Masanori Murakami becomes the first native-born Japanese player to appear in the U.S. major leagues when he throws a scoreless eighth inning in the Giants’ 4-1 loss to the Mets at Shea Stadium. The 20 year-old southpaw, who was to play only minor league ball until June as an ‘exchange player’, will be allowed to stay and play in one full season with San Francisco next year, before returning to the Nankai Hawks, ending his brief American stint with a 5-1 record and an ERA of 3.75. Read More September 1, 1964
2000 – The Giants inaugurate Pac Bell Park with a 6 – 5 loss to the Dodgers. Los Angeles SS Kevin Elster hits three homers in the game; the next batter to have a three-homer game in the ballpark will be Pablo Sandoval in Game 1 of the 2012 World Series. Read More April 11, 2000
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. Read More September 26, 2007