TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - FEBRUARY 3RD

1876 - Albert Spalding with $800 starts sporting goods co, manufacturing

1st official baseball, tennis ball, basketball, golf ball, & football.
1894 - 1st US steel sailing vessel, Dirigo, launched at Bath, Maine.

1899 - Forrest "Red" DeBernardi, basketball hall of famer (elected 1961) is born.

1940 - Fran Tarkenton, Richmond Va, NFL QB (NY Giants, Minnesota Vikings) is born.

1942 - Baseball owners agree to permit each club up to 14 night games in 1942.

1945 - Bob Griese, NFL quarterback (Miami Dolphins, 1971 Player of Year) is born.

1952 - Fred Lynn, baseball outfielder (Boston, California, Baltimore),

born in Chicago, Illinois is born.

1956 - Toni Sailor becomes 1st Olympic skier to sweep 3 alpine events.

1965 - Braves offer Milwaukee $500,000 to terminate their lease

a year earlier, the proposal is turned down.

1968 - Vlade Divac, Yugoslavia, NBA center (Charlotte Hornets, LA Lakers) is born.

1979 - Minnesota Twins trade Rod Carew to California for 4 players.

1990 - Jockey Billy Shoemaker (58), retires after 40,350 horse race.

1998 - Florida Panther Dino Ciccarelli is 9th NHLer to score 600 career goals.
1998 - NY Yankees replace general manager Bob Watson with Brian Cashman.
2002 - Super Bowl XXXVI: New England Patriots beat St. Louis Rams,

20-17 at the Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans MVP: Tom Brady, New England, QB.
2008 - Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants beat New England Patriots,

17-14 at the University of Phoenix Stadium MVP: Eli Manning, New York, QB.
2013 - Super Bowl XLVII: Baltimore Ravens beat San Francisco 49ers,

34-31 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome MVP: Joe Flacco, Baltimore, QB.