1967 – Tom Seaver the 22 year old rookie of the New York Mets records his first major league victory with a 6 – 1 triumph over the Chicago Cubs. Seaver goes 7 2/3 innings and gives up eight hits and one run. Seaver, a right-hander the Mets obtained in a lottery drawing that included the Braves, Phillies, and Indians after his original contract was voided. Seaver will become known as “the Franchise”.
1966 – At Connie Mack Stadium, Hank Aaron hits his 399th and 400th home runs to lead the Atlanta Braves to a victory, 8 – 1, over the Philadelphia Phillies. The first shot is off starter Ray Culp in the 1st inning, and number 400 comes in the 9th, off Bo Belinsky.
1964 – Nellie Fox drives in four runs with a two-run single and a two-run triple to pace a 7-1 win over St. Louis. Dick Farrell tosses a four-hitter.
On April 20 1957 – Cincinnati Reds secondbaseman Johnny Temple in a game against the Braves allows a groundball by Gus Bell hit him to prevent a double play. The next day the Reds pulled off the same play. A new rule will come into play immediately calling for runners interference and umpires can award a double play if a batter intentionally interfers with a ball.
4/20/1955: Felipe Montemayor of the Pirates hit a three-run home run (which would have been his first major league homer) off Giants pitcher Ruben Gomez in the bottom of the third inning. The game was rained out in the top of the fourth inning with Pittsburgh leading 3-0.
At Wrigley Field, Humberto Robinson makes his major league debut, coming out of the Braves’ bullpen in a 9-5 victory over the Cubs. The 24 year-old from Colon is the first player from Panama to appear in a major league game.
1951 – The Philadelphia Athletics win their first game at Fenway Park since September 12, 1948, beating Mel Parnell and the Boston Red Sox, 6 – 3. Making it sweeter is besting Parnell, winner of 10 straight over Philadelphia. The Athletics break a 3 – 3 tie in the 8th inning with three runs to make Alex Kellner the winner, just the third left-handed pitcher since 1948 to go the distance in Fenway.
Nine days after firing the very popular General Douglas MacArthur from his post as Commander of the Far East, U.S. President Harry S. Truman throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Senators’ home opener against New York at Griffith Stadium. The Air Force Band tries to drown out the boos from the crowd directed at the Commander in Chief by loudly playing “Ruffles and Flourishes” and “Hail to the Chief” during the pregame ceremonies.
1949 – Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Willie Jones hits four consecutive doubles, tying a National League mark with Dick Bartell (1933) and Ernie Lombardi (1935).
April 20, 1948 – Roy Campanella from the Baltimore Elite Giants makes his Major League debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. In a 7-6 victory over the New York Giants, Campy is hit by pitcher Ken Trinkle in his only plate appearance on this day. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links [et_pb_signup provider=”getresponse” getresponse_list=”Thomas…
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