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

 

[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
August 3rd

1948
Negro League legend Satchel Paige makes his first major league start, hurling seven innings, leading the Indians over the Senators, 5-3. Before today's game, the future Hall of Famer made eight appearances in relief, compiling a 1-1 record for the Tribe.



1959
In the third inning of the second All-Star Game this summer, Yogi Berra's two-run home run off Dodgers right-hander Don Drysdale at the LA Memorial Coliseum proves to be the difference in the American League's 5-3 victory over the Senior Circuit. The home run will be the last hit by a Bronx Bomber in a Midsummer Classic game for 41 years until Derek Jeter goes deep in 2001.



1967
"The pennant should be decided in the traditional manner."- WARREN GILES, National League President.

A joint meeting in Chicago, foreseen as a formality, becomes a four-hour fierce debate when American League and National League owners strongly disagree on implementing divisional play for next season. The AL owners unanimously agree to the plan, but the Senior Circuit brass makes it clear they will oppose any effort by the American League to implement the change by itself, citing the scenario that an AL division winner could be a fourth-place club could play a pennant winner in the World Series.



1979
At Yankee Stadium, over 51,000 mourners attend a memorial service for Thurman Munson. The Bronx Bombers' captain died yesterday, piloting a plane that crashed 1,000 feet short of the runway at Akron-Canton Airport.

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1987
Home plate umpire Tim Tschida throws out Joe Niekro after discovering an emery board on the Twins' starting pitcher. The 42-year-old knuckleballer will receive an automatic ten-day suspension from the American League for defacing the ball.

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[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
August 4th
1941

Mickey Owens becomes the first catcher to handle three foul pop-ups in one frame. The Brooklyn backstop's third-inning defense contributes to the Dodgers' 11-6 victory over New York at Ebbets Field.


1948
Ernie Harwell, filling in for Red Barber, recovering from a bleeding ulcer, calls his first major league game when the Dodgers beat the Cubs at Ebbets Field, 5-4. To obtain the future Hall of Fame broadcaster, Brooklyn general manager Branch Rickey trades minor league catcher Cliff Dapper to the Atlanta Crackers.


1963
After missing two months of the season with a broken foot, Mickey Mantle makes a dramatic return to the lineup as a pinch-hitter when he homers to deep left field in the bottom of the seventh inning off George Brunet to tie the score with the Yankees trailing the Orioles, 10-9. The crowd of nearly 40,000 fans goes wild as the 'Mick' hobbles around the bases in the
Bronx Bombers' eventual 11-10 walk-off win, a victory made possible by Yogi Berra's two-out walk-off round-tripper in the bottom of the 10th.


1982
After driving in the winning run in the Mets' 7-4 victory over the Cubs, Joel Youngblood, traded to the Expos during the game, flies to Philadelphia and singles for Montreal, becoming the first player to have a hit for two teams on the same day in different cities. The 30-year-old All-Star collected his historic hits off two future Hall of Famers, a single off Ferguson
Jenkins in Chicago and the other off Steve Carlton in the City of Brotherly Love.


1983
Dave Winfield kills a seagull at Exhibition Stadium with a warmup throw before the home fifth inning. After the 3-1 victory over the Blue Jays, the Yankees outfielder is arrested by the Ontario police and charged with animal cruelty.



1992
At an auction, actor Charlie Sheen pays $93,500 for the 'Mookie Wilson Ball' which went through Bill Buckner's legs, capping the miraculous Met comeback in the sixth game of the Fall Classic in 1986. Arthur Richman, the team's traveling secretary, was given the ball that night by right field umpire Ed Montague, who donated all the proceeds to charity.

great read

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/396094-the-remarkable-story-of-the-ball-that-got-through-billy-buckners-legs

 

[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
August 5th

1969
With a titanic blast that clears the right-field pavilion, Willie Stargell becomes the first player to hit a home run completely out of Dodger Stadium. The 506-foot round-tripper helps the Pirates defeat LA, 11-3.

Dimensions: Left field: 330; Left-center: 385; Center field: 395; Right-center: 385; Right field: 330; From foul pole to the bullpens, the outfield fence is 55 inches high (about 4.5 feet). From bullpen to bullpen, the fence is 8 feet high.

