BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

1988 In Seoul, South Korea, Jim Abbott, born without a right hand, goes the distance en route to the United States' 5-3 victory over Japan to win the Olympic Gold medal. After the game, the Japanese players, in a display of great respect, line up to congratulate the former University of Michigan pitcher who had just beaten them.

​

1988 In his last start of the regular season, Dodger Orel Hershiser tosses ten shutout frames to extend his streak to 59, breaking Don Drysdale's record of 58 consecutive scoreless innings established in 1968.

​

 

1990 The scoreboard at Old Comiskey Park 'explodes' for the last time when Frank Thomas goes deep off Randy Johnson in the seventh inning of a 13-4 loss to Seattle. The Monster, which has shot off fireworks whenever a White Sox player hits a home run since 1960, was an innovation of team owner Bill Veeck after being inspired by the design of a pinball machine.

​

1995 A fan takes exception when a Cub reliever gives up a two-run, pinch-hit home run to James Mouton, giving the Astros an eighth-inning 9-7 lead. As the Houston pinch-hitter rounds the bases, the 27-year-old spectator leaves his seat and heads toward the mound, where Randy Myers, who, in addition to his pitching prowess, is well trained in the martial arts, immediately pins the trespasser to the ground.


1995 Greg Harris becomes the first post-1900 major leaguer to pitch ambidextrously. In his ninth-inning appearance, the Expos reliever blanks the Reds, facing four batters, two as a right-hander, his natural side, and the other two as a southpaw

.
​

1996 The Rockies' Ellis Burks becomes the fourth player to hit 40 home runs and swipe 30 bases in a single season when he goes deep off Dan Carlson with an eighth-inning solo shot in the team's 8-5 loss to the Giants at Coors Field. The 32-year-old Colorado outfielder joins Hank Aaron (1963 Braves), Jose Canseco (1988 A's), and Barry Bonds (1996 Giants) in accomplishing the feat.

​

1996 The Devil Rays become the second team to sign a working agreement with a Japanese professional team. Tampa Bay signs a two-year contract with the Seibu Lions, including a four-year option extending the deal through 2002.

 

1997 With his 40th home run, catcher Mike Piazza sets a Los Angeles Dodger single-season record. Duke Snider holds the franchise record, slugging 43 round-trippers for Brooklyn in 1956.

​

1997 Tony Gwynn equals Honus Wagner's record by winning his eighth National League batting title when he finishes the season with a .372 batting average. The Padres outfielder becomes the first player to win four consecutive NL batting crowns since Rogers Hornsby accomplished the feat with the Cardinals, winning six straight titles between 1920 and 1925.

​

1997 Toronto's Roger Clemens goes 8⅓ innings against his former team but doesn't get a decision when the Blue Jays score two runs in the bottom of the ninth, beating Boston in a 3-2 come-from-behind victory. The right-hander will finish the season with a 21-7 record, the best winning percentage for a starting pitcher on a team that will finish last.

1998 In the first National League playoff since 1980, the Cubs beat the Giants, 5-3, in a one-game showdown to take the National League's wild-card berth. San Francisco makes the game interesting by scoring three runs in the ninth inning in front of a very anxious crowd at Wrigley Field.

​

 

2000 The Blue Jays, matching the 1996 Orioles, become the second team in major league history to have seven players hit twenty or more homers during the season when DH Darrin Fletcher goes deep for the team's only tally in a 23-1 rout by the Orioles at Camden Yards. The other Toronto players to reach the milestone include Carlos Delgado, Tony Batista, Shannon Stewart, Jose Cruz, Raul Mondesi, and Brad Fullmer.

2000 The Brewers play the last game at Milwaukee County Stadium, bowing to the Reds, 8-1. Warren Spahn throws the ceremonial first pitch to Del Crandall, his Opening Day batterymate 47 years ago when the Future Hall of Fame southpaw Spahn and the Braves beat the Cardinals in 10 innings, 3-2, in 1953.

​

2000 Troy Glaus hits his 44th, breaking the 47-year-old record for homers by an American League third baseman set in 1953 by Al Rosen, who played the hot corner for the Indians. The Angel infielder will lead the circuit with 47 round-trippers, including one hit as a designated hitter.

2001 Ranger infielder Alex Rodriguez becomes the 20th player and first shortstop in major league history to hit 50 home runs in a season. Angel hurler Ismael Valdes gives up the milestone blast in the first inning at Edison Field in an 11-2 Texas win.

2001 Angels infielder David Eckstein breaks Frank Robinson's rookie record for getting hit by a pitch. Rangers' hurler Aaron Mayette's fifth-inning offering hits the freshman Halos' shortstop, making it the twenty-first time the 26-year-old gets plunked this season.

​

2001 On a night he hits his 68th round-tripper of the season in quest of Mark McGwire's single-season home run record, Barry Bonds is walked for the 163rd time, breaking Big Mac's 1998 National League record for bases on balls. The major league record is 170 walks held by Babe Ruth.

​

2003 Ron Santo, the team's radio color commentator, joins Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Billy Williams, becoming the third player to have his number retired by the Cubs. The nine-time All-Star third baseman, who spent 14 of his 15-year career with Chicago (1960-73), will have his uniform #10 below Ernie Banks' on the left-field foul pole.

​

2003 At Turner Field in Atlanta, Jose Reyes becomes the second Mets player to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in one game. Lee Mazzilli was the first to go yard twice in Dodger Stadium on September 3, 1978.

