On May 8, 1968, Catfish Hunter of the Oakland A’s pitches a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins. Hunter’s perfect game is the first in the American League during the regular season in 46 years, when White Sox right-hander Charlie Robertson, who accomplished the feat against Detroit in 1922. Don Larsen had pitched a perfect game in the 1956 Wor…

On May 4, 1975, At 12:32pm at Candlestick Park, Bob Watson of the Houston Astros scores the one millionth run in major league history. Watson scores the run on Milt May’s three-run homer, as part of the Astros’ 8-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants in the first game of a doubleheader. He scored seconds ahead of Dave Concepción of the Cincinnati Reds…

Today’s classic moment features the San Francisco giants and the Milwaukee Braves on April 30 1961. The Say Hey Kid Willie Mays ties the Major League Record of 4 Homeruns in a Single Game at County Stadium. Special note – I am going to play the news reel and some game audio of his 4 homeruns and then have Mays himself talk a little about his amazin…

April 28, 1965 Mets announcer Lindsay Nelson calls the game from the Dome's ceiling The Audio Was supplied by Astrodaily.com Classic Broadcasts are old-time broadcasts that have been put together from various sources. Many are found on the Internet Archives in a raw form. If you wish to take a deeper dive, that includes: Scorecards, Rosters, Newspa…

April 24, 1966 Willie Mays ties Mel Ott with his 511th homerun The Audio Was supplied by Astrodaily.com Classic Broadcasts are old-time broadcasts that have been put together from various sources. Many are found on the Internet Archives in a raw form. If you wish to take a deeper dive, that includes: Scorecards, Rosters, Newspaper Clippings. All me…

On April 18, 1987, At Three Rivers Stadium Mike Schmidt hits his 500th career home run. Schmidt connects against Don Robinson of the Pittsburgh Pirates, becoming the 14th player in history to reach the milestone. Schmidt’s home run helps the Philadelphia Phillies to an 8-6 victory. Classic Broadcasts are old-time broadcasts that have been put toget…

On March 18, 1981 Future Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk, signs a contract with the Chicago White Sox after then GM Hayward Sullivan made an apparent clerical error mailing the contract out late in December of 1980. He makes the season debut in 1981 vs the Boston Red Sox in fenway and in a scene out of the movies he slugs a 3 run homer in the 8th to giv…

April 9, 1981 Fernando Valenzuela was forced to start opening day for the Dodgers as Jerry Reuss injured himself 24 hours before the game. Fernando would unleash the second greatest pitching streak in baseball history and turn the Dodger fan base upside down with is incredible performance. As Vin Scully would say it was like a religious experience …

The role of a closer was not an officially role until the term Save came into play officially in 1969. Bill Singer of the Los Angeles Dodgers was the first to register a save when he pitched 3 nearly perfect games to open the 69 season at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. The actually stat was created by Jerome Holtzman after he got frustrated watched E…

April 6 1973 - Ron Bloomberg comes to the plate for the New York Yankees as the first officially DH in Fenway Park. It may surprise you though to know the DH debate was started all the way back in 1887 by Al Spaulding and the vote to have a DH narrowly failed and again it nearly took hold in 1928. Here is the story behind the story!…

On April 3, 1966, the New York Mets sign University of Southern California star Tom Seaver to his first contract, including a $50,000 bonus. Seaver had been selected by the Atlanta Braves in the January draft, but Commissioner Spike Eckert voided the deal when he signed a contract after USC’s season had already begun. The Mets beat out the Indians …

April 3, 1987, the Chicago Cubs trade Dennis Eckersley for 3 minor league players to the Oakland A's. At one time trading "The Eck" would have been big news! However, at the time the Eck was a struggling pitcher heading towards the end of his effectiveness. Unknown to Oakland or Chicago the Eck had already taken incredible steps to turn his life ar…

Happy Birthday, Luke Appling! Born in High Point, North Carolina on April 2, 1907, Lucius Benjamin Appling moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his family as a child. After graduating from Fulton High School, where he played baseball and football, Appling attended Oglethorpe College in Georgia for two years. Appling starred on the university's baseball t…

