THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 12/27

1942 – 5th NFL All Star Game, Shribe Park, Philadelphia: NFL All-Stars beat Washington Redskins, 17-14
1956 – Bill Sharman (Boston) ends NBA free throw streak of 55 games.

1959 – National Football League Championship, Memorial Stadium, Baltimore: Baltimore Colts beat New York Giants, 31-16; Colts score 24 straight points in 4th quarter.

1964 – National Football League Championship, Cleveland Stadium: Cleveland Browns shutout Baltimore Colts, 27-0; last championship win by a major-league pro sports team from Cleveland until 2016 NBA Cavaliers.

1971 – 1st Fiesta Bowl: #8 Arizona State beats Florida State, 45-38.

1974 – 40th Heisman Trophy Award: Archie Griffin, Ohio State (RB). It’s the first of Griffin’s back to back Heisman Awards.

1980 – Calvin Murphy (Rockets) begins longest NBA free throw streak of 78.

1981 – Oiler Wayne Gretzky becomes fastest NHLer to get 100 pts (38th game).

1987 – Steve Largent sets all-time NFL record for career catches when he catches his 752nd pass.

1991 – Bengals hire Dave Shula as youngest NFL coach (32).

1999 – Joe Sakic records his 1,000th career point, an assist against the St. Louis Blues.

2000 – Pittsburgh Penguins center and part-owner Mario Lemieux scores a goal and 2 assists in his return to the NHL after more than 3 years out with injury problems and lingering cancer issues; Penguins beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-0