San Diego quarterback Dan Fouts throws for 303 yards at Oakland, by throwing 300+ yards for the fourth straight game he set an NFL record.

Eighteen year-old Wayne Gretzky scores his first NHL goal in the Edmonton Oilers' 4-4 tie with the Canucks at Northlands Coliseum.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson debuted as a rookie on the Los Angeles Lakers, his opening night game he scored 26 points against the San Diego Clippers.

Boston Celtic Chris Ford scored the first three-point basket in NBA history with 3:48 left in the first quarter of a victory over the Houston Rockets at Boston Garden.

Mays’ other career milestones include being named National League Rookie of the Year in 1951 and winning 12 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards as an outfielder — tied for most all-time with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Roberto Clemente. 

Kerri Walsh was born in Santa Clara, California, she grew up Scotts Valley, 6 miles north of Santa Cruz was named Gatorade National High School Volleyball Player of the Year in 1996.

Yankee Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in three consecutive at-bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 to win their first World Series in 15 years.

Nets offered Julius Erving's contract to the New York Knicks, but the Knicks turned it down, the Sixers then decided to offer to buy Erving's contract for $3 million, Erving and Sixers ended up in the NBA Finals.

Jimmy Connors defeated Borg 6–4, 3–6, 7–6, 6–4 in the final to win the Men's Singles tennis title at the US Open.

The Japanese team beat the Russian team to earn Olympic gold in woman's volleyball at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.