4/28 BIRTHDAYS 1960 John Cerutti pitcher (Toronto Blue Jays) and broadcaster (Rogers Sportsnet), born in Albany, New York (d. 2004) 1960 Tom Browning pitcher (perfect game 1988; MLB All Star 1991; World Series 1990 Cincinnati Reds), born in Casper, Wyoming (d. 2022) 1964 Barry Larkin HOF shortstop (12 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1990; NL MVP 1995; 3 × Gold Glove Award; Cincinnati Reds), born in Cincinnati, Ohio 1966 Jim Poole pitcher (Cleveland Indians), born in Rochester, New York **********
FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+1901 At Chicago's South Side Park, the Cleveland Blues (Indians) collect 23 singles as the team coasts to a 13-1 victory over the White Sox. Pale Hose hurler Bock Baker gives up all of the one-base hits, a major league record. 1922 At Ebbets Field, Lee King drives in seven runs in the Phillies' 10-7 win over the Robins. The Philadelphia outfielder will collect only 15 RBIs playing with Philadelphia and the Giants this season. 1929 The Red Sox lose to the A's, 7-3, in their first-ever Sunday home game. Due to Fenway's proximity to a church and the resulting protesters, the historic contest takes place one mile west of its home to its crosstown rival's ballpark, Braves Field. 1930 The A's score four runs without the benefit of a base hit, thanks to a lack of control and a pair of Red Sox errors, the ninth inning Boston meltdown accounts for Philadelphia's 5-4 comeback victory at Fenway Park. 1934 At Navin Field, Goose Goslin grounds out into four consecutive double plays. The Tiger outfielder's lack of offense doesn't matter, as Detroit beats the visiting Indians, 4-1. 1946 The Braves sweep a twin bill from the Phillies played at Fenway Park, the home of the American League's Red Sox, because the seats in the reserved grandstand in their Boston ballpark are still tacky after the team's Opening Day debacle due to wet paint. The Red Sox, who play all day games at home, are offered Braves Field for night games as a thank-you, but the team declines the invitation.
1950 Jim Martin, the Pampa Oilers' catcher, is struck by lightning behind the plate during a Class C West Texas-New Mexico League contest played at Abilene's Blue Sox Stadium. The 20-year-old backstop, who will return to the lineup tomorrow, is knocked unconscious by the bolt of electricity that propels his mask 20 feet beyond the pitcher's mound. 1960 At a night game against Cleveland, the White Sox unveil the 'Monster,' their new exploding scoreboard at the Comiskey Park. The $300,000 brainchild of Chicago owner Bill Veeck will produce fireworks and accompanying sound effects whenever a hometown player hits a home run. 1961 Five days past his 40th birthday, Warren Spahn becomes the second-oldest pitcher, only behind Cy Young's performance at the age of 41-years and three months, to throw a no-hitter. Hank Aaron knocks in the game's only run when the Braves beat the Giants at County Stadium, 1-0. 1965 With Houston fans cheering their pregame ascent, Mets announcer Lindsey Nelson and a radio engineer climb into the Astrodome's gondola and are hoisted 208 feet above second base to broadcast the game. The umpiring crew determines that any ball hitting the pair will be playable following an existing ground rule that calls a ball striking any part of the dome in play.
1985 After dismissing Yogi Berra when the team gets off to a 6-10 start, the Yankees hire Billy Martin for the fourth time to manage the club. The fired skipper vows not to return to Yankee Stadium for as long as George Steinbrenner is the team's owner, and it will take 14 years for the two to reconcile. 1985 Dodger southpaw Fernando Valenzuela sets an MLB mark with 41 consecutive scoreless innings at the start of a season without allowing an earned run when he blanks the Padres through eight innings. In the top of the ninth, Tony Gwynn snaps the southpaw's scoreless streak with a solo home run, giving the Friars an eventual 1-0 victory at Chavez Ravine. 1987 Mike Boddicker tosses his second career one-hitter when the Orioles beat Kansas City at Royals Stadium, 3-0. The only hit given up by the 29-year-old right-hander is a sixth-inning single to Willie Wilson. 1988 The Orioles finish the day 16 games out of first place, extending their major league mark of season-starting losses to 21 when the Twins defeat the team, 4-2. The Metrodome loss marks the seventh consecutive time the opponents sweep a series from Baltimore. 1989 Entering the game against Padres with two outs in the ninth inning, Cubs' closer Mitch Williams records a save without throwing a pitch. The 24-year-old reliever picks off Carmelo Martínez at second base, giving Chicago a 3-1 victory in the Wrigley Field contest.
