Sports Facts! Thu, Sep 28, 2017
- Shin guards were invented in 1874 by English soccer player Samuel Widdowson.
- Until 1937, the jump ball in basketball took place at center court after every single made basket.
- In 1976, the Chicago White Sox became the first and only MLB team to ever wear shorts.
- When the NHL started requiring players to wear headgear in the 1979-1980 season, the rule allowed anyone who started playing before then to continue using their skull as a helmet if they so desired. Craig MacTavish (retired from the St. Louis Blues in 1997) is notable as the last NHL player to not wear a helmet during games.
- Just like players on the winning team, NFL officials also get a Super Bowl ring. They aren’t as big as the players’ rings, but they are still valuable pieces of jewelry.
- In baseball, a pitcher's glove can be any color except for gray or white because it makes it too easy to camouflage the ball.
- Most Japanese athletes will not wear the number four jersey because the number, pronounced "shi," also means death.
- On average, most volleyball players jump around 300 times a match. It's about to go downnnnn!
