THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 8/24

1919 – Cleveland pitcher Ray Caldwell is knocked unconscious after being struck by lightning in the ninth inning in a game against the Athletics. Caldwell refuses to leave the game after awakening and records the final out.

1940 – “The Splendid Splinter” Ted Williams comes in to pitch for the Red Sox as they are being routed by the Tigers. Williams throws two innings and gives up three hits along with a run.

1945 – Hall of Fame pitcher, Bob Feller, returns from the Navy and strikes out 12. 

1963 – The Little League World Series is broadcast for the first time as its covered by ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

1972 – Gordie Howe is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

1983 – Pete Rose ends his consecutive games played streak at 745. 

1988 – Minnesota North Stars forward Dino Ciccarelli is sentenced to jail for one day and fined $1,000 for hitting Toronto’s Luke Richardson with his stick on January 6.

1989 – Pete Rose is banned from baseball for life for gambling.

1996 – Hsieh Chin-hsiung of Taiwan sets a Little League World Series record by hitting his seventh home run.

2006 – Jerry Rice signs a one day contract with the San Francisco 49ers and retires from the NFL.

2007 – The NFL indefinitely suspends Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick after he admits his involvement in an illegal dog fighting operation.

2008 – The US men’s basketball team beats Spain 118-107 to win the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. It’s the first gold medal for the US men’s team since 2000. 

2008 – Summer Olympics in Beijing is the most watched TV event, notching about 5 billion viewers.