This Day In Baseball April 15

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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 15 in baseball history.

Notable Events and Chronology for April 15

The Alleghenies bring professional baseball to what is now Pittsburgh playing their first game at Union Park. Next year, the team will be accepted into the minor-league International Association but will disband in 1878.

Red Ames of the New York Giants pitches a no-hitter for nine innings against the Brooklyn Superbas, loses no hitter and game in 10th

Red Ames of the New York Giants pitches a no-hitter for nine innings against the Brooklyn Superbas, loses no hitter and game in 10th

Grover Cleveland Alexander makes his major league debut, losing a 5-4 decision to the Rustlers

Grover Cleveland Alexander makes his major league debut, losing a 5-4 decision to the Rustlers

1915 – Rube Marquard of the New York Giants no-hits the Brooklyn Robins, winning, 2 – 0.

After being called the Naps since 1903, Cleveland’s American League ballclub, plays its first game known as the Indians, a moniker selected from a contest to re-name the team run by a local newspaper. The franchise’s former name, which honored their once-popular player-manager Nap Lajoie, needed to be changed when the 40 year-old second baseman is sold back to A’s, after feuding the team’s current skipper, Joe Birmingham.

Ray Schalk steals twice against Detroit en route to a season total of 30

Ray Schalk steals twice against Detroit en route to a season total of 30

The American League season opens with Babe Ruth pitching a four-hit, 7 - 1, victory over the Philadelphia Athletics

The American League season opens with Babe Ruth pitching a four-hit, 7 – 1, victory over the Philadelphia Athletics

Braves Christy Mathewson watches his beloved Boston Braves during opening day.

Philadelphia and Boston play to a 6-6 tie on open

Sunday Baseball Approved in Boston

Sunday Baseball Approved in Boston

4/15/1931 – The was a lot of confusion during a Dodgers game in Boston. in the top of the fifth inning, Ike Boone pinch hit for the pitcher, Earl Mattingly. Boone then went to right field in place of Babe Herman, who was said to be having trouble in the sun. Herman had been in the third slot in the batting order, so the new pitcher would be placed there on the double switch. However, before the bottom of the fifth got started, Alta Cohen was sent out to right in place of Boone, thus Cohen would be in the ninth spot in the batting order. In the top of the sixth, when the third spot in the order came up, Cohen stepped to the plate and singled but was left stranded on the bases. The Braves did not protest. In the top of the seventh, Cohen batted in his proper ninth spot in the order and singled again. This hit was part of a two-run inning but the Braves prevailed, 9-3.

Highly touted prospect Schoolboy Rowe makes his major league debut with a six-hit shutout in Detroit’s 3 – 0 win over Chicago, all three runs driven in by rookie outfielder Pete Fox.

Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey 1933

Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey 1933

Babe Ruth is presented with the “key to the city” from Worcester Mayor John Mahoney

Babe Ruth is presented with the “key to the city” from Worcester Mayor John Mahoney

 Hiram “Hi” Bithorn becomes the first Puerto Rican to play in major league baseball

Mel Ott hits final homerun

Mel Ott hits final homerun

Jackie Robinson makes a historic debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers

Jackie Robinson makes a historic debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers

Hank Aaron collects his first hit

Hank Aaron collects his first hit

Eddie Waitkus 1941

big league ball returns to Baltimore 

U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower officially opens the season by tossing out the first ball at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. The ball is the 10 millionth Spalding baseball to be used in major league play.

U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower officially opens the season by tossing out the first ball at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. The ball is the 10 millionth Spalding baseball to be used in major league play.

Giants host First west coast game

Giants host First west coast game

Major League Baseball comes to California as the transplanted Giants and Dodgers play the first game on the Pacific Coast

Dan Frisella Alaska gold diggers 1965

Dan Frisella 1965 Alaska Goldpannera

Gary Nolan wins his debut

Gary Nolan wins his debut

The longest shutout in major league history is played at the Astrodome

The longest shutout in major league history is played at the Astrodome

1969 – Roberto Clemente’s first hit of the season easily escapes the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. “Clemente, who had been 0 for 12,” writes Bill Christine of the Pittsburgh Press, “attempted to add some adrenalin to the Pirate attack in the 1st inning when he blasted a Joe Niekro fastball out in the street beyond left field.” The first-frame bomb, however, yields but a short-lived lead. “Billy Williams,” writes Lee Jenkins of the Chicago Daily Defender, “showing off his recently acquired ability to go with the pitch, slammed one into the left field bleachers in the 1st and rookie Don Young performed the same feat good for 2 runs in the 2nd to more than counteract Clemente’s tremendous shot over the left-field stands.” Additional adrenalin – accounting for Pittsburgh’s remaining three runs – is supplied by Clemente’s 5th-inning, bases-loaded single, whereby he will significantly enhance Niekro’s understanding of the phrase “dangerous hitter.” Jenkins writes: “Clemente fired a shot through the middle that knocked Niekro down and raced to second base when Young tried for a one-handed scoop and the ball got through for a two-base error with three runs counting.” By the 7th inning, the Cubs have finally wised up. Jenkins continues: “Hank Aguirre knocked off five Pirates before pinch-hitter Jose Pagan lashed a single to lead off the 7th and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Clemente was given an intentional walk after he refused to bite at three Aguirre wide ones. But the crafty veteran fanned Willie Stargell to escape.”

