On June 26, 1916 at Cleveland’s League Park Cleveland players, in a game with the White Sox, wear large numbers pinned to their sleeves, marking the first time players are identified by numbers corresponding to those on the scorecard. Jack Graney, leading off for the Tribe, is the first batter to wear a number in…
The Robins split with the Giants, losing, 11 – 8 before winning the nitecap, 2 – 1. New York takes a 6 – 0 lead in the opener, but the Robins score five in the 5th off starter Pol Perritt, then put two on against reliever Rube Schauer. Christy Mathewson then takes over and George Cutshaw cranks a 3-run homer to give the Robins an 8 – 6 lead. Matty allows just one other hit and New York comes back against Duster Mails to win. It is Mathewson’s last major league victory. During the game, police at the Polo Grounds arrest three fans for petty looting for not throwing back baseballs hit into the stands.
On June 26, 1915, one of the greatest hitters in the history of the Negro leagues is born. Willard Brown is born in Shreveport, Louisiana. Brown, given the nickname “Home Run” by Josh Gibson, won two triple crowns and batted over .400 twice in a career that spanned the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. He was…
1915 – Phillie ace Grover Alexander continues his masterful pitching, topping Brooklyn’s Jack Coombs, 4 – 0. Zack Wheat’s 8th-inning single is the only Robin safety.
1914 – In Boston, the Giants hammer the Braves for 27 hits, winning 8 – 4 and 10 – 4, and put Boston back in the cellar. Boston had moved into 7th place with yesterday’s win over New York. Christy Mathewson wins the opener over Lefty Tyler, and Art Fromme wraps up the nitecap.
After failing in Cincinnati and moving across the Ohio River to Covington, Kentucky, the Federal League team decides to relocate again. The franchise shift to Kansas City, which is American Association territory, will cause Organized Baseball to “declare war” on the upstart league.
At Washington’s Griffith Stadium the A’s doubleheader pasting of the Senators, 11 – 2 and 10 – 3, Nats catcher Eddie Ainsmith swipes second base, third base, and home in the opener. After safely reaching base on a single in the bottom of the ninth frame, the 23 year-old catcher’s thievery of second, third, and home proves to be of little consequence when Philadelphia routs the Nats.
Brooklyn sees Grover Alexander for a second day in a row, this time beating the Phillies righty, 4 – 2, in a doubleheader sweep by the Superbas. The Phils now lead the Giantsby a half-game.
The Highlanders send future star Hippo Vaughn (2-8), winner of last year’s opener, to the Senators for the waiver price. In late August, Washington will compound the mistake by selling him to the Kansas City Blues (American Association).
Boston’s Smoky Joe Wood outguns the Nationals’ ace Walter Johnson to win, 3 – 0. Wood allows three hits to the “Big Train”‘s 4. Johnson fans 10 batters in the loss.
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