This Day In Baseball April 12

Recapping events that took place in the baseball world on this day

The history of sports is both vast and rich, thanks to the existence of so many different events and the longevity associated with them. With so much history to cull through, We offer the opportunity to look back and see what memorable things happened or milestones were reached on April 11 in baseball history.

Classic Games and Video Accounts of Historic Moments

 

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Notable Events and Chronology for April 11

Johnny Bates of the Boston Beaneaters becomes the first modern player to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat

Johnny Bates of the Boston Beaneaters becomes the first modern player to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat

With Christy Mathewson sidelined with diphtheria, Red Ames pitches the opener for the New York Giants

With Christy Mathewson sidelined with diphtheria, Red Ames pitches the opener for the New York Giants

The 61-year history of Shibe Park begins with the A's defeating the Red Sox, 8-1

The 61-year history of Shibe Park begins with the A’s defeating the Red Sox, 8-1

April 12, 1911 The Reds announced that horse-drawn carriages were no longer allowed at the Palace of the Fans. When the ballpark opened in 1902, there were few autos in the city and space was built to allow those arriving in carriages to park them under the stands. By 1911, that space was taken over by those arriving in autos. The Palace was torn down the following season and Redland Field opened in 1912. A lot was created for 500 cars, which proved to be inadequate immediately. Parking was an issue at Redland/Crosley Field until the ballpark was abandoned in 1970.

horse-drawn carriages were no longer allowed at the Palace of the Fans

Chicago Cubs’ famed double play combination of “Tinker to Evers to Chance” makes its final appearance together in a major league game

Chicago Cubs’ famed double play combination of “Tinker to Evers to Chance” makes its final appearance together in a major league game

Tris Speaker

Cleveland Indians acquire Tris Speaker

New York Giants debut new purple plaid uniforms

New York Giants debut new purple plaid uniforms

Lew McCarty bats out of order when a double switch isnt properly pulled off

1922 – There are no playing managers in the National League for the first time since 1900. Long considered an economic necessity, the dual role is no longer essential. It will be 1930 before the American League has a year with all bench managers.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander opens his 18th season by shutting out the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 - 0.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander opens his 18th season by shutting out the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 – 0.

Former Cubs pilot Joe McCarthy makes his debut as Yankee manager, beating Boston at the Bronx ballpark, 6-3. The future Hall of Fame manager, who is the team’s all-time leader in managerial wins with 1460, guides the club to eight pennants and seven World Championships during his 16-year tenure in the Bronx.

During a preseason exhibition game in Brooklyn, the Ebbets Field public address announcer informs the crowd, including the new dad as he approaches home plate to bat, “Mickey doesn’t know it yet, but he has just become the father of an eight-pound, twelve-ounce baby boy.” Mickey Mantle Jr., whose given middle name is Elven in memory of the Yankee slugger’s recently deceased dad, is the first of four children, all sons, with his wife, Merlyn.

Pinch-hitting for Warren Spahn, Chuck Tanner, who becomes better known for his managerial skills, hits a home run for the Braves on the first pitch of his first major league at-bat. The 26 year-old outfielder’s eighth-inning round-tripper off Gerry Staley ties the score in Milwaukee’s eventual 4-2 victory over Cincinnati at County Stadium.

At Municipal Stadium, the recently arrived Athletics beat the Tigers, 6-2, in their first game in Kansas City. At first, the franchise’s shift from Philadelphia will be warmly received by the Missouri fans as the A’s draw 1,393,054 patrons to the ballpark in their first season, second only to the Yankees in American League attendance.

Southpaw Harry Truman throws out the first ball for the Athletics after their move from Philadelphia to Kansas City

Southpaw Harry Truman throws out the first ball for the Athletics after their move from Philadelphia to Kansas City

Norm Cash

Tigers acquire Norm Cash

Chuck Essegian's 11th-inning pinch-hit home run beats the Chicago Cubs, 3 - 2

Chuck Essegian’s 11th-inning pinch-hit home run beats the Chicago Cubs, 3 – 2

With 42,269 fans in attendance, the San Francisco Giants edge the St. Louis Cardinals, 3 – 1, in the first game played at Candlestick Park. Giants pitcher Sam Jones throws a three-hitter, and Cardinals outfielder Leon Wagner hits the first home run in the $15-million stadium. In the 3rd inning, the umpires protest that the foul poles are several inches in fair territory, rather than on the foul lines; the Giants will make the correction after the season.

