This week in Sporting History – May 1 - 7

  • 04/05/2017
Ayrton Senna in the cockpit of his car 24 hours before his death (Getty)
Ayrton Senna in the cockpit of his car 24 hours before his death (Getty)

Newshub looks at a few key sporting moments in time that happened this week in sporting history.

Moments

May 1 1920: Babe Ruth's first Yankee Home Run & 50th of career.

Babe Ruth shakes the hand American President , Warren Harding in 1923 (Getty)
Babe Ruth shakes the hand American President , Warren Harding in 1923 (Getty)

May 1 1981: Tennis player Billie Jean King acknowledges a lesbian relationship with Marilyn Barnett - becoming first prominent sportswoman to come out.

Billie Jean King in 1981 (Getty)
Billie Jean King in 1981 (Getty)

May 2 2015: Fight of the Century – Floyd Mayweather beats Manny Pacquiao in a 12-round unanimous decision for the welterweight boxing title.

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in action during their 2015 fight (Getty)
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in action during their 2015 fight (Getty)

May 2 2016: Leicester City win the English Premier League title after starting the season at 5,000-1 odds.

Leicester city players celebrate their EPL win (Getty)
Leicester city players celebrate their EPL win (Getty)

Birthdays

May 2 1969: Brian Lara, West Indian left-hand batsmen who smashed the world record for most runs in a single innings in 1994 scoring 501 in County cricket.

Brian Lara during his innings of 501 (Getty)
Brian Lara during his innings of 501 (Getty)

May 2 1975: David Beckham, English footballer who played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris St Germain and the L.A Galaxy, captained England at the 2006 football World Cup.

David Beckham playing for Manchester United in 1999 (Getty)
David Beckham playing for Manchester United in 1999 (Getty)

May 6 1937: Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, Clifton, New Jersey, American boxer whose murder convictions were overturned after 19 years in prison.

Rubin Carter during his 19-year prison stay (Getty)
Rubin Carter during his 19-year prison stay (Getty)

Deaths

May 1 1994: Ayrton Senna, Brazilian Grand prix driver, died after crash at San Marino Grand Prix, aged 34.

The remains of Aryton Senna's car after his fatal crash at Imola in 1994 (Getty)
The remains of Aryton Senna's car after his fatal crash at Imola in 1994 (Getty)

May 2 2012: NFL linebacker Junior Seau commits suicide aged 34. Seau played for the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots in a 20-year-career.

Junior Seau playing for the Patriots in 2009 (Getty)
Junior Seau playing for the Patriots in 2009 (Getty)

May 7 2011: Seve Ballesteros, Spanish golfer, died of brain cancer aged 54. 

Seve Ballesteros (Getty)
Seve Ballesteros (Getty)

Newshub.