BB On this Date ~ Events & Birthdays #2

Rollie Fingers
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Accidental discovery: from sheet music for "Chicago Quickstep," 1882. Note the ballfield of the Chicago White Stockings! Called Lake Park, it hosted the club from 1878 to 1882. Same site as Lake Front Park (I), which burnt in The Great Fire of 1871, but oriented differently.

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One HOF infield for the entirety of their careers​

 

Rickey Henderson made his debut on this date in 1979, picking up two hits and his first of a record 1,406 stolen bases.

 

BASEBALL BIRTHDAYS 6/26
1819 Abner Doubleday, American Union Army General-Major, and inventor (San Francisco cable cars)

1903 Babe Herman right fielder (.324 career average; hit for cycle record x 3; Brooklyn Robins)

1915 Willard "Home Run" Brown HOF outfielder (NgL World Series 1942; 6 x NgL All-Star Kansas City Monarchs; MLB: St. Louis Browns)

1969 Mike Myers pitcher (Detroit Tigers)

1974 Derek Jeter HOF shortstop (14 × MLB All-Star; 5 × World Series; World Series MVP 2000; NY Yankees HOF shortstop (14 × MLB All-Star; 5 × World Series; World Series MVP 2000; NY Yankees

1974 Jason Kendall catcher (Pittsburgh Pirates

1984 Elijah Dukes (Washington Nationals

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Today in All Teams History
June 26th​

1906 Herbert Whitney, a catcher for the Burlington Pathfinders, becomes the first professional baseball player to die when a pitch thrown by Fred Evans fractures his skull. The beaning occurred two days ago in an Iowa State League contest against the Waterloo Microbes.

1913 Citing the lack of fan support, Covington Blue Sox relocate to Kansas City, eventually causing organized baseball to 'declare war' on the Federal League for moving the Packers, the club's new name, into American Association territory. In addition, Cincinnati blocked Covington from acquiring a baseball franchise in the Class D Blue Grass League, leading the leaders of the sparsely populated Kentucky city to accept a franchise in the newly formed upstart circuit, known as the outlaw league due to the organization's decision not to abide by the National Agreement.

1913 In the nightcap against the A's at Washington's Griffith Stadium, Eddie Ainsmith steals three bases in one inning. But, after safely reaching base on a single in the bottom of the ninth frame, the 23-year-old catcher's thievery of second, third, and home proves to be of little consequence when Philadelphia routs the Nats, 10-3.

1916 The Indians became the first major league club to field a team with numbered uniforms when playing the White Sox at Cleveland's League Park. However, the use of large numerals on the players' left sleeve, corresponding to scorecards, lasts just a few weeks, and after a brief trial next season, the club abandons the concept.

Indians numbered uniform

1917 Among the 14,000 soldiers under the command of General John J. Pershing, arriving in Saint-Nazaire, France, is Braves' catcher Hank Gowdy, the first major leaguer to enter military service in WWI. The 27-year-old Boston backstop, who batted .545 in the 1914 World Series with three doubles, a homer, and a triple, serves with distinction in the 166th Infantry Regiment, a unit known for their participation in the fierce trench warfare in the Lorraine region of the country.

1920 Lou Gehrig hits his first home run in a major league ballpark, going deep at Wrigley Field, known as Cubs Park then, in a high school championship game between the NYC School of Commerce and Chicago's Lane Tech. The 17-year-old first baseman, who will return to the 'Friendly Confines' in 1932 to hit two homers for the Yankees in Game 3 of the World Series, blasts a ninth-inning grand slam over the right-field wall, sealing a 12-6 victory for the visitors.

1921 Throwing a scoreless inning against the Yankees, 23-year-old Senator southpaw Nemo Gaines makes his major league debut, becoming the first Naval Academy graduate and only one for the next 94 seasons to appear in a big-league contest. In 2015, right-hander Mitch Harris, another Annapolis alumnus, will appear in 26 games (2-1, 3.67) for the Cardinals during his brief one-year career.

