2000 In the team's 10-3 victory over Florida, Vladimir Guerrero establishes an Expo single-season home run record by hitting his 43rd round-tripper. 'Vlad the Impaler,' who breaks the record he set last year, goes deep to center field off A.J Burnett in the fifth inning of the Olympic Stadium contest to establish the new mark. 2001 Ranger infielder Alex Rodriguez hit his 47th home run, tying the major league mark for round-trippers by a shortstop in a season. The Cubs' legend Ernie Banks established the record in 1958. 2001 The Mets donate their day's pay, totaling approximately $500,000, from tonight's game with the Braves at Shea to a rescue fund for the families of the firefighters and policemen killed in the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. The contest is the first professional baseball game played in New York since the tragedy. 2001 A crowd of 41,235 at Shea Stadium witnesses baseball's return to New York City for the first time since the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Uplifting ceremonies before and during the game, including performances by Diana Ross, Marc Anthony, Lisa Minnelli, and NYPD bagpipers, pay tribute to victims of the tragedy. Mike Piazza's eighth-inning home run gives the Mets a 3-2 dramatic victory over the Braves. 2003 Greg Maddux, with Atlanta beating the Marlins, 8-0, becomes the first pitcher to win at least 15 games in 16 consecutive seasons. The Braves' righty, who pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit en route to his 288th career victory, had shared the record with Cy Young. 2004 Raul Ibanez, in the Mariners' 16-6 rout over LA, ties an American League record shared by 20+ players when he collects six hits in the nine-inning contest. The mark for the most hits in an AL game is nine, accomplished by Cleveland's Johnny Burnett in an 18-inning marathon against Philadelphia. 2005 At Shea Stadium, Mudcat Grant and Al Downing welcome Marlins' southpaw Dontrelle Willis to the "Black Aces," an African-American fraternity of 20-game winners in a big-league season. Beating the Nationals earlier in the month, the D-Train became the 13th black to accomplish the feat and plans to join the Aces' foundation to promote baseball in the African-American community.
2006 David Ortiz, hitting his 51st and 52nd homers, breaks the Red Sox's franchise record of 50 in a single season, established by Jimmie Foxx in 1938. 'Big Papi' also surpasses his own major league mark for home runs set by a DH with 45, two more than the standard he set last season. 2008 Behind southpaw Scott Kazmir's solid outing, throwing six scoreless innings, the Rays, who have never finished higher than fourth in the American League East Division during the first decade of their existence, clinch a postseason berth with a 7-2 victory over Minnesota. Carlos Pena's two doubles and solo home runs by Cliff Floyd and Fernando Perez provide the offensive in Tampa Bay's historic win at Tropicana Field. 2008 After a moving ceremony celebrating the history of the 85-year-old ballpark, New York beat the Orioles in the last game ever played at Yankee Stadium, 7-3. Babe's daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, throws out the ceremonial first pitch, with team captain Derek Jeter at the end of the game, surrounded on the mound by his teammates, bids farewell to 'House Ruth Built,' addressing 54,610 fans attending the Bronx finale. 2009 Dave Clark, the team's third-base coach, replaces Cecil Cooper as the slumping Astros manager. 'Coop,' after signing a contract extension to manage until the end of the 2010 season, piloted his club to a 171-170 record, including a disappointing 70-79 mark this season, during his two-year tenure in the Houston dugout.
