Sports in '63

BASEBALL

In the 1963 All-Star Game, the National League defeats the American League 5-3 at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium. Saint Louis' Stan Musial made his record 24th All-Star appearance...he would retire at the end of the season at age 42.

The Los Angeles Dodgers (led by 1963 Cy Young winner & MVP Sandy Koufax) sweep the New York Yankees 4-0 to take the World Series.

MVP's

American League: Elston Howard, New York

National League: Sandy Koufax, L.A.

Rookies of the Year

American League: Gary Peters, Chicago

National League: Pete Rose, Cincinnati

NBA great Bill Russell

BASKETBALL

1963 saw the first NBA All-Star match-up between the Celtics Bill Russell in the East and the Warriors' (now in San Francisco from Philadelphia) Wilt Chamberlain. The East defeated the West 115-108 and Russell was named MVP

Led by center Bill Russell, the Boston Celtics claimed their 5th straight NBA championship, defeating the L.A. Lakers 4 games to 2. Celtic All-Star Bob Cousey, the "Houdini of the Hardwood", retires one week later at age 34.

HOCKEY

The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4 games to 1 to clinch their 9th Stanley Cup

GOLF

April 7th-Jack Nicklaus wins his first Masters Tournament, beating Tony Lema by one stroke.

June 23rd-Julian Boros wins the U.S. Open Tournament, beating Arnold Palmer and Jacky Cupit in a playoff

July 21st-Nicklaus wins the PGA Tournament

FOOTBALL

AFL Champ: San Diego

NFL Champ: Chicago

Dallas Texans become Kansas City Chiefs

N.Y. Titans become the N.Y. Jets

Cleveland's Jim Brown sets NFL single season rushing record of 1,863 yards

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is dedicated in Canton, OH

AUTO RACING

Parnelli Jones wins the Indianapolis 500 (averaging 143 m.p.h.)

TENNIS

Wimbledon Men's Singles Champ: Chuck McKinley

Wimbledon Women's Singles Champ: Margaret Smith

BOXING

Sonny Liston

1963 World Heavyweight Champ: Charles "Sonny" Liston, who defeated Floyd Patterson in July 22nd of '63 to retain World Heavyweight crown.

Liston would remain champ until February 25th, 1964 when he would be bested by Cassius Clay

HORSE RACING

Chateaugay (ridden by Braulio Baeza) wins the 89th Kentucky Derby and the 95th Belmont Stakes but not the 88th running of the Preakness (won instead by Candy Spots, ridden by Willie Shoemaker).

COLLEGIATE SPORTS (NCAA Divison 1 Champs)

Baseball: USC

Basketball: Loyola (IL)

Football: Texas

Heisman Trophy winner: Roger Staubach, QB, Navy

Email: classof1963@hotmail.com