BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

1960 Bill Mazeroski hits the first home run of the season at Forbes Field, going deep in the bottom in the second of the Pirates' 13-0 rout of the Reds in the team's home opener. The Bucs' second baseman will also hit the last round-tripper of the season at the historic Pittsburgh ballpark, ending the season with a dramatic ninth-inning walk-off homer that beats in Yankees in Game 7 of the World Series.

1961 Frank Lary tosses a one-hitter on Opening Day, beating the White Sox at Tiger Stadium, 7-0. Chicago's lone hit comes in the fifth inning when Jim Landis singles off the glove of shortstop Chico Fernandez.

1965 Willie Mays hits his 455th career home run, a third-inning two-run shot to left field off future Hall of Famer Jim Bunning, in the Giants’ 5-2 victory over the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium. The round-tripper surpasses Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle’s current total, a lead the Say Hey Kid will not again relinquish to his rival center fielder.

1967 In the Yankees' home opener, Red Sox southpaw Billy Rohr, making his major league debut, is one out from a no-hitter when Elston Howard singles hard to right field on a 3-2 curveball, ruining the 21-year-old rookie's shot at immortality. A heartbroken six-year-old fan sitting near the Boston dugout named John has to be consoled by his mother, Jackie Kennedy, although his beloved team beats the Bronx Bombers, 3-0.

1968 Jim Bunning becomes the first pitcher since Cy Young to collect a thousand strikeouts in both leagues when he whiffs eight Dodgers during his first win for the Pirates, a 3-0 complete-game victory in Chavez Ravine. The 37 year-old right-hander, acquired from the Phillies in December, sent 1,406 American League batters back to the bench with a bat in their hands for nine seasons while pitching for the Tigers at the start of his Hall of Fame career.

1969 In the first regular-season contest to take place outside the United States, the Expos play their first home game, treating 29,184 fans on a cold day at Jarry Park to an 8-7 win over the defending National League champion Cardinals. Montreal moundsman Larry Jaster throws baseball's first international pitch to left fielder Lou Brock, and Mack Jones provides the offense for the home team, driving in five runs and hitting the first home game homer in franchise history.

 

1976 At Wrigley Field, Dave Kingman launches a homer down the left-field line that hits a house 530 feet from home plate. The Cubs and the Northside home survive the right fielder's blast, with Chicago defeating the Mets in the Wrigley Field contest, 6-5.

1978 The biggest Opening Day crowd ever, 45,777, attends the Wrigley Field opener against Pittsburgh. Although the team gives up an early 3-0 lead, the hometown fans will not go home disappointed when Larry Biittner, leading off in the bottom of the ninth inning, homers to give the Cubs a 4-3 walk-off victory.
1982 At Watt Powell Park, the home of the International League's Charleston Charlies, Toledo' Mud Hens' pinch-hitter Randy Bush hits an eighth-inning home run in the team's 4-3 victory over Charleston that travels over 200 miles. The Twins' farmhand, not known for his power, hits a ball over the right-field wall that lands on a moving coal train.

1983 The Metrodome's roof deflates due to the weight of heavy snow dumped during a late-season storm, canceling the game between the Twins and Angels. The postponement marks only the second time the putting off a contest occurs in a domed stadium due to weather, the first being a 1976 Astros match not played when massive flooding in the Houston metropolitan area prevented many fans and the umpiring crew from reaching the Astrodome.
1990 Cal Ripken begins a streak which leads to the major league record for the most errorless games [95] and total chances [431] by a shortstop. At the end of June, the O's infielder appeared to have made an error, but official scorer Bill Steka changed his mind the next day, deciding to give Birds' center fielder Mike Devereaux the error instead.

1990 Kansas City beats the Blue Jays, 3-1, marking the first time two reigning Cy Young Award recipients contribute to the same victory. Brett Saberhagen picks up his first win of the season when the reigning NL Cy Young's recipient, Mark Davis, a closer with 44 saves for the Padres last year, pitching a perfect ninth inning to pick up the save in the Royals Stadium contest.

