TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - FEBRUARY 20TH

1887 - 1st Minor League baseball association organizes (Pittsburgh).

1923 - Christy Mathewson becomes pres of Boston Braves.
1927 - Golfers in SC arrested for violating Sabbath.
1929 - Red Sox announce they will play Sunday games at Braves Field.

1934 - Bobby Unser, auto racer (1968, 75, 81 Indianapolis 500) is born.
1937 - Roger Penske, auto racer is born.

1942 - Phil Esposito, Sault Ste. Marie Ontario,

NHL center/GM (Bruins, Rangers) is born.

1952 - 1st black umpire in organized baseball certified (Emmett Ashford).
1953 - US Court of Appeals rules that Organized Baseball is a sport &

not a business, affirming the 25-year-old Supreme Court ruling.

1958 - Jockey Eddie Arcaro rides his 4,000th winner.
1958 - LA Coliseum Comm approves 2-yr pact allows Dodgers to use facility.

1963 - Charles Barkley, Leads Alabama, NBA

forward (Phoenix, Rockets, Oly-gold-96) is born.

1963 - Willie Mays (SF Giants) signs a record $100,000 per year contract.

1966 - Cindy Crawford, Dekalb Ill, super model (Sports Illustrated Swimsuit) is born.
1971 - Bruin Phil Esposito is NHL's quickest to score 50 goals in a season.
1972 - 1st time Cleveland Cavaliers beat NY Knicks (111-109).
1974 - Gordie Howe comes out of retirement for $1M from Houston Aeros, WHA.

1983 - Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers All-Star pitcher is born.

1988 - Brian Boitano wins Olympic gold medal in Figure Skating.

1993 - Florida Marlins open their 1st spring training camp.

1993 - NY Islanders retire Billy Smith's number 31.
1997 - SF Giants Barry Bonds signs record $22.9M 2 year contract.
1998 - Tara Lipinski wins Olympic Figure Skating gold medal.

2006 - Curt Gowdy, American sportscaster (b. 1919) dies.