TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - NOVEMBER 4TH

1889 - Players League begins, declaring independence from baseball's NL.
1924 - California legalizes professional boxing (illegal since 1914).

1929 - Jimmy Piersall, baseball player (Red Sox, Senators, Indians) is born.

1950 - Grover Cleveland Alexander, American baseball player (b. 1887) dies.
1955 - Cy Young, baseball pitcher and MLB all-time wins leader, dies at 88.

1959 - Ernie Banks, Cubs shortstop, wins 2nd consecutive NL MVP.

1975 - Orioles Jim Palmer wins his 2nd Cy Young Award.
1976 - 1st mass-market free-agent reentry draft, Reggie Jackson,

Joe Rudi, Don Gullett, Gene Tenace, Rollie Fingers, Don Baylor,

Bobby Grich & Willie McCovey, available.

1978 - 3rd annual reentry free-agent draft, Pete Rose,

Tommy John, & Darrell Evans, available.
1980 - Sadaharu Oh, 40, pro baseball's all-time HR run king with 868, retires.

1987 - Benito Santiago, Padres catcher, wins NL Rookie of Year.
1987 - NBA announces 4 new franchises; Charlotte & Miami for

1988 & Minneapolis & Orlando for 1989.
1988 - First NBA game at Charlotte Coliseum - Hornets lose to Cavs, 133-93.
1989 - First NBA game at Orlando Arena, Orlando Magic loses to NJ Nets, 111-106.

1992 - NY Giants announce they will quit WNEW Radio after 32 years for WOR.
1992 - NY Jets announce they are moving from WABC to WFAN radio.
1994 - United Center in Chicago opens - Bulls beat Charlotte Hornets, 89-83.

1995 - Key Arena opens, Seattle Supersonics beat LA Lakers 103-89.
2001 - MLB World Series: Arizona Diamondbacks defeat NY Yankees to win 4-3.
2009 - MLB World Series: NY Yankees defeat Philadelphia Phillies to win 4-2.

2010 - Sparky Anderson, American baseball manager, dies at 76.