2003 Following an emotional closing ceremony in front of 58,554 enthusiastic fans, the Braves beat the Phillies 5-2 in the final game at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The two-hour festivities at the Broad Street ballpark include the All-Vet team's introduction and a eulogy given by Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas, who receives a standing ovation from the crowd.

​

 

2005 Alex Rodriguez breaks Joe DiMaggio's 1937 single-season club record for home runs by a right-handed batter. The third baseman's 47th homer proves to be the difference when the Yankees edge the Orioles, 2-1.

2005 With the lowest winning percentage ever compiled by a division champion during a non-strike year, the Padres (79-79) win their fourth division flag in the franchise's 37-year history. San Diego will win three of their last four games to finish just above .500, accomplishes the feat, surpassing the Mets, who previously possessed the dubious record, by going 82-79 (.509) to win the NL East in 1973.

2006 For the third consecutive season, Kansas City will lose 100 or more games. The team's 2-1 defeat to the Twins in the Metrodome makes the Royals the 11th franchise in big league history to accomplish the dubious feat.

2006 At Coors Field in Colorado, James Loney collects four hits, including two homers, and drives in nine runs in the Dodgers' 19-11 victory over the Rockies. The rookie first baseman, who had one homer and eight runs batted in 93 previous at-bats with the team, ties the franchise RBI mark set by Gil Hodges in his 1950 four-homer game for Brooklyn and breaks the Los Angeles club mark held by Ron Cey.

​

2008 On the season's final day, Mike Mussina becomes the oldest first-time twenty-game winner, reaching the milestone when he hurls six shutout innings in the Yankees' 6-2 victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The 39-year-old right-hander accomplishes the feat in his final major league appearance, finishing his 18-year major league career 270-153 (.638) won-loss record.

​

2008 The Mets play their final game at Shea Stadium, a 4-2 loss to the Marlins, disappointing a sellout crowd by failing to qualify for the postseason on the season's last day for the second consecutive year. After the contest, former Mets, including Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, and Tom Seaver, as well as Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, and Mike Piazza, but not any of the club's current players, take part in a ceremony to celebrate the history of the 45-year-old ballpark in front of the subdued spectators gathered to 'Shea Goodbye.'

2008 Pitching on a day's short rest, CC Sabathia tosses a complete game, defeating the Cubs, 3-1. The victory, along with the Mets' 4-2 loss to Florida an hour later, makes the Brewers the NL Wild Card and puts Milwaukee in the postseason for the first time since 1982.

​

2008 The Astros set a new National League mark for the fewest errors committed in one season. The 67 Houston miscues are one less than the record shared by the 1999 Mets and 2007 Rockies.

2008 For the first time in team history, the Red Sox draw over three million patrons at home. A crowd of 37,091 fans attending the first game of a day-night doubleheader on the season's last day brings the total to 3,010,801, marking the ninth straight year the attendance at Fenway Park has broken the franchise record.

2009 The Rays deal left-hander Scott Kazmir (8-7, 5.92) to the Angels for three prospects, Matthew Sweeney, Alex Torres, and Sean Rodriguez. The Rays traded the 25-year-old talented southpaw, who is in the first year of a three-year, $28.5 million contract, due to restrictions in the team's payroll.

2009 The Angels clinch their fifth AL West title in the last six years with their 11-0 win over Texas. Although the team has successfully reached the postseason four times in the six past seasons, Los Angeles has won just one playoff series since winning Game 7 of the 2002 World Series for their only championship.

 

2010 David Wright sets the all-time Mets record for strikeouts in a season with 157. The third baseman passes the infamous mark shared by Dave Kingman (1982) and Tommie Agee (1970).

2011 With their season-finale extra-inning victory over Atlanta, the Phillies set a team record with their 102nd win of the campaign. The 4-3 victory also moves skipper Charlie Manuel (646-488) past Gene Mauch for the most wins by a manager in the franchise's history.

2011 With a Tampa Bay loss looming, the Red Sox appear to need just a win to advance to the ALDS or go to Tampa Bay for a one-game playoff if they lose, become optimistic about their chances for a playoff spot with their 3-2 lead over Baltimore, and the Rays trailing New York, 7-0. Boston drops a 4-3 walk-off decision when the Birds score two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, just before seeing the season come to a crashing end when Evan Longoria's 12th-inning solo homer gives the Rays an unbelievable comeback victory and the AL Wild Card.

​

2011 On the last day of the season, the Braves become the first major league club to blow a lead of at least eight games in September when the team is eliminated from the playoffs when dropping a 4-3 decision to Philadelphia in 13 innings. On August 26th, Atlanta was ten games ahead of St. Louis, the eventual Wild Card team.

2011 Jose Reyes takes himself out of the season finale after laying down a bunt single off Edinson Volquez in the first inning of the Mets' 3-0 victory over Cincinnati at Citi Field. The infield hit, which will be his last for the Mets until returning to the club in 2016, raises the shortstop's average to a league-leading .337, nudging Milwaukee's Ryan Braun for the NL batting crown, the first in franchise history.

2011 Starlin Castro ( 21 years, 188 days) becomes the youngest player to lead the National League in hits, finishing the season with 207. The Cubs sophomore All-Star shortstop, who hit .307 in 158 games, reaches base for the 40th straight game with an eighth-inning double in the team’s 9-2 loss to Padres at Petro Park, extending his current hitting streak to 10 games.

2011 In the season's finale, the Brewers beat the Pirates, 7-3, for their 96th victory, breaking the franchise mark established in 1979 and tied in 1982. The National League Central Division champs finish the season 96-66, the second-best record in the circuit, trailing only Philadelphia.