1970 – John Mayberry slugs two home runs, drives in four and scores three times in a ten-inning, 7-6 victory over San Francisco . Jim Beauchamp singles Mayberry home with the winning run. 

Jackson sports mustache - first player since 1913

Jackson sports mustache – first player since 1913

Don Sutton beats the Reds 3-1 on opening day

Don Sutton beats the Reds 3-1 on opening day

Mickey Mantle

New York Yankees defeat the Minnesota Twins, 11-4, in the first game at the newly renovated Yankee Stadium

Aaron number retired by second team

Aaron number retired by second team

4/15/1978: Oscar Gamble of San Diego hit a two-run homer in the first inning off the Giants’ Ed Halicki with one out. The game, at San Diego, was called in the fourth inning because of rain.

1983 – Detroit Tigers pitcher Milt Wilcox is one out away from a perfect game when pinch-hitter Jerry Hairston singles, and Wilcox settles for a 6 – 0 one-hitter over the Chicago White Sox. This is only the third time in major league history a perfect game bid has been stopped with one out to go.

Mike Schmidt homered into the left field blue seats at Olympic Stadium, Montreal but lost it to rain.

Mike Schmidt homered into the left field blue seats at Olympic Stadium, Montreal but lost it to rain.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Mike Schmidt sets the team record by playing in his 1,795th game

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Mike Schmidt sets the team record by playing in his 1,795th game

Juan Nieves first no hitter in Milwaukee Brewer History

Juan Nieves first no hitter in Milwaukee Brewer History

1987 – Mike Scott delivers a one-hit, ten-strikeout shutout in Los Angeles, 4-0. A single by Mariano Duncan in the third is the lone blemish. Billy Hatcher and Glenn Davis pace the offense. Each had a home run and two RBIs. 

ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball makes its debut, with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan behind the microphones, a broadcasting team that will remain in the booth for the next 21 seasons. The early stages of the sports network’s coverage on Sundays evenings call for every ballpark to host a game, assuring each team at least one appearance on national television throughout the season.

Jeff Bagwell's first major league homer is a two-run shot off Kent Mercker in the ninth inning to stun the Braves, 3-1

Jeff Bagwell’s first major league homer is a two-run shot off Kent Mercker in the ninth inning to stun the Braves, 3-1

Sparky Anderson earns his 2,000th victory as a manager as the Detroit Tigers rally to beat the Oakland Athletics, 3 – 2.

Andre Dawson becomes the 25th player to hit 400 home runs as the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians, 4 – 3.

Jackie Robinson number 42 retired across baseball

Jackie Robinson number 42 retired across baseball

4/15/1997: Scott Hatteberg of the Red Sox hit his first major league home run in Fenway Park but lost it to an umpire’s call. The ball was ruled in play by John Shulock and Hatteberg only got to second base on the play. The hit came off Don Wengert of Oakland in the sixth inning and hit off a TV camera in center field. (Two batters later, Nomar Garciaparra hit a ball that was ruled a homer even though a fan seemed to reach over the right field wall.)

The first-ever American League-National League doubleheader ends up a good day for New York. The Yankees are forced to come to Shea Stadium after a beam fell into the stands at Yankee Stadium on April 13th. They earn their first victory in Queens in 22 years as they defeat the Angels, 6 – 3. Former Mets star Darryl Strawberry, the all-time home runleader at Shea, adds to his total with a shot into the left field bleachers. In the regularly-scheduled night game, the Mets beat the Cubs, 2 – 1. The Yankees, who played at Shea in 1974and 1975 while Yankee Stadium was renovated, draw a crowd of 40,743, a dramatic contrast to the gathering of 16,012 who show up for the Mets game at night.

2000 – In the 2,800th game of his career, Baltimore Orioles infielder Cal Ripken, Jr. lines a base hit off Minnesota Twins pitcher Hector Carrasco to become the 24th major leaguer to reach the 3,000 career hit milestone. The single also makes Ripken only the seventh player to get 3,000 hits and 400 home runs in major league history.

