Questions tagged [history]

Questions relating to the past history of a sport, such as regarding past players, team records, older generations of equipment, etc. Questions using this tag must also be tagged with the specific sport in question.

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What was the original scoring system of Australian rules football?

The Wikipedia article of the Australian Football League (AFL) states: [The VFL] made several innovations early on to entice the public's interest, including [...] the formal establishment of the ...
Mark's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Who is the most recent Everton signing that previously played for Liverpool at any point in their career?

For example Kevin Sheedy played for Liverpool between 1978 and 1982 and then signed for Everton in 1982. Peter Beardsley played for Liverpool between 1987 and 1991 and then signed for Everton in 1991. ...
opr's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
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Which competitions have had the same person as the youngest and oldest winner?

In December 2023, Ronnie O'Sullivan won the 2023 UK Championship in snooker, and in doing so he became both the youngest winner of the championship - in 1993 at 17y 358d - and the oldest winner at 47y ...
ImClarky's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
44 views

Why have all Asian Games that were held in Bangkok been on Decembers?

Four Asian Games have been held in Bangkok overall: 1966 Asian Games: December 9 - 20 1970 Asian Games: December 9 - 20 1978 Asian Games: December 9 - 20 1998 Asian Games: December 6 - 20 All other ...
Snack Exchange's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
78 views

Why didn't they change the poster for 1950 FIFA World Cup?

In the poster of 1950 FIFA World Cup, there's a leg with multiple national flags on it. But the total number of flags is at least 30, while only 13 countries were participating in the tournament. I ...
Snack Exchange's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
59 views

Why did China and some other communist countries boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics?

The 1980 Summer Olympics was held in Moscow, Soviet Union. Many countries boycotted the games initiated by the United States for Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. But there were some communist ...
Snack Exchange's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
2k views

Which two football clubs are competing in this YouTube video billed as the first ever filmed football match in 1897?

Footage from the first filmed football match in 1897 can be found on YouTube here. I was just wondering, who are the two football clubs in action?
John Strachan's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
100 views

Why are tennis cometitions called 'open'?

There are plenty of tennis competitions named 'open' such as the French Open, Australia Open, or Mexico Open. Is there any particular reason for this naming?
user67275's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
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What is the latest time a non-baseball sporting event has ever ended?

On July 3, 1993, there was a baseball game between the Padres and Phillies that started at 1:28am and ended at 4:40am local time - the latest finish in MLB history. The game started so late at night ...
pacoverflow's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
68 views

Has a tennis player ever hit a shot behind the umpire's chair that landed inbounds in a singles match?

There have been many tennis shots that went around the net post. But has any tennis player ever hit a shot that went behind the umpire's chair and still landed inbounds in a singles match? There are ...
pacoverflow's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
139 views

At the 1912 Olympics pole vault, why were bronze medals awarded when a gold and two silver were also awarded?

At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, something rather unusual happened with the medals awarded in the men's pole vault competition. Ordinarily when there is a tie for second place, multiple ...
Todd's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
318 views

Are there any cases when a significantly smaller person won against a heavier opponent in combat sports? [closed]

In combat sports being heavier is, in and of itself, considered a significant advantage. Therefore, a smaller fighter can usually only win against a heavier opponent if the fight is otherwise biased ...
gaazkam's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
66 views

Has there ever been a game-winning/tying drive that started with less than 13 seconds?

In the January 23, 2022 NFL Divisional playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs trailed 36-33 in the 4th quarter when they started a drive at their own 25-yard line ...
pacoverflow's user avatar
  • 4,992
2 votes
1 answer
106 views

Origin of the formula for weighted stolen base runs (wSB)

I am considering the formula for weighted stolen base runs (wSB), which is given as wSB = a * SB + b * CS - lgwSB * (1B + uBB + HBP) and a = 0.2 and b = (-2 * RunsPerOut + 0.075). I have two questions:...
seeker_after_truth's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
72 views

Reason for only national teams in some Olympic sports

I am wondering on why the structures for some sports are completely different to others. Especially, why it is that in most winter sports, like downhill skiing, cross-country skiing or bobsleigh ...
hannes101's user avatar
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4 votes
0 answers
61 views

When did American football teams start honoring players who have passed away by starting 10 men on the field?

For American football games (college and professional), when did they begin honoring players who passed away by starting ten players on the field? I haven't watched football for that long, but my ...
Classified's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
325 views

Why did sumo wrestlers ended up having high levels of fat to practice the sport?

Here are some photos from old sumo wrestlers, definitely they are not comparable to current sumo wrestlers in general, having low level of fats. Compared to a sumo wrestler like the following the ...
user2638180's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
595 views

Why is a podium 3 people?