1924 In a matchup at the Polo Grounds, Giants' right-hander Virgil Barnes faces his older sibling, Jesse, marking the first time brothers have started against one another in major league history. Unfortunately, neither Luther nor Sade's sons get the victory, but Jesse will be tagged with the loss when New York beats his Braves, 8-1.

1935 Pirate center fielder Lloyd Waner sets the major league mark, recording 18 putouts during a doubleheader played at Braves Field. The future Hall of Famer's defense helps the Bucs sweep last-place Boston, 4-2 and 5-1.

1938 Carl Hubbell goes the distance, beating Chicago, 5-1, at the Polo Grounds to notch his 200th victory. The future Hall of Fame southpaw will play his 16-year career entirely with the Giants, compiling a 253-154 (.622) record and an ERA of 2.98.

1938 Reds second baseman Lonny Frey collects eight hits during a twin bill against the Phillies at Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl. The 27-year-old Cincinnati infielder goes 3-for-5 in the team’s 10-3 loss in the first game, adding five more hits, including two triples, in an 8-5 victory in the nightcap.

1939 The Yankees play their first night game in franchise history, losing to Connie Mack's A's, 3-2, at Philadelphia's Shibe Park, where the first-ever American League evening tilt occurred last month. The Bronx Bombers will not play their first home game under the lights for another seven years.

1944 At the Polo Grounds, with over 50,000 fans looking on, the three New York major league teams face each other in a six-inning game (each club plays consecutive innings against the other two and then sits out an inning) to raise money for war bonds. The charity contest, billed as the Tri-Cornered Baseball Game, ends with the Dodgers scoring five times and the Yankees and Giants tallying one and no runs, respectively.


Tri-Cornered Baseball Game Program

1946 Giants player-manager Mel Ott decides to stop playing and do only his dugout duties for the team. Southpaw-swinging 'Master Mel's' decision is prompted by a .048 batting average, with the future Hall of Fame right fielder collecting just two hits in 48 at-bats this season.

1948 Lou Boudreau, the Tribe's player-manager, who will finish the season with 199 hits, has a two-run single taken away when his pitcher Bob Muncrief misses third base in the Indians' 5-0 victory over Washington. However, the right-hander makes up for his base-running gaffe by hurling a three-hit shutout in the Cleveland Stadium contest.

1957 Twenty-six-year-old center fielder Willie Mays collects four hits and scores three runs while driving in four runs in the Giants' 17-7 victory over the Reds at Cincinnati's Crosley Field. The close game becomes a blowout when New York scores seven runs in the sixth and five more in the seventh.

1960 With the help of Ron Santo, making his major league debut, the Cubs sweep a doubleheader from first-place Pittsburgh, 7-5 and 7-6. The rookie third baseman, who will be elected into the Hall of Fame posthumously by the Veterans Committee in 2012, goes 3-for-7, driving in five runs during the twin bill at Forbes Field.

1961 In the Yankees' 8-6 victory over the Angels, Yogi Berra collects his 2000th career hit, a fifth-inning two-run single off Ken McBride. A huge cake is rolled out in LA's Wrigley Field to celebrate the Bronx Bombers backstop's milestone, all accomplished while wearing pinstripes.

1962 At Fenway Park, Earl Wilson, the Red Sox's first black hurler, strikes out five batters and walks four en route to no-hitting the Angels, 2-0. The 27-year-old right-hander from Ponchatoula (LA) also drives in the game's first run when he goes deep in the third inning off loser Bo Belinsky, who pitched a no-hitter against the Orioles last month.

1963 In a clear message of support for the German people, President John F. Kennedy delivers his iconic "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a Berliner) speech from the steps of the Rathaus Schoneberg in front of an audience estimated at 450,000. Large crowds greet JFK with banners during his visit, including one that reads, "Let's Go Mets."

