August Dates In The Sports History Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

HARTFORD-TOLLAND COUNTIES, CT — This monthly series on Patch sites in Hartford and Tolland counties recalls historic dates, events and milestones which occurred in the region during that month.

Here is the August timeline, arranged by calendar date rather than chronologically by year:

Aug. 5, 1904 - Longtime UConn men's basketball coach Hugh Greer was born in Suffield.

Aug. 6, 1974 - PBA Hall of Famer Nelson Burton Jr. won his first tournament on tour, the Home Box Office Open at Bradley Bowl in Windsor Locks.

Aug. 14, 1949 - Bob Backlund, an NCAA Div. II wrestling champion who turned professional and twice held the World Wrestling Federation heavyweight championship, was born in Princeton, Minn. Backlund and his wife Corki lived in Glastonbury from 1983 until 2022.

Aug. 15, 1982 - A virtually-unknown 24-year-old Californian named Tim Norris shattered records at the Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open at Wethersfield Country Club. He fired rounds of 63-64-66-66 for a 25-under par total of 259 and a 6-stroke victory over World Golf Hall of Famers Raymond Floyd and Hubert Green.

Aug. 21, 1983 - Curtis Strange won the final PGA Tour event at Wethersfield Country Club, dubbed "The Last Blast at Wethersfield." He topped Jay Haas and Jack Renner by one stroke.

Aug. 26, 1969 - Former National League All-Star Ricky Bottalico, who grew up in Newington, was born in New Britain.

Aug. 28, 1965 - A team of 11- and 12-year-olds from Windsor Locks won the Little League World Series by defeating Stoney Creek, Ontario 3-1 in the finals at Williamsport, Penn. The broadcasters calling the game on ABC's Wide World of Sports were Jim McKay and the legendary Jackie Robinson.

Aug. 29, 1959 - 2-time world welterweight boxing champion Marlon Starling was born in Hartford.

Aug. 30, 1973 - Entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. became the first African-American to have his name on a PGA Tour event, at the Greater Hartford Open at Wethersfield Country Club. Superstars like Bob Hope and Milton Berle participated in the Celebrity Pro-Am, which featured Davis playing alongside defending champion Lee Trevino.

Aug. 30, 2003 - Rentschler Field in East Hartford (now known as Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field) hosted its first UConn football game, a 34-10 victory over Indiana University.