Is there an origin to this? As to why a podium is universally 3 people? Like for tournament style competitions, a 2 person podium would be logical, the finalist and runner up. But for some reason, its ...
Fredy31's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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When did basketball change the rule so that games end when the clock hits 0.0 instead of when the buzzer sounds?

I remember there was a time when the NBA and/or college basketball's rule on buzzer beaters was that the shot would count as long as the ball left the shooter's hand before the buzzer sounded. It didn'...
pacoverflow's user avatar
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9 votes
3 answers
4k views

Did ice-hockey players actually not wear helmets until the 1970s-1980s?

I don't really care if it's the 1970s or 1980s. The point is that I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw footage of old hockey matches where the players had... no helmets. As if it were faked or ...
Kailash C.'s user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
522 views

Who were the best pre-WW2 footballers in the world? [closed]

Alfredo Di Stefano There are plenty of footballers that have been considered the greatest player in the world during their career, but they all appear to be post-WW2, such as Alfredo Di Stefano. ...
John Strachan's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
118 views

When was beach rugby invented?

Beach rugby is a variation of rugby league that is officially maintained and governed by the IRL. However, I don't seem to find any information regarding the invention of the sport, the Wikipedia page ...
manoelpqueiroz's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
1k views

Which NFL quarterbacks traded to a new team and took them to the Super Bowl in their first season with their new team?

Much like this year’s Tom Brady situation if he were to go to the Super Bowl. It’s his first season with the Bucs, who had a losing record last year. What, if any, past quarterbacks have taken their ...
user20790's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
244 views

Have NFL games been played at neutral venues before?

On week 13 of the 2020 NFL season, because of strict COVID-19 restrictions in their home county of Santa Clara, the San Fransisco 49ers played the Buffalo Bills at the State Farm Stadium in Arizona, ...
ImClarky's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
943 views

Why does the infield arc have a radius of 95 feet?

The dirt on a baseball infield extends out to an arc centered on the lip of the pitching rubber (60' 6" from home) and has a radius of 95'. This makes the distance from home to the very edge of ...
Apoapsis's user avatar
  • 375
0 votes
1 answer
438 views

Has there ever been a game-winning tip play off an inbounds pass in an NBA playoff game or NCAA Tournament game?

The NBA has the Trent Tucker Rule, which states that if there is less than 0.3 seconds on the shot clock or game clock with a team inbounding the ball, then any player on that team cannot attempt to ...
pacoverflow's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
697 views

What have been the NFL scoring rules changes?

I'm looking for a list of all scoring and scoring-related rules changes in the NFL. While the NFL goes back to 1920s, I'll be satisfied with just a list of rules changes going back to 1970, when the ...
Duke_Nukem's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
211 views

Former British colonies and cricket

Some former British colonies, from India to Australia to the nations of the West Indies, have notable cricket teams and a significant number of cricket fans. However, this is not the same everywhere. ...
Student's user avatar
  • 193
0 votes
2 answers
124 views

NFL game in which a team scores a late TD to pull within one point and then attempts a two-point conversion?

Has there ever been a regular season or playoff game in the NFL in which a team trailed by 7 points in the final 2 minutes, scored a touchdown to pull within one point, and instead of kicking the ...
pacoverflow's user avatar
  • 4,992
2 votes
1 answer
76 views

Has there ever been a complete game in which the pitcher never threw 3 balls in one at-bat?

During his perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, Don Larsen went to 3 balls in a count against only one batter. (source) Has there ever been a complete game in MLB history in which the ...
pacoverflow's user avatar
  • 4,992
1 vote
0 answers
72 views

Has there ever been a championship conceded for friendship reasons?

To illustrate what I'm thinking of: suppose Alice and Bob are the two best players in the world at [sport]. They regularly meet in tournament finals where their matches are like a coin flip - each ...
Allure's user avatar
  • 853
1 vote
1 answer
95 views

What was this NHL match, possibly in 1999, where the National Anthem was sung by Christina Aguilera?

I'm trying to identify a game on which Christina Aguilera sang the National Anthem, as appears on this video. I've got 3 leads: The video title says it was on 1999. In another version of this ...
HeyJude's user avatar
  • 71
2 votes
1 answer
200 views

What are the most serve attempts for a single tennis point?

In Tennis, you usually have 2 attempts for a service. however under certain circumstances there are more serves made fot one single point, for example when the ball touches the net and then enters ...
Frezzley's user avatar
  • 121
7 votes
2 answers
823 views

Have the three goalkeepers of a squad ever been used during a World Cup?

