Baseball History

[67RedSox]

It was on this date in 1906 the Chicago Cubs were scheduled to play the NY Giants managed by the tyrant, John McGraw. The game, never played, was forfeited three different times. On McGraw's orders‚ umpire Jim Johnstone is refused admittance to the Polo Grounds‚ and the umpire‚ standing outside the Polo Grounds‚ forfeits the match to the Cubs. McGraw insists the game go on with a player from each team umpiring. McGraw picks reserve Sam Strang‚ but Cubs manager Frank Chance refuses to go along‚ pointing out the game has already been forfeited. Strang then forfeits the game to the Giants and Bob Emslie‚ Johnstone’s associate umpire‚ then forfeits the game to the Cubs. That was the season the Cubs went 116-36 for the best record ever recorded in a ML season but not all games were won on the field apparently.

http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1906/VOL_47_NO_23/SL4723008.pdf

John McGraw - Charles C. Alexander - Google Books

In 1907 the Washington Senators with a record of 49-102 had the worst record in the Major Leagues however they had one bright spot. It was on this date in 1907 that 19 year old Walter Johnson collects the first of his 416 ML wins with a 7-2 win over the Cleveland Indians. Johnson would spend his entire 21 year career with the Senators and they remained terrible for most of those 21 years until late in his career when they went to the World Series in back-to-back seasons in 1924 and 1925. Johnson went 3-3 in those two Series winning a Ring in 1924 against the Giants but losing to the Pirates in ’25.

Walter Johnson Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com

Welcome to the Majors, kid. Lee Bales makes his ML debut on this date in 1966 playing 2B and hitting leadoff for the Atlanta Braves in a game against the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium. He promptly goes 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts. The first time since 1883 a player making his ML debut strikes out 4 times.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=lee+...%2F155954-gambo-t_wil1-photo-143.html;180;270

August 7, 1966 Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

Mike Trout was born on this date in 1991. Happy 23rd. Already he has twice finished as the MVP runner-up, won a Stolen Base Crown, twice led the AL in runs scored and is a 3-time All-Star. Not bad…

https://www.google.ca/search?q=mike...s%2Fla-sp-erskine-mike-trout-20130606;600;350

Happy 85th to Mr. Perfect, Don Larsen who was born on this date in 1929. He was originally signed by the St. Louis Browns and there can’t be too many Brownies still living. There are only two players left living who appeared in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series when Larsen tossed his Perfect Game. Ironically, it’s Larsen and Yogi Berra the battery that day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crTFMCkG7cU

https://www.google.ca/search?q=don+...pad.com%2Ffinger-food%2Fdon-larsen%2F;462;462

There were dual songs at #1 on the Pop Charts on the day Larsen threw his Perfect Game…you might have heard of the singer, here they are:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QDDo1j3a7U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzQ8GDBA8Is

 

[67RedSox]

On this date in 1885 there was no Baseball played in New York City. President Ulysses S Grant’s funeral was held on that date in New York.

Grant's Funeral March . U.S. Grant: Warrior . WGBH American Experience | PBS

This date in 1903 is known as Black Saturday in Philadelphia. 12 spectators died and injured 282 when a section of balcony collapsed during a baseball game between the Boston Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. It was the worst disaster in the history of American sports spectating.

?Black Saturday?: Philadelphia?s Deadliest Sports Disaster | Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society

By a player the most hits in a doubleheader is 9 and it has been accomplished on nine different occasions, the last by LeRoy (Lee) Thomas of the Los Angeles in their first season, September 5, 1961. Thomas was in his rookie season that year as well and would be the Angels RF’er for their first 3 ½ seasons. It was on this date in 1922 the Pittsburgh Pirates set the ML record of 46 hits in a doubleheader against Philadelphia. Pittsburgh sweeps‚ winning 19-8 and 7-3 collecting 27 hits in Game 1‚ and 19 in Game 2. Leading the way for the Pirates are Reb Russell and Cotton Tierney‚ each of whom collect 8 hits. In 2005, Jeff Euston, Tierney's great-great-nephew, created a website tracking all salaries of MLB players, naming it "Cot's Baseball Contracts", after his baseball ancestor. A site, I suspect, we all visit.

August 8, 1922 Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

August 8, 1922 Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

Cot's Baseball Contracts

Two players in ML history have went 7 for 7 in a nine inning game. The first to do it was HOF’er, Wilbert ( Uncle Robbie ) Robinson on June 10, 1892 and the only man since, Rennie Stennett, September 16, 1975. Though he was an outstanding catcher for the Baltimore Orioles during the 1890s, Wilbert Robinson is remembered today primarily as the jovial, rotund "Uncle Robbie" who managed the Brooklyn Robins to two National League pennants and a 1,399-1,398 record from 1914 to 1931. His congenial nature and happy-go-lucky attitude made him one of the most beloved characters in baseball history. He was so well liked in Brooklyn the team’s nickname, during his days managing, 1914-1931 was the “Robins”…after him. They adopted the name, “Dodgers” after he left in 1931. It was on this date in 1934 he died a few days after he fell in the bathroom, hitting his head on the bathtub and breaking his arm. While being administered to, he uttered his most famous line: "Don't worry about it, fellas. I'm an old Oriole. I'm too tough to die." He was wrong.

The record the Dodgers are trying to break | Think Blue LA

It was on this date in 1952 Bob Neighbors‚ a shortstop who played briefly with the 1939 St. Louis Browns‚ is missing in action in the Korean War. Neighbors is the only ex-major leaguer killed in action in Korea and the 6th and last to die in the 20th century. There will be no casualties of major leaguers in Vietnam.

Bob Neighbors Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com

It was on this date in 1963 during the 5th inning of a game between the Dodgers and Cubs at Wrigley Field Frank Howard and Moose Skowron pinch-hit back-to-back HRs for the Dodgers‚ only the 2nd time that has ever occurred in the NL. Cub pitchers Bob Buhl and Don Elston are the victims but the Cubs hold on to win 5-4. I mention that for two reasons. The first is being a Yankee in those days it’s always difficult to mention Skowron playing for the ‘enemy’, the Dodgers. Skowron played in the World Series that year and won a Ring as the Dodgers beat the Yankees 4 straight. This after he had played in 7 of the previous 8 World Series wearing the Yankee pinstripes. The second is that it was Frank Howard’s birthday as he was born on this date in 1936. Hondo, as he was nicknamed, is 78 today and he remains the most dangerous looking hitter I have ever seen come to the plate to hit. Facing him on the mound must have been terrifying ( except, of course, if your name was Bob Gibson I suppose ).

August 8, 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DoSho3E1P8

https://www.google.ca/search?q=fran...2F42-frank-howard-50-greatest-dodgers;800;450

On this date in 1913 Cecil Travis was born in Riverdale, Georgia 12 miles south of downtown Atlanta. In 1913 Riverdale was a farming community and Cecil was the youngest of 10 children born on a 200 acre farm. Being the youngest he often able to ‘escape’ the hard work and when he did it was usually to play baseball or some form thereof… "Didn't matter if we used rocks or sticks just as long as we were playing" and "Instead of chopping cotton, I'd pick up rocks and whack 'em with my hoe" . Well, now you know Cecil Travis was born in Georgia 101 years ago…just who was he is probably what you’re asking.
Cecil Howell Travis was a three-time All-Star who played in 12 ML seasons between 1933 and 1947, all of them with the Washington Senators. Playing primarily as a shortstop, Travis hit .300 in eight of his first nine ML seasons. A three-time All-Star, he had his best year in 1941, when he hit .359 (second in the American League), led both Leagues in hits (218), and was named by The Sporting News as the best shortstop in baseball. After missing nearly four seasons serving in the Army during World War II, earning the Bronze Star. He was on active duty in Europe in the fall of 1944 as the German forces retreated from the Battle of the Bulge. American soldiers battled the elements during that cold winter; Travis developed frostbite to two toes of his left foot and spent time in a hospital in Metz, France, before rejoining his unit. Onaway Division pursued Hitler's army on into Germany and, following the surrender of Germany in May 1945, remained as part of the occupying forces. Travis returned to the Senators at the end of the 1945 season, but he was never able to regain his prewar all-star form.
He’s remembered not only as a pure, line-drive hitter but also as one of the classiest players in the game. He was a quiet, unassuming star, and AL umpires once voted him their favorite player. Such names as Ted Williams, Bob Feller, and Bowie Kuhn (who served as a batboy and scoreboard operator for the Senators during Travis' tenure) have called for Travis' induction into the HOF. Travis supporters point out that the war had effectively ended his career just as he was reaching new heights, and that even with his precipitous postwar decline, his career .314 compares favorably with all but two Hall of Fame shortstops (Honus Wagner and Arky Vaughan). Characteristically, though, Travis himself refused to campaign for himself. "I was a good player, but I wasn't a great one," he told Furman Bisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (October 3, 1999). He has never bemoaned the playing years lost to military service. "We had a job to do, an obligation, and we did it. I was hardly the only one". Travis died at age 93 in 2006.

