This Day in Sports History: February 9
Sports in February include the NBA and NHL seasons. There is also the Super Bowl, the NBA All-Star game, college basketball tournaments, spring training for the MLB, NASCAR’s Daytona 500,…
Sports in February include the NBA and NHL seasons. There is also the Super Bowl, the NBA All-Star game, college basketball tournaments, spring training for the MLB, NASCAR's Daytona 500, Formula E, some PGA Tour Events and the Winter Olympics. Over the years, Feb. 9 has witnessed many notable moments and stories involving sporting legends. Here are some of them.
Unforgettable Games and Remarkable Records
Great moments in sports history from Feb. 9 included:
- 1900: Dwight Davis donated a new tennis trophy. It was for the winner of the International Lawn Tennis Challenge. It would later be renamed the Davis Cup after Davis' death in 1945.
- 1935: Figure skater Maribel Vinson won the United States Female Figure Skating Championship.
- 1940: Boxer Joe Louis beat Arturo Godoy in 15 rounds and won the heavyweight boxing title.
- 1951: The St. Louis Browns signed pitcher Satchel Paige at the age of 45.
- 1968: A rare three-way tie happened for the silver medal in the women's 500-meter speed skating at the Grenoble Winter Olympics.
- 1974: Figure skater Dorothy Hamill won the United States Female Figure Skating Championship.
- 1980: Rick Barry became the first player in NBA history to make eight 3-pointers in a game.
- 1982: In the 34th NHL All-Star game, the Wales Conference beat the Campbell Conference, 4-2. The New York Islanders' right winger Mike Bossy won the MVP for the game.
- 1986: In the 36th NBA All-Star game, the East beat the West 139-132. The MVP of the game was Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas.
- 1989: NBA player Kevin Johnson's free throw streak of 57 games comes to an end.
- 1991: Boxer Terry Norris knocked down Sugar Ray Leonard twice, went on to win the fight, and defended his WBC Super Welterweight title.
- 1992: Swimmer Jani Sievinen swam a world record time of 4:07.10 in the 400-meter medley race.
- 1998: In the sixth ESPY Awards, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mia Hamm won the athlete of the year award.
- 2002: In the NFL Pro Bowl, the AFC beat the NFC 38-30. The MVP of the game was Oakland Raiders' quarterback Rich Gannon.
- 2006: Al Michaels joined John Madden on NBC's "Sunday Night Football."
- 2014: The Olympic's team figure skating event made its debut. Russia took home the gold medal.
- 2014: The Slopestyle snowboarding event made its Olympic debut. American Jamie Anderson was the first women's gold medalist.
- 2025: The Philadelphia Eagles beat the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, in Super Bowl LIX. The MVP of the game was Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Three athletes who stood out on Feb. 9 were Rick Barry, Terry Norris, and Jalen Hurts.
Barry is a 12-time All-Star, the 1975 NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors, and renowned for his signature underhand "granny-style" free throw technique and fierce competitiveness. Norris was a dominant three-time super-welterweight champion during the late 1980s and 1990s. He is best known for his speed, power, and high-profile victories over some boxing legends. Hurts is known for his exceptional dual-threat ability, (passing/rushing), and resilience. He was ranked among the 2025 TIME100 most influential people.
