This Day In Baseball April 24

April

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 24 in baseball history.

 

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Notable Events and Chronology for April 24

At Brooklyn’s Eastern Park, Lave Cross hits for the cycle when the Phillies pound the Grooms 22-5. The 27 year-old third baseman becomes the first player in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

Andy Cooper is born in Waco, Texas

First game in American League History

ThreeĀ rain postponementsĀ giveĀ ChicagoĀ the honor of hosting the firstĀ major leagueĀ game inĀ American LeagueĀ history (the circuit played as aĀ minor leagueĀ inĀ 1900). AtĀ South Side Park, a crowd of over 10,000 fans attends the game to see pitcherĀ Roy PattersonĀ take the win for theĀ Chicago White SoxĀ over the the visitingĀ Cleveland Blues, 8 - 2.Ā Clark GriffithĀ manages Chicago.

ThreeĀ rain postponementsĀ giveĀ ChicagoĀ the honor of hosting the firstĀ major leagueĀ game inĀ American LeagueĀ history (the circuit played as aĀ minor leagueĀ inĀ 1900). AtĀ South Side Park, a crowd of over 10,000 fans attends the game to see pitcherĀ Roy PattersonĀ take the win for theĀ Chicago White SoxĀ over the the visitingĀ Cleveland Blues, 8 – 2.Ā Clark GriffithĀ manages Chicago.

1902Ā – Professional baseball gets its start inĀ Durham, North CarolinaĀ as theĀ Durham TobacconistsĀ (who will be renamed theĀ BullsĀ 11 years later) play anĀ exhibition gameĀ againstĀ Trinity CollegeĀ (nowĀ Duke University). The Bulls, except for 1971-1980, whenĀ minor league baseballĀ didn’t exist in the city, will continue to play in Durham until the present day.

1911Ā – TheĀ Battle Creek CricketsĀ of theĀ Southern Michigan LeagueĀ turn twoĀ triple playsĀ in the first two innings of today’s game.

George MogridgeĀ of theĀ New York YankeesĀ pitches franchises first aĀ no-hitterĀ 

President Warren G. Harding, an avid baseball fan who likes to keep a scorecard at games, witnesses the first shutout ever thrown at Yankee Stadium. The chain-smoking Chief Executive is delighted to see Babe Ruth's fifth-inning homer off Allen Russell but is disappointed the Senators drop the contest, 4-0.

President Warren G. Harding, an avid baseball fan who likes to keep a scorecard at games, witnesses the first shutout ever thrown at Yankee Stadium. The chain-smoking Chief Executive is delighted to see Babe Ruth’s fifth-inning homer off Allen Russell but is disappointed the Senators drop the contest, 4-0.

4/24/1925: Phillie Heinie Sand led off the bottom of the second inning against the Dodgers by hitting a Dazzy Vance pitch into the left field bleachers. Unfortunately for Sand the ball caromed back onto the playing field. He was awarded a double for his efforts.

rogers hornsby

St. Louis CardinalsĀ player-managerĀ Rogers HornsbyĀ leads by example, slugging his team to a 9 – 3 thrashing of theĀ Pittsburgh Pirates

1931Ā – Three days before his 35th birthday,Ā Chicago’sĀ player-managerĀ Rogers HornsbyĀ is again undaunted byĀ Forbes Field’s forbidding expanse. Hornsby hits three consecutive home runs to beat theĀ Pittsburgh Pirates, 10 – 6. This is the final season in which Hornsby will allot himself significant playing time ā€“ 357 at-bats in 100 games. The hyphenate portion of his career will extend throughĀ 1937, but his on-field appearances will come primarily off the bench and never again will he amass as many as 100 at-bats in a season. Regarding today’s display, Fred Wertenbach of theĀ Pittsburgh PressĀ reports: “For the enlightenment of those fans not among the 15,000 at yesterday’s slaughter, the great Rogers crashed three successive long, legitimate and unsullied homers over the distant Forbes Field ramparts, two offĀ Larry FrenchĀ and the third offĀ Claude Willoughby. Mr. French tried to southpaw Hornsby in the 3rd Ć  laĀ screw ball. Two men were on at the time. He pitched a bit low. Hornsby drove it over the left field wall, about the seventh panel up from theĀ scoreboard. The score then became Cubs 3, Pirates 5. In the 5th, Larry faced Hornsby again with two on. ‘Huh! He hits ’em low; I’ll try one high outside,’ Larry reasoned. Bang! The ball cleared the screen in right, and the score in a trice became 6 – 5, Cubs. The 6th frame saw Willoughby, a right-hander, ready to benefit from French’s experience, the latter having left the scene. ‘This guy hits ’em low, he hits ’em high ā€“ my play is toĀ curveĀ him to death,’ was the ex-Phillie’s logic.Ā Kiki CuylerĀ was on second. Wham! A curve, waist high, was interrupted as it came up to the plate, and diverted over the scoreboard in left. Two more runs added to the Cub total, making eight driven in by Rogers.”

