Alex Rodriguez, hitting his 50th and 51st home runs, joins Babe Ruth (1920-54, 1921-59, 1927-60, 1928-54), Roger Maris (1961-61), and Mickey Mantle (1956-52, 1961-54) to become only the fourth player in Yankee history to hit 50 or more homers in a single season. The Yankee infielder’s second homer breaks the major league mark of 49 homers hit by a third baseman, shared with Mike Schmidt (Phillies-1980) and Adrian Beltre (Dodgers-2004).

ByBaseball

Alex Rodriguez, hitting his 50th and 51st home runs, joins Babe Ruth (1920-54, 1921-59, 1927-60, 1928-54), Roger Maris (1961-61), and Mickey Mantle (1956-52, 1961-54) to become only the fourth player in Yankee history to hit 50 or more homers in a single season. The Yankee infielder’s second homer breaks the major league mark of 49 homers hit by a third baseman, shared with Mike Schmidt (Phillies-1980) and Adrian Beltre (Dodgers-2004).

At Troy’s Bruno Stadium, the Vermont Expos end the season by winning their seventh straight game, beating the Tri-City ValleyCats, 15-9. With the NY-Penn team changing its name next season, the game marks the last time the word Expos will appear on a uniform.

ByTom

At Troy’s Bruno Stadium, the Vermont Expos end the season by winning their seventh straight game, beating the Tri-City ValleyCats, 15-9. With the NY-Penn team changing its name next season, the game marks the last time the word Expos will appear on a uniform.

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Once down by seven games in the Wild Card standings and behind five other clubs, the Astros come all the way back on the wings of their 12th straight win, a 5-2 triumph over Cincinnati, clinching their third straight series sweep. Four homers in the first inning (by Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman and Mike Lamb) is all Roger Clemens needs to get his 16th win, the 326th of his career, passing Eddie Plank for 11th on the All-Time wins list. The Astros tie the club record for winning streaks, set in 1999. The victory, however, ends their streak of eleven straight games scoring six or more runs, not done since the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in 1895. 

ByTom

2004 – Once down by seven games in the Wild Card standings and behind five other clubs, the Astros come all the way back on the wings of their 12th straight win, a 5-2 triumph over Cincinnati, clinching their third straight series sweep. Four homers in the first inning (by Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman and Mike Lamb) is all Roger Clemens needs to get his 16th win, the 326th of his career, passing Eddie Plank for 11th on the All-Time wins list. The Astros tie the club record for winning streaks, set in 1999. The victory, however, ends their streak of eleven straight games scoring six or more runs, not done since the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in 1895. 

64 year-old Steve Dalkowski throws the ceremonial first Pitch – in 1963 he hurt his arm right before he was called up and never pitched in The Majors
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64 year-old Steve Dalkowski throws the ceremonial first Pitch – in 1963 he hurt his arm right before he was called up and never pitched in The Majors

ByThis Day in Baseball

At Camden Yards, 64 year-old Steve Dalkowski throws the ceremonial first pitch to relief pitcher Buddy Groom before an Orioles game against Seattle. In 1963, on the day he was fitted for his big-league uniform, the Baltimore fireballing farmhand hurt his arm pitching in an exhibition game and never appeared in the major leagues.

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Craig Biggio, Brian Hunter and Lance Berkman launch homers in a 6-2 victory in Los Angeles. Roy Oswalt wins his 19th of the year. The suddenly dangerous Hunter knocks out Dodger hurler Kazuhisa Ishii with a line drive double off the pitcher’s head. Ishii suffers a concussion and a small skull fracture. Back in Houston, few notice since the NFL expansion Houston Texans are shocking the Dallas Cowboys, 19-10, in their very first regular season game. 

ByTom

2002 – Craig Biggio, Brian Hunter and Lance Berkman launch homers in a 6-2 victory in Los Angeles. Roy Oswalt wins his 19th of the year. The suddenly dangerous Hunter knocks out Dodger hurler Kazuhisa Ishii with a line drive double off the pitcher’s head. Ishii suffers a concussion and a small skull fracture. Back in Houston, few notice since the NFL expansion Houston Texans are shocking the Dallas Cowboys, 19-10, in their very first regular season game. 

Rafael Palmeiro’s sixth inning homer against Tampa Bay establishes a new major league record with a Ranger player hitting a home run in 26 consecutive games. The previous mark was shared by the 1941 Yankees, the 1994 Tigers, and the 1998 Braves.

ByTom

Rafael Palmeiro’s sixth inning homer against Tampa Bay establishes a new major league record with a Ranger player hitting a home run in 26 consecutive games. The previous mark was shared by the 1941 Yankees, the 1994 Tigers, and the 1998 Braves.

The Mariners score eight runs in the 11th inning and go on to defeat the Royals, 16 – 9. This ties the American League mark for most runs by a team in the 11th frame, last tied in 1991.

ByBaseball

The Mariners score eight runs in the 11th inning and go on to defeat the Royals, 16 – 9. This ties the American League mark for most runs by a team in the 11th frame, last tied in 1991.

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Shawon Dunston hits the Giants’ 14th pinch home run of the season to tie the Diamondbacks for the big league record. San Francisco defeats Colorado, 7 – 3.

ByThis Day in Baseball

2001 – Shawon Dunston hits the Giants’ 14th pinch home run of the season to tie the Diamondbacks for the big league record. San Francisco defeats Colorado, 7 – 3.

The Yankees beat the Red Sox, 4 – 0, behind Roger Clemens. A scary moment occurs in the 9th inning when Boston P Bryce Florie is hit in the face with a line drive off the bat of Ryan Thompson. The Red Sox hurler never loses consciousness and leaves the field with blood streaming down his face. Florie suffers a fractured cheekbone and a fracture of the orbital socket, the bone that surrounds the eye, and retinal damage. He will undergo surgery .

ByBaseball

The Yankees beat the Red Sox, 4 – 0, behind Roger Clemens. A scary moment occurs in the 9th inning when Boston P Bryce Florie is hit in the face with a line drive off the bat of Ryan Thompson. The Red Sox hurler never loses consciousness and leaves the field with blood streaming down his face. Florie suffers a fractured cheekbone and a fracture of the orbital socket, the bone that surrounds the eye, and retinal damage. He will undergo surgery .