Can You Match the Memorable Sports Moment to the Year?

By: Robin Tyler
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Match the Memorable Sports Moment to the Year?
Image: WikiCommons by International Newsreel

About This Quiz

Let's face it, most of us love our sport. You wouldn't be attempting this quiz if you didn't, right? But picking memorable sports moments from the past 120 years is not an easy task. There simply have been so many that narrowing it down to 40 is always going to be very subjective. What we might think is a memorable sports moment might not be that memorable for you and vice versa! 

However, there are moments where we can all agree they were certainly memorable. We might not have been there, but the legends behind the story still remain giants in our eyes. Take the story of Babe Ruth pointing to the bleachers and telling the crowd where he would hit the next ball. Or Cassius Clay becoming the world heavyweight boxing champion for the first time. And what about Usain Bolt announcing himself to the world with the 100m and 200m sprint double, in world-record time, at the Olympics? Yes, we remember these great moments, but to excel in this quiz, you are going to also have to remember the year in which they happened. Do you think you can do that? Well, let's test that sporting knowledge of yours!

Jackie Robinson 1945
WikiCommons by Cowles Communications, Inc
In which year did Jackie Robinson sign a Major League Baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers?
1911
1923
1945
2000
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

By signing an MLB contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945, Jackie Robinson smashed through the color barrier by becoming the first African American to do so. Robinson still had to overcome many trials, but he was truly a trailblazer!

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Roger Bannister
WikiCommons by United Press International
They said a four-minute mile wasn't possible, but Roger Bannister proved them wrong. In what year?
1988
1954
2001
1900
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With the help of pacemakers Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway, Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile in windy conditions on May 6, 1954. In fact, the wind was so bad, Bannister was going to call off his attempt. He persevered, however, stopping the clock in 3:59.40 seconds.

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Mark Spitz 1972
WikiCommons by UPI
With an incredible haul of seven gold medals in the pool, Mark Spitz dominated which Olympics marred by terrorist attacks?
1972
1996
2000
2004
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mark Spitz's incredible feat is often forgotten behind the attacks on the Israeli team at the 1972 Olympics in Munich in which 11 athletes died. Spitz not only won seven gold medals but set seven world records as well.

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Billie Jean King vs Bobby Riggs 1973
WikiCommons
Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match in what year?
1973
1980
2000
1955
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1973 Bobby Riggs, a former world number-one tennis player, brashly declared that he could beat any female tennis player on the circuit. He couldn't. In an exhibition match, Billy Jean King beat in in three sets, taking home $100,000 in the process.

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Secretariat 1973
WikiCommons by Jeff Kubina
Secretariat claimed horse racing's Triple Crown in what year?
1973
1981
2000
1965
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

By winning the Triple Crown in 1973, Secretariat became the first horse in 25 to achieve the feat. In the last race of the series, Secretariat won by a massive 31 lengths in a world-record time that still stands today.

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Hank Aaron 1974
WikiCommons
Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's overall home-run record in which year?
1974
1990
2001
1923
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hank Aaron was the man to break Babe Ruth's long-standing home-run record. He did so on April 8, 1974. Aaron's record was in turn broken by Barry Bonds a few decades later.

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Nadia Comaneci 1976
WikiCommons by Comitetul Olimpic si Sportiv Roman)
Nadia Comaneci stunned the world when she became the first person to record a perfect 10 for a gymnastics routine. In which year did it happen?
1979
1976
1980
1968
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci stunned the world in at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal when she scored a perfect 10 on the uneven bars. She went onto win three gold medals at just 14 years of age.

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Celtics and the Suns
WikiCommons by Robert Kingsbury
In what year was a third overtime period needed to determine the winner between the Celtics and the Suns in the NBA finals?
1976
1991
2017
1950
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With the finals tied at 2-2, the winner of the final match of the NBA finals between the Phoenix Suns and the Boston Celtics would take home the glory. The game needed three overtime periods to finally separate the teams, with Boston eventually winning 128-126.

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Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe 1980
WikiCommons by Rob Croes
Tennis rivalries don't get bigger than Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. In what year dig Borg win an epic five setter for his fifth Wimbledon title in a row?
1980
1990
1976
1971
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe served up some really epic tennis matches—none more so than their five-set battle at Wimbledon in 1980. Borg won, giving him his five titles in a row.

