Tommy McDonald

Forty years ago this weekend, as America grieved for President John F. Kennedy, stunned NFL players were told to take the field

•That Giants manager Dusty Baker, who retired in 1986, shed his wristbands—or else grab a bat and pinch hit.

JULY 27, 1964

•Tim Wood, Indianapolis high school senior, who broke the world record for consecutive sit-ups with 15,525 in 10 hours, asked what he wanted to do when he finished: "Go to the bathroom."

•George Andrie, Dallas Cowboy end, noting that inspirational talks by former Cowboys Tommy McDonald and Jerry Rhome lifted the Cleveland Browns to an emotional peak for the last two Dallas games: "This ought to teach...