On This Day

December 1939 in Sports History

Events in Sport

  • Dec 6 5th Heisman Trophy Award: Nile Kinnick, Iowa (HB)

Hall of fameHall of Fame

Dec 7 Lou Gehrig, 36, is elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame

Baseball Player Lou Gehrig
Baseball Player
Lou Gehrig
  • Dec 9 CFL Grey Cup, Landsdowne Park, Ottawa: Winnipeg Blue Bombers claim 2nd title; defeat Ottawa Rough Riders, 8-7
  • Dec 9 1940 NFL Draft: George Cafego from University of Tennessee first pick by Chicago Cardinals

Sport awardNFL Championship

Dec 10 National Football League Championship, Dairy Bowl, West Allis, Wisconsin: Green Bay Packers beat New York Giants, 27-0; Packers 5th title

American Football Player Mel Hein
American Football Player
Mel Hein

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Dec 16 Bradman scores 251* SA v NSW, 271 minutes, 38 fours 2 sixes

Cricket Legend Donald Bradman
Cricket Legend
Donald Bradman
  • Dec 30 Bradman scores 267 South Australia v Vic, world record 34th double cricket century

Birthdays in Sport

  • Dec 1 Lee Trevino, American golfer (British Open 1971-72; US Open 1968, 71; US PGA 1974, 84), born in Dallas, Texas
  • Dec 14 Ernie Davis, American College Football Hall of Fame halfback (1st African-American to win Heisman Trophy 1961, Syracuse), born in New Salem, Pennsylvania (d. 1963)
  • Dec 18 Sandro Lopopolia, Italian lightweight boxer (Olympic-Silver-1960)
  • Dec 31 Afaq Hussain, Pakistani cricketer (Pakistani off-spinner in 2 Tests 1961-64), born in Lucknow, India (d. 2002)
  • Dec 31 Willye White, American athlete (Olympic silver long jump 1956, 4x100m relay 1964; Sports Illustrated 100 greatest women athletes of 20th century), born in Money, Mississippi (d. 2007)

Deaths in Sport

  • Dec 15 Tom McKibbin, Australian cricketer (5 Tests for Aust 1895-1898, 17 wkts), dies at 69