BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

2008 Omar Vizquel becomes the first Giant to steal home in a quarter-century. The infrequent swipe of the plate, last accomplished by Max Venable in 1983, comes in the second inning of a 5-1 interleague loss to the A's.

2010 Against their crosstown rivals at Wrigley Field, the Cubs get out of a bases-loaded jam in the final frame for a 1-0 victory over the White Sox. Juan Pierre's leadoff single in the top of the ninth spoils Ted Lilly's bid for a no-hitter, a feat that hasn't been accomplished at the 'Friendly Confines' since Milt Pappas threw a no-no in 1972.

2010 The Angels, with their first sweep at Dodger Stadium, complete their 14-game road journey with 11 victories, the most for the team on a single trip since 1962. In the 6-5 decision over their crosstown rivals, Halo hurler Jered Weaver strikes out his older brother, Jeff, who came into the game as a long reliever in the third inning, for the first time since they were kids.

2010 Jorge Posada's fifth-inning grand slam, his second in the past two games, proves to be the difference in the Yankees' 9-5 victory over Houston at the Stadium. The Bronx Bomber backstop joins Bill Dickey (1937) and Babe Ruth (1927, 1929) as the only players in franchise history to hit home runs with the bases loaded in consecutive contests.

2012 Matt Cain tosses the fifth no-hitter and second perfect game of the season when he retires 27 consecutive batters in the Giants' 10-0 rout of the Astros at AT&T Park. The San Francisco right-hander, with the help of two great defensive plays from outfielders Melky Cabrera and Gregor Blanco, becomes the first pitcher in the 129-year history of the franchise and the 22nd in major league history to accomplish the feat.

2012 Ted Barrett becomes the first major league home plate ump for two perfect games. In addition to calling balls and strikes for today's gem thrown by the Giants' Matt Cain, the 18-year veteran arbitrator was also the home-plate umpire when David Cone threw his perfecto against the Expos at Yankee Stadium in 1999.

2012 R.A. Dickey, who gives up only a first-inning infield single for his second career one-hitter in the Mets' 9-1 victory over the Rays, breaks the franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings. The 37-year-old knuckleballer, surpassing the previous club mark of 31.2 scoreless innings in a row set by Jerry Koosman in 1973, extends it to 32.2 frames before an unearned run in the ninth inning snaps his string.

2013 After going deep 445 times as a Cardinal, Angels' first baseman Albert Pulos becomes the sixth player to hit at least 200 round-trippers with two different teams when he homers off Rays starter Ryan Yarbrough at Tropicana Field.
The 33-year-old slugger joins:
Jimmie Foxx: Philadelphia Athletics (302), Red Sox (222)
Mark McGwire: Oakland Athletics (363), Cardinals (220)
Rafael Palmeiro: Rangers (321), Orioles (223)
Ken Griffey Jr.: Mariners (417), Reds (210)
Manny Ramírez: Red Sox (274), Indians (236)

2014 The Northwest League's Spokane Indians, the short-season single-A affiliate of the Rangers, introduce a new home alternate uniform that features the name "S'q'n'i" in lettering across the front of the jersey, along with a character not in the English language. The word, which translates to Spokane in the Salish's native language, will be in addition to a logo created in 2006 that uses local native imagery.

2015 With his sixth-inning two-run home run off Bud Norris in the Yankees' 9-4 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards, Alex Rodriguez becomes the third major leaguer in the modern era to surpass the 2,000 RBI mark. The New York designated hitter trails only Hank Aaron (2,297) and Babe Ruth (2,213) on the all-time RBI list.

2019 In his sophomore season, Angel sensation Shohei Otani becomes the first Japanese player to hit for the cycle in the major leagues, the eighth in franchise history, with a seventh-inning single off Rays reliever Hunter Wood in the team's 5-3 win over at Tropicana Field. The 24-year-old DH, who collected four of the club's six hits, also had a three-run homer in the first frame, a third-inning double, and a triple in the fifth inning.

