THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - DECEMBER 31ST

1950 - Jockeys Willie Shoemaker & Joe Culmone set record of 388 wins in a year.

1958 - Willie Shoemaker 1st jockey to win national riding championship 4X.
1961 - Green Bay Packers shutout NY Giants 37-0 in NFL Championship game.

1963 - Chicago Bears win NFL Championship.

1967 - First NBA game at Great Western Forum, LA Lakers beat Houston 147-118.
1967 - Oakland Raiders beat Houston Oilers 40-7 in AFL championship game.
1967 - Packers beat Cowboys 21-17 in NFL championship game (-13°F).
1968 - NY Jets win AFL championship.

1972 - Roberto Clemente, slugger (Pitts Pirate), dies in a plane crash at 38

1972 - Miami Dolphins beat Pittsburgh Steelers 21-7 in AFC Championship game.
1972 - Washington Redskins beat Dallas Cowboys 26-3 in NFC championship game.

1974 - NY Yankees sign Jim "Catfish" Hunter for 5 yrs for a record $3.75 million.

1990 - George Allen, US football coach (LA Rams, Wash Redskins), dies

1989 - Jockey Kent Desormeaux sets record with 598 wins in a year.

1997 - Marv Levy, retires as coach of Buffalo Bills.