Today in Black Sports History: Sept.10

Sept.10, 1972

Gale Sayers, a running back for the Chicago Bears, retired from the National Football League (NFL)  Sept.10, 1972.  

While Sayers played for the Bears from 1961 to 1971, he earned many accolades and set many records during the 68 games he played. 

Sayers rushed 6,213 yards and held the record as the all-time leading NFL scorer for a single season in 1965 with 22 touchdowns.

The league honored Sayers as an NFL Rookie of the Year in 1965. His record as the all-time leading scorer during his rookie campaign, stood for over the next 10 years.  The former Chicago Bears player  was also honored as Most Valuable Player (MVP)  in 1967, 1968, and 1970.  

Due to his outstanding prowess on the football field, Sayers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility in 1977.

Sept.10, 1974

Lou Brock, a professional baseball outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, set a new major league baseball record when he stole his 105th base of the season on Sept.10, 1974.

Brock was a left fielder during the 1974 season, and after breaking the MLB record of 104 bases, he completed the season with a whopping 118 stolen bases overall.

Brock ended his career as the all-time MLB stolen base leader and held that title until 1991 when left fielder Rickey Henderson broke the record by left fielder Rickey Henderson during his time with the Oakland Athletics.

Sept.10, 1981

Jayson Williams, a college basketball legend and retired professional basketball player, was born on Sept.10, 1981, in New Jersey. 

Williams became a well-known college basketball star during his freshman year of college when he managed to average 14.5 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game.  The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) named him the ACC Rookie of the Year, and The Sporting News honored Williams as National Freshman of the Year. 

He then went on to help Duke University win the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship and hold the record for most points scored in a season and most attempted three-pointers.

Williams was awarded two distinctive honors, the Naismith Award and the Wooden Award as the Player of the Year in 2002. 

To end his college career he scored a total of 2079 points, and his jersey No. 22 was retired when he graduated from college. 

In the 2002 NBA Draft, he was selected by the Chicago Bulls but endured a troublesome career after a motorcycle accident.