In the final game of his twentieth and last full season, Ted Lyons beats the Indians, going the distance in the White Soxā€™ 3-1 victory at Clevelandā€™s League Park. The 41 year-old ‘Sunday Teddy,ā€™ although exempt from the draft due to his age enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps after the season and fights in the Pacific during WW II, completes all of his twenty games, all started on Sundays, posting a 14-6 record along with an ERA of 2.10.

Happy ChandlerĀ becomes the second baseballĀ commissioner

Happy ChandlerĀ becomes the second baseballĀ commissioner

1946Ā Baseball Hall Of Fame

1946Ā Baseball Hall Of Fame

John Mize

Johnny Mize of the New York Giants becomes the first major leaguer to hit three home runs in a game on five different occasions

Bill Nicholson of the Chicago Cubs makes his bid to become the first player in Wrigley Field's 34 years of existence to reach its distant right centerfield scoreboard

Bill Nicholson of the Chicago Cubs makes his bid to become the first player in Wrigley Field’s 34 years of existence to reach its distant right centerfield scoreboard

Giants right-hander Marv Grissom blanks the Phillies at the Polo Grounds, 1-0. Whitey Lockman’s 300-foot fifth-inning home run off Robin Roberts, one of only three hits the Philadelphia hurler allows, accounts for the only score of the game.

4/24/1955: In the second game of a scheduled double-header, Dee Fondy and Harry Chiti of the Cubs both hit home runs off Reds pitcher Corky Valentine in the bottom of the second inning. The game was rained out in the bottom of the third inning with Chicago leading 3-0.

American LeagueĀ umpireĀ Frank UmontĀ is the first to wear glasses in a regular-season game

American LeagueĀ umpireĀ Frank UmontĀ is the first to wear glasses in a regular-season game

Cubs walk the line nine times

Cubs walk the line nine times

1958Ā –Ā Lee WallsĀ hits three home runs and drives in eight runs as theĀ CubsĀ rout theĀ Dodgers, 15 – 2, at theĀ Los Angeles Coliseum.

Sandy Koufax strikeouts 18 Cubs

Sandy Koufax strikeouts 18 Cubs

The first game in franchise history against the visiting Cardinals features many familiar faces on the opposing team when the Colt .45’s beat the Redbirds, 4-3. Houston had been the farm club for St. Louis, and many of their players had come through Texas on their way to the big leagues.

Commissioner Ford Frick fines Casey Stengel $500 for appearing in uniform for a beer advertisement

Commissioner Ford Frick fines Casey Stengel $500 for appearing in uniform for a beer advertisement

Colt .45s host St. Louis for the first time and defeat them, 4-3

Colt .45s host St. Louis for the first time and defeat them, 4-3

Ā Casey StengelĀ records his 3,000th victory as aĀ managerĀ as theĀ MetsĀ beat theĀ Giants, 7 - 6.

Ā Casey StengelĀ records his 3,000th victory as aĀ managerĀ as theĀ MetsĀ beat theĀ Giants, 7 – 6.

