Professional baseball
FILE - Japan's Michael Leitch is tackled by South Africa's Steven Kitshoff during the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match at Tokyo Stadium between Japan and South Africa in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 20, 2019. A little more than a year away from the next World Cup in France, Leitch is no longer the captain but still a key member of the brains trust that drives. He looks forward to the tournament where Japan is drawn in group D with England, Argentina, Samoa and one other qualifier. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
Column: US lands 2031 Rugby World Cup, if anyone cares

By Paul Newberry May. 13, 2022 04:12 PM EDT

Rugby Australia President David Codey speaks during a media event ahead of the final vote for the hosting of the Rugby World Cups in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 12, 2022. World Rugby will announce the host nations for the men's and women's World Cups for the period 2025-2033 with Australia heavily favored to host the men's 2027 and women's tournaments in 2029. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
US to host men's and women's Rugby World Cups for first time

By Steve Douglas May. 12, 2022 01:58 PM EDT

Jake Diekman guaranteed $8M in 2-year deal with Red Sox

Mar. 17, 2022 05:38 PM EDT
FORT MYERS, Fla, (AP) — Left-hander Jake Diekman is guaranteed $8 million in his two-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. Diekman gets $3.5 million...

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Feb. 27, 2022 10:00 AM EST
Feb. 28 1922 — In the first formal college conference basketball tournament, North Carolina beats Mercer 40-26 to win the Southern Intercollegiate...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 24, 2022 11:17 AM EST
Feb. 25 1940 — The first telecast of an American hockey game is transmitted over station W2XBS in New York. The viewing audience watches the New York...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 17, 2022 11:05 AM EST
Feb. 18 1924 — Theresa Weld Blanchard wins her sixth and final U.S. figure skating championship. Sherwin Badger captures his fifth straight and final...

Colin Morikawa of the U.S. plays a shot on the 13th hole during second round of the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Morikawa the latest to express no interest in Saudi league

By Doug Ferguson Feb. 15, 2022 03:22 PM EST

Oklahoma State's Trevor Mastrogiovanni celebrates his victory over Iowa's Jesse Ybarra (Iowa) in the Bout at the Ballpark college wrestling dual Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Steve Nurenberg/The Dallas Morning News via AP)
USA, Iowa dominate wrestling event at Texas Rangers' stadium

By Cliff Brunt Feb. 13, 2022 12:38 AM EST

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 03, 2022 10:57 AM EST
Body Feb. 4 1861 — The Philadelphia Athletics beat Charter Oak 36-27 in a baseball game played on frozen Litchfield Pond in Brooklyn, N.Y...

FILE - Los Angeles Lakers' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) hooks a shot over Portland Trail Blazers' Jim Brewer (52) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on March 12, 1980. Abdul-Jabbar wins his sixth MVP award after claiming five in the 1970s. He averaged 24.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.4 blocks. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, File)
Timeline of NBA in 1980s as league celebrates 75th season

By The Associated Press Jan. 17, 2022 10:45 AM EST

FILE - Atlanta Braves' organist Matthew Kaminski plays an organ overlooking Truist Field before Game 4 of baseball's World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves Oct. 30, 2021, in Atlanta. The jazz lover's eclectic taste in music, and his hilarious selections when opposing players come to the plate, set up a game within every game. For the first time ever, we'll be awarding a Newby Grammy to our top sports-related musician, Kaminski. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
Astros at Braves 10/30/2021

Dec. 31, 2021 02:58 AM EST

FILE - Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Will Craig, right, tosses the ball to catcher Michael Perez, left, after Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez (9) hit a fielder's choice third to first and was caught in a rundown between home a first during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, May 27, 2021. Cub's Willson Contreras, top center, scores on the play and Báez reached second on an errant throw by Pirates' catcher Perez. In a totally forgettable season for the Chicago Cubs, Baez wins the Newby award for best baserunning. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
Cubs at Pirates 5/27/2021

Dec. 31, 2021 02:58 AM EST

FILE - Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron is seen, March 1967. Aaron made history with one swing of his bat. A year later and on the other side of Georgia, Lee Elder made history with one swing of his driver. Their deaths in 2021 were mourned beyond the sports world and were reminders of the hate, hardships and obstacles they endured with dignity on their way to breaking records and barriers. (AP Photo, File)
Column: Another socially distanced Newby Awards for 2021

By Paul Newberry Dec. 31, 2021 02:55 AM EST

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young holds the Heisman Trophy at an award ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in New York. (Todd Van Emst/Heisman Trust via AP, Pool)
Ode to Sports: A year when games and fans came off the bench

By Fred Lief Dec. 23, 2021 12:24 PM EST

FILE - Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Alex Cobb throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 in Anaheim, Calif. Right-hander Cobb is close to finalizing an agreement with the San Francisco Giants, a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations said Monday, Nov. 29, 2021. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Cobb still must pass a physical to complete the deal. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Astros at Angels 9/23/2021

Nov. 30, 2021 11:48 PM EST

FILE - Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Alex Cobb throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 in Anaheim, Calif. Right-hander Cobb is close to finalizing an agreement with the San Francisco Giants, a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations said Monday, Nov. 29, 2021. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Cobb still must pass a physical to complete the deal. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Giants, Cobb finalize $20M, 2-year deal with club option

Nov. 30, 2021 11:46 PM EST

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Nov. 04, 2021 04:54 PM EDT
Nov. 5 1927 — Walter Hagen beats Joe Turnesa 1-up to capture the PGA Championship for the fourth consecutive year and fifth overall. ...

FILE - Miami Marlins General Manager Kim Ng talks with the media before a baseball game against the New York Yankees in Miami, in this Friday, July 30, 2021, file photo. Kim Ng, the first female general manager in baseball with the Miami Marlins, received the Billie Jean King Leadership Award at the Annual Salute to Women in Sports on Wednesday night, Oct. 13, 2021, in New York(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Yankees at Marlins 7/30/2021

Oct. 14, 2021 12:16 PM EDT

FILE - Bronze medalist Allyson Felix, of the United States, poses during the medal ceremony for the women's 400-meter run at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, in this Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, file photo. Olympians Allyson Felix and Jordan Larson were honored as Sportswomen of the Year by the Women’s Sports Foundation at the Annual Salute to Women in Sports on Wednesday night, Oct. 13, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
Allyson Felix, Naomi Osaka earn women's sports awards

Oct. 14, 2021 11:58 AM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Sep. 28, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Sept. 29 1923 — Gene Sarazen beats Walter Hagen 1 up to capture the PGA championship. 1941 — Joe Louis knocks out Lou...