2010 A 6-4 come-from-behind victory over Cleveland at Target Field and Chicago's loss in Oakland clinches the AL Central Division for the Twins. Minnesota, who had to play a 163rd game the previous two seasons to determine a division winner, becomes the first club to secure a postseason berth this season. 2010 Obtained in an off-season trade with the Blue Jays, Roy Halladay becomes the Phillies' first 20-game winner since Steve Carlton reached the milestone 28 years ago and the first right-hander to accomplish the feat for the club since Robin Roberts posted a 23-14 record in 1955. The 5-3 victory over Atlanta, Philadelphia's ninth straight win that increases the team's NL East lead to five games over the fading Braves, makes 'Doc' the 17th pitcher to accomplish the feat in both leagues, having compiled two 20-win seasons with the Blue Jays. 2013 Matt Carpenter breaks Stan Musial’s 1953 Cardinals single-season record for two-baggers hit by a left-handed batter when he doubles for the 54th time this season, reaching the milestone in the fifth inning of the team’s 7-2 victory over the Brewers at Miller Park. Joe Medwick established the overall franchise mark, hitting 64 during the 1936 campaign. 2013 Mariners left fielder Raul Ibanez's 29th round-tripper, his 300th career home run, ties him with Ted Williams for the most hit in a season by a player who is 41 or older. In his final year as a major leaguer, the' Splendid Splinter hit that many in 1960 while playing with the Red Sox. 2013 The Tigers tie the game with a six-run rally in the bottom of the ninth, then beat the White Sox in extra innings, 7-6. Omar Infante ends the Comerica Park contest by hitting a bases-loaded infield single in the 12th for the walk-off victory. 2018 In the Mets' 4-2 victory over the Nationals in Washington, Jacob deGrom delivers his 23rd consecutive quality start to break the single-season major league record, previously shared by Cardinal aces Bob Gibson (1968j and Chris Carpenter (2005). The 30-year-old right-hander allowed one run in seven innings, lowering his E.R.A. to 1.77 and improving his record to 9-9. 2019 With two years left on his contract, the Padres fired manager Andy Green, citing communication issues. During his four seasons with the Friars, the 42-year-old skipper compiled a 274-366 (.428) record, never finishing higher than fourth in the five-team NL Western Division. 2020 The A's become the first team to clinch a division in the shortened Covid-19 season, securing the flag on an off day when an Astros' loss to Mariners puts the second-place club 6.5 games behind with six to play. The victory marks Oakland's first championship since 2013, but the team will be making their third straight postseason appearance, facing the White Sox in the new three-game Wild Card series. 2022 The Mets establish a National League mark literally when Brewers' right-hander Jake Cousins hits Luis Guillermo with a pitch, setting the single-season record for most hit by pitches with 106. New York skipper Buck Showalter asks for the ball after the team surpasses the 2021 Reds. ****************** 275,034
SEPTEMBER 22 BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS ************************************** 1889 George "Hooks" Dauss, pitcher, 1912-26 (Detroit Tigers) 1920 Bob Lemon, Hall of Fame pitcher (MLB All-Star 1948–54; World Series 1948; no-hitter 1948; Cleveland Indians) and manager (KC Royals, Chicago White Sox; World Series NY Yankees 1978) 1927 Tommy Lasorda Hall of Fame manager (World Series 1981, 88; NL Manager of the Year 1983, 88; LA Dodgers 1976-96) 1955 Jeffrey Leonard 1961 Dot Richardson softball infielder (Olympic gold 1996) 1961 Vince Coleman outfielder, 1985-97, NL Rookie of the Year, 6X NL stolen base leader, 2X All-Star (St. Louis Cardinals; New York Mets, and 4 other teams), 1965 Mark Guthrie MLB pitcher, 1989-2003 (Minnesota Twins, LA Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and 6 other teams) 1970 Mike Matheny MLB player (Milwaukee Brewers) and manager (Kansas City Royals, Cardinals) 1994 Carlos Correa MLB player (Minnesota Twins) 1997 Jeremy Peña shortstop (World Series MVP; ALCS MVP; Gold Glove Award 2022; Houston Astros) *************************************
This Day in Baseball History September 22nd 1911 Cy Young wins his 511th and final career game when he blanks the Pirates at Forbes Field, 1-0. The 35-101 Rustlers have won only three contests in 22 attempts against Pittsburgh this season, with two of the victories coming on shutouts thrown by the 44-year-old veteran right-hander, who Boston obtained on waivers from Cleveland in late July. 1912 At Sportsman's Park against the Browns, Eddie Collins becomes the first player to steal six bases in one game for the second time, having accomplished the feat 11 days ago against the Browns. The Philadelphia A's second baseman's feat of thievery remains the record for another 79 years until Braves outfielder Otis Nixon swipes six bags in 1991. 1925 Robins starter Burleigh Grimes accounts for seven outs in just three plate appearances in the team's 3-2 loss to Chicago, a 12-inning game played at Cubs Park. The Brooklyn right-hander follows grounding into two double plays by hitting into a 6-4-3-2 triple play. 1926 At Ebbets Field, the aging 18-year veteran outfielder Zack Wheat hits his last homer as a Dodger but severely pulls a muscle nearing second. The future Hall of Famer rests nearly five minutes before reaching home plate, making his trip around the bases the most extended home run trot in major league history. 1936 The Tigers record the most one-sided pair of shutouts in a doubleheader, sweeping St. Louis at Navin Field, 12-0 and 14-0. Both Detroit starters go the distance, with Elden Auker throwing a five-hitter in the opener and Tommy Bridges limiting the Browns to three hits in the nightcap.
