A disputed call on a fly ball down the LF foul line at the Polo Grounds touches off a melee in which New York Giants Billy Jurges and umpire George Magerkurth spit at each other. Both will be fined $150 and suspended for 10 days. National League President Ford Frick announces that two-foot screens are to be installed inside all foul poles to prevent future arguments. The American League will eventually also adopt the rule. The Giants lose, 8 – 4, to the Cincinnati Reds, and will add another eight in a row to take them out of contention.

ByBaseball

A disputed call on a fly ball down the LF foul line at the Polo Grounds touches off a melee in which New York Giants Billy Jurges and umpire George Magerkurth spit at each other. Both will be fined $150 and suspended for 10 days. National League President Ford Frick announces that two-foot screens are to be installed inside all foul poles to prevent future arguments. The American League will eventually also adopt the rule. The Giants lose, 8 – 4, to the Cincinnati Reds, and will add another eight in a row to take them out of contention.

Prior to the first game of a doubleheader with the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, a wall of Japanese beetles forms in front of the home dugout. Although over 5000 insects will be captured, the problem will return later in the month.

ByBaseball

Prior to the first game of a doubleheader with the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, a wall of Japanese beetles forms in front of the home dugout. Although over 5000 insects will be captured, the problem will return later in the month.

fireworks start two days early Leo Durocher and Zeke Bonura get ejected 

fireworks start two days early Leo Durocher and Zeke Bonura get ejected 

ByBaseball

On July 2, 1939 In a doubleheader with the Dodgers before 51,435 at the Polo Grounds, the fireworks start two days early. The Dodgers take a uneventful opener, 3 – 2, but in the 4th inning of the nitecap, Dodger player-manager Leo Durocher ends the inning by grounding into a double play and spikes 1B Zeke Bonura as he crosses the bag….

The Yankees hit 13 homeruns in a doubleheader collecting a record 53 total bases

The Yankees hit 13 homeruns in a doubleheader collecting a record 53 total bases

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The Yankees hit eight home runs in the first game of a doubleheader with the A’s, and five more in the nightcap. Both are major league records, as are the 53 total bases in a doubleheader. Joe DiMaggio, Babe Dahlgren and Joe Gordon each hit three homers. The Yankees win the opener, 23 – 2, and take the nightcap, 10 – 0.

Cleveland batters Ben Chapman, Hal Trosky and Jeff Heath homer in the seventh inning to tie a major-league record, while beating Philadelphia, 8 – 4.

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On June 25, 1939 Cleveland batters Ben Chapman, Hal Trosky and Jeff Heath homer in the seventh inning to tie a major-league record, while beating Philadelphia, 8 – 4.   Source Baseball Reference June 25

The New York Yankees announce Lou Gehrig’s retirement, based on the report that he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The 36-year-old star will remain with the team as captain.

The New York Yankees announce Lou Gehrig’s retirement, based on the report that he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The 36-year-old star will remain with the team as captain.

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On June 21, 1939 The New York Yankees announce Lou Gehrig’s retirement, based on the report that he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The 36-year-old star will remain with the team as captain.

With much of its funding provided by the Clark Foundation, a charitable organization established by the Singer Sewing Machine Company, the Baseball Hall of Fame is dedicated in Cooperstown, the site selected due to an erroneous report made that claimed Abner Doubleday had invented the game in the small town located in upstate New York. The Hall of Fame is officially dedicated at Cooperstown, New York. The greatest-ever gathering of members and future inductees of the Hall of Fame accept their plaques: Grover Alexander, Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, Walter Johnson, Nap Lajoie, Connie Mack, Babe Ruth, George Sisler, Tris Speaker, Honus Wagner and Cy Young.

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On June 12 1939, With much of its funding provided by the Clark Foundation, a charitable organization established by the Singer Sewing Machine Company, the Baseball Hall of Fame is dedicated in Cooperstown, the site selected due to an erroneous report made that claimed Abner Doubleday had invented the game in the small town located…

Joe Sprinz fractures his upper jaw in twelve places and has five teeth knocked out attempting to catch a ball dropped 800 feet from a Goodyear blimp. ‘Mule,’ a catcher with the PCL’s San Francisco Seals, had been participating in Baseball Day at the Golden Gate Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay when the ball hit his upraised glove and was driven into his face, resulting in a two-month stay in the hospital.

ByBaseball

Joe Sprinz fractures his upper jaw in twelve places and has five teeth knocked out attempting to catch a ball dropped 800 feet from a Goodyear blimp. ‘Mule,’ a catcher with the PCL’s San Francisco Seals, had been participating in Baseball Day at the Golden Gate Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay when the ball hit his upraised glove and was driven into his face, resulting in a two-month stay in the hospital.