BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

1950 At Detroit's Briggs Stadium, Tiger outfielder Hoot Evers hits for the cycle, collecting five hits, 13 total bases, and six RBIs. The left fielder's tenth-inning single completes the accomplishment and is part of a two-run rally that ties the game at 13-13 before darkness halts the game.

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1952 At Washington's Griffith Stadium, Johnny Mize pinch-hits a grand slam, giving the Yankees a 5-1 victory over the Senators. The 'Big Cat' has now homered in all fifteen major league ballparks currently in use, with Sportsman's Park serving as the home for the Cardinals and Browns.

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1955 In the Yankees' 2-1 win over the A's, Whitey Ford becomes the fifth big league pitcher to throw consecutive one-hitters. In his last start, 'Slick' held the Senators hitless, except for a seventh-inning bloop by Carlos Paula.

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1962 With four steals in a 10-1 loss to the Pirates, Dodger Maury Wills breaks the modern National League record for stolen bases in a season with his 82nd swipe. Cincinnati's Bob Bescher established the mark in 1911, playing left field with Cincinnati.

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1964 At Connie Mack Stadium, a Labor Day crowd of 26,390 fans watches the first-place Phillies split a doubleheader with the Dodgers. The attendance for the twin bill brings the season's total to 1,224,172 patrons, breaking the all-time franchise home attendance record established by the Whiz Kids in 1950.

 

1967 With just three weeks left in the season, the standings at the end of the day will reveal a four-way tie for first place in the American League. The Red Sox (79-62), the eventual AL champs, are battling the White Sox (78-61), Tigers (79-62), and the Twins (78-61) to capture the flag in the historic pennant race.

1967 At Candlestick Park, the Giants tie a National League mark, using a record 25 players to beat the Astros in 15 innings, 3-2. Manager Herman Franks uses all his starters and five relief pitchers, sends six pinch-hitters to the plate, and three players enter the contest as pinch-runners, along with two defensive substitutions.

1968 In the bottom of the ninth, Houston's third baseman Doug Rader tags out Hank Aaron, who falls running to home plate with the winning run. The last-place Astros come back for an improbable 6-3 victory over the Braves when they score three runs in the top of the tenth frame.

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1969 Donald Dubois wins $27,000 when Fred Talbot, the Pilots' starting pitcher who throws a three-hit shutout, hits a grand slam in the sixth inning of the team's 8-0 victory over California at Sick's Stadium. The Gladstone, Oregon native's good fortune results from participating in the expansion team's "Home Run for the Money" promotion.

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1973 The umpires delay the second game of the Mets-Expos doubleheader at the Montreal ballpark for 11 minutes to prevent an injury. The setting sun over the rim of Jarry Park makes it impossible for the first baseman to see a ball thrown from certain positions on the field.

1973 Mets' southpaw Jerry Koosman's franchise record of 31.2 consecutive scoreless innings ends when a runner crosses the plate in the bottom of the third inning in the team's 4-2 victory in Montreal. Although Dwight Gooden will pass the left-hander's effort with 36.2 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run, Koosman's record without allowing any runs will last for 39 years before knuckleballer R. A. Dickey surpasses the mark in 2012.

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1973 "I want to cast my own vote in favor of returning major league baseball back to the nation's capital. You can be sure all of us in the Washington metropolitan area would enthusiastically welcome a National League team." - PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON, the text of a letter sent to NL president Chub Feeney supporting the return of major league baseball to the District of Columbia.
Joseph Danzansky urges President Nixon to write a letter to National League president Chub Feeney supporting the return of major league baseball to the District of Columbia. The Washington, D.C. grocery-chain magnate, who has conditionally bought the Padres, sees his efforts to move the team to the nation's capital thwarted by legal actions, allowing Ray Kroc to buy the Friars and keep the club in San Diego.

1973 The Rangers fire future Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog. The White Rat, who compiled a 47-91 record during his six-month tenure in the Texas dugout, will be replaced by Billy Martin.

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1974 The American League suspends Graig Nettles for ten days when his bat shatters on a disallowed infield hit, releasing six super balls collected by catcher Bill Freehan. The Yankee third baseman, who said the piece of lumber was given to him by a fan in Chicago, hit a home run in his first at-bat for the game's only run in the Yankees' 1-0 victory over Detroit at Shea Stadium.