1963 The Colt .45s snap their streak of 30 consecutive innings without scoring a run when Al Spangler goes deep in the sixth frame of a 7-2 victory over Milwaukee. The Houston outfielder's round-tripper is only the second run the team has scored in the last 70 innings.

1964 University of Wisconsin standout Rick Reichardt receives the highest bonus ever when he signs with the Angels for $200,000. The bidding war for the talented Badger outfielder ultimately led the owners to institute a draft, which started in 1965 when Arizona State University's Rick Monday became the first-ever #1 overall selection.

1966 In a game that features hit batters, brushback pitches, and umpire warnings, Ron Santo is struck in the face by a pitch thrown by Mets' starter Jack Fisher. The Cubs third baseman's fractured cheek ends his record consecutive games at the hot corner at 390, but he did extend his hitting streak to 26 games, one shy of Hack Wilson's 1929 franchise mark, with a first-inning single.
(Ed. Note: After being operated on the following day, the Chicago infielder returns to the lineup on July 4 and hits safely in each end of a doubleheader, establishing the franchise mark of 28 that will last until 1989, when Jerome Walton surpasses the record.

1968 Cardinals right-hander Bob Gibson tosses his fifth consecutive shutout as he blanks the Pirates, 3-0, in the first game of a doubleheader played at Busch Stadium. The future Hall of Famer's accomplishment is one shy of the major league mark, set earlier in the month by Don Drysdale of the Dodgers.

1970 Frank Robinson hits two grand slams in the same game, helping Baltimore beat the Senators, 12-2. Accomplishing the feat in consecutive at-bats, the Oriole outfielder becomes the seventh major league player to hit two bases-full homers in one game.

1976 After tossing a one-hit 1-0 ten-inning gem for the Rangers five days ago, Bert Blyleven blanks his opponents for ten innings again in the team's 1-0 victory against the White Sox. Pinch-hitter Jim Fregosi ends the Arlington Stadium pitching duel when he singles off Ken Brett, plating Toby Harrah with the game's lone run.

1977 Pete Vukovich pitches the first shutout in Blue Jay history, blanking Baltimore at Memorial Stadium, 2-0. The victory also marks the 24-year-old's first scoreless complete contest, a feat he will accomplish eight times during his 11-year career.

1977 On Rod Carew Night, the Twins' first baseman goes 4-for-5, scoring five runs and collecting six RBIs in Minnesota's 19-12 victory over the White Sox at Metropolitan Stadium. The 31-year-old Panamanian's offensive output, including a double and home run, raises his season's batting average to .403.

1983 Rusty Staub ties the single-season record with his eighth consecutive pinch-hit. 'Le Grand Orange' equals the 1958 mark established by Dave Philley of the Phillies when he singles in the ninth inning off reliever Ron Reed in the Mets' 8-4 loss to Philadelphia at Shea Stadium.

1985 At Jack Russell Stadium, umpire Keith O'Connor ejects the organist from a Class A Florida League game for playing Three Blind Mice following a close call against the Clearwater Phillies. After NBC's Today Show weatherman Willard Scott and syndicated radio host Paul Harvey report the incident, the self-taught musician gains notoriety, signing autographs as "Wilbur Snapp, Three Blind Mice organist."


1987 Although the Red Sox has a 9-0 second-inning advantage, Roger Clemens cannot hold the lead, with the Yankees coming back to win in ten innings, 12-11. Boston's third baseman Wade Boggs, who is walked intentionally twice during the Bronx ballpark contest, sees his 25-game hitting streak end in the team's devastating loss.

1993 Hall of Fame (1969) catcher Roy Campanella dies at 71 after a heart attack in Woodland Hills (CA). The wheel-chair-bound former Brooklyn Dodgers backstop, permanently disabled in a 1958 traffic accident, had a ten-year career that included three NL MVP seasons, 242 home runs, 856 RBIs, and five World Series appearances.

