Mets backstop Mike Piazza passes Carlton Fisk for most home runs hit by a catcher when he hits his 352nd round-tripper as a catcher. The Norristown, PA native’s 405-foot opposite-field historic homer comes off a Jerome Williams’ 3-1 fastball during the first inning of the Mets’ 8-2 victory at Shea Stadium.

Mets backstop Mike Piazza passes Carlton Fisk for most home runs hit by a catcher when he hits his 352nd round-tripper as a catcher. The Norristown, PA native’s 405-foot opposite-field historic homer comes off a Jerome Williams’ 3-1 fastball during the first inning of the Mets’ 8-2 victory at Shea Stadium.

ByTom

Mets backstop Mike Piazza passes Carlton Fisk for most home runs hit by a catcher when he hits his 352nd round-tripper as a catcher. The Norristown, PA native’s 405-foot opposite-field historic homer comes off a Jerome Williams’ 3-1 fastball during the first inning of the Mets’ 8-2 victory at Shea Stadium.

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Roger Clemens moves ahead of Steve Carlton (4,136) into second place on the career strikeouts list when gets Raul Mondesi swinging in the fifth inning of the Astros’ 9-2 victory of Pittsburgh at Minute Maid Park. Nolan Ryan’s all-time mark of 5,714 whiffs appears to be out of reach for the 41 year-old ‘Rocket’, who would still need over another 1500 to challenge the record.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Roger Clemens moves ahead of Steve Carlton (4,136) into second place on the career strikeouts list when gets Raul Mondesi swinging in the fifth inning of the Astros’ 9-2 victory of Pittsburgh at Minute Maid Park. Nolan Ryan’s all-time mark of 5,714 whiffs appears to be out of reach for the 41 year-old ‘Rocket’, who would still need over another 1500 to challenge the record.

Similar to last season, the aging outfielder Rickey Henderson re-signs with the Atlantic League’s Bears, hoping for a shot of returning to the big leagues. The 45 year-old future Hall of Famer batted .339, hit eight home runs, drove in 33 runs, scored 52 runs, and stole nine bases for the Newark team last season before joining the Dodgers in July.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Similar to last season, the aging outfielder Rickey Henderson re-signs with the Atlantic League’s Bears, hoping for a shot of returning to the big leagues. The 45 year-old future Hall of Famer batted .339, hit eight home runs, drove in 33 runs, scored 52 runs, and stole nine bases for the Newark team last season before joining the Dodgers in July.

In the second game of a twin bill at US Cellular Field, Frank Catalanotto becomes the first Blue Jay in franchise history to collect six hits in one game. The left fielder’s double and five singles contribute to Toronto’s 10-6 victory over the White Sox.

ByTom

In the second game of a twin bill at US Cellular Field, Frank Catalanotto becomes the first Blue Jay in franchise history to collect six hits in one game. The left fielder’s double and five singles contribute to Toronto’s 10-6 victory over the White Sox.

In the 6 – 3 victory over the Marlins at Pac Bell Park, Barry Bonds of the Giants sets a major league record by being intentionally walked four times in a nine-inning game. In 1990, Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson was given five intentional passes in a 16-inning contest against Cincinnati.

ByBaseball

In the 6 – 3 victory over the Marlins at Pac Bell Park, Barry Bonds of the Giants sets a major league record by being intentionally walked four times in a nine-inning game. In 1990, Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson was given five intentional passes in a 16-inning contest against Cincinnati.

At Indianapolis’ Victory Field, the International League’s contest between the hometown Indians and Louisville Bats is delayed for twenty minutes before the start of the fourth inning as a maintenance crew works to free first baseman Jeff Liefer from a dugout bathroom. Returning to the field, the first baseman is greeted with a standing ovation and receives a gift from the opposing dugout, a roll of toilet paper.