 

1993 After establishing the all-time career major league record last night with his 358th save, Cardinal reliever Lee Smith breaks the National League mark, recording his 301st in the Senior Circuit when he tosses a perfect 15th frame in the Cardinals' 2-1 victory at Dodger Stadium. The right-handed reliever will extend the big league mark to 478, pitching for the Cubs (1980-1987), Red Sox (1988-1990), Cardinals (1990-1993), Yankees (1993), Orioles (1994), Angels (1995-1996), Reds (1996), and Expos (1997).

1998 Diamondback third baseman Matt Williams knots the score at 4-4 when he hits the first-ever grand slam in franchise history. The fourth-inning blast off southpaw Kent Mercker proves to be of little consequence in the expansion team's 15-5 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
1999 Tampa Bays' designated hitter Jose Canseco becomes the 28th player in major league history to hit 400 home runs when he takes Kelvim Escobar deep down the left-field line in the top of the third inning in the Devil Rays' 7-6 loss to Toronto at the SkyDome. The controversial slugger will finish his 17-year career in 2001 with 462 round-trippers.
2001 The Reds beat Al Leiter and the Mets, 1-0, to establish the new National League mark for not being shut out by an opponent, scoring in their 175th consecutive game. Ironically, the record-breaking contest comes against the last team and pitcher to blank the franchise, a 5-0 defeat at Cinergy Field in a playoff game to determine the NL Wild Card.
2001 A total of eleven one-run games (six in AL and five in NL) breaks a 1967 record set on May 30th when there were a combined ten one-run contests in the major leagues.
2002 Mascots from all the major league teams and Sandy the Seagull, of the nearby farm team Brooklyn Cyclones, attend a birthday party for Mr. Met at Shea Stadium. The Amazins' 38-year-old bobble-headed good luck charm, believed to be the first live mascot in big-league history, appeared in the flesh, so to speak, in 1964 after being an illustration on the cover of scorecards the season before.
2002 In his major league debut, Mariner DH Ron Wright strikes out in the second inning, grounds into a triple play (1-6*-2-5-1*-4*) in the fourth frame, and completes his one-game career hitting into a twin killing (6-4-3) in the sixth in the team's 9-6 loss to the Rangers. The 26-year-old's three at-bats against Kenny Rogers account for six outs and ties the mark for the fewest number of plate appearances for any player hitting into a triple play, a feat accomplished in 1901 by Giants hurler Larry Hesterfer in his only big-league game.

 

2004 Aaron Miles becomes the fifth player in history to hit his first two career home runs from different sides of the plate in the same game, joining Johnny Lucadello (1940 Browns), U.L. Washington (1979 Royals), Bret Barberie (1991 Expos), and Brian Simmons (1998 White Sox). In a 14-4 defeat of the Diamondbacks at Coors Field, the Rockies' switch-hitting second baseman hits a solo homer in the first inning batting lefty off Elmer Dessens before he goes deep in the fifth with two on as a right-handed batter off southpaw Stephen Randolph.
2004 In the game played after teammate Mike Mussina earns his 200th career victory, Kevin Brown, obtained from the Dodgers for Jeff Weaver and two minor-leaguers in an off-season trade, reaches the same plateau, beating the Devil Rays, 5-1. The wins mark the first time in baseball history members of the same pitching staff have won their 200th career victory in consecutive starts.
2006 At the Mets Team Store beginning today through the April 17 tax deadline, fans can have their taxes done for free by Gilman Ciocia. The Shea TAX-TEAM will also prepare an automatic extension for those who are not ready to file.
2017 Hank Aaron, who also did the traditional toss for the Braves in the first and last contests at Turner Field, throws the ceremonial first pitch, with former long-time manager Bobby Cox serving as the catcher, before SunTrust Park's inaugural game. Atlanta outfielder Ender Inciarte records the first out, first hit, first run, and the first home run in the team's 5-2 victory over the Padres at the new ballpark.

