home plate umpire is Bill Dinneen becomes the only person in big league history to both throw a no-hitter and call one as an umpire

home plate umpire is Bill Dinneen becomes the only person in big league history to both throw a no-hitter and call one as an umpire

ByThis Day in Baseball

Issuing just one walk, which spoils his bid for a perfect game, A’s right-hander Chief Bender, who is part Chippewa, throws a 4-0 no-hitter at Shibe Park against the Cleveland Naps (Indians). The home plate umpire is Bill Dinneen, who tossed a no-hit game against the White Sox playing with the Pilgrims (Red Sox) in 1905, making him the only person in big league history to both throw a no-hitter and call one as an umpire.

TrisSpeaker_redsox_1911

Boston Red Sox centerfielder Tris Speaker pulls off his second unassisted double play

ByThis Day in Baseball

At Huntington Avenue Grounds, Boston Red Sox centerfielder Tris Speaker pulls off his second unassisted double play, the gem occurring in the 2nd inning against the Philadelphia Athletics. Speaker snares a low line drive and beats baserunner Harry Davis back to second base. The game goes 11 innings with the Athletics prevailing, 5 – 3. Eddie Plank is the starter and winner over Eddie Cicotte.

William Howard Taft becomes the first U.S. President to throw out a ceremonial first ball on Opening Day
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William Howard Taft becomes the first U.S. President to throw out a ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day

ByThis Day in Baseball

William Howard Taft becomes the first U.S. President to throw out a ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day. Attending the game in Washington, D.C., President Taft tosses the first ball to future Hall of Famer Walter Johnson, who pitches the first of his 14 Opening Day Washington games, striking out nine, en route to a 3 – 0 one-hit shutout against Eddie Plank and the Philadelphia Athletics. A double by Home Run Baker – caused by right fielder Doc Gessler tripping over a fan who had spilled out of overflow seating – spoils Johnson’s chance at an opening day no-hitter. Gabby Street is the Senators’ catcher, the only opener in which he catches for Johnson.

A day after beating the A’s Eddie Plank, 2 – 1, Washington’s Walter Johnson is forced to start again, this time replacing sore-armed Charlie Smith. Remarkably, Johnson records his 5th complete game victory in nine days.

A day after beating the A’s Eddie Plank, 2 – 1, Washington’s Walter Johnson is forced to start again, this time replacing sore-armed Charlie Smith. Remarkably, Johnson records his 5th complete game victory in nine days.

ByThis Day in Baseball

A day after beating the A’s Eddie Plank, 2 – 1, Washington’s Walter Johnson is forced to start again, this time replacing sore-armed Charlie Smith. Remarkably, Johnson records his 5th complete game victory in nine days.

Chief Bender wins his 11th straight for the Athletics, 4 – 2, over Cleveland, to tighten the pennant race with the Tigers. The Chief is helped by right fielder Socks Seybold who pulls off an unassisted double play. He’ll pull off another on September 10th against Boston.

Chief Bender wins his 11th straight for the Athletics, 4 – 2, over Cleveland, to tighten the pennant race with the Tigers. The Chief is helped by right fielder Socks Seybold who pulls off an unassisted double play. He’ll pull off another on September 10th against Boston.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Chief Bender wins his 11th straight for the Athletics, 4 – 2, over Cleveland, to tighten the pennant race with the Tigers. The Chief is helped by right fielder Socks Seybold who pulls off an unassisted double play. He’ll pull off another on September 10th against Boston.

Portrait of Jack Coombs, pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics. Stamped on back: "Charles M. Conlon, Evening Telegram, New York." Handwritten on back: "Jack Coombs, Athletics, 1908.

The American League’s longest game to date takes place in Boston before 16‚000 in this 24 inning marathon both starters Jack Coombs and Joe Harris go the distance.

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The American League’s longest game to date takes place in Boston before 16‚000. Rookies Jack Coombs and 24-year-old Joe Harris go the route in a 24-inning struggle‚ ending with a 4 – 1 Athletics victory after 4 hours and 47 minutes. It sets the major league record‚ later broken‚ and is still the AL mark for two pitchers. Two batters single, and then Socks Seybold and Danny Murphy hit triples with two outs to end the contest. Philadelphia’s Coombs faces 89 batters‚ striking out a major league record 18 (broken in 1962) and giving up 14 hits‚ while the Americans’ Harris fans 14 and yields 16 hits. Harris drops his record to 2-21‚ and will start next year at 0-6 before exiting the majors for Providence‚ holding the distinctions of the worst winning percentage (.091 for a 3-30 record) and the fewest wins for any pitcher with 300 innings pitched. The 24 innings pitched will only be exceeded this century by the 26-inning battle on May 1‚ 1920 between Joe Oeschger and Leon Cadore. There won’t be a longer game in the AL until May 8‚ 1984.