2019 A day before the College World Series opening ceremonies, the Royals beat the Tigers, 7-3, at TD Ameritrade Park in the first major league regular-season game in Nebraska. The nationally-televised contest, resulting from an agreement between MLB, the NCAA, Minor League Baseball, the Omaha Storm Chasers, and the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority, continues the sport's effort to showcase the solidarity that links each level of the national pastime.

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Bill Foster, pitcher mostly for the Chicago American Giants, was born #OTD in 1904. The brother of Rube Foster, he led the league in ERA 4 times, shutouts 3 times, and wins and strikeouts once each.He was elected to the #HallofFame in 1996
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JUNE 14 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS
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1926 ~ 1956 Don Newcombe pitcher (4 x MLB All Star; World Series 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers; NL MVP & Cy Young Award
with Jackie

With Campy

Newcombe pitched for the Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues (1944-45) before playing for the Dodgers (1949-58), Cincinnati Reds (1958-60) and Cleveland Indians (1960), as well as the Chunichi Dragons (1962) in Japan.
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This Day in Baseball History
June 14th​

1870 At the Capitoline Grounds in Brooklyn, the Cincinnati Red Stockings see their 130-game consecutive winning streak (81 official games and 49 exhibitions) end when they lose to the Atlantics in extra innings, 8-7. During the game, in an effort not to hit the ball to George Wright, the opponents' slick-fielding shortstop, hometown third baseman, and captain, Bob Ferguson, bats left-handed, becoming the first-known switch-hitter in baseball history.

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1919 Batting only .198 in 25 games since being acquired last month from the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League, Joe Wilhoit scratches out a first-inning single to begin the longest consecutive game-hitting streak in professional baseball history. The Wichita Jobbers' outfielder will hit safely in 69 Western League contests, collecting 153 hits in 297 at-bats for an astounding .515 batting average.

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1926 In what will turn out to be one of John McGraw's worst trades, the Giants deal outfielder Billy Southworth, batting .328 at the time, to the Cardinals for Heinie Mueller, who will hit only .265 over two seasons for New York. The Redbirds' new fly chaser, a future Hall of Famer, will play an important role in the team's world championship this season.

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1933 New York manager Joe McCarthy and infielder Lou Gehrig are thrown out of the game, resulting in the suspension of the Yankee skipper for three games. Fortunately, his first baseman isn't, and the Iron Horse's consecutive game streak stays intact at 1,249 contests.

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1948 In front of a crowd of 12,622 at Ebbets Field, Jackie Robinson, who hits a third-inning two-run homer, and Cleveland's Larry Doby, the only two African-Americans big leaguers, play against each other for the first time. In the Sunday evening charity exhibition game, the Dodgers beat the first-place Indians, 6-2, raising $15,000 for the Brooklyn Amateur Baseball Federation, which benefits sandlot ballplayers in Flatbush.

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1952 After purchasing Hank Aaron from the Indianapolis Clowns for $10,000, the Braves sign the 18-year-old Negro League player and assign him to the Eau Claire Bears, their Class-C farm team. The future home run king, named the Northern League's Rookie of the Year when he hits .336 and nine homers in 87 games, will play second base for the Wisconsin minor league team.


1952 Warren Spahn goes the distance in the Braves' 3-1 loss to the visiting Cubs, whiffing 18 batters in 15 innings. The Boston southpaw, who homers for the team's lone run, becomes the sixth pitcher to compile 18 or more strikeouts in a game but the first hurler who needed extra frames to accomplish the feat.

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1953 Before 74,708 fans at Cleveland Stadium, the Yankees sweep the Indians, 6-2 and 3-0, to extend the team's winning streak to eighteen straight games. The Bronx Bombers' string of consecutive victories ends with a 3-1 loss to the Browns at home in the team's next game, and one win shy of the franchise mark of 19 set in 1947.

