Evolution of Sports in America

First College Football Game

Sep 6, 1869

The first college football game was played between Rutgers University and Princeton University, which was called the College of New Jersey at the time. Rutgers won by a score of 6 "runs" to Princeton's 4.

USA Track and Field

Sep 16, 1878

In 1992, USA Track and Field got its name to increase recognition for the organization and for the sport in the United States. William B. Curtis founded the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), which governed the sport of track and field in the United States.

Creation of Basketball

Dec 13, 1891

James Naismith invented the game of basketball by using a soccer ball and a peach basket.

First U.S. Golf Open

Oct 4, 1895

This event was first played at the Newport Country Club in Rhode Island. It was played on a nine hole course. It was a 36 hole competition that was played in one day, and there were 10 professionals and one amateur that entered.

First College Basketball Game

Jan 18, 1896

The first college basketball game was played on January 18, 1896, when the University of Iowa invited student athletes from the University of Chicago for an experimental game. The final score was 15-12, which Chicago winning.

First World Series

Oct 1, 1903

The first World Series was between the Boston Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Boston won the series (5-3).

U.S. Soccer

Aug 15, 1913

The U.S. Football Association was granted provisional membership by FIFA. The name has since changed to the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Women's Baseball

May 17, 1943

Spring training day took place on this day at Wrigley Field in Chicago for the first All-American Girls Baseball League. Four teams were formed within close proximity to Chicago, which is where the league headquarters were. What movie was based on this?

Beach Volleyball

Sep 4, 1976

The first professional beach volleyball tournament was the Olympia World Championship of Beach Volleyball at Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades, California.