June 30, 1993: Draper Shipped to the Red Wings For a Dollar

On June 30, 1993, the Winnipeg Jets shipped Kris Draper to the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations, the future considerations turned out out be $1.  It proved to a be a dollar well spent for the Red Wings organization as Draper spent the next 17 seasons in the Motor City and was an integral part of four championship teams. The first championship came in 1997 as the Red Wings brought a 42 year drought to an end with a 4 game sweep over the Philadelphia Flyers. He would go onto win the Stanley Cup in 1998, 2002, and in 2008. In 2004, after he had his best offensive year of his career, he was recognized as the best defensive forward in the game by being awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy. In 2009, Draper joined Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Steve Yzerman, and  Niklas Lidstom  as the only players to wear a Red Wings uniform in 1,000 games. After retiring in 2011, Draper took on a front office position with the Red Wings, they definitely got a decent return on their initial investment.

June 29, 1983: Joe Delaney of The Kansas City Chiefs Drowns While Trying To Save 3 Children

On June 29, 1983, tragedy struck the Kansas City Chiefs organization as they learned that their running back Joe Delaney had drowned while trying to save three children from drowning in a pond in his home state of Louisiana, only one of the children survived and Delaney gave his life trying to save them all. The 24 year old was a second round draft pick in 1981, he showed great promise in his rookie season as he ran for 1,121 yards and propelled the Chiefs to their first winning season since 1973. Delaney broke four franchise records in his rookie campaign while he was on his way to winning the AFC Rookie of the Year award, the records have since been surpassed but it gives you an idea of how much potential he had. His second year in the league was hampered by a strike and an eye injury which led to just 380 yards rushing in 8 games for the running back, despite the fact that his second year was not the best, everyone in the Chiefs organization believed him to be the real deal and that he would bounce back with a solid season in 1983, it just wasn't to be. Delaney had a history of trying to help others and when he saw the kids in the lake that day he knew he couldn't swim very well, but refused to stand to the side when he saw them in trouble, it's admirable that a man would be so unselfish to not even think of his own life and just do whatever he could to save others. In a perfect world this would have ended with three children saved by a heroic running back, unfortunately it is not a perfect world but that doesn't change the fact that what he was trying to do was nothing short of heroic. The Chiefs honored Delaney during the '83 season by wearing a circular patch bearing  a gold eagle and the number 37 on the upper left chest of their uniforms, his number is unofficially retired by the team and it is in the ring of honor at Arrowhead, no Chiefs player has worn it since. Less than a month after Delaney's death The President of the United States, Ronald Reagan honored the fallen player by awarding him the Presidential Citizens Award which was presented to his family by the Vice President George H. W. Bush, Reagan would say "He made the ultimate sacrifice by placing the lives of three children above regard for his own safety. By supreme example of courage and compassion, this brilliantly gifted young man left a spiritual legacy for his fellow Americans."

June 28, 1957: Frick Removes Members of the Redlegs From The All Star Game

On June 28, 1957, Ford C. Frick made an unprecedented move by removing three Cincinnati Redlegs from the starting lineup of the All Star game that was to be held in St. Louis. His reason for removing the players was the fans in Cincinnati had stuffed the ballot box so effectively that 8 of the 9 starters were projected to be from the Cincinnati club. The players removed were Cincinnati's first baseman George Crow as well as outfielders Gus Bell and Wally Moon, they were replaced by Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals, Willie Mays of the New York Giants, and Henry Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves. The avalanche of votes out of Cincy had come from the Cincinnati Times-Star as well as local radio and television stations that had dropped 500,000 votes into the commissioners lap just before the voting deadline came to an end. When you think about it now days, it's pretty funny, especially since they encourage the stuffing of the ballot box.