Pete Richert makes his major league debut and strikes out the first six batters he faces

Pete Richert makes his major league debut and strikes out the first six batters he faces

Dean Stone tosses the first complete-game shutout in Houston Astro history, blanking the Cubs, 3-0

Philadelphia's Chris Short and Dick Allen spoil the Astros' regular season Dome debut in a 2-0 shutout.

Philadelphia’s Chris Short and Dick Allen spoil the Astros’ regular season Dome debut in a 2-0 shutout.

When is scoring position not scoring position, Part 2. An older and wiser Willie Mays has clearly profited from his July 25, 1958 debacle vis-à-vis the rifle that hangs from the shoulder of Roberto Clemente. “They say that if you don’t get to Bob Veale early, you never will,” writes Giants beat writer Bob Stevens. “The Giants almost did in the 4th and some say third base coach Charlie Fox suffered from a flash of conservatism. Willie had singled into left and was wild-pitched to second. Jim Ray Hart struck out, looking. Willie McCovey popped to second base. Two out. Jesus Alou strung a line drive single into right field, a ball solidly hit. Fox stopped Mays after Willie had gone 15 feet down the third base line toward home. Willie went to his knees as he applied the brakes and had to scramble back on all fours to get back to the bag. Tom Haller struck out. If Fox had opened the gates and let Mays go, and if Willie had made it, the Giants would have won in nine innings. But I think Clemente’s throw would have eaten him up.” As does Mays himself: “The ball was hit too good and Clemente got it at his knees. I just couldn’t take a chance on Clemente’s arm.”

In Cincinnati, Joe Torre hits two home runs in Milwaukee’s 4-2 Opening Day victory at Crosley Field. Next season on the same date, the Braves catcher will do it again, joining teammate Eddie Mathews as the only major leaguers to have hit two round-trippers twice in games played on Opening Day.

The A’s mascot Charlie-O the Mule, chosen to highlight the role the Missouri mules played in Allies victory in World War I by lugging ammunition and supplies through the mud and snow of France, makes his debut on Opening Night at Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium. In a pregame ceremony, Warren Hearnes, the governor of Missouri, presents the 1,400-pound animal to team owner Charlie O.Finley, who rides his namesake much to the delight of the 18,109 fans attending the game against the Tigers.

Red Sox hit 5 homeruns is season opener vs Senators - Full Broadcast

Red Sox hit 5 homeruns is season opener vs Senators – Full Broadcast

Before a crowd of 50,671 at Fulton County Stadium, the Braves play their first game in Atlanta after moving from Milwaukee. Joe Torre hits two home runs for the Braves, but Willie Stargell spoils the occasion with a two-run homer in the 13th inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3 - 2 victory.

Before a crowd of 50,671 at Fulton County Stadium, the Braves play their first game in Atlanta after moving from Milwaukee. Joe Torre hits two home runs for the Braves, but Willie Stargell spoils the occasion with a two-run homer in the 13th inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3 – 2 victory.

On Opening Day, Jim Lonborg’s 13th-inning balk plates Bob Johnson with the deciding run in Baltimore’s 5-4 victory. The Red Sox reliever miscue on the mound occurs with two outs and the bases loaded at Fenway Park.

On Opening Day at Boston’s Fenway Park, the Red Sox draw only 8,324 to watch the team beat Chicago, 5-4. The eventual American League champs finished last season in ninth place with a 72-90 record.

Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle added to monument park

 1970- Astros blast five home runs to trounce Phil Niekro and the Braves, 8-3 . Jim Wynn has the most memorable shot, a rocket that doesn’t come to rest until it finds the gold (upper reserved) seats in the third inning (section 738C, row 6, seat 3) . That bested his blast into the purple seats in the first. Tommy Davis, Joe Pepitone and Doug Rader go yard as well, making an easy night for starter Larry Dierker. 

April 12, 1976: Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey shields his head with an umbrella while watching rain fall at Dodger Stadium. After a 75-minute delay, the scheduled home opener was postponed. (Joe Kennedy / Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA)

The First Home Opener in LA Dodgers history rained out

Cecil Cooper and Don Money of the Milwaukee Brewers each hit 2nd-inning grand slams against the Boston Red Sox

Cecil Cooper and Don Money of the Milwaukee Brewers each hit 2nd-inning grand slams against the Boston Red Sox

Nolan Ryan Homerun

Nolan Ryan makes his debut with the Houston Astros hits a 3-run homer in the 4th inning

jime rice game winning grandslam

Jim Rice hits game winning grand slam

Bobby Witt ties an American League record, committing four balks in the Rangers’ 4-1 loss in Detroit. The major league record for the most balks in one game is five, established in 1963 by Braves’ right-hander Bob Shaw, which included three in the third inning of the team’s 7-5 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Matt Young loses despite no hitter

Matt Young loses despite no hitter

Barry Bonds, who signed a six-year, $43 million deal as a free agent, the richest contract in baseball history, delights the crowd of 56,689 at Candlestick Park by homering in his first at-bat in front of the hometown fans. The clean-up hitter’s second-inning drive to deep right field off Mike Hammond proves to be the difference in San Francisco’s 4-3 extra-inning victory over Florida.

