Ted Williams faces three pitchers in the 7th inning, a first in American League history

Ted Williams faces three pitchers in the 7th inning, a first in American League history

Ted Williams faces three pitchers in the 7th inning, a first in American League history, as Boston snaps a 5 – 5 tie by scoring 14 runs to beat the visiting Philadelphia Athletics, 20 – 8. A’s pitcher Charlie Harris retires one batter in 14 and coughs up 12 runs, before Bill McCahan takes over. Williams, who makes the final out in the inning, and Bobby Doerr, tie records by drawing two walks apiece. Pitcher Ellis Kinder has two hits, off Harris and McCahan. The 14 runs in one inning is a record, but five years later they will do even better with 17 in one inning.

Baltimore’s Oriole Park, erected in 1914 for the Federal League, burns down. The Orioles moves to the city’s unroofed Venable Stadium. It will be used this way until a second tier is added and the ballpark is re-named “Memorial Stadium” when the St. Louis Browns move in for the 1954 season.

Baltimore’s Oriole Park, erected in 1914 for the Federal League, burns down. The Orioles moves to the city’s unroofed Venable Stadium. It will be used this way until a second tier is added and the ballpark is re-named “Memorial Stadium” when the St. Louis Browns move in for the 1954 season.

Baltimore’s Oriole Park, erected in 1914 for the Federal League, burns down. The Orioles moves to the city’s unroofed Venable Stadium. It will be used this way until a second tier is added and the ballpark is re-named “Memorial Stadium” when the St. Louis Browns move in for the 1954 season.

In the 8th inning of an 8 – 4 Negro National League victory over the Newark Eagles at Yankee Stadium, Baltimore Elite Giants spitball ace Bill Byrd beans Eagles manager Willie Wells. Wells is carried from the field, and the incident causes him to design a batting helmet. When he steps into the batter’s box in a few days, he will be wearing a modified construction worker’s hardhat.

In the 8th inning of an 8 – 4 Negro National League victory over the Newark Eagles at Yankee Stadium, Baltimore Elite Giants spitball ace Bill Byrd beans Eagles manager Willie Wells. Wells is carried from the field, and the incident causes him to design a batting helmet. When he steps into the batter’s box in a few days, he will be wearing a modified construction worker’s hardhat.

Ab Wright of Minneapolis (American Association) follows one home run in a morning game of a holiday doubleheader with four home runs and a triple – 19 total bases – against St. Paul.

Ab Wright of Minneapolis (American Association) follows one home run in a morning game of a holiday doubleheader with four home runs and a triple – 19 total bases – against St. Paul.

Boston Red Sox third baseman Jim Tabor slugs two grand slams in a 17-7 win over the Philadelphia A’s
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Boston Red Sox third baseman Jim Tabor slugs two grand slams in a 17-7 win over the Philadelphia A’s

On July 4, 1939, At Shibe Park, Boston Red Sox third baseman Jim Tabor four home runs in a doubleheader as Boston sweeps Philadelphia, 17 – 7 and 18 – 12. Three of his homers, including a record-tying two grand slams, come in the nightcap. It’s only the second time the feat has been accomplished,…

Lou Gehrig’s rumber retired at Yankee Stadium
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Lou Gehrig’s rumber retired at Yankee Stadium

On July 4, 1939, the New York Yankees retire the uniform #4 of future Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig in emotional ceremonies at Yankee Stadium. For over 40 minutes, current and former Yankee greats, including Hall of Famer Babe Ruth, parade onto the field to honor the “Iron Horse.” Other former Yankee greats, such as pitcher Waite Hoyt, second baseman Tony Lazzeri, and outfielder Bob Meusel, also attend. Yankee manager Joe McCarthy presents Gehrig with a special silver trophy. Gehrig, in one of the most memorable speeches in baseball history, tells the 61,808 in attendance at the Stadium, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” Gehrig, who is stricken with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, will die from the muscular disease in 1941.

The Phillies move into Shibe Park by splitting a twin bill with the Boston Bees, losing the first game, 10-5, and winning the nightcap, 10-2. The National League franchise decided to abandoned the Baker Bowl in the middle of the season to rent the newer and more spacious home of the A’s, citing the move to the ballpark, which is only five blocks away from where the team formerly played, will help cut expenses as stadium upkeep can be shared between the two clubs.

The Phillies move into Shibe Park by splitting a twin bill with the Boston Bees, losing the first game, 10-5, and winning the nightcap, 10-2. The National League franchise decided to abandoned the Baker Bowl in the middle of the season to rent the newer and more spacious home of the A’s, citing the move to the ballpark, which is only five blocks away from where the team formerly played, will help cut expenses as stadium upkeep can be shared between the two clubs.

The Phillies move into Shibe Park by splitting a twin bill with the Boston Bees, losing the first game, 10-5, and winning the nightcap, 10-2. The National League franchise decided to abandoned the Baker Bowl in the middle of the season to rent the newer and more spacious home of the A’s, citing the move to the ballpark, which is only five blocks away from where the team formerly played, will help cut expenses as stadium upkeep can be shared between the two clubs.

Due to his ‘wandering’ ball, Iola hurler Harold Liell, a 5′ 6 1/2″, 155-pounder with pigeon-toed feet, is called up for a tryout with the Kansas City Blues. The K.C. manager Dutch Zwilling is impressed with the young southpaw’s performance, but advises the Greeley, Kansas lad to get more experience, suggesting he play in the Ban Johnson League.

Due to his ‘wandering’ ball, Iola hurler Harold Liell, a 5′ 6 1/2″, 155-pounder with pigeon-toed feet, is called up for a tryout with the Kansas City Blues. The K.C. manager Dutch Zwilling is impressed with the young southpaw’s performance, but advises the Greeley, Kansas lad to get more experience, suggesting he play in the Ban Johnson League.

After the finish of the holiday doubleheaders by all the teams, the Giants, by winning two from the Braves at the Polo Grounds, have a clear lead. They are 3 1/2 games ahead of the Cubs and 4 1/2 in front of the Cardinals. In the American League, the race has seesawed between the Yankees and Detroit with New York only one game ahead. The improved Red Sox are 6 1/2 behind, and Washington, last year’s winner, seven back and dropping fast.

After the finish of the holiday doubleheaders by all the teams, the Giants, by winning two from the Braves at the Polo Grounds, have a clear lead. They are 3 1/2 games ahead of the Cubs and 4 1/2 in front of the Cardinals. In the American League, the race has seesawed between the Yankees and Detroit with New York only one game ahead. The improved Red Sox are 6 1/2 behind, and Washington, last year’s winner, seven back and dropping fast.