Here is a link to a story that was in the newspaper the day after Frick made his decision: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19570629&id=Vg5SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NXYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6639,6249892

June 27, 1988: Iron Mike Knocks Out Michael Spinks

On June 27, 1988, Iron Mike Tyson knocked Michael Spinks out in just 1 minute and 31 seconds to become the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World. Both men had not lost a match going into the match and each considered themselves to be the true champion. Tyson held the WBA,WBC, and IBF belts, while Spinks held the Ring Magazine belt and was considered the lineal champion. The fight was billed as the"Once and For All" as only one champion would walk out of the ring that night in Atlantic City. Before the fight even started Spinks' manager Butch Lewis claimed he had seen a bump in Tyson's glove and insisted that his hands be rewrapped, Lewis would later admit he was trying to get a psychological edge which more than likely worked against him as the 21 year old kid came out pissed and ready to rumble. Tyson came out and simply pummeled the 31 year old Spinks, he worked fiercely and quickly as he trapped him against the ropes and knocked him to the canvas for the first time in his career. After a four count Spinks looked ready to go until the two boxers came toward each other and Tyson landed a quick left right combo that sent Spinks crashing right back to the mat, this time he could not recover and after a count of ten Tyson was the Undisputed Champion. Only ten punches were landed in this one, with eight of them coming from Tyson, the kid showed pure dominance as he was just reaching his potential. The fight proved to be the last one for Spinks while Tyson's career was reaching a pinnacle. Iron Mike successfully defended his title nine times before he was upset by Buster Douglas in 1990. After his well documented legal troubles that landed him in prison, he was not able to regain the title, however, he was and always will be one of the best that ever put on a pair of gloves.

Watch the fight here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJzT5WtdYs0

And this is a link to Mama Said Knock You Out by LL Cool J: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vimZj8HW0Kg it seemed appropriate.

June 26, 1944: The Three Sided Game

On June 26, 1944, with more than 50,000 in the stands at the Polo Grounds in New York, the Dodgers, Giants, and Yankees played in the first and only three sided game in the history of Major League Baseball. The concept was to have all three New York teams play each other in an exhibition game to raise money for War Bonds, the teams would play a round robin of sorts that had one team sitting out an inning then appearing in two consecutive innings before sitting out again, the game was played a regulation nine innings with each team playing a total of 6 innings apiece. Sounds crazy don't it? That's because it is. The final score had the Dodgers coming out on top with a score of 5-1-0, the Yankees scored a run while the Giants were shutout. While the concept was an odd one it was a huge success as the crowd raised more than $6,000,000 to contribute to the war efforts.

If you would like to read more about this game check this out: http://research.sabr.org/journals/three-dimensional-baseball

June 25, 1937: Augie Galan The First National League Player To Hit a Bomb From Both Sides of The Plate

On June 25, 1937, Augie Galan of the Chicago Cubs became the first player in the history of the National League to hit a home run from both sides of the plate. Galan's pair of bombs helped lift the Cubbies to an 11-2 victory over the Dodgers at Wrigley. The feat had only been accomplished one other time by Wally Schang of the Philadelphia A's who did it in September of 1916. Galan, a .287 career hitter, hit 100 home runs in his 16 year career, those two in 1937 earned him a spot in the history books that will stand the test of time.

Check out the box score: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN193706250.shtml

June 24,1968: Northrup Rocks 2 Grand Slams

On June 24, 1968, Tigers outfielder Jim Northrup hit two grand slams in a 14-3 rout over the Indians in Cleveland. The man nicknamed "The Silver Fox" was just the sixth player to accomplish the feat and only the second player to accomplish it in consecutive at bats, with Jim Gentile being the first to do so in 1961. Five days later Northrup hit another grand slam which made him the first player to hit three grand slams in one week, it was a feat that was later matched by Larry Parrish of the Texas Rangers in 1982. To date only 13 players have hit two grand slams in one game with the last being Josh Willingham of the Washington Nationals in 2009.

You can look over the list of 13 men to accomplish the feat here: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats11.shtml