Early agate
ON THIS DATE
July 31
1938 – Pittsburgh of the NFL signs Colorado’s All-American halfback Byron ‘Whizzer” White for an unheard of salary of $15,800 for one year. White thus delays his entrance at Oxford University in England, where he was awarded a Rhodes scholarship.
1972 – Among 11 players released from training camp by the Pittsburgh Steelers is former Washington & Jefferson College running back Rich Pocock.
1996 – Kurt Angle of the United States defeats Konstantin Aleksandrov of Kyrgyzstan by referee’s decision to win the gold medal in 220-pound freestyle wrestling at the Atlanta Olympics.
2001 – The Pittsburgh Pirates trade relief pitcher Mike Williams, who has 22 saves, to Houston for pitcher Tony McKnight.
2012 – Michael Phelps breaks the Olympic medals record with his 19th as the United States romp to a dominating win in 4×200-meter freestyle relay at the London Games. With 19 career medals spanning three Olympics, Phelps moves one ahead of Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, who got her haul in 1956, 1960 and 1964.
Aug. 1
1906 – Harry McIntire of the Brooklyn Dodgers pitches 10 2/3 innings of no-hit ball before Claude Ritchey of Pittsburgh singles. McIntire weakens in the 13th and loses 1-0 to the Pirates on an unearned run, finishing with a four-hitter.
1970 – Willie Stargell of Pittsburgh hits three doubles and two home runs to tie the major league record for extra-base hits in a game and powers the Pirates to a 20-10 rout of the Braves in Atlanta.
1972 – Nate Colbert of the San Diego Padres drives in 13 runs in a doubleheader sweep of the Atlanta Braves, 9-0 and 11-7.
1973 – The New York Nets of the American Basketball Association obtains Julius Erving from the cash-strapped Virginia Squires for $750,000 and sign him to an eight-year contract.
1975 – Joe Gilliam comes off the bench in the fourth quarter and throws two touchdown passes as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat football’s College All-Stars 21-14 at Solider Field in Chicago.
1978 – Pete Rose’s assault on Joe DiMaggio’s all-time record of hitting in 56 straight games ends at 44 when he goes hitless against two Atlanta Braves pitchers, rookie Larry McWilliams and veteran reliever Gene Garber.
1981 – Mike Czulewicz pitches a three-hitter and Washington beats host Syracuse, N.Y., 5-3, to earn a berth in the Thorobred World Series in Norfolk, Va. Eric Mongetale leads the offense with a two-run double.
1987 – The Denver Dynamite blast the Pittsburgh Gladiators 45-16 at the Civic Arena in the first Arena Football League championship game, dubbed Arena Bowl I. The Gladiators become the first AFL team to be shut out for three consecutive quarters.
1987 – Mike Tyson wins the undisputed heavyweight boxing championship with a 12-round unanimous decision over IBF champion Tony Tucker in Las Vegas.
2009 – Andrew McCutchen homers three times and has a career-high six RBI to help Pittsburgh rout Washington, 11-6.
HOLES-IN-ONE
Mary Bokat of Carmichaels had a hole-in-one Thursday at nemacolin Country Club. She aced the 156-yard No. 4 hole by usiing a 5-iron. Her playing partners were karen Churilla and cathy Ruscitto. This is Bokat6’s second career hole-in-one.
• Dr. Bob Norman Jr. had a hole-in-one Thursday at Carmichaels Golf Club. Norman aced the 136-yard No. 16 hole. It was witnessed by Mike Salanick.