TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - DECEMBER 26TH

1908 - Jack Johnson TKOs Tommy Burns in 14 for heavyweight

boxing title, becomes 1st black heavyweight champion.
1917 - 1st NHL defensemen to score a goal: Toronto Maple Leaf Harry Cameron.

1919 - Yankees & Red Sox reach agreement on transfer of Babe Ruth the Yankees.

1934 - Yomiuri Giants, Japan's 1st professional baseball team forms.

1943 - Chicago Bears win NFL championship,

defeating Washington Redskins 41-21 in Chicago.

1947 - Carlton Fisk, Vermont, all star catcher (Red Sox, White Sox) is born.

1950 - Gillette & Mutual buy All Star & World Series rights ($6M for 6 yrs).

1954 - Ozzie Smith, Mobile AL, infielder (St Louis Cardinals) is born.
1954 - Cleveland Browns win NFL Championship, beating Detroit 56-10.
1955 - Cleveland Browns win NFL Championship, beating Los Angeles Rams 38-14.

1960 - Philadelphia Eagles beat Green Bay Packers 17-13 in NFL championship game.

1963 - "Gorgeous George" Wagner, wrestler, dies.
1964 - Buffalo Bills beat San Diego Chargers 20-7 in AFL championship game.
1965 - Buffalo Bills beat San Diego Chargers 23-0 in AFL championship game.

1975 - 5th Fiesta Bowl: #7 Arizona State beats #6 Nebraska, 17-14.
1976 - AFC Championship Game: Oakland Raiders beat Pittsburgh Steelers 24-7.
1976 - NFC Championship Game: Minnesota Vikings beat Los Angeles Rams 24-13.
1980 - 10th Fiesta Bowl: #10 Penn State beats #11 Ohio State, 31-19.

1986 - Doug Jarvis, 31, sets NHL record of 916 consecutive games.

1986 - Mark Messier is suspended for 10 games for instigating

a fight with Jamie Macoun and breaking his cheekbone.

1989 - Doug Harvey, Canadian ice hockey player, dies of cirrhosis of the liver at 65.

1990 - Reggie Williams becomes 1st GM of WLAF's NY-NJ Knights.
1990 - Senior Professional Baseball Association folds.
1991 - Chuck Knolls retires as NFL coach after 23 years.

2004 - Reggie White, American football player, dies at 43.