April 21, 200620 yr Author April 21st 1939 In his first major league at-bat, Red Sox 20-year old rookie Ted Williams strikes out against Red Ruffing of the Yankees. The 6-4 skinny 'Kid', who won the Triple Crown last season in the American Association, will finish the day 1-for-4 with his first hit of 2654 during in his 19-year career being a 400-foot double in a 2-0 loss at Yankee Stadium.
April 21, 200620 yr Author So was the Splendid Splinter's first AB on 4/20 or 4/21?Oops, sorry....do you have to catch all my mistakes....:lol: Williams first hit was 4/20 April 21st 1961 The Minnesota Twins, formerly known as the Washington Senators, play their first home game in Minnesota at Metropolitan Stadium losing to the 'new' expansion Washington Senator. 2002 Atlanta shortstop Rafael Furcal ties a major league record, which was most previously done by White Sox outfielder Lance Johnson in 1995, by hitting three triples in a game. The last time a Braves' player hit three three-baggers in one contest was on June 13, 1956 when Danny O'Connell accomplished the feat.
April 24, 200620 yr Author April 24th 1901 In front of 14,000 fans at the Chicago Cricket Club, the first American League game is played with the White Sox and Roy Patterson defeating Cleveland Blues, 8-2 in a contest which lasted ninety minutes. The opponent's name, which will be eventually changed to the Indians, reflects the very bright color of visitors' uniforms. 1947 Giants' first baseman Johnny Mize homers three times against Johnny Sain and the Braves becoming the first major leaguer to hit three home runs in one game five different times. 1962 Dodger Sandy Koufax ties a major league record striking out18 batters in a nine inning game as the Dodgers rout the Cubs, 10-2 at Wrigley Field.
April 25, 200620 yr Author April 25th 1952 After homering in his major league debut up two days ago, Giant hurler Hoyt Wilhelm hits a three-bagger in his second major league at bat. During the next 21 years, covering a span 1070 games and 432 official at-bats, the Giant hurler will never triple or homer again. 1976 During the fourth inning of the game being played at Dodger Stadium, Cubs' 30-year old fly chaser Rick Monday becomes a national hero when he takes away an American Flag about to be set on fire by the two trespassers (a father and son) in the outfield. Baseball’s newest hero, who served six years in the Marine Reserves, will be presented the flag a month later at Wrigley Field by Dodgers executive Al Campanis as a gesture of patriotic thanks. 1977 George Foster has seven RBIs, scores five runs times, bangs out four hits (two home runs, double and a single) as the Reds rout the Braves 23-9. Cincinnati ties a National League record by scoring 12 runs in one inning.
April 25, 200620 yr April 25th 1976 During the fourth inning of the game being played at Dodger Stadium, Cubs' 30-year old fly chaser Rick Monday becomes a national hero when he takes away an American Flag about to be set on fire by the two trespassers (a father and son) in the outfield. Baseball’s newest hero, who served six years in the Marine Reserves, will be presented the flag a month later at Wrigley Field by Dodgers executive Al Campanis as a gesture of patriotic thanks. . I remember this very clearly. However, I was not aware that the fans in the stands started singing "God Bless America" right after they realized what they just witnessed. Monday says he gets at least one letter a week thanking him for what he did. He still has the flag and turned down substantial money for it.
April 26, 200620 yr Author April 26th 1931 At Washington’s Griffith Stadium, a walk to Lyn Lary is followed by a Lou Gehrig home run, a smash which clears the fence, but bounces back into the hands of centerfielder Harry Rice. The base runner Lary thinks the ball has been caught on the fly for the third out returning to the dugout without crossing home plate, and the ‘Iron Horse’, running with head down, is ruled out for passing a runner in front of him costing the Yankees a possible win (they lost by two runs), the 1931 home run crown (tied Ruth with 46) and two RBIs to add to his record setting 184 for the season. 1941 Wrigley Field becomes the first ballpark to employ an organ to entertain fans. Roy Nelson's pregame serenade doesn't help the Cubs as they fall to Max Lanier and the Cardinals, 4-2. 1959 At Crosley Field, Willard Schmidt becomes the first major leaguer to be hit by a pitch twice in one inning. The Reds hurler is the third inning target of Bob Rush and Lew Burdette as Cincinnati beats the Braves, 11-10. 1980 Defeating the Cardinals, 2-0, Phillie fireballer Steve Carlton pitches his sixth career one-hitter establishing a National League record.
