April 24 in sports history: Giants get a 'steal' in Eli

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1988 and 1994: The '88 draft included five future Hall of Famers. No. 1 overall pick Aundray Bruce of the Falcons was not among them. In fact, the former Auburn linebacker was the last at his position to go at the top of the draft.

In 11 seasons in the league — four with the Falcons, seven with the Raiders — Bruce never made the Pro Bowl and recorded only 32 sacks.

In the first round in 1988 alone, three future Hall of Famers were selected: wide receiver Tim Brown by the Raiders (sixth overall), wide receiver Michael Irvin by the Cowboys (11th) and guard Randall McDaniel by the Vikings (19th). In the second round, two players became Hall of Famers: running back Thurman Thomas, picked by the Bills with the 40th overall pick, and center Dermontti Dawson, selected by the Steelers four picks later.

Six years later, defensive tackle Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson from Ohio State was the No. 1 overall selection. "Lot of people still think I'm too heavy, that I can't really run like I can run," Wilkinson, a 308-pounder, told the Los Angeles Times. "But I consider myself a big player, an impact player. And I will show everybody that."

Although he had a greater impact than Bruce, Wilkinson was never a star in the league. He was traded by the Bengals in 1998 to Washington. With the No. 2 overall pick in 1994, the Colts selected San Diego State running back Marshall Faulk, a future Hall of Famer. 

ALSO

1956: In the Tigers-A's game in Kansas City, Frank Umont of the American League became the first umpire to wear eyeglasses during a regular-season MLB game. 

"... not a single crack was heard from the leather lunged fans who daily advise umpires about their eyesight during the baseball season," The Associated Press reported. The story was splashed on newspaper sports pages throughout the country. Umont, who played tackle for the New York Giants from 1943-47, umpired second base. "I just don't think I'll say anything," he said about the historic moment.

1957: Perhaps three Cubs pitchers could have used glasses against the Reds. In the fifth inning of a 9-5 loss, Moe Drabowsky, Jackie Collum and Jim Brosnan walked a National League-record nine hitters. Cincinnati had only one hit in the 37-minute, seven-run inning that the Chicago Tribune called a "monstrosity." Issuing 11 walks in an inning in a 20-5 loss to the Yankees in 1949, the Washington Senators hold the big-league record.

1974: The NFL granted a franchise to Tampa Bay. Perhaps the league should have held off, because success has been fleeting for the Buccaneers. In Year 1, in 1976, they finished 0-14. Tampa Bay lost its first 12 games the next season. Following one of the many early losses, colorful Bucs head coach John McKay was asked about his team's execution. "I'm in favor of it," he said. In 45 seasons, Tampa Bay is 267-424-1, with one Super Bowl title.  

1978:  In the Angels' 6-5 loss in 12 innings to Seattle, California's Nolan Ryan struck out 15 — the 20th time he struck out 15 or more in a game. Ryan holds the AL record for games with 15 or more K's, with 23. With 29, Randy Johnson holds the MLB record.

1994: Dueling Orlando's Shaquille O'Neal for the NBA scoring title, San Antonio's David Robinson unabashedly jacked up from all over against the Clippers, who didn't play tight defense. The Admiral finished with a career-high 71 points, barely winning the scoring crown (29.78 ppg. vs. 29.34 ppg.) over Shaq, whose head coach was not pleased.

"A farce that's bad for basketball," the Magic's Brian Hill called the Clippers' effort.

Los Angeles committed 28 fouls, most against Robinson, who made 18 of 25 free throws and 26 of 41 field goal attempts. "That's the hardest I've had to work to make some points," he said, perhaps tongue in cheek.

Happy birthday...

• Hall of Fame infielder Larry “Chipper” Jones, who spent all 19 years of his career with the Atlanta Braves. Jones was named to eight All-Star teams and finished with a total of 468 homers, 1,623 RBI and a career .303 batting average (48).
• Golfer Lee Westwood, often cited as one of the best golfers to never win a major. Westwood has won tournaments on all five continents. (47) 
• Carlos Beltran, 1999 AL Rookie of the Year, who finished his career with nine All-Star appearances, three Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers. His involvement in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal cost him his short-lived career as the New York Mets manager (43).
• Kris Letang, in his 14^th season as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins defense. A third-round pick of the Pens in 2005, Letang has won three Stanley Cups with the team (33).
• Golfer Lydia Ko, who has 15 wins, including two majors, on the LPGA Tour. At 17, she became the youngest ever to win the LPGA’s Rookie of the Year Award (23).
• Vince Ferragamo, Super Bowl XIV starting quarterback for the L.A. Rams. Ferragamo had his best season in 1980, when he threw for 30 TDs, second most in the NFL that year (66)
  
  

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  April 23: I'm "an excellent choice" by Patriots, says Gronk.