Pitching for Kansas City of the American Association, Smokey Joe Wood hurls a 1 – 0 no-hitter against Milwaukee.
Pitching for Kansas City of the American Association, Smokey Joe Wood hurls a 1 – 0 no-hitter against Milwaukee.
Art Devlin cracks a 1st-inning double with the bases loaded and the New York Giants score seven runs off Irv Young in the first two innings. Christy Mathewson scatters 10 Doves hits in coasting to a 7 – 3 win.
Art Devlin cracks a 1st-inning double with the bases loaded and the New York Giants score seven runs off Irv Young in the first two innings. Christy Mathewson scatters 10 Doves hits in coasting to a 7 – 3 win.
19th Century Chicago Cubs superstar Cap Anson is on the mound, delivering the traditional ceremonial “first ball” of the season
Opening Day at West Side Park in Chicago, in front of 18,000 fans on April 22, 1908. Retired 19th Century Chicago Cubs superstar Cap Anson is on the mound, delivering the traditional ceremonial “first ball” of the season. The Cubs will beat the Reds 7-3 Johnny Evers scores 2 and drives in 2, Chick Fraser…
Mike Donlin hits a walk-off home run to give the Giants a 3 – 2 win in opener
In the New York Giants home opener, 25,000 fans watch the Brooklyn Superbas take a 2 – 1 lead into the 9th inning against Christy Mathewson. But in the bottom, with Fred Tenney on first base, Mike Donlin hits a walk-off home run to give the Giants a 3 – 2 win.
Henry Chadwick dies at age 83 in Brooklyn, New York
1908 – Henry Chadwick dies at age 83 in Brooklyn, New York. A sportswriter and historian, Chadwick was one of the prime movers in the rise of baseball to its unprecedented popularity at the turn of the 20th century. He will be elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee in 1938.
Doubleday did create baseball
On April 2, 1908, the Mills Commission determines that Abner Doubleday originated the game of baseball. In its final report, the seven-man commission states that, “The first scheme for playing baseball, according to the best evidence obtainable to date, was devised by Abner Doubleday at Cooperstown, NY, in 1839.”…
Ty Cobb signs with the Detroit Tigers for $4,000 plus an $800 bonus if he hits over .300. He will collect the bonus with a league-leading .324 average, becoming one of only three American League regulars to top .300 this year – the National League will have five.
1908 – Ty Cobb signs with the Detroit Tigers for $4,000 plus an $800 bonus if he hits over .300. He will collect the bonus with a league-leading .324 average, becoming one of only three American League regulars to top .300 this year – the National League will have five.
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Honus Wagner, at age 34, announces his retirement. An annual rite of spring, it will not keep him from playing in 151 games, more than in any of the past 10 years, and leading the National League in batting average (for the sixth time), hits, total bases, doubles, triples, slugging, runs batted in, and stolen bases. He will miss the Triple Crown by hitting two fewer home runs than Tim Jordan’s 12.
1908 – Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Honus Wagner, at age 34, announces his retirement. An annual rite of spring, it will not keep him from playing in 151 games, more than in any of the past 10 years, and leading the National League in batting average (for the sixth time), hits, total bases, doubles, triples, slugging, runs batted in, and stolen bases. He will miss the Triple Crown by hitting two fewer home runs than Tim Jordan’s 12.
Near Lexington, Kentucky, the train carrying the Cleveland Naps is struck by two bricks, shattering windows.
1908 – Near Lexington, Kentucky, the train carrying the Cleveland Naps is struck by two bricks, shattering windows. Elmer Flick, Bill Bradley, and Harry Bay are hit by the flying glass while playing euchre, but no injuries occur. Tomorrow, the team will arrive safely in Macon, Georgia for spring training.
In Fullerton, California, Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson is operated on for an infection of the mastoid area behind the right ear. The doctors remove a section of the bone, and the recuperation will keep Johnson sidelined until late May.
In Fullerton, California, Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson is operated on for an infection of the mastoid area behind the right ear. The doctors remove a section of the bone, and the recuperation will keep Johnson sidelined until late May.
