This Day In Baseball History

[RobToxin]

Happy 34th Anniversary: Disco Demolition Night - CBSSports.com

 

[TDs3nOut]

That was quite a fiasco! Amazing that no one was hurt. Can't say the same about ten-cent beer night in Cleveland in 1974, described in this article:

Cleveland Indians' Ten Cent Beer Night: The Worst Idea Ever | Bleacher Report

Also, when I first read the thread title I thought the first post was going to be about today (July 13th) being the 79th anniversary of the day that Babe Ruth hit his 700th HR, a fact the announcers mentioned during the game today. Thought I'd throw that out there in case anyone wants to continue the "this day in baseball history" theme of this thread.

 

[Taz_Hokie]

July 13th, 2013 - Tim Lincecum pitches a no hitter.

 

[TDs3nOut]

July 13th, 2013 - Tim Lincecum pitches a no hitter.

Good one. Very recent history. Would have seemed more likely to have happened a few years ago.

 

[romeo212000]

Good one. Very recent history. Would have seemed more likely to have happened a few years ago.

Goes to show what an anomaly a no-hitter is.

 

[$500 Million]

Home Runs On July 14th

Barry Bonds, 40 (2001)
Mark McGwire, 39 (1998)
Chris Davis 36 (2013)
Sammy Sosa 35 (1998)
Roger Maris 34 (1961)

 

[TDs3nOut]

Goes to show what an anomaly a no-hitter is.

Very true. A no-hitter definitely is an anomaly. So many things can go wrong to break one up.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Home Runs On July 14th

Barry Bonds, 40 (2001)
Mark McGwire, 39 (1998)
Chris Davis 36 (2013)
Sammy Sosa 35 (1998)
Roger Maris 34 (1961)

That's an interesting list. Helps put into context what Davis is doing this year. I also find it interesting that Maris is the only guy on the list for whom PEDs is not at least slightly an issue.

 

[TDs3nOut]

07/15/13 Cespedes becomes the only non-All-Star to ever win the HR Derby at the All-Star Game.

Only marginal baseball history? Probably. But the derby was pretty much the only game in town yesterday (unless, of course, one watched the celebrity softball game, perhaps to see Alyssa Milano take her cuts). Besides, it could keep the thread going.

 

[BigDDude]

07/15/13 Cespedes becomes the only non-All-Star to ever win the HR Derby at the All-Star Game.

Only marginal baseball history? Probably. But the derby was pretty much the only game in town yesterday (unless, of course, one watched the celebrity softball game, perhaps to see Alyssa Milano take her cuts). Besides, it could keep the thread going.

Here are a few itmes from today in baseball history that I thought were worth sharing here today.

1969 Rod Carew steals home for the seventh time this season establishing a new AL record tying Pete Reiser's major-league mark for swiping home in one season. After further research in 1991, the record is given back to Ty Cobb who had stolen home eight times in 1912.

1985 Marking its 21st victory in the last 23 Midsummer Classics, the National League beats the AL, 6-1. Sparky Anderson, who was the first manger to win 100 games in both the National and American Leagues, becomes the first skipper to lose an All-Star game in each league.

1990 Steve Lyons slides head first into first base to beat out a bunt. The play becomes memorable when the White Sox first baseman drops his pants to brush away the dirt inside his uniform in front of 14,770 fans at Tiger Stadium.

2003 At the age of 77, Minnie Minoso becomes the first player to play professional baseball in seven decades. The Cuban native, who played his last full season in 1963 with the White Sox, walks as the designated hitter for the St. Paul Saints against the Gary SouthShore RailCats in Northern League action, an independent minor league.

2006 Pitching two innings in New York's 6-4 victory over the White Sox, Mariano Rivera records his 400th career save. The Yankee closer becomes the fourth major leaguer to reach the milestone joining Lee Smith (478), Trevor Hoffman (460) and John Franco (424).