1956 Frank 'Trader' Lane lives up to his nickname when the Cardinals GM completes a seven-player deal with the Giants. The Redbirds swap future Hall of Famer second baseman Red Schoendienst, catcher Bill Sarni, and southpaw Dick Littlefield to the Jints for shortstop Alvin Dark, outfielder Whitey Lockman, backstop Ray Katt, and left-hander Don Liddle.

1963 In a 10-3 win over the Reds at Crosley Field, Mets outfielder Duke Snider hits his 400th career homer off of Bob Purkey. With his sweet left-handed swing, the future Hall of Famer will finish his 18 years in the major leagues with 407 round-trippers.

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1963 At Cleveland Stadium, Willie Kirkland becomes just the second major leaguer, joining Vern Stephens, to hit two extra-inning home runs in the same game. The Indian outfielder's 11th-inning round-tripper ties the game at two runs apiece, with his homer in the 19th resulting in a 3-2 walk-off victory over Washington, extending the Senators' losing streak to ten games.

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1965 Reds starter Jim Maloney, who strikes out 18 batters, no-hits the Mets for ten innings but loses 1-0 when Johnny Lewis connects for a homer in the eleventh in the Crosley Field contest. In August at Wrigley Field, the right-hander will again give up no hits through the first nine innings but records a no-hitter when his teammate Leo Cardenas connects in the top of the tenth, providing the only run in Cincinnati's 1-0 victory over Chicago.

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1966 The Florida State League's Miami Marlins edge Sparky Anderson's St. Petersburg Cardinals, 4-3, in organized baseball's longest uninterrupted game ever played. The FSL contest, which takes six hours and 59 minutes to complete, ends when southpaw Michael Hebert tosses a perfect 1-2-3 bottom half of the 29th inning after he doubled, eventually scoring on a sac fly in the top of the frame.


1969 Reggie Jackson accumulates 11 total bases and drives in ten runs in Oakland's 21-7 rout of the Red Sox. The A's outfielder's offensive output in the Fenway Park contest includes a pair of two-run homers, a double, and a single.

1969 After playing nine years in New York, the Yankees trade 30-year-old Tom Tresh to the Tigers for outfielder Ron Woods. The 1962 Rookie of the Year, who grew up in Detroit, will retire at the end of the season after batting .224 in 94 games for his new team.

 

1974 Thanks to Denny Doyle's one-out double plating Mickey Rivers in the 15th inning, the Angels beat the Red Sox and Luis Taint, who goes the distance facing 56 batters in the 4-3 walk-off loss to the Halos. California starter Nolan Ryan, throwing an unbelievable 235 pitches, whiffs Cecil Cooper six consecutive times in the Anaheim Stadium contest en route to striking out 19, a feat the 27-year-old right-hander will accomplish three times this season.

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1975 The Angels trade Denny Doyle to the Red Sox in exchange for a player to be named later (Chuck Minor) and cash. Boston's new slick-fielding second baseman will play a pivotal role in the team's championship season, compiling a 22-game hitting streak and batting .310 after arriving from California.

1978 The Phillies trade outfielders Jay Johnstone and Bobby Brown to the Yankees for right-hander Rawly Eastwick. Philadelphia's new reliever will compile a 2-1 record this season, appearing in 51 games.

 

1985 After retiring two seasons ago, Earl Weaver returns to the Orioles dugout, replacing his successor Joe Altobelli, who won a world championship in his first year with the club. In the 105 games remaining, 'Earl of Baltimore' will guide the team to a 53-52 record, retiring for good at the end of next season after the O's finish in seventh place.

1989 In a 6-4 victory over the Blue Jays at County Stadium, Robin Yount's consecutive games streak ends. The Brewers center fielder establishes a new club record by playing in 276 straight contests.

1990 The National League announces plans to expand from 12 to 14 teams. The two new franchises that will begin playing in 1993 are the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies.

1995 Mike Benjamin goes 6-for-7, with five singles and a double, driving in the winning run in the 13th inning of the Giants' 4-3 victory over Chicago at Wrigley Field. The Giant third baseman sets a major league record by getting 14 hits in three games.

