10 Best Christmas Day Moments In Sports History
It’s that time of year again—Christmas! And what better way to kick off the holiday season than by celebrating some epic sports moments? From Wayne Gretzky’s Gordie Howe hat trick to Michael Jordan’s game-winning shot against the Utah Jazz, these are some of the most memorable moments in sports history. So whether you’re a fan of sports or not, be sure to check out these ten best Christmas Day moments in sports history.
92: The Detroit Pistons Defeat The Chicago Bulls In Six Games To Win The NBA Championship
The Detroit Pistons defeated the Chicago Bulls in six games to win the NBA Championship. The game went down to the wire, with the Pistons coming back from a 3-1 deficit to take the series. Highlights of some of the best moments from Christmas Day sports include:
-Kobe Bryant scoring 81 points in a Los Angeles Lakers victory over the Dallas Mavericks
-Derek Jeter hitting a walk off home run in extra innings to give the New York Yankees a 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox
-Justin Verlander winning his first Cy Young Award as a Houston Astros pitcher in an 8-7 victory over Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers
2000: The Dallas Cowboys Beat The Buffalo Bills In The “Greatest Game Ever Played”
The Dallas Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills in the “Greatest Game Ever Played.” This game was considered by many to be the best ever played. The Cowboys were led by quarterback Tom Brady and running back Emmitt Smith. Smith was unstoppable that game and was able to carry the ball 25 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns. The Bills also had a great player in quarterback Ken O’Brien, but it was not enough to stop Smith and the Dallas Cowboys from winning their first Super Bowl championship.
1991: New York Yankees Pitcher David Cone Pitches A Perfect Game Against The Seattle Mariners
In a matchup of two of the most storied teams in baseball, the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners faced off on Christmas Day in 2001. Despite being heavily favored by many, the Yankees were unable to put away the lowly Mariners. The game was tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, when David Cone came onto the field. He proceeded to throw a perfect game, striking out all nine batters he faced. This is still the last time a pitcher has accomplished this feat. It’s also one of only three perfect games in MLB history (along with Roy Halladay’s 2010 performance for Philadelphia and Cliff Lee’s 2012 outing for Cleveland). Even after 98 years of playing baseball, Cone’s perfect game remains one of the most exciting moments in sports history. Merry Christmas, everyone!
1984: The Los Angeles Lakers Defeat The Philadelphia 76ers, Who Were Led By Julius Erving, To Win Their First Championship
On Christmas Day, 1973, the Philadelphia 76ers were leading the Los Angeles Lakers 3-1 in their best-of-seven playoff series. However, legendary player Julius Erving led the Lakers to victory, scoring a record 42 points in a Game 5 victory. This win marked the beginning of an era for the LA Lakers and is still considered one of the most iconic moments in team history.
1975: Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Terry Bradshaw Throws
The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most storied franchises in all of American professional sports. The franchise has won more than 60 percent of their games played over the past 50 years, and they have a long list of postseason appearances that includes five Super Bowl championships.
One of the greatest players to ever put on a Steelers uniform was quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Bradshaw led the team to its first two Super Bowl championships in 1978 and 1979, and he was also named MVP of both contests. He retired after the 1993 season, but he remains one of the most beloved and respected players in franchise history.
In honor of Christmas Day, here are some of the best moments in Terry Bradshaw’s illustrious career:
– In the 1978 Super Bowl, Bradshaw threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns as the Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 33-13. This performance earned him MVP honors.
– In Super Bowl XLIII, Bradshaw led Pittsburgh to a 21-18 victory over Arizona. He completed 26of 41 passes for 373 yards and four touchdowns, adding 128 yards on 14 carries. This performance cemented his place in NFL history as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.
66: Boston Red Sox Win The World Series
The Boston Red Sox captured their fifth World Series title in 86 years, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 in a thrilling Game 7 at Fenway Park. The 2016 campaign was a memorable one for both teams, with the Dodgers overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the New York Mets to make it to the Fall Classic, and Boston coming back from a 3-1 deficit against the Cleveland Indians to win its third championship in five seasons. Here are some of the best Christmas Day moments in sports history:
1. The Boston Red Sox capture their first World Series title in 86 years, beating the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.
2. The Pittsburgh Pirates become baseball’s first ever National League champions, edging out Brooklyn Dodgers in six games.
3. The Atlanta Braves win their first championship since 1995, sweeping the San Francisco Giants in four Games.
4. Kobe Bryant becomes just the sixth player in NBA history to score over 30,000 points and record over 5,000 assists during an individual season; he scores 34 points and records 10 assists during Game 6 of the Finals to help lead Los Angeles Lakers over Miami Heat 92-87 for their fourth consecutive championship.
5. Tom Brady becomes just the fourth quarterback—and first American—to win five Super Bowls (the other three being Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw and Eli Manning). He leads New England Patriots over Seattle Seahawks 28-24 for his fourth title overall and third with Brady
2007: Miami Dolphins Win Super Bowl XLI
On December 25, 2007, the Miami Dolphins became world champions by defeating the New England Patriots 27-24 in overtime in Super Bowl XLI. This was the first time a team from Miami had won a championship in any sport. The game was a close one throughout and came down to the last minute when Adam Vinatieri kicked the winning field goal as time expired. It was a memorable day for all involved including the fans who packed Sun Life Stadium in Miami. Here are some of the best moments from that iconic day:
The Victory Dance
After finally defeating their bitter rivals, the Miami Dolphins took to the field to celebrate their victory. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper led his teammates in an enthusiastic victory dance which quickly became an Internet sensation. Culpepper later joked that he “thought about doing it naked” but decided against it because “that wouldn’t have looked very good on TV.”
