Ryan Hanigan becomes the first person born in Washington, D. C. to play in the major leagues. The 27 year-old Reds rookie doubles off Brewers’ ace Ben Sheets in his first big league at-bat.

Albert Pujols becomes the first player in big league history to hit 30 homers and have 100 RBIs in each of his first seven seasons when he drives in the first run of the Miller Park contest. The Cardinals first baseman’s first-inning homer, his 32nd of the season, helps St. Louis beat the contending Brewers at Miller Park, 7-3.

As the result of an internet poll conducted by Marc Ecko, who owns the record-breaking 756th home run baseball belted by Barry Bonds, the historic horsehide will be donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame branded with an asterisk. On the Today show, the fashion designer reveals 47% voted for the ball to be marked with another 34% voting to donate it unchanged, and 19% elected to send the special sphere into outer space.

At a Democratic candidate presidential debate at Dartmouth College, moderator Tim Russert asks junior New York Senator Hillary Clinton, a Chicago native, who she would root for in a potential Cubs vs. Yankees World Series. The presidential hopeful responds diplomatically, “I would probably have to alternate sides.” “Well, you know, I’ve worried about that because I think given the Cubs’ record — which of course I hope it happens, but it could very well be a sign of the coming apocalypse were that ever to occur — it would be so out of history that you’d have the Cubs versus the Yankees. Then, I’d be really in trouble. “- HILLARY CLINTON, commenting on the potential World Series with Cubs and Yankees as opponents.

Big League umpire Mike Winters is suspended for the remainder of the season without pay for his actions during a confrontation with Milton Bradley in the eighth inning of the Rockies-Padres game at Petco Park. After an investigation of the incident which occurred three days ago, the first base ump, who ejected the Padres outfielder with a profanity-laden accusation, allegedly incited Bradley to the point the player needed to be restrained, resulting in a season-ending injury.

Brandon Phillips, after a 50 homerless at-bat drought, hits his 30th home run of the season to become the 31st member of the 30-30 club, which now includes Mets third baseman David Wright and Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who also accomplished the feat this season. The 26 year-old infielder joins Alfonso Soriano (Yankees, 2002) as the only other second baseman to reach the plateau, and the third Reds player (Eric Davis, 1987 and Barry Larkin, 1996) to have hit 30 home runs and stolen 30 bases in the same season.

Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder becomes the youngest major leaguer to hit 50 home runs in a season, going deep twice in the team’s 9-1 victory over the Cardinals at Miller Park. The 23 year-old cleanup hitter and his father, Cecil, who hit 51 round-trippers with the Tigers in 1990 are the first father-and-son tandem to accomplished the feat.

Neal Huntington is hired as General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He replaces Dave Littlefield.