One of the best baseball quotes of all time— Willie to the second base umpire after he slid in at second on a delayed steal: “Please Mr. Ump-don’t call me out!” Umpire: “Willie, I’ve got to-you still haven’t made it to the bag” Priceless!
Great umpire quotes: Bill "Catfish" Klem: It ain't nothing until I call it. Ron Luciano (and I may not have it 100% correct. It was from his book and maybe never spoken.): Umpires are expeted to be perfect on opening day and improve all season.
10/19 BIRTHDAYS 1920 Roger Angell literary editor and baseball journalist (The New Yorker), born in Manhattan, NYC (d. 2022) 1926 Duke Snider Hall of Fame outfielder (8 x MLB All Star; World Series 1955, 59; Brooklyn / LA Dodgers), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2011) 1930 Bob Turley, pitcher, 1951-63, (New York Yankees, and 3 other teams), 3X All-Star, Cy Young and World Series MVP, 1958, born in Troy, Illinois (d. 2013) 1943 Joe Morgan HOF infielder (10 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1975, 76; NL MVP 1975, 76; Cincinnati Reds) and broadcaster (ESPN), born in Bonham, Texas (d. 2020) 1962 Randy Myers pitcher (MLB All-Star 1990, 94, 95, 97; World Series 1990; NLCS MVP 1990; Cincinnati Reds), born in Vancouver, Washington 1967 Jim Abbott pitcher (Olympic gold 1988; California Angels, NY Yankees), born in Flint, Michigan 1978 Nick Johnson player, born in Tempe, Arizona 1983 Charlie Haeger player, born in Livonia, Michigan 1983 Joey Devine, player, born in Junction City, Kansas
1932 Chuck Klein (.348, 38, 137), receiving all six first-place votes, is named the National League's Most Valuable Player. The 27-year outfielder, who is the first Phillies player to win the award, led the Senior Circuit in hits (226), runs (152), home runs (38), and stolen bases (20). 1949 In one of their best trades in franchise history, the White Sox obtain future Hall of Famer Nellie Fox from the A's in exchange for catcher Joe Tipton. The hard-nosed second baseman will lead the league in hits four times, winning the 1959 American League MVP during his 14-year tenure with the team. 1964 Two days after manager Johnny Keane announces he is joining the Yankees, Cardinals GM Bob Howsam makes public the resignation of Branch Rickey, stating he had no explanation why the 83-year-old team consultant decided to leave the club. The move appears to be the continuation of the front office shakeup for the World Champs, including Eddie Stanky's resignation as the director of player development and the dismissal of former general manager Bing Devine. 1964 Fred Hutchinson, who compiled a 443-372 (.544) record and won the 1961 National League pennant during his six seasons with the team, resigns as the Reds manager. The 44-year-old much-respected skipper, after a courageous battle against lung cancer, will die three weeks later in Bradenton, Florida. 1964 Harry Walker becomes the Pirates' skipper replacing Danny Murtaugh, who will return to the field as an interim manager during the 1967 season, replacing his fired successor. During his two-plus years in the Pittsburgh dugout, 'Harry the Hat' compiles a respectable 224-184 (.549) record but is let go after his team plays .500 ball after competing for the National League flag the previous two seasons.