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Lou Gehring
WikiCommons by University Archives—Columbiana Library
60,000 people hung on his every word as Lou Gehrig, although dying, called himself the "luckiest man alive" to be able to play baseball, a sport he loved. Do you know what year this happened?
1951
1949
1966
1939
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Suffering with a disease that would later bear his name, Lou Gehrig—or "Iron Horse" to baseball fans—played the last of his 2,130 consecutive games for the New York Yankees. Sadly, the disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, meant he had to retire. He died just two years later.

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Bobby Jones
WikiCommons by Toronto Star
Bobby Jones won all of golfs majors in a single year. But what year was it?
2010
1970
1930
1955
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bobby Jones won the British Amateur, British Open, U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Open, the majors at the time, in 1930—a feat never achieved again.

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Muhammad Ali and George Foreman 1974
HBO
In which year did the "Rumble in the Jungle"—one of the greatest boxing matches ever staged—between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman take place?
1981
1988
1952
1974
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Described as one of the greatest boxing matches in history, the "Rumble in the Jungle" saw Muhammad Ali reclaim his world heavyweight crown from George Foreman. The fight was held in Zaire.

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Mark McGwire  1998
WikiCommons by Rick Dikeman
Do you know in which year Mark McGwire became the first slugger to smash 70 home runs in a season?
1995
2002
2000
1998
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On September 27, 1998, Mark McGwire became the first ever man to hit 70 homers in a baseball season. McGwire achieved the feat playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, and he went on to smash 583 home runs in his career.

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Wilt Chamberlain 1962
WikiCommons by World Telegram
Do you know the date Wilt Chamberlain became the first player to score 100 points in an NBA game?
1955
1962
1931
1977
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Only just over 4,000 people saw Wilt Chamberlain throw the first—and to date, only—100-point game in the NBA. Chamberlain, playing for the New York Nicks, achieved the feat against the Philadelphia Warriors.

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Don Larsen 1956
WikiCommons by Baseball Digest
It had never been done before. New York Yankees' Don Larsen managed to throw the first perfect game in post-season against the Brooklyn Dodgers. When was this?
1956
1944
1951
1981
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Don Larsen's feat came in Game 5 of the World Series. His efforts saw the Yankees win 2-0.The Yankees went on to win the World Series.

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Bob Beamon
WikiCommons
Many consider Bob Beamon smashing the long-jump world record to be one of the greatest athletic feats ever. Do you know when he achieved this feat?
1960
1968
1930
2000
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The crowd watching the track and field events at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico were stunned into silence when Bob Beamon smashed the long-jump record by an incredible two feet. Undoubtedly, his effort is one of the greatest athletic achievements ever.

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Cassius Clay 1964
WikiCommons by El Gráfico
In which year did Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) defeat Sonny Liston to become the heavyweight champion of the world?
1964
1973
1955
1951
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sonny Liston had been the champion since 1962, but on February 25, 1964, Cassius Clay decimated him, with Liston forced to throw in the towel after six rounds. Clay had opened cuts on Liston's face, and a shoulder injury further complicated matters.

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Jesse Owens
WikiCommons by Associated Press
The Olympics that year were meant to showcase Nazi talent, but Jesse Owens was having none of it! In which year did he show up Hitler at the Olympic games?
1944
1940
1932
1936
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oh and how he did it! Jessie owns won four golds in front of Adolf Hitler and broke three world and one Olympic records. Owens won gold in the 100m, 200m, Long Jump and 4x100m relay.

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Max Schmeling vs Joe Lewis 1938
WikiCommons by Wm. C. Greene
Do you know which year Hitler's boxing champion, Max Schmeling, was obliterated by Joe Louis in just over 120 seconds?
1940
1944
1931
1938
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In a massive blow to Hitler's supposed Aryan superiority, Joe Louis obliterated the German Max Schmeling on June 22, 1938. In that time, he put the German on the canvas three times.