1995 Before rejoining the Yankees to start in Chicago, Columbus Clipper starter Mariano Rivera pitches a five-inning no-hitter against the IL's Rochester Red Wings in Ohio's Cooper Stadium. During his tenure in the minor leagues, Mo, the future major league leader in career saves, was primarily used as a starter, starting 68 games, including seven complete contests, en route to compiling a 27-18 record and a 2.35 ERA.

1999 At Candlestick Park, Todd Hundley's second homer of the day, a ninth-inning three-run shot to deep right field off Giants' closer Robb Nen, sparks the Dodgers' 7-6 comeback win. Ellis Burks had put San Francisco ahead in the bottom of the eighth, 6-4, with a three-run homer off Alan Mills.

2000 Alex Cabrera homers in his first major league at-bat, hitting a two-run pinch-hit round-tripper off Yorkis Perez in Arizona's 6-1 victory over the Astros at Bank One Ballpark. The 28-year-old minor league veteran of nine seasons becomes the first player in the franchise's three-year history to accomplish the feat.

2001 Not known for being a base thief during his playing days, Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon, ejected for arguing a close play in the team's eventual 7-6, 12-inning come-from-behind victory over the Brewers at PNC Park, literally steals first base. "I told him (first base ump Rick Reed) he wasn't using it, so I thought I'd take it," explains the Bucs' skipper after pulling the bag out of the ground and carrying it into the Pirates' dugout.

2003 Edgar Martinez, the Mariners leader in games played, at-bats, hits, doubles, total bases, extra-base hits, walks, and runs, passes Ken Griffey Jr.'s franchise mark for RBIs. His two-run homer in the team's 10-6 victory over the Angels gives the All-Star designated hitter 1,153 RBIs, one more than Junior.

2005 At Oklahoma City's SBC Bricktown Ballpark, the public address announcer informs the Red Hawks fans of a lineup change, "now batting for Nashville, pinch-hitting for Corey Hart, Corey Hart." The Sounds, who already had an outfielder named Corey Hart on a Triple-A injury rehab assignment on their roster, recently acquired an infielder also called Corey Hart from the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League.

2006 At Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, Oregon State wins its first College World Series, beating North Carolina, 3-2. After dropping the opener in the three-game series, the Beavers, coached by Pat Casey, take the next two contests from the Tar Heels, with junior southpaw Jonah Nickerson named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

2011 Three days after Jim Riggleman's sudden resignation, the Nationals name senior advisor Davey Johnson as the team's manager for the remainder of the season. The 68-year-old former skipper compiled an 1148-888 (.564) record during his 14 years in the dugout with the Mets, Dodgers, Reds, and Orioles, finishing lower than third place only on three occasions.

2012 In the Bronx, third-base umpire Mike DiMuro rules Yankees' outfielder Dewayne Wise made a clean catch of Indians' Jack Hannahan's pop fly, reaching in the stands to end the seventh inning. Replays, however, clearly show the empty-handed left fielder never made the catch, and Vinnie Pellegrino, a fan from West Islip (NY), has the ball.

2015
"I felt it was better now than later, for myself, my family and the organization"- RYNE SANDBERG, explaining his decision to step down from his position as the Phillies manager.
The Phillies, the worst team in baseball with a 26-48 record, accept the resignation of their manager Ryne Sandberg. The Hall of Fame infielder, who guided the team to a 119-159 over three seasons, will be replaced on an interim basis by Pete Mackanin, the team's third-base coach.

2015 Prince Fielder hits his 300th career home run when he goes deep to right field off Mark Buehrle in the first inning of the Rangers' 12-2 loss to Toronto at the Rogers Centre. The Texas Ranger first baseman's milestone round-tripper makes him and his dad, Cecil (319), the second son-father combo to hit 300-plus homers, joining Barry and Bobby Bonds.

2018 The A's extend the record for home runs to 27 consecutive road games when Chad Pinder hits a two-run round-tripper off Blaine Hardy in the top of the fifth inning in the team's 9-7 victory over the Tigers at Comerica Park. The 1994 Orioles established the previous mark with homers in 24 straight away games.

