This Week in Sports History: Chris Evert Was a Defensive Master
Because so many significant sports moments occurred on December 1 in various years, I cheated for this first sports blog post and only included events from that date for this first full week in December.
On December 1, 1984, Chris Evert earned her 1,000th career professional tennis match victory. She defeated Pascale Paradis of France in the round of 16 at the Australian Open. Evert went on to win the tournament, improving her overall match record to 1,003-97.
They say the best defense is a good offense. Makes sense. The more offensive pressure you put on an opponent in just about any sport, the less effort you’ll have to put into defense.
For example, a football team that consistently marches down the field – even if it’s methodically rather than dramatically – keeps the other team’s offense off the field for most of the game. Which, of course, makes their well-rested defense look good.
But a few athletes choose a more defensive style of play. They may not wow the crowd with every move, but their consistently steady effort eventually results in the opponent making a crucial error.
That’s the way Chris Evert played tennis, and the results speak for themselves. The baseline player was more of a counterpuncher than a puncher, returning nearly every shot her opponent delivered until that opponent wore out. Hence her nickname, “the human backboard.”
During an incredible 17-year professional career, Evert won 18 major singles titles. They included a record-seven French Open crowns and six U.S. Open championships. She also holds the record for consecutive years winning at least one major (13).
Evert spent 260 weeks atop the world rankings for women, and was a seven-time year-end world No. 1 singles player (1974-78, 1980, and 1981). She played in 56 majors, reaching the semifinals or higher an incredible 52 times.
Evert retired in 1989 with a career singles match record of 1,309-146, an 89.97 winning percentage. On clay courts, her winning percentage in singles matches was even better: 94.55 (382-22).
December 1, 1924 – In the first-ever NHL game played in the U.S., the Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Maroons 2-1 at Boston Arena, now known as Matthews Arena. The Maroons played in the NHL until 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935. The Bruins have won the Cup six times.
December 1, 1928 – From the “Irony can be pretty ironic” file, MLB National League President John Heydler suggested a rule change allowing a 10th man to bat in place of the pitcher. The NL voted in favor of this “designated hitter” rule, but the American League turned it down. It only took 45 years for Heydler’s dream to come true... in the AL.
December 1, 1956 – The U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team – led by University of San Francisco stars and future NBA Hall of Famers Bill Russell and K.C. Jones – defeated the Soviet Union 89-55 to capture the gold medal at Melbourne, Australia. Team USA’s eight wins were by an average of 53.5 points.
December 1, 1971 – Eventual first-ballot Hall of Famer Ernie Banks was released by the Chicago Cubs after a 19-year career. Mr. Cub, who never played in the minors or in a postseason game, collected 512 home runs, 1,636 RBI, and 2,583 hits with a lifetime batting average of .274.
December 1, 1973 – Jack Nicklaus became the first player to reach the $2 million mark in PGA Tour career earnings by defeating Mason Rudolph by one stroke at the Walt Disney World Open Invitational, Nicklaus’s third consecutive victory in the event.
December 1, 2006 – When Butterfly Belle won the fourth race at Bay Meadows Racetrack in San Mateo, California, Russell Baze became North America’s all-time winningest jockey with his 9,531st victory. He ended his career in 2015 with 12,844 wins, a North American record.
Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. Feel free to check out my sports books on the Books page of this website.