This Day in Sports History: March 5
Sports in March include crucial stretches of the NBA and NHL seasons, MLB Spring Training/Opening Day, March Madness, NASCAR, Formula 1, UFC Fight Nights, and some PGA Tour Events. Over…
Sports in March include crucial stretches of the NBA and NHL seasons, MLB Spring Training/Opening Day, March Madness, NASCAR, Formula 1, UFC Fight Nights, and some PGA Tour Events. Over the years, March 5 has witnessed many notable moments and stories involving sporting legends. Here are some of them.
Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records
Great moments in sports history from March 5 included:
- 1840: In the second Grand National, Bartholomew Bretherton won aboard 16/1 Jerry, and at the time, it was the smallest field of 13.
- 1910: In the Stanley Cup, the Montreal Wanderers beat the Ottawa Senators, 3-1.
- 1955: At the second ACC Men's Basketball Tournament, North Carolina State beat Duke University, 87-77.
- 1960: Duke University defeated Wake Forest 63-59 at the seventh ACC Men's Basketball Tournament.
- 1960: Alain Giletti of France won the men's event at the World Figure Skating Championships in Vancouver.
- 1960: Carol Heiss of the United States won gold in the ladies' event at the World Figure Skating Champions in Vancouver.
- 1964: Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. announced a baseball team was moving to the city.
- 1965: Boxer Ernie Terrell beat Eddie Machen by a unanimous points decision, in 15 rounds.
- 1966: Player representatives elected Marvin Miller as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association.
- 1966: The 13th ACC Men's Basketball Tournament saw Duke University beat North Carolina State, 71-66.
- 1972: Dutch speed skater Atje Keulen-Deelstra became the Women's Allround World Champion at Heerenveen, Netherlands. It was her second title in three years.
- 1977: North Carolina State defeated Virginia 75-69 at the 24th ACC Men's Basketball Tournament.
- 1981: Scott Hamilton of the United States was the men's gold medalist at the Figure Skating Champions in Hartford.
- 1981: Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean of Great Britain won the Ice Dance Championship at Hartford.
- 1982: MLB pitcher Gaylord Perry, who had 297 career wins, signed with the Seattle Mariners.
- 1985: New York Islanders legend Mike Bossy was the first to score 50 goals in eight straight seasons.
- 1991: Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers began his NBA free throw streak of 52 games.
- 1993: Boston Celtic Larry Bird underwent spinal fusion surgery.
- 1996: Earl Weaver and Jim Bunning were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
- 1997: Tommy Lasorda, Nellie Fox, and Willie Wells were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
- 2011: Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love picked up his 52nd straight double-double, which broke the post-merger NBA record.
- 2013: Bernard Hopkins became the oldest boxer to win a major world title at 48 years old.
- 2023: Caitlin Clark recorded 30 points, 17 assists, and 10 rebounds in the Big Ten women's basketball tournament final for Iowa against Ohio State.
Three athletes who stood out on March 5 were Mike Bossy, Reggie Miller, and Bernard Hopkins.
Bossy was a legendary New York Islanders right winger and Hockey Hall of Famer (1991), renowned as one of the NHL's greatest pure goal scorers. Miller is known for his 3-point shooting prowess and intense playoff performances, particularly against the New York Knicks. Hopkins is famous for dominating the middleweight division, setting a record with 20 consecutive title defenses.