2017 The White Sox make history starting three fly-chasers with the same surname in the same game when left fielder Willy Garcia, center fielder Leury Garcia, and right fielder Avisail Garcia appear in the Target Field lineup. In the 1960s, the three Alou brothers, Felipe, Jesus, and Matty, patrolled the same outfield on three occasions, but the trio of siblings never started the contest simultaneously
2021 When he crouches behind the plate in the Cardinals' 6-0 loss to the Nationals at Busch Stadium, Yadier Molina becomes the first backstop to catch 2000 games with one team and the sixth overall to reach the milestone. The 39-year-old catcher, currently in his 18th major-league season, joins Ivan Rodriguez (2,427), Carlton Fisk (2,226), Bob Boone (2,225), Gary Carter (2,056), and Jason Kendall (2,025) in accomplishing the feat.

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On April 14 in Baseball History...

• • 1910 - William Howard Taft becomes the first president to throw out the first ball at a baseball opener in Washington. Walter Johnson catches it, then pitches the first of his 14 Opening Day games. An easy fly hit into the overflow crowd becomes a ground-rule double, marring a 3-0 Big Train pitching gem.
  • 1915 - The Athletics' Herb Pennock comes within one out of pitching the first Opening Day no-hitter. A scratch single by Harry Hooper is the only Red Sox hit in a 5-0 loss.
  • 1917 - Eddie Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitched an 11-0 no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns.
  • 1925 - In the first regular-season Cubs game to be broadcast on the radio, Quin Ryan announces the contest from the grandstand roof for WGN. Grover Alexander wins for the Cubs 8-2 over the Pirates and adds a single, double, and home run.
  • 1925 - The Cleveland Indians opened the season with a 21-14 victory over the St. Louis Browns, the most runs scored by one team on opening day. The Indians scored 12 runs in the eighth inning when the Browns made five errors, four of them by first baseman George Sisler.
  • 1925 - Two future Hall of Famers make their major league debuts for the A's in the same game. Lefty Grove starts against Boston and leaves in the fourth after walking four and striking out nobody. He gives up five runs on six hits. In the eighth, Mickey Cochrane pinch-hits for catcher Cy Perkins, singles, and stays in behind the plate while the A's go on to score nine runs in the last four innings to win 9-8 in ten innings. Grove, known as Groves in Baltimore, is also listed that way in the New York Times box score. Grove will become the first pitcher to lead the A.L. in strikeouts and walks in the same year.
  • 1946 - Manager Mel Ott of the Giants hits his 511th and final home run on Opening Day, an 8-4 home victory over the Phillies. The next day Ott will injure his knee diving for a ball and play only occasionally thereafter.
    
  • 1955 - Elston Howard becomes the first black to wear a Yankees uniform. He singles in his first at-bat, against the Red Sox, as the Yanks win 8-4.
  • 1964 - Sandy Koufax throws his ninth complete game without allowing a walk as he beats St. Louis 4-0 in his only start as an Opening Day pitcher.
    
  • 1967 - Red Sox rookie Billy Rohr debuts at Yankee Stadium. He startles everyone by taking a no-hitter to the ninth inning, but Elston Howard lines a 3-2 pitch for a single to right-center with two outs. Carl Yastrzemski had kept the no-hitter alive with a spectacular grab of a Tom Tresh drive to deep left field to open the ninth. Rohr wins the game 3-0, but he will pitch only once more for Boston before returning to the minors.
  • 1968 - Jim Bunning's first win with Pittsburgh, 3-0 at Los Angeles, is his 40th career shutout and includes his 1,000th N.L. strikeout, making him the first pitcher since Cy Young with 1,000 in each league.
  • 1969 - The first major league game outside the United States was played in Montreal's Jarry Park with the Expos defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7.
  • 1990 - Bret Saberhagen gets the win and Mark Davis earns the save as Kansas City beats Toronto 3-1. It is the first time ever that two reigning Cy Young Award winners have figured in the same victory.
  • 1991 - Nolan Ryan becomes the 12th pitcher to surpass 5,000 innings pitched and gets plenty of hitting help as Texas whips Baltimore 15-3.
  • 1993 - The first-ever Australian battery comes from Milwaukee. Left-hander Graeme Lloyd and backstop Dave Nilsson, who make up half of the total number of Australian players to ever make the major leagues, make history in the Brewers' 12-2 loss to the Angels.
  • 1998 - Mark McGwire hits three home runs, breaking an eight-game homerless drought, as the Cardinals rout the Arizona Diamondbacks 15-5. After tying Willie Mays' major league record by homering in the first four games of the season, McGwire had not homered since April 4.

