1983 – The Toronto Blue Jays acquire minor league first baseman Cecil Fielder from the Kansas City Royals for journeyman outfielder Leon Roberts. Although the Blue Jays won’t see the benefits, Fielder will become one of the American League’s top power hitters after a stint in the Japanese Central League, leading the AL in home runs in 1990 and 1991 with the Detroit Tigers.
Season Recap: 1893 League Champion: Boston Beaneaters
1893 – Ban Johnson is named president, secretary, and treasurer of the recently reorganized Western League. Under Johnson’s leadership the league will prosper and eventually become the American League.
On November 16, 1893, Cuban baseball star Cristóbal Torriente is born in Cienfuegos, Cuba. A left-handed power hitter who excelled in both his native country as well as the Negro leagues, Torriente starred as a center fielder for the Chicago American Giants from 1918 to 1925, leading the club to three consecutive Negro National League…
On the day he is honored by The Sporting News as the most popular baseball player in America, Joe Quinn collects eight hits in the NL Browns’ doubleheader, becoming the first player to accomplish the feat. The St. Louis second baseman, a mortician in the off-season, helps the team, who will change their name to the Cardinals after the 1899 season, sweep a twin bill from the Beaneaters, 17-6 and 16-4.
On the last day of the season, Duff Cooley collects six hits in the NL Browns’ 16-4 nightcap rout of Boston. The 20 year-old rookie accomplishes the rare feat by hitting four singles, a double, and a triple at the Robison Field in St. Louis.
9/8/1893 – Pop Schriver of the Chicago Colts (Cubs) was called out in a contest against the Phillies. No further details are known.
1893 – After making 3 errors in a 9 – 3 first-game loss in Cleveland‚ St. Louis LF Jesse Burkett is criticized for forgetting to follow Elmer Smith’s example and wear sunglasses. Cleveland wins the game 2‚ 4 – 3.
1893 – Sam Dungan of Pittsburgh starts the game against Chicago by scoring from first base as George Van Haltren’s wild throw rolls into a rat hole under the grandstand. Pittsburgh finishes up by scoring 5 runs in the top of the 9th and hanging on for a 9 – 8 win.
8/1/1893 – In the first game of the day, Tommy Dowd was called out for batting out of turn for the St. Louis Browns at home against the Pirates. No further details are known.