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1975 With an 8-4 victory over the Giants at Riverfront Stadium, the Reds clinch the National League West in their 142nd game of the season. The 'Big Red Machine' captures a title earlier than any other club since the inception of divisional play in 1969.

1978 In a 9-4 victory over the Expos, Mets backstop John Stearns establishes a new mark for National League catchers with his 25th stolen base. Johnny Kling swiped 24 bases catching for the Cubs in 1902.
1979 Carl Yastrzemski of the Red Sox gets three hits to pass Ted Williams on the all-time total base list. 'Teddy Ballgame' collected 2,654 hits during his 19 seasons with Boston.

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1984 On his way to hurling a one-hitter, Dwight 'Doc' Gooden fans Cub Ron Cey for his 228th strikeout, setting a National League rookie record. The Mets phenom passes Grover Cleveland Alexander, who established the mark in 1911 with 227.

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1993 In the nightcap of a doubleheader at Cincinnati, Cardinal outfielder Mark Whiten becomes the 12th player to hit four home runs in one game, helping to tie two established RBI records. With 12 RBIs in the second game, he equals the single-game mark set by Jim Bottomley in 1924, and with his ribbie in the opener, he ties a 21-year-old record established by Nate Colbert for the most RBIs (13) in a twin bill.

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1996 In a pregame ceremony in front of a sellout crowd at the Metrodome, the Twins bid farewell to Kirby Puckett, one of the team's most popular players in recent years. After a remarkable 12-year Hall of Fame career, blindness in his right eye caused by glaucoma forced the talented and personable outfielder to retire in July.

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1996 With 129 at-bats and a mediocre .254 batting average at the start of his major league career, Scott Rolen suffers a broken arm when hit by a pitch thrown by Cubs' right-hander Steve Trachsel, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. The hit-by-pitch will be a lucky break (pun intended) when the Phillies' third baseman, technically still a freshman due to having one less at-bat last season,

1997 Expo infielder Mark Grudzielanek breaks the National League mark for doubles for a shortstop, hitting his 49th in a 2-1 loss to Philadelphia. Dick Bartell of the 1932 Phillies set the previous record.

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1997 For only the twenty-second time in major league history, a player reaches the 50 home run plateau when Mariner outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. goes deep off Bob Tewksbury in a 9-6 loss to Minnesota at the Metrodome. Junior will finish the season with a league-leading 56 round-trippers.

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1997 In a 15-inning contest, 33 players whiff during the Angels' 5-4 victory at Tiger Stadium. Players from both teams become visibly upset with home plate umpire Mike Everitt when 21 of the 30 extra-inning outs are strikeouts, with 13 resulting from a called third strike.

1998 In the first inning at Busch Stadium, Cardinal first baseman Mark McGwire ties Yankee outfielder Roger Maris' single-season home run mark established in 1961, hitting his 61st in a nationally televised Labor Day game against the Cubs. Big Mac hits his historic homer on his dad's 61st birthday.

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2001 At Busch Stadium, right-fielder Shawn Green breaks the Dodgers' record for homers in a season with his 44th home run, the first of his two dingers he hits off Dustin Hermanson in the team's 7-1 victory over the Cardinals. Duke Snider (1956) and Gary Sheffield (2000) shared the previous mark.

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2001 Ranger infielder Alex Rodriguez breaks his American League record (42 in 1998 and 1999 for the Mariners) for home runs by a shortstop with his 43rd long ball of the season. In 1958, Cub Hall of Famer Ernie Banks established the major league record for homers for that position with 47.

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2005 Dontrelle Willis becomes the first pitcher in the thirteen-year history of the Marlins to win 20 games in a season when the team routs Washington at RFK Stadium, 12-1. The high-kicking southpaw had established a franchise record for victories in his last start with his 19th win.

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2006 The Cubs are honored by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks for their preservation efforts at Wrigley Field. The venerable old ballpark received Chicago Landmark Awards for Excellence for the bleacher expansion project, which improved circulation in the seating section, increased the number of bathrooms, and dramatically improved access for fans with disabilities.