Baseball Birthdays on April 14...

• • 1863 - Nicholson, Parson
  • 1867 - Cotter, Dan
  • 1870 - Niland, Tom
  • 1880 - Merritt, George
  • 1881 - Bracken, Jack
  • 1882 - Barthold, John
  • 1884 - Luhrsen, Wild Bill
  • 1886 - Young, Herman
  • 1898 - Doyle, Jess
  • 1913 - Radtke, Jack
  • 1916 - Hutchings, Johnny
  • 1916 - Lynn, Jerry
  • 1927 - Mueller, Don
  • 1928 - Adams, Herb
  • 1931 - Segrist, Kal
  • 1931 - Minnick, Don
  • 1935 - Keough, Marty
  • 1935 - Hayden, Lefty
  • 1941 - Rose, Pete
  • 1941 - Cipriani, Frank
  • 1944 - Bertaina, Frank
  • 1947 - Lahoud, Joe
  • 1953 - Bomback, Mark
  • 1954 - Mitchell, Craig
  • 1954 - Parsons, Casey
  • 1955 - Welsh, Chris
  • 1956 - Sprowl, Bobby
  • 1960 - Hodgson, Paul
  • 1961 - Aldrich, Jay
  • 1966 - Myers, Greg
  • 1966 - Justice, David
  • 1966 - Maddux, Greg
  • 1967 - Trombley, Mike
  • 1968 - Levis, Jesse
  • 1969 - Pennington, Brad
  • 1969 - Ausmus, Brad
  • 1970 - Avery, Steve
  • 1971 - Perez, Carlos
  • 1971 - Zaun, Gregg
  • 1972 - Mejia, Roberto
  • 1976 - Hoover, Paul
  • 1976 - Farnsworth, Kyle

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4/15
OTD
BIRTHDAYS
1940 Willie Davis center fielder (LA Dodgers), born in Mineral Springs, Arkansas (d. 2010)

1968 Billy Brewer pitcher (NY Yankees), born in Fort Worth, Texas

1969 Jeromy Burnitz outfielder (MLB All Star 1999; Milwaukee Brewers), born in Westminster, California

1978 Milton Bradley player

1978 Tim Corcoran player

1982 Michael Aubrey player (Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles), born in Shreveport, Louisiana

1985 John Danks player

1985 Aaron Laffey player

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1876 The Alleghenys bring professional baseball to Allegheny, a municipality that will be annexed into Pittsburgh in 1907, when they defeat the Xanthas at Union Park, 7-3. In February, the team lost its bid to become part of the newly established National League, playing as an independent club before joining the minor-league International Association next season, until 1878 when the circuit disbands.

1909 On Opening Day, 26-year-old Giants starter Red Ames keeps the Superbas hitless until one out in the 10th inning when second baseman Whitey Alpermann doubles to left-center. The Polo Grounds contest, which also features Brooklyn's Kaiser Wilhelm tossing a complete game, goes thirteen frames, with the New York right-hander dropping a 3-0 decision to start the season.

1911 At the age of 24, Grover Cleveland Alexander makes his major league debut, losing a 5-4 decision to the Rustlers on an unearned run in the tenth inning at Boston's South End Grounds. The Phillies rookie, who will become known as 'Old Pete,' will post a 28-13 (.683) record, including seven shutouts and 31 complete games.

1915 After being called the Naps since 1903, Cleveland's American League ballclub plays its first game known as the Indians, a moniker selected from a contest to re-name the team run by a local newspaper. The franchise's former name, which honored their once-popular player-manager Nap Lajoie, needed to be changed when the 40-year-old second baseman is sold back to A's after feuding the team's current skipper, Joe Birmingham.
1915 In his first start of the season, the Giants' southpaw Rube Marquand no-hits the Brooklyn Robins, the team that will select him off waivers at the end of August. In his 2-0 Polo Grounds victory, the 28-year-old faces 30 batters, striking out two and walking two in the 85-minute contest.

