1909 – Ty Cobb clinches the American League home run title with his 9th round-tripper. It is an inside-the-park drive against the Browns. In fact, all his nine home runs this season are inside-the-park, including two on July 15th. Only Sam Crawford (12 in 1901) has hit more inside-the-park homers in a year than Cobb.
Christy Mathewson and catcher Chief Meyers are all that the Giants need in the opener against Brooklyn. Matty allows three hits in shutting down the Superbas, and the Chief clubs his first major league homer in the 2nd inning, a grand slam to score all the runs. New York wins, 4 – 0, beating Elmer Knetzer. The Superbas take the nitecap, 10 – 1, behind Bugs Raymond. Rookie Zack Wheat has his first two major league hits in the nitecap, after being collared in the opener by Matty.
The Athletics and Red Sox split a doubleheader, each team winning, 1 – 0. The Red Sox also pick up pitcher Jack Chesbro (0-4) on waivers from the Highlanders. The future Hall of Fame member will pitch and lose one game for Boston before calling it quits.
Bill Dinneen, winner of three games in the first World Series, is released by the St. Louis Browns and becomes an American League umpire, a position he will hold through 1937.
George Gibson of Pittsburgh catches his 112th consecutive game, breaking Chief Zimmer’s 1890 record. His streak will end at 140.
Boston’s Cliff Curtis pitches his first major league game and beats the Pirates, 1 – 0.
Detroit completes a sweep of every series against visiting eastern teams, winning their 14th in a row to regain first place by a half game en route to their 3rd straight pennant.
Bill O’Hara, inserted as a pinch runner, becomes the first major leaguer to steal two bags in the same inning when he swipes second and third base in the Giants’ 9-6 victory over St. Louis at the Polo Grounds. The 28 year-old New York outfielder, who will end the season with a total of 31 stolen bases, will duplicate the feat tomorrow against the same opponents.
1909 – The A.J. Reach Company is granted a patent for its cork-centered baseball, which will replace the hard rubber-cored one. This change will be particularly apparent in the National League in 1910 and 1911.
1909 – The Cubs and Giants swap shutouts in this Monday doubleheader. Chicago wins the opener, 2 – 0, in 11 innings, and Christy Mathewson outpitches Ed Reulbach in the nitecap to win, 5 – 0, on five hits.