1949 – Jim Wynn is born in Hamilton, OH. Drafted away from the hometown Reds by the fledgling Colt .45s, the “Toy Cannon” would become the first Astro to reach 40 steals, hit 30 HRs or drive in 100 runs for the team. His tape-measure homers are still described with awe today. Wynn’s number 24 is retired in 2005.
1948 – Cesar Geronimo is born in El Seibo, DR. Used mostly as a defensive replacement in Houston, Geronimo would leave for Cincinnati as part of the infamous Morgan deal and hold down center field for the Reds for the next nine seasons.
On June 21, 1946, future Hall of Famer Bill Veeck purchases the Cleveland Indians. Veeck, the head of a group of new owners, will make headlines in 1947, when he signs Larry Doby as the first African-American player in the history of the American League.
1945 – Jay Dahl is born in San Bernadino, CA. Signed at age 17 in June of 1963, Dahl starts the “All-Rookie” game for the Colt .45s three months later, allowing seven runs in 2-2/3rds innings. It is to be his only big league game. The lefthander dies on June 20, 1965 in an automobile accident in Salisbury, NC where the Astros have a farm club. His teammate, Gary Marshall, is permanently blinded in the wreck. A female passenger also dies.
1945 – Don Wilson is born in Monroe, LA. He wins 104 games and tosses two no-hitters in eight memorable seasons as an Astro. He was the third baseman on his Little League team in Compton, CA and only began pitching when his cousin got hurt.
1944 – Jim Ray is born in Rock Hill, SC. Nicknamed “Stinger”, his best season comes in 1971 when he notches a 10-4 mark with three saves and a 2.12 ERA.
1944 – Joe Niekro is born in Martin’s Ferry, OH. Much of his career is spent in the shadow of his Hall-of-Fame older brother but the younger sibling leaves Houston as the winningest pitcher in franchise history (144). The two combine to win 539 major league games in their careers, most of any brother duo in baseball history.
On April 26, 1941, Wrigley Field becomes the first ballpark to install an organ to entertain fans, with Roy Nelson manning the keyboard. But Nelson’s successful pregame serenade doesn’t help the Chicago Cubs as they fall to pitcher Max Lanier and the rival St. Louis Cardinals, 6 – 2. [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you cool stories about the game,…
On June 16, 1940, a disgruntled group of Cleveland Indians players petitions owner Alva Bradley to fire Oscar Vitt as the team’s manager. Bradley turns down the players’ request, but eventually watches the team lose its hold on first place during the final weeks of the regular season. Vett will never manage again…
First National Bank of Chicago tries to force Grace Comiskey to sell the White Sox
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