Sports Challenge Episode Rating Graph

The Yankees were notorious for belittling the Brooklyn Dodgers in October. This debut episode of Sports Challenge was no different. Brooklyn alumnus Don Drysdale brought the defeat crashing down when he blew a question about the Rams' defensive end Deacon Jones.

The Lakers had yet to win an NBA Championship at this time. But on Sports Challenge, they began a dynasty. In only the series' second show, the Purple and Gold began their streak of seven straight wins, which would be the Sports Challenge record until Joe McCarthy's Yankees came along in 1972.

Instead of Rose, Bench and Tolan, the birthplace of professional baseball sends three Cincinnati legends to defend the Reds' Sports Challenge crown. They walk all over the Cleveland Indians. No surprise there: Cleveland was in the midst of its four-decade-long misfortune.

The California Angels make their first of many appearances on Sports Challenge. Immediately, the likes of Jim Fregosi and Andy Messerschmidt display the form that their successors would continue in later seasons.

One of the other all-time Sports Challenge favorites, the Boston Celtics, appears for the first time. And yes, Red Auerbach is going to light his cigar. There would be more to come.

During their dismal last season of existence, the Washington Senators (A.L.) baseball team makes its only Sports Challenge appearance. Most of the time, manager Ted Williams speaks for the team. That doesn't matter at all to the Celtics, who win their second straight.