Harry Suitcase Simpson and Bob Feller celebrate a 7-1 victory over the Red Sox in front of 53,000 fans at Cleveland Stadium on 5/1/51.

Harry Suitcase Simpson and Bob Feller celebrate a 7-1 victory over the Red Sox

ByThis Day in Baseball

May 1, 1951 Cleveland Indians Harry Suitcase Simpson and Bob Feller celebrate a 7-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox in front of 53,000 fans at Cleveland Stadium. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@

Mickey Mantle blasts the first home run of his career in an 8-3 victory
|

Mickey Mantle blasts the first home run of his career in an 8-3 victory

ByThis Day in Baseball

On May 1, 1951, On Mother’s Day at Comiskey Park, Mickey Mantle blasts the first home run of his career off Randy Gumpert in an 8-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox. In the same game, former Negro Leagues star Minnie Minoso becomes the first black player in the history of the White Sox’ franchise. Minoso…

Minnie Minoso is dealt to the White Sox by the Indians as part of a three-team trade that also involves the A’s. Dave Philley, Gus Zernial, Paul Lehner, Lou Brissie, Ray Murray, and Sam Zoldak will be the other players also changing their uniforms in the seven-player deal.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Minnie Minoso is dealt to the White Sox by the Indians as part of a three-team trade that also involves the A’s. Dave Philley, Gus Zernial, Paul Lehner, Lou Brissie, Ray Murray, and Sam Zoldak will be the other players also changing their uniforms in the seven-player deal.

Philadelphia Athletics win their first game at Fenway Park in 3 years
|

Philadelphia Athletics win their first game at Fenway Park in 3 years

ByThis Day in Baseball

1951 – The Philadelphia Athletics win their first game at Fenway Park since September 12, 1948, beating Mel Parnell and the Boston Red Sox, 6 – 3. Making it sweeter is besting Parnell, winner of 10 straight over Philadelphia. The Athletics break a 3 – 3 tie in the 8th inning with three runs to make Alex Kellner the winner, just the third left-handed pitcher since 1948 to go the distance in Fenway.

U.S. President Harry S. Truman throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Senators’ home opener
|

U.S. President Harry S. Truman throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Senators’ home opener

ByThis Day in Baseball

Nine days after firing the very popular General Douglas MacArthur from his post as Commander of the Far East, U.S. President Harry S. Truman throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Senators’ home opener against New York at Griffith Stadium. The Air Force Band tries to drown out the boos from the crowd directed at the Commander in Chief by loudly playing “Ruffles and Flourishes” and “Hail to the Chief” during the pregame ceremonies.

Mickey Mantle makes his major league debut for the New York Yankees

Mickey Mantle makes his major league debut for the New York Yankees

ByThis Day in Baseball

    On April 17, 1951, future Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle makes his major league debut for the New York Yankees. Mantle picks up one hit in two official at-bats, as the Yankees defeat the rival Boston Red Sox, 6-1, behind the pitching of Eddie Lopat. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links   [et_pb_signup provider=”getresponse”…

Golf great Sam Snead tees off from home plate and hits the center field scoreboard at Wrigley Field before the Cubs’ home opener.

Golf great Sam Snead tees off from home plate and hits the center field scoreboard at Wrigley Field before the Cubs’ home opener.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Golf great Sam Snead tees off from home plate and hits the center field scoreboard at Wrigley Field before the Cubs’ home opener. The Associated Press reports: “Sammy Snead settled a long-standing argument today over whether a golf ball could be driven from home plate over the towering scoreboard at Wrigley Field. It can, by a golfer like Sam. Wearing street clothes, Snead sent a ball zooming well over the scoreboard with a No. 2 iron after hitting the board with a swing with a No. 4 iron. Snead calculated the carry was 175 yards. The scoreboard rises 89 feet in the air some 50 feet behind the 400-mark on the centerfield wall.”

Hall of Fame player/manager Eddie Collins dies in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 63

Hall of Fame player/manager Eddie Collins dies in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 63

ByThis Day in Baseball

1951 – Hall of Fame player/manager Eddie Collins dies in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 63. Collins batted .333 and stole 744 bases over a 25-year career, and batted .328 in six World Series with the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics.

Hoover-JEdgar-LOC

J. Edgar Hoover, longtime director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, declines the post of baseball commissioner

ByThis Day in Baseball

J. Edgar Hoover, longtime director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, declines the post of baseball commissioner. President Calvin Coolidge appointed him in 1924, and the nation’s top cop remained in the FBI until his death in 1972.