Bob AspromonteĀ is the first to set off the Astrodome scoreboard’s home run display

Braves win 18th straight at home

Braves win 18th straight at home

Willie Mays Pulls even with Mel Ott

Willie Mays Pulls even with Mel Ott

Reggie Jackson brawls with twins after he hits homers in his first two at bats

Reggie Jackson brawls with twins after he hits homers in his first two at bats

Johnny EdwardsĀ takes Ferguson Jenkins deep to stop the Cubs, 3-2, in eleven innings

Johnny EdwardsĀ takes Ferguson Jenkins deep to stop the Cubs, 3-2, in eleven innings

Roberto ClementeĀ hits aĀ walk-off inside-the-parkĀ grand slam

Bert Campaneris of the Oakland Aā€™s steals five bases in an 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

1978Ā –Ā Nolan RyanĀ of theĀ California AngelsĀ strikes out 15 batters for the 20th time in his career, but leaves in the 9th inning without a decision. TheĀ Seattle MarinersĀ prevails over the Angels, 6 – 5, in the 12th.

4/24/1979: Jerry Morales homered off pitcher Jim Slaton in Milwaukee. The blow came in the second inning with one out and no one on base. The game was rained out.

Jesse Barfield becomes the first Blue Jay in franchise history to pinch-hit a grand slam when he goes deep off Tom Burgmeier. The right fielder’s bases-loaded heroics aren’t enough to stave off an eventual 8-7 Toronto loss to Boston at Exhibition Stadium.

Astros beat Cy Young Award Winner Steve Carlton 3-2

rickey henderson homes twice off 300 game winners

Rickey Henderson becomes the first player in baseball history to hit a home run off two different 300-game winners in the same game

Chicago White SoxĀ hittersĀ Julio FrancoĀ andĀ Robin VenturaĀ hit home runs back-to-back twice in a 7 - 6 defeat to theĀ Detroit Tigers.

Chicago White SoxĀ hittersĀ Julio FrancoĀ andĀ Robin VenturaĀ hit home runs back-to-back twice in a 7 – 6 defeat to theĀ Detroit Tigers.

Minnesota TwinsĀ set a team record for runs and rout theĀ Detroit Tigers, 24 - 11

Minnesota TwinsĀ set a team record for runs and rout theĀ Detroit Tigers, 24 – 11

Los Angeles DodgersĀ catcherĀ Mike PiazzaĀ ties a major league record hitting his thirdĀ grand slamĀ of the month. The blast highlights a nine-run 2nd inning which leads Los Angeles to 12 – 4 victory over the visitingĀ Chicago Cubs.

AtĀ Candlestick Park,Ā Geoff JenkinsĀ hits a home run offĀ Orel HershiserĀ to become the firstĀ Milwaukee BrewersĀ player to hit a home run in his major league debut. TheĀ BrewersĀ defeat theĀ Giants, 7 – 5. Jenkins joinsĀ Chuck Tanner, who accomplished the feat inĀ 1955Ā as a member of theĀ Milwaukee Braves, as the only players inĀ MilwaukeeĀ baseball history to homer in their first game.

2001Ā – TheĀ American LeagueĀ celebrates its 100th anniversary as a major league.

Moises AlouĀ bangs two home runs among his four hits as Houston pounds the Braves, 11-6

Chase Utley gets his first major league hit, blasting a third-inning grand slam off Rockies starter Dennis Cook. The rookie second baseman’s big fly to right field contributes to the Phillies’ 9-1 victory at Veterans Stadium.ā€Ø

The David Ortiz jersey, which was secretly buried in cement at the new Yankee Stadium Is auctioned off

The David Ortiz jersey, which was secretly buried in cement at the new Yankee Stadium Is auctioned off

Zack GreinkeĀ continues to dominate opposing hitters as he pitches a second straightĀ complete gameĀ for theĀ Kansas City Royals. He strikes out 10 in a 6 – 1 win overĀ Detroit. The Tigers’ lone run in the 5th inning is unearned, but it ends Greinke’s streak of 38 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to last season. He is nonetheless 4-0 with a virginĀ ERAĀ so far this year, on his way to winning theĀ AL Cy Young Award.

