This Day in Baseball History

[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
July 29th

1938
On the WGN's White Sox pregame radio show, Yankee outfielder Jake Powel responds to a Bob Elson question concerning his offseason employment as a Dayton, Ohio policeman, quips, "I crack n*****s on the head." Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis downplays the incident, describing the ballplayer's comments as acting not "intentionally, but carelessly," and will suspend the reserve flychaser for ten days.



1986
Sparky Anderson, the first manager to win the World Series in each league, also becomes the first to win 600 games in both the National and American Leagues when Detroit beats the Brewers, 9-5. The future Hall of Fame skipper finishes with a 2194-1834 (.545) record during his 26 years with Reds and Tigers, capturing five Pennants and three World Series.



2002
"To protect the game we all love and have given so much to, we suggest you agree to a qualified mediator that will allow you to find the common ground necessary to avoid a work stoppage." - TEXT FROM 40 HALL OF FAMERS, sent to Bud Selig and Donald Fehr.

A letter signed by 40 Hall of Famers and sent to baseball commissioner Bud Selig and union head Donald Fehr urges all sides 'to protect the game we all love and have given so much to, we suggest you agree to a qualified mediator that will allow you to find the common ground necessary to avoid a work stoppage" is released. The former outstanding players, including Reggie Jackson, Willie Mays, and Warren Spahn, believe another work stoppage in baseball would be a terrible mistake.



2016
The Nationals accomplish the first 3-3-5 triple play in major league history when, with the bases loaded, Brandon Crawford lines out to first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who steps on the bag for the second out before throwing to third baseman Anthony Rendon to catch Denard Span for the third out. Washington's eighth-inning triple killing, the team's first since moving from Montreal twelve years ago, contributes to the first-place club's 4-2 victory over the Giants at AT&T Park.

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[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
July 30th

1951
Retired Hall of Famer Ty Cobb testifies before Emanuel Celler's Congressional committee in Washington, D.C. The 'Georgia Peach' denies the reserve clause makes 'peons' out of baseball players and says it is necessary to keep the competitive balance in the game.



1968
In a 10-1 loss to the Indians, Senator shortstop Ron Hansen becomes the eighth major leaguer and the first since 1927 to execute an unassisted triple play. All five American League unassisted triple killings have included a Cleveland player.



1973
Freshman Ranger right-hander Jim Bibby, a Vietnam veteran, becomes the 14th rookie to throw a no-hitter and the first hurler in franchise history to accomplish the feat. The 28-year-old right-hander, obtained in a June 6th trade with the Cardinals, strikes out 13 batters while holding the World Champions A's hitless in a 3-0 Texas victory at the Oakland Coliseum.



1980
During a workout at the Astrodome, Houston hurler J.R. Richard, who had complained about a dead feeling in his arm several times, suffers a stroke attempting to throw for the first time since being hospitalized for tests. Emergency surgery removes a blood clot behind his right collarbone, but the Astros' fireballer will never pitch in the major leagues again.



1987
Although Bulova promised a watch to any player hitting the clock high above the Ebbets Field scoreboard, Bama Rowell of the Braves didn't receive the timepiece, whose 1946 blast inspired the glass-shattering homer by Roy Hobbs, Bernard Malamud's hero in The Natural. The company corrects the injustice more than 40 years later when the former outfielder receives his wristwatch on 'Bama Rowell' Day in Citronella (AL), the honoree's hometown.

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2007
The Hall of Fame induction of Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn takes in front of a record crowd of an estimated 75,000 fans and an unprecedented number of 53 Hall of Famers. Joining the ballplayers on the dais are longtime radio voice of the Royals Denny Matthews, the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award given to outstanding broadcasters, and Post-Dispatch beat writer Rick Hummel, the J.G. Taylor Spink Award honoree for his exceptional coverage of the Cardinals.

