Today in sports history, August 18

August 18 marks significant events in sports history. In 1915, Braves Field welcomed over 46,000 fans as the Boston Braves triumphed over the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1. Gene Sarazen claimed the PGA Championship title in 1922, his second major victory of the year. Tom Sheehan showcased remarkable endurance in 1924, pitching 15⅔ innings to secure a 8-7 victory for the Cincinnati Reds.

Lou Gehrig reached a milestone in 1931, completing his 1,000th consecutive game for the Yankees. Dottie Kamenshek's exceptional performance in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1947 was highlighted by a perfect game with two home runs. The Cincinnati Redlegs and Milwaukee Braves collectively hit 10 home runs in 1956, tying the major league record.

Heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson defended his title in 1958 with a 12-round win over Roy Harris. Lew Burdette's no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1960 remains his only such achievement. Tony Conigliaro suffered a severe injury during a game in 1967, sidelining him for the remainder of the season and 1968. Hank Aaron's historic extra-base hit in 1973 surpassed Stan Musial's record.

Pete Rose achieved a career milestone in 1982, making his 13,941st plate appearance. The Kansas City Royals resolved a protested game in 1983, winning 5-4 after 25 days. Larry Bird retired from the NBA in 1992, concluding a stellar 13-year career. Rich Beem's victory in the 2002 PGA Championship marked his first major title. Ashton Eaton secured his second consecutive Olympic decathlon championship in 2016.

Argentina claimed its first Olympic gold in men's field hockey against Belgium in 2016. Daniil Medvedev secured his first ATP Masters 1000 title in 2019, defeating David Goffin. Madison Keys won the Cincinnati WTA singles championship in 2019, adding to her career successes. Freddie Freeman hit for the cycle in 2021, achieving this feat for the second time in his career.