ClimbingSky

Why Baseball, Books, and the Grateful Dead matter

Baseball History

This Day in Baseball History

  • The End of an Era

    On April 28, 2024, the last Opening Day game for the Oakland Athletics took place between the then Oakland A’s and the Cleveland Guardians . I have been lucky enough to be in person for a few moments of Baseball History. All of them have been joyful occasions with the exception of this one, the… Read more

  • Opening Day

    Finally, the long dark night of the soul is over. Tomorrow there will be boxscores that matter again and game summaries worth reading closely. It is Opening Day! My local nine, The Minnesota Twins, are in St. Louis to play the Cardinals today. While the Mets are in Houston and the Pirates in Miami. Baseball… Read more

  • Rickey

    Last week, a text from my friend Bob alerted me to the sad and surprising news that Rickey Henderson, “The Man of Steal,” was dead just a few days short of his 66th birthday. Here is my post from earlier this year occasioned by the death of another G.O.A.T. Read more

  • First World Series – 1903

    On Tuesday, October 6th, 1903 after two days of rest, Pittsburgh Pirate Deacon Phillippe threw his third complete game victory of the series against Boston American Bill Dinneen, who was making his second start of the series. The Pirates won the game and took a commanding 3–1 series lead. But they would end up losing… Read more

  • .406

    On September 28th, 1941, At Shibe Park, Batting .399955, Ted Williams elected to play in a doubleheader against the A’s on the final day of the season rather than to back into the a .400 average because the number would be rounded up. In game one, Williams went 4-5 against a trio of Philadelphia A’s… Read more

  • Rickey Henderson

    On September 26th, 1998, Oakland A’s Rickey Henderson swiped second and third off Steve Sparks and Phil Nevin in the bottom the third inning of the A’s 4-3 victory over the Angels. 39 year-old Rickey became the oldest player ever to steal over 50 bases and lead the league in stolen bases. Let’s face it,… Read more

  • Wade Boggs

    On September 25th, 1989, At Fenway Park Boston Red Sox third baseman Wade Boggs went 4 for 5 in a 7 – 4 win over the New York Yankees to become the first player in major league history to achieve both 200 hits and 100 walks in four consecutive seasons. Wade Boggs has a lifetime… Read more

  • Dave Stewart

    On September 24th, 1988,  Dave Stewart won his 20th game of the season and the A’s win their 100th, 5 – 2, over Milwaukee Dave Stewart is one of my favorite pitchers of all time. From 1987-1990 he won at least 20 games a year for the Oakland Athletics. In each of those years, he led the League in… Read more

  • How About a Ballpark Moratorium

    On September 22, 2002, Chicago first baseman Fred McGriff became the first player to hit 30 home runs in a season for five different teams (Blue Jays, Braves, Cubs, Devil Rays, and Cubs). The ‘Crime Dog’s’ first inning homer at PNC park also set a record for being hit in the 42nd major league park,… Read more

  • Dave McNally

    On September 21st, 1971, Baltimore Orioles Dave McNally won his 20th game for the fourth consecutive season when he blanked New York at Yankee Stadium, 5-0. The lefty became the first of the four 20-game winners on the club, which would include Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, and Pat Dobson. Dave McNally is one of just… Read more