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The Patriots got a decent return from Tom Brady, a sixth-round pick in 2000. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

April 16 in sports history: What a day for 'Mr. Practice Squad'

By Yardbarker Staff | Last updated 4/14/20

Here's a look back at notable sports news on April 16 through the years.

2000: Michigan quarterback Tom Brady — you may have heard of him — was drafted in the sixth round by the Patriots, after six other QBs were selected. Since then, Brady has done pretty well for himself: six Super Bowl titles, 74,571 passing yards, 541 TD passes and one super-model wife.

Oh, and now he has a new team, the Tampa Bay Bucs, and a two-year, fully guaranteed $50 million contract.

Back in 2000, we get the feeling Brady knew he was something special.

"I'm the type of player, the type of team player, that any team would look for," he said before the draft. "I think the ability is there. In terms of all the physical skills, I can do whatever it takes." In its summation of Patriots picks that year, however, the Boston Globe wrote of Brady: "A pocket passer who will compete for a practice squad spot ..."

Well, "Mr. Practice Squad" has thrown for 30,101 more yards and 295 more TD passes than all the QBs who were picked before him in the 2000 draft combined. All of those players, by the way, are long gone from the NFL.

Here's a rundown:

Chad Pennington, first round, Jets (also played for Dolphins): 11 years, 17,823 passing yards, 102 TDs
Giovanni Carmazzi: third round, 49ers; never played in a regular-season game
Chris Redman, third round, Ravens (also played for Falcons): eight years, 3,179 passing yards, 21 TDs
Tee Martin, fifth round, Steelers (also played for Raiders): two years, 69 passing yards, zero TDs
Marc Bulger, sixth round, Saints (played for Rams): eight years, 22,814, 122 TDs
Spergon Wynn, sixth round, Browns (also played for Vikings): two years, 585, 1 TD
TOTAL PASSING YARDS FOR ALL: 44,470 | TOTAL TDs: 246

Patriots coach Bill Belichick David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILD BILL!

And guess what? April 16 is also the 68th birthday of Brady's longtime Patriots coach/new nemesis, Bill Belichick. Wonder if the Tampa Bay QB sent him a card?

ALSO

1935: In his first game in the National League after 21 in the American League, the Boston Braves' Babe Ruth homered in a 4-2 win over the New York Giants. "I didn't even dream I'd get off to such a start," the Bambino told the Boston Globe about his Opening Day feat.

1940, 1972 and 1978: April 16 was a big day for no-hitters and a bad day for the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 1940, 21-year-old Bob Feller of the Indians held the White Sox hitless before 14,000 shivering fans in Chicago. Afterward, Feller said he was bummed because his curve ball wasn't breaking.

In 1972, on a cold, damp afternoon at Wrigley Field, 22-year-old Burt Hooton beat the Phillies, 4-0. A 16 mph wind blowing in kept fly balls in the yard for Hooton, the master of the knuckle-curve. His catcher, Randy Hundley, was pumped by the no-no. "First one I ever caught," he said, slapping Hooton on the back. "Thanks a lot, buddy."

Six years later on the same date, the Cardinals' Bob Forsch no-hit the Phillies in a 5-0 win in St. Louis. There were some close calls: Mike Schmidt hit three long fly-ball outs and Garry Maddox's grounder barely touched the glove of third baseman Ken Reitz for an error. "Base hit all the way," said Phillies manager Danny Ozark, who added Forsch was a "helluva" pitcher. Forsch was an infielder in the minor leagues, but he couldn't hit, so he became a pitcher.

1980: Arthur Ashe, the only African-American man to win singles titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and Australian Open, retired from professional tennis, mainly for health reasons. The 36-year-old had suffered a heart attack the previous July and had undergone quadruple bypass surgery in December 1979. "My doctors say I will live to be 100," Ashe said, "but they won't put that in writing." He died of AIDS-related pneumonia in 1993.

1987: Michael Jordan scored 61 points in a 117-114 loss to Atlanta, becoming the second NBA player in history to score 3,000 or more points in a season. Wrote Chicago Tribune columnist Bernie Lincicome: "The world will run out of breath before Michael Jordan runs out of magic." Wilt Chamberlain accomplished the 3,000-plus scoring feat three times with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors from 1960-63.

1999: Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player ever, announced his retirement. In 20 seasons in the NHL (Oilers, Kings, Blues, Rangers), he tallied 894 goals and 1,963 assists — both league records. His news conference in New York was attended by his wife and two sons. His daughter stayed home. "She was afraid she'd cry too much," said "The Great One."

2019: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson became the highest-paid player in NFL history with a four-year, $140M extension that included a record $65M signing bonus. His annual salary of $35 million topped that of Aaron Rodgers of the Packers ($33.5 million).

Happy birthday...

1947: Six-time NBA champ and six-time MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (73). The Basketball Hall of Famer was born in New York.

R.I.P.

2013: Longtime sportscaster Pat Summerall, a former NFL player, died from cardiac arrest at 82. His understated delivery for NFL games perfectly complemented the "Boom!" of his longtime broadcast partner, John Madden. "Pat Summerall," Madden said of his friend, "is the voice of football and always will be." Summerall was part of 16 Super Bowl broadcasts.

April 15: It was past bedtime for Mets, Astros

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