ByTom

At Indianapolis’ Victory Field, the International League’s contest between the hometown Indians and Louisville Bats is delayed for twenty minutes before the start of the fourth inning as a maintenance crew works to free first baseman Jeff Liefer from a dugout bathroom. Returning to the field, the first baseman is greeted with a standing ovation and receives a gift from the opposing dugout, a roll of toilet paper.

At Milwaukee’s Miller Park, Chad Moeller becomes the first Brewer to hit for the cycle at home. In the 9-8 victory over the Reds, against starter Cory Lidle, the backup catcher homers in the second inning, doubles in the fourth, triples in the fifth, and then singles in the seventh off reliever Ryan Wagner to complete the feat in front of 8,918 enthusiastic fans.

ByTom

At Milwaukee’s Miller Park, Chad Moeller becomes the first Brewer to hit for the cycle at home. In the 9-8 victory over the Reds, against starter Cory Lidle, the backup catcher homers in the second inning, doubles in the fourth, triples in the fifth, and then singles in the seventh off reliever Ryan Wagner to complete the feat in front of 8,918 enthusiastic fans.

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2004 – Mike Lamb devours Colorado pitching with four hits, including a double and triple, along with six RBIs to pace a 13-7 donnybrook over the Rockies. Craig Biggio and Orlando Palmeiro bash homers while Brandon Duckworth gets his first win as an Astro. 

ByTom

2004 – Mike Lamb devours Colorado pitching with four hits, including a double and triple, along with six RBIs to pace a 13-7 donnybrook over the Rockies. Craig Biggio and Orlando Palmeiro bash homers while Brandon Duckworth gets his first win as an Astro. 

A’s right-hander Justin Duchscherer, after faking a throw to third base before throwing to first, is called for a balk by umps Paul Emmel and Mike DiMuro as the result of stepping toward home plate before beginning his pick-off move. The Oakland hurler’s mound miscue ends the 14-inning contest, giving the Mariners a 2-1 balk-off victory at Safeco Field.

ByTom

A’s right-hander Justin Duchscherer, after faking a throw to third base before throwing to first, is called for a balk by umps Paul Emmel and Mike DiMuro as the result of stepping toward home plate before beginning his pick-off move. The Oakland hurler’s mound miscue ends the 14-inning contest, giving the Mariners a 2-1 balk-off victory at Safeco Field.

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4/16/2004 – In the top of the seventh inning, Cubs manager Dusty Baker intended to place two new players in the lineup with a double switch but failed to tell Umpire C.B. Bucknor. When the Cubs batted in the bottom of the inning, shortstop Ramon Martinez came to the plate in the ninth spot in the order and doubled. The Reds protested that the Cubs were batting out of order. Pitcher Kent Mercker, the proper batter, was called out. Baker argued with the umpires but was told that the call stood. Yelling & screaming, he tossed his lineup card on the ground and was ejected by Bucknor. Baker threw his hat, walked away and returned; he tossed his hat again, stomped to the dugout and kicked some items in the on deck circle before finally leaving the field. The Cubs won in the bottom of the ninth, 11-10, when Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou hit back-to-back homers to end the game. When Baker arrived home that day, his son called him “Mad Dog.”

ByTom

4/16/2004 – In the top of the seventh inning, Cubs manager Dusty Baker intended to place two new players in the lineup with a double switch but failed to tell Umpire C.B. Bucknor. When the Cubs batted in the bottom of the inning, shortstop Ramon Martinez came to the plate in the ninth spot in the order and doubled. The Reds protested that the Cubs were batting out of order. Pitcher Kent Mercker, the proper batter, was called out. Baker argued with the umpires but was told that the call stood. Yelling & screaming, he tossed his lineup card on the ground and was ejected by Bucknor. Baker threw his hat, walked away and returned; he tossed his hat again, stomped to the dugout and kicked some items in the on deck circle before finally leaving the field. The Cubs won in the bottom of the ninth, 11-10, when Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou hit back-to-back homers to end the game. When Baker arrived home that day, his son called him “Mad Dog.”