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[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
July 31st

1932
In front of a major league record crowd of 80,184, the Indians play their first game at Lakefront Stadium, losing to Philadelphia and Lefty Grove, 1-0. Except for the 1933 season, the Tribe, who prefer League Park, will not play a full schedule at their new colossal horseshoe home until 1947, when the ballpark is known as Cleveland Municipal Stadium.



1954
At Ebbets Field, using a borrowed bat, Joe Adcock hits four home runs in one game and a double, which misses by inches of being his fifth round-tripper, in the Braves' 15-7 victory over the Dodgers. The Milwaukee first baseman's 18 total bases, collected on seven pitches, set a major league record, surpassing the mark established in 1950 by Brooklyn's Gil Hodges.



1981
The fifty-day baseball strike, wiping out a third of the regular season, is settled when the owners and players agree on a pooling system to compensate free agents. The All-Star Game will end baseball's first-ever midseason work stoppage.



1990
At County Stadium, Ranger right-hander Nolan Ryan gets his 300th victory, defeating the Brewers, 11-3. The 43-year-old from Alvin (TX) will compile 324 wins during his 27-year big league career.



2002
City officials approve the Red Sox's plan to sell beer outside Boston's Fenway Park on a trial basis. During the 14 games, adult beverages will be available to game ticket holders who pass through a turnstile three hours before game time to one hour after games start.

 

[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
August 1st


1945
At the Polo Grounds, Mel Ott hits his 500th career home run off Johnny Hutchings in the Giants' 9-2 victory over the Braves. 'Master Melvin' becomes the third major leaguer to accomplish the historic feat, joining Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx in reaching the career milestone.



1982
The Hall of Fame inducts Hank Aaron, the career leader in home runs (755) and RBIs (2,297), Frank Robinson, the first MVP in both leagues and first black manager in the majors, and Travis Jackson, an outstanding shortstop in the 1920s. Happy Chandler, the commissioner when baseball broke the color line, is also an inductee of this year's Cooperstown class.

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2001
For the thirty-third time in the team's history, the Tigers turn a triple play when Mariner Mark McLemore lines out to second baseman Damion Easley, who throws to shortstop Deivi Cruz to double up Tom Lampkin. Cruz then relays the ball to Shane Halter, catching Ichiro Suzuki off first base to complete Detroit's first triple killing since July 3rd, 1992, when the victim was also Seattle.

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2005
After denying taking any banned substances knowingly, Rafael Palmeiro becomes the highest-profile player suspended for violating the MLB steroids policy. The Orioles' first baseman told the House Government Reform Committee this spring that published allegations by Jose Canseco of his steroids use was "absolutely false" and had considered suing his former teammate over the accusation.

Interesting !!

Rafael Palmeiro - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
August 2nd

1921
With the jurors lifting the men onto their shoulders, the jury acquits the eight White Sox players accused of throwing the 1919 World Series. The next day, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banishes all the 'innocent' defendants from playing professional baseball, stating that the overwhelming evidence clearly shows the Black Sox fixed the games with gamblers.

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1970
The Royals sign Frank White as an amateur free agent after he attends a team tryout camp. The 19-year-old infielder, one of the few successful graduates from the Baseball Academy the team operated in the early 1970s, will play his entire 18-year career in Kansas City, having his number retired by the franchise in 1995.



1981
As a recipient of the Ford C. Frick award for his "major contributions" to baseball" as a broadcaster, Ernie Harwell becomes the fifth honoree inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Tigers' play-by-play announcer, who describes himself as a 'tongue-tied kid from Georgia,' is overcome with joy as he shares his heartfelt appreciation for the game with the Cooperstown crowd.

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1982
During a ceremony held in Cooperstown, NY, the United States Postal Service unveils a 20-cent stamp commemorating baseball great Jackie Robinson as part of its annual Black Heritage series. The Dodger infielder becomes the first individual baseball player depicted on a U.S. postage stamp.

US Baseball Stamps | Baseball Almanac

US baseball stamps, research by Baseball Almanac.

www.baseball-almanac.com