April 27, 200620 yr Author April 27th 1981 Dodger rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela pitches his fourth shutout in five starts as he beats the Giants, 5-0. 1983 Astros' fireballer Nolan Ryan breaks Walter Johnson's 56-year old record by whiffing Expo pinch-hitter Brad Mills on a 1-2 curveball in the eighth inning for his 3,509th career strikeout. 1996 Barry Bonds, joins his father and godfather, becoming only the fourth major leaguer to hit 300 homers and swipe 300 bases as he homers for the Giants' in a 6-3 victory over the Marlins. Bobby Bonds, Willie Mays and Andre Dawson are the only other 300-300 players.
April 28, 200620 yr Author April 28th 1971 Braves' outfielder Hank Aaron joins Babe Ruth and Willie Mays as the only major league player to hit 600 home runs. His historic homer, a 350-feet drive over the left field wall, comes off Gaylord Perry in the third inning of a 6-5 ten-inning loss to the Giants at Atlanta's County Fulton Stadium. 1978 Padres' rookie Ozzie Smith, a future Hall of Famer due his defensive prowess at short, makes what he will rate as his best play ever when he dives to his left to field a grounder hit by Jeff Burroughs of Atlanta. Although the ball takes a bad hop and scoots behind the 'Wizard's' head, he promptly sticks out his bare right hand snagging and then popping to his feet to get the out at first base.
May 1, 200620 yr Author May 1st 1969 At Crosley Field, Astros' righty Don Wilson no-hits the Reds, 4-0 one day after the Reds' Jim Maloney beat Houston with a no-hitter. 1974 Using just five pitches, Pirate starter Doc Ellis hits the first three Reds' batters (Rose, Morgan and Driessen) he faces. Pittsburgh pilot Danny Murtaugh removes Ellis when his pitcher throws two pitches behind Tony Perez's head before walking the clean-up hitter and then goes 0-2 on the next batter, Johnny Bench. 1984 Dwight Gooden becomes the first teenager to strike out a least ten players since Bert Blyleven accomplished the feat in 1970. The Mets 19-year old phenom, who will set rookie record with 276 Ks, will have a total 15 double-digit strikeout games this year. 1985 Jimmy Key becomes the first left-handed starter in 614 games to win a game for Blue Jays. 1991 Ranger right-hander Nolan Ryan pitches the seventh no-hitter of his career, striking out 16 Blue Jays as the Texas defeats Toronto, 3-0.
May 2, 200620 yr Author May 2nd 1930 In Des Moines, Iowa, a Western League contest against Wichita becomes the first night baseball game to be played under permanent lights. The unique event, which draws 12,000 fans instead of the usual 600 patrons, is the beginning of a concept which will spread quickly through the minors and spare many organizations from the on-slaught of the Great Depression. 1939 Benching himself, Yankee legend Lou Gehrig's streak ends at 2,130 consecutive games.
May 2, 200620 yr May 2nd 1939 Benching himself, Yankee legend Lou Gehrig's streak ends at 2,130 consecutive games. :cry: Imagine what his rankings would be had he not contracted that horrific disease. Truly one of the all time greats of men as well as players.
May 2, 200620 yr Author Wasn't May 1st the date of the first night game in MLB?According to what I can find, the Reds defeated the Phillier 2-1 on May 24, 1935 and that is credited to be the first MLB night game. Several others experimented in minors and other leagues, though before this date.
May 3, 200620 yr Author May 3rd 1936 The Yankees beat Browns 14-5, as Joe DiMaggio makes his major league debut with three hits. 1959 At Briggs Stadium, Charlie Maxwell hits four consecutive HRs in a doubleheader helping the 2-15 Tigers, under new manager Jimmy Dykes, sweep the Yankees 4-2 and 8-2. It was Dykes first day as skipper and he put Charlie back in the line-up even though 'Ole Paw Paw' was hitting only .136 at the time. 1980 Ranger Ferguson Jenkins joins Cy Young, Jim Bunning and Gaylord Perry as the fourth major league hurler to win 100 games in each league as he defeats the Orioles, 3-2.
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