BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

Paul Waner (MLB 1926-1945) 8x 200+ Hits 4x All-Star 3x NL Batting champ .333 BA
​

 

April 24 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS
**************************************
1897 Andy Cooper HOF pitcher (East-West All-Star 1933, 36; Negro NL pennant 1929; 3 x Negro AL pennant; Detroit Stars, Kansas City Monarchs)


1965 Mike Blowers, MLB infielder (NY Yankees, LA Dodgers) Broadcaster

1967 Omar Vizquel shortstop (Seattle Mariners, Indians)


1968 Todd Jones pitcher (MLB All Star & AL saves leader 2000; Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers)


1972 Chipper Jones HOF infielder (8 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1995; NL MVP 1999; Atlanta Braves)


1977 Carlos Beltrán


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

 

This Day in Baseball History
April 24th​

1894 At Brooklyn's Eastern Park, Lave Cross hits for the cycle when the Phillies pound the Grooms 22-5. The 27-year-old third baseman becomes the first player in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

​

1901 In front of 14,000 fans at the Chicago Cricket Club, the American League completes its first game when the White Sox and Roy Patterson defeat the Cleveland Blues, 8-2, in a contest that lasts only ninety minutes. The opponents, who will become known as the Indians, currently use a name that reflects the very bright color of their uniforms.

​

1902 Professional baseball gets its start in Durham (NC), when the Tobacconists, renamed the Bulls in eleven years, play an exhibition game against Trinity College (now Duke University). Except for 1971-80, when minor league baseball didn't exist in the Research Triangle city, the Bulls will continue to play in Durham until the present day.

​

1917 At Fenway Park, Yankee left-hander George Mogridge no-hits the Red Sox, 2-1. The southpaw's performance is the first no-no in franchise history and the first-ever thrown in the Boston ballpark.

​

1923 President Warren G. Harding, an avid baseball fan who likes to keep a scorecard at games, witnesses the first shutout thrown at Yankee Stadium. The chain-smoking Chief Executive is delighted to see Babe Ruth's fifth-inning homer off Allen Russell but is disappointed the Senators drop the contest, 4-0.

​

 

1945 The owners select U.S. Senator Happy Chandler unanimously to replace Kenesaw Mountain Landis, elected to another seven-year term a week before his death on November 25. Baseball's second commissioner will remain in the Senate during the first six months of his tenure in office.

1947 Johnny Mize homers three times against the Braves' right-hander Johnny Sain, but the Giants' first baseman's trio of round-trippers proves not to be enough when the team bows to Boston at the Polo Grounds, 14-5. The 'Big Cat' becomes the first major leaguer to hit three home runs in one game five different times.

​

1954 Giants right-hander Marv Grissom blanks the Phillies at the Polo Grounds, 1-0. Whitey Lockman's 300-foot fifth-inning home run off Robin Roberts, one of only three hits allowed by the Philadelphia hurler, accounts for the game's only score.

Grissom Lockman​

Roberts

​

 

1956 At Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Frank Umont becomes the second umpire to don glasses during a regular-season game, following fellow American League arbitrator Eddie Rommel, who wore spectacles earlier in the month. Although he is heckled by some A's fans when the home team loses to the Tigers, 7-4, the former NFL tackle (N.Y. Giants) has no problem being the second base arbitrator.

​

1957 Three Cubs pitchers walk nine players in the fifth inning of a 9-5 loss to the Reds at Crosley Field. Moe Drabowsky starts the frame with four walks, Jackie Collum adds three free passes, and Jim Brosnan issues two bases on balls to set a new National League record.

1958 At the Los Angeles Coliseum, 26-year-old right-hander Gene Fodge, who gives up ten hits in his complete-game performance, picks up his only major league victory when the Cubs beat the Dodgers, 15-2. Outfielder Lee Walls carries the day with three homers and eight RBIs.

​

 

1960 Before making their first out of the game, the Yankees score eight runs against Baltimore in the bottom of the first frame. The Orioles narrow the gap with eighth and ninth-inning grand slams hit by Albie Pearson and Billy Klaus, respectively, but the Bombers hold on to beat the Birds in the Bronx ballpark, 15-9.

Albie Billy

​

1962 In the Colt .45s first meeting with the visiting Cardinals, a 4-3 victory at Colt Stadium, the game features many players that played in Houston on their way to the big leagues. Before being awarded a major league franchise, the Texas city hosted the Buffaloes, a farm club for St. Louis, from 1919 to 1958.

1962 Dodger southpaw Sandy Koufax ties his major league record, a mark he shares with Bob Feller when he strikes out 18 batters in a nine-inning contest during the team's 10-2 rout of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. In 1938, nineteen-year-old right-hander Bob Feller established the record, whiffing 18 batters in the Indians' 4-1 loss to the Tigers at Cleveland Stadium.