2011 Eric O'Flaherty, who induces a double play from the only batter he faces in the Braves' 4-3 loss to Philadelphia, finishes the season with a microscopic 0.98 ERA. The 26-year-old southpaw's earned run average is the lowest ever posted by a pitcher with 75 or more appearances.

​

2011 In the season's finale, the Rays, trailing 7-0 going into the eighth, finish their storybook season with a ninth-inning, two-out, two-strike, game-tying pinch-hit solo home run hit by Dan Johnson and Evan Longoria's walk-off round-tripper in the 12th. Their victory and the Red Sox's 4-3 loss to Baltimore minutes before gives Tampa Bay the AL wild-card berth after being down by nine games at the beginning of the month.

2011 Ozzie Guillen, who signed a four-year, $10 million deal with Florida, is introduced before the season's finale as the club's new manager, replacing 80-year-old interim Jack McKeon. The outspoken former White Sox skipper is expected, in addition to putting a better product on the field, to help spark enthusiasm for the team as they start a new era playing in a new ballpark as the Miami Marlins.

2011 The Marlins attract 34,615 fans to their finale at Dolphin Stadium, now known as Sun Life Stadium, but will still post the National League's poorest attendance for the sixth consecutive year. The last-place club, having played in its current venue for the first 19 years of the franchise's existence, will play next season's home games in a new ballpark with a retractable roof located on approximately 17 acres of the historic 42-acre Orange Bowl site in the Little Havana section of Miami.

2014 Jordan Zimmermann throws the Nationals' first no-hitter, thanks to a remarkable game-ending catch by Steven Souza, Jr. in left field that preserves the 1-0 gem against the Marlins. The victory marks the fifth no-no in franchise history, but the first since the team relocated to Washington, D.C from Montreal in 2005.

​

2019 Justin Verlander becomes the 18th major leaguer to record 3,000 strikeouts when he fans Kole Calhoun, who reaches first base after swinging at a wild pitch for the third strike. The Astros right-hander whiffs 12 Angels to get a career-high 300 for the season, joining Gerrit Cole as the second set of mound mates to each have 300 strikeouts in the same season.Diamondback hurlers Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling became the first teammates to strike out 300 batters in the same year, accomplishing the feat in the 2002 season

​

*******************
119,721

 

​

 

Everything's cooler during #SeptemberBaseball ... including these home runs.

https://x.com/BSmile/status/1707361464862851543?s=20​

 

​

 

Today In 1941: Ted Williams becomes the last American League player to hit .400! Hitting .39955 on the final day of the season, the Boston #RedSox legend decides to play both games of a doubleheader vs. the Philadelphia A's. He goes 6-for-8 to finish with a .406 BA!​

​

 

HOUSE FULL COMPANY ALL WEEKEND BACK TO REGULAR ORDER MONDAY
​

Today in Baseball History
Home | Contact | Baseball Almanac | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Advertise | Support

Search archives: Historical Events Baseball Birthdays Baseball Deaths
On September 29 in Baseball History...

• • 1913 - Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators finished the season with 36 victories after a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia A's.
  • 1914 - The Boston Braves, who were in last place in mid-July, clinch the pennant after a sensational second-half drive.
  • 1915 - The Philadelphia Phillies clinched their first National League pennant, beating the Boston Braves 5-0 behind Grover Alexander's one-hitter.
  • 1920 - Babe Ruth hits his 54th homer in Philadelphia as the Yankees win, 7-2. That is more than any other team except the Phils. He is responsible for 241 of his team's 838 runs, even though he misses twelve games.
  • 1945 - The Cubs clinch the National League flag on Hank Borowy's 4-3 win over Pittsburgh in the first game of a doubleheader.
  • 1953 - A Baltimore syndicate headed by Baltimore Mayor Tom D'Alesandro buys Bill Veeck's interest in the Browns for $2.475 million. The American League approves the shift of the Browns to Baltimore without Bill Veeck.
  • 1954 - Willie Mays made an over-the-shoulder catch of Vic Wertz's long drive to center field, and pinch-hitter Dusty Rhodes homered off Bob Lemon in the 10th inning to lead the New York Giants to a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of the World Series.
  • 1957 - With 1895 manager Jack Doyle among the 11,606 looking on, the Giants lose their last game at the Polo Grounds 9-1. Bucs rookie John Powers hits a home run in the top of the ninth, the last homer and RBI at the Polo Grounds. This game is played on the 77th anniversary of the first Polo Grounds baseball game.
  • 1959 - The Dodgers win Game Two of the playoff, 6-5, and take the National League pennant. Los Angeles overcomes a 5-2, ninth-inning deficit to tie the game they win it in the 12th inning when Gil Hodges scores from second on Felix Mantilla's off-balance heave past first base after a difficult chance on Carl Furillo's grounder.
  • 1963 - Playing in his one and ONLY Major League game, Houston Colt 45 outfielder John Paciorek, brother of Jim and Tom, went three for three (all singles), walked twice, had three runs batted in and scored four times.
  • 1963 - Stan Musial ended his career by going 2-for-3 as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2 at Busch Stadium.
  • 1968 - Carl Yastrzemski maintains a .3005 batting average to win his second straight batting crown with the lowest championship average ever. Yaz is the American League's only .300 hitter; Oakland's Danny Cater is second with .290.
  • 1971 - In the sixth inning of the Expos' 6-5 win over the Cubs, Ron Hunt is hit by a Milt Pappas pitch. It is the 50th time Hunt is hit in 1971, setting a Major League record.
  • 1976 - Walter Alston, after 23 years and 2,040 victories with the Dodgers, steps down as manager. Third base coach Tom Lasorda is promoted to the post.
  • 1979 - J.R. Richard of the Astros shuts out the Dodgers 3-0 and fans eleven batters to break his own modern National League record for strikeouts by a right-hander. Richard finishes with 313 K's, ten more than in 1978. One of five Dodgers hits is a single by Manny Mota, his 146th pinch hit, breaking the mark of 145 formerly held by Smoky Burgess.
  • 1986 - Minnesota's Bert Blyleven broke Robin Roberts' 1956 record of 46 home run pitches in a season, when he gave up a two-out, third-inning homer to Cleveland rookie Jay Bell. Despite giving up two more homers, Bert Blyleven was the winner when the Twins rallied in the eighth for a 6-5 victory.
  • 1986 - Chicago Cubs rookie Greg Maddux defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3. The losing pitcher was his brother, Mike, also a rookie. It was the first time brothers faced each other as rookies.
  • 1987 - Don Mattingly Major League record sixth grand slam of the season backed the four-hit pitching of Charlie Hudson to lead the New York Yankees to a 6-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
  • 1990 - The Reds clinch the National League West title during a rain delay of their 3-1 loss to the Padres when the second-place Dodgers lose 4-3 to San Francisco. The Reds, never out of first place, are the first National League team ever to lead from wire to wire in a 162-game schedule.
  • 1996 - Brady Anderson of the Baltimore Orioles became the 14th player to reach the 50-homer mark in a 4-1 loss at Toronto. Anderson's previous season high was 21.
  • 1996 - Vinny Castilla of the Colorado Rockies hit his 40th homer in a 12-3 victory at San Francisco. He combined with teammates Andres Galarraga (47 homers) and Ellis Burks (40) to form the first 40-homer trio on one team since the 1973 Atlanta Braves: Davey Johnson (43), Darrell Evans (41), Hank Aaron (40).
  • 1998 - Mo Vaughn homered twice and tied a record with seven RBIs as Boston ended a 13-game postseason skid, beating Cleveland 11-3 in their American League divisional playoff series opener.