The Trading Card Database | Cecil Travis Gallery

 

[67RedSox]

On this date in 1885 there was no Baseball played in New York City. President Ulysses S Grant’s funeral was held on that date in New York.

Grant's Funeral March . U.S. Grant: Warrior . WGBH American Experience | PBS

This date in 1903 is known as Black Saturday in Philadelphia. 12 spectators died and injured 282 when a section of balcony collapsed during a baseball game between the Boston Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. It was the worst disaster in the history of American sports spectating.

?Black Saturday?: Philadelphia?s Deadliest Sports Disaster | Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society

By a player the most hits in a doubleheader is 9 and it has been accomplished on nine different occasions, the last by LeRoy (Lee) Thomas of the Los Angeles in their first season, September 5, 1961. Thomas was in his rookie season that year as well and would be the Angels RF’er for their first 3 ½ seasons. It was on this date in 1922 the Pittsburgh Pirates set the ML record of 46 hits in a doubleheader against Philadelphia. Pittsburgh sweeps‚ winning 19-8 and 7-3 collecting 27 hits in Game 1‚ and 19 in Game 2. Leading the way for the Pirates are Reb Russell and Cotton Tierney‚ each of whom collect 8 hits. In 2005, Jeff Euston, Tierney's great-great-nephew, created a website tracking all salaries of MLB players, naming it "Cot's Baseball Contracts", after his baseball ancestor. A site, I suspect, we all visit.

August 8, 1922 Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

August 8, 1922 Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

Cot's Baseball Contracts

Two players in ML history have went 7 for 7 in a nine inning game. The first to do it was HOF’er, Wilbert ( Uncle Robbie ) Robinson on June 10, 1892 and the only man since, Rennie Stennett, September 16, 1975. Though he was an outstanding catcher for the Baltimore Orioles during the 1890s, Wilbert Robinson is remembered today primarily as the jovial, rotund "Uncle Robbie" who managed the Brooklyn Robins to two National League pennants and a 1,399-1,398 record from 1914 to 1931. His congenial nature and happy-go-lucky attitude made him one of the most beloved characters in baseball history. He was so well liked in Brooklyn the team’s nickname, during his days managing, 1914-1931 was the “Robins”…after him. They adopted the name, “Dodgers” after he left in 1931. It was on this date in 1934 he died a few days after he fell in the bathroom, hitting his head on the bathtub and breaking his arm. While being administered to, he uttered his most famous line: "Don't worry about it, fellas. I'm an old Oriole. I'm too tough to die." He was wrong.

The record the Dodgers are trying to break | Think Blue LA

It was on this date in 1952 Bob Neighbors‚ a shortstop who played briefly with the 1939 St. Louis Browns‚ is missing in action in the Korean War. Neighbors is the only ex-major leaguer killed in action in Korea and the 6th and last to die in the 20th century. There will be no casualties of major leaguers in Vietnam.

Bob Neighbors Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com

It was on this date in 1963 during the 5th inning of a game between the Dodgers and Cubs at Wrigley Field Frank Howard and Moose Skowron pinch-hit back-to-back HRs for the Dodgers‚ only the 2nd time that has ever occurred in the NL. Cub pitchers Bob Buhl and Don Elston are the victims but the Cubs hold on to win 5-4. I mention that for two reasons. The first is being a Yankee in those days it’s always difficult to mention Skowron playing for the ‘enemy’, the Dodgers. Skowron played in the World Series that year and won a Ring as the Dodgers beat the Yankees 4 straight. This after he had played in 7 of the previous 8 World Series wearing the Yankee pinstripes. The second is that it was Frank Howard’s birthday as he was born on this date in 1936. Hondo, as he was nicknamed, is 78 today and he remains the most dangerous looking hitter I have ever seen come to the plate to hit. Facing him on the mound must have been terrifying ( except, of course, if your name was Bob Gibson I suppose ).

August 8, 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DoSho3E1P8

https://www.google.ca/search?q=fran...2F42-frank-howard-50-greatest-dodgers;800;450

On this date in 1913 Cecil Travis was born in Riverdale, Georgia 12 miles south of downtown Atlanta. In 1913 Riverdale was a farming community and Cecil was the youngest of 10 children born on a 200 acre farm. Being the youngest he often able to ‘escape’ the hard work and when he did it was usually to play baseball or some form thereof… "Didn't matter if we used rocks or sticks just as long as we were playing" and "Instead of chopping cotton, I'd pick up rocks and whack 'em with my hoe" . Well, now you know Cecil Travis was born in Georgia 101 years ago…just who was he is probably what you’re asking.
Cecil Howell Travis was a three-time All-Star who played in 12 ML seasons between 1933 and 1947, all of them with the Washington Senators. Playing primarily as a shortstop, Travis hit .300 in eight of his first nine ML seasons. A three-time All-Star, he had his best year in 1941, when he hit .359 (second in the American League), led both Leagues in hits (218), and was named by The Sporting News as the best shortstop in baseball. After missing nearly four seasons serving in the Army during World War II, earning the Bronze Star. He was on active duty in Europe in the fall of 1944 as the German forces retreated from the Battle of the Bulge. American soldiers battled the elements during that cold winter; Travis developed frostbite to two toes of his left foot and spent time in a hospital in Metz, France, before rejoining his unit. Onaway Division pursued Hitler's army on into Germany and, following the surrender of Germany in May 1945, remained as part of the occupying forces. Travis returned to the Senators at the end of the 1945 season, but he was never able to regain his prewar all-star form.
He’s remembered not only as a pure, line-drive hitter but also as one of the classiest players in the game. He was a quiet, unassuming star, and AL umpires once voted him their favorite player. Such names as Ted Williams, Bob Feller, and Bowie Kuhn (who served as a batboy and scoreboard operator for the Senators during Travis' tenure) have called for Travis' induction into the HOF. Travis supporters point out that the war had effectively ended his career just as he was reaching new heights, and that even with his precipitous postwar decline, his career .314 compares favorably with all but two Hall of Fame shortstops (Honus Wagner and Arky Vaughan). Characteristically, though, Travis himself refused to campaign for himself. "I was a good player, but I wasn't a great one," he told Furman Bisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (October 3, 1999). He has never bemoaned the playing years lost to military service. "We had a job to do, an obligation, and we did it. I was hardly the only one". Travis died at age 93 in 2006.

The Trading Card Database | Cecil Travis Gallery

 

[67RedSox]

It was on this date in 1925 Babe Ruth is pinch-hit for in the only time in his career when Bobby Veach subs for the Babe who is suffering from a sore back. Veach, no slouch with a bat, flies outs.
As the clean-up hitter on one of the strongest offensive teams of his day, Bobby Veach was one of the truly great RBI men of the late Dead-Ball Era, easily leading the Major Leagues in runs driven in over the twelve years, 1913 to 1924, that he was a full time player. Veach drove in over 100 runs in a season six times, hit 30 or more doubles eight times and smacked ten or more triples ten years in a row. In all, Veach played for 14 ML seasons and hit .300 or better ten times, finishing with a lifetime .310 batting average. Veach was the Tigers left fielder for more than 11 years but was overshadowed by Hall of Fame teammates Sam Crawford, Ty Cobb, and, later, Harry Heilmann. In 1919 he topped the AL in hits, doubles, and triples but finished second to Cobb in the AL batting race, hitting .355 to Cobb's .384.

