Today in sports history: Richard Petty wins record 4th NASCAR championship in 1972
Here's a look back at sports happenings on this date in history, Nov. 12.
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1920: Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis hired as first commissioner of baseball
1920 — Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis is hired as the first commissioner of baseball.
Kenesaw Mountain Landis, baseball's first commissioner, is shown at age 78 in this 1938 file photo.
1967: Green Bay's Travis Williams returns 2 kickoffs for TDs
1967 — Travis Williams of Green Bay returns two kickoffs for touchdowns against Cleveland as the Packers beat the Browns 55-7. The Packers score 45 points in the first half, 35 in the opening quarter.
Green Bay Packers Travis Williams (23) avoids Jim Copeland (64) of Cleveland Browns tackle attempt and runs for the Packers first touchdown on an 87-yard opening kickoff return at Milwaukee Stadium, Nov. 12, 1967, Milwaukee, Wisc. Clevelands Don Damarie (55) is at left. (AP Photo/Paul Shane)
1972: Richard Petty wins record-setting 4th NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National championship
1972 — Richard Petty wins a record-setting fourth NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National championship after finishing third in the Texas 500.
Richard Petty looks under the hood of his new car, May 4, 1972, a Dodge and likes what he sees. Petty is driving a Dodge for the first time in the Winston 500 at Talladega, Alabama. which will be run over Talladega's 2.6 mile speedway. (AP Photo/Joe Holloway Jr)
1972: Don Shula becomes first NFL coach to win 100 regular-season games in 10 seasons
1972 — Don Shula becomes the first NFL coach to win 100 regular-season games in 10 seasons as the Miami Dolphins beat the New England Patriots 52-0.
Miami Dolphins Coach Don Shula leans forward in concentration as he watches his team deliver a 52-0 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, Nov. 12, 1972 at Miami's Orange Bowl for his 100th victory.Â
2006: Devin Hester ties NFL record for longest play at 108 yards
2006 — Devin Hester ties the NFL record for longest play by returning a missed field goal 108 yards in Chicago’s 38-20 victory over the New York Giants.
Chicago Bears' Devin Hester (23) runs back a missed field goal attempt for a 108-yard touchdown against the New York Giants as Bears' Alex Brown (96) celebrates during fourth quarter NFL football Sunday, Nov. 12, 2006 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The Bears won 38-20. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
2007: Roger Federer loses consecutive matches for first time in 4 1/2 years
2007 — Top-ranked Roger Federer loses consecutive matches for the first time in 4 1/2 years, falling to No. 7 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 4-6, 7-6 (1), 7-5 at the Masters Cup.
Roger Federer of Switzerland pauses during his match against Fernando Gonzalez of Chile at the 2007 Tennis Masters Cup at Qi Zhong Stadium, Shanghai, China, Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. Gonzalez beat Federer 4-6, 7-6 (1), 7-5. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
2010: Minnesota’s Kevin Love grabs franchise-record 31 rebounds, scores 31 points
2010 — Minnesota’s Kevin Love grabs a franchise-record 31 rebounds and scores 31 points, the NBA’s first 30-30 game in 28 years. The Timberwolves rally from a 21-point, third-quarter deficit to stun the New York Knicks 112-103.
Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Love in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
2013: In earliest meeting of top-ranked teams, Michigan State edges Kentucky
2013 — Keith Dawson tips in a miss with less than six seconds left to give No. 2 Michigan State a 78-74 victory over top-ranked Kentucky. It’s the earliest meeting of 1 vs. 2 in AP poll history, and the first since 2008.
Kentucky forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) tries to block out Michigan State center Adreian Payne (5) as forward Alex Poythress watches from behind during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013, in Chicago. Michigan State won 78-74. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
