March 31

[edit] Events

[edit] 1906

[edit] NCAA

• The Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States was founded to set rules in amateur sports. In 1910, it becomes the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

[edit] 1923

[edit] NHL

• King Clancy of the Ottawa Senators plays all six positions in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. He played goalie for 2 minutes while Clint Benedict served a penalty.

[edit] 1968

[edit] MLB

• The new American League expansion team set to begin play in Seattle for the 1969 season chose Pilots as the club's nickname.

[edit] 1971

[edit] FA Cup

• Arsenal defeat Stoke City 2-0 in their semi-final replay thereby advancing to the F.A. Cup Final.

[edit] 1972

[edit] MLB

• The Major League Baseball Players Association voted to go on strike on April 1.

[edit] 1990

[edit] NHL

• Joe Sakic becomes first person in NHL history to score 100 points in a season with a last-place team. He is also the youngest.

[edit] 1992

[edit] NBA

• Cotton Fitzsimmons of the Phoenix Suns becomes the sixth coach in NBA history to get 800 career wins.

[edit] 1997

[edit] Tennis

• At the age of 16, Martina Hingis becomes the youngest women's tennis player to reach the world number-one mark.

[edit] 1998

[edit] MLB

• The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Arizona Diamondbacks have their major league debuts.

• Pokey Reese of the Cincinnati Reds ties a major league record with four errors on opening day.

[edit] 2003

[edit] MLB

• The Great American Ball Park, new home to the Cincinnati Reds, opens in its first regular season game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Reds lose their home opener, 10-7.

[edit] Births

[edit] Deaths

[edit] 1971

• Knute Rockne dies in a plane crash.