August 9, 1925 Chicago White Sox at New York Yankees Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

Bobby Veach-One For The Hall | Baseball Revisited

It was on this date in 1946 all games are played at night for the first time in ML history‚ 4 in the AL and 4 in the NL. Attendance is close to 200‚000‚ with the Yankees at the top of the list with 63‚040 at the Stadium. Here's what a night game at Yankee Stadium in 1946 looked like:

https://www.google.ca/search?q=1946...-in-new-york-yankees-history-528.html;500;382

From 1943 until 1956 Connie Desmond broadcast Brooklyn Dodger baseball games. Broadcasting in the Minor Leagues Mel Allen was impressed enough with Desmond that he asked him to come to New York City as his sidekick in 1942. After one year, he left and joined with Red Barber on the Dodgers broadcasts. During the 1943 season, Barber and Desmond were the only voices of baseball in New York; the Giants and Yankees suspended broadcasts that year for unknown reasons. Desmond remained with the Dodgers until 1956, teaming with Barber (1943–1953), Ernie Harwell (1948–1949), and finally as second banana to Vin Scully (1950–1956). Desmond battled alcoholism for many years, and frequently missed games because he was too drunk to go on the air. Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley finally lost patience with him and fired him before the 1955 World Series—thus missing a chance to call the Dodgers' only world title on the East Coast. Desmond asked for and got another chance in 1956 but on this date in 1956 he was fired for good after several more absences. He was succeeded by Jerry Doggett. That was 56 years ago and Scully is still going strong.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=conn...ully-la0004812135-20120402-photo.html;899;506

It was on this date in 1979 longtime Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley dies at age 75. He became owner in 1950 and in 1958 he brought ML baseball to the West Coast, moving the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and coordinating the move of the New York Giants to San Francisco at a time when there were no teams west of Kansas City, Missouri.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=walt...2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2F30anderson.html;600;364

It was on this date in 1988 the first night game is played at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Cubs defeat the Mets 6-4.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=firs...-field-you-dont-look-a-day-over-99%2F;630;354

Although he had but 158 At-Bats in the Majors spread over 8 seasons from 1947-1954 he won two World Series Rings…with the Yankees in 1947 and in 1952. He won 2 more Rings as the World Series winning Manager in 1961 and 1962…his first two seasons managing in the Majors. Ralph Houk was born on this date in 1919 and although he played in only 29 full games during his career he managed more than 3,000.

Baseball in Wartime - Ralph Houk

 

[67RedSox]

It was on this date in 1896 HOF’er Nap Lajoie made his ML debut. Before Babe Ruth, before Ty Cobb, before Walter Johnson there was Napoleon Lajoie. The first superstar in American League history, Napoleon Lajoie combined graceful, effortless fielding with powerful, fearsome hitting to become one of the greatest all-around players of the Deadball Era, and one of the best second basemen of all time. At 6'1" and 200 pounds, Lajoie possessed an unusually large physique for his time, yet when manning the keystone sack he was wonderfully quick on his feet, threw like chain lightning, and went over the ground like a deer. But he was even more memorable in the batter's box, where the right-hander captured four (or five) batting titles, including a modern-era record .426 mark for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1901, won the first Triple Crown in American League history, and finished with a lifetime .338 batting average. An expert bunter who was capable of hitting the ball to all fields, Lajoie was nonetheless completely undisciplined at the plate, regularly swinging at pitches down at his ankles or up at his eyebrows, and occasionally thwarting attempts to intentionally walk him by reaching out for those pitches, too.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=nap+...A%2F%2Fnoclexington.com%2F%3Fp%3D9343;812;582

What were you doing 80 years ago today? In 1934 the seating capacity of Fenway Park was about 37,000 and today it’s about the same. On this date in 1934 while making a farewell appearance in Boston‚ Babe Ruth playing for the Yankees draws a record 46‚766 fans‚ with an estimated 20‚000 turned away at Fenway Park where he began his career as a pitcher 20 years earlier. Ruth singles and doubles in the first game‚ but the Yankees lose to Wes Ferrell 6-4. Two walks hold him to one official at bat in the 2nd game‚ which the Yankees win‚ 7-1‚ and he leaves the field to standing cheers in the 8th inning.

August 12, 1934 New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

August 12, 1934 New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

The St. Louis Browns were, for the majority of their 52 seasons, a hapless baseball team. They did go to the World Series once in 1944. They did have a Rookie of the Year Award winner, Roy Sievers, OFer in 1949, they had one MVP’er in George Sisler 1B in 1922 and four different pitchers tossed No-Hitters wearing a Browns uniform but most seasons were closer to their worst (1939) when they finished at 43-111 than their best (1922) when they finished 93-61. Perhaps no other single game defines the Browns than the 2nd game of a doubleheader they played on this date in 1948 when the Cleveland Indians defeated them 26-3. A record fourteen players have hits for the Indians in the game.

August 12, 1948 Cleveland Indians at St. Louis Browns Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

Can you name the only player to lead the League, any League, in HRs in 8 different seasons. Here’s a clue…he never played in the Majors nor was he ever invited to try out for a Major League team. You can immediately drop 18,337 names as possible answers. Give up…who wouldn’t…the answer is Ken Guettler and on this date in 1956 he sets the Texas League mark with his 56th HR. He will finish the season with 62 and win the League’s Rookie of the Year Award ( beating out future HOF’er Brooks Robinson ) and the League MVP Award ( beating out future AL ROTY Award winner, Albie Pearson ).

Article | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball

It was on this date in 1963 Stan the Man announces he will retire at the end of that season.

The Free Lance-Star - Google News Archive Search

On this date in 1965 the San Francisco Giants ride the long-ball to a 4-3 win over the Pirates in the 1st game of a doubleheader at Candlestick Park. In the 6th inning the Giants RF’er Jay Alou cranks a 2-run shot to put the Giants up 3-1 but it will take another HR by the Giants RF’er in the 8th inning to win it. Yes, the HR is hit by Alou but not Jay Alou but brother, Matty Alou, who came in to play RF in the top of the 8th.

August 12, 1965 Pittsburgh Pirates at San Francisco Giants Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

 

[67RedSox]

It’s only fitting the Majors most evenly played game of all time ends in a tie. On this date in 1910 the Pirates and Brooklyn ( back in the days when they were known as the Superbas ) in the second game of a doubleheader each have 8 runs‚ 13 hits‚ 38 at bats‚ 5 strikeouts‚ 3 walks‚ 1 hit batter‚ 1 passed ball‚ 13 assists‚ 27 putouts‚ 2 errors‚ and use 2 pitchers. Darkness ends the game before the symmetry does.

Last night the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Braves 4-2 in a game that took just under 3 hours to play. I didn’t see the game but from the box score it appears to have been a pretty typical game by MLB standards today with the Dodgers making 4 pitching changes and the Braves 3. Mule Watson pitched for the same Braves back in the 1920’s when they played out of Boston and I wonder what he would have thought had he been sitting in the stands watching last night’s game. For sure he’d be surprised how long it takes to play 9 innings of the Grand Old Game today and how many pitching changes are made for you see on this date in 1921 his Braves take both ends of a doubleheader from the Phillies by scores on 4-3 and 8-0 and he pitched complete game Wins in each and both games combined take just over 3 hours to play…the first 1:41 and the second 1:25.

