2005 – Miguel Tejada hits a home run, three doubles and scores three runs to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 9 – 3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

ByTom

2005 – Miguel Tejada hits a home run, three doubles and scores three runs to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 9 – 3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

After being taunted by Twinkie-waving fans in the left-field bleachers, the not-so-svelte Lance Berkman, during a pitching change in the seventh inning, gestures to his Wrigley Field tormentors to throw him one of the sponge cake snacks, which he promptly chows down, much to the delight of the crowd. The next inning, the Astro outfielder goes deep, hitting a sugar-fueled two-run home run in the team’s 9-3 win over the Cubs.

ByTom

After being taunted by Twinkie-waving fans in the left-field bleachers, the not-so-svelte Lance Berkman, during a pitching change in the seventh inning, gestures to his Wrigley Field tormentors to throw him one of the sponge cake snacks, which he promptly chows down, much to the delight of the crowd. The next inning, the Astro outfielder goes deep, hitting a sugar-fueled two-run home run in the team’s 9-3 win over the Cubs.

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2001 – Richard Hidalgo bangs a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to top the Dodgers, 10-9, at Enron Field. It’s Hidalgo’s fourth hit of the night and third RBI. Vinny Castilla adds three hits and also goes deep. 

ByTom

2001 – Richard Hidalgo bangs a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to top the Dodgers, 10-9, at Enron Field. It’s Hidalgo’s fourth hit of the night and third RBI. Vinny Castilla adds three hits and also goes deep. 

2001 – At Yankee Stadium, Cleveland defeats New York, in just five and a half innings, when the game is called because of rain with Cleveland ahead, 7 – 2. In a rarity, Cleveland starter C.C. Sabathia earns a win despite pitching only four innings. Relief pitcher Ricardo Rincón gets the save for retiring the side in the fifth inning. The rules state that in a five-inning game, a starter need not go the full five innings to earn a victory. There have just been five other cases since 1978 to match Sabathia’s feat.

ByTom

2001 – At Yankee Stadium, Cleveland defeats New York, in just five and a half innings, when the game is called because of rain with Cleveland ahead, 7 – 2. In a rarity, Cleveland starter C.C. Sabathia earns a win despite pitching only four innings. Relief pitcher Ricardo Rincón gets the save for retiring the side in the fifth inning. The rules state that in a five-inning game, a starter need not go the full five innings to earn a victory. There have just been five other cases since 1978 to match Sabathia’s feat.

Tomo Ohka, throwing just 77 pitches, 59 of which are strikes, becomes the first Pawtucket Red Sox pitcher to throw a perfect game, and the third in the 118-year history of the International League when he beats the Charlotte Knights, 2-0. In 2003, at the same Rhode Island ballpark, Bronson Arroyo will duplicate the feat when he retires all 27 batters he faces in a 7-0 victory over the Buffalo Bisons at McCoy Stadium.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Tomo Ohka, throwing just 77 pitches, 59 of which are strikes, becomes the first Pawtucket Red Sox pitcher to throw a perfect game, and the third in the 118-year history of the International League when he beats the Charlotte Knights, 2-0. In 2003, at the same Rhode Island ballpark, Bronson Arroyo will duplicate the feat when he retires all 27 batters he faces in a 7-0 victory over the Buffalo Bisons at McCoy Stadium.

As owners struggle over the question of realignment, the Players Association suggests a simpler plan which only moves the Houston Astros from the NL Central to the AL West, thus creating two 15-team leagues. The owners’ ideas would have the newest franchises, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks, switch leagues, the elimination of the National League wild card, and the AL Central consisting of six teams to go along with six divisions with only four teams – four of them in the NL. In the end, the status quo will prevail, but the Players Association’s plan will eventually be implemented in 2013.

ByTom

As owners struggle over the question of realignment, the Players Association suggests a simpler plan which only moves the Houston Astros from the NL Central to the AL West, thus creating two 15-team leagues. The owners’ ideas would have the newest franchises, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks, switch leagues, the elimination of the National League wild card, and the AL Central consisting of six teams to go along with six divisions with only four teams – four of them in the NL. In the end, the status quo will prevail, but the Players Association’s plan will eventually be implemented in 2013.

1997 – At Dolphin Stadium, Colorado Rockies rookie pitcher John Thomson bats his first four major league hits, collects three RBI, and earns his first win, 9 – 2, over the Florida Marlins.

ByTom

1997 – At Dolphin Stadium, Colorado Rockies rookie pitcher John Thomson bats his first four major league hits, collects three RBI, and earns his first win, 9 – 2, over the Florida Marlins.

1995 – In the amateur draft, the California Angels select Darin Erstad with the first overall pick. He will sign for a $1.6 million bonus, the highest to date. Picking next, the San Diego Padres select Ben Davis, the Seattle Mariners pick Jose Cruz, Jr., and the Chicago Cubs follow with Kerry Wood.

ByTom

1995 – In the amateur draft, the California Angels select Darin Erstad with the first overall pick. He will sign for a $1.6 million bonus, the highest to date. Picking next, the San Diego Padres select Ben Davis, the Seattle Mariners pick Jose Cruz, Jr., and the Chicago Cubs follow with Kerry Wood.

The Diamondbacks named Joe Garagiola Jr. as the team’s first general manager. The son of the former major league catcher and TV personality will stay in the post until 2005, when he leaves Arizona to become MLB’s senior vice president of baseball operations.

ByTom

The Diamondbacks named Joe Garagiola Jr. as the team’s first general manager. The son of the former major league catcher and TV personality will stay in the post until 2005, when he leaves Arizona to become MLB’s senior vice president of baseball operations.

Devon White of the Toronto Blue Jays becomes just the sixth player in major league history to hit both a leadoff home run and an extra-inning homer in the same game.

Devon White of the Toronto Blue Jays becomes just the sixth player in major league history to hit both a leadoff home run and an extra-inning homer in the same game.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1992 – Devon White of the Toronto Blue Jays becomes just the sixth player in major league history to hit both a leadoff home run and an extra-inning homer in the same game. He also became the 56th switch-hitter in the majors to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game. Toronto defeats the Minnesota Twins, 5 – 3.