​

1962 Commissioner Ford Frick fines Casey Stengel $500 for appearing in uniform for a beer advertisement, which shows the Mets manager ready to bunt. Kathy Kersh, holding the ball in the Rheingold ad, will later become better known as Cornelia, one of the Joker's women in the 1960s Batman television series.

​

1965 Casey Stengel wins his 3,000th game as a manager when his Amazin' Mets score three runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat the Giants at Candlestick Park, 7-6. The 'Old Perfessor,' the former Dodgers, Braves, and Yankees skipper won over a third of his games (1,149) during his 12-year tenure with the Bronx Bombers.

​

 

1982 Jesse Barfield becomes the first Blue Jay in franchise history to pinch-hit a grand slam when he goes deep off Tom Burgmeier. The right fielder's bases-loaded heroics aren't enough to stave off an eventual 8-7 Toronto loss to Boston at Exhibition Stadium.

​

1987 At Cleveland Stadium, Rickey Henderson becomes the first player in baseball history to hit a home run off two different 300-game winners in the same game. The left fielder's solo homer in the eighth inning off Phil Niekro and his two-run blast in the ninth off Steve Carlton aren't enough to thwart the Tribe's 6-5 walk-off victory over the Yankees.

​

1989 Joining Reggie Jackson and the Reggie Bar, Ken Griffey Jr. becomes the second player to have a candy bar named after him when he signs a contract with Pacific Trading Cards Company. Unfortunately, the Mariners' center fielder can't enjoy the popular confectionery because the 19-year-old rookie outfielder is allergic to chocolate.

 

1994 Julio Franco and Robin Ventura hit homers back-to-back in the second and eighth innings. The sluggers' offensive output isn't enough when Detroit beats the White Sox at Comiskey Park, 7-6.

1996 Scoring the most runs by an opponent against Detroit in 84 years, the Twins set a team record for crossing the plate when they trounce the Tigers, 24-11. Greg Myers and Paul Molitor lead the attack on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Trumbull Avenue, each driving in five runs in the Motor City slugfest.

Molitor
​

1998 Dodgers' backstop Mike Piazza becomes the sixth major leaguer to hit three grand slams in a month when he goes deep in the nine-run second inning of the team's 12-4 victory over the visiting Cubs. In 1937, Tigers' first baseman Rudy York was the first to hit three bases-full round-trippers in May.

1998 Geoff Jenkins, hitting a solo homer off Giants' right-hander Orel Hershiser at 3Com Park, becomes the first Brewer player ever to homer in his first major league game. The rookie joins Chuck Tanner, who accomplished the feat in 1955 as a member of the Braves, as the only players in Milwaukee baseball history to homer in their first game.

 

2003 In his third at-bat, Chase Utley gets his first major league hit, blasting a third-inning grand slam off Rockies starter Aaron Cook. The rookie second baseman's big fly to right field contributes to the Phillies' 9-1 victory at Veterans Stadium.


2008 The David Ortiz jersey, secretly buried in cement at the new Yankee Stadium in an attempt to curse the team, is acquired in a Jimmy Fund charity auction for $175,100. The winning bidder from the 282 who vied for the tattered Red Sox jersey is Kevin Meehan, the owner of Imperialcars.com, located in Mendon, Mass.

2010 Pirates starter Chris Jakubauskas, after just a dozen pitches into his first appearance of the year, is struck in the head by a vicious line drive off the bat of Houston's Lance Berkman. After being hospitalized overnight, the 31-year-old right-hander, who left the field on a stretcher in obvious distress, will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a concussion and head contusion.

2010 Although not named after the rock and roll superstar, the Rangers host an Elvis weekend featuring Elvis Presley impersonators and a bobblehead giveaway featuring the likeness of Elvis Andru, their second baseman. The 22-year-old Texas infielder added to the festivities with his ninth-inning single, driving in the winning run that beat Detroit, 5-4, in the series opener.

2012 For the first time in major league history, four different pitchers combine to walk four consecutive batters when the Marlins hurlers load the bases and then force in a run in a 2-1 loss against the Mets. The only Miami walks given up in the Citi Field contest include Josh Johnson walking Lucas Duda, Randy Choate's free pass to Justin Turner, Steve Cishek's base-on-balls to Scott Hairston, with Mike Dunn throwing to force home Josh Thole with the tying run.

2017 Dovydas Neverauskas becomes the second person born in Lithuania, the first raised there, to appear in a major league game, throwing two innings of one-run ball in the Pirates' 14-3 loss to the Cubs at PNC Park. A's outfielder Joe Zapustas, who played two games for the team in 1933, was also born in the Baltic state but spent his childhood in Boston.