The Fan Rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Before Super Bowl XLI began, Fox Sports aired a special called “America’s Game: The Epic Story of Pro Football’s First Century.” One part of this documentary focused on how “The Star-Spangled Banner” is performed before Super Bowl games and included footage of fans from around the country performing it. Several thousand fans showed up outside Sun Life Stadium early that morning ready to sing and wave American flags while proudly displaying their Dolphin shirts and hats
2002: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Win The Super Bowl
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their first ever Super Bowl in franchise history on Sunday, February 4th, 2018. Prior to the game, many people thought that the New England Patriots would be the team to take home the title. However, the Buccaneers were able to pull off a dramatic comeback against an experienced Patriots squad, and eventually won 36-33 in overtime. Here are some of the best Christmas Day moments in sports history:
-The Detroit Pistons beat the Philadelphia 76ers 153-139 in double overtime on December 25th, 1984. This was one of the most exciting NBA games ever played and is still considered one of the greatest upsets in league history.
-The Boston Red Sox won their 108th World Series championship on October 28th, 2004 over the St. Louis Cardinals. This game was played in a record-breaking seven hours and 41 minutes and is still considered one of the greatest sports championships of all time.
-The Pittsburgh Penguins became champions for a second time on June 11th, 2007 after defeating the Dallas Stars 4-3 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. This victory marked the first time that an NHL team had returned to back-to-back championships since 1967-1968.
1976: Philadelphia 76ers Win The NBA Championship
The Philadelphia 76ers became the first team in NBA history to win a championship on Christmas Day, beating the Golden State Warriors 114-110 in Game 6 of the Finals. The victory came after a back-and-forth series that saw each team take three games. Philadelphia was able to close out the series with a dominant performance in Game 6, holding off a late comeback by Golden State. This was the first championship for the 76ers since 1985, and their first in nearly 40 years.
The Championship game was an exciting one that went down to the wire. Late in the fourth quarter, with Philadelphia up by two points, Stephen Curry led a furious comeback attempt that included a three-pointer with just under two minutes remaining. ButPhiladelphia held on and won their first championship since 1982. This is also only the second time that an Eastern Conference team has won the title (the other being Boston Celtics in 1957). Cavs fans might have felt left out as this was their year too, but they can console themselves with another championship next year.
1948: Detroit Tigers Win The World Series
Detroit Tigers Win the World Series
Best Christmas Day Moments in Sports History
The Detroit Tigers captured their first world championship in 54 years, winning the series against the Cleveland Indians in seven games. The victory was a long time coming for Detroit, as the team had not made it to the playoffs since 2006. The final game of the series was an exciting back and forth battle, with both teams putting up big numbers throughout. However, it was Miguel Cabrera who came through with the crucial hits in key moments, including a grand slam in the tenth inning that gave Detroit a lead they would not lose. This is only Cabrera’s third world championship (he also won a title with Pittsburgh in 2007), and his second with Detroit. Other memorable performances during the World Series included Justin Verlander’s record breaking four consecutive complete games (an American League record) and José Valverde’s dominating performance in relief (3-0 with a 0.00 ERA).
1957: New York Yankees Win The World Series
The New York Yankees won their record-tying 27th World Series title on Wednesday, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. Here are some of the best Christmas Day moments in sports history:
1. The Boston Red Sox win the 2004 World Series: On Nov. 3, 2004, the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in a seven-game epic to become champions for the first time in 86 years. It was an emotional night for the city of Boston, and it was especially special for fans who were able to celebrate on Christmas Day.
2. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls win their first NBA title in 1987: On June 6, 1987, Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls beat the Utah Jazz in six games to win their first NBA championship. It was an amazing moment for basketball fans all over the country, and it marked the beginning of one of the most successful careers in sports history.
3. The Pittsburgh Pirates win their first championship in 1971: On Oct. 16, 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat Matt Garza and the Houston Astros 4-3 in Game 7 of the World Series to claim their first title ever. It was a historic moment for baseball fans all over America, and it helped revive interest in this long-neglected sport.
4. The Boston Bruins win their first Stanley Cup in 1972: On May 11, 1972, Patrick Roy led his Montreal Canadiens past Bill Masterton and Bobby Orr and into
1968: Oakland A’s Miss Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game
Oakland A’s Miss Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game
The Oakland A’s were tasked with representing MLB at the All-Star Game, but they fell just short. In a game that was broadcast live on television, the A’s were unable to muster up enough votes to make it into the final round of voting. The closest they came was receiving 3.5 million votes, which was good for fifth place. Nevertheless, this is still an impressive accomplishment for a team that finished last in the American League West.
In terms of outstanding players, the A’s had several names to throw out there. Right fielder Khris Davis led all hitters in both home runs and RBI, while shortstop Marcus Semien showed off his defensive prowess by ranking first among AL shortstops in fielding percentage. However, it was not enough to propel them past some much more deserving teams.
1938: Chicago White Sox Beat The Cleveland
Chicago White Sox Beat the Cleveland
On Christmas Day in 1917, the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 9-1. It was a historic victory for the South Side team, as it was their first win over the Indians on Christmas Day. The game was also notable for being played in heavy snowfall.
Conclusion
No matter what your favorite sports team happens to be on Christmas day, there are sure to be some memorable moments that will stay with you long after the presents have been opened and the turkey has been eaten. From controversial calls that decided games right up until championship-winning plays, these are ten of the best sports moments in history on Christmas day. So whether you’re a fan of one team or another, make sure to enjoy every second of this festive holiday!
