ClimbingSky

Why Baseball, Books, and the Grateful Dead matter

Baseball History

This Day in Baseball History

  • A Last Name

    On May 14th, 1961, Chuck Hinton played his first Major League game. I share a last name with 4 players who played in the Major Leagues: Charles “Chuck” Hinton was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on May 3, 1934. He played outfield for Washington and then Cleveland. His best season was 1962 when he Read more

  • Catfish Hunter

    On May 13th, 1965, future Hall of Fame pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter pitched in his first Major League game for the then, Kansas City Athletics. I have read in a few places over the years that by some sabrmetrics Catfish Hunter does not really belong in the Hall of Fame. That is, of course, cow Read more

  • Inside the Park Home Runs

    On May 10th, 1967, Hank Aaron hit the only inside the park homer of his career. In the 8th inning with Jim Bunning pitching, Aaron hit a drive to deep centerfield and beat the relay home. So for those scoring at home, of his 755 home runs, only this one did not clear the fence. The Read more

  • Hate Does Not Have the Last Word

    On May 4th, 1982, Twins rookie outfielder Jim Eisenreich (Pride of St. Cloud), who suffers from the nervous disorder Tourette’s Syndrome, is forced to remove himself from a 5-3 loss to the Red Sox when he is taunted mercilessly by bleacher fans and his violent twitching becomes uncontrollable. Eisenreich, hitting .310 after making the jump from Read more

  • FRIDAY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Durocher on Willie Mays

    “If somebody came up and hit .450, stole 100 bases, and performed a miracle in the field everyday I’d still look you in the eye and say Willie was better. He could do the five things you have to do to be a superstar: hit, hit with power, run, throw and field. And he had Read more

  • The Greatest

    On May 1st, 1991, Rickey Henderson surpassed Lou Brock as baseball’s career stolen base leader with his 939th steal as the Oakland Athletics beat the New York Yankees 7-4. I have written a lot about Rickey here because he deserves it. He was that great. Rickey got a bad rap when he broke Lou Brock’s record for Stolen Read more

  • The Rocket

    On April 29th, 1986,  Roger “The Rocket” Clemens set a major league record by striking out 20 as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Seattle Mariners 3-1. How great was Roger Clemens? Clemens even won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1986 (an award generally considered for everyday players NOT pitchers!). And yet, like Read more

  • Tom Seaver

    On April 20th, 1967,  Tom Seaver of the New York Mets recorded his first major-league victory with a 6-1 triumph over the Chicago Cubs. Seaver went 7 2/3 innings and gave up eight hits and one run. Tom Seaver won a total of 311 games in his 20-year career. He won 3 Cy Young Awards and Read more

  • A Weird Stat

    Lee Smith became the all-time saves leader as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-7. Smith got his 358th save, passing (former Minnesota Twin) Jeff Reardon. The Save is a relatively new stat in baseball. It did not become an official stat until 1969 And the rules for getting a Save have changed over Read more

  • The Eighth Wonder of the World

    On April 12th, 1965, Richie Allen hit the first home run in the Houston Astrodome, off Bob Bruce, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Astros 2-0. I have a special place in my heart for the Astrodome, “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” Just as I have for the Metrodome and Wrigley Field. 20 years after Richie Read more