December Dates In The Sports History Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

HARTFORD-TOLLAND COUNTIES, CT — This new 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 December timeline, arranged by calendar date rather than chronologically by year:

Dec. 4, 1976 - The first CIAC high school football title games were played, with champions being crowned in four divisions. The lone winner from Hartford County was East Hartford, which defeated Fairfield Prep 13-6 in the Class L championship tilt.

Dec. 5, 1987 - Former Major League Baseball All-Star, Gold Glove winner and 2020 World Series champion AJ Pollock was born. Pollock graduated from RHAM High School in Hebron before attending the University of Notre Dame.

Dec. 6, 1981 - UConn men's soccer won the NCAA championship, knocking off Alabama A&M 2-1 in overtime.

Dec. 7, 2003 - Mika Koivuniemi of Finland tossed the 16th televised perfect 300 game in Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) history in the semifinals of the Cambridge Credit Classic at Bradley Bowl in Windsor Locks. He eventually won the tournament, and in 2019, he became the first European player elected to the PBA Hall of Fame.

Dec. 10, 1964 - Mount Southington Ski Area opens for skiing on Mount Vernon Road in the Plantsville section of town.

Dec. 23, 1947 - Bill Rodgers, a 4-time champion of both the Boston and New York City marathons, was born in Hartford. He graduated from Newington High School and Wesleyan University before finding stardom on the streets of Beantown and the Big Apple.