1972 The A's score two runs in the bottom ninth to win Game 4 of the World Series, stunning the Reds at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, 3-2. Four straight singles, three delivered by pinch-hitters Gonzalo Marquez, Don Mincher, and Angel Manual, who provides the walk-off hit, fuel the comeback victory that gives Oakland a commanding 3-1 lead in the Fall Classic. 1976 Jim Mason's solo home run in the seventh inning of Game 3 proves to be the Yankees' only round-tripper in the World Series en route to being swept by the Reds. Cincinnati designated hitter Dan Driessen has a single, double, and homer in the team's 6-2 victory at the Bronx ballpark. 1978 The White Sox fire Larry Doby, who posted a 37-50 record for the fifth-place team as a midseason replacement for skipper Bob Lemon. Owner Bill Veeck names 35-year-old shortstop Don Kessinger, obtained from St. Louis at the end of the 1977 campaign, as the club's player-manager for next season. 1981 Dodger outfielder Rick Monday dashes the first Canadian pennant hopes with a ninth-inning two-out dramatic home run to beat the Expos, 2-1, in the NLCS's deciding game. The series marks the first and last time in franchise history Montreal makes it into the postseason until 2012, when the Washington Nationals, the team's new name and home for the past seven seasons, finishes first in the National League East Division. 1986 In Game 2 of the World Series, Steve Crawford gets the win in the Red Sox' 9-3 victory over the Mets at Shea Stadium. The right-handed reliever, 0-2 before the postseason, becomes the first hurler to win a Fall Classic contest after being winless during the regular season. 1987 The Yankees name Billy Martin as their manager for the fifth and final time. The fiery skipper will stay at the helm until June 23 of next year, finishing his tumultuous tenure with the Bronx Bombers with a 556-385 (.591) record that produces two pennants and a World championship during his eight seasons with the team.
1991 At the Metrodome, Lonnie Smith becomes the first player in baseball history to play in the World Series with four different teams when he leads off for the Braves in Game 1. The DH, scoring a run in the team's 5-2 loss to the Twins, also appeared in the Fall Classic with the Phillies (1980), Cardinals (1982), and the Royals (1985). 1993 The Dodgers trade future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez to the Expos for second baseman Delino DeShields, who will hit .241 during his three seasons with Los Angeles. The 21-year-old Dominican right-hander will win 55 of 88 decisions in his four-year tenure with Montreal before being dealt to Boston before the 1998 campaign. 1999 The Braves stroll into a World Series berth with their 10-9 walk-off victory against the Mets at Turner Field in Game 6 of the NLCS. Atlanta has their ticket punched to the Fall Classic when Kenny Rogers issues a base on balls to Andruw Jones with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 11th inning to force Gerald Williams in with the winning run. 2000 Dusty Baker, who led the Giants to a National League West flag with baseball's best record (97-65), reaches an agreement with the Giants on a two-year contract extension. The pact makes the two-time National League Manager of the Year the second-highest-paid skipper in the majors. 2002 Giants' designated hitter Tsuyoshi Shinjo becomes the first Japanese-born player to appear in the World Series. The Osaka native gets a hit in his three trips to the plate in the team's 4-3 victory over the Angels in Game 1 of the Fall Classic. 2002 At Edison International Field of Anaheim, the Giants edge the Angels in Game 1 of the Fall Classic, 4-3. The contest marks the first time two wild-card teams have faced one another in the World Series.
