Tony Clark changes his number from 00 to 52. The Mets’ reserve player wanted to give the team’s mascot, Mr. Met, his identity back, as he and the congenial baseball-headed character shared double-digit ought.

ByTom

Tony Clark changes his number from 00 to 52. The Mets’ reserve player wanted to give the team’s mascot, Mr. Met, his identity back, as he and the congenial baseball-headed character shared double-digit ought.

Rangers’ designated hitter Juan Gonzalez becomes the 34th major leaguer, and the first from Puerto Rico, to hit 400 career home runs. The Juan Gone’s milestone is hit off Anaheim hurler Jarrod Washburn’s first pitch in the second inning during a 7-5 extra inning loss to the Angels.

ByTom

Rangers’ designated hitter Juan Gonzalez becomes the 34th major leaguer, and the first from Puerto Rico, to hit 400 career home runs. The Juan Gone’s milestone is hit off Anaheim hurler Jarrod Washburn’s first pitch in the second inning during a 7-5 extra inning loss to the Angels.

By homering in his team’s 57th game, Barry Bonds becomes the fastest player ever to hit 30 home runs. In 1928, it took Babe Ruth 63 games to reach the same mark.

ByTom

By homering in his team’s 57th game, Barry Bonds becomes the fastest player ever to hit 30 home runs. In 1928, it took Babe Ruth 63 games to reach the same mark.

The Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers, 4 – 3, in 18 innings on Shea Hillenbrand’s home run over the Green Monster. Tim Wakefield, with a scoreless inning, is the winner. Boston DH Manny Ramirez receives four intentional walks, tying the American League mark set by Roger Maris, on May 22, 1962. Maris did it in a 12-inning game. The major league record is five, set by Andre Dawson, in a 16-inning game, on May 22, 1990.

ByTom

The Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers, 4 – 3, in 18 innings on Shea Hillenbrand’s home run over the Green Monster. Tim Wakefield, with a scoreless inning, is the winner. Boston DH Manny Ramirez receives four intentional walks, tying the American League mark set by Roger Maris, on May 22, 1962. Maris did it in a 12-inning game. The major league record is five, set by Andre Dawson, in a 16-inning game, on May 22, 1990.

At Coors Field, Colorado Rockies pitcher Mike Hampton beats the Houston Astros, 9 – 4, and hits a pair of home runs. Hampton, who came into the season homerless, now has four homers. The Mets, Hampton’s team last year, have a combined five homers from their outfielders.

ByTom

At Coors Field, Colorado Rockies pitcher Mike Hampton beats the Houston Astros, 9 – 4, and hits a pair of home runs. Hampton, who came into the season homerless, now has four homers. The Mets, Hampton’s team last year, have a combined five homers from their outfielders.

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1997 – Bill Spiers draws his sixth consecutive walk (over three games) setting a franchise record during a 6-5 loss at Cincinnati. He is one short of the major-league record. Spiers’ streak is broken later when he is hit by a pitch from Mike Remlinger. He walks in his next plate appearance four days afterwards. His consecutive on-base streak ends at 13 on June 11th, one shy of the NL mark in that category. 

ByTom

1997 – Bill Spiers draws his sixth consecutive walk (over three games) setting a franchise record during a 6-5 loss at Cincinnati. He is one short of the major-league record. Spiers’ streak is broken later when he is hit by a pitch from Mike Remlinger. He walks in his next plate appearance four days afterwards. His consecutive on-base streak ends at 13 on June 11th, one shy of the NL mark in that category. 

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1995 – Craig Biggio blasts a three-run shot off Robb Nen with two away in the bottom of the ninth to shock Florida, 6-5. Greg Swindell helps his own cause with a run-scoring double but Dave Veres gets the win. 

ByTom

1995 – Craig Biggio blasts a three-run shot off Robb Nen with two away in the bottom of the ninth to shock Florida, 6-5. Greg Swindell helps his own cause with a run-scoring double but Dave Veres gets the win. 

1994 – In Detroit, the Twins’ Chuck Knoblauch leads off the game with a homer off Mike Moore, then adds a second long ball in the 7th. Not to be outdone, the Tigers’ lead-off hitter, Tony Phillips goes deep against Scott Erickson in his first at-bat, and also add a second homer, in the 8th inning. It is the first time in major league history this has happened, and the feat won’t be repeated until August 13, 2013, when Brad Miller and Ben Zobrist are the two protagonists. Detroit wins the game, 5 – 3.

ByTom

1994 – In Detroit, the Twins’ Chuck Knoblauch leads off the game with a homer off Mike Moore, then adds a second long ball in the 7th. Not to be outdone, the Tigers’ lead-off hitter, Tony Phillips goes deep against Scott Erickson in his first at-bat, and also add a second homer, in the 8th inning. It is the first time in major league history this has happened, and the feat won’t be repeated until August 13, 2013, when Brad Miller and Ben Zobrist are the two protagonists. Detroit wins the game, 5 – 3.

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1992 – Jeff Bagwell tags Jeff Brantley with a two-run homer in the ninth to stun the Giants, 5-4. Xavier Hernandez is the surprise winner with Doug Jones notching his 14th save. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1992 – Jeff Bagwell tags Jeff Brantley with a two-run homer in the ninth to stun the Giants, 5-4. Xavier Hernandez is the surprise winner with Doug Jones notching his 14th save.