On April 18, 1981, the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings start the longest game in professional baseball history. The game is suspended at 4:07 AM the next day, and will be resumed in June. The 33-inning contest will last a total of eight hours and 25 minutes.
On July 12, 1978, former major league reliever Horacio Pina hurls a perfect game for Aguascalientes of the Mexican League. The side-arming Pina, a reliever on the 1973 world champion Oakland A’s, faces the minimum 27 batters in defeating Mexico City, 3-0. Pinterest Instagram Facebook Youtube {“dynamic”:true,”content”:”post_tags”,”settings”:{“before”:””,”after”:””,”link_to_term_page”:”on”,”separator”:” | “,”category_type”:”post_tag”}} [ngg src=”random_images” display=”basic_thumbnail” maximum_entity_count=”20″]
On May 1, 1978, former major league pitcher and controversial book author Jim Bouton begins a comeback with the Savannah Braves of the Southern League. The 39-year-old Bouton will eventually earn a promotion to the Atlanta Braves, where he will struggle in a late-season stint.
Alfredo Edmead of Class-A Salem (Va.) is killed when he collides with a teammate during a game against Rocky Mount
1974 – Jorge Lebron, the youngest professional player ever, makes his debut for the Phillies’ farm club Auburn. The fourteen-year-old shortstop plays three games before returning to Puerto Rico to finish junior high school.
Jim Rice’s 3-run home run is the key blow as Pawtucket (International League) defeats Tulsa (American Association), 5 – 2, to win the Junior World Series.
On March 2, 1973, Arizona State left-hander Eddie Bane pitches a perfect game against Cal State Northridge. The five-foot, nine-inch Bane, who wins a 9-0 decision, Bane will rack up a record of 41-4 in college. He will eventually reach the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins, but will win only seven games in three…
On June 25, 1971, actor Kurt Russell makes his professional baseball debut by collecting a double, single, and two stolen bases for the Bend Rainbows of the Northwest League California Angels minor league affiliate. Russell was a switch-hitting a second baseman and shortstop, he will move up to the Walla Walla Islanders (1972)…
The 1965 Alaska Goldpanners. The only notable player is Dan Frisella who played in the majors from 1967-76, mostly with the Mets and Braves. Sadly his life was cut short on New Years Day 1977 at age 31. Dan is second from the right side.
On April 21, 1963, minor league slugger Rico Carty hits two home runs in one at-bat-but only one counts. Playing in the Northwest League, the Yakima catcher hits a home run, but the blast is negated because time had been called. Carty, a future major league star, proceeds to hit a “legitimate” home run later in the at-bat.