2004 In a pivotal play of Game 6 of the ALCS, the umpires rule Alex Rodriguez out for interference after slapping the ball from Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo's glove. As a result, Derek Jeter, who had scored, is ordered back to first with two outs rather than one, killing a potential rally in New York's eventual 4-2 loss to Boston at Yankee Stadium. the contest features two reversed calls by the umpires, the Red Sox, three outs from being swept in Game 4, become the first team in baseball history after trailing the series 0-3 to force a Game 7. Playing with a dislocated ankle tendon, Curt Schilling turns in an outstanding pitching performance in Boston's 4-2 victory over the Bombers in the Bronx ballpark 2005 The Astros, one of six teams to have never played in the World Series, break the franchise's 43-year drought, advancing to the Fall Classic when they beat the Cardinals in the NLCS, 5-1. Houston had been close before, coming up short five times in their history in a game with the NL flag on the line, including being a strike away in Game 5 when Albert Pujols hit a two-out three-run ninth-inning homer, forcing a Game 6 in St. Louis. 2006 Nicole Sherry becomes the second woman to be named the head groundskeeper of a major league team when the Orioles ask her to lead the crew taking care of Camden Yards. The Wilmington, Delaware native joins Heather Nabozny, who has been in the same position with the Tigers since 1999. 2006 In Game 7 of the NLCS at Shea Stadium, Adam Wainwright, on three pitches, strikes out Carlos Beltran looking with the bases loaded, giving the Cardinals a 3-1 victory over the Mets, their 17th pennant in franchise history, and a trip to the World Series to face the Tigers. The New York outfielder, with the best HR ratio (11/81) in postseason history, is frozen by the rookie right-hander's two-out, two-strike incredible curveball. For a new generation, the term "the Catch" may conjure up memories of Endy Chavez's NLCS Game 7 leaping catch when he grabs a ball with his outstretched glove destined to be a Scott Rolen two-run home run and starting an unbelievable double play. The Shea Stadium heroics are overshadowed in the ninth inning when Yadier Molina hits a two-run homer and Carlos Beltran, with the best HR ratio (11/81) in postseason history, looks at a third strike with the bases loaded with Mets, giving the Cardinals a 3-1 victory and the pennant. 2007 After 12 seasons and 12 playoff appearances, including 10 AL East titles, six pennants, and four world championships, manager Joe Torre rejects the Yankees' overture, which calls for a pay cut. The non-negotiable offer - a one-year, $5 million deal with $1 million incentives per playoff round and an $8 million option for 2009 if the Yankees reached next year's World Series - was considered by many to be insulting and a ploy to oust the popular manager without upsetting the team's fans. 2007 The Royals hire Trey Hillman, a successful skipper in the minors and Japan, to be the team's manager. The 44-year-old current Nippon Ham Fighters pilot, who has never played, coached, or managed in the big leagues, spent 13 years in the dugout in the Yankees' minor leagues and was named manager of the year three times. 2008 Behind the solid start of Matt Garza and the stellar relief work of rookie David Price to finish the game, including a bases-loaded strikeout to end the eighth, the Rays beat the Red Sox, 3-1, in Game 7 of the ALCS, winning their first American League pennant. After posting the worst record in baseball last season, the Rays advance to the World Series, hosting the Phillies in Game 1 of the Fall Classic at Tropicana Field.
2009 Kenji Johjima, the first Japanese catcher in major league history, surprises the Mariners by opting out of the final two seasons of his three-year deal. Unhappy about being benched, the 33-year-old struggling backstop walks away from $15.8 million to finish his career in Japan. 2010 The Yankees honor Freddy Schuman, a fan known for his rhythmic banging of a spoon against a skillet, displaying some of his memorabilia inside Gate 4. After a moment of silence for the fan-favorite sign-man before Game 4 of the ALCS, the fans continue to show their appreciation of 85-year-old iconic "Freddy Sez" when they photographed friends banging his pan, chanting "Fred-dy! Fred-dy!" during the contest against the Rangers at the Stadium. 2010 The Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo signs a five-year contract extension, receiving a promotion to be the executive vice president of baseball operations. The new position, made available when team president Stan Kasten resigned, gives the 48-year-old more control over the franchise and a direct line to the team's ownership, including principal owner Ted Lerner. 2010 The Cubs select Mike Quade, Lou Piniella's interim replacement who guided the team to a 24-13 record during the last six weeks of the season, as the franchise's newest manager. Triple-A Iowa skipper and a Hall of Fame icon Ryne Sandberg, a finalist in the selection process, was thought to be the front-runner for the position. 