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Sep 7, 1492
Columbus discovers New World
Before this time, the Arawak tribespeople of Puerto Rico relied on primitive forms of leisure for entertainment. -
Start of Baseball
Almendares and Borinquen baseball clubs were founded -
Baseball Game
The first organized baseball game was played -
Start of Boxing
The first boxing match occurred -
Basketball Game
The first organized basketball game was put on by the YMCA in Puerto Rico -
Boxing Fame
Puerto Rican boxing reached a new level when PR native, Nero Chen, became the first professional from the island to gain international recognition in the boxing world. -
Boxing Legalized
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PR Boxing Victory
Sixto Escobar, a PR-born boxer, became the island's first world champion boxer by knocking out a Mexican fighter in Montreal. -
Baseball Fame
The first Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues for the Chicago Cubs, Hiram Bithorn, was drafted. -
PR in the Olympics
Puerto Rico participated in its first internationally renowned sporting event, the summer olympics. -
Baseball Victory
Puerto Rico won the World Cup. -
PR in the NBA
PR native Alfred "Butch" Lee became the first NBA player from the island after being drafted by the Atlanta Hawks. -
PR in NFL
Ron Rivera, from Puerto Rico, was the first professional NFL player when he was drafted by the Chicago Bears. -
Olympics Basketball Victory
PR won against the US in the Athens Olympics. The beginning of PR native, Carlos Arroyo's, big basketball career and spot as an island hero.