Mule Watson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

August 13, 1921 Philadelphia Phillies at Boston Braves Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

August 13, 1921 Philadelphia Phillies at Boston Braves Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

Shortstop Lewis Everett “Deacon” Scott was the steady infield leader of championship Red Sox and Yankee teams of the 1910s and 1920s. Beginning June 20, 1916, and ending May 6, 1925, he played in 1,307 consecutive games, which was the ML record until Lou Gehrig and then Cal Ripken broke it. Not only was Scott an accomplished ballplayer, but he also wrote a children’s book and became a skilled bowler. Although he was never seriously considered for baseball’s Hall of Fame, Scott was considered to be the finest shortstop of his time. After winning three WS Rings with the Red Sox in 1915, 1916 and 1918 he, like so many other Red Sox players, was traded to the Yankees to form the backbone of their great teams of the 1920’s. His streak of playing in 1,307 consecutive games must have been challenged several times over its run. On this date in 1922 it was when the Yankee shortstop nearing the 1‚000 consecutive games played mark needs to take an extra effort to keep the streak alive. He spends $40 to hire a car to get to Chicago in time for the game after a train he is on is wrecked. In today’s $ that’s $567.48 so it was more than just a ride of a couple of blocks.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=ever...p%3Facct_num%3D15015452036%26stop%3D5;325;518

1926 was Walter Johnson’s next to last season pitching in the Majors so it was his 20th ML season and he had 409 Wins under his belt by that time so he obviously knew how to pitch. One of his secrets was keeping the ball in the park and in 7 of his 21 seasons he gave up either 1 (4 times) or 0 (3 times) HRs in a season. It was on this date in 1926 Lou Gehrig tags him for 2 HRs in the same game… only the 2nd and final time a player hit 2 HRs off him in the same game. The only other player to touch Johnson up for 2 HRs in a single game was Jack Fournier in 1914. Fournier was considered one of the premier power hitters in baseball. Fournier in his prime was often mentioned as a hitter in the same breath with such contemporaries as Ruth and Hornsby, he was equally renowned for a much more dubious distinction: He was one of the worst fielders in the game.

August 13, 1926 New York Yankees at Washington Senators Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

The Trading Card Database | Jack Fournier Gallery

On this date in 1948 the Philadelphia Phillies make 13,122 home field fans happy when every player in the starting line-up gets on base and scores a run in the 1st inning before an out is recorded. What’s the chances you’ll ever see that happen again. The Phillies beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the game, 12-7.

August 13, 1948 New York Giants at Philadelphia Phillies Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

It was on this date in 1969 Jim Palmer tosses an 8-0 No-Hitter against the Oakland Athletics, the last Orioles pitcher to toss a No-No although 4 pitchers did combine for one in 1991. The HP Umpire in that game was Lou DiMuro whose son, Mike was an umpire for Roy Halladay's 2010 perfect game.

August 13, 1969 Oakland Athletics at Baltimore Orioles Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com
It was on this date in 1979 Lou Brock collects his 3,000 hit a single off Dennis Lamp‚ as the Cardinals top the Cubs‚ 3-2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsOBrkf9TBQ

If you were around in 1965 you’ll remember Jim “Mudcat” Grant, and his 21 Wins for the Twins and then his 2 Wins in one of the Game’s best World Series of all-time when the Dodgers and Twins went to 7 games and Sandy Koufax and Sweet Lou Johnson being the difference. Mudcat Grant was born on this date in 1935 and with his 21 Wins that season became the member of the 3rd member of the Black Aces ( African American pitchers to win 20 games in a season ) after Don Newcombe and Sam Jones and just eight days ahead of Bob Gibson. He could also swing a bat a la his HR below in the 1965 World Series.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=jim+...ashback-jim-mudcat-grant-homers.html;1011;745

It was on this date in 1995 Mickey Mantle died.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=news...F08%2F18%2Fseeking-mantle-memories%2F;480;345

 

[67RedSox]

It was on this date in 1887 St. Louis Browns P Dave Foutz suffers a broken thumb when hit by a line drive. When he eventually returns to pitching‚ he will be ineffective. He’ll continue to pitch occasionally but spends another 9 years in the Majors as an outfielder. How good a pitcher was he…his career W-L record was 147-66 leaving him with a Winning % of .690, 3rd best all-time, tied with Whitey Ford.
If someone asked me to name the Top 5 Pitchers in the history of MLB as far as Lifetime Winning % goes ( Minimum 150 Decisions ) I’d know only one pitcher, other than Foutz, for sure, Whitey Ford and make the following comment…I bet you have to go back before our time to name the others. I would be correct on Ford whose Winning % of .690 on a record of 236-106 would rank him tied for 3rd overall. My comment about having to go way back for the others is correct for 3 of the other 4.
Al Spalding @ .795 is 1st overall with a record of 252-65, all but 1 of those Wins coming in his six full seasons. Averaging 42 Wins a season ain’t bad.
#2 is a no-nonsense, take-charge hurler who went after opposing hitters as if they were mortal enemies. The intensity with which he patrolled the area around the pitching rubber sent a clear message to the batter: I will not lose. You will have to beat me. The Ace in the NY Yankees rotation prior to Ford’s arrival, Spud Chandler is the guy. Despite a late start and an uncooperative elbow, the blue-eyed, blond-haired Georgian was on six World Series championship teams. He won an American League Most Valuable Player Award and set a modern record for career Winning % that still stands. Chandler threw just about every pitch, and he threw every pitch as if it might be his last, a possibility that loomed over him for most of his big-league career. His record 109-43 works out to a Winning % of .717 and no one has touched that mark since.
That leaves Bob Caruthers, all 5’ 7” and 138 lbs of him who tossed for the St. Louis Browns and Brooklyn in the 1880s and 1890s whose mark of 218-99 -.688 earns him a spot in the Top 5.

A.G. Spalding

https://www.google.ca/search?q=spud...d-series-highlights-card-41-67.mojito;600;441

Dave Foutz - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Whitey Ford 1956 Topps #240

https://www.google.ca/search?q=bob+...seball%2Fitem%2F1571-23-bob-caruthers;316;496

It was on this date in 1915, in the first matchup of Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson‚ the Babe comes away the winner‚ 4-3. He also goes 2-for-3 and scores a Boston run in the come from behind victory. Ruth is hitting .370‚ 2nd in the AL behind Cobb.

August 14, 1915 Washington Senators at Boston Red Sox Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

It was on this date in 1958 the 7th place Dodgers draw just 6‚195‚ the smallest regular-season crowd in LA history‚ as Don Drysdale tops the Cubs 7-3 at the Coliseum. Duke Snider and Jim Gilliam hit HRs for the winners. The smallest Dodger Stadium crowd‚ 6‚559‚ will show up on September 13‚ 1976. On the same date but across the country in Cleveland Vic Power, renowned for his glove but not his speed and who will have a total of only three stolen bases for thes season, becomes the first player in 70 years to steal home twice in one game. The 1B's tenth-inning theft of the dish ends the game, giving the Indians a 10-9 'slide-off' victory over the Tigers.

August 14, 1958 Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

https://www.google.ca/search?q=vic+...ogs-a-perfect-combination-4910555.php;628;409

It was on this date in 1971 Bob Gibson tosses a No-Hitter as the Cardinals beat the Pirates, 11-0, the largest margin of victory ever in franchise history for a no-no. The first no-hitter in Pittsburgh in 64 years, and the first in the year-old Three Rivers Stadium, is made possible thanks to outstanding defensive plays made by outfielder Jose Cruz and third baseman Joe Torre.

