At New Hampshire’s Holman Stadium, the Nashua Pride of the independent Atlantic League celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Watergate break-in by giving away Richard Nixon bobbleheads to the first 1,000 fans in attendance. The minor league promotion, which included free entrance to anyone named Woodward or Bernstein and eighteen and a half minutes of silence to match the time of the gap in the infamous Watergate tape, had no reports of stolen signs during the game.

ByTom

At New Hampshire’s Holman Stadium, the Nashua Pride of the independent Atlantic League celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Watergate break-in by giving away Richard Nixon bobbleheads to the first 1,000 fans in attendance. The minor league promotion, which included free entrance to anyone named Woodward or Bernstein and eighteen and a half minutes of silence to match the time of the gap in the infamous Watergate tape, had no reports of stolen signs during the game.

The Philadelphia Phillies enter a 25-year agreement with Citizens Bank, one of the nation’s largest commercial bank holding companies, which includes naming Philadelphia’s new baseball facility, Citizens Bank Park. At the new ballpark, a gigantic Liberty Bell towering 100 feet above street level will come to life after every Phillies home run.

ByTom

The Philadelphia Phillies enter a 25-year agreement with Citizens Bank, one of the nation’s largest commercial bank holding companies, which includes naming Philadelphia’s new baseball facility, Citizens Bank Park. At the new ballpark, a gigantic Liberty Bell towering 100 feet above street level will come to life after every Phillies home run.

Pitchers Jae Seo, David Weathers and Armando Benitez combine for a one-hitter as the New York Mets beat the Florida Marlins, 5 – 0. It is the third straight game the Mets are involved in a one-hitter.

ByTom

Pitchers Jae Seo, David Weathers and Armando Benitez combine for a one-hitter as the New York Mets beat the Florida Marlins, 5 – 0. It is the third straight game the Mets are involved in a one-hitter.

2001 – Blake Stein of the Kansas City Royals strikes out 8 straight batters, and 11 in 5 2/3 innings, but the Milwaukee Brewers beat Kansas City, 5 – 2. Only Nolan Ryan (twice), Ron Davis and Roger Clemens have struck out eight in a row in the American League. Tom Seaver holds the major league record with 10 consecutive strikeouts, which was set in 1970.

ByThis Day in Baseball

2001 – Blake Stein of the Kansas City Royals strikes out 8 straight batters, and 11 in 5 2/3 innings, but the Milwaukee Brewers beat Kansas City, 5 – 2. Only Nolan Ryan (twice), Ron Davis and Roger Clemens have struck out eight in a row in the American League. Tom Seaver holds the major league record with 10 consecutive strikeouts, which was set in 1970.

Darin Erstad hits a double to get his 100th hit of the season, in the Angels’ 10 – 3 win over Arizona. Erstad’s hit comes in his 61st game, and he is the fastest to reach 100 hits since Heinie Manush in 1934.

ByTom

Darin Erstad hits a double to get his 100th hit of the season, in the Angels’ 10 – 3 win over Arizona. Erstad’s hit comes in his 61st game, and he is the fastest to reach 100 hits since Heinie Manush in 1934.

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1998 – Houston nails closer Jeff Brantley with four runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun the Cardinals, 6-5. After Jeff Bagwell launches a two-run bomb to tie the game, Brad Ausmus singles home Carl Everett with the game-winner. C.J. Nitkowski is the beneficiary, picking up his second win. 

ByTom

1998 – Houston nails closer Jeff Brantley with four runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun the Cardinals, 6-5. After Jeff Bagwell launches a two-run bomb to tie the game, Brad Ausmus singles home Carl Everett with the game-winner. C.J. Nitkowski is the beneficiary, picking up his second win. 

1997 – The Freeway Series hits the street in Los Angeles, CA, and the Dodgers drive home with the first victory in this interleague play on Todd Zeile’s second home run of the game. The Dodgers trail the Angels by one run in the 9th inning, but tie the game on a wild pitch and win it, 4 – 3, on Zeile’s homer.

ByTom

1997 – The Freeway Series hits the street in Los Angeles, CA, and the Dodgers drive home with the first victory in this interleague play on Todd Zeile’s second home run of the game. The Dodgers trail the Angels by one run in the 9th inning, but tie the game on a wild pitch and win it, 4 – 3, on Zeile’s homer.

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6/17/1996: Raul Mondesi had a three run homer and Todd Hollandsworth hit a two run shot for the Dodgers in the top of the first against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Cub pitcher Mike Campbell also allowed two other hits. After two batters in the bottom of the first and a 1:38 rain delay, those hits and the Dodgers 5-0 lead were wiped out.

ByTom

6/17/1996: Raul Mondesi had a three run homer and Todd Hollandsworth hit a two run shot for the Dodgers in the top of the first against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Cub pitcher Mike Campbell also allowed two other hits. After two batters in the bottom of the first and a 1:38 rain delay, those hits and the Dodgers 5-0 lead were wiped out.

1995 – Relief pitcher Mitch Williams is released by the California Angels. Williams, who considered retirement last year after being released by Houston, ends his career with a unique statistic on his resume: 526 hits and 537 walks allowed in 684 2/3 innings pitched. He is the only pitcher in major league history with more than 250 innings to allow more walks than hits.

ByTom

1995 – Relief pitcher Mitch Williams is released by the California Angels. Williams, who considered retirement last year after being released by Houston, ends his career with a unique statistic on his resume: 526 hits and 537 walks allowed in 684 2/3 innings pitched. He is the only pitcher in major league history with more than 250 innings to allow more walks than hits.

Baseball owners vote overwhelmingly, 26-2, in favor of expanding the playoffs for the first time since 1969. The new system, which is set to begin in 1994, will double the number of teams that qualify for the postseason to eight by realigning each league to three divisions, with two teams qualifying as wild cards. The 1994 strike will delay its implementation by one year, however.

ByTom

Baseball owners vote overwhelmingly, 26-2, in favor of expanding the playoffs for the first time since 1969. The new system, which is set to begin in 1994, will double the number of teams that qualify for the postseason to eight by realigning each league to three divisions, with two teams qualifying as wild cards. The 1994 strike will delay its implementation by one year, however.