August 25 – Dwight Gooden fastest to 20 wins, Nomar breaks the hit streak record, McGwire hits his first and Rollie Fingers is born

August 25 – Dwight Gooden fastest to 20 wins, Nomar breaks the hit streak record, McGwire hits his first and Rollie Fingers is born

ByThis Day in Baseball

August 25, 1985, Dwight ”Doc” Gooden of the New York Mets becomes the youngest pitcher to win 20 games in a season. At 20 years, nine months, and nine days – one month younger than Bob Feller was when he won 20 games in 1939 – Gooden defeats the San Diego Padres, 9-3. Gooden would…

Benito Santiago sets the modern major league record for rookies with a 27 game hitting streak

ByThis Day in Baseball

Benito Santiago sets the modern (post-1900) major league record for rookies with a first-inning single, extending his streak to 27 consecutive games with a hit. The 22 year-old Padres catcher surpasses the previous standard by set in 1943 by White Sox outfielder Guy Curtright, and ties James Williams, who established the all-time longest hitting streak by a freshman while playing for the 1899 Pirates.