Episode 2 – Daily Rewind Willie Mays goes to the Hall of Fame
On this weeks podcast –
August 5, 1979, Willie Mays is inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Mays slugged 660 homers, batted .302, and collected 3,283 hits in his 22-year career. Known for his all-around play, Mays won 12 Gold Glove Awards for his defense in center field. Former National League outfielder Hack Wilson and executive Warren Giles are also inducted during the ceremony in Cooperstown, which draws a record crowd.
August 6, 1999, Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres collects his 3,000th major league hit – a single against Dan Smith of the Montreal Expos. Gwynn adds to his total by banging out three more hits, giving him a 4-for-5 night against the Expos at Olympic Stadium.
On August 7, 2007, San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds became the all-time home run king when he belted his 756th roundtripper. Bonds hit the milestone homer in the fifth inning into the right-center field bleachers off southpaw Mike Bacsik of the Nationals at AT&T Park.
In front of a very supportive home crowd and during the 10-minute celebration following the historic homer, a surprise video message is played on the scoreboard in which Hank Aaron congratulates the Giants’ left fielder for breaking the 31 year-old record.
On August 8, 1988, lights are used for the first time in the history of Wrigley Field. The Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies play 3 1/2 before being rained out.
On August 9, 1949, Dom DiMaggio who was hitless in his first four at-bats against Yankee hurler Vic Raschi, sees his brother Joe DiMaggio catches a sinking line drive off his shoetops to rob his brother Dom of a base hit. The hit would have extended DiMaggio’s hitting streak to 35 games. Dom’s Red Sox win the game, 6-3. Dom also known as the Little Professor when then go on to hit in the next 9 straight.
On August 10, 1944, Red Barrett of the Boston Braves throws only 58 pitches in shutting out the Cincinnati Reds, 2-0. Barrett’s pitch count sets an unofficial major league record for the fewest pitches thrown in a nine-inning game. Barrett didn’t strike out or walk a single batter, gave up just two singles, faced 29 batters and averaged exactly two pitches per plate appearance. The outs broke down like this: 13 groundouts, five fly balls, seven popouts, and two line drives. Barrett’s Braves won the game, 2-0, in just an hour and 15 minutes.
On August 11. 1968 As a pinch hitter, Gates Brown has two walk-off hits in Detroit’s twin bill sweep of the Red Sox at Tiger Stadium. His pinch home run off Lee Stange in the 14th inning ends the opener, 5-4, and the nightcap is decided when he comes off the bench in the ninth and singles to right off Sparky Lyle, scoring Mickey Stanley, giving the team from the Motor City a 6-5 victory.