Historically Speaking: 7-7-09

Sometimes, even when you don't want to, you've got to lay down a bunt. Now hop past the leap and pay attention, we might ask you to steal.

* Today in 1922, Pittsburgh Pirate Max Carey had quite an outing. The outfielder logged six base hits, drew four walks, swiped three bags (one of which was home plate), and caught seven fly balls, all in an 18-inning, 9-8 loss to the Giants.

* With the Major League Baseball All-Star game a week a way, let's look back at a few that took place on July 7: In 1936, the National League earned a 4-3 victory at Braves Field in Boston; the following year it was the American League's turn, as they won 8-3 at Griffith Stadium in Washington; today in 1959, the NL reigned supreme, a 5-4 victory at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh; in 1964 it was the NL again, 7-4 at Shea Stadium; and in 1998 the AL handled the NL, 13-8 at Coors Field.

* Lookout! It's soccer! The West Germans beat the Netherlands today in 1974 by a 2-1 tally for the World Cup.

* It was on this day in 1980 that Larry Holmes defeated Scott LeDoux by way of technical knockout in the seventh round of a title fight in Minneapolis. The fight was Holmes' fifth defense of the WBC belt and the predecessor to his victory over Muhammad Ali three months later.

* Why not, some Wimbledon: Boris Becker, in 1985, becomes the youngest, the first unseeded and the first German to win the men's tourney; and in 1990, Martina Navratilova tallies her ninth victory on the women's side.

And your Sports Illustrated quote of the day came from the mouth of...



...former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jerry Rhome, who, in 1971, was asked what he admired most about rookie New England Patriot quarterback Jim Plunkett. Rhome's response: "His contract."