A swarm of bees nesting in the Coors Field’s right field auxiliary scoreboard makes their presence known when Todd Hollandsworth steps into the batter’s box to start the bottom of the fourth frame. After a nine-minute delay, the game continues without incident to the players, fans or bees, but the Rockies’ outfielder gets the crowd buzzing by hitting three home runs following the incident, including a three-run walk-off round-tripper in the tenth inning of Colorado’s 10-7 victory over Arizona.

Fifty-seven years after the historic event, major league baseball begins the tradition of Jackie Robinson Day

Brandon Backe becomes the third pitcher in Astro history to strike out the side on nine pitches

Brandon Backe becomes the third pitcher in Astro history to strike out the side on nine pitches

The Dodgers, to commemorate the 58th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s first game in the big leagues, wear replicas of the old road uniforms worn by the 1947 team which played in Brooklyn. Right-hander Derek Lowe throws a three-hitter, blanking the Padres in San Diego, 4-0.

A Fenway fan is ejected from the game after taking what appeared to be a swipe at Gary Sheffield as the Yankee outfielder fields a ball hit by Jason Varitek. The right fielder’s response, which includes shoving the fan, making a fist, and exchanging words, will be investigated by major league baseball.

The Indians became the first team in almost 55 years to notch a victory with their only hit coming in the team’s first at-bat when Grady Sizemore doubles leading off the first inning in Tribe’s eventual 2-1 win over Chicago at Jacobs Field. The last time the Tribe won while getting just one hit or less was in 1992, a 2-1 victory over Boston with the team being no-hit by Matt Young.

To honor Jackie Robinson, some players on each team, including Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter and Braves’ outfielder Andruw Jones, wear the Dodger immortal’s uniform No. 42 on the 60th anniversary of his historic breaking the color barrier in baseball. In the Cardinals and Brewers contest at Busch Stadium, every player and coach on both teams dons Jackie’s revered number.

Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese

60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut, the entire Dodger team wears uniform #42 in his honor

José López makes history by hitting three sacrifice flies in a 11 – 6 Mariners win over Kansas City. He is the 12th player in major league history to accomplish that feat. He drives in Willie Bloomquist twice and Kenji Johjima once.

Every player in Major League Baseball wears number 42 today on Jackie Robinson Day, in honor of the anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color line. The practice will be repeated in future years.

On a night of milestones in Seattle, Ken Griffey hits his 400th home run as a Mariner – the 613th long ball of his career – and Ichiro Suzuki hits a grand slam off Jason Bulger for his 3085th hit as a professional, tying the Japanese record held by Isao Harimoto. Seattle defeats the Angels, 11 – 3, as Jarrod Washburn picks up the 100th win of his career. Harimoto is present at Safeco Field to witness Ichiro’s historic hit.

Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers goes 6 for 6 and hits for the cycle in a 19 – 6 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Kinsler scores 5 times, Marlon Byrd goes 5 for 6 and Nelson Cruz hits a grand slam off Radhames Liz in the rout. It had been 119 years since Farmer Weaver had been the last big leaguer to go 6 for 6 and hit for the cycle in a 9-inning game.

The Red Sox suffer a costly defeat to the Twins, losing 8 – 0 after learning that CF Mike Cameron has an abdominal strain. Bill Hall replaces him for the game, as Tim Wakefield is scorched for 10 hits and 6 runs in 5 1/3 innings while his opponent Francisco Liriano flashes some of his old form that made him an All-Star as a rookie in 2006. LF Jacoby Ellsbury also misses the game with sore ribs, and Boston is worried that both starting outfielders may need to go on the disabled list.

The Blue Jays acquire OF Fred Lewis from the Giants for future considerations. The Jays will install Lewis as their lead-off hitter, allowing them to slide Jose Bautista to the middle of the order, where he will emerge as the American League’s top slugger.

The Astros are the last team to record a win in the majors this year. After losing their first eight contests, they defeat the Cardinals, 5 – 1 at Busch Stadium. Pitcher Bud Norris helps his own cause by driving in the game’s first run in the 3rd inning, followed by an RBI double by Jeff Keppinger, who drives in two more in the 8th. It is also Brad Mills’ first win as a major league manager.

The Cardinals rout the Dodgers, 11 – 2, with a 19-hit attack. It is the first time in 81 years that the Cardinals have gotten 14 or more hits in five straight games. Lance Berkman homers twice.

Matt Harrison is helped by some clutch defense as the Rangers defeat the Yankees, 5 – 3, in New York. Harrison’s teammates tie an American League record by turning six double plays behind him, to move his record to 3-0 on the year; the pitcher starts two of the twin killings himself.

Luis Salazar returns to the dugout as manager of the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League. Salazar lost an eye when struck by a foul ball during a Braves spring training game on March 9th, but has impressed everyone by his good spirits and quick recovery from what could have been a fatal injury.