Scott Cooper hits for the cycle and drives in five runs, helping the Red Sox to rout the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, 22-11. The third baseman’s fifth-inning triple is the result of being thrown out at the plate trying to stretch the three-bagger into an inside-the-park home run.

The Blue Jays postpone the game against the Royals when SkyDome’s retractable dome gets jammed during a routine test opening, sending chunks of the roof, some as big as eight feet by six feet, crashing onto the field below. The gaping hole in the dome is clearly visible from the outside of the ballpark, making the damage easy to spot by the city’s commuters on a nearby expressway.

The combat-ready Padres, wearing camouflage jerseys and green caps, finally win the battle against the Giants, after five consecutive losses to the black and orange, 8-3. San Diego donned the uniforms to honor the area’s significant military population.

2003 – The Detroit Tigers win for the first time this season, getting a three-run home run from Shane Halter to beat the Chicago White Sox, 4 – 3. The Tigers (1-9), the only team since 1900 to start back-to-back seasons with nine straight losses, started 0-11 in 2002.

Fenway’s Green Monster, the left field wall in the major league’s smallest park, has a new look. In the place of a net that was used to collect home runs balls that cleared the wall, the fans now occupy the space, sitting 310 feet away and 40 feet above the field, as they watch Red Sox right-hander Pedro Martinez give up ten runs in 4.1 innings in a 13-6 loss to the Orioles.

With a 5-2 victory over the Indians at Cleveland’s Jacobs Field, the Royals set a franchise record for victories at the start of the season, winning their ninth consecutive game since Opening Day. In 1977, Kansas City won 16 straight from August 31 through September 15 for overall team’s mark for consecutive wins.

The Phillies play their first game in Citizens Bank Park

At the Giants’ home opener at SBC Park, the torch is passed both literally and figuratively as Barry Bonds hit his 660th career homer to tie his godfather, Willie Mays, for third on the all-time home run list. The 72 year-old Hall of Famer Mays greets his godson at home plate with a torch studded with $18,000 of diamonds forming the numbers 660, 25, which is Barry’s number, and 1, the number to needed move ahead.

A ten-foot bronze statue of Richie Ashburn is unveiled at Citizens Bank Park, the new home of the Phillies. Zenos Frudakis’s work of the five-time All-Star, located behind centerfield in Ashburn Alley, which features the team’s Walk of Fame.

Twenty-two year-old college senior Jeffrey Maier hits a third-inning two-bagger against Bates to become the all-time career hits leader at Wesleyan, with 169, surpassing the 2003 mark set by Bill Robinson. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound third baseman gained national notoriety a decade ago as a 12 year-old young fan when he leaned over the Yankee Stadium fence to catch Derek Jeter’s fly ball ‘homer’, which prevented Orioles outfielder Tony Tarasco from catching the ball during the 1996 ALCS.

Mike Hartley becomes perhaps the first former major leaguer to play in the Bundesliga. The 46-year-old player-coach throws two relief innings, walking two, striking out two and allowing one unearned run in a 10 – 8 win for the Heidenheim Heideköpfe over the Mainz Athletics. Simon Gühring, a former Brewers minor leaguer, gets 3 hits to lead Heidenheim’s offense.

In St. Louis, Kyle Lohse of the Cardinals joins Harang with a three-hit shutout of his own in beating Houston. After giving up a single to leadoff hitter Kazuo Matsui, Lohse sets down the next 24 batters in order on his way to a 3 – 0 victory.

For the second time in a week, a team draws four bases-loaded walks in one inning. This time, it’s the Chicago Cubs who profit, in a game in which four Brewer pitchers issue 10 free passes and hit two batters. The Cubs score 4 runs in the top of the 4th inning thanks to Milwaukee’s generosity, but the key play in the 9 – 5 victory happens in the bottom of the 5th when Reed Johnson robs Prince Fielder of a grand slam by climbing over the right field fence at Miller Park. Ryan Dempster is the winner in the nationally-televized contest. On April 8th, the Phillies had also drawn four bases-loaded walks in an inning.

