April 1948 in Sports History

Events in Sport

Apr 1 Fast bowler Hines Johnson has match figures of 10-96 on debut in West Indies 4th cricket Test win v England in Kingston, Jamaica; first fast bowler to take 10 wickets in a single Test for West Indies

Baseball History

Apr 4 84-year-old Connie Mack challenges 78-year-old Clark Griffith to a race from home to 1st base; it ends in a tie

US Masters Golf

Apr 11 12th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Claude Harmon shoots a record-tying 279 (−9) to finish 5 strokes ahead of runner-up Cary Middlecoff

Apr 14 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Toronto Maple Leafs go back-to-back with a 7-2 win over Detroit Red Wings for a 4-0 series sweep
Apr 19 52nd Boston Marathon won by Gerard Cote of Canada in 2:31:02; his 4th victory in the event
Apr 21 Basketball Association of America Finals: Baltimore Bullets beat Philadelphia Warriors, 88-73 to take series, 4 games to 2

Birthdays in Sport

Apr 1 J. J. Williams, Welsh rugby union winger (30 caps Wales, 7 British & Irish Lions; Grand Slam 1976, 78), born in Nantyffyllon, Wales (d. 2020)
Apr 1 Javier Irureta, Spanish soccer midfielder (6 caps; Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao) and manager (Deportivo La Coruña 1998-2005), born in Irun, Spain
Apr 1 Willie Montañez, Puerto Rican baseball first baseman (MLB All Star 1977; Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves), born in Cataño, Puerto Rico
Apr 2 Danny Ford, American College Football Hall of Fame coach (National C'ship, Clemson University 1981; University of Arkansas; career record 122–59–5), born in Gadsden, Alabama
Apr 2 Jim McDaniels, American basketball forward (All American 1971; Western Kentucky Uni; No. 1 overall pick ABA Draft 1971; ABA All-Star 1972; Carolina Cougars), born in Scottsville, Kentucky (d. 2017)
Apr 2 Roy Gerela American NFL placekicker (Super Bowl 1974, 75, 78; Pro Bowl 1972, 74; Pittsburgh Steelers), born in Sarrail, Alberta
Apr 3 Mary Gordon-Watson, British equestrian 3 day event (Olympic gold 1972), born in Blandford, Dorset
Apr 6 Vítězslav Mácha, Czech Greco-Roman wrestler (Olympic gold welterweight 1972, silver 1976; World C'ship gold 1974, 77), born in Krmelín, Czech Republic (d. 2023)
Apr 7 Arnie Robinson Jr., American athlete (Olympic gold long jump 1976; bronze 1972), born in San Diego, California (d. 2020)
Apr 7 Pietro Anastasi, Italian soccer striker (25 caps; Juventus, Ascoli, Inter), born in Catania, Italy (d. 2020)
Apr 10 Mel Blount, American Pro Football HOF cornerback (Super Bowl 1974, 75, 78, 79 Pittsburgh Steelers; NFL Defensive Player of the Year 1975; First-team All-Pro 1975, 81; 5 × Pro Bowl), born in Vidalia, Georgia
Apr 11 Georgi Yartsev, Russian soccer forward (5 caps USSR; FC Spartak Moscow) and manager (Russia; Spartak, Dynamo, Torpedo Moscow), born in Nikolskoye, Russia (d. 2022)
Apr 12 Bill Ashurst, English rugby league second rower (3 Tests GB; Wigan, Penrith RLFC, Wakefield Trinity), born in Ince-in-Makerfield, England (d. 2022)
Apr 12 Raphick Jumadeen, West Indian cricket spin bowler (12 Tests, 29 wickets, BB 4/72, 1 x 50; T&T), born in Gasparillo, Trinidad and Tobago (d. 2023)

Nate Archibald (75 years old)

Apr 18 NBA guard (Cincinnati), born in NYC, New York

Apr 19 Rick Miller, American baseball player, born in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Apr 24 Eddie James Hart, American 4x100m relay runner (Olympic gold 1972), born in Martinez, California
Apr 25 Mike Selvey, English cricket fast bowler (3 Tests, 6 wickets; Middlesex), born in Chiswick, England