Back in Time: December 7

SI Staff | Dec 9, 2009

Back in Time: December 7

Lou Gehrig

TSN/Icon SMI

Lou Gehrig is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The five-year waiting rule is waived after the 'Iron Horse' is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Lou Piniella

John D. Hanlon/SI

The Royals trade outfielder Lou Piniella and pitcher Ken Wright to the Yankees for veteran pitcher Lindy McDaniel.

Ray Wersching

AP

The San Francisco 49ers erase a 35-7 halftime deficit to record the biggest comeback in NFL history, beating the New Orleans Saints 38-35 in overtime on Ray Wersching's 36-yard field goal.

John Williamson

Ron Koch/Getty Images

The New Jersey Nets retired No. 23 in honor of "Super John" Williamson, who played three years in the ABA and four years in the NBA with the Nets. Williamson owned the second-highest NBA scoring average (22.5 ppg) in team history.

Nomar Garciaparra

AP

After refusing a $60 million, four-year extension from the Red Sox the previous winter, Nomar Garciaparra signs a one-year deal with the Cubs, the team he was traded to in July, for $8 million.

Born on this Day

Lane Stewart/SI

Gerry Cheevers (1940) <br>Johnny Bench (1947) <br>Larry Bird (1956) <br>Peter Laviolette (1964) <br>Tino Martinez (1967) <br>Terrell Owens (1973) <br>Fernando Vargas (1977) <br>Eric Chavez (1977)<br>Aaron Gray (1984) <br>