1921 At Redland Field, Pirates' right-hander Chief Yellow Horse makes his major league debut against the Reds. The Pittsburgh hurler, a member of a North American Plains Indian tribe called the Pawnees, is believed by many baseball historians to be the first full-blooded American Indian to play in the big leagues.

 

1930 On Opening Day, Phillies' southpaw Les Sweetland throws a three-hitter at Ebbets Field. The 28-year-old southpaw doubles and scores the lone run in the eighth inning of his 1-0 complete-game victory over Brooklyn.

1933 In his major league debut, Tigers rookie Schoolboy Rowe tosses a six-hitter, blanking the White Sox, 3-0. During his 15-year career, also playing with the Dodgers and Phillies, Lynwood will compile a 158-101 record, posting an ERA of 3.87.

1942 At Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, Hiram 'Hi' Bithorn becomes the first Puerto Rican to play major league baseball. The Cubs' right-hander from Santurce makes a relief appearance, allowing no runs or hits during his two innings of work in Chicago's 4-2 loss to the Redbirds.
1947 A year before President Truman desegregated the military, Jackie Robinson debuts for the Dodgers, becoming the first black player to participate in a major league game this century. In front of 25,623 Ebbets Field fans, the 28-year-old first baseman is hitless in three at-bats but scores a run in the 5-3 Opening Day victory over the Braves.

1947 In his National League debut, Hank Greenberg has the lone RBI in the Pirates' 1-0 win when his sixth-inning double off Cubs right-hander Hank Borowy plates Billy Cox from second base in the Forbes Field contest. Pittsburgh bought the slugging first baseman from the Tigers in the off-season for $75,000.

 

1954 In front of 46,354 fans, big-league baseball returns to Baltimore after a 51-year absence when the Orioles beat Chicago in the first game played in Memorial Stadium, 3-1. A Baltimore ownership group, which included Clarence Mills, Jim Keelty, Jerry Hoffberger, and Zanvyl Krieger, bought the former St. Louis Browns and brought the franchise to the Charm City.
1957 Before the Senators' 7-6 loss to Baltimore in 11 innings at Griffith Stadium, President Dwight Eisenhower throws the traditional ceremonial first pitch of the season. The horsehide Ike tosses is billed as the 10th millionth Spalding baseball to be used in a major league game.
1958 On Opening Day, the transplanted New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers play the first major league game on the West Coast. The California contest sees Ruben Gomez blanking Los Angeles and Don Drysdale at San Francisco's Seals Stadium, 8-0.

1959 Cardinal right-hander Bob Gibson makes his major league debut at LA Memorial Coliseum, tossing the final two innings in a 5-0 loss to the Dodgers. The 23-year-old rookie becomes the first future Hall of Fame hurler to give up a home run to the first batter he faces in the major leagues when third baseman Jim Baxes takes him deep in the seventh inning.

1962 With the Mets ahead 2-0 in the fifth game of their winless existence, snow begins to fall bottom of the fourth at the Polo Grounds. The umps call the game in the next frame before the Pirates complete their needed at-bats to make it an official contest, thus prolonging the expansion team's losing streak, eventually dropping their first nine decisions.
1967 At the age of 18, Gary Nolan makes his major league debut, striking out the side in the first frame en route to his first career victory when the Reds beat Houston at Crosley Field, 7-3. The hard-throwing teenager, who will give up six hits and three runs in 6.1 innings in his first outing, will be the runner-up to Tom Seaver and Dick Hughes for the Rookie of the Year honors this season.

1968 The Astros defeat the Mets in 24 innings, 1-0, making it the longest scoreless game in major league history. The six-hour and six-minute contest, in which each team had 79 at-bats and 11 hits, ends when Bob Aspromonte's grounder goes through the legs of shortstop Al Weis, scoring Norm Miller from third base with one out.