2019 Vanderbilt wins their second College World Series, rallying to post victories in the last of the two games of the best-of-three-game series to defeat the Michigan Wolverines. The Commodores also captured the national title in 2014 under their current coach, Tim Corbin, when the team beat the Virginia Cavaliers.

 

Mantle's last Baseball Card

 

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Five individuals with ties to the Southeastern Conference will be inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class, it was announced Monday.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (June 23, 2025)-----Five individuals with ties to the Southeastern Conference will be inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class, it was announced Monday.

Named among the group of 21 inductees are South Carolina’s Kip Bouknight, Vanderbilt’s David Price, Arkansas’ Norm DeBriyn, South Carolina’s Ray Tanner and SEC Coordinator of Umpires Paul Guillie.

The 18th induction class will be honored at the 2026 Night of Champions presented by Prairiefire on Feb. 12, 2026 in Overland Park, Kansas, the home of the College Baseball Hall of Fame. The event will serve as the ceremonial start to the 2026 college baseball season.

Each year, more than 200 representatives nationwide vote on the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class. The voting body is comprised of national and regional college baseball media, active and retired coaches, former players, former inductees, college baseball historians and members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) collegiate baseball committee.

Bouknight was a pitcher for the Gamecocks from 1998-2001 and became the winningest pitcher in South Carolina history. The two-time All-America and two-time All-SEC selection went 45-12 in his four years pitching for the Gamecocks, tossing a school record 482 innings and starting a school record 66 games. He is also South Carolina’s career strikeout king with 457.

Price starred at Vanderbilt from 2005-07 and was the consensus National Player of the Year in 2007. He was voted SEC Pitcher of the Year, Golden Spikes Award winner and Dick Howser Trophy winner while leading the Commodores to the SEC regular season and tournament titles in 2007. He also set the school record for strikeouts (194) the same season.

DeBriyn served as the Arkansas head coach from 1970-2002 and amassed a record of 1161-650-6, which ranked him as the 14th-winningest coach in Division I history. The Razorbacks made four NCAA College World Series appearances under DeBriyn, finishing runner-up in 1979, with 15 NCAA postseason berths and three conference championships.

Tanner was a two-time national championship baseball coach for the Gamecocks before serving as the South Carolina Athletics Director until 2024. In 16 seasons as the Gamecock head coach, Tanner compiled a 738-316 (.700) record with six College World Series appearances, winning the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Championships and national runners-up finishes in 2002 and 2012.

Guillie served as an SEC umpire for more than two decades prior to his appointment of Coordinator of Umpires in 2014. Guillie is responsible for recruiting, training, scheduling and evaluating umpires for SEC baseball games. During his years as an on-field umpire, Guillie was selected to work numerous SEC Tournaments, NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals and College World Series.

 

Returning Florida baseball players are eager to put in the work following a disappointing end to the 2025 season.

The Florida Gators finished the year 39-22 with a loss to East Carolina in the Conway. S.C., Regional on June 1, falling short of extending their College World Series streak to three straight years. UF started the year 1-11 in SEC play but rallied back to win 14 of its final 18 conference games to make its 17th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Florida pitchers Liam Peterson and Aidian King are taking part in the USA Collegiate National Team Training Camp in Cary, N.C., this week. Peterson, a rising junior, went 8-4 with a 4.28 ERA this past season while King, a rising sophomore, went 7-2 with a 2.58 ERA.

Four more Florida baseball players ― infielder Colby Shelton, catcher Brody Donay, right-handed pitcher Jake Clemente and left-handed pitcher Pierce Coppola ― took part in the MLB Draft combine earlier this month.

