TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - DECEMBER 22ND

1862 - Connie Mack, East Brookfield, Massachusetts,

HOF baseball executive/manager (Phila A's 1900-1950), (d. 1956) is born.

1877 - "American Bicycling Journal" begins publishing (Boston, Mass).

1894 - United States Golf Association forms (NYC).
1915 - Federal Baseball League disolved.

1943 - Manufacturers get permission to use synthetic rubber for baseball core.

1944 - Steve Carlton, Phillies' pitcher (Cy Young '72, '77, '80, '82) is born.
1946 - Cleveland Browns beat NY Yankees 14-9 in AAFC championship game.

1948 - Steve Garvey, 1st baseman (LA Dodgers, San Diego Padres) is born.

1951 - Jan Stephenson, Australian golfer (LPGA Rookie of Year-1974),

born in Sydney, New South Wales.

1959 - NY Ranger goalie Marcel Paille wears a customized mask.
1962 - 1,000,000th NBA point scored.
1969 - Pete Marovich sets NCAA record of hitting 30 of 31 foul shots.

1974 - Phil Esposito, Boston, became 6th NHLer to score 500 goals.
1980 - Cardinals release outfielder Bobby Bonds.

1990 - Paul Coffey becomes the second NHL defenceman to record

1000 points, doing so in a record-breaking 770 games.
1995 - David Cone signs $19.5 million 3 year contract with NY Yankees.
1996 - Steelers' Kordell Stewart runs quarterback record 80 yds for TD.

2003 - The New York Knicks hire Isiah Thomas as President of Basketball Operations.