On this day 20 years ago at Orioles Park in Baltimore, Cal Ripken contested his 2,131st consecutive MLB game, breaking Lou Gehrig’s seemingly unbreakable record of 2,130 that had stood since 1939.

Until Ripken, no one had come within five years of Gehrig’s mark.

Two rows of temporary seating were erected next to the Orioles dugout, reserved for $5,000 each, $1 million of which were donated towards Lou Gehrig’s Disease research.

Ripken’s children threw out the ceremonial first ball. Ripken homered in the fourth inning and fireworks exploded as a countdown banner at the stadium was updated to reflect 2,131.

1880: The first cricket Test match to be played in England kicks off at The Oval.

1970: Clay Regazzoni took his first F1 win in only his fifth race at the Italian Grand Prix from Jackie Stewart and Jean-Pierre Beltoise. Celebrations were muted as Jochen Rindt had been killed during practice the day before.

1975: 18-year-old Czechoslovakian Martina Navratilova loses in the US Open semis to Chris Evert then heads to the Immigration and Naturalization Service office to ask for political asylum.