August 14, 1971 St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

Mark “The Bird” Fidrych was born on this date in 1954 and HOF’er , Pee Wee Reese dies on this date in 1999.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=mark..._fidrych_54_pitcher_entralled_fans%2F;539;319

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTaGj_JQDrk

 

[67RedSox]

Honest John Clapp and Pete Rose have something in common. They were both Player/Managers of the Cincinnati Reds although 100 years apart. Clapp was the first Player/Manager in the Majors when he guided the Middletown Mansfields of the National Association in 1872. Middletown is situated midway between Hartford and New Haven, which perhaps explains it name. It tried to compete with the major cities like Boston, Baltimore and New York but couldn’t and folded after a single season. Clapp ended up as a Player/manager for five different NL teams including the Cincinnati Reds in 1880. Rose was, of course, the last Player/Manager in the Majors with the Reds in 1986. The last Player/Manager in the AL was Don Kessinger of the White Sox in 1979.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=john...ia.org%2Fwiki%2FJohn_Clapp_(baseball);200;297

https://www.google.ca/search?q=pete...in-the-history-of-every-mlb-franchise;350;272

https://www.google.ca/search?q=don+...84046-gambo-t_wil1-photopack-971.html;445;560

Ornithology and Baseball have nothing in common except for the Orioles, Blue Jays and Cardinals. Having said that why not continue with the Toledo Mud Hens. The American Coot is a bird commonly mistaken to be a duck. It lives in the Pacific and southwestern United States and Mexico year-round and occupies more northeastern regions during the summer breeding season and builds its nest in the water. It is also known as the “Mud Hen” and if you’re wondering where the Toledo Mud Hens name ever originated from, now you know. The Mud Hens era began in 1896 and were originally called the Swamp Angels but because they played near where the Mud hens nested they were dubbed the Mud Hens and have been so called ever since. Toledo, and specifically its ballpark…Armory Park, holds an important spot in baseball history. Charles J. Strobel is called the Father of Baseball in Toledo with good reason. He had the vision to build Toledo’s landmark park, Armory Park, more than a century ago. And he built it downtown. Here’s a couple of Amory Park, circa 1897 inside and out.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=armo...sabr.org%2Fbioproj%2Fpark%2F30843621;1024;707

https://www.google.ca/search?q=armo...%2Farchive%2Findex.php%2Ft-87285.html;615;454

Where were you in 1956, if anywhere. Mickey mantle and Duke Snider opposed each other in the World Series that year. It was the last time the NL and AL Homerun leaders faced off against each other in a World Series. Mantle hit 3 of the Yankees 12 HRs in that Series, Snider hit 1 of the Dodgers 3.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=mant...bcgallery.com%2Findividual%2F620.html;750;589

I think it’s called irony…Juan Marichal, one of the most outstanding pitchers in San Francisco Giant's history, actually pitched his last game as a member of the long-time rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Duke Snider, one of the greatest sluggers in Dodger's history actually played his final game for the Giants.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=mari...igned-8x10-Photo-Auto-%2F111415714145;300;242

Clay Carroll pitched 15 seasons in the Majors and went to the World Series with the Reds three times winning a Ring in 1975. He seldom coughed up a HR and over his career no single batter ever hit more than 2 off him. Oddly, he only gave up 2 Grandslams and they were both in the same season and to the same player…Steve Garvey.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=clay...2Fbrowse.php%3Fcatid%3D142%26page%3D5;818;997

Do you know who the only pitcher to toss a No-Hitter at Camden Yards - it’s the same guy who tossed the only No-Hitter at Coors Field…Hideo Nomo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqW-48gE7og

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7GSAhAWkSo

 

[67RedSox]

It was on this date in 1920, at the Polo Grounds, Cleveland SS Ray Chapman‚ 29‚ is beaned by a Carl Mays pitch. A righthanded batter who crowds the plate‚ Chapman freezes and fails to get out of the way of the submarine delivery. He is carried from the field and dies the next day from a fractured skull. Mays‚ a surly‚ unpopular pitcher‚ will be the target of fans' and players' outrage. The incident has no effect on Mays's pitching. One week later he will blank Detroit 10-0‚ and go on to win 26 and lose 11. Joe Sewell will be called up to take Chapman's place‚ and for 14 years he will be the hardest man in Baseball to strike out.

» ?Killed by Pitched Ball?: Finding Ray Chapman on Chronicling America Ohio Memory

It was on this date in 1927 Babe Ruth…who else…becomes the first player to hit a HR over the roof of the new constructed LF Grandstand at Chicago’s Comiskey Park.

Golden Rankings: Baseball Vignettes IV

It was on this date in 1948 Babe Ruth dies of throat cancer in New York at the age of 53.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/67827566@N00/4705173896/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJX4SPAf9rs

On this date in 1961 the Los Angeles Dodgers begin the day with a 1 game lead on the Cincinnati Reds and hosting the Reds in a doubleheader at the Memorial Coliseum. 72‚140‚ a record crowd for a NL doubleheader watches as the Reds sweep the Dodgers to move into 1st Place where they will stay for the rest of the year. The Dodgers fail to score a run, for the first time in a doubleheader since 1935, and collect only 6 hits in the two games losing 6-0 and 8-0 first on a Bob Purkey 4-hitter and then on a Jim O’Toole 2-hitter.

August 16, 1961 Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

August 16, 1961 Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

In his 31 Win season pitching on the road didn’t bother Denny McLain as on this date in 1968 he improves his road record to 16-0 when he blanks the Red Sox in Boston, 4-0. Tigers C Bill Freehan is hit by a pitch in 3 consecutive at bats‚ painfully tying a ML record. McLain will finish the season 17-2 on the road and 14-4 at home.

August 16, 1968 Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

In his 17 seasons in the Majors Boog Powell had only 2 seasons where he stole more than 1 base. Slow afoot and Powell just went together. Powell, could however hit HRs with the best of them and in his career he smacked 339 HRs with 338 leaving the park on the fly. It was on this date in 1969 when Seattle's Sick’s Stadium shakes as the 250-pound Powell legs out his only inside-the-park homer in the 9th inning against ex-teammate Steve Barber. That season Powell win finish runner-up to Harmon Killebrew in the MVP race in the AL but will win the MVP Award the following season.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=boog...ell-15-Baseball-Card-Value-Prices.htm;267;386

50 years ago today, on this date in 1964 there were 8 future HOF’ers hit HRs in a ML game…Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Bill Mazeroski, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Eddie Mathews and Frank Robinson.

 

[67RedSox]

It was on this date in 1929 the New York Yankees made one of their best acquisitions of all-time when they purchased Lefty Gomez for $45,000.00 from San Francisco of the Pacific Coast League. In addition to being one of the best pitchers of his time with 5 WS Rings he is considered to have had one of the best senses of humour, examples being… he attributed his success to “clean living and a fast outfield.” Once after an inning in which three hard hit balls were run down and caught by his outfielders, he said, “I’d rather be lucky than good.” He even added to the permanent language of Baseball, originating the term “gopher ball.” It happened during his rookie year in 1930 when Gomez was explaining after an outing in which he had given up several home runs, that his outfielders were required to “go fer” one ball after another. When Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon in 1969, and he and NASA scientists were puzzled by an unidentified white object. Upon hearing of it, Lefty said, “I knew immediately what it was. It was a home run ball hit off me in 1937 by Jimmie Foxx.” Lefty was not inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame until 1972 when he was a unanimous selection of the Veteran’s Committee. When notified, Lefty said, “It’s only fair. After all, I helped a lot of hitters get in.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqNJkZtIOXw

What’s the chances…It was on this date in 1957 that in the Phils 3-1 win over New York‚ Richie Ashburn‚ known for his ability to foul pitches off‚ hits spectator Alice Roth twice in the same at bat. The first foul breaks her nose‚ and the 2nd one hits her while she is being removed from her seat on a stretcher.

» Alice Roth Philly Sports History

Back-to-back HRs to lead off a game is rare but it does happen…even to the best of pitchers. It was on this date in 1958 Curt Flood and Gene Freese‚ the first two Cardinal batters‚ blast home runs off Dodger Sandy Koufax‚ who lasts but 1 1/3 innings. It's the 5th time in NL history the first 2 batters in a game have homered.

August 17, 1958 St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

It was on this date in 1966 Willie mays hits his 535 career HR to take over 2nd place all-time, behind only Babe Ruth. The 4th inning blast off of Ray Washburn of the Cardinals moves him ahead of Jimmie Foxx. Seven years later to the day, on this date in 1973 he will hit his 660th and last off of Don Gullett of the Reds at Shea Stadium, a different ballpark but same city in which he hit his first career HR 22 years earlier...off of another HOF'er Warren Spahn.

May 28, 1951 Boston Braves at New York Giants Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

August 17, 1966 St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

August 17, 1973 Cincinnati Reds at New York Mets Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

It was on this date in 1986, 28 years ago that Pete Rose makes his final ML playing appearance‚ striking out as a pinch hitter against Goose Gossage.