On April 2, 1976 the Oakland A's trade future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and World Series hero and Al Start Pitcher Ken Holtzman to the Baltimore Orioles for Don Baylor, Mike Torrez and Paul Mitchell. At the time Jackson had won an MVP, made 6 All-Star appearances, was a driving force in 3 Championships, and he was second all-time in home runs fo…

On today's rewind brings us too, April 1, 1914, that day future Hall of Famer George Edward Waddell, better known as “Rube” dies from tuberculosis in San Antonio, TX. Sponsor Waddell's Page - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/rube-waddell-page/ We review his oddities and tremendous pitching career. Such as his love for fire engines, wrestling alligator…

On March 30 , 2000 — Enron Field officially opens with a 6-5 exhibition win over the A.L. Champion New York Yankees, paralleling the feat that occurred when the Astrodome opened in 1965. Daryle Ward’s two-run homer caps a four-run eighth-inning rally to open up the Astros’ new home in style. Enron Field - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/tag/enron-fie…

On March 29, 1867 — Denton True “Cy” Young is born in Gilmore, a tiny village near Newcomerstown, Ohio. Young will earn his nickname for his cyclone-like pitching motion and he will win (and lose) more games than any pitcher in major league history with a 511-316 record and a 2.63 ERA over 22 seasons. Young will win 20 or more games 15 times, and t…

On March 28, 1913, the St. Louis Browns make an unusual “trade,” sending infielder Clyde “Buzzy” Wares to the Montgomery Rebels a minor league team in exchange for the rental of a stadium. The Montgomery Rebels will allow the Browns to use their stadium during spring training-rent free. he Southern Association Class-A team will return the 26 year-o…

On March 27, 1879 —– Miller Huggins is born in Cincinnati, Ohio. A second baseman adept at getting on base, Huggins will lead the National League in walks four times, score 100 or more runs three times, and regularly collect 30 or more stolen bases and an on-base percentage near .400. He will start as a player-manager with the St. Louis Cardinals b…

George Sisler never played on a pennant winner and he wasn't a slugger, but in spite of that he earned a reputation as the best first baseman in the first 30 years of the 20th century. The greatest player in St. Louis Browns' history, he twice batted over .400, and his 257 hits in 1920 remain a modern major league record. That same year, the lefty-…

On March 21, 1975, Hall of Fame outfielder Joe “Ducky” Medwick dies in Saint Petersburg, Florida at the age of 63. As one of the feared hitters on the famed “Gashouse Gang,” Medwick clubbed 205 home runs and batted .324 over a 17-year career. Medwick gained election to the Hall of Fame in 1968. Listen to the hall of fame interview conducted on Febr…

On March 20, 1973 — Roberto Clemente becomes the first Hispanic American to gain election to the Hall of Fame. The Baseball Writers Association of America announces the results of a special ballot, with Clemente receiving 393 of 424 votes. Clemente died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve. In light of his tragic death, the Hall’s Board of Directors …

On March 19, 1927 --- Don Richard (Richie) Ashburn is born in Tilden, Nebraska. A five-time All-Star, Ashburn will be a solid center fielder and a solid hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies. He will hit over .300 during 9 of his 15 major league seasons, twice capturing the National League batting title and conclude his career with a .308 lifetime a…

March 17, 1918: A young Babe Ruth, still primarily a pitcher, slugs a pair of home runs during a spring training game at Whittington Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The second long ball is thought to be the first 500-plus foot blast in baseball history. The Herculean shot—hit off Brooklyn Robins hurler Norman Plitt—soared far over the fence in deep …

On March 16, 1907 -- After watching Ty Cobb quarrel with a black groundskeeper and with teammate Charlie Schmidt, Tiger manager Hugh Jennings was tired of dealing with Cobb's abrasive behavior and tries to deal him to the Cleveland Naps for outfielder Elmer Flick. The Naps turned down a trade with the Tigers which would have exchanged Flick for the…