1947 On an off day, the Dodgers clinch the National League pennant when the Cubs beat the Cardinals in the nightcap of twin bill's nightcap. Although it is past midnight when the good news about their beloved team reaches the borough, Brooklynites begin to gather on Flatbush for an impromptu celebration. 1948 Stan Musial, for the fourth time this season, has five hits in five at-bats to set a National League record and ties the major league mark established by Ty Cobb. Stan the Man's hits, including a double and home run, come off five different pitchers on five consecutive pitches in the Cardinals' 8-2 victory at Braves Field in Boston. 1954 Karl Spooner, in his major league debut, blanks the Giants at Ebbets Field, 3-0. The 23-year-old Dodger southpaw fans 15 batters, including six straight, recording the most strikeouts in a rookie's first appearance. 1957 Over four games, Ted Williams hits a home run in his fourth consecutive at-bat. In his other plate appearances during those contests, the opposing pitchers issue six bases on balls to the Splendid Splinter until he follows today's fourth-inning round-tripper with a single in the sixth. 1957 With his second round-tripper in the Dodgers' 7-3 victory over Philadelphia, Duke Snider hits his 40th home run, tying Ralph Kiner's National League record of five consecutive seasons with forty or more homers. The Duke of Flatbush's seventh-inning homer off future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts will be the last hit at Ebbets Field. 1959 After the White Sox clinch the pennant by beating the second-place Indians at Cleveland Stadium, 4-2, Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley orders the city air raid sirens to blast. The flag marks the South-siders' first American League championship since the notorious Black Sox's title 40 years ago.
1961 In the Orioles' 8-5 victory over the White Sox at Comiskey Park, Jim Gentile hits his fifth grand slam of the year to tie the major league record established in 1955 by Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks. Each of the first baseman's four-run homers has come with Chuck Estrada pitching for Baltimore. 1962 Al Jackson suffers his 20th loss when Chicago beats the Mets at the Polo Grounds, 8-2. The New York southpaw joins Roger Craig in reaching the dubious number of defeats, making the pair the first teammates since Bucky Walters and Joe Bowman of the 1936 Phillies to become 20-game losers on the same National League team. 1964 Larry Dierker, who will have a long relationship with the franchise, including stints as a broadcaster and manager, becomes the last rookie to make his major league debut as a Colt .45. On his 18th birthday, the right-hander starts, taking the loss when San Francisco defeats Houston, 7-3. 1966 With only 413 patrons attending New York's 4-1 loss to the White Sox, the team's head of media relations denies veteran broadcaster Red Barber's request for a camera to scan the empty stands. The Ol' Redhead reportedly loses his job when he tells his audience, "I don't know what the paid attendance is today, but whatever it is, it is the smallest crowd in the history of Yankee Stadium, and this crowd is the story, not the game." 1966 The Orioles clinch their first pennant representing Baltimore when Jim Palmer goes the distance, beating Lew Krausse and the A's at Municipal Stadium, 6-1. The franchise's last flag was raised in St. Louis in 1944 when the team was known as the Browns.
1968 Utility player Cesar Tovar becomes the second major leaguer to play one inning at each position when he plays right field in the ninth in the Twins' 3-2 victory over Oakland at Metropolitan Stadium. A's shortstop Bert Campaneris was the first to field all nine positions in a 1965 contest against California. 1969 Willie Mays, joining Yankee legend Babe Ruth, becomes the second major leaguer to hit 600 career home runs. The historic two-run homer is delivered as a pinch-hitter in the top of the seventh inning off Padres hurler Mike Corkins and proves to be the difference in the Giants' 4-2 victory at San Diego Stadium. 1969 During the team's 4-2 victory over the Padres, Giant outfielder Bobby Bonds establishes a big-league record when he strikes out for the 176th time this season. The California native will finish the year with 187, extending the dubious mark next season with two additional strikeouts.