2012 Rays closer Fernando Rodney is named the AL Comeback Player of the Year after the reliever establishes the all-time MLB mark with a 0.60 ERA and sets the franchise record with 48 saves. Before playing for Tampa Bay, the 35-year-old right-hander struggled for two seasons with the Angels, saving just 17 games during his tenure with the Halos. 2019 In front of a sellout crowd at Minute Maid Park, the Astros win the American League pennant when Jose Altuve takes Aroldis Chapman deep in the bottom of the ninth, giving the team a 6-4 walk-off victory over the Yankees in Game 6 of the ALCS. Houston had blown a 4-2 lead in the top of the frame when Roberto Osuna allowed DJ LeMahieu's two-run homer to tie the game. *********** 35,546
Today in Baseball History Home | Contact | Baseball Almanac | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Advertise | Support Search archives: Historical Events Baseball Birthdays Baseball Deaths On October 19 in Baseball History... 1913 - The Giants and White Sox, fortified with other players, start their world tour in Cincinnati. After a 31-game tour to Seattle, they will head for the Philippines, Australia, China and Japan. 1932 - The BBWAA MVP awards are announced, with Jimmie Foxx winning in the AL and Chuck Klein in the NL. 1972 - The Oakland A's rallied for two ninth-inning runs for a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds to even the World Series after four games. 1976 - The Cincinnati Reds took a commanding 3-0 lead over the New York Yankees in the World Series with a 6-2 victory at Yankee Stadium. Cincinnati's designated hitter Dan Driessen had a single, double, home run and a walk to lead the attack. Jim Mason had a solo homer in the seventh inning for the only home run by the Yankees in the Series. 1980 - A ninth-inning rally for two runs against Kansas City's Dan Quisenberry gives Game Five to the Phillies by a 4-3 margin. 1981 - Los Angeles' Rick Monday hit a ninth-inning home run to give the Dodgers a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Expos and the National League pennant. 1982 - The Cards sit through two rain delays to easily win Game Six of the World Series by a 13-1 score over Milwaukee. 1985 - St. Louis ace John Tudor is a 3-1 winner in the World Series opener against in-state opponent Kansas City. 1986 - The Boston Red Sox took a 2-0 lead in the World Series with 9-3 rout of the New York Mets. The Red Sox had 18 hits, and battered Dwight Gooden for six runs in five innings. 1987 - Billy Martin is named manager of the Yankees for a fifth time, replacing Lou Piniella, who replaced Martin and is moved to general manager. Piniella led the Yankees to an 89-73 record in 1987, fourth in the AL East. 1988 - The Dodgers take advantage of Oakland errors to beat Dave Stewart 4-3 in Game Four. 1990 - Cincinnati moves within one game of a shocking World Series sweep by beating Oakland 8-3 in Game Three. Chris Sabo slugs a pair of home runs for the Reds. 1993 - Paul Molitor comes within a double of hitting for the cycle as Toronto takes a 2-1 World Series lead in Philadelphia. Roberto Alomar adds four hits to back winner Pat Hentgen in a 10-3 romp. Baseball Birthdays on October 19... 1874 - McCreery, Tom 1876 - Brown, Mordecai 1884 - Miller, Walt 1887 - Snodgrass, Fred 1890 - Sawyer, Carl 1892 - Driscoll, Michael 1893 - Christenbury, Lloyd 1894 - McCabe, Tim 1896 - O'Farrell, Bob 1897 - Lovelace, Tom 1898 - Welch, Herb 1905 - Meola, Mike 1913 - Brazle, Al 1915 - Nahem, Sam 1916 - McLeod, Ralph 1917 - Zachary, Chink 1919 - Niemes, Jack 1930 - Koppe, Joe 1931 - Leppert, Don 1933 - Alvarez, Ossie 1937 - Bond, Walt 1938 - Roznovsky, Vic 1943 - Davis, Brock 1943 - Alomar, Sandy 1945 - Taylor, Gary 1945 - Gallagher, Al 1946 - Bogle, Warren 1948 - Lanier, Rimp 1956 - Barranca, German 1957 - Palmer, David 1960 - Davis, Mark 1961 - Belcher, Tim 1962 - Peraza, Oswaldo 1964 - Perez, Mike 1965 - Taylor, Wade 1965 - Gardiner, Mike 1965 - Haas, Dave 1966 - Veres, Dave 1969 - Dickson, Lance 1972 - Foulke, Keith 1972 - McEwing, Joe 1972 - Newfield, Marc 1975 - Estrada, Horacio 1976 - Austin, Jeff 1976 - Young, Mike Copyright � 2001-2007. All Rights Reserved. Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Around the Horn | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Today in Baseball History.
Check’em out—real baseball spikes—that’s Wilson kangaroo hide—top of the line. My last 6 pairs I wore out as a player were these. Good times!