2007 At Coors Field, nine relievers follow Rockies' starter Elmer Dessens after he leaves the game with a strained left hamstring in the third inning of the team's 10-4 win over the Padres. The ten Colorado pitchers, including eight hurlers who toss a frame or less, establish a National League record for a nine-inning game.

2008 The Pirates lose their 82nd game, an 11-6 defeat to the Giants at AT&T Park, ensuring the club will endure their 16th consecutive losing season. The streak equals the mark established by the 1933-1948 Philadelphia Phillies for the longest skid in the history of professional sports.

2009 The Pirates become the first baseball franchise in history to post a losing record for 17 consecutive seasons when the team drops a 4-2 decision to the Cubs at PNC Park. The dubious streak, which dates back to 1993, surpasses the Phillies' skid from 1933 to 1948.

 

2010 At Petco Park, Padres' starter Mat Latos establishes a major league record when he limits L.A. to one run over seven innings, extending his streak to 15 straight starts of five or more innings, allowing two or fewer runs. The 22-year-old right-hander breaks the mark previously shared by Greg Maddux (1993-94) and Mike Scott (1986).

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2010 A statue of Billy Williams, who played 16 seasons with the club from 1959-74, is dedicated by the Cubs on the corner of Sheffield Avenue and Addison Street outside Wrigley Field. Attending the unveiling of the sculpture that portrays the Hall of Famer outfielder finishing his sweet left-handed swing is his wife, Shirley, former teammates Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Ron Santo, and Glenn Beckert, along with the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

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2010 Trevor Hoffman earns his 600th save when he induces pinch-hitter Aaron Miles to hit a grounder for the final out in the Brewers' 4-2 victory over St. Louis at Miller Park. The 42-year-old reliever, baseball's career saves leader, has converted 600 of his 676 opportunities (89%) during his 18-year career with Florida, San Diego, and Milwaukee.

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2011 Alex Liddi becomes the first player born and raised in Italy to play in the major leagues. The Mariners' third baseman, who goes 0-for-2 in the loss to L.A., is the first MLB European Academy alumnus to make the show.

 

2015 In the last game of the season, Pensacola Blue Wahoos shortstop Ray Chang plays all nine positions, fielding a different one in each of the first nine innings, including tossing a clean ninth frame. The 32-year-old popular infielder also enjoys a 3-for-4 day at the plate, scoring a run and stealing a base in the Reds Double-A affiliate’s 4-2 loss against the Mobile BayBears.

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2017 The Indians break a franchise record, set last season, with their 15th consecutive win, beating the White Sox at Chicago's Guaranteed Rate Field, 11-2. The victory costs Universal Windows Direct $1.7 million when the local business honors a promotion that promised customers full rebates for any purchase made in July if the Tribe won 15 straight games after August 1.

2020 After not allowing more than three earned runs through his first 23 big league starts, Diamondback right-hander Zac Gallen gives up four runs in five innings of work, taking the loss in the team's 4-2 to the Giants at Oracle Park. The 25-year-old former Tar Heel hurler's accomplishment establishes the longest streak ever for a pitcher at the start of their career.

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2021 At Fenway Park, Nelson Cruz becomes the oldest player in major league history to hit 30 home runs in a season when he homers twice in the Rays' 12-7 victory over the Red Sox. The 41 -year-old designated hitter blasts a two-run round-tripper in the third inning and a solo shot in the fifth, joining David Ortiz (38, Red Sox - 2016) and Darrell Evans (34, Tigers - 1987), who both reached the milestone at 40 years of age.

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9/8 BIRTHDAYS
1907 Buck Leonard HOF first baseman (Negro League World Series 1943, 44, 48 Homestead Grays; 13 x NL All Star), born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina (d. 1997)



1946 Ken Forsch pitcher, 1970-1986, 2X All-Star (Houston Astros, California Angels), born in Sacramento, California


1966 Mike Dyer pitcher (Montreal Expos), born in Upland, California


1978 Gil Meche born in Lafayette, Louisiana


1990 Gerrit Cole (NY Yankees), born in Newport Beach, California

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FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1885 George H. Rawlings patents a close-fitting baseball glove that features padding made of felt and rubber in the fingers, thumb, and palm. The owner of a St. Louis sporting goods store invented the padded piece of equipment to prevent players from bruising their hands when catching a ball.