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Dream Team 1992
WikiCommons by Ken Hackman
At which Olympics did the "Dream Team"—perhaps the greatest basketball team ever—dominate?
2000
2004
2008
1992
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A team filled with NBA superstars including the like of Magic Johnson, the "Dream Team" dominated basketball at the 1992 Olympics. In fact, they beat each of their opponents by more than 30 points.

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Baltimore Colts vs New York Giants 1958
WikiCommons by Paul-W
Commonly called "The Greatest Game Ever Played," in which year did the NFL championship game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants happen?
1966
1958
2000
2011
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The matchup between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants saw the Colts run out winners in sudden death and was the first NFL championship game to go into overtime.

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Arthur Ashe
WikiCommons by Rob Bogaerts
In what year did Arthur Ashe become the first black man to win the U.S. Open?
1965
1968
1971
1981
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1968, Arthur Ashe wrote his name into tennis history by becoming the first player of color to win the U.S. Open, as well as the first to win a open-era tournament.

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Diego Maradona 1986
WikiCommons by Dani Yako
Diego Maradona is without a doubt one of the greatest ever footballers. In what year did he score a goal against England in what became known as the "Hand of God" incident?
1994
1986
2000
2004
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Diego Maradona was at the peak of his powers during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Representing Argentina, he managed to score a goal using his hand while trying to head a ball into the net against England. The English players protested, but the goal stood. A few minute later, Maradona sealed the match with a goal which he dribbled past a number of English players to slot home.

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Buster Douglas vs Mike Tyson 1990
HBO
It was meant to be a routine title defense, but Buster Douglas had other ideas. In what year did he hand Mike Tyson his first ever professional defeat?
1982
1990
1992
2007
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Buster Douglas was a 47-1 outside the the heavyweight title fight against Mike Tyson on February 11, 1990. But he dominated Tyson, before sending him to the canvas. Douglas lost the title the next year to Evander Holyfield.

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Muhammad Ali 1996
NBC
It was the moment long remembered after the Olympic Games had finished. In which year did Muhammad Ali, ravaged by Parkinson's Disease, show his legendary fight to light the Olympic flame?
1996
1992
2000
2004
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many remember that iconic moment when Muhammad Ali, a hero to millions but now ravaged by Parkinson's, lit the Olympic flame at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Ali was also given a medal to replace the one he won in 1960 but tossed into a river due to the the frustration that he was ordered out of a restaurant which served white people only.

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Pele 1958
WikiCommons by Pressens Bild
At which Soccer World Cup did Pele announce himself to the world?
1938
1974
1968
1958
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though he was only a teenager, the soccer world soon knew who Pele was thanks to his exploits at the 1958 Soccer World Cup. At just 17 years old, Pele helped Brazil to win the tournament by scoring six goals.

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Rugby world cup 1987
WikiCommons by andrew-rose
In which year did the first ever Rugby World Cup take place?
2007
1991
1987
1965
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although rugby internationals had been played since the early 1900s, the first Rugby World Cup only arrived in 1987. It was won by New Zealand, although possibly the strongest rugby nation at the time, South Africa, was in international isolation due to apartheid.

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Carli Lloyd  2015
WikiCommons by Nicki Dugan Pogue
In what year did Carli Lloyd write herself into soccer history by scoring a hat-trick in a World Cup final?
2010
2015
2002
1999
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Incredibly, Carli Lloyd achieved her amazing feat in the first 16 minutes of the game with her hat-trick goal an incredible long-range effort from almost the half-way line. The U.S. went on to win 5-2 and claim the World Cup.

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Cricket World Cup 1975
WikiCommons by Marie-Lan Nguyen
In which year did the first Cricket World Cup take place?
2000
1975
2010
2008
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cricket as a sport had been played internationally since the late 1800s. The first Wold Cup for the sport only took place in 1975, however. It was won by the West Indies, who defeated Australia in the final.

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John McEnroe 1981
WikiCommons by Rob Croes
Can you tell us in what year John McEnroe ended Bjorn Borg's five-year title run at Wimbledon?
1981
1984
2000
1977
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After losing to Bjorn Borg in the 1980s, John McEnroe finally got one over his great rival, winning the 1981 Wimbledon final in four sets: 4–6, 7–6 (7–1), 7–6 (7–4), 6–4.

