Early agate
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.
2012 – A.J. Burnett pitches a one-hitter and Neil Walker drives in five runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Chicago Cubs, 5-1. Burnett loses his no-hitter with two outs in the eighth inning when Chicago rookie Adrian Cardenas singles.