100 Greatest Days in New York Sports

This book illuminates how important sports are to the life of New York but also of the city's preeminent place in American sports. It covers the most dramatic sporting events ever to take place in New York and features both the greatest stars—including Babe Ruth and Muhammad Ali—and the unlikeliest of heroes—such as Jeremy Lin and Roberta Vinci.

Stuart Miller

Introduction 1. Wilmer Flores Becomes a New York Folk Hero, July 31, 2015, Citi Field 2. Roberta Vinci Stuns Serena Williams to Stop Her Grand Slam dreams, September 11, 2015, National Tennis Center 3. American Pharoah Ends the Triple Crown Wait, June 6, 2015, Belmont Park 4. The Rangers Finally Topple the Penguins in Seven, en Route to the Finals, May 13, 2014, Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh 5. Linsanity Takes over New York and the NBA, February 4, 2012, Madison Square Garden 6. The Patriots Are Again the Favorites, but the Giants Are Again the Champions, February 5, 2012, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis 7. Novak Djokovic Dominates the Tennis World and Stuns Roger Federer, September 10, 2011, National Tennis Center 8. The Jets "Can't Wait" to Beat the Patriots in the Playoffs, January 18, 2011, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough 9. Hideki Matsui Drives in Six as the Yankees Win Their Only Championship Post-2000, November 4, 2009, Yankee Stadium 10. Unheralded Juan Martin del Potro Upsets Invincible Roger Federer, September 14, 2009, National Tennis Center 11. Eli Manning Scrambles, David Tyree Uses his Head, and the Giants End the Patriots' Dream Season, February 3, 2008, University of Phoenix Stadium, Phoenix 12. Aaron Boone Sinks the Sox, October 16, 2003, Yankee Stadium 13. Justine Henin's Comeback Undoes and Outdoes Jennifer Capriati's, September 5, 2003, National Tennis Center 14. In a Match for the Ages, Pete Sampras Beats Andre Agassi One Last Time, September 8, 2002, National Tennis Center 15. Mike Piazza Picks Up New York with His Post-9/11 Game-Winning Homer, September 21, 2001, Shea Stadium 16. The Williams Sisters Take Women's Tennis into Prime Time, September 8, 2001, National Tennis Center 17. The Subway Series Rides Again, October 21, 2000, Yankee Stadium 18. Allan Houston Beats the Buzzer and Miami, May 16, 1999, Miami Arena 19. Jim Leyritz Powers a Yankees Comeback, October 23, 1996, Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta 20. Steffi Graf, Struggling with Her Father's Arrest, Faces Off against Monica Seles, Struggling to Overcome Her Stabbing Injury, September 9, 1995, National Tennis Center 21. Fifty-four Years Later, the Rangers Finally Win the Stanley Cup, June 14, 1994, Madison Square Garden 22. Patrick Ewing Lifts the Knicks into the NBA Finals, June 5, 1994, Madison Square Garden 23. Stephane Matteau Scores in Double Overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, May 27, 1994, Madison Square Garden 24. Grete Waitz and Fred Lebow Run Side by Side, November 1, 1992, Central Park 25. Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati Introduce Power to Women's Tennis, While Martina Navratilova Does Her Best Jimbo, September 6, 1991, National Tennis Center 26. Jimmy Connors Defies Father Time, September 2, 1991, National Tennis Center 27. Buffalo Misses Wide Right and the Giants Escape with Their Second Super Bowl, January 27, 1991, Tampa Stadium, Tampa 28. The Knicks Beat Boston in Boston, Finally, May 6, 1990, Boston Garden 29. Phil Simms Is Almost Perfect as the Giants Win Their First Super Bowl, January 25, 1987, Rose Bowl, Pasadena 30. The Mets Come Back One More Time in Game 7, October 27, 1986, Shea Stadium 31. Mookie Wilson Hits a Ground Ball to First in Game 6 of the World Series, October 25, 1986, Shea Stadium 32. The Mets Finally Vanquish Houston in the 16th, October 15, 1986, Astrodome, Houston 33. Every Match Goes the Distance on Super Saturday, September 8, 1984, National Tennis Center 34. Bernard King Buries Detroit, April 27, 1984, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit 35. St. John's Revs Up the Big East, March 12, 1983, Madison Square Garden 36. The Jets Win and Help the Giants, too, December 20, 1981, Shea Stadium 37. John McEnroe Gets Revenge against Bjorn Borg, September 7, 1980, National Tennis Center 38. Bobby Nystrom's OT Goal Gives the Islanders Their First of Four Straight Stanley Cups, May 24, 1980, Nassau Coliseum 39. The Rangers Beat the Islanders to Reach the Stanley Cup Finals, May 8, 1979, Madison Square Garden 40. Bucky Dent Tops the Green Monster, October 2, 1978, Fenway Park, Boston 41. Affirmed Edges Alydar for the Third Straight Time to Win the Triple Crown, June 10, 1978, Belmont Park 42. Reggie, Reggie, Reggie, October 18, 1977, Yankee Stadium 43. The Marathon Expands to All Five Boroughs, and Bill Rodgers Wins It, October 24, 1976, Central Park 44. Chris Chambliss Homers the Yankees Back into the World Series, October 14, 1976, Yankee Stadium 45. Dr. J Leads the Nets Back from 22 Down to Win the Final ABA Finals, May 13, 1976, Nassau