Professional Sports 1973

Baseball 1973

World Series: Oakland Athletics won 4 games to 3 over the New York Mets

This was the 2nd win in a row for the Oakland Athletics, the first team to so since the Yankees 1962 season. Outfielder Reggie Jackson was the season's MVP, and it was the last game for Willie Mays who after falling down in the outfield quipped, "Growing old is just a helpless hurt." 1973 World Series at Baseball Almanac

CBS sells the New York Yankees for $10 million (3.2 million dollars more than CBS bought the Yankees for) to a 12-person syndicate led by George Steinbrenner. New York Daily News Selling the Yankees to Steinbrenner

Orlando Cepeda signs with the Boston Red Sox, making him the first player signed by a team specifically to be a designated hitter. Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees becomes the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball.

Football 1973

Super Bowl VIII
Date Played: January 13, 1974
Teams: Miami Dolphins vs. Minnesota Vikings
Winner: DOLPHINS
Final Score: 24-7
Location: Houston, Texas
Game MVP: Miami running back Larry Csonka.
Half Time Show: University of Texas Band.
30 second commercial: $103000.

Super Bowl VIII History

Superbowl VIII Bud Lite Ad

Buffalo Bills running back O.J. Simpson becomes the first player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season.

Horse Racing 1973

Secretariat, ridden by jockey Ron Turcotte, becomes the first horse in 25 years to win the United States Triple Crown Races. The Secretariat website

Kentucky Derby - Secretariat
Preakness Stakes - Secretariat
Belmont Stakes - Secretariat

Athletes of the Year 1973

ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year: O.J. Simpson, football

Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year: O.J. Simpson, National Football League

Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year: Billie Jean King, Tennis

The Battle of the Sexes

Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in a televised tennis match, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. More on the Battle of the Sexes

Boxing 1973

Announcer Howard Cosell adds to the intensity of George Foreman knocking down Joe Frazier 6 times in two rounds to win the Heavyweight Championship of the World. Referee Mercante stopped the fight in the beginning of the 2nd Round after Frazier had hit the floor for the sixth time. It is HBO's first boxing telecast. The Frazier Foreman fight.

Basketball 1973

NBA Finals: New York Knicks won 4 games to 1 over the Los Angeles Lakers. Knicks Return to the Top

NHL - Hockey 1973

Art Ross Memorial Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins

Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Bobby Clarke - Philadelphia Flyers

Stanley Cup - Montreal Canadiens defeat the Chicago Black Hawks 4 games to 2

World Hockey Championship: Men's champion: Soviet Union defeated Sweden

Golf 1973

Masters Tournament - Tommy Aaron
U.S. Open - Johnny Miller
British Open - Tom Weiskopf
PGA Championship - Jack Nicklaus
PGA Tour money leader - Jack Nicklaus - $308,362
LPGA Championship - Mary Mills
U.S. Women's Open - Susie Berning
LPGA Tour money leader - Kathy Whitworth - $82,864 

College Sports 1973

College Football 1973

1973 Heisman: John Cappelletti, Penn State RB

1973 ROSE BOWL #4 Ohio State Buckeyes 42 #7 USC Trojans 21

1973 SUGAR BOWL #3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 24 #1 Alabama Crimson Tide 23

1973 COTTON BOWL #12 Nebraska Cornhuskers 19 #8 Texas Longhorns 3

1973 ORANGE BOWL ##6 Penn State Nittany Lions 16 #13 LSU Tigers 9

College Basketball 1973

NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship: UCLA wins 87-66 over Memphis State. Bill Walton of UCLA scored 44 points in the Championship game.