1996 After breaking Lou Gehrig's record, Cal Ripken continues to set new standards for consecutive games when he surpasses the world record of 2,216th straight contests established by Sachio Kinugasa, on hand at Kauffman Stadium to see his global accomplishment eclipsed. The former Hiroshima Carp third baseman set the previous mark in 1987 while playing in the Japanese Central League.

1998 With a 4-2 victory over Cleveland, the Yankees tie a major league record by winning or splitting their 24th consecutive series. The Bronx Bombers equal the mark shared by the 1912 Red Sox and the 1970 Reds.

 

2002 Due to the 14 interleague contests in National League ballparks, a designated hitter doesn't come to bat in a full slate of major league games for the first time since 1972. Visiting hurlers will get plenty of opportunities to swing the bat, as there isn't a home game scheduled in an American League park for ten consecutive days.

2005 Ichiro Suzuki (696th game - 2005) becomes the third-fastest big leaguer player to reach the 1000-hit mark behind Chuck Klein (683rd game - 1933) and Lloyd Waner (686th game - 1932). The 31-year-old Mariners outfielder also holds the record in Japan for being the quickest player to attain 1,000 hits, reaching the milestone in 757 games.

2005 After being asked to investigate in the seventh inning, the umpires examine Brendan Donnelly's glove for a foreign substance and discover illegal pine tar. The Angel pitcher, who claims he uses the material to control sweating, is tossed, resulting in his skipper Mike Scioscia and Nationals manager Frank Robinson exchanging angry words, which incites a brawl, clearing both benches and bullpens.

2006 Russ Ortiz (0-5, 7.54) becomes the highest-paid player to be cut by a major league team. Although the team still owes $22 million of the $33 million of the four-year deal signed in December 2004, the Diamondbacks designate the 32-year-old righty for assignment, meaning the club has ten days to trade, waive, or release the pitcher, who has a 1-14 record in his last 19 starts.

2010 After only seven days in the major leagues, Stephen Strasburg is named National League Player of the Week. The Nationals' right-handed flamethrower starts his career 2-0 with 22 strikeouts, second to only Karl Spooner, who fanned five more batters in his first two major league starts with the Dodgers in 1954.

2014 Jimmy Rollins becomes the Phillies' all-time hits leader when he singles in the fifth against Chicago's Edwin Jackson for his 2,235th hit for the 132-year-old franchise. At the end of the frame, Mike Schmidt, the Hall of Famer who set the previous mark, greets the 35-year-old switch-hitting shortstop with a high-five and a hug at first base, with the entire team coming out from the Philadelphia dugout to offer their congratulations on the milestone hit.

2015 The Blue Jays, with their 13-5 rout of the Red Sox at Fenway Park, win their 11th straight game, tying a franchise record, a mark accomplished three times previously. Tomorrow, a 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Mets at Citi Field snaps the team's consecutive victory streak.


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JUNE 15 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS
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1925 Gene Baker infielder (MLB All-Star 1955; World Series 1960; Monarchs, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates)


1931 Bernice Gera, first woman umpire in US pro baseball



1938 Billy Williams HOF left fielder (6 x MLB All Star; NL Rookie of the Year 1961; NL batting champion 1972; Chicago Cubs


1942 Bruce DalCanton


1949 Dusty Baker, Player manager (World Series 2022 Houston Astros; SF Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals; NL Manager of Year 1993, 97, 2000) and outfielder (MLB All Star 1981, 82; LA Dodgers


1956 Lance Parrish 'Big Wheel' catcher (MLB All Star x 8; World Series 1984 Detroit Tigers; 3 × Gold Glove


1958 Wade Boggs HOF 3rd baseman (5 x AL batting champion; 12 x MLB All-Star; Boston Red Sox; New York Yankees; Tampa Bay Devil Rays


1972 Andrew Pettitte pitcher (NY Yankees)


1972 Ramiro Mendoza pitcher (NY Yankees

1972 Tony Clark infielder, 1995-2009 (Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and 4 other teams), and union leader (MLBPA director, 2013-present

1978 Zach Day

1984 Tim Lincecum
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Today in Baseball History
June 15th​

1925 Entering the bottom of the eighth inning trailing the Indians, 15-4, the A's cross the plate 13 times in the frame. Philadelphia will hold on to the lead in the top of the ninth to defeat Cleveland in an incredible 17-15 come-from-behind victory at Shibe Park.