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1973
Phil Niekro goes the distance, holding the Padres hitless in a 9-0 rout at home. The knuckleballer's no-hitter is the first thrown by a Braves hurler since the team shifted to Atlanta in 1966.



2010
The bankrupt Rangers are sold at an auction for $385 million to a group led by Hall of Famer and club president Nolan Ryan. The new ownership group outbid the recently formed partnership of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Houston investor Jim Crane, who tried to buy the team in 2008.



2011
Darla Harlow, a big fan of the Mississippi Braves, is honored to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Trustmark Park in Pearl. After tossing the ball to home plate, the military wife is surprised when the catcher takes off his mask, revealing the 'player' is her husband, Michael, an Army major who has been away from home, serving in Afghanistan for the past nine months.

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[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
August 6th

1952
At approximately 46, Satchel Paige becomes the oldest pitcher in major league history to hurl a complete-game shutout, beating Virgil 'Fire' Trucks and the Tigers, 1-0, when Bobby Young scores the game's only run in the 12th inning. The Browns' hurler will extend his record at 46 years and 75 days by throwing another scoreless complete game against the White Sox next month.


1969
In an alley behind a Detroit bar, Twins' manager Billy Martin intervenes in a scuffle between his starting pitcher Dave Boswell and outfielder Bob Allison, which leaves the right-hander unconscious and in need of 20 stitches after being pummeled by his skipper. Although he will miss several starts because of the incident, the 24-year-old Maryland native will finish the season 20-12 for the first-place Minnesota club.


1973
Roberto Clemente becomes the first Latin-born player inducted into the Hall of Fame when baseball waives the mandatory five-year waiting period. The late Pirates outfielder, who died tragically on New Year's Eve in a crash carrying relief supplies to the earthquake victims in Nicaragua, was elected posthumously



1979
After delivering the eulogy at Thurman Munson's funeral in Ohio, Bobby Murcer, a teammate and close friend of the deceased Yankee catcher, drives in all the runs in the Yankee 5-4 comeback victory over the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. With a bat he will never use again, the New York outfielder hits a three-run home run and wins the game with a two-run single in the ninth inning.

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[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
August 7th

1951
A crowd of 57,000 at the Orange Bowl, the largest ever to attend a minor league game, watches an ageless 51-year-old Satchel Paige hit a double and get the win when the Miami Marlins beat the Columbus Jets in International League action, 6-2.
1982
Jim Rice climbs into the Fenway Park stands from the dugout to assist a young boy hit by a savage line drive off the bat of Dave Stapleton. The Red Sox slugger's quick response of picking up the four-year-old boy and running through the dugout to a waiting ambulance possibly saved the child's life.

 

[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
August 8th

1954
Gil Hodges bats three times in the eighth inning when the Dodgers score 13 runs en route to a 20-7 rout of the Reds at Ebbets Field. The first baseman goes 1-for-3 in the frame with a leadoff triple but is responsible for all three outs when he hits into a double play and flies out to centerfield to end the Brooklyn barrage.



1976
In the first game of a doubleheader against Kansas City at Comiskey Park, the White Sox take the field wearing shorts. After a 5-2 comfortable win in the opener, Chicago dons long pants for the nightcap, coming out on the short end to the Royals, 7-1.

A Short Experiment: The Story of the Chicago White Sox Shorts

“What do you do for a living?” “I write about sports uniforms” “Hey, didn’t the White Sox use to wear shorts?” This conversation has happened multiple times in my life. Those Chicago White Sox shorts. It seems to be what baseball fans of the appropriate age who don’t care so much about uniform...

news.sportslogos.net

2000
After kissing one another in the seventh inning, the Dodgers ask a female couple to leave Dodger Stadium immediately, told never to "set foot back on the premises" for "lewd behavior." The pair had planned to sue the organization, deciding not to after the team apologized, promising to contribute 5,000 tickets to GLBT organizations and continue sensitivity training for all its employees.

 

[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
August 9th

1969
Philadelphia infielder Dick Allen starts scratching messages for the fans in the dirt around the first base bag, beginning today with "Oct. 2", indicating the last day of the season when he would be "free" from the team. Some of his other notes, written during a span the slugger hits five home runs in six days, include "Coke," "Why," "No," "Mom," and "Boo," a word the Phillies fans fully embrace.