Jim Leyland savors his 1,500th win as a manager when the Tigers defeat the Athletics, 8 – 4, with a wild 10th inning. Oakland is cruising to a 1 – 0 victory after a solid start by Brandon McCarthy when Miguel Cabrera homers off Brian Fuentes to tie the game in the 9th. In the 10th, the A’s commit three errors and the Tigers score 7 runs, two on a bases-loaded double by Brennan Boesch that breaks the tie. The A’s then rally for 3 runs on their own in the bottom of the frame, but it is not enough to cancel Detroit’s outburst. Leyland is the 19th manager in history to reach the 1,500-win milestone.

Jhoulys Chacin hurls a 6-hit shutout as the Rockies defeat the Cubs, 5 – 0, to extend their winning streak to seven games. Chris Iannetta hits a bases-loaded triple and trots home on Starlin Castro’s wild relay throw on the play in support of Chacin’s gem.

The Rangers tie an American League mark shared with 15 teams by turning six double plays in a nine-inning game, including a record-tying five DPs by Elvis Andrus for the most by a shortstop, in the team’s 5-3 victory at Yankee Stadium. The first six batters in the Bronx Bombers’ lineup, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Andruw Jones, and Nick Swisher, bounce into Texas twin killings.

Vin Scully is back in the broadcast booth for a record 63rd season after missing a week with a bad cold, as the Dodgers improve their major league-best record to 9-1 with a 5 – 4 win over the Padres. The Dodgers turn a strange triple play in the top of the 9th, when C A.J. Ellis picks up Jesus Guzman’s short bunt with runners on first and second base. Somehow, the Padres think that home plate umpire Dale Scott called the ball foul and do not run, being easy pickings for Ellis, who relays to Juan Uribe at third base to start the triple killing. San Diego manager Bud Black comes out to argue vehemently, but only succeeds in getting himself tossed from the game. In the bottom of the inning, Dee Gordon hits a bases-loaded single off Brad Brach to give Los Angeles the walk-off win.

The Marlins defeat the Astros, 5 – 4, in 11 innings in a game featuring a couple of milestones in the history of newly-inaugurated Marlins Park. Omar Infante is the first Marlins player to set off the gaudy mechanical flamingoes sculpture in the outfield when he homers off J.A. Happ in the 2nd, and P Anibal Sanchez, sporting a career .087 average with no extra-base hits, hits the first triple in park annals in the 5th. Hanley Ramirez drives in pinch-runner Brett Hayes with a single off David Carpenter to give the Marlins a walk-off win.

The Red Sox defeat the Rays, 3 -2, in the traditional late-morning game played on Patriots’ Day. Trailing 2 – 1 after being shut down on two hits through 8 innings by Ryan Dempster and Koji Uehara, the Rays tie the game in the top of the 9th against Andrew Bailey, deputizing for ineffective closer Joel Hanrahan. The Red Sox come back immediately, as Dustin Pedroia draws a two-out walk off Joel Peralta and Mike Napoli lines a double off the Green Monster to end the game. Shortly after the game ends, twin explosions rock downtown Boston, MA, causing numerous casualties near the finish line of the annual Boston Marathon.

This year, the annual Civil Rights Game is played on “Jackie Robinson Day” with the host Dodgers defeating the Mariners, 5 – 2, in an interleague game as the memory of the man who broke the color barrier is honored before the game. Los Angeles jumps on Taijuan Walker for 5 runs in 4 innings. For Seattle, Nelson Cruz homers in his fifth straight game.

Two weeks into the major league season, a pitcher finally records a complete game win as the Twins’ Ervin Santana tosses a one-hit shutout at the White Sox. The only two complete games before that this year had been of the eight-inning variety, and both had resulted in losses.

Bartolo Colon, the oldest pitcher in the majors at 44, shows the kids how it’s done in a nationally televized Sunday night game pitting the Rangers against the Astros. Colon tosses 7 perfect innings against the defending World Champions before allowing a walk to Carlos Correa to lead off the bottom of the 8th, followed by a double by Josh Reddick. Correa scores on a sacrifice fly by Yuli Gurriel and Colon leaves after 7 2/3 innings. His opponent on the mound, Justin Verlander, is no slouch either as he gives up just one hit – a solo homer by Robinson Chirinos – in eight innings. The Rangers win the game, 3 – 1, with 2 runs in the 10th, both scoring on a double by Chirinos.

Christian Yelich Delivers Puppies and Homers: A Day to Remember

Jackie Robinson Day Quotes

Jackie Robinson Day Quotes

Todays Major League Birthdays On April 15 

Todays Major League Debuts On  April 15

Todays Major League Final Games April 15

Major League Baseball Deaths On April 15 

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