Usually, the same goalkeeper plays all the games during the competition, and I rarely saw the second goalkeeper playing, even less the third one. Have there been occurrences of teams having their ...
Bebs's user avatar
  • 1,308
1 vote
0 answers
85 views

What happened to Polish football in 2014? [closed]

I'm Polish and for my whole life I could just dream of spectacular successes of our national team, like in the 80s. However, about the year 2015 something changed, a lot. Our team started to mean ...
musialmi's user avatar
  • 121
1 vote
0 answers
366 views

What is the fewest number of series lost by a baseball team in a season?

In baseball, a series is 2 or more consecutive games against the same team. For a 3-game series, a team loses that series if they lose 2 or all 3 of the games. For a 4-game series, a team loses that ...
pacoverflow's user avatar
  • 4,992
0 votes
0 answers
192 views

Has any NFL team ever gone an entire season without trailing by 7 or more points?

According to this article, the 2010 Green Bay Packers and 1962 Detroit Lions went the entire season without ever trailing in a game by more than 7 points. (Did any other teams accomplish that?) Has ...
pacoverflow's user avatar
  • 4,992
0 votes
1 answer
122 views

Can this July 1958 NYC baseball game be identified?

I've got two photos of a night game in NYC area after July 4, 1958 and before the end of August 1958 (when film was developed), likely around July 5 or 6. Can anyone identify: The Stadium The Home ...
WilliamKF's user avatar
  • 163
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Has an MLB player ever won an MVP award without going to that year's All-Star game?

Has it ever happened that a player in the MLB ever won the AL or NL MVP award but didn't get elected as an All-Star that year? If so then how often does it happen? If they didn't go to the game ...
Levi C. Olson's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
4k views

When did the NFL move the stanchion out of the end zone?

I was just watching a clip of Bart Starr's game-winning quarterback sneak in the Ice Bowl. One thing I noticed is that the goal post stanchion is inside the end zone, not behind the end zone as it is ...
pacoverflow's user avatar
  • 4,992
6 votes
1 answer
285 views

What's the highest number of points without winning the Premier League?

In the 2018-19 Premier League season, Liverpool finished 2nd with 97 points. Has any team ever got more points than this without winning the league?
user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
145 views

Which quarterback has had the lowest "highest amount of interceptions thrown" during a given regular season?

Ben Roethlisberger led the league during the 2018 NFL season with 16 interceptions. At a glance, that number seems low. Since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, which quarterback has had the lowest "highest ...
user16112's user avatar
  • 1,024
0 votes
1 answer
210 views

Is it still acceptable for fans to run onto the field after winning the NBA Championship?

I have seen old videos of fans running onto the parquet in the Garden after the Celtics won the championship. Is this still done? If not, when did this stop being allowed?
theresawalrus's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
88 views

What was a "try" in ancient football?

This article (archive link) about the Scottish team Berwick Rangers centenary refers to the first competitive game: The fishermen of the Greens also formed a football club around the same time, ...
Bebs's user avatar
  • 1,308
2 votes
1 answer
431 views

Which NBA team had the shortest "longest winning streak" in a championship-winning season?

Inspired by this question: Which MLB team had the shortest "longest winning streak" in a pennant-winning season? Which NBA team had the shortest "longest winning streak" during a ...
user16112's user avatar
  • 1,024
0 votes
1 answer
383 views

What team has shortest "longest losing streak" within a season in NBA history?

Inspired by this question: What team has shortest longest losing streak within a season in MLB history? What team has shortest "longest losing streak" within a season in NBA history? Off the top of ...
user16112's user avatar
  • 1,024
1 vote
0 answers
41 views

Besided speed skating, were there more world championships that did not gave a world champion?

The World Allround Speed Skating Championships have been held since 1893. In the tournament, four distances are skated. Up to 1907, the World Champion was the skater who won at least three distances. ...
user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Has any player ever won Super Bowl MVP, Pro Bowl MVP, and MVP in the same season?

Please tell me the name, position, and team of any players that have done this, as well as the year it happened. Also, have any players done it in different seasons?
user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

Lowest championship finishing position for a defending champion

Which F1 World Drivers Champion has the lowest finishing position in the season following a championship winning year? Examples: 1981, 1983 and 1987 WDC Nelson Piquet finished 11th in 1982, 5th in ...
Noir Antares's user avatar
  • 2,013
1 vote
2 answers
722 views

Why has soccer become so famous worldwide?

This article shows an image where most popular sport by country can be checked. It's a bit old (from 2006), but I guess not old enough for having changed a lot since then. Clearly, soccer is the most ...
user2638180's user avatar

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