THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 12/12

1899 – George F Bryant of Boston patents the wooden golf tee.

1930 – Baseball Rules Committee greatly revises the rule book, ball bouncing into stands not a HR, now a double.

1937 – National Football League Championship, Wrigley Field, Chicago: Washington Redskins beat Chicago Bears, 28-21.

1964 – Cleveland Browns’ Frank Ryan sets club record of 5 TD passes.

1965 – Chicago halfback Gale Sayers ties NFL record for most touchdowns in a game with 6 in 61–20 victory over San Francisco 49ers at Wrigley Field.

1966 – US Supreme Courts votes 4-3 allowing Braves to move to Atlanta.

1976 – QB Joe Namath last game as a NY Jet.

1987 – Mookie Blaylock sets NBA record of 13 steals in a game.

1991 – NJ Nets set NBA record of 22 blocks beating Nuggets 121-81.

1995 – NBA referees return to work after striking.

1997 – Red Sox sign Pedro Martinez to record 6 year $69 million contract. 

2011 – 77th Heisman Trophy Award: Robert Griffin III, Baylor (QB)