Dustin Pedroia wins the 2008 American League Most Valuable Player Award

Dustin Pedroia wins the 2008 American League Most Valuable Player Award

ByThis Day in Baseball

Joining Cal Ripken Jr. (Orioles – 1983) and Ryan Howard (Phillies – 2006), Dustin Pedroia (.326, 17, 83) becomes the third player in major league history to win the Most Valuable Player award a season after being selected as the Rookie of the Year. The scrappy Gold Glove second baseman, the tenth Red Sox player to earn the American League honor, received 16 of the 28 first-place votes to easily outdistance heavy-hitting Twins first baseman Justin Morneau (.300, 23, 129).

The Veterans Committee elects four new members for the Hall of Fame, and just misses naming a fifth

The Veterans Committee elects four new members for the Hall of Fame, and just misses naming a fifth

ByTom

1996 – The Veterans Committee elects four new members for the Hall of Fame, and just misses naming a fifth. The group elected includes fiery manager Earl Weaver, who had a .583 winning percentage in 17 seasons managing the Baltimore Orioles; pitcher Jim Bunning, who won 100 games in both leagues, including no-hitters in each circuit, one of them a perfect game; 19th-century manager Ned Hanlon, who won five National League pennants with the Baltimore Orioles (3) and Brooklyn (2), and Bill Foster, the top left-handed pitcher in the Negro Leagues. Nellie Fox receives the necessary 75% of the Committee’s votes, but the rules allow just one modern player elected, and Bunning has more votes.

Mickey Mantle hits the first home run in the history of the Astrodome
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Mickey Mantle hits the first home run in the history of the Astrodome

ByThis Day in Baseball

On April 9, 1965, Houston begins playing in the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson joins 47,878 fans for the opening of Harris County Domed Stadium (the Astrodome). In the opening ceremonies, 24 astronauts throw 24 ceremonial first pitches as the Colt .45’s become the Astros. The Houston Astros win an…

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Nellie Fox delivers his third hit, a single off Barney Schultz, scoring Al Spangler for an 8-7, ten-inning triumph over St. Louis. Bob Aspromonte drives in four, including a game-tying hit with two out in the ninth to push the game into overtime.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1964 – Nellie Fox delivers his third hit, a single off Barney Schultz, scoring Al Spangler for an 8-7, ten-inning triumph over St. Louis. Bob Aspromonte drives in four, including a game-tying hit with two out in the ninth to push the game into overtime.

Nellie Fox singles home Eddie Kasko with walkoff but Gaylord Perry steals the show by destroying his bat after the game

Nellie Fox singles home Eddie Kasko with walkoff but Gaylord Perry steals the show by destroying his bat after the game

ByTom

1964 – Nellie Fox singles home Eddie Kasko with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to end a wild 5-4 victory over the Giants at Colt Stadium. Tempers are hot as the Texas heat with players and managers from both teams getting run by umpire Lee Weyer. San Francisco’s Billy O’Dell is thumbed as he makes warm-up tosses after arriving from the bullpen. An angry Gaylord Perry grabs Fox’s bat when it’s all over and smashes it to pieces before handing it to the batboy.

Nellie Fox streak comes to an end at 798 games

Nellie Fox streak comes to an end at 798 games

ByThis Day in Baseball

On September 4, 1960, the playing streak of future Hall of Famer Nellie Fox comes to an end at 798 games. The slick-fielding Chicago White Sox’ second baseman is hospitalized with a virus and is replaced in the lineup by Billy Goodman. Fox would have gone 1,072 straight games had manager Marty Marion not rested…