THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 3/1

1903 – Major League Baseball’s rules committee rules that the pitcher’s mound can’t be more than 15 inches higher than the baselines or home plate.

1919 – Newsy Lalonde of the Montreal Canadiens sets a Stanley Cup Playoff record by scoring five goals in a playoff game.

1941 – Former Notre Dame fullback Elmer Layden is named the first commissioner of the NFL.

1967 – MLB Commissioner William Eckert approves the Baseball Writers Association of America’s plan to name a Cy Young award winner for both the AL and NL.

1968 – High winds damage the roof of the Spectrum in Philadelphia, forcing the Flyers to play on the road for the final month of the season.

1969 – New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle announces his retirement from baseball. Mantle hit .298 with 536 home runs during his 18 year career.

1969 – Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins sets an NHL record by scoring his 99^th point of the season.

1970 – Boston’s Bobby Orr becomes the first NHL defenseman to score 25 goals in a season.

1987 – The Boston Celtics become the first NBA franchise to win 2,000 games, defeating the Pistons 112-102.

1988 – Wayne Gretzky, then with the Edmonton Oilers, becomes the NHL’s all-time assist leader, breaking Gordie Howe’s record with his 1,050^th assist.

1988 – For the first time since 1956, the Special Veterans Committee does not elect anyone to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

1993 – New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner is reinstated as general partner after being suspended due to ties with convicted gamblers.

1996 – Atlanta Hawks head coach Lenny Wilkens becomes the first coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games.

1998 – Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley becomes the fifth head coach in NBA history to win 900 career games.

2001 – Ron Francis of the Carolina Hurricanes becomes just the second player in NHL history to score 50 plus points in 20 straight seasons.

2014 – Jaromir Jagr, then with the New Jersey Devils, becomes the seventh player in NHL history to score 700 career goals.