1971 The Pirates clinch their second consecutive National League Eastern Divisional flag when they defeat the second-place Cardinals at Busch Stadium, 5-1. Luke Walker and Dave Giusti combine to toss a six-hitter to beat the future Hall of Fame right-hander Bob Gibson, who no-hit the Bucs last month in his only other start against the team. 1976 Right-hander Don Sutton goes the distance to become a twenty-game winner for the first and only time when Los Angeles beat the Giants at Candlestick Park, 3-1. The future Hall of Famer will compile a 324-256 (.559) record during his 23-year big-league tenure, playing for the Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, Angels, and the A's. 1977 Bert Blyleven allows only two base runners, no-hitting the Angels, 6-0. A third-inning error, with the runner erased on a double play and a two-out ninth-inning walk, account for Anaheim's total offense.
1986 Dodger hurler Fernando Valenzuela (20-10) two-hits Houston en route to a 9-2 victory at the Astrodome. The 25-year-old southpaw becomes the first Mexican to win 20 games in the major leagues. 1987 Future Hall of Famer Wade Boggs collects his 200th hit for the fifth straight season. The Red Sox third baseman will reach the 200-hit mark for the next two years before the streak ends in 1990. 1987 Chicago sends Dickie Noles to the Tigers for a player to be named later. Next month, the right-handed pitcher returns to the Cubs as that player to be named later. 1988 The Amazins copped the division flag in 1969, 1973, and 1986. The Mets clinch their fourth NL East title when Ron Darling goes the distance, defeating Philadelphia at Shea Stadium, 3-1. The Amazins also copped the division flag in 1969, 1973, and 1986.
1990 Andre Dawson becomes the second player to hit 300 home runs, steal 300 bases, and collect 2,000 hits. The Cubs’ outfielder joins Willie Mays in accomplishing the feat when he swipes his 300th career bag in an 11-5 loss to the Mets at Wrigley Field. 1993 The long career of Ranger right-hander Nolan Ryan, who had announced his plans to retire at the end of the season, ends abruptly when the Texas starter leaves the game in the first inning after injuring his right elbow. The future Hall of Famer, who gives up five runs without retiring a batter, will throw just one more pitch after giving up a grand slam to Dann Howitt in the 7-4 loss to Seattle at the Kingdome. 1993 The Rockies establish the major league home attendance record with 4,483,350 patrons attending games at Denver's Mile High Stadium. The expansion team will average 55,350 fans per game during their inaugural season. 1996 Barry Larkin becomes the first shortstop to join the 30-30 club when he goes deep off Donovan Osborne in the fifth inning in the Reds' 6-3 victory over St. Louis. The future Hall of Fame infielder joins teammate Eric Davis as only the second Cincinnati player to accomplish the feat. 1997 Thanks to the Mets beating the Marlins, the Braves capture the National League East title before their 3-2 win over the Expos. The title is Atlanta's sixth straight division flag, breaking the major league record. 1998 Jose Canseco, in the Blue Jays' 7-3 victory over Baltimore at the SkyDome, hits his 45th and 46th home runs, setting a new career-high. The Toronto DH will finish his 17-year major league career with 462 round-trippers, but his admitted use of steroids will taint his accomplishment. 1998 Mariner Ken Griffey Jr., with his American League-leading 54th and 55th home runs of the season, joins Babe Ruth (Yankees, 1930-32) and Lou Gehrig (Yankees, 1926-34) as the only players to drive in 140 or more runs in at least three consecutive seasons. During his 22-year tenure in the major leagues, Junior will average 111 runs batted in per season. 1998 Braves backup backstop Eddie Perez's solo home run in Atlanta's 4-1 win over Florida is the team's 208th round-tripper this season, breaking a 32-year-old franchise record. Atlanta will finish the season with 215 homers, with Andres Galarraga being the club leader with 44. 1998 John Olerud ties Barry Bonds' National League record of reaching base 15 consecutive times when he walks in the first inning. The Mets' first baseman will ground out in the third, falling one short of the 1957 major league mark set by Ted Williams. 1998 Tony Clark becomes the first Detroit player since Rudy York (1940-41) to collect 100 RBIs in his first two full seasons in the Motor City. The Tigers' first baseman finishes the season with 103 runs batted in after driving in 117 last season.
