Back in Time: December 12

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 12, 2008

Back in Time: December 12

Mickey Lolich

The Tigers trade pitcher Mickey Lolich (pictured) and outfielder Billy Baldwin to the Mets in exchange for outfielder Rusty Staub and pitcher Bill Laxton.

Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky sets a NHL record by reaching the 50-goal mark for a single season faster than any other player (39 games). He would go on to score 92 goals and record 212 points for the season.

New England Patriots

New England defeats Miami 3-0 in the infamous "Snowplow Game." Mark Henderson uses his plow to clear a kicking surface on the Sullivan Stadium turf for John Smith's 33-yard game-winning field-goal.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

In the Lakers' 131-107 victory over Golden State, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scores 15 points to become the first player in NBA history to surpass 32,000 career points.

Pedro Martinez

The Red Sox sign Pedro Martinez to a record six-year, $69 million contract.

Kevin Brown

In a deal that upsets many other owners, pitcher Kevin Brown (18-7, 2.38) becomes baseball's first $100 million dollar man as the right-hander signs a seven-year deal with the Dodgers for an average yearly salary of $15 million.

Nate Newton

Former Dallas Cowboy Nate Newton and two others are arrested on charges of carrying at least 175 pounds of marijuana. It was his second arrest in six weeks.

Born on this Day

Bob Pettit (1932) Emerson Fittipaldi (1946) Tracy Austin (1962, pictured) Mike Golic (1962) Haywood Jeffires (1964) David Szott (1967) John Randle (1967) Courtney Hawkins (1969) Orlando Brown (1970) Stanley Pritchett (1973) Orlando Hudson (1977) Colin White (1977) Ronnie Brown (1981)