June 25
1921 - Jock Hutchinson is the first American to win the British Open, a nine-stroke victory over Roger Wethered in a playoff.
1926 - Bobby Jones becomes the first amateur in 29 years to win the British Open. Jones finishes with a 291 total for a two-stroke over Al Watrous at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lytham St Annes, England. It’s the first time an admission fee is charged for spectators.
1932 - Gene Sarazen wins the U.S. Open by shooting a 286, the lowest in 20 years.
1948 - Joe Louis knocks out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 11th round in New York to defend his world heavyweight title. Louis announces his retirement after the fight.
1952 - Jim Turnesa wins the PGA Championship with a 1-up victory over Chick Harbert in the final round.
1966 - Buckpasser sets a world record in the 1-mile Arlington Classic in 1:32 3-5 and becomes the first 3-year-old to win more than $1 million.
1969 - Pancho Gonzalez, 41, wins the longest tennis match in Wimbledon history by beating Charles Pasarell in a 112-game match, 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9. The match is played over two days and lasts 5 hours, 12 minutes.
1978 - In Buenos Aires, Argentina wins the FIFA World Cup beating Netherlands 3-1 after extra time.
1991 - Nine-time champion Martina Navratilova survives a first-round scare from Elna Reinach to win her record 100th singles match at Wimbledon.
1997 - The NHL continues its expansion, officially approving the addition of four teams during the next three years. The Nashville Predators are to begin play in the 1998-99 season as the League’s 27th team, followed one year later by the Atlanta Thrashers. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild take the ice in the 2000-01 season.
1999 - San Antonio wins its first NBA championship, defeating the New York Knicks 78-77 in Game 5 of the Finals. The Spurs, keyed by finals MVP Tim Duncan’s 31 points, becomes the first former ABA team to win the championship.
2006 - Bernard Lagat becomes the first runner in the history of the U.S. track and field championships to sweep the 1,500 and 5,000 meters, after winning the shorter race.
2008 - Fresno State captures its first national championship in a men’s sport with a 6-1 victory over Georgia in the decisive Game 3 of the College World Series finals. Steve Detwiler homers twice and drives in all six runs.
2012 - Five-time champion Venus Williams loses in the opening round of Wimbledon for the first time since 1997, falling 6-1, 6-3 to Elena Vesnina of Russia. She hadn’t lost in the first round at any Grand Slam tournament in 6 1/2 years.
2013 - UCLA wins its first national championship in baseball with an 8-0 win over Mississippi State.
2018 - James Harden of the Houston Rockets is voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player after twice being runner-up, beating out four-time winner LeBron James and Anthony Davis of the Pelicans.
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