Here's a look at where remaining Florida baseball players and signees are playing this summer:

Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Cape Cod League
Brewster Whitecaps: IF Brendan Lawson, OF Blake Cyr, RHP Billy Barlow, RHP Matthew Jenkins

Fallmouth Commodores: OF Ashton Wilson

Harwich Mariners: RHP Luke McNeillie, RHP Chrsitian Rodriguez

New Orleans Firebirds: OF Jaden Bastian

Wareham Gateman: P/OF Caden McDonald, IF Landon Stripling, OF Hayden Yost

Coastal Plain League
Macon Bacon: IF Kolt Myers, RHP Schuyler Sandford

Northwoods League
Rockford Rivets: C A.J. Malzone

Valley League
Charlotteville Tom Sox: LHP McCall Biemiller

Purcellville Cannons: Blake Brookings

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer.

 

1942 Powered by first-inning home runs by Indians' shortstop Lou Boudreau and Tigers' first baseman Rudy York, the American League All-Stars defeat the National League, 3-1. The Polo Grounds contest also features the first and only starting sibling battery in All-Star history as losing pitcher Mort Cooper throws to backstop Walker Cooper, his brother.
1945 Tommy Holmes hits safely in his 34th consecutive game, surpassing Rogers Hornsby's modern National League record set in 1922. The Braves outfielder will extend the streak to 37, with the new mark lasting 33 years until broken by Pete Rose in 1978.
1949 Walker Cooper goes 6-for-7, helping the Reds rout the Cubs at Crosley Field, 23-4. The 34-year-old Cincinnati catcher, acquired in a trade with the Giants last month, collects three home runs and three singles, scores five runs, and drives in ten runs.
1953 In his first major league start, 24-year-old right-hander Al Worthington throws a two-hitter, blanking the Phillies, 6-0. The Giants' rookie, known as 'Red,' will become the first National League freshman to throw consecutive shutouts at the start of a career when he repeats the feat in his next outing, blanking the Dodgers, 6-0.
1956 Jim Busby hits his second grand slam on consecutive days to beat the A's, 4-2. In a 13-7 loss yesterday, the Indians' outfielder hit a first-inning bases-loaded homer off Detroit's right-hander Frank Lary.
1958 A day after he walks outfielder Willie Kirkland with the bases loaded to give the Giants a 5-4 victory, Cardinal reliever Larry Jackson hits Jim Davenport with the bases full in the ninth inning to again force in the winning run.
1962 Rod Kanehl, appearing as a pinch-hitter, hits the first grand slam in Mets history, going deep off Bobby Shantz in the eighth inning of the team's 10-3 victory over the Cardinals. The Polo Grounds bases-loaded round-tripper comes in the 79th game of the franchise.
1962 At the Polo Grounds, Gil Hodges homers off Cardinal hurler Ray Sadecki for the 370th and final home run of his career, finishing tenth on the all-time list and the most ever hit by a right-handed batter in the National League. Eight-year-old Howie Rose, the team's future radio voice at his first major league game, and broadcaster Ralph Kiner, who reminds the first baseman on his show, Kiner's Korner, he established the right-handed NL home run mark in 1954, witnessed the moment.
1966 Tying an American League record, Boot Powell knocks in 11 runs in a doubleheader. In Game One, the Baltimore first baseman hit two homers, including a grand slam, two doubles, and a sacrifice fly, driving in seven runs in the Orioles' 11-0 victory over the Kansas City A's, adding four more RBIs in the nightcap.
1970 At Shea Stadium, Mets' center fielder Tommie Agee hits a seventh-inning triple off Frank Linzy, completing the second cycle in franchise history. The lead-off batter's four hits pace the team's 10-3 victory over the Cardinals.
(Ed. Note: At the Polo Grounds in 1963, Jim Hickman became the first Met in franchise history to hit for the cycle, accomplishing the feat in the rare natural order. - LP)

