On This Day: December 13

8 verified moments happened on December 13. Here they are in the order they actually happened — the same kind of puzzle you solve in Whensly every day.

1. 1642🗺️ Abel Tasman and his Dutch crew sight New Zealand, the first Europeans known to reach the islands.History · Source: Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand; Wikipedia, 'Abel Tasman' (Dec 13 1642)
2. 1942The Washington Redskins upset the undefeated Bears, avenging their seventy-three to nothing title-game loss.Pro Football · Source: Wikipedia, '1942 NFL Championship Game' (Dec 13 1942)
3. 1973❤️ Penn State's John Cappelletti accepts the Heisman Trophy and dedicates it to his younger brother Joey, who is battling leukemia.College Football · Source: Heisman.com, 'Celebrating The 50th Anniversary of John Cappelletti's 1973 Heisman Trophy' (Dec 13 1973)
4. 1983The Pistons beat the Nuggets 186-184 in triple overtime, the highest-scoring game in NBA historySports · Source: NBA.com / Basketball-Reference: Pistons 186 Nuggets 184 (3OT), Dec 13, 1983
5. 1997🏆 Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson beats Peyton Manning to become the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy.College Football · Source: Heisman.com, 'Charles Woodson' winner page (Dec 13 1997); Wikipedia '1997 Heisman Trophy' for 'first primarily defensive player'
6. 2010Brett Favre sits with a shoulder injury against the Giants, finally ending his ironman streak of 297 straight starts.Sports · Source: Wikipedia, "Brett Favre"
7. 2013🐝 Beyonce stuns the industry by surprise-releasing her self-titled visual album overnight with no announcement.Music · Source: Wikipedia, 'Beyonce (album)'; NPR (Dec 13 2013)
8. 2025🏆 Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza wins the Heisman Trophy, the first Hoosier to take the award, and dedicates it to his mother.College Football · Source: Heisman.com, 'Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza wins 2025 Heisman Trophy' (Dec 13 2025)