Baseball Birthdays on September 29...

• • 1859 - Orr, Dave
  • 1862 - Morris, Ed
  • 1866 - Weyhing, Gus
  • 1867 - Hines, Hunkey
  • 1871 - Hall, Russ
  • 1877 - Steinfeldt, Harry
  • 1880 - Lumley, Harry
  • 1884 - Shaw, Hunky
  • 1886 - Pieh, Cy
  • 1898 - Matthews, Joe
  • 1901 - Rensa, Tony
  • 1901 - Benton, Rabbit
  • 1905 - Cunningham, Bruce
  • 1909 - Hockett, Oris
  • 1911 - McGee, Dan
  • 1912 - Stewart, Glen
  • 1914 - Johnson, Johnny
  • 1917 - Feinberg, Eddie
  • 1919 - Emmerich, Slim
  • 1922 - Wheeler, Don
  • 1924 - McGhee, Ed
  • 1925 - Hamilton, Tom
  • 1932 - Giel, Paul
  • 1935 - Bedell, Howie
  • 1935 - Anderson, Bob
  • 1936 - Trosky, Hal
  • 1938 - McCormick, Mike
  • 1941 - James, Jeff
  • 1941 - Reese, Rich
  • 1949 - Busby, Steve
  • 1950 - Macha, Ken
  • 1950 - Crawford, Jim
  • 1953 - Richards, Gene
  • 1953 - Cromartie, Warren
  • 1955 - McLaughlin, Byron
  • 1956 - Calvert, Mark
  • 1957 - Lefferts, Craig
  • 1957 - Flannery, Tim
  • 1960 - Deer, Rob
  • 1967 - Silvestri, Dave
  • 1968 - Parks, Derek
  • 1970 - Hudson, Joe
  • 1970 - Haught, Gary
  • 1971 - Diaz, Eddy
  • 1976 - Pickering, Calvin
  • 1976 - Clark, Jermaine
  • 1977 - Westbrook, Jake

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.

​

 

Today in Baseball History​

Home | Contact | Baseball Almanac | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Advertise | Support

Search archives: Historical Events Baseball Birthdays Baseball Deaths
On September 30 in Baseball History...

• 
  
  • 1927 - Babe Ruth hit his 60th home run of the season in the eighth inning off Tom Zachary to lead the New York Yankees to a 4-2 victory over the Washington Senators.
    
  • 1928 - In Washington's 9-1 win over the Browns, Goose Goslin gets two hits for the third day in a row to edge Browns outfielder Heinie Manush .379 to .378 for his only batting title in an 18-year career.
    
  • 1934 - Dizzy Dean beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-0, for his 30th victory of the year as the St. Louis Cardinals clinched the National League pennant.
    
  • 1936 - In the World Series opener, Carl Hubbell scatters seven hits and limits the Yankees to a solo home run by George Selkirk. The Giants take a decisive 6-1 win.
    
  • 1945 - Hank Greenberg's grand-slam home run in the ninth inning on the final day of the season beats the St. Louis Browns 6-3 and clinches the American League pennant for the Detroit Tigers. Virgil Trucks, discharged three days earlier from the Navy, is the starter, with Hal Newhouser relieving in the fifth.
    
  • 1947 - In the first televised World Series, the New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 5-3 in the opening game.
    
  • 1949 - Ralph Kiner hits his 54th homer and 16th in September, as the Pirates beat Herm Wehmeier and the Reds 3-2. The monthly total eclipses Cy Williams' 1923 National League mark.
    
