This Week in Sports History | June 16 – June 22 | Joe Louis, Slugging Milestones & Title Wins
Sports Moments in History from June 16 – June 22
Time to rewind and celebrate the moments that shaped sports history. From buzzer-beaters to legendary performances, these are the highlights that live on forever.
⚾ June 17, 1994 – Ken Griffey Jr. Hits 30th Homer Before July
On this day, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 30th home run of the season — matching Babe Ruth’s record for most home runs before July 1. Griffey would go on to surpass that pace before the 1994 strike-shortened season ended.
⚾ June 18, 1946 – Ewell Blackwell Nearly Throws Back-to-Back No-Hitters
On this day, Ewell “The Whip” Blackwell of the Cincinnati Reds carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning — just one start after throwing one. He lost the bid with one out remaining, narrowly missing back-to-back no-nos.
🏒 June 19, 2006 – Carolina Hurricanes Win First Stanley Cup
On this day, the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3–1 in Game 7 to win their first-ever Stanley Cup. Rookie goaltender Cam Ward earned Conn Smythe honors, becoming the first rookie since 1986 to do so.
⚾ June 20, 1967 – Mickey Mantle Hits His 500th Career Home Run
On this day, Mickey Mantle launched his 500th home run at Yankee Stadium off Orioles pitcher Stu Miller. The blast made him just the sixth player in MLB history at the time to reach that milestone.
📚 June 22, 1909 – First Congressional Baseball Game Played
On this day, members of the U.S. House of Representatives participated in the first-ever Congressional Baseball Game, a tradition that continues to this day. Democrats defeated Republicans 26–16, and the proceeds now go to charity.
🥊 June 22, 1938 – Joe Louis KOs Max Schmeling in Two Minutes
On this day, Joe Louis defended his heavyweight title by knocking out German challenger Max Schmeling in just 2 minutes and 4 seconds at Yankee Stadium. It was a monumental moment in both boxing and political symbolism on the eve of World War II.
🗳️ Weekly Poll – What Was the Most Iconic Moment?
- ⚾ Griffey Jr. Ties Ruth with 30 HRs (1994)
- ⚾ Mantle’s 500th Homer (1967)
- ⚾ Blackwell’s Near No-No (1946)
- 🥊 Joe Louis KOs Schmeling (1938)
- 📚 First Congressional Baseball Game (1909)
- 🏒 Hurricanes Win Stanley Cup (2006)
Vote by dropping your pick in the comments!
Banner created with Canva | All dates verified via ESPN & Sports Reference
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