Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson beats the Cubs, 6-0, becoming only the third pitcher baseball history to win six games in April. The “Big Unit’ joins A’s hurlers Vida Blue (1971) and Dave Stewart (1988) as the only other pitchers to accomplish the feat.

ByTom

Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson beats the Cubs, 6-0, becoming only the third pitcher baseball history to win six games in April. The “Big Unit’ joins A’s hurlers Vida Blue (1971) and Dave Stewart (1988) as the only other pitchers to accomplish the feat.

The St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 4 – 3, as Mark McGwire and Jim Edmonds hit home runs. St. Louis finishes the month with 55 home runs, a new major league record for April. It also ties the National League mark for homers in any month. Major league batters also set a record for most home runs in a month by hitting 931 in April; the total is 140 more than the number hit in 1999.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 4 – 3, as Mark McGwire and Jim Edmonds hit home runs. St. Louis finishes the month with 55 home runs, a new major league record for April. It also ties the National League mark for homers in any month. Major league batters also set a record for most home runs in a month by hitting 931 in April; the total is 140 more than the number hit in 1999.

1999 – About 3,000 fans wearing T-shirts that said, “$hare the wealth” protest baseball economics at the Yankees-Royals game at Kauffman Stadium. The protesters turn their backs when the Yankees bat, then walk out during the 4th inning. The Yankees began the season with baseball’s top payroll at $85.05 million, and the Royals were 25th at $23.8 million.

ByTom

1999 – About 3,000 fans wearing T-shirts that said, “$hare the wealth” protest baseball economics at the Yankees-Royals game at Kauffman Stadium. The protesters turn their backs when the Yankees bat, then walk out during the 4th inning. The Yankees began the season with baseball’s top payroll at $85.05 million, and the Royals were 25th at $23.8 million.

The Jacobs Field scoreboard is dented by a Mark McGwire blast. A scientist determines the ball hit by the A’s slugger would have traveled a distance of 533 feet if unimpeded.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Jacobs Field scoreboard is dented by a Mark McGwire blast. A scientist determines the ball hit by the A’s slugger would have traveled a distance of 533 feet if unimpeded.

Tino Martinez, who got off to a painfully slow start with the Yankees last season, finishes April with 34 RBI to set a major league record for the month.

ByTom

Tino Martinez, who got off to a painfully slow start with the Yankees last season, finishes April with 34 RBI to set a major league record for the month.

The Atlanta Braves have no trouble getting used to their new stadium or their two new outfielders, Kenny Lofton and Michael Tucker, as they become the first team to ever finish April with 19 wins. Atlanta ends the month with a .760 winning percentage overall and a gaudy 12-2 record at Turner Field. Lofton ends with a .395 batting average and Tucker at .418, following a 12 – 3 pounding of the Cincinnati Reds to round out the month.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Atlanta Braves have no trouble getting used to their new stadium or their two new outfielders, Kenny Lofton and Michael Tucker, as they become the first team to ever finish April with 19 wins. Atlanta ends the month with a .760 winning percentage overall and a gaudy 12-2 record at Turner Field. Lofton ends with a .395 batting average and Tucker at .418, following a 12 – 3 pounding of the Cincinnati Reds to round out the month.

1996 – Jeff King of the Pittsburgh Pirates becomes the third major leaguer to hit two home runs in one inning twice in his career in the 10 – 7 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium. King first accomplished the feat a year earlier on August 8th. King joins Willie McCovey and Andre Dawson in the exclusive club.

ByTom

1996 – Jeff King of the Pittsburgh Pirates becomes the third major leaguer to hit two home runs in one inning twice in his career in the 10 – 7 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium. King first accomplished the feat a year earlier on August 8th. King joins Willie McCovey and Andre Dawson in the exclusive club.

1994 – Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter finishes April with 31 RBI to set a major league record for the month. Colorado Rockies first baseman Andres Galarraga finishes with 30 RBI to set a National League record.

ByTom

1994 – Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter finishes April with 31 RBI to set a major league record for the month. Colorado Rockies first baseman Andres Galarraga finishes with 30 RBI to set a National League record.

Toronto Blue Jays acquire pitcher Al Leiter from the New York Yankees for veteran outfielder Jesse Barfield

Toronto Blue Jays acquire pitcher Al Leiter from the New York Yankees for veteran outfielder Jesse Barfield

ByThis Day in Baseball

On April 30, 1989, the Toronto Blue Jays acquire pitcher Al Leiter from the New York Yankees for veteran outfielder Jesse Barfield. Leiter will contribute significantly to the Jays’ World Championship in 1993, winning nine of 15 decisions as a spot starter and long reliever.

Reds’ manager Pete Rose will be suspended for thirty days and fined $10,000 for pushing David Pallone, after the umpire makes a delayed call that allows the eventual winning run to score in the team’s 6-5 loss to the Mets at Riverfront Stadium. The Cincinnati skipper shoves the first base ump twice after claiming he was poked in the face, a charge the arbitrator denies, and one never substantiated by major league baseball.

ByTom

Reds’ manager Pete Rose will be suspended for thirty days and fined $10,000 for pushing David Pallone, after the umpire makes a delayed call that allows the eventual winning run to score in the team’s 6-5 loss to the Mets at Riverfront Stadium. The Cincinnati skipper shoves the first base ump twice after claiming he was poked in the face, a charge the arbitrator denies, and one never substantiated by major league baseball.