2019 With his eighth-inning swipe of second base in the Braves' 2-1 victory over the Mets at Citi Field, 22-year-old Ronald Acuña Jr. becomes the second-youngest player to reach the 30–30 club mark. The Atlanta outfielder surpassed only by Angels' outfielder Mike Trout, who accomplished the feat when he was 20, is the fourth Brave to reach the plateau, joining Hank Aaron (1963), Dale Murphy (1983), and Ron Gant (1990, 1991).

​

************************************'
191,441

 

​

 

Today In 1901: The first official game in American League history is played! The Chicago #WhiteSox (pictured) defeat the Cleveland Blues (#Guardians), 8-2 at the Chicago Cricket Club!

​

 

Eric Davis and Darryl Strawberry

 

April 25 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS
**************************************
1884 John Henry "Pop" Lloyd HOF shortstop (career batting average: .349 NgLs) and manager (Lincoln Giants, Bacharach Giants), born in Palatka, Florida


1896 Fred Haney player, 1922-29 (Detroit Tigers and 3 other teams), manager, 1939-41 and 1953-59 (Milwaukee Braves and 2 other teams), and executive, 1961-68 (Los Angeles Angels)


1917 Red Flaherty umpire (World Series 1955, 58, 65, 70; MLB All Star games 1956, 61, 69)


1966 Darren Holmes pitcher (Colorado Rockies)


1969 Joe Buck broadcaster


1969 Travis Fryman infielder (5 × MLB All-Star; Gold Glove Award 2000; Silver Slugger Award 1992; Detroit Tigers)


1971 Brad Clontz pitcher (Atlanta Braves)


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

 

This Day in Baseball History
April 25th​

1876 The Chicago White Stockings make their National League debut with a 4-0 victory over the Grays at the Louisville Baseball Park. The franchise, which will also be known as the Colts and Orphans before becoming the Cubs in 1903, will finish in first place in the circuit's inaugural season.

1901 On Opening Day at Bennett Park in Detroit, the Tigers tally ten times in the bottom of the ninth to beat Milwaukee, 14-13. The contest is the American League's first game in Detroit.

1933 Yankees rookie hurler Russ Van Atta goes 4-for-4 and shuts out the Senators, 16-0, in his major league debut. The 26-year-old southpaw will finish his rookie season with a 12-4 record, batting .283 in 67 plate appearances.

​

1933 At Griffith Stadium, the benches clear when Yankee outfielder Ben Chapman viciously spikes Buddy Myer and then responds to the Senators infielder's retaliation by punching and hurling anti-semitic remarks at the injured Jewish second baseman. The ugly 20-minute brawl, which spreads into the stands and includes over 300 fans getting into the action, will result in suspensions and fines for the players involved.

​

1933 Philadelphia's 25-year-old shortstop Dick Bartell becomes the first major leaguer to stroke four consecutive doubles in a nine-inning game. Rowdy Richard's quartet of two-baggers helps the Phillies defeat the Braves at the Baker Bowl, 7-1.

​

1937 Giants southpaw Cliff Melton becomes the first rookie to fan at least ten batters in his major league debut, finishing with 13 strikeouts in a complete-game loss to the Braves at the Polo Grounds. The 25-year-old from Brevard, NC, who loses the 3-1 contest due to New York's weak defense in the ninth inning, will hold the rookie record for K's in his debut until Dodger freshman Karl Spooner whiffs 15 batters in his first major league start in 1954​

​

 

1948 Larry Doby ties a major league record by striking out five times in one game. The Indians' right fielder's performance doesn't hurt the Tribe when the team beats Detroit at Briggs Stadium, 7-4.

​

1958 In front of 60,635 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Dodgers beat the Cardinals, 5-2, setting a National League record for the largest crowd to attend a regular-season night game. The mark will last until 917 more patrons appear next season on Opening Night to watch their team defeat the Redbirds again.

1963 In the second year of their existence, the Mets win a game on a Thursday for the first time in franchise history when they beat Chicago at Wrigley Field, 3-2. During their inaugural season, the expansion team failed to register a victory in the 15 games played on the fifth day of the week.

1967 Jim Lefebvre commits three errors in the fourth frame, paving the way for the Braves' 7-1 victory at Dodger Stadium. The Los Angeles third baseman commits another in the top of the ninth inning when he boots Hank Aaron's grounder.

​

 

1970 Earl Wilson nearly scores after he strikes out when Minnesota catcher Paul Ratliff, after trapping the third strike, inadvertently rolls the ball to the mound instead of tagging the batter or throwing to first. With the Twins heading towards the dugout, the Detroit hurler runs around the bases, heading home when outfielder Brant Alyea retrieves the ball, throwing it to shortstop Leo Cardenas covering the plate to complete a unique 7-6-7 run-down play.

1972 After getting off to a 4-7 start, the Padres fire Preston Gomez and replace the only manager the team has known since their inception in 1969 with 41-year-old third base coach Don Zimmer. The Cuban-born skipper averaged over 103 losses per season during his three-year tenure with the expansion team.