 

1972 On opening Day in Oakland, A's outfielder Reggie Jackson becomes the first player in fifty-eight years to wear a mustache during the regular season. The last time facial hair appeared in a major league game was in 1914 when Wally Schang had hair above his lip catching for Philadelphia Athletics.
1976 In the debut of the 'new' Yankee Stadium, 52,613 fans watch the Bronx Bombers shell Minnesota on Opening Day, 11-4. Bob Shawkey, the winner of the 1923 Stadium opener, throws out the ceremonial first pitch in the ballpark that has been completely rebuilt from top to bottom, replacing the fences, the seats, the roof, and the original grandstand.

1983 With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jerry Hairston's clean pinch-hit single to center field spoils Milt Wilcox's bid for a perfect game. The 32 year-old Tigers right-hander retires the next batter, settling for a one-hit 6-0 victory over the White Sox at Comiskey Park.

1985 In a 2-1 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Mike Schmidt plays in his 1,795th game wearing a Phillies uniform, breaking Richie Ashburn's franchise record. The first-ballot Hall of Famer will extend the mark to 2,404 contests before retiring in 1989.

1987 Juan Nieves becomes the first Brewer to toss a no-hitter, walking five batters and striking out seven en route to a 7-0 victory over the Orioles at Memorial Stadium. The 22-year-old Santurce native's no-no makes him the first Puerto Rican and second-youngest major leaguer to accomplish the feat.

1990 ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball makes its debut, with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan behind the microphones, a broadcasting team that will remain in the booth for the next 21 seasons. The early stages of the sports network's coverage on Sunday evenings call for every ballpark to host a game, assuring each team at least one appearance on national television throughout the season.
1994 With only 115 fans in attendance on a cold and rainy night at Pohlman Field, Kelly Wunsch becomes the third player and first starting pitcher to strike out five batters in one inning in professional baseball. The Beloit Brewer hurler, Milwaukee's first-round pick (26th overall) of the 1993 amateur draft, makes this possible when two of those victims reached first base on wild pitches during a 7-3 loss to Springfield (IL) of the Midwest League.
1997 At Shea Stadium, with President Clinton and Rachel Robinson in attendance, Commissioner Bud Selig announces Jackie Robinson's No. 42 will be retired throughout Major League Baseball, an unprecedented tribute to the player who broke the color barrier fifty years ago on this date. There are presently 13 active players still wearing the number who will be allowed to keep it, including Mariano Rivera, who in 2013 will become the last player to don the digits.

 

2000 Orioles infielder Cal Ripken, in the 2,800th game of his career, lines a base hit to center off the Twins' Hector Carrasco, becoming the 24th player to reach the 3000th hit milestone. The single also makes the 'Iron Man' only the seventh player to get 3,000 hits and 400 home runs in major league history.

2001 A swarm of bees nesting in the Coors Field's right-field auxiliary scoreboard makes their presence known when Todd Hollandsworth steps into the batter's box to start the bottom of the fourth frame. After a nine-minute delay, the game continues without incident to the players, fans, or the bees, with the Rockies' outfielder gets the crowd buzzing by hitting three home runs following the stoppage of play, including a three-run walk-off round-tripper in the tenth inning of Colorado's 10-7 victory over Arizona.
2004 Major league baseball begins the tradition of Jackie Robinson Day, an annual celebration commemorating the day in 1947 when the Dodger infielder broke the color line. Ceremonies occur across the country to honor the ground-breaking historical event, including baseball commissioner Bud Selig and Jackie's widow Rachel Robinson attending the Shea Stadium's festivities.
2004 In the Astros' 6-2 loss to the Brewers at Minute Maid Park, Brandon Backe strikes out the three batters he faces in the eighth inning on nine pitches. The 26-year-old right-handed reliever retires Bill Hall and Scott Podsednik looking with Craig Counsell swinging at a third strike to end the frame.

2005 Right-hander Ben Sheets, who agreed to a one-year deal worth $6 million during the offseason to avoid salary arbitration, signs a $38.5 million, four-year contract to stay with Milwaukee. The deal is the richest in the history of the Brewers.
2005 The Dodgers, to commemorate the 58th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game in the big leagues, wear replicas of the old road uniforms worn by the 1947 team, which played in Brooklyn. Right-hander Derek Lowe throws a three-hitter, blanking the Padres in San Diego, 4-0.