1970 Ron Santo drives in ten runs, helping the Cubs sweep a doubleheader against Montreal at Wrigley Field. The third baseman's two-run homer in the opener gives the team a 3-2 victory, and his eight RBIs, including another two round-trippers, contribute to the club's 14-2 rout in the nightcap.
1970 At Atlanta Stadium, Braves' second baseman Felix Millan goes 6-for-6, becoming the first player in franchise history to collect six hits in one game. The 26-year-old infielder, called the Cat by his teammates, contributes to the team's 12-4 victory over the Giants with four singles, a double, and a triple.
1977 After 1,887 plate appearances without a home run from the start of his career, Cubs outfielder Greg Gross finally goes deep when he homers off Don Stanhouse, a three-run shot to left field with two outs in the sixth inning, in the team's 8-6 victory over the Expos at Wrigley Field. The 24-year-old's homerless drought establishes a new major league record, far surpassing runner-up Duane Kuiper, who recorded his first round-tripper needing 355 fewer trips to the plate to accomplish the feat.
1983 On the Midsummer Classic's 50th anniversary, Fred Lynn hits the first grand slam in All-Star competition en route to the American League, setting a record for runs scored by one team in a game in their 13-3 victory, including a record seven-run third inning. The Junior Circuit's victory at Chicago's Comiskey Park, the site of the first All-Star Game in 1933, halts the National League's 11-game winning streak.




1986 At Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, first baseman Bob Horner becomes the eleventh major leaguer to hit four home runs in one game. However, three of the four homers are solo shots, allowing the Expos to beat the Braves, 11-8.




1989 Mike Schmidt becomes the first retired player elected to start an All-Star Game. The Phillies' third baseman, who announced his retirement on May 29, is hitting only .203 this season and has decided not to participate in the Midsummer Classic.
1991 In a 9-7 loss to Oakland, Danny Tartabull hits three home runs, one off Gene Nelson and two off Bob Welch. The right-fielder becomes the first Kansas City player to accomplish the feat at Royals Stadium.
1992 Commissioner Fay Vincent, using his 'in the best interest of baseball' power, mandates the National League's realignment next season, forcing teams to be more geographically correct in their respective divisions. The plan, approved by 12 of the 14 NL owners in March but blocked by Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago franchise, will send the Cubs and the Cardinals to the West Division, with the Braves and Reds moving to the East.
2000 Cardinal rookie Keith McDonald, who homered pinch-hitting in his first big league appearance, hits a round-tripper off Reds' hurler Osvaldo Fernandez, becoming only the second player in history to homer in his first two major league at-bats. Bob Nieman is the other major leaguer to accomplish the feat, having gone deep twice in his 1951 debut with the Browns.
2000 Vin Scully, 72, is voted the No. 1 sportscaster of the 20th century by members of the American Sportscasters Association. The Dodger veteran broadcaster's 51-year career has included play-by-play of 25 Fall Classics and a dozen All-Star Games.
2001 The Cubs, playing in the 101st different park since 1876, beat the Tigers in Comerica Park 15-8. The game marks the first time in 56 years, dating back to Game 3 of the 1945 World Series when Claude Passeau threw a 3-0 shutout in Briggs Stadium, the team played in Detroit.
2002 Daryle Ward becomes the first player in the brief history of Pittsburgh's PNC Park to hit the Allegheny River on the fly, helping the Astros rout the Pirates, 10-2. PGA legend Arnold Palmer, also known for long drives, is on hand to watch the Houston left fielder's fifth-inning towering grand slam, estimated to have traveled 479 feet before making a splash.