2000 The Astros, surpassing the 1997 Rockies, establish a new National League team single-season home run mark, hitting their 240th in a 12-5 loss to Cincinnati at Cinergy Field. The slugfest features nine home runs, with the home team hitting six and Houston going deep three times. 2000 At Cinergy Field, Astros' Jose Lima gives up his 47th home run of the season, passing the National League record established in 1956 by Robin Roberts. Bert Blyleven holds the distinction of serving up 50 gopher balls as a Twin in 1986 to set the major league mark. 2000 Mets' closer Armando Benitez blanks the Phillies in the ninth for his 39th save, breaking southpaw John Franco's club record. The left-handed bullpen veteran also appeared in the Mets' 9-6 win. 2002 Chicago's first baseman Fred McGriff becomes the first player to hit 30 home runs in a season for five teams (Blue Jays, Padres, Braves, Devil Rays, and Cubs). The Crime Dog's first-inning PNC poke also sets a record for being the 42nd major league park in which he's gone yard, one more than Ellis Burks of the Indians. 2002 In the last game ever played at Cinergy Field, the Phillies complete a three-game sweep, defeating the Reds, 4-3, in front of many of the team's former superstars except for the banished Pete Rose. The popularity of the all-time hit leader becomes obvious when Tom Browning paints Rose's uniform number 14 on the mound after the game, along with the crowd chanting, "Pete, Pete," as home plate gets ready for delivery next door to Great American Ball Park. 2002 Greg Maddux pitches seven innings of four-hit ball as the Braves beat the Marlins, 4-1. 'Mad Dog' joins Cy Young as one of only two pitchers in baseball history to win at least 15 games in 15 consecutive seasons.
2003 The Tigers established a new mark for futility in the American League, recording their 118th loss of the season. The 1916 A's (36-117) had held the record before Detroit's 12-6 defeat to the Royals. 2003 Alfonso Soriano hits his 13th leadoff home run of the season to establish a new major league mark. The Yankee second baseman shared the record with Brady Anderson, who led off with 12 round-trippers for the 1996 Orioles. 2003 For only the third time in major league history, a Korean pitcher and a Japanese pitcher oppose one another as Expos' hurler Tomo Ohka faces Jae Weong Seo as starters at Shea Stadium. Both Pacific Rim right-handers throw well, but neither gets the decision as Montreal beats the Mets on misplayed fly balls in the ninth, 4-2. 2004 En route to a complete-game three-hitter, Ben Sheets becomes the 14th pitcher in baseball history to strike out 18 batters in a nine-inning game when the Brewers beat the Braves at Miller Park, 4-1. The 25-year-old right-hander whiffs eight of the final 11 hitters he faces to break the team record of 14 established by Moose Haas in 1978.
2005 On the day he is scheduled to return to the team after rehabilitating his right knee and left ankle at home, the Orioles inform Rafael Palmeiro not to report to the team. The first baseman/DH, who tested positive for steroids earlier in the season, continues to stir up controversy as the 40-year-old veteran states the reason for failing the drug test is due to a vitamin B-12 shot given by his teammate, Miguel Tejada. 2005 An American Society of Microbiology's study of the number of people washing their hands after using a public restroom reports that 83 percent of patrons take advantage of the available soap and water. Of the 6,300 bathroom users monitored, the data reveals that Turner Field has the worst hygiene, showing that nearly a quarter of the patrons (37% male and 16% female) did not wash their hands after using the facilities during a Braves game. 2006 In the Nationals' 3-2 victory over the Mets, Alfonso Soriano hits his 40th double and steals his 41st base of the season. With 45 homers, the Washington outfielder becomes baseball's first 40/40/40 player with his offensive performance at Shea Stadium. 2009 Diamondback slugger Mark Reynolds establishes a new single-season strikeout mark for the second consecutive year when he misses a 1-2 breaking ball from Madison Bumgarner, his 205th K of the campaign. Before breaking his own dubious mark and extending it with another whiff in the sixth inning, the 26-year-old third baseman collected his 100th RBI of the season in Arizona's 10-8 Chase Field victory over San Francisco.