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1896 Baltimore sweeps a twin bill from 12th-place Louisville, beating their National League opponents at Oriole Park, 10-9 and 3-1. The Birds, who won all three games against the Colonels in yesterday's tripleheader, establish the mark for the most victories in two consecutive days with their five wins.

1916 Twenty-three fans attending the game against the Yankees at soaked Shibe Park, the smallest crowd in American League history, witness A's switch-hitter Wally Schang become the first player in major league history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game. The feat, not well-publicized because reporters thought the heavy rain would postpone the game and did not attend the contest, will not be accomplished again in the Junior Circuit until 1940.

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1925 In the seventh inning of the nightcap of a doubleheader sweep, Babe Ruth belts his 300th career home run, the Sultan of Swat's 16th of the season. Southpaw Buster Ross allows the milestone solo blast in the Yankees' 7-4 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

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1933 In the second game of a doubleheader against Detroit, Red Sox outfielder Mel Almada makes his major league debut at Fenway Park. The 20-year-old Huatabampo native becomes the first Mexican to play in the major leagues.

1939 Bob Feller, with his 12-1 victory over the Browns in St. Louis, becomes the youngest modern-era player to win 20 games. The 20-year-old Indians' fireballer finishes the season 24-9 while posting a 2.85 ERA.

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1940 Johnny Mize hits homers #'s 38, 39, and 40 in the first game of a doubleheader, becoming the first player to hit three homers in one game four times in his career. Despite the Big Cat's heroics, the Cardinals drop a pair to the Pirates, 16-14 and 9-4.

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1942 The first exhibition game between two Negro League teams is finally played in Boston when the Philadelphia Stars edge the Baltimore Elite Giants in a rain-shortened seven-inning game at Fenway Park, 8-7. Unlike many metropolitan areas in the East and South, the Cradle of Liberty did not have a Black team represent the city, nor did the community embrace the concept of hosting Negro League contests.

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1945 Receiving an enthusiastic ovation from the near-capacity crowd, President Harry Truman, sworn in after FDR's death in April, becomes the first left-hander and oldest president to throw the ceremonial major league first pitch. The Missourian shows no signs of favoritism when the St. Louis Browns, a team from his home state, drops a 4-1 decision to the Senators.

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1949 Red Schoendienst steals the team’s last stolen base of the season when he takes second base in the Cardinals’ 8-0 victory over the Cubs at Sportsman's Park. The Redbird third baseman will lead the club with eight pilfered bags, accounting for more than half of the all-time National League low of 17 the entire club will swipe this season.

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1954 "It's not a record, but being traded four times when there are only eight teams in the league tells you something. I thought I was modeling uniforms for the National League." - JOE GARAGIOLA, former major leaguer and television personality reflecting on his nine-year baseball career.
The pennant-bound Giants select catcher Joe Garagiola, known more for his glove than his bat, off waivers from the second-division Cubs. The 28-year-old backstop plays only five games for New York before retiring at the end of the season, becoming a baseball broadcaster and colorful television personality that includes stints on The Today Show, Saturday Game of the Week for NBC, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

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1955 The Dodgers clinch their eighth National League pennant with a 10-2 victory over the Braves at Milwaukee's County Stadium. Brooklyn's 17-game lead marks the earliest date a team has captured a flag in baseball history.

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1957 Before their departure to play on the West Coast for next season, the Dodgers and Giants face one another for the final time in New York. The Jints beat the Bums at the Polo Grounds, 3-2, to finish the intense 68-year-old storied rivalry with a 656-606 advantage over Brooklyn in the battle between the boroughs.

1958 At spacious Forbes Field, Roberto Clemente blasts three triples in the Pirates' 4-1 victory over the Redlegs. The 'Great One' becomes the first Pittsburgh player to accomplish the feat since 1952 when center fielder Carlos Bernier, batting leadoff, collected a trio of three-baggers in the same Cincinnati ballpark.

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