Coliseum 46. The Upstart Islanders Stun the Comeback Rangers in the Playoffs in OT, April 11, 1975, Madison Square Garden 47. The "Ya Gotta Believe" Mets Win a Miracle Finish in the 13th against the Pirates, September 20, 1973, Shea Stadium 48. Secretariat Ends Horse Racing's Triple Crown Drought by Dominating at the Belmont Stakes, June 9, 1973, Belmont Park 49. The Knicks Finally Beat Boston in Game 7, April 29, 1973, Boston Garden, Boston 50. The Fight: Ali-Frazier I, March 8, 1971, Madison Square Garden 51. Willis Reed Hobbles to the Rescue, May 8 1970, Madison Square Garden 52. The Amazin' Mets Win the World Series, October 16, 1969, Shea Stadium 53. Tommie Agee Saves the Day, Then Does It Again, October 14, 1969, Shea Stadium 54. Broadway Joe Makes Good on His Guarantee, January 12, 1969, Orange Bowl, Miami 55. The Jets Avenge Their "Heidi" Loss and Win the AFL Title, December 27, 1968, Shea Stadium 56. Arthur Ashe Wins the First U.S. Open, September 9, 1968, West Side Tennis Club 57. This Time Ralph Terry Finds Success in the Ninth Inning of a Game 7, October 16, 1962, Candlestick Park, San Francisco 58. Roger Maris Beats the Babe, October 1, 1961, Yankee Stadium 59. Pat Summerall Kicks a Field Goal in the Snow, December 14, 1958, Yankee Stadium 60. The Yankees Resurrect Themselves with a 10-Inning Win, October 8, 1958, County Stadium, Milwaukee 61. Carmen Basilio and Sugar Ray Robinson Go to War, September 23, 1957, Yankee Stadium 62. The Giants Crush the Bears in the NFL Championship Game, December 30, 1956, Yankee Stadium 63. Don Larsen Pitches a Perfect Game in the World Series, October 8, 1956, Yankee Stadium 64. "Next Year" Finally Arrives for Brooklyn, October 4, 1955, Ebbets Field 65. Willie Mays Makes "The Catch," September 29, 1954, Polo Grounds 66. The Yankees Win a Fifth Straight World Series on Billy Martin's Series-Record 12th Hit, October 5, 1953, Yankee Stadium 67. Billy Martin's Lunging Catch of Jackie Robinson's Popup Saves Game 7 of the World Series, October 7, 1952, Ebbets Field 68. Sugar Ray Robinson Melts against Joey Maxim, June 25, 1952, Yankee Stadium 69. The Giants Win the Pennant, October 3, 1951, Polo Grounds 70. CCNY Wins Its Second National Championship . . . of the Month, March 28, 1950, Madison Square Garden 71. Columbia Ends Army's Winning Streak, October 25, 1947, Baker Field 72. Cookie Lavagetto Ruins Floyd Bevens's World Series No-hitter, October 3, 1947, Ebbets Field 73. Jackie Robinson Shatters the Color Barrier, April 15, 1947, Ebbets Field 74. Army and Notre Dame Shut One Another Out in the "Battle of the Century," November 9, 1946, Yankee Stadium 75. Tony Zale Drops Rocky Graziano, September 27, 1946, Yankee Stadium 76. Joe DiMaggio Hits in his 45th Straight Game, a New Record, July 2, 1941, Yankee Stadium 77. Joe Louis Comes Back to KO Billy Conn, June 18, 1941, Polo Grounds 78. Lou Gehrig Proclaims Himself the "Luckiest Man," July 4, 1939, Yankee Stadium 79. The Giants Hold Off the Packers for the NFL Championship, December 11, 1938, Polo Grounds 80. Joe Louis Annihilates Max Schmeling, June 22, 1938, Yankee Stadium 81. Lazzeri, DiMaggio, and the Yankees Make a Statement against the Giants and Start a New Yankees Dynasty, October 2, 1936, Yankee Stadium 82. Ned Irish Launches College Basketball with the First Doubleheader, December 29, 1934, Madison Square Garden 83. The Giants Win the NFL Championship in the Sneaker Game, December 9, 1934, Polo Grounds 84. At the All-Star Game, Carl Hubbell Strikes Out Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, Simmons, and Cronin in a Row, July 10, 1934, Polo Grounds 85. Columbia Pulls Off a Stunning Rose Bowl Upset, January 1, 1934, Rose Bowl, Pasadena 86. Babe Ruth "Calls" His World Series Home Run, October 1, 1932, Wrigley Field, Chicago 87. Notre Dame Wins One for the Gipper, November 10, 1928, Yankee Stadium 88. The Babe Hits 60, September 30, 1927, Yankee Stadium 89. Harry Greb Bests Mickey Walker, July 2, 1925, Polo Grounds 90. The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame Triumph over Army, October 18, 1924, Yankee Stadium 91. Jack Dempsey Outslugs Luis Firpo, September 14, 1923, Polo Grounds 92. Babe Ruth Christens the "House That Ruth Built" with a Home Run, April 18, 1923, Yankee Stadium 93. The Giants Win, 1-0, to Capture the First Modern "Subway" Series, October 13, 1921, Polo Grounds 94. Bill Tilden Becomes Tennis' First Superstar with a Revenge Win against Bill Johnston, September 6, 1920, West Side Tennis Club 95. Man o' War Comes Back to Beat John P. Grier at the Dwyer Stakes, July 10, 1920, Aqueduct Race Course 96. Marathon Mania Reaches Its Peak, April 3, 1909, Polo Grounds 97. Matty Shuts Out the A's, Again, October 14, 1905, Polo Grounds 98. Charles Miller Rides (and Rides) into the Record Books, December 10, 1898, Madison Square Garden 99. The Brooklyn Atlantics Hand the Cincinnati Red Stockings Their First Defeat, June 14, 1870, Capitoline Grounds 100. New York Gets Its First Glimpse of a Sports-Mad Future, May 27, 1823, Union Course Selected Bibliography About the Author