2005 In the first major league game in Washington, D.C., since September 30, 1971, the Nationals beat Arizona at RFK Stadium, 5-3. President George W. Bush throws out the ceremonial first pitch after receiving the ball from Joe Grzenda, the former Washington reliever who threw the final pitch before the new Senators moved to Texas
2005 A Fenway fan is ejected from the game after taking what appeared to be a swipe at Gary Sheffield as the Yankee outfielder fields a ball hit by Jason Varitek. The right fielder's response, which includes shoving the fan, making a fist, and exchanging words, will be investigated by major league baseball.

 

2007 In honor of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut, Ken Griffey, Jr. wears the Dodger Hall of Fame infielder's retired uniform #42, after getting permission from Rachel Robinson and Commissioner Bud Selig, who gives all major leaguers the option to wear the number individually. In 2009, all uniformed personnel will start wearing #42 every year on April 15th, the date designated annually as Jackie Robinson Day.

2007 The Indians become the first team in almost 55 years to notch a victory, getting their only hit in the team's first at-bat when Grady Sizemore doubles, leading off the first inning in Tribe's eventual 2-1 win over Chicago at Jacobs Field. The Tribe won with just one hit or less in 1992, posting a 2-1 victory in a no-hitter thrown by Red Sox right-hander Matt Young.

2007 To honor Jackie Robinson, major-league players, including Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter and Braves' outfielder Andruw Jones, wear the Dodger immortal's uniform No. 42 on the 60th anniversary of his historic breaking the color barrier in baseball. In the Cardinals and Brewers contest at Busch Stadium, every player and coach on both teams dons Jackie's revered number.
2009 Texas infielder Ian Kinsler, having already collected a single, double, and home run, admits he was trying for a triple when he batted in the sixth inning of the 19-6 rout of Baltimore. The Rangers' second baseman gets his three-bagger en route to a 6-for-6 cycle performance.

2010 Jorge Cantu establishes a major league record when he gets at least one hit and drives in one or more runs during the season's first ten games. The Marlins' infielder start also proves to be the longest streak at any point of the campaign.

2011 The Rangers tie an American League mark shared with 15 teams by turning six double plays in a nine-inning game, including a record-tying five DPs by Elvis Andrus for the most by a shortstop, in the team's 5-3 victory at Yankee Stadium. The first six batters in the Bronx Bombers' lineup, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Andruw Jones, and Nick Swisher, bounce into Texas twin killings.
2011 With a 7-6 defeat to Toronto at Fenway Park, the Red Sox lose their tenth game of the new campaign, making their 2-10 record the worst start in franchise history. Despite its record-setting first dozen contests, Boston will still be in contention for a playoff spot until the last day of the season.
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On April 15 in Baseball History...