August 17, 1986 San Diego Padres at Cincinnati Reds Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

 

[67RedSox]

On this date in 1921 Ty Cobb collects his 3,000th hit. At 34‚ he's the youngest ever to do so and the 4th to reach that plateau after Cap Anson, Honus Wagner and Nap Lajoie. 24 more have since reached the milestone. 3,000 hits does not ensure a .300 Batting Average as 10 of the 28 players to reach the mark have BA’s ranging from .276 ( Cal Ripken ) to .297 ( Al Kaline ).

https://www.google.ca/search?q=ty+c...remembering-ten-jerkiest-moments%2F;3626;3059

3,000 hit club - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On this date in 1925 Lefty O’Doul went 5 for 6 in a Pacific Coast League game for the Salt Lake City Bees. I mention this because I generally find any excuse to mention his name and also say, again, there is no reason for him not being in the Hall of Fame. Incidentally, O’Doul hit .375 for the Bees that seasons and collected 309 base hits ( 198 games – 825 At-Bats ). In case anyone thinks he was just a Minor League hitter his lifetime Minor League Batting Average was .347 while his Major League mark, backed by 2 NL Batting Crowns, was .349

https://www.google.ca/search?q=left...utzinger.com%2Fleftys-love-affair%2F;2285;932

It was on this date in 1951 the man who would become famous for his 1 MLB Plate Appearance, Eddie Gaedel, is walked on 4 pitches.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=eddi...embers-eddie-gaedel-and-bill-veeck%2F;883;706

It was on this date in 1955 Robin Roberts wins his 20th game of the season and it marked the 6th consecutive season he has done so. Only Roberts, Ferguson Jenkins and Warren Spahn are in that select group, Post WWII.

August 19, 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

It was on this date in 1965, in a magnificent performance‚ Reds P Jim Maloney's records his 2nd 10-inning no-hit effort of the year. It is another 0-0 duel through 9 innings‚ until Reds SS Leo Cardenas homers off the LF foul pole in the 10th at Wrigley Field. Maloney sets a no-hit record by allowing 10 walks‚ and fans 12 in Cincinnati's 1-0 win. Pitch count that day for Maloney was 187.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoE6-JbGRDc

It was on this date in 1969 the Cubs Ken Holtzman (14-7) pitches the 5th no-hitter of 1969. Ron Santo's 3-run HR off Phil Niekro provides Chicago with a 3-0 win against Atlanta. Holtzman is the first pitcher to toss a no-hitter with 0 strikeouts since Sam Jones in 1923. LF Billy Williams‚ with his back against the vines‚ hauls in Aaron's drive in the 7th to preserve the no-hitter. ( Go to the 8:57 minute mark of the video below )

Memorable Moments In Chicago Sports ? Media Burn Archive

 

[67RedSox]

Despite his having a .375 batting average including back-to-back-to-back seasons of .387, .408 and .395 the Indians, due to money troubles, trade the supremely gifted in his baseball ability and supremely limited in his ability to deal with real life, Shoe Joe Jackson, to the Chicago White Sox on this date in 1915.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJkbkm7o6Wc

In his 4 year ML career at the end of the Dead-Ball Era outfielder, Joe Wilhoit, hit a disappointing .257 and that bought him a ticket to the Minors. In his brief stay in the Majors he did play for four different ML teams and got to a World Series with the Giants in 1917. In 1919 he began the year with the Braves in Boston but only for 6 games. Off to Wichita in the Western League he was dispatched. He must have had an epiphany for he accomplished there what Baseball America calls "the most significant on-field event" in the Minor Leagues in the 1911-1920 decade. Joe started to hit and for almost 10 weeks did not stop. He didn't simply break the old record of hitting safely in 45 consecutive games set by Jack Ness at Oakland in 1915. He nuked it. For 69 consecutive games Joe hit safely and it was on his date in 1919 the streak comes to an end. During the streak he collected 155 hits in 299 at bats for a .505 batting average and finished the season with a .422 average, best not only in the Western League that summer but in all of organized baseball. He also led the league in runs and hits.
Only twice in later years did anyone threaten the Wilhoit successive-game hitting streak. Joe DiMaggio as an 18-year-old rookie hit safely in 61 successive games in 1933 at San Francisco of the Pacific Coast League. Then it was DiMaggio again who set the major league record of 56 consecutive games in 1941 with the Yankees, surpassing Willie Keeler's major league mark of 44 straight. It’s now been 95 years and the mark still stands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4oCHJ1C9h4

It was on this date in 1923 at Comiskey Park‚ the Yankees are winning a laugher‚ 16-5‚ when a dog wanders onto left field in the 9th inning. Babe Ruth briefly plays with the pup‚ then tosses his mitt to chase it away. The dog promptly grabs the mitt and takes off at the same moment that Sox rookie pitcher Paul Castner lofts a fly to left. Babe casually catches the fly bare handed. Ruth would hit .393 that year and entered the game above .401.

August 20, 1923 New York Yankees at Chicago White Sox Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

Ever hear of Tony Freitas? The 5'8" southpaw had a 12-5 rookie year with the A's in 1932. With the Reds on July 1, 1934, he lost a thrilling 17-inning duel to Dizzy Dean of the Cardinals. Freitas was the winningest lefthander in Minor League history, with 342 career victories, mostly for Sacramento (Pacific Coast League), and was selected by the Society of American Baseball Research in 1984 as the all-time best Minor League pitcher. On this date in 1931 is let out of jail to pitch for Sacramento in a Pacific Coast League game. He wins‚ and then returns to finish a 5-day sentence for speeding.

The Sacramento Solons -- Tony Freitas

At the moment the Nelson Cruz (32) and Adam Jones (23) are the teammates with the most HRs in the Majors…55. On this date in 1961 Maris bangs his 49th and Mantle his 46th as those two teammates lead the Majors with 95 HRs.

August 20, 1961 New York Yankees at Cleveland Indians Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

On this date in 1963 the NY Mets finally have something to cheer about…22-year-old rookie Grover Powell beats the Phils with a 4-0 shutout in his first ML start. Short-lived, as in his next start he'll be hit on the cheek by a line drive off the bat of Pittsburgh's Donn Clendenon and never win another game.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=grov...ndom-photo-colorizations-cards-8.html;377;525

 

[67RedSox]

On this date in 1931 Babe Ruth slams HR # 600 off George Blaeholder of the St. Louis Browns‚ as the Yankees win 11-7. Lou Gehrig homers immediately after the Babe's historic blow. In their 10 years as teammates‚ they will homer in the same inning 19 times and in the same game 72 times. Ruth and Gehrig would end up 1931 tied for the HR lead, each with 46 but their combined 347 RBIs was and still is the record for RBIs by teammates in a single season.

August 21, 1931 New York Yankees at St. Louis Browns Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

1931 New York Yankees Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com

It has been almost 69 years since the final out in the 1945 World Series was made. Surprisingly there are two players from that Series still alive. Is either well known outside their own family…I would say not. Lenny Merullo, now 97 years old, was the Chicago Cubs shortstop in 1945 but Roy Hughes started in the WS ahead of him. Merullo got just 2 At-Bats in the Series however he did play in the Series and enjoys the distinction of being the only NL’er who has played in a WS as long ago as that. On the AL side the player is even more obscure…Ed Mierkowicz. He came up to the Tigers at the end of the season and managed to get into 10 games with 15 At-Bats. Yet, he was on the World Series roster. The 1945 World Series went 7 games for a total of 63 innings. Mierkowicz watched the first 62 ½ innings from the bench. Then in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 7 with the Tigers comfortably leading 9-3 the Manager of the Tigers Steve O’Neill lets Mierkowicz go in and play LF. He played a total of ½ an inning and never came to the plate however he has a WS Ring, like the one below, and is still alive at age 90 to talk about it.

