Timeline: Sports Evolution

Jul 30, 1815

Soccer Rules Established

Jul 30, 1834

First Game of Horse Polo

Jul 30, 1844

First YMCA founded in London

Jul 27, 1845

Baseball Created by Alexander Cartwright

Jul 27, 1850

Hockey Invented by Canadian Army

Jul 30, 1856

First YMCA in USA, TN

Jul 26, 1858

First Known Game in Baseball

The first known game in which fans paid to attend was held at Fashion Race Course in Queens, NY. It was a baseball game between two teams in the New York City area.

Jul 30, 1869

First Professional Baseball Team Formed in Ohio

Jul 30, 1877

1st Wimbleton

Jul 27, 1882

American Basaball Associate was created

also known as Beer and Whiskey League

Jul 27, 1889

First Women's Hockey Team founded in Ottawn.

Jul 27, 1891

Basketball Invented by James Naismith

Jul 27, 1894

1st Indooor Hockey Rink opens in Baltimore, MD

Jul 27, 1895

First College Baskeball Game Played

Jul 27, 1895

College Hockey was born

Jul 27, 1896

First Olympics held in Athens Greece

Jul 27, 1898

US Basketball becomes Professional NBL

with the formation of the NBL

Jul 30, 1903

First World Series (bsseball)

Jul 26, 1906

NCAA Officially Formed

The National Collegiate Athletic Association was officially formed to govern collegiate athletics.

Jul 30, 1911

First Recreation Center

Jul 30, 1912

Fenway Park was Opened (baseball)

Jul 30, 1923

First Hockey radio broadcast

Jul 27, 1933

3 POINT shoot is added to Basketball

Jul 26, 1934

Lou Gehrig on Wheaties Box

Lou Gehrig became the first athlete ever to appear on a Wheaties box.

Jul 30, 1936

Great Britian wins first Olympic Gold Medal Hockey

Jul 26, 1943

All American Girls Professional Baseball League Formed

This was formed while the MLB players were serving in WWII

Jul 30, 1946

1st NHL player suspended

Jul 26, 1949

Female Athlete Endorsed

The first major endorsement deal for a female athlete. Wilson Sporting Goods signed golfer Babe Didrikson Zaharias to an endorsement contract worth $100,000 per year.

Jul 30, 1949

First NBA Championship won by Minninneapolis

Jul 30, 1958

1st Black Hockey Play in NHL, Willy O'Ree

Jul 30, 1961

Arnold Palmer first American to win British Open

Jul 26, 1964

Blue Ribbon Sports founded

Blue Ribbon Sports, an athletic footwear company, was founded by Philip H. Knight. In 1972, this company becomes Nike.

Jul 30, 1967

First Super Bowl, LA

Jul 26, 1972

Title IX enacted

Title IX is enacted, mandating equal access to educational opportunities for men and women. This legislation creates new opportunities for women in sports as athletes, coaches and administrators.

Jul 26, 1973

Rich Foods 1st Company for Venue Naming Rights

Rich Foods becomes the first company to pay for the right to have their name on a venue. Rich Foods agreed to pay $60,000/year for the naming rights to the Buffalo Bills football stadium.

Jul 30, 1975