On March 7, 1902 — Hall of Famer James (Pud) Galvin dies at the age of 45. Galvin won 361 games over a 14-year career, placing him in a tie for sixth on the all-time list for most wins. In 1883 and 1884, Galvin won a combined 92 games. In 1884 his WAR was over 17+ which ranks 3rd highest all-time. Galvin will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 19…

Lefty Grove was Born on March 6 in Lonaconing, Maryland, Grove was a sandlot star in the Baltimore area during the 1910s. Grove didn't play organized baseball until he was 19 years old. In 1920, he made his professional debut with the Martinsburg Mountaineers of the class-D Blue Ridge League, where he appeared in six games. In 59 innings pitched, G…

Today we celebrate Mel Ott's birthday. We have 5 World Series At Bats and 3 homeruns. Oddly Ott played in 3 Wold series and homered in the final game in each series, bur didnt hit any in the other games. On March 2, 1909, future Hall of Famer, Mel Ott is born in Gretna, Louisiana. Known as “Master Melvin,” Ott will make his major league debut with …

On today's Podcast - hear from Leo Durocher and his wife on Laraine Day, Gas House Gang and him talk about Nice Guys Finish last with Roy Leonard. On March 1, 1947 — Father Vincent Powell announces the diocese’s Catholic Youth Organization will no longer participate in the Dodgers’ Knothole Club, stating the church cannot continue to have their you…

On February 26, 1935, the New York Yankees release longtime star outfielder Babe Ruth, freeing him to sign a $20,000 contract with the National League’s Boston Braves. Ruth’s new contract with the Braves also gives him a share of the team’s profits. In 1934, Ruth had endured one of his worst seasons with the Yankees, at least by his lofty standards…

On February 28, 1966 — Refusing to report to spring training, Los Angeles Dodger pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale begin their joint holdout, asking for a $1 million, three-year contract, to be divided equally between them. The deal, equivalent to an annual salary of $167,000 for each hurler, will make them the best-paid players in baseball, e…

February 27, 2011 — The “Duke of Flatbush”, Hall of Famer Duke Snider dies in Escondido, CA at age 84. Snider was a power-hitting centerfielder for the great Brooklyn Dodgers teams of the 1950s and is immortalized in Terry Cashman’s song “Willie, Mickey and the Duke”. Snider was Brooklyn’s entry into one of the most passionate debates in baseball h…

On February 24, 1917 – – Smoky Joe Wood, his arm dead at 26, is sold by the Boston Red Sox to Cleveland for $15,000. He will become an outfielder after one last, losing start on the mound, and will play five more years. Wood had slipped on wet grass while fielding a bunt in a game against the Detroit Tigers. He fell and broke his thumb, and pitched…

On February 22, 1936, Walter Johnson fires a silver dollar over the Rappahannock River, estimated to be a 386-foot toss. The spectacle—it took place in the backyard of Washington’s childhood home in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I will tell you the story through Bobby King II research and words. Afterward, I will bring you something that was hard to fi…

February 13, 1974 Cool Papa Bell goes to Cooperstown joining Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard as just the third man to play exclusively in Negro Leagues to be inducted. Listen to him talk about Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Education and how he was able to turn a light off and get into bed before the light went out. Cool Papa Bells Page - https://thi…

On February 12, 1924 — The National League announces it will join the AL in awarding a thousand dollars to the player selected by writers as the league’s Most Valuable Player. Dazzy Vance, who posts a 28-6 record along with an ERA of 2.16 for the Brooklyn Dodgers, easily outpoints Rogers Hornsby to become the National Leagues first MVP. Sponsor Daz…

February 10 - Happy Birthday to Allie Reynolds. Sponsor his Page - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/allie-reynolds-page/ Sponsor other pages - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/product/player-page-sponsorship/ Check out events from February 10 - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/this-day-in-baseball-february-10/ Allie Reynolds, born in 1917 in Bethany, Oklaho…