1945 World Series - Detroit Tigers over Chicago Cubs (4-3) | Baseball-Reference.com

https://www.google.ca/search?q=lenn...t-Card-Lennie-Merullo-%2F270744887001;600;431

The kid who replaced Hank Greenberg

WorldSeriesRings.net - 1945

Tuffy Rhodes was born on this date in 1968. His ML career was modest. He played in but 225 ML games with three different teams and hit 224 with 13 HRs. Among those 13 HRs were 3 he hit on Opening Day in 1994 off Doc Gooden and thereby became the first National League player, and to date the only NL’er, to hit three HRs on Opening Day. His HR hitting exploits were just starting though. After his ML career fizzled in 1995 he headed West, so far West he ended up in the Near East playing in Japan in 1996 and Rhodes is the all-time leader for foreign-born players, and tied for 10th overall, with 474 home runs in Japan. In the 2001 season, he hit his 55th homer to tie Sadaharu Oh's Japanese League single season home run record, set in 1964. For the rest of the season, opposing pitchers intentionally walked Rhodes to prevent him from breaking Oh's record. The following year, Alex Cabrera tied the record.

April 4, 1994 New York Mets at Chicago Cubs Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

Tuffy Rhodes Japanese League Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com

Chief Wilson was born on this date in in 1883. Wilson was powerfully built at 6’2” and 185 lbs, not particularly fast and he typically batted sixth or seventh in the batting order but in 1912 he hit 36 triples which is not only a ML record, but also a record for all of organized baseball. Wilson blasted his triples over the heads of rival outfielders. "A three-base hit may usually be made only by driving the ball clear to the fence, particularly toward center field on most grounds," he once said.

Chief Wilson Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com

Baseball Roundtable ? Baseball's like life-only better

 

[67RedSox]

In the 17 years “The Earl of Baltimore” (Earl Weaver) managed the Baltimore Orioles they had a winning % of .583 or the equivalent of 94 Wins per season. During his time, there was not another Manager who could match his 1,480 Wins ( Sparky Anderson came close ). Something the Baltimore Manager also did more often than anyone else was get tossed from ballgames…a total of 94 times. His tirades with umpires are classic. His fuse for tolerating their “errors” when calling balls and strikes was as short as he was. About 100 years before Weaver was managing in Baltimore Billy Barnie managed them for 9 seasons from 1883 to 1891. On this date in 1888 Barnie was thrown out of a game for calling the Umpire a “stinker”. Any Umpire in Weaver’s time would have loved it if that’s as abusive as Weaver got.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=earl...ing-goodbye-to-earl-weaver-36783.html;300;235

Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers - Billie Barnie Photo Gallery

On this date in 1961 Roger Maris becomes the first player to hit his 50th HR before September. Previously, the quickest to do so were Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx who both reached 50 on September 4th.

August 22, 1961 New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels Box Score and Play by Play | Baseball-Reference.com

https://www.google.ca/search?q=roge...e.com%2F1%2F3%2F1961-roger-maris.html;666;500

If you were around in the mid 1960’s there’s no way you don’t remember this…it was on this date in 1965 San Francisco's Juan Marichal‚ batting against LA's Sandy Koufax‚ complains that C John Roseboro's return throws are too close. He then turns and attacks Roseboro with his bat. A 14-minute brawl ensues before Koufax‚ Willie Mays‚ and other peacemakers can restore order. Roseboro suffers a considerable cut on the head. Marichal is suspended 8 playing days and levied a NL-record $1‚750 fine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJq3AI_Vs0U

https://www.google.ca/search?q=juan...ers-%2522rogers-photo-lot49887.aspx;2985;1899

On this date in 1979 Johnny Bench slugs his 325th career HR in a game against the Expos. It’s his 325th homer‚ the most ever by a player in a Reds uniform. The previous club record of 324 was held by Frank Robinson. Robinson is still the runner-up with 324 to Bench’s final total which came in at 389.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=john...category%2Fjohnny-bench-collection%2F;666;545

Did you know that Jimmie Foxx is the only American League player to have six plate appearances and zero at-bats? In a show of true respect, he was walked six times on June 16, 1938. Perfect games happen a lot more often.National League players who share this record are: Miller Huggins of St. Louis on June 1, 1910; Pop Smith of Boston on April 17, 1890; Billy Urbanski of Boston on June 13, 1934; and Walt Wilmot of Chicago on August 22, 1891.

June 16, 1938 Boston Red Sox at St. Louis Browns Play by Play and Box Score | Baseball-Reference.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWWwaepGQig

It was on this date in 1989, on a 96 mph fastball, A's Rickey Henderson swings and misses, making Nolan Ryan the first pitcher and only major league pitcher to strike out 5000 batters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQgvr8ygb-U

Three HOF’ers are celebrating a birthday today. One, Ned Hanlon, ”The Father of Modern Baseball” was born on this date in 1857. The other two who are still roaming the Earth are…Carl Yastrrzemski who was born on this date in 1939 and Paul Molitor born on this date in 1951.

Hanlon, Ned | Baseball Hall of Fame

Yastrzemski, Carl | Baseball Hall of Fame

Molitor, Paul | Baseball Hall of Fame

 

[Silas]

Hello, Rockies fans.....hope you are all doing well.

I miss baseball already, but am looking forward to all the off-season fun.

A Hall of Fame vote for players from the Golden era is set for this year. My favorite all time player, Ken Boyer, is once again a candidate. He compares with HOF'er Ron Santo, so maybe this year will be his year.

I'm also hoping Gil Hodges is elected.

Take care, all.

 

[The Derski]

Where'd 67redsox go?

 

[67RedSox]

I'm back...took a few months off when the Grand Old Game had to take a backseat to other life issues that demanded attention. I'm sure there's no one left here but I'll ramble on anyway.

 

[TxHeat]

I'm back...took a few months off when the Grand Old Game had to take a backseat to other life issues that demanded attention. I'm sure there's no one left here but I'll ramble on anyway.

just wanted to say I like your name. what a team that was!

 

[67RedSox]

Chances are you’ve heard of Shoeless Joe Jackson. Chances are you have an opinion one way or the other as to whether his banishment from the Grand Old Game should be lifted. However, what are the chances you know who replaced Shoeless Joe in LF for the White Sox after Judge Landis gave him the boot. Well it was Bibb “Jockey” Falk who was born on this date in 1899. Shoeless Joe finished his ML career with a lifetime Batting Average of .356, 3rd highest in the history of the Game ranking behind only Messieurs Cobb (.366) and Hornsby (.358). It would be a tall order for anyone to replace a bat like that but Falk gave it a pretty good try finishing among League leaders with a mark of .356 in 1924 and .345 in 1926. His ML career ended after the 1931 season with a career average of .314 but his baseball career didn’t. Falk, a native of Austin, Texas returned to his native Austin where he gained greater renown as the Baseball coach at his alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin from 1940 to 1967 (with the exception of three years in the military during World War II). He led the school to 20 Southwest Conference championships and consecutive National titles in 1949 and 1950. The school's UFCU Disch-Falk Field is named for him and another coach, Billy Disch. Ah yes, the nickname “Jockey” was bestowed on him given his endless riding of opponents.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=bibb...Fwww.snipview.com%2Fq%2FBibb%2520Falk;640;800

https://www.google.ca/search?q=disc...u-disch-falk-field-texas-longhorns%2F;800;533

Casey Stengel had four stints managing in the Majors. Brooklyn Dodgers (1934-1936), Boston Braves (1938-1943) NY Yankees (1949-1960) and NY Mets (1962-195). After he was fired in Brooklyn he returned to Baseball in 1938 as Manager and part-owner of the Boston's perennially losing National League club, the Braves (a.k.a. the Bees ) but was given little support by Management. In Casey’s first year the Braves finished 5th in the 8 team NL but it only got worse thereafter with four straight 7th place finishes in 1939, 1940, 1941 and 1942. Just before the 1943 season, Casey was struck by a taxi as he tried to cross a street in Boston…his left leg was severely fractured and he developed a staph infection which required he spend six weeks in the hospital. Stengel never completely recovered from the accident. He always walked with a slight limp afterwards. He returned to manage the last 107 games, winning 47 and losing 60. On this date in 1944 something happened that saw Stengel’s exit from Boston… Lou Perini, Guido Rugo and Joe Maney, known as the 'Three Steam Shovels' due to their ties to the construction industry, gain ownership control of the Braves and the first thing Lou Perini did was let Casey know his services were no longer required as the team’s Manager. Technically Casey was not fired but instead chose to resign, collected his investment money, and returned home to California. His next job would be in the Big Apple when he was hired to be the Manager of the Yankees. How did that work out, you ask…well over the next 12 seasons the Yankees averaged 96 Wins a season ( in a 154 game schedule ) won 10 AL Pennants and 7 World Series titles. Alas, it just wasn’t enough. When Bill Mazeroski hit the Series winning HR in the 9th inning of the 1960 World Series it not only sunk the Yankees but served to get Stengel fired.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=case...est.com%2Fpin%2F384705993141084048%2F;736;937

https://www.google.ca/search?q=lou+...w.snipview.com%2Fq%2FLou%2520Perini;1675;1329

