Billy Hatcher becomes the first player this season to be ejected for using an illegal corked bat

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In a 3 – 2 loss to the Cubs‚ Houston’s Billy Hatcher becomes the first player this season to be ejected for using an illegal corked bat‚ and will eventually be suspended for 10 games by National League president Bart Giamatti. Hatcher claims he borrowed the bat from P Dave Smith and only used it in batting practice. Baseball has seen a rash of protests regarding allegedly doctored bats this season‚ partly in response to the record number of home runs being hit.

Williamsport Bills (Eastern League) catcher Dave Bresnahan introduces a new wrinkle to baseball – the hidden potato. With a Reading runner‚ Rick Rudblad‚ on third base‚ Bresnahan returns from a time out with a shaved potato hidden in his mitt. On the next pitch he throws the potato wildly on a pickoff attempt. When the runner trots home‚ Bresnahan tags him out with the real ball. The umpire‚ unamused‚ rules the runner safe‚ gives the catcher an error‚ and fines him $50. Bresnahan replies‚ “I thought it’d be a do-over.”

ByBaseball

Williamsport Bills (Eastern League) catcher Dave Bresnahan introduces a new wrinkle to baseball – the hidden potato. With a Reading runner‚ Rick Rudblad‚ on third base‚ Bresnahan returns from a time out with a shaved potato hidden in his mitt. On the next pitch he throws the potato wildly on a pickoff attempt. When the runner trots home‚ Bresnahan tags him out with the real ball. The umpire‚ unamused‚ rules the runner safe‚ gives the catcher an error‚ and fines him $50. Bresnahan replies‚ “I thought it’d be a do-over.”

Texas catcher Geno Petralli is charged with six passed balls in one game, tying an 85 year-old major league record established by Harry Vickers in 1902 while playing for the Reds. The 27 year-old backstop’s tough day can be attributed to being the batterymate of knuckleballer Charlie Hough, who started the Rangers’ eventual 7-0 loss to Detroit at Tiger Stadium.

ByBaseball

Texas catcher Geno Petralli is charged with six passed balls in one game, tying an 85 year-old major league record established by Harry Vickers in 1902 while playing for the Reds. The 27 year-old backstop’s tough day can be attributed to being the batterymate of knuckleballer Charlie Hough, who started the Rangers’ eventual 7-0 loss to Detroit at Tiger Stadium.

Twins outfielder Kirby Puckett, in a 10-6 victory over the Brewers, collects six hits and drives in four runs. The future Hall of Famer’s 6-for-6 day at Milwaukee’s County Stadium includes two homers and two doubles.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Twins outfielder Kirby Puckett, in a 10-6 victory over the Brewers, collects six hits and drives in four runs. The future Hall of Famer’s 6-for-6 day at Milwaukee’s County Stadium includes two homers and two doubles.

Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan passes the 200-strikeout barrier for a major league-record 11th time, fanning seven Pirates in six innings of an 8 – 2 Astros loss.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Nolan Ryan passes the 200-strikeout barrier for a major league-record 11th time, fanning seven Pirates in six innings of an 8 – 2 Astros loss.

The Angels trade two minor leaguers for Pittsburgh 2B Johnny Ray, and the A’s send minor league P Tim Belcher to the Dodgers for P Rick Honeycutt. Honeycutt (2-12), loser of his last 11 games with the Dodgers, will drop two more with the A’s before beating the Indians on September 22nd.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Angels trade two minor leaguers for Pittsburgh 2B Johnny Ray, and the A’s send minor league P Tim Belcher to the Dodgers for P Rick Honeycutt. Honeycutt (2-12), loser of his last 11 games with the Dodgers, will drop two more with the A’s before beating the Indians on September 22nd.

1987 – Mike Schmidt continues to climb baseball’s all-time home run list, passing both Ted Williams and Willie McCovey with the 522nd of his career in an 8 – 1 win over San Diego.

ByBaseball

1987 – Mike Schmidt continues to climb baseball’s all-time home run list, passing both Ted Williams and Willie McCovey with the 522nd of his career in an 8 – 1 win over San Diego.

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The Royals fire manager Billy Gardner, who replaced Dick Howser in spring training, and replace him with John Wathan

ByThis Day in Baseball

1987 – The Royals fire manager Billy Gardner, who replaced Dick Howser in spring training, and replace him with John Wathan, the former Kansas City catcher who was managing the club’s Triple A Omaha affiliate. In Wathan’s major league managerial debut, the Royals win, 3 – 2, on George Brett’s 10th-inning home run to move within three games of first-place Minnesota.

Paul Molitor 39 game hitting streak halted – longest AL streak since Joe DiMaggio
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Paul Molitor 39 game hitting streak halted – longest AL streak since Joe DiMaggio

ByThis Day in Baseball

On August 26, 1987, the 39-game hitting streak of Milwaukee Brewers star Paul Molitor comes to an end. Molitor’s streak is the longest in the American League since Joe DiMaggio’s record 56-game streak in 1941. Molitor’s streak comes to an end as he waits in the on-deck circle watching pinch hitter Rick Manning single home…