Sports history for June 17

Tuesday, June 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

1954 - Rocky Marciano scores a 15-round unanimous decision over Ezzard Charles at New York to retain the world heavyweight title.

1961 - Gene Littler shoots a 68 in the final round to edge Doug Sanders and Bob Goalby in the U.S. Open golf tournament.

1962 - Jack Nicklaus beats Arnold Palmer by three strokes in a playoff to win the U.S. Open golf tournament.

1973 - John Miller shoots a 63 in the final round to win the the U.S. Open golf tournament over John Schlee.

1976 - The 18-team NBA absorbs four of the remaining six ABA teams: the New York Nets, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs and the Denver Nuggets.

1979 - Hale Irwin wins the U.S. Open golf tournament over Gary Player and Jerry Pate.

1990 - Fifty-year-old Harry Gant becomes the oldest driver ever to win a NASCAR race as he posts a 2.4-second victory over Rusty Wallace in the Miller 500 at Pocono International Raceway.

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