Cincinnati Redlegs outfielder Gus Bell hits home runs off Bob Miller in both ends of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies at Crosley Field. Cincinnati wins, 10 – 2 and 11 – 9.
Roberto Clemente crashes Willie Mays’s birthday party in his second visit to the Polo Grounds, by banging a 430-foot triple over the birthday boy’s head in the midst of a decisive rally in a 3 – 2 Pirate win over the Giants. Jesse Abramson of the New York Herald Tribune reports: “Roberto Clemente tripled so far over Mays’ head that even Willie on his charger, shedding the cap, couldn’t catch it…”
On May 6, 1953, St. Louis Browns pitcher Bobo Holloman, making his first big league start, twirls a 6-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia A’s. Holloman becomes only the third pitcher in history to fire a no-hitter in his initial major league start. Holloman will win only two more games during a brief one-year career, he…
On May 6, 1951, Cliff Chambers of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a no-hitter against the Boston Braves, in the second game of a doubleheader, despite walking eight batters and throwing a wild pitch. Chambers, who earns a 3-0 victory, becomes only the second Pirate pitcher to hurl a no-hitter. Pinterest Instagram Facebook Youtube @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@
In his second appearance, A’s rookie Bobby Shantz is sensational, tossing nine hitless innings of relief in a 13-inning, 5-4 win over Detroit at Briggs Field. The 23 year-old southpaw, who made his major league debut five days ago pitching 2/3 of an inning against Washington, gives up two hits and a run in his tenth inning of work but gets the victory because Wally Moses had a two-run home run in the top of the frame.
May 6, 1945, baseball pioneer, Jackie Robinson, played his first game with the Kansas City Monarchs. He went 1-4 with an RBI double, scored a run and stole a base in the Monarchs 6-2 win over the Chicago American Giants! Two years later, Robinson would break Major League Baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers….
On May 6, 1941, the Brooklyn Dodgers acquire future Hall of Fame second baseman Billy Herman from the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Charlie Gilbert, infielder Johnny Hudson, and cash. Herman, struggling with a .194 batting average, will hit .291 for the Dodgers over the balance of the season.
At Fenway Park, Carl Reynolds, Moose Solters, Rick Ferrell and Bucky Walters hit four consecutive triples for the Boston Red Sox en route to a 14 – 4 win over the Detroit Tigers.
On May 6, 1931, future Hall of Famer Willie Mays is born in Westfield, Alabama. The son of Annie Satterwhite and William Mays. The ‘Say Hey Kid’s’ dad, called Cat because of his quick reflexes, was named after William Taft, the U.S. president elected in 1912, the same year Willie’s father was born. After a…
The American League announces it will discontinue the league’s MVP award. In 1931, the Junior Circuit will resume the honor, naming A’s southpaw Lefty Grove (31-4, 2.06) as its most valuable player.
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