. In 1971, he became the first swimmer to win four individual AAU titles at one meet, setting three world records in the process. The next week, at a meet in East Germany, he won all four events again, this time breaking all four world records. At the 1972 Olympics, Spitz set an Olympic record by winning seven gold medals, all of them in world-record time. Overall, he won 24 AAU championships, eight NCAA titles (while at Indiana University), and set 32 world records. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
Bill Walton - UCLA
Bill Walton was one of the greatest college baseketball players in history. He was Player of the Year (3 consecutive years 1971-1974). 20.3 PPG and 15.7 RPG. Walton led UCLA to 88 consecutive victories and three NCAA National Championships. The Portland Trailblazers selected Walton as a first round pick. He then played for the San Diego Clippers and Boston Celtics. Walton played just 468 games over ten seasons and retired after the 1986–87 campaign. He was known to be a free spirit, social activist, and Grateful Dead fan! Nostalgic America / Getty Images
Cal Ripken Jr. Consecutive Games Played Streak Ends
On May 30, 1982, Cal Ripken Jr. began “the streak”— and on September 20, 1998, he asked the manager for the night off, ending the major leagues' longest consecutive-games streak at 2,632. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
Lou Gehrig - “The Streak”
Lou Gehrig used to hold the consecutive games streak of 2,130 games. Over a span of 14 years (from 1925-1938) he averaged per season 35 HRs, 193 Hits, 134 Runs, and a Batting Average of .340. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
Babe Ruth Dominated Baseball With His Home Runs
Babe Ruth’s career spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 – 1935. In 1919, Babe hit 29 home runs himself (in the dead ball era) more than the league average of 28 home runs per team!!! The next year in 1920, he hit 54 home runs himself, more than the league average of 39 home runs per team! Nostalgic America / Getty Images
David Thompson – Maybe the Greatest
David Thompson led North Carolina State University to an undefeated season (27-0) in 1973, but the Wolfpack was banned from post-season play that year due to NCAA rules violations involving the recruiting of himself. He then led the Wolfpack to a 30-1 season and the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in 1974. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
George Gervin
George Gervin was a professional basketball player known as “the Iceman.” He played for the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association for the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls. Gervin averaged 25.1 PPG in a career spanning 14 seasons. Nostalgic America / Getty Images
Bucky Dent Demoralizes the Red Sox
On October 2, 1978 baseball Hall of Famer Bucky Dent hit the home run that shocked the Red Sox and led the Yankees to the AL East Pennant. Nostalgic America / Getty Images