Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Athletics play the first night game in American League history
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Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Athletics play the first night game in American League history

ByThis Day in Baseball

On May 16, 1939, Four years after the Senior Circuit began playing evening tilts the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Athletics play the first night game in American League history. A gathering of 15,109 fans watches the contest at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park, which becomes the third major league park to feature lights. The cold weather halved…

Bob Feller

On Feller Day – Bob Feller mother is hit by a foul tip thrown by her son

ByTom

During the Indians’ 9-4 victory over Chicago at Comiskey Park, a woman, sitting in the stands near the visitor’s dugout, is injured when Marvin Owen’s foul ball strikes her just above the right eye. The Indians’ starting pitcher, her 20 year-old son Bob, threw the pitch that resulted in Mrs. Feller needing seven stitches on Mother’s Day.

Phillies’ backstop Dave Coble catches a ball thrown from the top of Philadelphia’s City Hall. The rookie catcher handles the 521-foot dropped ball cleanly but likens the experience of a man jumping into his arms.

ByTom

Phillies’ backstop Dave Coble catches a ball thrown from the top of Philadelphia’s City Hall. The rookie catcher handles the 521-foot dropped ball cleanly but likens the experience of a man jumping into his arms.

Bill Klem, behind the plate at the Reds game in Cincinnati, celebrates his 35th anniversary as a National League umpire. He then calls the 10 – 5 Reds loss to Brooklyn.

ByBaseball

Bill Klem, behind the plate at the Reds game in Cincinnati, celebrates his 35th anniversary as a National League umpire. He then calls the 10 – 5 Reds loss to Brooklyn.

At Ebbets Field, Cards veteran Pepper Martin breaks up a pitching duel between Brooklyn’s Red Evans and Bob Weiland by swiping home in the 6th inning. Martin’s two-out steal is the only run of the game as the Cards win, 1 – 0.

ByBaseball

At Ebbets Field, Cards veteran Pepper Martin breaks up a pitching duel between Brooklyn’s Red Evans and Bob Weiland by swiping home in the 6th inning. Martin’s two-out steal is the only run of the game as the Cards win, 1 – 0.

In a 4 – 2 Cubs win at the Polo Grounds, Cubs first sacker Phil Cavarretta breaks his leg sliding into a base. He’ll be out of action until July 25th, and will appear in just seven more games this year, all as a pinch hitter.

ByBaseball

In a 4 – 2 Cubs win at the Polo Grounds, Cubs first sacker Phil Cavarretta breaks his leg sliding into a base. He’ll be out of action until July 25th, and will appear in just seven more games this year, all as a pinch hitter.

In his first-ever at-bat in the city of Detroit, Boston Red Sox rookie Ted Williams becomes the first player to hit a home run which totally clears the right field seats at Briggs Stadium.

In his first-ever at-bat in the city of Detroit, Boston Red Sox rookie Ted Williams becomes the first player to hit a home run which totally clears the right field seats at Briggs Stadium.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In his first-ever at-bat in the city of Detroit, Boston Red Sox rookie Ted Williams becomes the first player to hit a home run which totally clears the right field seats at Briggs Stadium.

Lou Gehrig’s streak of 2,130 consecutive games comes to an end

Lou Gehrig’s streak of 2,130 consecutive games comes to an end

ByThis Day in Baseball

On May 2, 1939, Lou Gehrig’s streak of 2,130 consecutive games comes to an end. An ailing Gehrig removes himself from the lineup against Detroit Tigers at Briggs Stadium, telling manager Joe McCarthy that he cannot play because of continuing weakness and it is for the good of the team. Doctors will later diagnose Gehrig with amyotrophic…

At Comiskey Park, the White Sox defeats the Cubs and Dizzy Dean, 4 – 1, in an exhibition game to benefit Monty Stratton

At Comiskey Park, the White Sox defeats the Cubs and Dizzy Dean, 4 – 1, in an exhibition game to benefit Monty Stratton

ByBaseball

At Comiskey Park, the White Sox defeats the Cubs and Dizzy Dean, 4 – 1, in an exhibition game to benefit Monty Stratton. The former pitcher, who lost his leg in an off-season hunting accident, tries to pitch in the game and receives a new car and nearly $30,000 as a result of the contest.