Today in sports history, September 3

On September 3, sports history saw a variety of notable events unfold. In 1869, one of the earliest documented interracial baseball games took place between the all-Black Philadelphia Pythians and the White Olympics, with the Olympics emerging victorious with a score of 44-23. Richard Sears claimed the inaugural U.S. National Championships men’s singles title in 1881 at Newport, Rhode Island, marking the start of his seven U.S. national singles crowns.

In 1904, American Martin Sheridan secured gold at the St. Louis Olympic Games after a discus throw-off victory over Ralph Rose in a first-ever tie. In 1932, Philadelphia Athletics slugger Jimmie Foxx hit back-to-back home runs, the 50th and 51st of his season, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 4-3 win. In 1950, Nino Farina claimed victory at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, securing the inaugural Formula One World Drivers’ Championship title.

Warren Spahn set a National League record with his 41st career shutout in 1957, accomplishing the feat as a left-handed pitcher. Jim Hickman became the first New York Mets player to hit three home runs in a single game in 1965. Bobby Orr signed with the Boston Bruins ahead of his rookie NHL season in 1966, initiating an influential career in hockey.

Billy Williams ended his National League-record streak of 1,117 consecutive games played in 1970. Lasse Virén overcame a fall to win the 10,000 meters Olympic race with a world-record time of 27 minutes, 38.4 seconds in 1972. Hank Aaron broke Stan Musial's major league record with his 6,135th total base in 1972. Billy Casper captured the Greater Hartford Open, achieving his 50th PGA Tour victory in 1973.

Benjamin Becker ended Andre Agassi's 21-year professional career by defeating him in the third round of the U.S. Open in 2006. Pedro Martínez struck out Aaron Harang to become the 15th major league pitcher to record 3,000 career strikeouts in 2007. Bryson DeChambeau won the Dell Technologies Championship by two strokes in 2008, becoming the second player to secure victories in the first two events of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs.

In 2020, the Philadelphia Phillies honored Dick Allen by retiring his No. 15 jersey, making him the first player in franchise history to receive this honor before being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Finally, in 2021, 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz stunned third-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas in five sets at the U.S. Open, achieving his first career win against a top-three opponent.