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Jack Nicklaus 1986
PGA Tour
Jack Nicklaus won his final Major at the age of 46. What year did he achieve the feat?
1980
1972
1992
1986
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jack Nicklaus is perhaps the greatest golfer ever; if measured by Majors, then he surely is. Nicklaus' last Major came at the age of 46 at the U.S. Master, taking his overall tally to 18.

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Cal Ripken Jr. 1995
WikiCommons by Rdikeman
It took an "iron man" to break Lou Gehrig's record of most 2,160 consecutive baseball games, but Cal Ripken Jr. did it in what year?
2001
1999
1995
1989
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cal Ripken Jr. spent his 20-year baseball career only playing for the Baltimore Orioles between 1991 and 2001. His record of consecutive games was set at 2,632, an amount that will probably never be broken. Ripken Jr. also received pretty much every accolade in baseball.

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Babe Ruth 1932
WikiCommons by International Newsreel
In what year did Babe Ruth's famous "called shot" happen?
1932
1919
1950
1921
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the fifth inning of the third game of the 1932 World Series, Babe Ruth pointed to the stands beyond center field. The very next ball, he sent the ball sailing into the bleachers in that region, and the legend of the Ruth "called shot" was born!

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USA Soviet Union 1980 match
WikiCommons via Henry Zbyszynski
An example of the underdogs defeating the giants played itself out when the U.S. beat the U.S.S.R in what year at the Olympics?
1980
1972
1984
1966
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of the greatest upsets in any sport ever, the United States ice hockey team beat the Soviet juggernaut 4-3 at the 1980 Olympics. Just a few weeks before, the Soviets had beaten the United States 10-3, making the result even more remarkable. The United States went on to win gold.

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Nelson Mandela 1995
WikiCommons by Library of the London School of Economics and Political Science
In what year did Nelson Mandela inspire the South African rugby side to World Cup glory?
1991
1987
1995
2015
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As told by the Hollywood movie "Invictus," Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected leader of South Africa, used sport to help reconcile the nation. He was on hand to inspire the South African rugby side to victory over their more fancied rivals, New Zealand, in 1995.

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Don Bradman 1948
WikiCommons
Don Bradman, the greatest cricket player of all-time, just needed 4 runs in his final innings to end his career with an average of 100. He was bowled out for 0. In what year did this take place?
1988
1952
1948
1900
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Australia's Don Bradman is the greatest cricket player of all time, of that there is no doubt. And he would have finished his career with a batting average of 100 if he could score 4 runs in his final innings. It seemed a foregone conclusion, but England's Eric Hollies had other ideas, and he bowled Bradman for a duck.

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France Soccer World Cup 1998 / Armand
svetikd/E+/Getty Images
Do you know in which year France celebrated their first Soccer World Cup win?
1998
2018
2004
1972
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Perhaps it was written in the stars that France would win the first World Cup held in the country. A golden generation of footballers saw them to victory over Brazil, certainly their more fancied rivals.

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Usain Bolt 2008
WikiCommons by Jmex60
There is no denying that Usain Bolt is the greatest sprinter who ever lived. In which year did he truly announce himself to the world at the Olympics?
2012
2008
2004
2000
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was at the 2008 Beijing Olympics that Usain Bolt showed he was the fastest man in the world. Bolt won both the 100m and 200m titles, and in world-record times, making him the first man to ever do so.

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Wayne Gretzky 1989
WikiCommons by Hakandahlstrom
Ice hockey fans remember the day on which Wayne Gretzky beat Gordie Howe’s record as NHL all-time leading scorer. Do you?
2001
1999
1989
1978
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On October 15, 1989, Wayne Gretzky became the all-time leading NHL scorer with 1,850 points, beating the previous record of Gordie Howe. He ended his career with 2,857 points and 1,963 assists.

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Tiger Woods 1997
WikiCommons by Tim Hipps
In which year did Tiger Woods become the youngest ever Masters champion, certainly one of the greatest golfing moments in the past 25 years?
2001
1994
1997
2004
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Not only did he become the youngest Master champion at just 21, he obliterated the field in doing so. Tiger Woods won by an incredible 12 shots. It was only his 15th tournament as a pro!

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You Got:
/40
WikiCommons by International Newsreel