1975 Dodger starter Andy Messersmith strokes three doubles at Candlestick Park. The trio of two-baggers contributes to the team's 6-5 victory over the Giants, with the right-hander scoring two runs and driving in another en route to his victory.

​

1976 During the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium, Rick Monday becomes a national hero when he takes away an American flag about to be set on fire by the two trespassers (a father and son) in the outfield. The Cubs' 30-year-old fly chaser, who served six years in the Marine Reserves, will be presented the flag a month later in a pregame ceremony at Wrigley Field by L.A. executive Al Campanis as a gesture of patriotic thanks.

​

 

977 George Foster has seven RBIs, scores five times, banging out four hits (two home runs, a double, and a single) in the Reds' 23-9 rout of the Braves. Cincinnati ties a National League record by scoring a dozen runs in an inning.

1978 After the Cardinals get off to a slow start, the team fires manager Vern Rapp and replaces him with fan-favorite Ken Boyer. The former Redbirds' third baseman will pilot the club to a fifth-place finish, compiling a 62-81 record during his tenure in the dugout this season.

1978 The Phillies replace their Revolutionary Era twin mascots, Philadelphia Phil and Philadelphia Phillis, with the Phillie Phanatic, who debuts at Veterans Stadium in a game against the Cubs. According to his official biography, the large, furry, green bipedal flightless bird with an extendable tongue, a native of the Galápagos Islands, is the team's biggest fan.

1981 Hoping to give his pitchers an edge, Maury Wills gets the Kingdome's ground crew to enlarge the batter box, making it a foot closer to the mound. Before the game, A's skipper Billy Martin shares his suspicions with the umpire Bill Kunkel, resulting in the American League suspending the exposed Mariners manager for two games for "doctoring the batter's box."

 

1984 In a 2-1 victory over Montreal at Olympic Stadium, Mets right-hander Dwight Gooden becomes the first teenager to strike out ten batters in a major league game since Bert Blyleven accomplished the feat with the Twins in 1970. The 19-year-old rookie will lead the National League with 276 strikeouts this season.

​

1986 Although Craig Lefferts, a usually reliable relief pitcher, gives up the lead in the 12th inning, he saves the day when he drives an 0-2 curveball over the fence, giving the Padres a 9-8 walk-off victory over the Giants at Jack Murphy Stadium. The 28-year-old weak-hitting southpaw, not expected to play due to a 102-degree fever before the game, becomes the first hurler to end a game with a home run since 1969 when Orioles right-hander Jim Hardin went deep off Royals' reliever Moe Drabowsky.

​

1987 Billy Bean becomes the tenth rookie to collect four hits in his major league debut. Detroit's left fielder compiles two singles and a pair of doubles, batting leadoff in the team's 13-2 rout of Kansas City at Tiger Stadium.

1989 With former players on hand, including Billy Herman, Andy Pafko, and Billy Williams, the Cubs celebrate the 75th anniversary of Wrigley Field with a 4-0 victory over L.A. at the Friendly Confines. The 'ceremonial' first pitch of the game, a spitball, is thrown by 97-year-old Bob Wright, who appeared in two games for Chicago in 1915 when the team played their home games at West Side Park.

​

 

1995 At Miami's Joe Robbie Stadium, the 257-day baseball strike ends when the Dodgers beat the Marlins, 8-7, with outfielder Raul Mondesi providing much of the offense with two home runs and four RBIs.The work stoppage caused last season to end early, forcing the cancellation of the World Series and delaying the opening of this campaign.

1997 In a 13-8 Mariners victory over the Blue Jays at the SkyDome, center fielder Ken Griffey, Jr. hits three home runs, two off Roger Clemens and another off Mike Timlin. The barrage helps Junior break the record for the most round-trippers hit in April with 13.

1997 The Indians establish a team record, hitting eight home runs in one game when Matt Williams (3), David Justice (2), Manny Ramirez, Sandy Alomar, and Chad Curtis go deep in an 11-4 rout of the Brewers at County Stadium. With the additional three homers slammed by Milwaukee, the teams combine to tie a major league mark for round-trippers in a nine-inning night game, with 11.

1998 The Iron Man's streak continues when Cal Ripken plays in his 2,500th consecutive game, an 8-2 Orioles victory over Oakland at Camden Yards. During the milestone contest, the Baltimore third baseman goes two-for-five, knocking in three runs.


1999 The fifth monument unveiled in Yankee Stadium history pays tribute to Joe DiMaggio, who died last month at 84. "Joltin' Joe" becomes the fifth Bronx Bomber to be honored in this fashion, joining Miller Huggins (1931), Lou Gehrig (1942), Babe Ruth (1949), and Mickey Mantle (1996).