Baseball History
This Day in Baseball History
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On August 29th, 1977, at Fenway Park, Jim Rice clubbed three homers – in the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th innings – but Boston lost to the Oakland A’s anyway, 8 – 7. Rice added a single in the 4th. He became the first Red Sox player to hit three in the same game since Norm Zauchin on May 27, 1955. Jim Rice played from 1974-1989.… Read more
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On August 28th, 1990, Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs becomes the first second baseman in history to notch consecutive 30-home run seasons. I had a chance in 2006 to spend a little time talking to Ryne Sandberg. He joined Paul Molitor, Harmon Killebrew, and a bunch of retired Twins at the opening night of… Read more
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On August 27th, 1990, 42-year old Texas Ranger knuckleballer Charlie Hough allowed 10 walks in five innings before being lifted in the 6th. California scored just three runs off of Hough. But they scored four off of the two Texas relievers to win the game, 7 – 3. For many baseball fans like me, the knuckleball is the… Read more
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On August 25th, 1985, At the age of 20 years, 9 months, 9 days, Dwight Gooden became the youngest 20-game winner ever when the Mets beat San Diego at Shea Stadium, 9-3. Doc was 27 days younger than Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, who had accomplished the feat with Cleveland in 1939. Gooden would… Read more
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On August 21st, 1881, The Eclipse club refused to play against the Chicago Whites in Louisville because of a black player named Fleet Walker on the Chicago team. Walker would go on to play for the Toledo Blue Stockings in the American Association in 1884 and is generally regarded as the first black player in major league baseball. I sometimes suspect that the angry MAGA… Read more
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On August 20th, 1986, Dave Winfield hit his 300th homer in a losing cause as the Yanks fell to Seattle, 5 – 2. It is difficult to imagine that there is any other small city in America that has turned out as many great baseball players as St. Paul, Minnesota. There are four St. Paul, Minnesota, natives in the… Read more
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On August 18th, 1902, The first unassisted triple play ever in a professional game was executed by first baseman Hal O’Hagan, of the Rochester Bronchos (Eastern League) against Jersey City. There have been only 15 Unassisted Triple plays in the history of Major League Baseball: The most famous of these rare events, of course, is the one Wabbsganss pulled of during… Read more
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On August 17th, 1973, 42-year old New York Mets outfielder Willie Mays hit the 660th and final home run of his career off Cincinnati Reds lefty Don Gullett at Shea Stadium. Mays was third on the all-time home run career list at that time behind Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (703). Mays would retire after… Read more
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On August 16th, 2015, Madison Bumgarner did it all as he threw a three-hit shutout to defeat the Nationals, 5 – 0 (to improve his record to 14-6). The Giants ace had 14 strikeouts, matching a career best. But he also hit a double and a homer, his fourth long ball of the season, to help his own cause. For the Nats,… Read more
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On August 15th, 1991, New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly was benched and fined $250 for refusing to cut his shoulder-length hair, but the Yankees still beat Kansas City, 5 – 1. He would get a haircut two days later, and the hair will eventually be auctioned off for $3,000 to benefit a children’s charity. Mattingly is not… Read more
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