THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - OCTOBER 17TH

1859 - William "Buck" Ewing, hall of fame catcher (NY Giants, Cincinnati Reds) is born.

1885 - Baseball sets all players salaries at $1,000-$2,000 for 1885 season.
1920 - Chicago Bears (as Decatur Staleys) play first NFL game, win 7-0.

1928 - James "Junior" Gilliam, Dodgers (NL rookie of year 1953) is born.

1974 - Washington Capitals 1st NHL home victory, beating Chicago 4-3.
1974 - Oakland A's beat LA Dodgers, 4 games to 1 in 71st World Series 

makes A's only team other than Yanks to win 3 straight series.

1987 - First indoor World Series game (Minnesota Metrodome).

1989 - Earthquake in SF (6.9) cancels 3rd game of World Series, kills 67.
1991 - Angel Cordero is 3rd jockey to win 7,000 Horse Races.

1991 - Pittsburgh Penguin Paul Coffey sets NHL defenseman scoring record 

with 1,053 career points (309 goals & 744 assists).

1991 - Piet van Est, The Vuurbal, bicylist (7 x Tour de France), dies.
1992 - First World Series with non-US team, Toronto loses 3-1 to Braves.