Aaron Harang of the Cincinnati Reds pitches the first shutout of the season when he disposes of the Pirates, 2 – 0, on three hits. Brandon Phillips hits a two-run homer for the Reds. Pittsburgh pulls off a triple play in the 8th inning in going down in defeat. It is the first triple play by Pittsburgh in 16 years and their first one on the road since 1968, when Gene Alley and Bill Mazeroski teamed with Donn Clendenon on one, also against Cincinnati.

With runners taking off from first and second base, Pirates’ shortstop Jack Wilson Reds third baseman Edwin Encarnacion’s turns soft liner into a triple play. The triple killing is the Bucs’ first since 1993, and the team’s first on the road in 41 years.

Two star second basemen go on the disabled list today. The Orioles’ Brian Roberts is the victim of a strained abdominal muscle and will be spelled by Julio Lugo. For their part, the Blue Jays have to do without Aaron Hill, who goes on the DL with an injured hamstring. They lose their home opener to the Chicago White Sox, 8 – 7, in 11 innings, even though Hill’s replacement, John McDonald, turns four double plays. Five homers are hit in the game, including Andruw Jones’s first two in a White Sox uniform.

The Minnesota Twins inaugurate their new outdoor ballpark, Target Field, with a 5 – 2 win over the Red Sox. A host of former Twins greats, including Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew, joined by Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek and Frank Viola, among others, are on hand to witness the historic game. Carl Pavano picks up the win while Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel pace the offence with three hits and two RBI each.

New Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, describing himself as a former “Wrigley bleacher bum” in his days in university, attends the team’s first home opener since his purchase of the club. He is witness to a 9 – 5 win over the Brewers; Xavier Nady, Jeff Baker and Aramis Ramirez all homer for the Cubs.

The Rangers’ excellent but injury-prone outfielder, Josh Hamilton, is headed back to the disabled list after fracturing his humerus bone just below the shoulder while sliding at home in the 1st inning of today’s game with Detroit. Hamilton is out on the scoring attempt, and the Tigers go on to win the game, 5 – 4, when Miguel Cabrera singles off Darren O’Day with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 9th to break a 4 – 4 tie.

The Yankees turn only their second triple play since 1969 in defeating the Orioles, 5 – 2. With two men on in the 8th, Manny Machado hits a hard grounder to 2B Robinson Cano. The play then goes 4-6-5-6-5-3-4 as Alexi Casilla is caught in a rundown between second and third, and Machado is erased when he attempts to take second during that time. It is the first time that a triple killing has taken that particular circuitous route.

The Blue Jays continue their cursed beginning to the season, losing SS Jose Reyes when he suffers an ankle injury sliding into second base on a stolen base attempt in the 6th inning of today’s game with the Royals. He is expected to be out for three months. The Jays win, 8 – 4, but the loss of Reyes casts a huge pall on celebrations.

The movie 42, about Jackie Robinson’s first two seasons in organized baseball and his breaking of the color line, opens in theaters across the United States. It will be the top-drawing movie its first weekend.

2015 – After one week of action in the major leagues, two teams are still undefeated, and both play in the AL Central. The defending American League champions, the Kansas City Royals, complete a three-game team of the Angels with a 9 – 2 win behind starter Yordano Ventura to improve to 6-0. Meanwhile, the Tigers are keeping pace as their 8 – 5 win over Cleveland also completes a week-end sweep; Miguel Cabrera hits two homers while going 4-for-4 for the day and 11-for-14 in the series.

2016 – The Orioles maintain their status as the last unbeaten team in the majors with a 9 – 5 win over the Red Sox. J.J. Hardy homers twice and drives in 5 and Mark Trumbo also homers for the Birds, who are now 7-0.

2019 – Khris Davis hits his major league-leading 10th homer, a tie-breaking solo shot in the 8th, to lead the Athletics to an 8 – 6 win over the Rangers.

