On April 18, 1945, one-armed outfielder Pete Gray makes his debut for the St. Louis Browns. Gray, one of many players recruited to perform during World War II, singles once in four at-bats. He will hit .218 in 234 at-bats in his only major league season.
Due to the fear of a Japanese attack, west coast military leaders ask the Pacific Coast League to limit crowds to 3,000 fans.
The five-year ban on broadcasting games played by the New York major league teams ends when Red Barber, hired away from the Reds by Larry McPhail, calls Brooklyn’s 7-3 loss to the Giants at Ebbets Field. In 1934, the two National League teams and the Yankees agreed not to air their games on the radio, fearing the exposure would reduce the number of fans attending games.
April 18, 1938 The Red Sox open the 1938 season at Fenway Park vs the New York Yankees. The defending world champions started their ace Red Ruffing against Rookie Jim Bagby. The Yankees were up early 4-2, Bill Dickey and Centerfielder Myril Hoag had done most of the damage. However, the Sox would…
The Yankees will become the second team to wear numbers on uniforms when rain postpones their Opening Day game, giving the Indians the distinction of being the first to don the digits. New York’s numbers are assigned based on the order in the lineup, thus Earle Combs wore #1, Mark Koenig #2, Babe Ruth #3, Lou Gehrig #4, Bob Meusel #5, Tony Lazzeri #6, Leo Durocher #7, Johnny Grabowski #8, Benny Bengough #9, and Bill Dickey #10 (#’s 8-10 are all catchers).
Brooklyn Robins owner Charles Ebbets dies of a heart attack at his Waldorf-Astoria Hotel apartment at the age of 64. Later in the day, his team opens the home season losing to the New York Giants at Ebbets Field, 7 – 0.
April 18, 1923 At South Field on Columbia’s campus in New York City, a collegiate pitcher strikes out seventeen batters from Williams to establish a school record but loses the game 5-1 due to wildness. Lou Gehrig, the young southpaw, will become better known for his hitting prowess with the Yankees. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Game ticket &…
On April 18, 1923, an overflow crowd of 74,200 attended the first game in the history of Yankee Stadium. Bob Shawkey beats Howard Ehmke and the Boston Red Sox, 4 – 1. Appropriately enough, Babe Ruth hits a three-run homer in the “House That Ruth Built,” highlighting the New York Yankees’ victory. The new $2.5…
Grover Cleveland Alexander of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches his first of 16 shutouts of the season against the Boston Braves.
On April 18, 1899, 26-year old John McGraw makes his managerial debut with the Baltimore Orioles of the National League, guiding the team to a 5-3 victory over the New York Giants. McGraw also plays third base for the club, not retiring as a player until several years later.
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