2002 During Old Timers' Day ceremonies at Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers dedicate a plaque in Monument Park honoring Reggie Jackson. During his tenuous five-year tenure with the team, the slugging outfielder helped the club reach the postseason four times, including winning two consecutive world championships in 1977 and 1978.
2003 Devil Rays' skipper Lou Piniella becomes a blonde, keeping his promise to dye his hair if his last-place Devil Rays won three in a row at any point this season. Last night's 3-2 victory over the White Sox gave Tampa Bay their first three-game winning streak since last September.
2004 Recently acquired outfielder Richard Hidalgo establishes a club record, homering in five straight games for the Mets. In 16 games with New York, the former Astro has eight home runs, compared to hitting just four with Houston in 56 games.
2005 Starting in the third inning, Marlins' hurlers retire 28 consecutive Brewers en route to a 5-4 extra-inning victory over Milwaukee at Dolphins Stadium. The club sets a franchise mark with 22 strikeouts, with A.J. Burnett contributing a career-high 14, establishing a team record in six innings.
2007 The Twins sweep a twin bill from the White Sox, beating the home team 20-14 and 12-0 at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field. The 32 runs tallied by Minnesota are the most scored by one club in a twin bill since the Red Sox crossed the plate 35 times in their double victory over the Philadelphia A's on July 4, 1939.
2008 In the ninth inning of a tied game at Yankee Stadium, Manny Ramirez, appearing as a pinch-hitter, upsets the citizens of Red Sox Nation when he strikes out on three consecutive fastballs thrown by Mariano Rivera without swinging the bat. Citing knee pains, proven baseless by MRIs ordered by the team's management, Boston's disgruntled outfielder had asked to be left off the starting lineup for the critical series with New York.
2009 In the most lopsided loss in Reds history, the Phillies rout the team at Citizens Bank Park, 22-1. The previous dubious mark was a 20-run differential, established in 1892 when the Reds lost 26-6 to Philadelphia.





2009 The settlement of a federal lawsuit brought by a fan kicked out of Yankee Stadium by a police officer for allegedly leaving his seat to use the men's room during the playing of 'God Bless America' results in the resident of Queens receiving $10,001 from New York City. The Yankees claim patrons have always had freedom of movement, with ushers blocking some exits in previous years after complaints that spectators showed a lack of respect by leaving their seats while the patriotic song played.
2010 Down six runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Rockies score nine runs in the final frame to beat the stunned Cardinals, 12-9. Seth Smith's two-out, three-run homer off Ryan Franklin deals the fatal blow in Colorado's amazing come-from-behind walk-off victory at Coors Field.



2013 With a late surge of support from the Nationals fans, Bryce Harper is selected as an All-Star, making the 20-year-old outfielder the youngest National League starter in the history of the Midsummer Classic. Four days ago, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year trailed the Braves left fielder Justin Upton by 15,000 votes for the final spot in the outfield.
2016 In the Marlins' 4-2 loss to the Mets, Giancarlo Stanton's home run in the sixth inning, his second of the game off Jacob deGrom, gives him four homers in four at-bats, with a base on balls between the second and third round-trippers. The Miami masher went deep twice in his last two at-bats in yesterday's contest, contributing to 17 dingers at Citi Field, the most by any visiting player.
2017 At Busch Stadium, Ichiro Suzuki becomes the all-time major league hits leader for foreign-born players when he collects an eighth-inning single in the Marlins' 4-3 loss to the Cardinals. The Miami right fielder's 3,054th hit surpasses Rod Carew, who hails from Panama.
2018 At Citi Field, Jose Bautista hits a two-out walk-off grand slam off Chaz Roe, giving the Mets a 5-1 victory over the Rays. The 37-year-old right fielder's 337th career round-tripper is his first that ends a game.
2019 Andrew Heaney, making his first start since the untimely death of fellow Angel southpaw and his close personal friend Tyler Skaggs, delivers a slow, overhand curveball as his first pitch, the signature toss of his late buddy. George Springer intentionally takes the offering before lining out to deep right field on a 3-1 court, leading off in the Astros' 4-0 loss at Minute Maid Park.

 

Bob Gibson or Pedro Martinez?​

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Frank Howard was big, but Harmon Killebrew was more in powerful. 573 HRs > 382 HRs
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Satchel Paige
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Today In 1933: The first Major League All-Star Game is played at Comiskey Park, Chicago! Babe Ruth belts the first HR as the American League defeats the National League by a score of 4-2! \ #MLB #Baseball #History

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Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Jackie Robinson, Bill Russell
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Skip Caray and Chip Caray join Harry Caray
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