• • 1909 - Before an Opening Day crowd of 30,000 at New York, Red Ames pitches a no-hitter for nine innings against the Brooklyn Superbas, surrenders a hit with one out in the tenth, then loses the game 3-0 in the 13th. The Giants outfield has no putouts.
  • 1918 - The A.L. season opens with Babe Ruth pitching a four-hit 7-1 victory over the A's. Red Sox manager Ed Barrow will start Ruth's conversion to slugger by working him into 72 games in the outfield and first base.
  • 1947 - Jackie Robinson goes hitless in three trips in his debut but handles 11 chances at first base, a new position for him, in a 5-3 Brooklyn win over the Boston Braves. Coach Clyde Sukeforth, interim manager and the man credited with first scouting Robinson, guides the team to two wins before stepping down.
  • 1954 - Clint Courtney of the Orioles hits the first major league home run in Memorial Stadium. The Birds draw an Opening Day record crowd of 46,354 in a 3-1 afternoon win against the White Sox.
  • 
  • 1958 - The San Francisco Giants defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first major league game played at Seals Stadium, with Ruben Gomez pitching an 8-0 shutout. Giants shortstop Daryl Spencer hits the first home run. The Giants set an attendance record for Seals Stadium by drawing 23,192 fans.
  • 1966 - Bob Gibson's 9-2 win at Forbes Field is the 18th straight for St. Louis in Pittsburgh. St. Louis ties the major league record (set by the Dodgers against the Phillies in 1945-46) for consecutive road wins against one club.
  • 1968 - Three records are smashed when the Astros score an unearned run in the 24th inning to squeeze by the Mets 1-0 after six hours and six minutes. It sets the mark as the longest N.L. game played to completion, the longest major league night game, and the first 23 innings are the longest major league scoreless game. The game ties the A.L.'s longest complete game (A's 4, Red Sox 1 in 24 innings on September 1, 1906).
  • 1972 - Reggie Jackson sports a mustache as the A's top the Twins 4-3 in 11 innings. Jackson is reported to be the first major league player with facial hair since Wally Schang in 1914.
  • 1976 - Newly remodeled Yankee Stadium is jammed with 52,613 fans for Opening Day ceremonies. The 1923 Yankee team is honored, and Bob Shawkey, winner of the 1923 Stadium opener, throws out the first ball. The Yankees beat the Twins 11-4 on 14 hits, but the only home runs are two hit by Minnesota's Dan Ford.
    1983 - Detroit pitcher Milt Wilcox is one out away from a perfect game when pinch hitter Jerry Hairston singles, and Wilcox settles for a 6-0 one-hitter over the White Sox. This is only the third time in major league history a perfect bid has been stopped with one out to go.
  • 1987 - Juan Nieves throws the first no-hitter in Brewers history, winning 7-0 against Baltimore. Milwaukee runs its record to 9-0.
  • 1993 - Andre Dawson became the 25th player to hit 400 home runs as the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 4-3.
  • 1993 - Sparky Anderson got his 2,000th victory as a manager in the Detroit Tigers' 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics.
  • 1997 - The 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking the color barrier in baseball is celebrated before 54,047 at Shea Stadium during a game between the Mets and the Dodgers. President Bill Clinton and Jackie's widow, Rachel Robinson, both speak during the 35-minute presentation, but the surprise of the evening occurs when acting commissioner Bud Selig announces that the number 42 will be retired in perpetuity for every team. On the field, the Mets beat the Dodgers 5-0.
  • 1998 - The first-ever American League-National League doubleheader ends up a good day for New York. The Yankees are forced to come to Shea Stadium after a beam falls into the stands at Yankee Stadium on April 13. The Yankees earn their first victory in Queens in 22 years as they defeat the Angels 6-3. Former Mets star Darryl Strawberry, the all-time home run leader at Shea, adds to his total with a shot into the left field bleachers. In the regularly-scheduled night game, the Mets beat the Cubs 2-1. The Yankees, who played at Shea in 1974-75 while Yankee Stadium was renovated, are the winner in the attendance department (40,743 to 16,012).

Baseball Birthdays on April 15...

• • 1862 - Sutcliffe, Sy
  • 1864 - Collins, Hub
  • 1865 - Lehane, Mike
  • 1867 - O'Brien, Darby
  • 1871 - Grey, Bill
  • 1877 - Abbaticchio, Ed
  • 1886 - Cole, King
  • 1890 - Sweeney, Buck
  • 1893 - Sheehan, Jack
  • 1893 - Hughes, Vern
  • 1894 - Gunkel, Red
  • 1896 - Distel, Dutch
  • 1897 - Lynch, Walt
  • 1910 - Mayo, Eddie
  • 1915 - Hoover, Joe
  • 1917 - Gedeon, Elmer
  • 1926 - Pierro, Bill
  • 1928 - Stewart, Bill
  • 1931 - Bailey, Ed
  • 1934 - Hartman, J.C.
  • 1936 - Posada, Leo
  • 1940 - Fryman, Woodie
  • 1940 - Davis, Willie
  • 1945 - Sizemore, Ted
  • 1949 - Bare, Ray
  • 1950 - Sharon, Dick
  • 1956 - Cort, Barry
  • 1960 - Diaz, Mike
  • 1968 - Brewer, Billy
  • 1969 - Burnitz, Jeromy
  • 1972 - Otero, Ricky
  • 1978 - Bradley, Milton

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