Bert and George Bebble and Carl Stotz form the Little League organization in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The three youth teams in the league have uniforms thanks to a $35 donation.
For the first time in his career, Charlie Gehringer of the Detroit Tigers hits for the cycle, in a 12 – 5 win against the St. Louis Browns. Gehringer does it in order – single, double, triple, home run.
The first baseball game ever televised – Princeton against Columbia at the Baker Bowl – is watched by a handful of viewers via W2XBS in New York City. Bill Sternannounces the ten-inning victory of visiting Princeton, 2 – 1. Reviewing the game the next day, the New York Times reports: “it is difficult to see how this sort of thing can catch the public fancy.”
On May 16, 1939, Four years after the Senior Circuit began playing evening tilts the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Athletics play the first night game in American League history. A gathering of 15,109 fans watches the contest at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park, which becomes the third major league park to feature lights. The cold weather halved…
In his first-ever at-bat in the city of Detroit, Boston Red Sox rookie Ted Williams becomes the first player to hit a home run which totally clears the right field seats at Briggs Stadium.
On May 2, 1939, Lou Gehrig’s streak of 2,130 consecutive games comes to an end. An ailing Gehrig removes himself from the lineup against Detroit Tigers at Briggs Stadium, telling manager Joe McCarthy that he cannot play because of continuing weakness and it is for the good of the team. Doctors will later diagnose Gehrig with amyotrophic…
On a chilly Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, Lou Gehrig comes to the plate in the fourth inning and singles off Washington hurler Ken Chase for his 2,721st and last hit, the most ever in franchise history. The ‘Iron Horse’s’ record will stand for over 70 years until Derek Jeter, another 35 year-old team captain, surpasses the mark in 2009.
Rookie Ted Williams goes 4 for 5, including his first major-league home run, but the Boston Red Sox lose to the Philadelphia Athletics, 12 – 8, at Fenway Park.
April 20 1939 – The Boston Red Sox show off their prize rookie and last season’s American Association Triple Crown winner – Ted Williams before 30,278 in their opener at Yankee Stadium, delayed two days because of rain. After striking out twice, Williams blasts a 407-foot double to right-center field a double off New York…
For the first time in club history, the A’s wear numbers on their uniforms. Connie Mack, the owner and manager of the team, believed the sale of scorecards would suffer because players could be identified by their jerseys.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!