THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 5/12

1875 – The first shutout in pro baseball takes place as the Chicago White Stockings defeat the St. Louis Brown Stockings 1-0.

1970 – “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks hits career home run #500. The home run came against Atlanta pitcher Pat Jarvis in a 4-3 Cubs win over the Braves.

1974 – The Boston Celtics defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 102-87 in game seven to win the NBA title.

1982 – The United States Football League is formed.

1985 – The New York Knicks win the first ever NBA Draft Lottery. They would go on to select Georgetown center Patrick Ewing.

1997 – The Indiana Pacers hire Larry Bird as the team’s new coach.

1998 – Larry Bird becomes just the third first year coach in NBA history to win Coach of the Year.

1998 – Mark McGwire hits the longest home run in the history of Busch Stadium at 527 feet.

1998 – Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa records career victory #1,500.

2013 – Serena Williams beats Maria Sharapova 6-1,6-4 to win the Madrid Open. It is her 50th career title.