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Todays Major League Birthdays On April 12

Bill Stewart Stats & Facts

Bill Stewart Stats & Facts

Mel Held Stats & Facts

Mel Held Stats & Facts

Johnny Antonelli Stats & Facts

Johnny Antonelli Stats & Facts

Charlie Lau Stats & Facts

Charlie Lau Stats & Facts

Woodie Fryman Stats & Facts

Woodie Fryman Stats & Facts

Tommie Sisk Stats & Facts

Tommie Sisk Stats & Facts

Dale Roberts Stats & Facts

Dale Roberts Stats & Facts

Ken Suarez Stats & Facts

Ken Suarez Stats & Facts

Vicente Romo Stats & Facts

Vicente Romo Stats & Facts

Terry Harmon Stats & Facts

Terry Harmon Stats & Facts

Joe Vitelli Stats & Facts

Joe Vitelli Stats & Facts

Eric McNair Stats & Facts

Eric McNair Stats & Facts

Bill Miller Stats & Facts

Bill Miller Stats & Facts

Jack Wilson Stats & Facts

Jack Wilson Stats & Facts

Chucho Ramos Stats & Facts

Chucho Ramos Stats & Facts

Bill Wight Stats & Facts

Bill Wight Stats & Facts

Lou Possehl Stats & Facts

Lou Possehl Stats & Facts

Walt Moryn Stats & Facts

Walt Moryn Stats & Facts

Brad Brach Page

Brad Brach Page

Raudel Lazo Page

Raudel Lazo Page

Pedro Hernandez Page

Pedro Hernandez Page

Burch Smith Page

Burch Smith Page

Edgar Olmos Page

Edgar Olmos Page

Tomas Nido Page

Tomas Nido Page

Dennis Santana Page

Dennis Santana Page

Jose Alvarez Stats & Facts

Jose Alvarez Stats & Facts

Bill Lindsey Stats & Facts

Bill Lindsey Stats & Facts

Mike Macfarlane Stats & Facts

Mike Macfarlane Stats & Facts

Jerry Goff Stats & Facts

Jerry Goff Stats & Facts

Dave Staton Stats & Facts

Dave Staton Stats & Facts

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Cliff Brantley Stats & Facts

Matt Williams Stats & Facts

Matt Williams Stats & Facts

Paul Lo Duca Stats & Facts

Paul Lo Duca Stats & Facts

Antonio Osuna Stats & Facts

Antonio Osuna Stats & Facts

Jeff Wallace Stats & Facts

Jeff Wallace Stats & Facts

D. J. Carrasco Stats & Facts

D. J. Carrasco Stats & Facts

Jordan De Jong Stats & Facts

Jordan De Jong Stats & Facts

Daniel Garcia Stats & Facts

Daniel Garcia Stats & Facts

Hisashi Iwakuma Stats & Facts

Hisashi Iwakuma Stats & Facts

Justin Ruggiano Stats & Facts

Justin Ruggiano Stats & Facts

Adonis Garcia Stats & Facts

Adonis Garcia Stats & Facts

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Brennan Boesch Stats & Facts

Buster Hoover Stats & Facts

Buster Hoover Stats & Facts

Lew Post Stats & Facts

Lew Post Stats & Facts

Bill Clancy Stats & Facts

Bill Clancy Stats & Facts

Fred Brown Stats & Facts

Fred Brown Stats & Facts

Harry Ostdiek Stats & Facts

Harry Ostdiek Stats & Facts

Sam Agnew Stats & Facts

Sam Agnew Stats & Facts

Harry Sullivan Stats & Facts

Harry Sullivan Stats & Facts

Charlie Pick Stats & Facts

Charlie Pick Stats & Facts

Kid McLaughlin Stats & Facts

Kid McLaughlin Stats & Facts

Bill Bailey Stats & Facts

Bill Bailey Stats & Facts

Sammy Vick Stats & Facts

Sammy Vick Stats & Facts

Mickey O'Neil Stats & Facts

Mickey O’Neil Stats & Facts

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Trader Horne Stats & Facts

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Bernie Henderson Stats & Facts

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Sandy Nava Stats & Facts

Hugh O'Neil Stats & Facts

Hugh O’Neil Stats & Facts

John Harkins Stats & Facts

John Harkins Stats & Facts

Harry East Stats & Facts

Harry East Stats & Facts

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Vic Willis Stats & Facts

Addie Joss Stats & Facts

Addie Joss Stats & Facts

Major League Baseball Debuts on April 12

To see all the Famous Debuts in baseball history check out the famous debut page

Major League Baseball Final Games on April 12

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Major League Baseball Deaths On April 12 

Major League Baseball Birthdays, Debuts, Final Games and Deaths, on **DATE** 

Todays Birthdays  – – – Check out all the famous Birthdays HERE

 

Major League Baseball Debuts – To see all the Famous Debuts in baseball history check out the famous debut page

 

Major League Baseball – Famous LASTS! Check them all out here!

 

Todays Passings  – – – Check out all the passing here!