Al Downing Position: PitcherBats: Right • Throws: Left5-11, 175lb (180cm, 79kg)Born: June 28, 1941 in Trenton, NJHigh School: Trenton Central HS (Trenton, NJ)Schools: Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA), Rider University (Lawrenceville, NJ)Debut: July 19, 1961 (9,486th in MLB history)vs. WSA 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO, 3 BB, 5 ER, LLast Game: July 13, 1977vs. HOU 0.0 IP, 0 H, 0 SO, 1 BB, 0 ERFull Name: Alphonso Erwin Downing Nine…
Mets right fielder Dave Kingman, in the team’s 11-0 victory at Dodger Stadium, hits three home runs. Sky King’s two-run dinger and two three-run round-trippers drive in eight runs, a new club record.
1974 – In Game 3 of the World Series, Al Downing is the surprise starter for the Dodgers, but Catfish Hunter pitches Oakland to a 3 – 2 win.
On April 8, 1974, Atlanta Braves superstar Hank Aaron makes baseball history when he breaks Babe Ruth’s career record for home runs with a blast off Al Downing of the Dodgers.
Al Downing becomes a 20-game winner when he blanks the Braves at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, 2-0. The Dodger left-hander, best remembered for giving up Hank Aaron’s historic 715th home run, will compile a 123-107 record during his 17-year major league career.
1971 – Dodgers Al Downing and Don Sutton hurl shutouts during a 12 – 0, 4 – 0, doubleheader triumph over the Braves. The Dodgers have 19 hits in the opener, including four by Willie Davis. Los Angeles now trails the Giants by 1 1/2 games.
Los Angeles Dodgers acquire left-handed pitcher Al Downing from the Milwaukee Brewers
Al Downing, en route to a 5-3 complete game victory at Cleveland Stadium, strikes out the side in the second frame on nine consecutive pitches. The victims of the Yankee southpaw’s immaculate inning are clean-up batter Tony Horton, Don Demeter, and Duke Sims.
1967 – Jim Wynn becomes the first Houston player to get a hit in the All-Star Game . He singles in the ninth against Al Downing but does not score. Rusty Staub singles off Catfish Hunter in the 11th but also doesn’t score. Mike Cuellar, the third Astro All-Star, pitches two shutout innings . Finally, Tony Perez of Cincinnati homers in the 15th to give the Nationals a 2-1 win.
The Yankees edge the White Sox, 2 – 1, on Mickey Mantle’s 14th homer in 24 games. Mick moves ahead of Lou Gehrig into 6th place on the homer list with the blast.