1938 In the first night game played in New York City, Johnny Vander Meer pitches his second consecutive no-hitter, beating the Dodgers at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field, 6-0. Four days ago, the Reds' southpaw held the Braves hitless in a 3-0 victory at Crosley Field.

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1940 In the Giants' 12-1 rout of the Pirates at the Polo Grounds, Harry Danning hits for the cycle, becoming the last player to have an inside-the-park as part of this rare feat. The Giant catcher circles the bases when the 460-foot fly ball gets stuck behind the Eddie Grant Memorial,and Pittsburgh center fielder Vince DiMaggio cannot free it in time.

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1948 The Tigers play their first home game under the lights, defeating the Philadelphia A's, 4-1. Detroit played a night game at Bennett Park on September 24, 1896, but the results of George Vanderbeck's Western League team exhibition against the Reds never made it into the books as an official game.

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1949 Shortly after 1 a.m., Ruth Ann Steinhagen shoots Eddie Waitkus in the chest with a rifle at Chicago's Edgewater Beach Hotel after luring him to her room with an urgent note delivered by the bellhop. The obsessed fan, who had become infatuated with the first baseman when he played in Chicago, apparently became agitated because the Cubs traded the All-Star infielder to the Phillies

 

1951 The Cubs trade Andy Pfako, Johnny Schmitz, Wayne Terwilliger, and Rube Walker to the Dodgers for Bruce Edwards, Joe Hatten, Eddie Miksis, and Gene Hermanski. The deal, which prevents the coveted 'Handy Andy' from going to the rival Giants, is the first of many to be made by Buzzy Bavasi, Brooklyn's new general manager.

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1952 The Cardinals, trailing 11-0 after three innings against Sal Maglie, overcome the double-digit deficit to defeat the Giants at the Polo Grounds, 14-12. The Redbirds score seven runs in the top of the fifth and another seven in the last three frames of the game to accomplish the biggest rally in National League history.

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1955 After striking out against the Amarillo Gold Sox, 22-year-old Albuquerque Dukes outfielder Larry Segovia kicks a water fountain in the dugout, breaking a pipe that creates a 50-foot high cascade of water that soaks his teammates and nearby fans. The grounds crew shuts off the water, repairs the damages, and removes the puddles from the playing field, delaying the West Texas-New Mexico League contest.

1957 Red Schoendienst, who was unexpectedly traded to the Giants last season by Cardinals GM Frank Lane, is dealt a year and a day later by New York to Milwaukee for Ray Crone, Danny O'Connell, and Bobby Thomson. The nine-time All-Star, who hit .301 during his two partial seasons in the Big Apple, will play a vital role in the Braves' World Championship, leading the league with 200 hits and finishing third in the NL MVP balloting.

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1958 In a move perceived as a prelude to a second deal with the Yankees, the A's trade Woodie Held and Vic Power to the Indians for southpaw Dick Tomanek, utility player Preston Ward, and right fielder Roger Maris. American League president Will Harridge warns owner Arnold Johnson, already under pressure for allowing Kansas City to become a farm club for the Bronx Bombers, not to send the outfield slugger to New York for at least 18 months.

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1958 Identical twins are split up by the Pirates when Eddie O'Brien stays with Pittsburgh, but his brother Johnny, along with third baseman Gene Freese, are traded to the Cardinals for infielder Dick Schofield. Eddie, who appeared in April for the Bucs as a defensive replacement, will finish his tenure with the team that signed him as a bonus baby in 1953 without playing another game this season.