On This Day

Events in Sport in December 1974

  • Dec 1 American Jacqueline Hansen runs female world record marathon 2:43:54.5 in Culver City, California
  • Dec 1 South Africa is awarded the Davis Cup tennis title after India refuses to travel to South Africa for the final in protest of the South African government's apartheid policies
  • Dec 2 MLB Rules Committee changes long time philosophy to permit the use of cowhide, rather than just horsehide in the manufacture of baseballs
  • Dec 5 NFL's Seattle Seahawks forms
  • Dec 5 Birmingham Americans defeat the Florida Blazers 22-21 in the WFL's World Bowl
  • Dec 14 Viv Richards scores 1st Test Cricket ton 192 v India 20 fours 6 sixes

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Dec 15 Guillermo Vilas of Argentina beats defending champion lie Năstase 7–6, 6–2, 3–6, 3–6, 6–4 to win his first and only season-ending ATP Masters Grand Prix tennis final in Melbourne, Australia

Tennis Player and Four-Time Major Champion Guillermo Vilas
Tennis Player and Four-Time Major Champion
Guillermo Vilas
  • Dec 19 Dave Kryskow scores Washington Capitals 1st NHL shorthanded goal

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Dec 22 Phil Esposito, Boston, became 6th NHLer to score 500 goals

NHL Star Phil Esposito
NHL Star
Phil Esposito
  • Dec 24 Cardinals' Lou Brock is named Sportsman of the Year
  • Dec 26 Washington Capitals 1st NHL sellout
  • Dec 27 40th Heisman Trophy Award: Archie Griffin, Ohio State (RB)
  • Dec 28 4th Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State beats #17 BYU, 16-6

Sport awardAFC Championship

Dec 29 AFC Championship, Oakland Coliseum: Pittsburgh Steelers beat Oakland Raiders, 24-13

NFL Coach and Sportscaster John Madden
NFL Coach and Sportscaster
John Madden
  • Dec 29 NFC Championship, Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington: Minnesota Vikings beat Los Angeles Rams, 14-10
  • Dec 31 New York Yankees sign Cy Young Award winner Jim "Catfish" Hunter for 5 years for a record $3.75 million from the Oakland A's

Sport awardAustralian Open Women's Tennis

Dec 31 Australian Open Women's Tennis: Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley retains her title; beats Martina Navratilova of Czechoslovakia 6-3, 6-2

Tennis Player Martina Navratilova
Tennis Player
Martina Navratilova
  • Dec 31 41st Sugar Bowl: #8 Nebraska beats #18 Florida, 13-10
  • Dec 31 Ballon d'Or: Ajax forward Johan Cruyff wins back-to-back awards, and his 3rd overall, for best European football player ahead of Bayern Munich defender Franz Beckenbauer and Legia Warsaw midfielder Kazimierz Deyna

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