1995 With one out in the top of the fourth inning, three fans, showing their displeasure at the recent baseball strike, jump a Shea Stadium fence and begin scattering dollar bills at the Mets' players' feet. As a finale to their defiant act, the trio stands on second base with arms raised, showing the Opening Day crowd their T-shirts stenciled with the word Greed. 1998 Juan Gonzalez establishes a new major league record for April by driving in 35 runs during the month. The Rangers' right-fielder sets the mark with two RBIs in the 7-2 victory over the Twins at the Metrodome. 2000 Ranger reliever Jeff Zimmerman takes his third loss of the young season when he balks home the winning run in the team's 4-3 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards. The walk-off balk, scoring pinch-runner Mark Lewis, is called by home plate umpire Ian Lamplugh when the right-hander starts his motion but steps off the rubber without delivering a pitch. 2010 Phillies slugger Ryan Howard agrees to a $125 million, five-year contract extension that could keep the infielder with the team until 2017. The 30-year-old first baseman's $25-million guaranteed average salary during the new deal is the second-highest amount in the major leagues, trailing behind only Alex Rodriguez's ten-year contract with the Yankees, which averages $27.5 million per season. 2010 David Wright surpasses Ed Kranepool to become the Mets' all-time leader in doubles. The 27-year-old third baseman, who collected his 1,000th career hit yesterday, strokes his 226th two-bagger in the second inning of the Mets' 7-3 victory over Los Angeles at Citi Field. 2010 Changes recommended by baseball's special committee for on-field matters, including expanding All-Star rosters to 34 players, including 13 pitchers, will be implemented for this season's Midsummer classic scheduled for Anaheim's Angel Stadium. Other adopted rules include: Using a designated hitter every year. Making a pitcher who starts on the final Sunday before the break ineligible to play. Allowing re-entry into a game if the last available position player at any position is injured. 2010 Luke Hughes becomes the fifth player in Twins' history to homer in his first at-bat in the major leagues when he goes deep off Detroit's Max Scherzer in Minnesota's 11-6 loss at Comerica Park. The Australian-born rookie third baseman joins Rick Renick (1968), Dave McKay (1975), Gary Gaetti (1981), and Andre David (1984) in accomplishing the feat.
2011 Ben Zobrist breaks the Rays' RBIs record of seven established in 2007 by Carlos Pena when he drives in eight runs with an RBI single, a three-run homer, along with a pair of two-run doubles. The All-Star infielder's offensive output helps Tampa Bay trounce the Twins 15-3 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at Target Field. 2012 Bryce Harper makes his much-anticipated debut in the Nationals' 4-3 loss to Los Angeles at Chavez Ravine. The 19-year-old rookie center fielder, who drives in the potential go-ahead run in the ninth inning with a sacrifice fly, doubles in the top of the seventh off Chad Billingsley for his first major league hit. 2012 Adam Jones, who is currently leading the Orioles in both homers and RBIs and has a 17-game hitting streak, has agreed to the richest contract in franchise history. The 26-year-old center fielder comes to terms with the team on a six-year, $85.5-million no-trade deal, keeping the All-Star flychaser in Baltimore through the 2018 season. 2012 Frank Robinson's likeness, created by sculptor Antonio Mendez, becomes the second of a series of six bronze statues, with skipper Earl Weaver being the first, unveiled at Camden Yards' Legends Park this season. In his first season with the Orioles, the future Hall of Fame outfielder won the Triple Crown (.316 average, 49 homers, 122 RBIs) and both the American League and World Series MVP awards, en route to leading Baltimore to the Fall Classic four times during his six seasons with the team. 2013 In the first game of a day-night doubleheader, Jeremy Guthrie ties a franchise record by going 16 consecutive starts without a loss for the Royals. The 34-year-old right-hander works 6.2 innings without giving up a run in Kansas City's 9-0 victory over Cleveland at Kauffman Stadium. 2013 The Blue Jays become the first team to start six players from the Dominican Republic in a game. The sellout crowd of 45,260 at the Rogers Centre is delighted when Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Juan Francisco, and Moises Sierra help Toronto bounce Boston 7-1. 2019 Matt Adams' walk-off home run in the 11th inning becomes the decisive blow when Washington overcomes a six-run deficit to beat the Padres at Nationals Park, 7-6, with round-trippers by Juan Soto, Victor Robles, and Carter Kieboom contributing significantly to the comeback victory. According to Elias, the youngsters become the first trio of teammates 21 years old or younger to homer in the same game. ******** 73,072