2006 At Wrigley Field, Mets outfielders Cliff Floyd and Carlos Beltran both hit grand slams during a franchise record 11-run inning in the sixth of the 13-7 defeat of the Cubs. It's only the seventh time in baseball history, a team has hit two bases-full home runs in one inning.

2009 Ryan Howard, playing in his 658th game, becomes the fastest player to hit 200 home runs when he goes deep off Chris Volstad with his solo shot in the sixth inning in team's 4-0 victory in Miami. The previous mark was held by Hall of Fame slugger Ralph Kiner, who played in 48 more contests than the 29 year-old Phillies first baseman to reach the plateau.

2010 In the first home game played at Yankee Stadium since the death of Bob Sheppard, the team honors his memory with the players donning commemorative patches on the left sleeve of their uniforms as a tribute. No public address announcements are made from the empty PA booth during the game against Tampa Bay.

2010 Bengie Molina becomes only the eighth major leaguer, and the first backstop since 1900, to hit a grand slam and a single, double and triple in the same game. The slow-footed catcher, the eighth Ranger to hit for the cycle, legs out an eighth-inning triple to complete the feat.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Here are a few itmes from today in baseball history that I thought were worth sharing here today.

1969 Rod Carew steals home for the seventh time this season establishing a new AL record tying Pete Reiser's major-league mark for swiping home in one season. After further research in 1991, the record is given back to Ty Cobb who had stolen home eight times in 1912.

1985 Marking its 21st victory in the last 23 Midsummer Classics, the National League beats the AL, 6-1. Sparky Anderson, who was the first manger to win 100 games in both the National and American Leagues, becomes the first skipper to lose an All-Star game in each league.

1990 Steve Lyons slides head first into first base to beat out a bunt. The play becomes memorable when the White Sox first baseman drops his pants to brush away the dirt inside his uniform in front of 14,770 fans at Tiger Stadium.

2003 At the age of 77, Minnie Minoso becomes the first player to play professional baseball in seven decades. The Cuban native, who played his last full season in 1963 with the White Sox, walks as the designated hitter for the St. Paul Saints against the Gary SouthShore RailCats in Northern League action, an independent minor league.

2006 Pitching two innings in New York's 6-4 victory over the White Sox, Mariano Rivera records his 400th career save. The Yankee closer becomes the fourth major leaguer to reach the milestone joining Lee Smith (478), Trevor Hoffman (460) and John Franco (424).

2006 At Wrigley Field, Mets outfielders Cliff Floyd and Carlos Beltran both hit grand slams during a franchise record 11-run inning in the sixth of the 13-7 defeat of the Cubs. It's only the seventh time in baseball history, a team has hit two bases-full home runs in one inning.

2009 Ryan Howard, playing in his 658th game, becomes the fastest player to hit 200 home runs when he goes deep off Chris Volstad with his solo shot in the sixth inning in team's 4-0 victory in Miami. The previous mark was held by Hall of Fame slugger Ralph Kiner, who played in 48 more contests than the 29 year-old Phillies first baseman to reach the plateau.

2010 In the first home game played at Yankee Stadium since the death of Bob Sheppard, the team honors his memory with the players donning commemorative patches on the left sleeve of their uniforms as a tribute. No public address announcements are made from the empty PA booth during the game against Tampa Bay.

2010 Bengie Molina becomes only the eighth major leaguer, and the first backstop since 1900, to hit a grand slam and a single, double and triple in the same game. The slow-footed catcher, the eighth Ranger to hit for the cycle, legs out an eighth-inning triple to complete the feat.

Wow, that's quite a list! The first one strikes me as perhaps the most remarkable. How many games can one watch without seeing even a single attempted steal at the plate? To think that Carew and Cobb successfully pulled it off 7 and 8 times, respectively, in a single season is astounding.

I remember seeing the clip of the Lyons incident, one of the funniest things I recall seeing in a baseball game. Guy just totally forgot where he was.

Also remember seeing big, slow Bengie hit for the cycle three years ago. Him getting a triple has to be among the most unlikely things one could have ever expected to see on a baseball field.

