Today in sports history, November 12

November 12 in sports history marked several significant milestones. In 1892, William "Pudge" Heffelfinger became the first known professional football player when he was paid $500 to play for the Allegheny Athletic Association against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. Major League Baseball's first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, was elected unanimously by the owners in 1920.

Maple Leaf Gardens opened its doors in Toronto in 1931, hosting the Chicago Black Hawks' first NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Vin Scully made his professional broadcasting debut in 1949, calling a college football game for CBS Radio. A 1953 U.S. District Court ruling upheld the NFL's policy of blacking out local television coverage of home games.

In 1972, Don Shula became the first NFL coach to win 100 regular-season games in his first 10 seasons. Tom Seaver won his third National League Cy Young Award in 1975. Denver Nuggets center Dan Issel scored his 20,000th career point in 1980. Earl Weaver retired as manager of the Baltimore Orioles in 1982, with Joe Altobelli taking over as his successor.

Roger Clemens won the American League Cy Young Award in 1986. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Redskins 28-14 in the infamous "Body Bag Game" in 1986. In 1991, Tom Glavine captured his first National League Cy Young Award. Dan Marino surpassed Fran Tarkenton's NFL passing yards record in 1995. Damon Hill won the Australian Grand Prix in 1995, and Jeff Gordon claimed his first NASCAR Winston Cup championship in 1995, becoming the youngest champion at the time.

Kevin Love set an NBA record in 2010 with a 30-point, 30-rebound game. Novak Djokovic won the ATP World Tour Finals in 2012, securing his eighth year-end No. 1 ranking. In 2023, Djokovic achieved a record-extending eighth year-end No. 1 ranking.