2017 – The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Northwest League begin their game against the Hillsboro Hops at 9:35 am on a Monday. It is no mistake, as this is timed precisely to allow fans to view a rare total eclipse of the sun, whose band of total darkness passes precisely over the Willamette Valley of Oregon around 10:17 a.m. Fans are invited to the ballpark for breakfast starting at 6:00 a.m. and are issued eclipse-viewing glasses, while the home team wears special uniforms for the occasion. An “eclipse delay” is called a half-hour into the game to allow fans to view the celestial phenomenon before play resumes.

2017 – Manny Machado caps a three-homer night with a walk-off grand slam off Keynan Middleton to lead the Orioles to a 9 – 7 win over the Angels. The two teams combine for ten long balls at Camden Yards, including career homer #609 by Albert Pujols of Los Angeles, who ties Sammy Sosa for most by a player born outside the United States.

2017 – Short of infielders because of injuries, the Mets start catcher Travis d’Arnaud at third base in their game against the Yankees. However, as d’Arnaud has never played the position professionally, manager Terry Collinsdecides to switch him and starting second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera every time a right-handed batter comes up, in order to minimize the chance of a ball actually being hit towards the improvized infielder. The two end up exchanging positions 18 times as the Yankees prevail, 5 – 3, making for an unusual boxscore that reads “Cabrera 2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b” and “d’Arnaud 3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b”.

2017 – In his first game back since undergoing treatment for testicular cancer, Chad Bettis pitches 7 scoreless innings as the Rockies defeat the Braves, 3 – 0. The win is credited to reliever Rex Brothers, however, as the game is still scoreless when Bettis, who has not pitched all season, exits the mound.

2017 – Chris Rowley becomes the first graduate of the United States Military Academy in almost a century to make his major league debut. He pitches 5 1/3 innings allowing only 1 run in a 7 – 2 Blue Jays win over the Pirates. Rowley had missed the 2014 and 2015 seasons while service as a first lieutenant on active duty in the United States Army.

Reports emerge that a group that includes former player Derek Jeter has made a successful bid of $1.2 billion to acquire the Miami Marlins from Jeffrey Loria. The main financier behind the group is New York-based businessman Bruce Sherman.

2017 – Dexter Fowler has a career night as he hits a grand slam and drives in 5 runs to lead St. Louis to an 8 – 6 win over the Royals. It is the 6th straight win for the Cards, who are now back within one game of the first-place Cubs in the NL Central after having trailed by as many as 6 1/2 games in mid-July.

2017 – Shortly after losing All-Star OF Michael Brantley to an ankle injury, the Indians acquire Jay Bruce from the Mets.

On his 26th birthday, Mike Trout collects his 1,000th career hit, a line drive double into the left-field corner off Dylan Bundy in the Halos’ 6-2 loss to the Orioles at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Millville Meteor becomes the tenth American Leaguer to reach the milestone prior to his age-26 season.