 

[TDs3nOut]

07/31/13

TX became the first team to win three straight games on consecutive walkoff HRs since the Tigers did it in 2004. Also the first to sweep a series in that fashion since AZ did it to Montreal in 1999.

 

[mrwallace2ku]

2006 Pitching two innings in New York's 6-4 victory over the White Sox, Mariano Rivera records his 400th career save. The Yankee closer becomes the fourth major leaguer to reach the milestone joining Lee Smith (478), Trevor Hoffman (460) and John Franco (424).

Fast forward to last nite 2013 and Mariano chalks up another save in Dodger blueland. Amazing.

 

[BigDDude]

Here are a few more items from 8/1

1923 Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sells the team to a syndicate headed by J. A. Robert Quinn, the Browns' business manager. The Broadway producer will always be remembered and cursed in New England for being the person who sold Babe Ruth to Yankees in 1920.

1941 On ladies' day at Yankee Stadium, Lefty Gomez breaks the major league mark for walks in a shutout by issuing 11 free passes in the 9-0 victory over St. Louis. The New York southpaw, who extends the team's streak of holding the opponents scoreless to 21 consecutive innings, tosses a five-hitter improving his record to 10-3.

1945 Irwin Hall is credited with a single when his line drive winds up inside Dutch Leonard's pants after it hits the Senators right-hander in the stomach. The Washington starter may have lost the shortstop's batted ball, but gets the win when he goes the distance in the team's 2-1 victory over Philadelphia at Griffith Stadium.

1972 Nate Colbert becomes the second player to hit five home runs in a doubleheader, a feat he witnessed as an eight-year old Cardinal fan at Sportsman's Park when Stan Musial first accomplished it in 1954. The Padres slugger also breaks 'Stan the Man's' NL mark for RBIs in a twin bill when he drives in 13 runs and his 22 total bases set a major league record.

1977 Willie McCovey extends his own National League record when he hits his 18th career grand slam in the third inning of the Giants' 9-2 victory over Montreal at Olympic Stadium. The 39 year-old first baseman adds another round-tripper in the seventh bringing his total to 484 major league home runs.

1978 Pete Rose, making the last out when he strikes out on a Gene Garber change-up, goes 0-for-4 ending his 44-game hitting streak, one contest shy of breaking the National League record. The Reds third baseman has tied Willie Keeler's 1897 National League record last night with a hit off future Hall of Famer Phil Niekro.

1982 Hank Aaron, the holder of the career home run record (755) and RBI record (2,297); Frank Robinson, the first player to win the MVP in both leagues and the first black manager in the majors; Travis Jackson, an outstanding offensive and defensive shortstop for the Giants during 1920's, and former commissioner Happy Chandler, who provided leadership in breaking baseball's color line are inducted in the Hall of Fame.

1986 On the day the Twins are celebrating their 25th anniversary, in a game which also features Kirby Puckett hitting for the cycle, Bert Blyleven becomes the tenth major leaguer to record his 3,000th strikeout. The Minnesota right-hander, who tosses a two-hitter, reaches the historic milestone by whiffing Mike Davis in the fifth inning, his eighth of the game, en route to a career high of 15, in the team's 10-1 victory over Oakland at the Metrodome.

1998 By homering from both sides of the plate for the third time this season, Tiger switch-hitter Tony Clark sets an American League record as Detroit defeats the Devil Rays, 8-0.

2007 Rather than send 25,000 fans back out onto crowded highways, the Twins decide to play tonight's game against the Royals after a moment of silence in memory of victims of the nearby bridge collapse. Tomorrow’s game at the Metrodome has been postponed.

 

[TDs3nOut]

2006 Pitching two innings in New York's 6-4 victory over the White Sox, Mariano Rivera records his 400th career save. The Yankee closer becomes the fourth major leaguer to reach the milestone joining Lee Smith (478), Trevor Hoffman (460) and John Franco (424).

Fast forward to last nite 2013 and Mariano chalks up another save in Dodger blueland. Amazing.

