1998 – Mark McGwire hits a home run in his fourth consecutive game to start the season to tie the mark set by Willie Mays in 1971. McGwire’s home run helps lead the Cardinalspast the Padres, 8 – 6, and also ties another league mark as it is his seventh long ball in a six-game stretch, dating back to 1997.
1996 – Barry Bonds becomes only the fourth player in major league history to amass 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases when he homers in the 3rd inning in the San Francisco Giants’ 6 – 3 victory over the Florida Marlins. His father, Bobby Bonds, along with godfather Willie Mays and Andre Dawson are the only other players to reach 300-300.
Dave Winfield announces his retirement at the age of 44
Joining Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, George Brett becomes only the third player in baseball history to swipe his 200th stolen base as well as collecting 3,000 hits and 300 home runs. The Royals’ third baseman’s historic heist takes place during a 5-4, 12-inning victory over the Red Sox at Kauffman Stadium.
On May 13, 1993, One day before his 40th birthday, George Brett hits his 300th career home run, in the 6th inning of a 7 – 3 victory over the Cleveland Indians. joining Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Carl Yastrzemski, Willie Mays, and Al Kaline as the only players with three hundred homers and three thousand…
In front of a sellout crowd at County Stadium, Robin Yount becomes the 17th and third youngest player to reach the 3000 hits milestone when he singles off of Indian reliever Jose Mesa in a 5-4 defeat to Cleveland. The 36 year-old Milwaukee center fielder also reached 1,000 and 2,000 hit plateaus against the Indians.
1990 – Andre Dawson of the Chicago Cubs steals his 300th base in an 11 – 5 loss to the New York Mets, becoming only the second player in major league history with 300 home runs, 300 steals and 2,000 hits. Willie Mays was the other.
1985 – Commissioner Peter Ueberroth reinstates Hall of Fame members Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, who had been banned from association with organized baseball by former commissioner Bowie Kuhn due to their employment by Atlantic City casinos. Ueberroth’s ruling will allow both men to pursue employment with major league teams.
Dwight Gooden strikes out Garry Templeton in the eighth inning of the Mets’ 5-2 victory at Jack Murphy Stadium to become the 11th pitcher to strike out 200 batters in his rookie season. The 19 year-old freshman becomes only the third teenager to accomplish the feat, joining Bob Feller (1938 Indians) and Gary Nolan (1967 Reds).
1983 – One day after taking a job as director of sports promotions for the Claridge Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, Mickey Mantle is ordered to sever his ties with Major League Baseball by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Mantle joins fellow Hall of Famer Willie Mays as players banned from baseball by Kuhn for involvement with legalized gambling.