Mike Piazza ended his 16-year major league career after failing to receive a free agent offer.

Mike Piazza ended his 16-year major league career after failing to receive a free agent offer.

On May 20, 2008, Mike Piazza announces his retirement. A 12-time All-Star, Piazza hit .308/.377/.545 in 16 seasons after having been picked in the 62nd round of the amateur draft. He socked 427 home runs, with a record 396 home runs as a catches scored 1,048 runs and drove in 1,335 and set the all-time major…

A uniform worn by Joe DiMaggio in his final World Series is sold for $195,500 during the second day of an auction of his memorabilia

A uniform worn by Joe DiMaggio in his final World Series is sold for $195,500 during the second day of an auction of his memorabilia. The previous day, DiMaggio’s 1947 American League MVP Award plaque was sold for $281,750, which included a 15 percent buyer’s premium. It was his third MVP award, but it is the only plaque. The two-day auction features more than 1,000 items of DiMaggio memorabilia, also including a leather-bound album featuring autographs from DiMaggio’s New York Yankees teammates and members of the Boston Red Sox, a typed note signed by Frank Sinatra, and a signed photo of DiMaggio’s one-time wife, Marilyn Monroe. The auction is held by Hunt’s Auctions Inc. in New York City. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.

Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run in an interleague game against the Oakland Athletics, tying his home run count with that of Babe Ruth at 714. The ball is hit at the McAfee Coliseum against pitcher Brad Halsey, a left-hander. Because of interleague play, Bonds is the designated hitter rather than his normal spot in the outfield.

Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run in an interleague game against the Oakland Athletics, tying his home run count with that of Babe Ruth at 714. The ball is hit at the McAfee Coliseum against pitcher Brad Halsey, a left-hander. Because of interleague play, Bonds is the designated hitter rather than his normal spot in the outfield.

Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run in an interleague game against the Oakland Athletics, tying his home run count with that of Babe Ruth at 714. The ball is hit at the McAfee Coliseum against pitcher Brad Halsey, a left-hander. Because of interleague play, Bonds is the designated hitter rather than his normal spot in the outfield.

In interleague play, Josh Beckett hits a solo home run, picks up an RBI single, and pitches seven solid innings to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Philadelphia Phillies, 8 – 4, at Citizens Bank Park. Because the designated hitter isn’t used in National League parks during interleague play, regular Red Sox DH David Ortiz starts at first base. Beckett posts his third straight win and gives the AL East-leading Boston its 10th victory in 13 games. He also becomes the first Red Sox pitcher to hit a home run since Marty Pattin on September 26, 1972.

In interleague play, Josh Beckett hits a solo home run, picks up an RBI single, and pitches seven solid innings to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Philadelphia Phillies, 8 – 4, at Citizens Bank Park. Because the designated hitter isn’t used in National League parks during interleague play, regular Red Sox DH David Ortiz starts at first base. Beckett posts his third straight win and gives the AL East-leading Boston its 10th victory in 13 games. He also becomes the first Red Sox pitcher to hit a home run since Marty Pattin on September 26, 1972.

Russell Branyan’s two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning boosts the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 4 – 3 victory over the Florida Marlins. It marks Tampa Bay’s second straight victory in its last at-bat. Aubrey Huff was the hero the previous day, clubbing a game-winning solo home run off Yusmeiro Petit to lead off the bottom of the 10th in a 5 – 4 win. This is the eighth time this season the Marlins have lost in their opponents’ final at-bat. Florida has lost four straight games when entering the 9th inning with a lead, tying the major league record set by Tampa Bay in May 2002.

Russell Branyan’s two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning boosts the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 4 – 3 victory over the Florida Marlins. It marks Tampa Bay’s second straight victory in its last at-bat. Aubrey Huff was the hero the previous day, clubbing a game-winning solo home run off Yusmeiro Petit to lead off the bottom of the 10th in a 5 – 4 win. This is the eighth time this season the Marlins have lost in their opponents’ final at-bat. Florida has lost four straight games when entering the 9th inning with a lead, tying the major league record set by Tampa Bay in May 2002.

After barreling over fellow catcher Michael Barrett in a play he considered hard but clean, A.J. Pierzynski is surprised when the Cub backstop shows his displeasure by punching him in the face. The incident ignites a bench-clearing brawl between the Windy City rivals that leads to a 15-minute delay and four ejections during the White Sox’ 7-0 victory at U.S. Cellular Field.

After barreling over fellow catcher Michael Barrett in a play he considered hard but clean, A.J. Pierzynski is surprised when the Cub backstop shows his displeasure by punching him in the face. The incident ignites a bench-clearing brawl between the Windy City rivals that leads to a 15-minute delay and four ejections during the White Sox’ 7-0 victory at U.S. Cellular Field.

 Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hits two home runs in a 11 – 6 loss to the Atlanta Braves, giving him a total of five homers in two games, becoming the 23rd player in major league history to do so.

 Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hits two home runs in a 11 – 6 loss to the Atlanta Braves, giving him a total of five homers in two games, becoming the 23rd player in major league history to do so.

After being released earlier in the month by the Mets for not hustling, Rickey Henderson, in his initial at-bat for the Mariners, hits his record 76th career leadoff home run, a shot off Esteban Yan in the team’s 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay at Safeco Field. With the round-tripper, the future Hall of Fame outfielder joins Ted Williams and Willie McCovey as the third major leaguer to have homered in four different decades.

After being released earlier in the month by the Mets for not hustling, Rickey Henderson, in his initial at-bat for the Mariners, hits his record 76th career leadoff home run, a shot off Esteban Yan in the team’s 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay at Safeco Field. With the round-tripper, the future Hall of Fame outfielder joins Ted Williams and Willie McCovey as the third major leaguer to have homered in four different decades.

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1999 – Billy Wagner surrenders two homers but hangs on for a 4-3, ten-inning victory in Los Angeles. A double by Derek Bell and a sacrifice fly by Ken Caminiti in the tenth salvage the win after light-hitting Tripp Cromer took Wagner deep with two down in the bottom of the ninth. 

1999 – Billy Wagner surrenders two homers but hangs on for a 4-3, ten-inning victory in Los Angeles. A double by Derek Bell and a sacrifice fly by Ken Caminiti in the tenth salvage the win after light-hitting Tripp Cromer took Wagner deep with two down in the bottom of the ninth. 

Robin Ventura becomes the first major leaguer to hit grand slams in both games of a doubleheader, leading the New York Mets to a sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers, 11 – 10 and 10 – 1. On September 4, 1995, Ventura also hit two grand slams in a single game while playing for the Chicago White Sox.

Robin Ventura becomes the first major leaguer to hit grand slams in both games of a doubleheader, leading the New York Mets to a sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers, 11 – 10 and 10 – 1. On September 4, 1995, Ventura also hit two grand slams in a single game while playing for the Chicago White Sox.