Twenty-three fans witness A’s switch-hitter Wally Schang become the first player in major league history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game
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Twenty-three fans witness A’s switch-hitter Wally Schang become the first player in major league history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game

ByThis Day in Baseball

Twenty-three fans attending the game against the Yankees at soaked Shibe Park, the smallest crowd in American League history, witness A’s switch-hitter Wally Schang become the first player in major league history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game. The feat, not well publicized because reporters thought the heavy rain would postpone the game and did not attend the contest, will not be accomplished again in the Junior Circuit until 1940.

honus wagner

Honus Wagner of the Pittsburgh Pirates becomes the oldest player to hit an inside-the-park home run

ByThis Day in Baseball

On July 1, 1916, future Hall of Famer Honus Wagner of the Pittsburgh Pirates becomes the oldest player to hit an inside-the-park home run. The 42-year-old Wagner circles the bases in the fourth inning of a game at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Baseball HOT ON EBAY Card Collections ENDING SOON ON EBAY MOST WANTED ROOKIE…

Babe Ruth hits his first professional home run
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Babe Ruth hits his first professional home run

ByThis Day in Baseball

In the last inning of an intrasquad exhibition game of the International League’s Baltimore Orioles, the recently-signed George Herman Ruth Jr. hits his first professional home run, a 400 foot shot at the Cape Fear Fairgrounds in Fayetteville. A state marker claims the famous moniker ‘Babe’ was given to the 19 year-old during his stay in this North Carolina city when his teammates teased him about being adopted by the team’s manager Jack Dunn, who legally became the parent of St. Mary’s Industrial School to keep him on the club.

Red Sox outfielder and future Hall of Famer Harry Hooper becomes the first major leaguer to start both games of a doubleheader with a home run. The feat will not be repeated until 1993, when A’s leadoff hitter Rickey Henderson opens each game of a twin bill against Cleveland with a homer.
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Red Sox outfielder and future Hall of Famer Harry Hooper becomes the first major leaguer to start both games of a doubleheader with a home run. The feat will not be repeated until 1993, when A’s leadoff hitter Rickey Henderson opens each game of a twin bill against Cleveland with a homer.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Red Sox outfielder and future Hall of Famer Harry Hooper becomes the first major leaguer to start both games of a doubleheader with a home run. The feat will not be repeated until 1993, when A’s leadoff hitter Rickey Henderson opens each game of a twin bill against Cleveland with a homer.

ty cobb

Ty Cobb clinches the American League home run title with his 9th round-tripper

ByThis Day in Baseball

1909 – Ty Cobb clinches the American League home run title with his 9th round-tripper. It is an inside-the-park drive against the Browns. In fact, all his nine home runs this season are inside-the-park, including two on July 15th. Only Sam Crawford (12 in 1901) has hit more inside-the-park homers in a year than Cobb.

Johnny Bates of the Boston Beaneaters becomes the first modern player to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat

Johnny Bates of the Boston Beaneaters becomes the first modern player to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat

ByTom

1906 – Johnny Bates of the Boston Beaneaters becomes the first modern player to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat, when he connects in the 2nd inning against Brooklyn Superbas pitcher Harry McIntire. Pitcher Irv Young allows only one hit, a double by Harry Lumley, as Boston beats Brooklyn, 2 – 0.

Little Tommy Leach of Pittsburgh, hits two home runs at Boston

Little Tommy Leach of Pittsburgh, hits two home runs at Boston

ByBaseball

1902 – Little Tommy Leach of Pittsburgh, hits two home runs at Boston. He will close out the season with only 6, all inside-the-park, but it is enough to give him sole leadership of the National League, which totals only 99. Leach’s leading number is the lowest since Paul Hines hit four in a 60-game schedule in 1878.

Cleveland is the first American League team to hit three consecutive home runs in one inning

Cleveland is the first American League team to hit three consecutive home runs in one inning

ByThis Day in Baseball

Cleveland is the first American League team to hit three consecutive home runs in one inning as Nap Lajoie, Piano Legs Hickman and Bill Bradley connect in the 6th off St. Louis, with all the hits ending in the LF bleachers at St. Louis. The last two come on the first pitch thrown. Jack Harper tees up the gopher balls in the 17 – 2 loss. The feat was last done on May 10, 1894.

Nig_Clarke
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Nig Clarke reportedly hits eight home runs for Corsicana against Texarkana

ByThis Day in Baseball

On June 15, 1902, in a minor league game, Nig Clarke reportedly hits eight home runs for Corsicana against Texarkana. Because Sunday games were not allowed in Corsicana, the game was played at a much smaller field in Ennis, TX, where Clarke launched his homers over a short fence. Corsicana hit 21 homers in the…