AtĀ Fenway Park,Ā Mariano RiveraĀ is charged with a rareĀ blown saveĀ in the first matchup between theĀ YankeesĀ andĀ Red SoxĀ this season. With two outs in the 9th inning, Rivera gives up a two-run home run toĀ Jason BayĀ to tie the score, 4 – 4.Ā Kevin YoukilisĀ homers over theĀ Green MonsterĀ in the 11th for a 5 – 4 Boston win.

Wade LeBlancĀ pitches six scoreless innings and records his first win of the year as theĀ PadresĀ shut out theĀ Reds, 5 – 0, for their eighth consecutive victory.Ā Adrian Gonzalez,Ā Will VenableĀ andĀ Yorvit TorrealbaĀ all hit home runs for the red-hot Padres.

Jorge CantuĀ of theĀ Florida MarlinsĀ goes 0 for 4 in the second game of today’s doubleheader, ending hisĀ hitting streakĀ at 21 games, dating back to last September. He still drives in the Marlins’ lone run in an 8 – 1 loss to theĀ Rockies, giving him 20 RBI for the season. Cantu went 1 for 4 as Florida won the first game, 4 – 1. His hitting streak included a 10-game stretch to start the year during which he collected at least a hit and a RBI in each game.

After undergoing shoulder surgery in NovemberĀ 2009,Ā Ted LillyĀ pitches six scoreless innings in his first start of the year for theĀ Cubs, leading his team to a 5 – 1 win over theĀ Milwaukee Brewers.Ā Carlos Zambrano, who, in a controversial decision, was moved to theĀ bullpenĀ to make room for Lilly in the starting rotation, pitches an inning and a third in his first relief appearance in almost eight years. He gives up the Brewers’ sole run, but drives in one of the Cubs’ tallies with aĀ sacrifice fly.

Chris Jakubauskas is struck in the head by a vicious line drive off the bat of Houston's Lance Berkman

Chris Jakubauskas is struck in the head by a vicious line drive off the bat of Houston’s Lance Berkman

TheĀ Dodgers’Ā Andre EthierĀ extends hisĀ hitting streakĀ to 21 games with an RBI single in a five-run 1st inning as Los Angeles beats theĀ Cubs, 7 – 3.

TheĀ BravesĀ complete their first sweep of theĀ GiantsĀ in San Francisco sinceĀ 1998Ā with a 9 – 6 win in 10 innings.Ā Nate McLouthĀ hits a two-run single offĀ Brian WilsonĀ to place the Braves ahead. Atlanta also beat last postseason’s heroes,Ā Tim LincecumĀ andĀ Madison Bumgarner, during the three-game series.

Roy HalladayĀ strikes out a career-high 14 batters in a 3 – 1 win over theĀ Padres. TheĀ PhilliesĀ ace shows some fatigue in the 9th and newly-minted closerĀ Antonio BastardoĀ picks up the save, with regular closerĀ Brad LidgeĀ and his understudyĀ Jose ContrerasĀ both on theĀ disabled list.

TheĀ MetsĀ defeat theĀ Marlins, 2 – 1, in a game marking the return of star shortstopĀ Jose ReyesĀ to New York after leaving the Big Apple for Miami as aĀ free agentĀ the previous off-season.Ā Johan SantanaĀ strikes out 11 in 6 2/3 innings for the Mets, but leaves the game trailing, 1 – 0, as his teammates have yet to score a run in support of his pitching this year. The Mets score two late runs to win the game, but it is relieverĀ Jon RauchĀ who gets the W. Before the game, the Mets place two key players on theĀ disabled list, LFĀ Jason BayĀ who has a broken rib, and starting PĀ Mike Pelfrey, who has swelling in his elbow.

The game between theĀ YankeesĀ andĀ RangersĀ features a duel between twoĀ JapaneseĀ free agentĀ signees,Ā Hiroki KurodaĀ andĀ Yu Darvish. Darvish gets the upper hand, pitching 8 1/3 scoreless innings and striking out 10 in leading Texas to a 2 – 0 win.

Chipper JonesĀ homers on his 40th birthday (offĀ Aaron Harang) as theĀ BravesĀ beat theĀ Dodgers, 4 – 3. He becomes the fifth player in major league history to do this, followingĀ Bob Thurman,Ā Joe Morgan,Ā Wade BoggsĀ andĀ Tony Phillips.

