Today in sports history: Lynn Swann's spectacular catches lead Steelers to Super Bowl X win
Here's a look back at sports happenings on this date in history, Jan. 18.
1938: Grover Cleveland Alexander elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
1938 — Grover Cleveland Alexander is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. His 90 shutouts is second on the career list to Walter Johnson and his 16 shutouts in 1916 is still the major league record.
In this June 12, 1939 file photo, former baseball stars attend the dedication of the baseball Hall of Fame on in Cooperstown, N.Y. Front row from left are; Eddie Collins, Babe Ruth, Connie Mack and Cy Young; Rear row from left are; Honus Wagner, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Tris Speaker, Napoleon Lajoie, George Sisler and Walter Johnson. (AP Photo/File)
1958: Willie O’Ree becomes the NHL’s first black player
1958 — Canadian born Willie O’Ree becomes the NHL’s first black player for the Boston Bruins.
In this Nov. 23, 1960, file photo, 25-year-old left wing Willie O'Ree, the first black player of the National Hockey League, warms up in his Boston Bruins uniform prior to a game against the New York Rangers at New York's Madison Square Garden.
1973: Orlando Cepeda becomes first player signed specifically to be designated hitter
1973 — Orlando Cepeda becomes the first player signed specifically to be a designated hitter. He signs with the Boston Red Sox one week after the designated hitter rule is approved.
Orlando Cepeda, right, swings a bat for photographers after the Boston Red Sox announced they had signed Cepeda, Thursday, Jan. 18, 1973, Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.
1976: Led by Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh wins Super Bowl for second straight year
1976 — Pittsburgh wins the Super Bowl for the second straight year. Terry Bradshaw’s 64-yard touchdown pass to Lynn Swann and Glen Edwards’ interception on the last play of the game gives the Steelers a 21-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Swann, with four receptions for 161 yards, is the game’s MVP.
In this Jan. 18, 1976, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers' Lynn Swann makes a diving catch against the Dallas Cowboys during NFL football's Super Bowl X at the Orange Bowl in Miami. (AP Photo/File)
1992: Brett Hull scores twice in NHL All-Star Game
1992 — Brett Hull scores two goals with the help of linemate Wayne Gretzky to lead the Campbell Conference to a 10-6 victory over the Wales Conference in the NHL All-Star game.
St. Louis Blues' right winger Brett Hull, facing camera, is congratulated by teammates Garth Butcher (5) and Paul Cavallini (14) after Hull scored his 50th goal in as many games during the second period of their game in Inglewood, Calif., Jan. 29, 1992. (AP Photo/Chris Martinez)
2004: New England Patriots earn their second trip to the Super Bowl in three seasons
2004 — The New England Patriots earn their second trip to the Super Bowl in three seasons by defeating the Indianapolis Colts 24-14 in the AFC championship game. The Philadelphia Eagles fall one win short of the Super Bowl for the third straight year as the Carolina Panthers post a 14-3 win.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, talks with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning after the Patriots 24-14 win during their AFC Championship game in Foxboro, Mass., in this Jan. 18, 2004 file photo. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
2005: Earl Boykins breaks NBA record for points in an overtime with 15
2005 — Earl Boykins breaks the NBA record for points in an overtime, scoring 15 of Denver’s 21 points in the extra period as the Nuggets beat the Seattle SuperSonics 116-110. The 5-foot-5 guard, the league’s smallest player, broke the record of 14 overtime points set by Butch Carter of Indiana against Boston on March 20, 1984.
Denver Nuggets' Earl Boykins (11) is congratulated by teammates Marcus Camby, right, and Andre Miller after Boykins scored against the Seattle SuperSonics in overtime, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
2011: Kim Clijsters starts Australian Open run with a 6-0, 6-0 romp of 3-time Slam finalist Dinara Safina
2011 — Kim Clijsters starts her Australian Open run with a 6-0, 6-0 romp of three-time Grand Slam finalist and former No. 1-ranked player Dinara Safina. It’s the first time a woman who was once the top-ranked player in the world had ever lost by that score.
Kim Clijsters of Belgium runs to make a return to Dinara Safina of Russia during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/John Donegan)
2015: Tom Brady throws 3 TDs to lead New England to Super Bowl berth
2015 — Tom Brady throws for three touchdowns and LeGarrette Blount runs in three more to lead the New England Patriots into the Super Bowl with a 45-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates LeGarrette Blount's touchdown during the second half of the NFL football AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
2015: Russell Wilson OT strike leads Seahawks to improbable playoff win over Packers
2015 — Russell Wilson hits Jermaine Kearse for a 35-yard touchdown 3:19 into overtime to lift the Seattle Seahawks to an improbable 28-22 victory over Green Bay in the NFC championship game. Outplayed much of the game and plagued by five turnovers, the Seahawks trail 16-7 with 2:09 remaining.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson celebrates after NFL football NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 28-22 to advance to Super Bowl XLIX. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Most Popular
In 1990, Hank Gathers dies after collapsing during Loyola Marymount’s West Coast Conference tournament game against Portland. He was 23.
In 2015, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is suspended for nine games, with the school punished for ignoring the “most fundamental core values of th…
Already, 2021 has seen the passing of several notable people in news, entertainment and sports. A look at those we've lost this year.
In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scores an NBA-record 100 points to lead the Philadelphia Warriors to a 169-147 triumph over the New York Knicks in H…
Top photos of the day as selected by the Associated Press.
The movie version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “The Sound of Music,” starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, had its world p…
Here are some of the notable people celebrating birthdays today, including Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Martin, Daniel Craig, Jon Bon Jovi, Nath…
In 1944, U.S. heavy bombers staged the first full-scale American raid on Berlin during World War II, and more events that happened on this day…
Here are some of the notable people celebrating birthdays today, including Harry Belafonte, Javier Bardem, Justin Bieber, Kesha, Lupita Nyong’…
A march by civil rights demonstrators was violently broken up at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, in what came to be known as “Bloody Sunday,” and mo…