  • 1951 - Jackie Robinson homered in the 14th inning to give the Brooklyn Dodgers a 9-8 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, tying the New York Giants for first place in the National League and forcing a playoff.
    
  • 1954 - With lefty Johnny Antonelli going the distance, the Giants defeat Early Wynn and the Indians 3-1 in Game two of the World Series. Dusty Rhodes drives in all the Giants' runs with a pinch-hit single and a solo home run. Cleveland's only score is a first-pitch home run by leadoff hitter Al Smith.
    
  • 1955 - Johnny Podres defeats Bob Turley, who fails to last two innings as the Dodgers win Game three of the World Series over the Yankees 8-3.
    
  • 1956 - White Sox hurler Jim Derrington becomes the youngest pitcher in modern history to start a game. He loses to Kansas City 7-6 at the age of 16 years and 10 months.
    
  • 1962 - Willie Mays homered to give the San Francisco Giants a 2-1 victory over the Houston Colt. 45s in the season's final day. That, coupled with the Los Angeles Dodgers' 1-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, forced a playoff for the National League pennant. The Giants won in three games.
    
  • 1971 - The Senators, in their final game in Washington, hold a 7-5 lead over the Yankees with two outs in the ninth. Fans then swarm onto the field, causing the game to be forfeited to the Yanks.
    
  • 1972 - Roberto Clemente doubled off Jon Matlack during Pittsburgh's 5-0 victory over the New York Mets. The hit was the 3,000th and last for the Pirates star right fielder, who was killed in a plane crash during the offseason.
    
  • 1978 - The Phillies overcome a first-inning grand slam by Willie Stargell to beat the Pirates 10-8 and finally clinch the National League East title. Winning pitcher Randy Lerch contributes two home runs to his cause. The loss snaps the Pirates' streak of 24 straight wins at Three Rivers Stadium.
    
  • 1980 - A's outfielder Rickey Henderson sets the American League single-season stolen base record with his 98th in a 5-1 win over the White Sox, breaking Ty Cobb's record of 96 set in 1915. Henderson will finish the season with one-hundred stolen bases.
    
  • 1981 - In the last major-league game at Minnesota's Metropolitan Stadium, Kansas City clinches at least a tie for the American League West second-half title with a 5-2 win over the Twins. Next season, the Twins will play in the brand-new Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis.
    
  • 1984 - California's Mike Witt pitched a 1-0 perfect game against the Texas Rangers.
    
  • 1988 - Orel Hershiser of the Los Angeles Dodgers broke Don Drysdale's record of 58 consecutive scoreless innings by shutting out San Diego for 10 innings. The Padres won in the 16th inning, 2-1.
    
  • 1988 - Dave Stieb of the Toronto Blue Jays lost a no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth for the second consecutive start, and finished with a 4-0 one-hitter over the Baltimore Orioles. Stieb faced the minimum 26 batters until Jim Trabor lined a single down the right-field line about 3 feet from the glove of first baseman Fred McGriff.
    
  • 1989 - Nolan Ryan strikes out 13 Angels in a 2-0 three-hitter to raise his season total to 301. It is his sixth 300-strikeout season but his first since 1977.
    
  • 1990 - The White Sox beat Seattle 2-1 in the last game played at historic Comiskey Park, which is to be torn down after eighty seasons of major-league ball. Chicago will play next season at the new Comiskey Park located across the street.
    
  • 1992 - George Brett became the 18th player to get 3,000 hits in the Kansas City Royals' 4-0 win over the California Angels.
    
  • 1995 - Albert Belle of the Cleveland Indians hit his 50th home run of the season and became the first to hit 50 homers and 50 doubles in the same season.
    
  • 1997 - Tim Raines, Derek Jeter and Paul O'Neill hit consecutive homers in the sixth inning against Cleveland, making the New York Yankees the first team to hit three straight homers in a postseason game. O'Neill's homer made it 8-6, the final score of the Yankees' Game 1 victory in the American League division series.
    
  • 1998 - John Smoltz became the winningest pitcher in postseason history, allowing only five hits in 7 2/3 innings as the Atlanta Braves cruised to a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of their National League divisional playoff series.

Baseball Birthdays on September 30...

• 
  
  • 1851 - Shoupe, John
  • 1866 - Cotter, Tom
  • 1873 - O'Hagen, Hal
  • 1874 - Vorhees, Cy
  • 1878 - Kalahan, John
  • 1882 - Street, Gabby
  • 1882 - Hoelskoetter, Art
  • 1883 - More, Forrest
  • 1884 - Rucker, Nap
  • 1885 - Beck, Zinn
  • 1890 - Fritz, Harry
  • 1891 - Bohen, Pat
  • 1893 - Wallace, Doc
  • 1893 - Kelleher, Duke
  • 1897 - Cox, Dick
  • 1897 - Kenna, Eddie
  • 1897 - Kircher, Mike
  • 1902 - Carter, Blackie
  • 1905 - Harvel, Luther
  • 1905 - Allen, Johnny
  • 1906 - Lamanske, Frank
  • 1910 - Poindexter, Jennings
  • 1913 - Skaff, Frank
  • 1913 - Andrews, Nate
  • 1918 - Castiglia, Jim
  • 1920 - Linde, Lyman
  • 1921 - McGah, Eddie
  • 1924 - Taylor, Ben
  • 1926 - Roberts, Robin
  • 1929 - Blaylock, Marv
  • 1932 - Podres, Johnny
  • 1948 - Torres, Rusty
  • 1948 - Kusick, Craig
  • 1949 - Blessitt, Ike
  • 1953 - Gonzales, Dan
  • 1955 - Lezcano, Carlos
  • 1962 - Magadan, Dave
  • 1964 - Jennings, Doug
  • 1964 - Lusader, Scott
  • 1967 - DeSilva, John
  • 1967 - Perez, Yorkis
  • 1972 - Lima, Jose
  • 1972 - Goodwin, Curtis
  • 1974 - Giambi, Jeremy
  • 1975 - Guillen, Carlos

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.​

 

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 1 in Baseball History...