Today in Baseball History Home | Contact | Baseball Almanac | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Advertise | Support Search archives: Historical Events Baseball Birthdays Baseball Deaths On April 28 in Baseball History... 1906 - It's the only time two player-managers steal home on the same day, though not in the same game. Cubs pilot Frank Chance steals in the ninth to give Chicago a 1-0 win over the Reds, and Fred Clarke matches him in the Pirates' 10-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. 1949 - A New York fan charges Leo Durocher with assault after the Giants lose 15-2 to Brooklyn. Commissioner Chandler suspends Durocher, who is absolved on May 3. Chandler criticizes teams for lax security that allows fans on the field. 1952 - The St. Louis Browns lend two black minor league players, third baseman John Britton and pitcher Jim Newberry, to the Hankyu Braves of the Japanese Pacific League. The Browns are the first team to send players outside of the U.S. Abe Saperstein, owner and coach of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, negotiates this special example in lend-lease for both sides. 1956 - Redlegs rookie left fielder Frank Robinson hits the first of his 586 lifetime home runs. The home run is off Cubs hurler Paul Minner in Crosley Field. Cincinnati's Wally Post hits four home runs in a doubleheader sweep for the Redlegs. 1961 - Five days past his 40th birthday, Warren Spahn becomes the second-oldest major league pitcher (after Cy Young) to hurl a no-hitter, blanking San Francisco 1-0. Hank Aaron drives in the only run off loser Sam Jones. It is Spahn's 290th win and 52nd shutout. 1965 - Mets announcer Lindsey Nelson broadcasts the Mets-Astros game at the Astrodome from a gondola hanging 208 feet above second base. 1966 - Cleveland ties the Brooklyn Dodgers' modern major league record with its 10th straight win since Opening Day. Sonny Siebert defeats the Angels 2-1. Cleveland will lose tomorrow to Gary Peters and the White Sox 4-1. 1988 - The Orioles set an A.L. record with their twenty-first consecutive loss, falling 4-2 to the Twins and breaking the record shared by the 1906 Red Sox and the 1916 and 1943 A's. 1998 - Texas Rangers right fielder Juan Gonzalez smashes a two-run home run in the club's 7-2 win at Minnesota. The round-tripper gives Gonzalez 35 RBI in April, which sets an all-time major-league record. Baseball Birthdays on April 28... 1861 - Gardner, Alex 1870 - Hawke, Bill 1875 - Woods, Walt 1883 - Gaspar, Harry 1884 - Thomas, Walt 1886 - Conway, Charlie 1890 - Scanlan, Frank 1899 - McGee, Frank 1902 - Lucas, Red 1903 - Schemanske, Fred 1916 - Chartak, Mike 1919 - Metro, Charlie 1920 - Treadway, Red 1925 - Marshall, Cuddles 1928 - Monahan, Rinty 1930 - Sturdivant, Tom 1934 - Brandt, Jackie 1935 - Botz, Bob 1935 - Ramos, Pedro 1947 - Barnes, Lute 1948 - Torrealba, Pablo 1950 - Roque, Jorge 1955 - Robinson, Dewey 1960 - Ryal, Mark 1960 - Cerutti, John 1960 - Browning, Tom 1962 - Morman, Russ 1962 - Quinones, Luis 1964 - Larkin, Barry 1964 - Nolte, Eric 1966 - Poole, Jim 1969 - Myers, Jimmy 1970 - Hurst, Bill 1975 - Zimmerman, Jordan 1979 - Douglass, Sean 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.
5/1 BIRTHDAYS 1852 Charley Jones outfielder, and one of the first sluggers, 1875-88 (Cincinnati Reds; Boston Red Caps, and 3 other teams), born in Alamance County, North Carolina (d. 1911) 1862 Jack Sheridanl Hall of Fame umpire (World Series 1905, 07-08, 10), born in Decatur, Illinois (d. 1914) 1945 Ray Miller manager (Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles), born in Takoma Park, Maryland (d. 2021) 1949 Phil Garner player and manager (Astros, Brewers), born in Jefferson City, Tennessee 1964 Jeff Reboulet, infielder (Minnesota Twins), born in Dayton, Ohio 1971 Ryan Hawblitzel, pitcher (Colorado Rockies), born in West Palm Beach, Florida ********
FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+1879 At Cleveland's Kennard Street Park, the newly transplanted Blues, who played in Indianapolis last season, drop their season opener to the Providence Grays, 15-4. The game marks the managerial debut of 23-year-old right-hander Jim McCormick, the youngest skipper in major league history. 1883 National League baseball returns to the City of Brotherly Love when Philadelphia hosts its first Senior Circuit game since 1876. The Quakers drop a 4-3 decision to the Providence Grays at Recreation Park, the same ballpark which hosted the team's spring training. 1883 The Gothams play their first game in franchise history, defeating Boston, 7 to 5, at the Southeast Diamond at the Polo Grounds in a contest featuring four future Hall of Famers; catcher Buck Ewing, first baseman Roger Connor, center fielder John Montgomery Ward, and pitcher Mickey Welch. The newcomers, known later as the Giants, will finish the season in sixth place in the eight-team National League with a 46-50 record, sixteen games behind today's opponent, the league-leading Beaneaters. The game is played in front of the largest crowd to watch a baseball game in New York, including former President Ulysses Grant among the 15,000 spectators. Buck Roger John Mickey 1884 Moses Fleetwood Walker becomes the first black to play in the major leagues when the Blue Stockings drop a 5-1 decision to Louisville at Eclipse Park. The 27-year-old Toledo catcher, who will hit above the league average, batting .263 in the 42 games he plays with the American Association team, goes 0-for-3 and commits four errors in his much-anticipated debut. 1891 In front of 10,000 fans, Spider right-hander Cy Young beats the visiting Reds, 12-3, in the first game ever played in Cleveland's League Park. The National League club will call the Hough neighborhood ballpark home until 1899, when the club goes out of business, losing its best players due to the actions of their unscrupulous owner, which results in a disastrous 20-134 season.