1981
Major League Baseball returns from its in-season strike when 72,086 fans attend the belated All-Star Game, a 5-4 National League victory over the Junior Circuit at Cleveland Stadium. Giants southpaw Vida Blue becomes the first pitcher to win the Midsummer Classic for both leagues, with Expo backstop Gary Carter, who hits two home runs, named the MVP of the contest.



1988
After 5,687 consecutive contests occur during the day at the Chicago Northside ballpark dating back to 1914, the first official major league night game takes place at Wrigley Field, with the hometown Cubs taking a 6-4 decision from the Mets. Originally, last night's contest against the Phillies would have been the ballpark's first evening tilt, but rain washed out the scheduled historic event after the third inning.



2014
Bill Lee, who threw a complete-game victory two seasons ago for the San Rafael Pacifics, breaks his record as the oldest player to win a professional baseball game when he hurls 5⅔ innings in the Sonoma Stompers' 6-3 victory at Arnold Field. The 67-year-old former major league hurler, a Red Sox Hall of Fame member, gives up six hits and three runs to the visiting Pittsburg Mettle of the independent Pacific Association.

 

[Old School]

Today in Baseball History
August 10th

1971
At Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis, Harmon Killebrew becomes the tenth player to join the 500 home run club when he hits the historic homer in the first inning off Mike Cuellar. Later in the game, the 36-year-old first baseman connects for #501, but Killer's two round-trippers are in vain when the Twins lose to the Orioles in 10 innings, 4-3.


1971
Juan Marichal limits the Expos to two hits, recording his 50th career shutout in the Giants' 1-0 walk-off victory at Candlestick Park. After doubling in the ninth inning, the Dominican hurler scores the winning run on Tito Fuentes' RBI single off Montreal's starter Bill Stoneman.


1979
Dodger hurler Don Sutton sets a franchise record with his 50th shutout, blanking the Giants at Candlestick Park, 9-0. The 34-year-old right-hander has previously shared the mark with Don Drysdale.



2005
Mike Lowell employs the hidden ball trick on an unsuspecting baserunner for the second consecutive season. Representing the tying run in the eighth inning, Diamondbacks outfielder Luis Terrero is the Marlins' third baseman's latest victim

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2010
In an ugly first-inning brawl at Great American Ball Park, Cardinals' backstop Jason LaRue suffers a mild concussion and bruised ribs, with Chris Carpenter, his batterymate, also receiving bruises on his back during the seven-minute scrum. Baseball suspends Reds' starting pitcher Johnny Cueto for seven games for kicking the Redbirds' catcher and pitcher, drawing his opponents' wrath for lashing out with his spikes during the altercation.

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[MadJack]

1971
Juan Marichal limits the Expos to two hits, recording his 50th career shutout

1979
Dodger hurler Don Sutton sets a franchise record with his 50th shutout

That many shutouts in a career will never happen again.

 

[Old School]

1912
Shoeless Joe Jackson completes the stolen base cycle when he swipes home in the seventh inning of the Indians' 8-3 victory over New York at Cleveland's League Park. The 25-year-old outfielder made his way around the bases by stealing second and third base before his thievery of the plate to complete the deed.

1942
At Cleveland Stadium, a quirky rule results in a suspension of the first game of a doubleheader due to darkness but allows the Tigers to beat the Indians in the nightcap, 3-2. The umpires halted the scoreless opener in the 14th inning because of the major league edict that states games started in daylight can not finish under artificial lights, with the rule not applying to the second game of the twin bill because the contest started after the sun went down.



1961
In front of packed County Stadium in Milwaukee, Warren Spahn scatters six hits to beat the Cubs, 2-1, for his 300th victory. *The 40-year-old Braves' southpaw, who finishes his career with 363 wins, the most of any left-hander in the game's history, is the thirteenth major league hurler to reach the milestone



1994
Randy Johnson's pitch to strike out A's Ernie Young will become the last ball thrown in the major leagues for seven and a half months. The longest work stoppage in baseball history will cancel the remaining games on the schedule, including the postseason, and will impact the start of the 1995 campaign.