Good one. I caught the end of that in time to see Rivera strike out Ramirez and Ethier. As you say, the guy is amazing.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Here are a few more items from 8/1

1923 Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sells the team to a syndicate headed by J. A. Robert Quinn, the Browns' business manager. The Broadway producer will always be remembered and cursed in New England for being the person who sold Babe Ruth to Yankees in 1920.

1941 On ladies' day at Yankee Stadium, Lefty Gomez breaks the major league mark for walks in a shutout by issuing 11 free passes in the 9-0 victory over St. Louis. The New York southpaw, who extends the team's streak of holding the opponents scoreless to 21 consecutive innings, tosses a five-hitter improving his record to 10-3.

1945 Irwin Hall is credited with a single when his line drive winds up inside Dutch Leonard's pants after it hits the Senators right-hander in the stomach. The Washington starter may have lost the shortstop's batted ball, but gets the win when he goes the distance in the team's 2-1 victory over Philadelphia at Griffith Stadium.

1972 Nate Colbert becomes the second player to hit five home runs in a doubleheader, a feat he witnessed as an eight-year old Cardinal fan at Sportsman's Park when Stan Musial first accomplished it in 1954. The Padres slugger also breaks 'Stan the Man's' NL mark for RBIs in a twin bill when he drives in 13 runs and his 22 total bases set a major league record.

1977 Willie McCovey extends his own National League record when he hits his 18th career grand slam in the third inning of the Giants' 9-2 victory over Montreal at Olympic Stadium. The 39 year-old first baseman adds another round-tripper in the seventh bringing his total to 484 major league home runs.

1978 Pete Rose, making the last out when he strikes out on a Gene Garber change-up, goes 0-for-4 ending his 44-game hitting streak, one contest shy of breaking the National League record. The Reds third baseman has tied Willie Keeler's 1897 National League record last night with a hit off future Hall of Famer Phil Niekro.

1982 Hank Aaron, the holder of the career home run record (755) and RBI record (2,297); Frank Robinson, the first player to win the MVP in both leagues and the first black manager in the majors; Travis Jackson, an outstanding offensive and defensive shortstop for the Giants during 1920's, and former commissioner Happy Chandler, who provided leadership in breaking baseball's color line are inducted in the Hall of Fame.

1986 On the day the Twins are celebrating their 25th anniversary, in a game which also features Kirby Puckett hitting for the cycle, Bert Blyleven becomes the tenth major leaguer to record his 3,000th strikeout. The Minnesota right-hander, who tosses a two-hitter, reaches the historic milestone by whiffing Mike Davis in the fifth inning, his eighth of the game, en route to a career high of 15, in the team's 10-1 victory over Oakland at the Metrodome.

1998 By homering from both sides of the plate for the third time this season, Tiger switch-hitter Tony Clark sets an American League record as Detroit defeats the Devil Rays, 8-0.

2007 Rather than send 25,000 fans back out onto crowded highways, the Twins decide to play tonight's game against the Royals after a moment of silence in memory of victims of the nearby bridge collapse. Tomorrow’s game at the Metrodome has been postponed.

Great list.

 

[BigDDude]

Great list.

There are more items, but I try to cherry pick, and post the ones I think folks will actually be interested in.

 

[TDs3nOut]

There are more items, but I try to cherry pick, and post the ones I think folks will actually be interested in.

Good job parsing through the list. I remember Rose's hit streak, which is really an amazing accomplishment, so I enjoy recalling how people would check headlines and box scores to see whether he would extend the streak. The item about the Twins memorable day on their 25th anniversary is also cool, since it coincided with Kirby hitting for the cycle and Blyleven reaching a milestone. Probably my favorite, though, is the first item, the one about Boston selling Ruth's rights to NYY. I never knew that the guy who did that was a Broadway producer, but that strikes me as a sort of poetic justice, since that transaction was so instrumental in quite a dramatic run in baseball history.

 

[HammerDown]

 

[HammerDown]