1901 Herm McFarland hits the first grand slam in American League history, contributing to the White Sox' 19-9 rout of the Tigers. Detroit commits an AL-record 12 errors, ten in the infield, in the South Side Park contest. 1906 At Brooklyn's Washington Park, Philadelphia southpaw John Lush strikes out 11 batters en route to throwing a 6-0 no-hitter against the Superbas, a team known as the Dodgers beginning in 1911. There will not be another no-hitter by a Phillies pitcher until Jim Bunning's perfect game against the Mets in 1964. 1920 Babe Ruth hits his 50th career home run, the first of the 659 round-trippers he will collect with the Yankees. The New York right fielder also contributes a double in the team's 6-0 victory over the Red Sox at the Polo Grounds, the ballpark they share with the National League's Giants. 1920 The longest game ever played ends after 26 innings in a 1-1 tie, with Brooklyn Robin right-hander Leon Cadore and the Braves hurler Joe Oeschger, also right-handed, both going the stretch for their respective clubs. Boston third baseman Charlie Pick establishes the major league record for hitless at-bats in one game, going 0-for-11 in the marathon. Cadore and Joe Oeschger My Grandfather was at the game and for years my Grandmother would remind him of how late he was getting home that night and how worried she was. 1925 Seventeen-year-old Jimmie Foxx pinch-hits a single in his first major league at-bat in the A's 9-4 loss to Washington at Griffith Stadium. The future Hall of Famer will finish his 20-year career with a .325 lifetime batting average. 1926 Chattanooga right-hander Satchel Paige makes his professional pitching debut, blanking the New Orleans Algiers, 1-0. The Black Lookouts rookie gives up only two hits in the Negro Southern League contest.
1939 At Comiskey Park, the White Sox defeat the Cubs and Dizzy Dean, 4-1, in an exhibition game to benefit Monty Stratton. The former pitcher, who lost his leg in an off-season hunting accident, tries to pitch in the game and receives a new car and nearly $30,000 from the contest receipts. 1949 The second major league player born in Czechoslovakia, Philadelphia outfielder Elmer Valo, becomes the first American Leaguer to hit a pair of bases-loaded triples in the same game. In the A's 15-9 victory over the Senators at Shibe Park, the 28-year-old hustling line-drive hitter will deliver a third bases-loaded triple later in the season, equalling the AL mark Shano Collins established in 1918. 1951 In an 8-3 loss to the Yankees at Comiskey Park, White Sox hurler Randy Gumpert gives up the first of Mickey Mantle's 536 major league home runs. The ball blasted on Mother's Day, which will be worth $165,000 at Sotheby's auction in 2004, is inscribed by the future Hall of Fame slugger, including the following detail on the ball, "My first H.R. in the Majors, May 1st, 1951, 4:50 p.m. Chicago," as well as "6th inning off Randy Gumpert." 1951 At Comiskey Park, Minnie Minoso, becoming the first black to play for the White Sox, makes his debut, hitting a 415-foot home run off the Yankees' Vic Raschi on the first pitch in his first plate appearance with the team. The speedy outfielder, who previously played with the Cleveland Indians, bats .326 and leads the league in stolen bases and triples but loses out to Yankee infielder Gil McDougald for Rookie of the Year honors. 1955 At Cleveland Stadium, the Indian starters put on a 'pitching clinic' during a doubleheader sweep of the Red Sox. Veteran Bob Feller holds Boston hitless for 6+ innings and hurls his major league record 12th one-hitter in a 2-0 victory, and in the nightcap, rookie left-hander Herb Score strikes out the first nine batters (he will whiff a total of 16) en route to a 2-1 four-hitter win. 1957 The Cubs trade Gene Baker and Dee Fondy to the Pirates for Dale Long and Lee Walls, who will combine to hit 45 home runs for their new team. Fondy will hit .313 for the Bucs, but in December, Pittsburgh trades the first baseman to the Reds for Ted Kluszewski. 1959 White Sox hurler Early Wynn throws a one-hitter while striking out 14 Boston batters. The 39-year-old pitcher's leadoff home run off Tom Brewer in the eighth inning proves to be the difference in the Comiskey Park contest when Chicago beats the Red Sox, 1-0.