• 
  
  • 1903 - The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Boston Red Sox, 7-3, in the first World Series game ever played. Jimmy Sebring hit the first home run. Deacon Phillippe was the winning pitcher and Cy Young the loser.
    
  • 1919 - Just before the start of the World Series, the highly favored White Sox become the betting underdogs in the best-of-nine contest. Eddie Cicotte, a 29-game winner, is driven from the hill in a five-run fourth. Cincinnati's Dutch Ruether pitches a six-hitter and has three RBI on two triples and a single for a 9-1 win.
    
  • 1932 - Babe Ruth, as legend has it, called his home run against Chicago's Charlie Root in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the World Series, won by the New York Yankees, 7-5, at Wrigley Field. Ruth and Lou Gehrig each hit two homers for the Yankees.
    
  • 1946 - For the first time in major league history, a playoff series to determine a league's championship was played between the St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers. The Cardinals took the first game, 4-2, as Howie Pollet held the Dodgers to two hits, a homer and an RBI-single by Howie Schultz.
    
  • 1950 - The Philadelphia Phillies clinched the National League pennant on Dick Sisler's three-run homer against Don Newcombe in a 4-1 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers on the season's last day.
    
  • 1961 - Roger Maris hit his 61st home run against Tracy Stallard of the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. The homer eclipsed Babe Ruth's 34-year-old single-season home run record. The Yankees won, 1-0.
    
  • 1970 - The final game at Philadelphia's Connie Mack Stadium is played as the Phillies beat the Expos 2-1. The fans respond by swarming onto and destroying the field.
    
  • 1978 - The Cleveland Indians beat New York, 9-2, on the last day of the season to force a one-game playoff between the Yankees and Boston. The Red Sox won their eighth straight, 5-0 over the Toronto Blue Jays.
    
  • 1988 - Tony Gwynn went 2-for-3 to raise his league-leading batting average to .313 but sustained a hand injury in a 6-3 victory over the Houston Astros. Gwynn, was the first National League batting champion to win the title with an average below .320. Larry Doyle's .320 average was the lowest.
    
  • 1989 - Minnesota's Kirby Puckett and San Diego's Tony Gwynn each win batting titles on the final day of the regular season. Puckett goes 2-for-5 to edge Carney Lansford .339 to .336 while Gwynn goes 3-for-4 to beat Will Clark .336 to .333.
    
  • 1995 - The Rockies are the first team to make the postseason before their seventh year in existence; they also become the National League's first wild card winner following a 10-9 win over the Giants. Colorado's .535 percentage (77-67 record) is the best ever for a third-year team.
    
  • 1997 - The Orioles continue their dominance over the most dominant lefthander in baseball. Baltimore bounces Randy Johnson and the Mariners in the first game of the American League Division Series. Johnson, who has a winning record against every other team in the American League, falls to 3-8 overall against the Orioles.

Baseball Birthdays on October 1...

• 
  
  • 1868 - Motz, Frank
  • 1870 - Westervelt, Huyler
  • 1877 - Hackett, Jim
  • 1884 - Zmich, Ed
  • 1889 - Sterrett, Dutch
  • 1894 - Kolp, Ray
  • 1894 - Mails, Duster
  • 1895 - Johnson, Roy
  • 1895 - Hill, Carmen
  • 1901 - Reese, Jimmie
  • 1918 - Russell, Jim
  • 1919 - Mussill, Barney
  • 1925 - Boyd, Bob
  • 1928 - Naragon, Hal
  • 1931 - Kipp, Fred
  • 1934 - Hiller, Chuck
  • 1937 - Brice, Alan
  • 1945 - Carew, Rod
  • 1946 - Hermoso, Remy
  • 1946 - Warden, Jon
  • 1947 - Capra, Buzz
  • 1948 - Bonham, Bill
  • 1951 - Pape, Ken
  • 1952 - Myrick, Bob
  • 1953 - Falcone, Pete
  • 1955 - Reardon, Jeff
  • 1956 - Law, Vance
  • 1963 - McGwire, Mark
  • 1964 - Kelly, Roberto
  • 1967 - McElroy, Chuck
  • 1968 - Patterson, Jeff
  • 1973 - Thomson, John
  • 1975 - Knight, Brandon

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.​

 

October 2 Baseball Birthdays​

1901 Jimmie Reese infielder and coach (LA Angels Hall of Fame), born in NYC, New York (d. 1994)


1919 Bob Boyd first baseman (National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame), born in Potts Camp, Mississippi (d. 2004)


1934 Chuck Hiller MLB second baseman (first NL player in history to hit a grand slam HR in World Series play, 1962), born in Johnsburg, Illinois (d. 2004)


1940 John Schuerholz Jr., HOF executive (GM Kansas City Royals, World Series 1985; GM Atlanta Braves World Series 1995), born in Baltimore, Maryland


1945 Rod Carew HOF infielder (18 x MLB All Star; AL MVP 1977; 7 × AL batting champion; Minnesota Twins, California Angels), born in Gatún, Panama Canal Zone


1955 Jeff Reardon pitcher (4-time MLB All Star; Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins), born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts


1963 Mark McGwire 1st baseman, coach (12-time All Star, Oakland A's, St. Louis Cardinals), born in Pomona, California
1964 Roberto Kelly outfielder and coach (NY Yankees; MLB All Star 1992-93), born in Panama City, Panama
1984 Matt Cain pitcher (SF Giants; perfect game 2012; MLB All Star 2009, 11-12), born in Dothan, Alabama

*********************************

 

FROM MLB's This Day in Baseball History+​

1908 Future Hall of Fame right-hander Addie Joss hurls second-ever perfect game, beating Ed Walsh and the White Sox on an unearned run, 1-0. The 79-pitch performance kept the Naps' pennant hopes alive, but in four days, the Tigers will cop the American League flag, edging Cleveland by a half-game because the existing rules do not require a team re-play a rained-out game from earlier in the season.

​

1920 The Indians clinch their first American League pennant when they rout the Tigers at Navin Field, 10-1. Jim Bagby, who will have a 1-1 record in the Fall Classic for the eventual World Champs, notches his 31st victory.

​

1920 In the only tripleheader ever played in the 20th century, the Reds take the first two games, 13-4 and 7-3, with the Pirates avoiding the sweep, winning the shortened finale 6-0, called after six innings because of darkness. Peter Harrison is the home plate umpire for all three games.

1932 The Yankees win their twelfth consecutive World Series game and sweep the Fall Classic for the third time. The Bronx Bombers collect 19 hits, clubbing the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 13-6.

1936 In Game 2, the Yankees even the World Series at a game apiece by routing the Giants at the Polo Grounds, 18-4. The lopsided win is the largest margin of victory in the history of the Fall Classic.

1938 Tommy Thevenow, playing in his final game of a 12-year career, establishes the longest homerless streak in major league history. The 35-year-old Pirates infielder, who hit two round-trippers during his rookie season in 1924 with the Cardinals, makes another 3,605 plate appearances without homering again.

​

1938 During the 3-2 loss to New York in the season finale at the Polo Grounds, Bees (Braves) outfielder Vince DiMaggio strikes out four times, extending his major league record to a season total of 129. Last month, Dom and Joe's older brother had surpassed Gus Williams' major league mark of 120 whiffs established by the Browns' outfielder in 1914.

1938 At the Polo Grounds, Mel Ott singles home a run in the Giants' 3-2 victory over Boston in the season finale at the Polo Grounds. The 29-year-old Giants' right fielder, who will celebrate a birthday in the offseason, establishes the record for the most games played before a 30th birthday with 1,739, more than Robin Yount's 1,671 (Brewers, 1974-85) and Andruw Jones's 1,625 (Braves, 1996-2007)

​

1938 Indians' fireballer Bob Feller fans eighteen Tigers, surpassing Dizzy Dean's 1933 mark to establish a modern major league record for strikeouts in a game. 'Rapid Robert,' who gives up seven hits and walks seven, loses the Cleveland Stadium contest, 4-1.

​

 

1940 The Sullivans become the first father and son to have played in a World Series when Billy Jr. is the Tigers' backstop in Game 1 of the Fall Classic at Crosley Field. The Detroit catcher's dad, Bill Sr., appeared in the postseason in 1906, playing the same position for the White Sox when he went 0-for-21 in the Hitless Wonders' six-game triumph over the Cubs.

1947 After scoring six runs in the bottom of the second inning in Game 3, the Dodgers hold on to beat the Yankees, 9-8, for their first victory in the Fall Classic. The Ebbets Field contest takes three hours and five minutes to complete, making it the longest game ever played in World Series history.

1947 In Game 3 of the Fall Classic, Yogi Berra hits the first pinch-hit home run in World Series history. In the seventh inning of a 9-8 loss to the Dodgers at Ebbets Field, the historic homer comes off Ralph Branca.

​

1949 With a combination of infielders consisting mostly of shortstop Eddie Joost, second sacker Pete Suder, and first baseman Ferris Fain, the A's establish a major league record for turning 217 double plays. The trio was the subject of a poem by Dick Armstrong, the Athletics' publicity director, titled "Joost to Suder to Fain," which remains popular in the franchise's folklore.

​

1952 Carl Erskine strikes out 14 Yankees in Game 3 to establish a new World Series mark. The Dodger hurler's performance bests the record of A's Howard Ehmke, who struck out 13 Cubs in Game 1 of the 1929 Fall Classic.

​

1954 The Giants complete the World Series sweep of the Indians when Don Liddle beats Bob Lemon, 7-4. The Tribe, who had lost four consecutive games only once during the regular season, completed the campaign with a 111-43 record, establishing an American League mark for victories.

​

 

1960 On the season's final day, Norman Cash singles as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of the Tigers' 2-1 loss to Kansas City at Municipal Stadium. 'Stormin' Norman,' a big man not known for his speed, will finish the year without having hit into a double play during his 428 plate appearances for Detroit.

​

1961 Two days before starting the World Series between the Reds and Yankees, the expansion Mets introduced Casey Stengel as the franchise's first manager. The introduction takes place at the Savoy Hilton in the same room where the Bronx Bombers held a press conference at the end of last season to announce the 70-year-old Old Professor's 'mandatory retirement.' Coming out of retirement, former Yankee skipper Casey Stengel agrees to manage the Mets, New York's National League expansion team. 'The Old Perfessor,' during his three-plus years in the Amazins' dugout, will compile a poor 175-404 (.302) record but will serve as the face of the new franchise, making the team lovable losers with a loyal fan base.