Sponsor Edd Roush's Page - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/edd-roush-page/ Sponsor a page - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/product/player-page-sponsorship/ Check out the Events on February 9 in Baseball History - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/this-day-in-baseball-february-9 Edd Roush, the fiery baseball player known for his Hall of Fame career, wielde…

Connie Macks Page - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/connie-mack-page/ Sponsor a Page - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/product/player-page-sponsorship/ February 8 Events - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/this-day-in-baseball-february-8/ OnFebruary 8, 1956, one of baseball’s most prominent figures, Connie Mack, dies at the age of 93 from old age and hip s…

On February 7 2019 — Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, a member of the 500 Home Run Club, a Triple Crown winner, the first player to win the MVP Award in both leagues, and the first African-American manager in major league history, passes away in hospice care in Los Angeles, CA at the age of 83. He was also a senior executive for Major League Baseball …

When he posed for his 1959 Topps baseball card, Lew Burdette grabbed teammate Warren Spahn’s glove and pretended to be a lefty. Topps missed the joke and printed the card with the error. Burdette would sign his name “Lewis” on his contracts, and would alternate between “Lou” and “Lew” for autograph-seekers. He said he really didn’t care how his fir…

Born: Sunday, February 05, 1928 in Roulette, PA USA He was the kind of player who’s worth doesn’t always show up in the box score, but yet his determination and aggressiveness to win made him one of the most valuable players on the world championship of 1960. Don Hoak, nicknamed Tiger by Dodger pitcher Clem Labine because he was always starting fig…

February 4, 1957, manager Joe McCarthy and outfielder Sam Crawford are elected to the Hall of Fame. McCarthy, the winningest manager in history, won nine pennants and four consecutive World Championships with the New York Yankees. Crawford, one of the greatest hitters of the dead-ball era, finished his career with 309 triples, first on the all-time…

Fredric Michael Lynn was born on February 3, 1952 He arrived on the big league scene like a bolt of lightning through the evening sky. Fred Lynn played in his first game on September 5, 1974 and proceeded to smash major league pitching to the tune of a .419 batting average and a .698 slugging average over his first 15 games. He followed that up wit…

February 2, 1969 – Pitchers Stan Coveleski and Waite Hoyt are voted into the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee. Stan Coveleski learned control as a youngster by throwing rocks at tin cans that swung from a tree. Though he pitched a shutout in his first big league start with the Athletics in 1912, it was the spitball he later learned in…

Feb 1 1875 Billy Sullivan born is born, he will debut in 1898. Despite being a notoriously poor hitter, Billy Sullivan is generally regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of the Deadball Era. In 1901, Sullivan jumped to the Chicago White Sox of the new American League and was the catcher in the circuit's first game, collecting a pair of hit…

On January 31 1927 – National League President John Heydler rules that Rogers Hornsby cannot continue to both hold stock in the St. Louis Cardinals and play for the New York Giants. Seemingly oblivious, the Cards’ board of directors, meeting in St. Louis, votes stockholders a 10% dividend, earning Hornsby $2916 for his 1167 shares. Hornsby had a fa…

January 30, 1930 Sandy Amoros is born in Matanzas, Cuba At 20 he made the 1950 Central American and Caribbean Games, Amorós led Cuba to a Gold Medal with 6 home runs in 7 games. He then turned to America to turn pro, first playing for the New York Cubans in the Negro Leagues in 1950 and in the Dominican Republic during the summer of 1951, he will f…

On January 28, 1968 — Goose Goslin, a former Washington Senator and Detroit Tigers Tiger outfielder who retired with a career .316 batting average after playing in five World Series, and Kiki Cuyler, a .321 career hitter who won four stolen base crowns while running the bases for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs, are elected into the Hall of…

On January 27 1927 -- Citing accuser Dutch Leonard's refusal to appear at the hearings of January 5th, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis issues a lengthy decision clearing Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker of any game-fixing charges. Landis orders the Philadelphia Athletics to reinstate Cobb and the Washington Senators to restore Speaker. Both are then m…