At Crosley Field, Braves P Vern Bickford pitches a two-hitter, but Ewell Blackwell bests him by allowing one hit, as the Reds win, 1 – 0. Connie Ryan’s 6th-inning hit is the first off Bickford, and Johnny Pramesa’s homer in the 7th is the other. The only Boston hit is a 5th-inning double by Bob Elliott. The Reds tie the National League record (set in 1911) for nine innings by going to bat just 24 times.

At Crosley Field, Braves P Vern Bickford pitches a two-hitter, but Ewell Blackwell bests him by allowing one hit, as the Reds win, 1 – 0. Connie Ryan’s 6th-inning hit is the first off Bickford, and Johnny Pramesa’s homer in the 7th is the other. The only Boston hit is a 5th-inning double by Bob Elliott. The Reds tie the National League record (set in 1911) for nine innings by going to bat just 24 times.

Fenway Park 50th year celebration

At Fenway Park, the Red Sox celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first American League game in Boston

At Fenway Park, the Red Sox celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first American League game in Boston. On hand are 29 old-timers who played, managed, or umpired in the AL in that first year including Connie Mack, Dummy Hoy, Cy Young, Hugh Duffy, Clark Griffith, Tom Connolly, Billy Sullivan, Wid Conroy, Bill Bradley and Ollie Pickering. Eight of the 29 participated in the first AL game, played in Chicago on April 24, 1901. The game that follows the ceremony features dramatic home runs as Ted Williams hits the 300th homer of his career in the 4th inning against Chicago’s Howie Judson. With Williams up in the 8th inning, White Sox manager Paul Richards moves reliever Harry Dorish to 3B and brings in Billy Pierce to pitch to Ted. Williams pops up against the lefty, and Dorish then returns to the mound. Boston ties the game against Dorish at 7 – 7, but little Nellie Fox, playing in his 6th season, cracks his first major league homer in the 11th to give Dorish a 9 – 7 victory. Ray Scarborough is the loser. The Sox will win their next 13 games.

Bob Cain

Detroit Tigers acquire pitcher Bob Cain from the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Saul Rogovin

On May 15, 1951, the Detroit Tigers acquire pitcher Bob Cain from the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Saul Rogovin. Cain will win 11 games for the Tigers in 1951, but will gain most of his fame for pitching to Eddie Gaedel of the St. Louis Browns on August 19. Cain will walk the diminutive…