​

1963 In the Fall Classic opener, Sandy Koufax fans his 15th batter of the game when he strikes out pinch-hitter Harry Bright for the final out of LA's 5-2 victory over the Yankees. The Dodger lefty, who struck out the first five Bronx Bombers he faced in the game, surpasses Brooklyn's Carl Erskine's 1953 World Series mark of 14, also accomplished against New York.

​

1964 New York southpaw Al Jackson, who goes the distance, beats the Cardinals and Bob Gibson, 1-0, preventing St. Louis from pulling ahead in a four-team pennant race with two days remaining in the season. After the last-place Mets beat the Redbirds again tomorrow, the team loses the season finale with their opponents clinching the NL flag one game ahead of the Reds and Phillies and three in front of the Giants.

​

1965 Los Angeles clinches the National League pennant on the next to last day of the season at Dodger Stadium when Sandy Koufax gets his 26th victory, defeating the Braves in the clincher, 3-1. The Dodgers, winning 14 of their last 15 games, finish the campaign with a 97-65 record, two games ahead of the second-place Giants.

 

1965 In the nightcap of a twin bill on the next-to-last day of the season, Mets rookie Rob Gardner, making his fifth career start, and Phillies veteran Chris Short match zeros, both going 15 frames in a game that ends in a scoreless tie after 18 innings at Shea Stadium. The 20-year-old southpaw, who eventually develops arm problems, compiles a 4-10 record along with an ERA of 4.79 during his two years with New York and wins just 14 games with six major league teams over eight seasons.

​

1966 The Yankees end the season with a 2-0 victory over Chicago, but the team will still finish in last place, a half-game behind the Red Sox. The tenth-place Bronx Bombers, who compiled a 70-89 record, 26.5 games behind Baltimore, become the first club in franchise history to finish in the American League cellar since 1912.

1966 Cardinals rookie Jim Cosman, making his major league debut on the last day of the season, hurls a two-hit complete-game shutout, blanking Chicago at Busch Stadium, 2-0. The 23-year-old right-hander, who didn't know of his assignment until twenty minutes before game time, makes his only start of the season, having pitched only in relief in 54 minor league appearances before today's contest.

​

1966 On the last day of the season, Sonny Jackson establishes a major league rookie record with his 49th steal of the season, a mark that will last until Gene Richard (Padres) and Omar Moreno (Pirates) both surpass the accomplishment in 1977. The Astros shortstop will finish second in the Rookie of the Year balloting behind Tommy Helms of Cincinnati.

​

1968 "Someone should have warned us that he changed his clothes in a phone booth before he got to the park and took off the suit with the big S on it." - NORM CASH, Tiger first baseman commenting on Bob Gibson's commanding performance in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series.
Bob Gibson establishes a new World Series record by striking out 17 batters as the Cardinals defeat the Tigers in Game 1 of the Fall Classic, 4-0. The Redbird right-hander surpasses Sandy Koufax's mark of 15, which the southpaw established on this date five years ago against New York.

​

1969 In the final game of the regular season at Wrigley Field, a 5-3 victory over the Mets, the Chicago’s Bleacher Bums vent their frustration over the Cubs’ collapse, storming onto the roof of the team’s dugout chanting their cheers. After the last out, more fans join the mayhem, swarming onto the field, sliding into bases ahead of phantom tags while the organist plays Happy Days Are Here Again.

1969 In front of 5,473 patrons, the Pilots play their final game in Seattle, a 3-1 loss to the A's. The American League's newest franchise attracted only 677,944 fans to Sick's Stadium in their only season, prompting the last-place club to move to Milwaukee, the nation's 12th largest city, when Bud Selig purchased the bankrupt franchise, renaming the team the Brewers.

1969 In the eighth inning of the Reds' 8-3 win at Atlanta Stadium, Pete Rose clinches the National League batting title when he beats out a bunt to third base for a hit in his last at-bat of the season. The day starts with the Cincinnati right fielder tied with Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente, who goes 3-for-4 against Montreal but finishes .005 of a point behind (.3447 to .3452), the eventual all-time hits leader.

​

 

1972 Bill Stoneman throws the second of his two no-hitters when he holds the Mets hitless in the Expos' 7-0 victory at Jarry Park. The Montreal All-Star right-hander, who also accomplished the feat in 1969 against the Phillies in Philadelphia in his fifth major league start, becomes the first major league pitcher to toss a no-hitter in Canada.

​

1974 On the last day of the season, in front of a few hundred fans, Billy Martin elects not to use a designated hitter, allowing starting pitcher Ferguson Jenkins to bat for himself. Although Fergie, en route to his 25th win of the season, gets a hit in the Texas 2-1 victory over the Twins at Metropolitan Stadium, the Rangers manager's refusal to use a DH prevents the employment of the position for the entire game, according to the rules.

1974 In his final at-bat for the Braves after spending 21 seasons with the team, Hank Aaron homers off right-hander Rawly Eastwick in Atlanta's 13-0 rout of Cincinnati. The Hammer's last National League plate appearance yields his 3600th career hit and the Brewer-bound outfielder's career 736th round-tripper.

​

1976 In his final start of the season, rookie right-hander Mark Fidrych earns his 19th victory, beating Milwaukee at County Stadium, 5-1. The five-hit complete game takes only one hour and 46 minutes to play.

​

1976 Four years before the stroke that ends his career, 26-year-old J.R. Richard becomes a twenty-game winner on the last day of the season when he tosses a complete game in the Astros' 10-1 victory over San Francisco. James Rodney also enjoys a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4, including a two-run home run.

​