1927 – Mel Ott, 18 years old, hits his first major-league home run, an inside-the-park round-tripper. It is the only inside-the-park homer he will hit of his 511 career homers.
On July 27, 1922, future Hall of Fame first baseman George Sisler starts his then AL-record 41-game hitting streak. Sisler bats .420 that season, with a record 257 hits.
1922 – Elam Vangilder gives up a home run to Wally Pipp in the 4th but leads, 2 – 1 going in to the 8th inning. The Yankees jump on the Browns starter and on reliever Ray Kolp for four runs before the Browns tie the game with three in the 9th. Dave Danforth comes on Fred Hofmann on a pitch “that sailed a foot.” When umpire Brick Owens examines the ball, he rules it was doctored, earning Danforth an automatic ten-day suspension. Reliever Rasty Wright comes on and serves up a game-winning home run to Wally Schang. The Yanks win, 6 – 5.
With a hit in his 50th straight Western League contest, Wichita Jobbers’ outfielder Joe Wilhoit, en route to a 69-game streak, surpasses Jack Ness for the longest consecutive-game hitting streak in the history of professional baseball. Ness’s mark, established four years earlier playing first base for the Oakland Oaks, will remain the Pacific Coast League record until Joe DiMaggio hits in 61 straight for the San Francisco Seals in 1933.
1918 – Robins rookie righthander Harry Heitmann, stationed in Brooklyn by the Navy after a 17-6 record at Rochester (International League), surrenders four runs on four straight Cardinal hits and is removed, having retired his initial batter. It’s his last major league appearance.
1915 – The Senators score the game’s only run in the 1st when Clyde Milan swipes home against Cleveland pitcher Rip Hagerman. Hagerman allows just two hits in a losing effort, while Washington pitcher Bert Gallia gives up just one safety.
1914 – Red Sox ace Dutch Leonard shuts out Cleveland, 3 – 0, despite giving up two singles and a triple to Tris Speaker. Speaker also makes eight putouts in CF, on his way to a record 423 for the year.
Star minor league pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander is hit in the forehead with a ball while running the bases and is knocked unconscious. Alexander will recover but his vision will be affected for months and he will not pitch again for Galesburg. The Indianapolis Indians purchase his contract.
At Boston, the third-place Giants split with the Doves, losing the opener, 7 – 4, then taking the nitecap, 6 – 2. In the second contest, Christy Mathewson wins for the 13th straight time, beating Forrest More.
The Philadelphia Phillies sweep a pair from Brooklyn, winning 7 – 0 and 3 – 2. Light-hitting Eddie Grant collects his first major league home run, off Deacon Phillippe.
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