For the first time in major league history, four different pitchers combine to walk four consecutive batters when the Marlins hurlers load the bases and then force in a run in a 2-1 loss against the Mets. Josh Johnson walks Lucas Duda, then Randy Choate issues a free pass to Justin Turner, followed by Steve Cishek’s base-on-balls to Scott Hairston, and finally, Mike Dunn forces home Josh Thole with the tying run with the last of the only walks given up by the Miami staff in the Citi Field contest.

2013Ā – TheĀ RockiesĀ continue to surprise, today beating theĀ Braves, owners of the major leagues’ best record, with a 12-inning, 6 – 5 win. The Rockies rally to tie the game against closerĀ Craig KimbrelĀ onĀ Dexter Fowler’s two-out double in the bottom of the 9th, andĀ Yorvit Torrealba, playing 1B because the Rox have used all of theirĀ substitutes, drives inĀ Wilin RosarioĀ with a single offĀ Luis AyalaĀ with two outs in the bottom of the 12th to end the game.

PĀ Michael PinedaĀ of theĀ YankeesĀ is handed a ten-game suspension after being caught usingĀ pine tarĀ on the mound in the previous day’s game. The sentence is longer than previous ones, as there had already been controversy over his alleged use of the substance earlier this season. Pineda acknowledges his sin and states that he will not appeal the suspension.

David OrtizĀ breaksĀ Harold Baines’ record for games played atĀ Designated HitterĀ (1,644); Ortiz already held records for hits, homers and RBI as a DH. Ortiz goes 0 for 1 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch before leaving early in a 12 – 5Ā BostonĀ loss to theĀ Yankees.

TheĀ YankeesĀ snap theĀ Mets’Ā franchise record-tying 11-game winning streak with a 6 -1 win.Ā Jacob deGromĀ allows three homers, two byĀ Mark TeixeiraĀ and the other byĀ Jacoby EllsburyĀ to be tagged with the loss.Ā Michael PinedaĀ is the winner.

Rumors emerge that theĀ RangersĀ have reached a tentative deal with theĀ AngelsĀ to acquire troubled OFĀ Josh Hamilton. Hamilton left Texas after theĀ 2012Ā season to sign a five-year deal worth $125 million, but has not been as productive a player since the deal and suffered a relapse of dependency problems. He has yet to play a game this season.

2016Ā –Ā Chris HeiseyĀ ends a 16-inning marathon by belting aĀ walk-off homerĀ offĀ Michael TonkinĀ that gives theĀ NationalsĀ a 6 – 5 win over theĀ Twins. At 5 hours and 56 minutes, it is the longest regular season game in Nats history. It goes intoĀ extra inningsĀ afterĀ Bryce HarperĀ hits the firstĀ pinchĀ homer of his career off closerĀ Kevin JepsenĀ to tie it at 4 in the 9th. Washington is down by a run again in the 15th whenĀ Danny EspinosaĀ draws a two-out walk and steals second; out of pinch-hitters, managerĀ Dusty BakerĀ lets PĀ Oliver PerezĀ bat for himself and he lays down aĀ buntĀ down the third base line. CĀ John Ryan MurphyĀ picks it up and throws wildly to first base, allowing Espinosa to score and prolonging the game. The Twins strike out 20 times during the game.

Eric ThamesĀ hits two more homers, both offĀ Amir Garrett, to lead theĀ BrewersĀ to an 11 – 7 win over theĀ Reds. Thames has hit 10 homers in his first 19 games after three years spent in theĀ Korea Baseball Organization.

Dovydas Neverauskas, taking the roster spot of DL-bound Adam Frazier, becomes the second person born in Lithuania, but the first raised there, to appear in a major league game when he throws two innings of one-run ball for the Pirates in 14-3 loss to the Cubs at PNC Park. Aā€™s outfielder Joe Zapustas, who played two games for the team in 1933, was also born in the Baltic state, but spent his childhood in Boston.

Todays Major League Birthdays On April 24

Todays Major League Debuts OnĀ  April 24

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

 

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Todays Major League Final Games April 24

 

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

Major League Baseball Deaths On April 24

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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