Down 4 – 2 in the 9th, the Pirates rally with two outs against Jason Motte to beat the Cardinals. With two away and one on, Adam LaRoche singles, pinch-hitter Eric Hinske doubles in a run, Brandon Moss gets plunked and Jack Wilson delivers a three-run double for the win.

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Down 4 – 2 in the 9th, the Pirates rally with two outs against Jason Motte to beat the Cardinals. With two away and one on, Adam LaRoche singles, pinch-hitter Eric Hinske doubles in a run, Brandon Moss gets plunked and Jack Wilson delivers a three-run double for the win.

2009 – The major league season opens with the Braves topping the defending World Series champion Phillies, 4 – 1. Derek Lowe tosses a two-hit shutout over 8 innings. Offensive support comes on homers by Brian McCann(a two-run shot in the 1st off Brett Myers), Jeff Francoeur and Jordan Schafer. Schafer’s home run comes in his first major league at-bat.

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2009 – The major league season opens with the Braves topping the defending World Series champion Phillies, 4 – 1. Derek Lowe tosses a two-hit shutout over 8 innings. Offensive support comes on homers by Brian McCann(a two-run shot in the 1st off Brett Myers), Jeff Francoeur and Jordan Schafer. Schafer’s home run comes in his first major league at-bat.

The Mets, obligated only to pay the major league minimum of $400,000, sign Gary Sheffield (.225, 19, 57) in hopes of adding a much-needed right-handed bat to the lineup. The 40 year-old offensively challenged outfielder, who has 499 career home runs, was unexpectedly released by the Tigers earlier in the week despite having $14 million left on his contract.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Mets, obligated only to pay the major league minimum of $400,000, sign Gary Sheffield (.225, 19, 57) in hopes of adding a much-needed right-handed bat to the lineup. The 40 year-old offensively challenged outfielder, who has 499 career home runs, was unexpectedly released by the Tigers earlier in the week despite having $14 million left on his contract.

On a damp and chilly New York night, both the Mets and Yankees open their new stadiums with exhibition games. The double debut in the Big Apple sees each team come away with a victory when the Amazin’s beat the Red Sox, 4-3, and the Bronx Bombers launch three homers to defeat the Cubs, 7-4.

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On a damp and chilly New York night, both the Mets and Yankees open their new stadiums with exhibition games. The double debut in the Big Apple sees each team come away with a victory when the Amazin’s beat the Red Sox, 4-3, and the Bronx Bombers launch three homers to defeat the Cubs, 7-4.

After tallying a run in the top of the first, Kentucky State finds themselves on the short end of a 22-1 score at the end of the inning. After the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky University score 27 more times in the next three frames, the teams decide to halt the contest in the middle of the fifth, giving EKU a 49-1 triumph over the Thorobreds.

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After tallying a run in the top of the first, Kentucky State finds themselves on the short end of a 22-1 score at the end of the inning. After the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky University score 27 more times in the next three frames, the teams decide to halt the contest in the middle of the fifth, giving EKU a 49-1 triumph over the Thorobreds.

Alfredo Despaigne’s consecutive homer streak, tying the Cuban record, is stopped at six games. Despaigne got hot right after returning from the 2009 World Baseball Classic, where he was the only Cuban starting outfielder left off the All-Tournament team.

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Alfredo Despaigne’s consecutive homer streak, tying the Cuban record, is stopped at six games. Despaigne got hot right after returning from the 2009 World Baseball Classic, where he was the only Cuban starting outfielder left off the All-Tournament team.

2009 – The Detroit Tigers surprisingly cut slugger Gary Sheffield, who is one home run shy of 500 for his career. Sheffield, a 9-time All-Star, is 25th on the all-time home run list and 27th in RBI (1,633). He only hit .178 in spring training, but went deep in 5 of 45 at-bats. He says he is not shocked, but is surprised. Marcus Thames will replace Sheffield as Detroit’s starting DH.

ByThis Day in Baseball

2009 – The Detroit Tigers surprisingly cut slugger Gary Sheffield, who is one home run shy of 500 for his career. Sheffield, a 9-time All-Star, is 25th on the all-time home run list and 27th in RBI (1,633). He only hit .178 in spring training, but went deep in 5 of 45 at-bats. He says he is not shocked, but is surprised. Marcus Thames will replace Sheffield as Detroit’s starting DH.

The Yankees dedicate a permanent September 11 memorial at the entrance of George M. Steinbrenner Field, the team’s Spring Training home in Tampa, Florida. The tribute to the victims and their families of the terrorist attacks of 2001 features a foundation in the shape of the Pentagon, which supports two towers made from steel from the World Trade Center placed on a grassy spot representing the heroes of United Flight 93, who perished in a field in Pennsylvania.

ByTom

The Yankees dedicate a permanent September 11 memorial at the entrance of George M. Steinbrenner Field, the team’s Spring Training home in Tampa, Florida. The tribute to the victims and their families of the terrorist attacks of 2001 features a foundation in the shape of the Pentagon, which supports two towers made from steel from the World Trade Center placed on a grassy spot representing the heroes of United Flight 93, who perished in a field in Pennsylvania.

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In the first baseball game ever played at Citi Field, John Franco throws out the ceremonial first pitch

ByThis Day in Baseball

In the first baseball game ever played at Citi Field, John Franco throws out the ceremonial first pitch to a standing ovation from the crowd attending the collegiate matchup between St. John’s and Georgetown. Before tossing his signature pitch, a breaking ball in the dirt, the former Mets reliever goes to the mound wearing a familiar blue and orange jacket, but takes it off, revealing the colors of his alma mater, a Red Storm jersey with his number 45.

Curt Schilling announces his retirement on his blog. He pitched 23 seasons in the major leagues and won three World Series (2001, 2004 and 2007), sharing World Series MVP honors in 2001. He went 216-146 with 3116 strikeouts in the majors. He made six All-Star teams and was a 3-time runner-up for the Cy Young Award. He retires 15th all-time in strikeouts and first in K:BB ratio for players from the 20th Century or later.

ByTom

Curt Schilling announces his retirement on his blog. He pitched 23 seasons in the major leagues and won three World Series (2001, 2004 and 2007), sharing World Series MVP honors in 2001. He went 216-146 with 3116 strikeouts in the majors. He made six All-Star teams and was a 3-time runner-up for the Cy Young Award. He retires 15th all-time in strikeouts and first in K:BB ratio for players from the 20th Century or later.