March 15

1869 — The Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first pro baseball team, are organized by George Ellard and Harry Wright.

1940 — Colorado, led by Bob Doll's 15 points, beats Duquesne 51-40 for the NIT championship.

1985 — Larry Holmes scores a 10th-round knockout of David Bey in Las Vegas to retain the world heavyweight title.

1987 — Don Pooley aces the 192-yard 17th hole at the Bay Hill Classic in Orlando and wins $1 million. Pooley receives half and the other half is donated to the Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital.

1997 — North Carolina's Dean Smith becomes the career victories leader when the Tar Heels beat Colorado 73-56. Smith, with 877 wins, passes Kentucky coaching legend Adolph Rupp.

2001 — The NCAA men's basketball tournament opens with a series of close calls and upsets, with 15th-seeded Hampton beating second-seeded Iowa State 58-57 in the biggest surprise of the day.

2004 — Alexander Mogilny has three assists in Toronto's 6-5 overtime victory at Buffalo, becoming the second Russian to reach the NHL's 1,000-point plateau.

2008 — Georgia Southern sets an NCAA record for all Divisions, hitting 14 home runs in a 26-8 win over Columbia. In all, 12 different Eagles hit a home run.

2009 — Detroit beats Columbus 4-0 to become the first team in NHL history to top 100 points in nine straight seasons. The Stanley Cup champion Red Wings, the NHL leader with 101 points, break a tie with Montreal (1974-75 through 1981-82).