What do Don Mattingly and Ken Griffey Jr. have in common? They are the only AL’ers to hit HRs in 8 consecutive games, a record. The feat had been accomplished before, in 1956, by Dale Long who was the All-Star 1B for the Pittsburgh Pirates that season and who is still the only NL’er to accomplish the feat. Long, chose a Baseball career over an opportunity to play with the Green Bay Packers. Unlike Bibb Falk above who never played a day in the Minors it took Long 9 long years to become a regular in the Majors including the 1953 season when his 35HRs and 116 RBIs with the Hollywood Stars helped earn him the Pacific Coast League’s MVP Award. Although he collected 118 at-bats in 1951 and lost his rookie status it wasn’t until 1955, at age 29, he made it back to the Majors and in his first full season he led the NL with 13 triples. He was traded to the Cubs in the 1957 season and was the Cubs 1B in both of Ernie Banks’ MVP years, 1958 and 1959. In 1958 he became the first left-handed-throwing catcher since Jiggs Donahue in 1902 when he appeared in 2 games…wearing not a catcher’s mitt but a first baseman’s glove. He finished his career with the Yankees and won a Ring in 1962. Long died on this date in 1991 at after a long battle with cancer and was truly dedicated to the Game even after he retired as a player as he served as a Yankees coach and then Minor League umpire and executive.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=dale...%2Fwww.writeopinions.com%2Fdale-long;1099;730

The Ohio River flood took place in late January and into February 1937. One million people were left homeless and 385 died in the more than 600 mile stretch from Pittsburgh southwest to Cairo, Illinois. Cincinnati lies about midway between Piitsburgh and Cairo and it was not spared. It was on this date in 1937 Mill Creek overran its banks and Crosley Field, the then home of the Reds with its terraced outfield, felt the brunt of the flood. If a photo is worth 1,000 then the following says it all.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=cros...napshots.com%2Ftag%2Fcrosley-field%2F;517;410

https://www.google.ca/search?q=cros...http%3A%2F%2Fphanfare.com%2Ft%2FGHy4G;575;405

This and That:

- In 2014 Mike Trout plays his 4th Major League season. Despite this the Top 7 vote getters for the AL’s Rookie Of The Year for 2014 were all older than Trout.
- There have been 287 Major League No-Hitters throw. Ken Johnson of the Houston Colt 45s tossed one against the Cincinnati Reds on April 23, 1964 that’s unique. He is, so far, the only pitcher to lose a complete game nine-inning no-hitter. The Reds win 1-0 on two 9th inning errors.

Trivia Question: (Answer Tomorrow)

Can you name the only player in ML history to have a winning record every single season he pitched in the Majors ( minimum 10 seasons ). He’s a Hall of Famer!

 

[67RedSox]

It’s January 28th and that means it’s time to mention Bill Doak who was born on this date in 1891. Doak was a pitcher, primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals, whose career spanned both the Dead Ball and Live Ball Eras. He pitched 16 years in the Majors and won 169 games and to this day is among the career leaders in a number of pitching categories among Cardinal pitchers. He was a 20 Game winner and he also twice led the NL in ERA but that’s not what he’s remembered for. He’s remembered for two things. The first is something we’ve all slipped on or off our hand a thousand times…the baseball glove, or the “modern” baseball glove, the glove as we know it. The second had to do with allowing spitball pitchers to continue to use the pitch after it was banned in 1919. Doak played an active role in the successful campaign to grandfather pitchers like himself who already used the spitball from the new ban against "freak" pitches. Initially spitballers were to receive only one transition year, 1920, to use their wet delivery, but the owners reversed their stance and allowed Doak and 16 others to use the pitch for the remainder of their careers.
As for the “Doak” glove it was his most lasting contribution to Baseball. After the 1919 he approached the Rawlings Sporting Goods Company of St. Louis, where he played, about improving the design of the baseball glove, which to that point was meant mainly for hand protection, not functional fielding. He patented the Bill Doak Baseball glove design. Working with Rawlings production chief William P. Whitely, Doak came up with a revolutionary new design. He suggested to Rawlings that a web should be laced between the first finger and thumb, saying it would create a natural pocket. The Bill Doak glove soon replaced all other baseball gloves and is the standard to this day.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=bill...Ffg.cgi%3Fpage%3Dgr%26GRid%3D59661422;250;428

https://www.google.ca/search?q=doak...ovesmitts%2Fbilldoakbaseballglove.htm;600;514

I may as well also use Bill Doak to introduce one of the most historic baseball fields still in use today although, like us all, its appearance has undergone the odd change here and there. Doak was born in Pittsburgh but retired and died in Bradenton, Florida long before Central Florida became fashionable for anyone other than Baseball and Spring Training. Bill McKechnie, a contemporary of Doak’s was also born in Pittsburgh and retired to and died in Bradenton. McKechnie is in Baseball’s Hall of Fame for his contributions to the Game first as a player for 11 years (3B) but more for his 25 years a ML Manager His 1925 Pirates and 1940 Reds were World Series Champs. Bradenton is located on Florida’s Gulf coast between St. Pete’s to the north and Sarasota to the south. About 30 miles south of Tropicana Field where the Tampa Rays hang out during the baseball season is McKechnie Field named after Bill McKechnie and the Spring Training home of the Pirates. It was originally constructed in 1923 at a cost of $2,000.00 or less than you would pay for some seats at today’s Yankee Stadium. Original capacity was 2,000 but after two renovations over the years it’s now 8,500. The field is currently the oldest stadium used for spring training and some consider the facility to be Florida's version of Fenway Park. It is also the third oldest stadium currently used by a major league team after Fenway Park, built in 1912, and Wrigley Field in 1914. The Commissioner of Baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis attended Field's opening ceremonies. He was flown in on a biplane which landed in the outfield. Just about all of the greatest players in the Game over the past 90 years have played on this field.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=mcke...www.panoramio.com%2Fphoto%2F51107402;1024;768

https://www.google.ca/search?q=mcke...bradentons-mckechnie-field-charm.html;620;412

This and That:

Hall-Of-Famer Dave Winfield was born on October 3, 1951. It was the exact same day as Bobby Thompson’s “Shot heard ‘Round The World” at the Polo Grounds to win the NL Pennant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrI7dVj90zs

Pee Wee Reese played in 44 World Series games…they were all against the New York Yankees.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTaGj_JQDrk

Ron Hansen (AL Rookie of the Year in 1960) and Tim Cullen were both excellent examples of what was common in 1960s Shortstops…good fielding but didn’t hit for average. Hansen’s lifetime BA is .234 while Cullen came in at .220. Just prior to the start of the 1968 season there’s a trade between the Washington Senators who send Cullen to the White Sox and get Hansen in return. On August 2 of that same season there’s another trade between those two same teams. You got it…Hansen goes back to the White Sox and Cullen goes back to the Senators proving that in MLB you are allowed to change your mind.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=ron+...eballtoddsdugout.com%2Fronhansen.html;516;662

https://www.google.ca/search?q=tim+...com%2F2013%2F01%2Ftim-cullen-209.html;487;697

Trivia Question: ( Answer Tomorrow )

There have now been over 150 MLB uniform numbers retired. Who was the first player to have his uniform # retired?

The answer to yesterday’s trivia question…Babe Ruth (Can you name the only player in ML history to have a winning record every single season he pitched in the Majors ( minimum 10 seasons ). He’s a Hall of Famer! )