December 1938 in Sports History

Events in Sport

Dec 9 1939 NFL Draft: Ki Aldrich from TCU first pick by Chicago Cardinals
Dec 10 CFL Grey Cup: In repeat of last year, Toronto Argonauts defeat Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 30-7 to retain Championship

Dec 11 National Football League Championship, Polo Grounds, NYC: New York Giants beat Green Bay Packers, 23-17; record title game attendance 48,120

Dec 14 Major League Baseball agrees on use of a standard ball; disagrees on increasing rosters from 23 to 25 players, although Commissioner Judge Landis eventually decides on 25
Dec 14 Will Harridge is elected to a 10-year-term as AL president
Dec 20 Boston Bruins rookie goalie Frankie Brimsek records his 3rd straight shutout with a 3-0 win over the New York Americans, making it his incredible sixth shutout in his first 8 NHL games
Dec 26 Tom Goddard takes a cricket hat-trick for England v South Africa
Dec 28 Paul Gibb scores 106 on Test Cricket debut v South Africa

Dec 1 Bill Playle, New Zealand cricket batsman (8 Tests), born in Palmerston North, New Zealand (d. 2019)
Dec 2 Luis Artime, Argentine soccer striker and manager (25 caps; River Plate), born in Parque Civit, Argentina
Dec 4 Frank Myler, English rugby league stand-off (24 caps Great Britain, 1 England; Widnes, St. Helens) and coach (Widnes, Swinton, Oldham), born in Widnes, England (d. 2020)
Dec 4 Richard Meade, British equestrian (3 x Olympic gold eventing 1968, 72; World C'ship gold team 1970, 82), born in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales (d. 2015)
Dec 9 Deacon Jones, American Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end (8 × Pro Bowl; 5 × First-team All-Pro; LA Rams, SD Chargers), born in Eatonville, Florida (d. 2013)
Dec 10 Bill Mathis, American football halfback (AFL All Star 1961, 63; New York Titans/Jets), born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina (d. 2020)
Dec 11 Fred Cox, American NFL kicker (NFL champion 1969; Pro Bowl 1970; Minnesota Vikings all-time leading scorer), born in Monongahela, Pennsylvania (d. 2019)
Dec 13 Tom Shaw, American golfer (The Tradition 1993), born in Wichita, Kansas
Dec 15 Bob Foster, American boxer (world light-heavyweight champion 1968-74), born in Borger, Texas (d. 2015)
Dec 16 Frank Deford, American sportswriter
Dec 17 Peter Snell, New Zealand athlete (Olympic gold 800m 1960, 64; 1,500m 1964), born in Opunake, New Zealand (d. 2019)

Dec 22 Matty Alou, Dominican baseball outfielder (NL batting champion 1966; MLB All-Star 1968-69), born in Haina, Dominican Republic (d. 2011)
Dec 24 Hans Küppers, German soccer midfielder (7 caps, West Germany; TSV 1860 Munich, 1. FC Nürnberg), born in Essen, Germany (d. 2021)
Dec 27 Ron Greene, American college basketball coach (Uni of New Orleans, Mississippi State, Murray State, Indiana State), born in Terre Haute, Indiana (d. 2021)
Dec 28 Pachín, Spanish soccer defender (8 caps; Real Madrid) and manager (Osasuna, Levante, Granada), born in Torrelavega, Spain (d. 2021)
Dec 28 John Gleeson, Australian rugby league five eighth (10 Tests; Queensland 25 games; Wynnum-Manly, Brothers RLFC), born in Chinchilla, Australia (d. 2021)
Dec 29 Wayne Huizenga, American businessman, CEO (Waste Management, Blockbuster), and sports team owner (Miami Dolphins, Florida Panthers, Florida Marlins), born in Evergreen Park, Illinois (d. 2018)
Dec 29 Harvey Smith, British showjumper, born in West Riding, Yorkshire, England
Dec 29 Gianluigi Saccaro, Italian fencer (Olympic gold épée team 1960; silver épée team 1964; bronze épée 1968), born in Milan, Italy (d. 2021)
Dec 31 Atje Keulen-Deelstra, Dutch speed skater (world champ, born in Grou, Netherlands (d. 2013)

Dec 4 Tamanishiki San'emon, Japanese sumo wrestler (32nd yokozuna; winner 9 top division yūshō), dies following a delayed appendectomy at 34
Dec 7 Harry Moses, cricketer (6 Tests for Australia 1887-95), dies