On February 16, 2020, Major League Baseball (MLB) made a significant change by officially elevating the Negro Leagues to Major League status. This recognition marked a historic moment, highlighting the immense talent and contributions of African American baseball players who previously weren't acknowledged as part of the MLB. The move aimed to correct historical injustices and celebrate the rich history of the Negro Leagues.

Before this development, players like Joe Louis and boxer Jack Dempsey made their marks in other sports. For instance, in 1918, Dempsey knocked out Carl Morris in just 14 seconds in a heavyweight fight. In 1940, Joe Louis retained his world heavyweight title by defeating Al McCoy in the sixth round at the Boston Garden.

Over the years, sports have seen numerous notable achievements. In 1967, Wilt Chamberlain set a record with 68 points in a single game. The following year, O. J. Simpson broke Jim Brown's NFL single-season rushing record, finishing with 2, 003 yards. In 1990, Warren Moon passed for a remarkable 527 yards, the second-highest in NFL history.

2003 saw NFL receiver Joe Horn fined for a creative touchdown celebration involving a cell phone. Meanwhile, Morten Andersen became the highest scorer in NFL history in 2006. In the same year, Brett Favre broke Dan Marino's record for most career passing yards.

Away from the NFL, Kikkan Randall made history in 2007 by becoming the first U. S. woman to win a World Cup cross-country race. Swimmer Ryan Lochte also set records in 2010 and 2012, winning multiple medals at the short-course world championships.

In basketball, James Harden achieved a triple-double and led the Houston Rockets to an NBA record of 24 three-pointers in a single game in 2016. The following year, Drew Brees broke Peyton Manning's record for the most career touchdown passes.

Baseball Breakthrough: Negro Leagues Get Major League Status

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