This Day In Baseball July 12

Debuts, Milestones, No Hitters, Rule Changes, Events, Birthdays, Deaths, and more on This Day In Baseball.  

Events for July 12

7/12/1884: Billy Sunday homered in the eighth inning for the Chicago White Stockings at Detroit. However, he failed to touch second and was called out.

7/10 – 7/12/1890: The Pittsburgh at Boston Players League games were thrown out because Boston illegally used a player, Gil Hatfield, on loan from the New York team in the league. There were four homers hit in the three games that were removed from the official records: 7/10: Boston’s Hardy Richardson in the second and Dan Brouthers in the eighth. 7/11: Richardson in the eighth. 7/12: Richardson in the thirdRichardson also homered, which counted, in his next two games, so he lost a streak five games.

Appearing in his only major league game, Mr. Lewis (first name unknown) yields 13 hits, walks seven batters, and allows 20 earned runs during the three innings of his major league debut at Brooklyn’s Eastern Park. The rookie’s performance contributes to the last place Buffalo Bisons’ 28-16 loss to the Wonders in the Players’ League contest.

Louisville’s Tom McCreery hits three home runs, providing the difference in the Colonels’ 10-7 victory over the Phillies at the Baker Bowl. Each of the outfielder’s round-trippers is of the inside-the-park variety, and all are given up by Philadelphia right-hander Jack Taylor.

Frank “Noodles” Hahn of Cincinnati twirls a 4 – 0 no-hitter over Philadelphia. The Reds lefty gives up five walks to the visiting Quakers who are playing without Nap Lajoie. Hahn strikes out 7, including the first two batters in the 9th. The last batter, Roy Thomas, is thrown out on his two-strike bunt. Philadelphia’s Bill Bernhard allows seven hits, including a homer by Sam Crawford in the 7th.

Cy Young

Cy Young Records 300th Victory

At Boston’s Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds, Cy Young of the Americans seven-hits the A’s, 5 – 3, to win his 300th game. The 34-year-old will win an additional 211 games to establish an amazing major league record of 511 career victories.

At Boston’s Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds, Cy Young of the Americans seven-hits the A’s, 5-3, to win his 300th victory. The 34 year-old will win an additional 211 games to establish an amazing major league record of 511 career victories.

Overcoming poor Buc baserunning, Pirates star Jack Chesbro pitches a five-hit shutout and strikes out 11 Giants to beat Christy Mathewson, 4 – 0. The Buccos lose five straight runners via baserunning errors. With two outs in the 3rd, Ginger Beaumont is on second base, with first base empty, and he is put out trying to advance to third on a grounder. In the 4th, Hans Wagner leads off with a triple, but is out at the plate on Kitty Bransfield’s grounder to first. Bransfield is then thrown out trying to steal second. Claude Ritchey draws a walk, but is picked offfirst. Jimmy Burke leads off the 5th with a double, but tries to stretch it into a triple, and is tagged out by Matty, covering the bag.

The Detroit Tigers beat New York, 6 – 3, with the help of two errors by Highlander 1B Jack Doyle. The vet Doyle was signed yesterday and this will be his only appearance for New York.

Chicago’s Three-Finger Brown scores the first of nine straight wins over Christy Mathewson, 8 – 1, as he allows just two New York hits. New York’s lone run scores on an error by Billy Maloney. Matty gives up 12 hits while his teammates commit five errors. Of 28 match-ups over their careers, Brown will win 14.

At Robison Field, Sherry Magee establishes a franchise record by swiping four bases in the Phillies’ 7-6 loss to St. Louis. The Philadelphia outfielder’s mark, a feat he will repeat next month, will be equaled by Garry Maddox (1978) and Jayson Werth (2009).

After an absence of 24 days, Roger Bresnahan returns to the lineup and collects two hits in a 3 – 2 win for the Giants against Andy Coakley, the same hurler who hit him with a pitch on June 18th. Bresnahan does not wear the headgear he developed. When a fan keeps a foul ball during the game rather than tossing it back, Giants team secretary Frank Knowles warns that “in the future he will not be so lenient about anyone stealing a ball.”

The legendary verse detailing the Cubs’ double-play combination of Tinker to Evers to Chance, entitled That Double Play Again, is published for the first time. When the ‘New York Evening Mail’ republishes the same poem six days later, the newspaper will use the title by which the poem is best known today, Baseball’s Sad Lexicon

In the 1st inning of a 9 – 0 win over the Athletics at Detroit, Ty Cobb walks, then on consecutive pitches steals second base, third base, and home off lefty Harry Krause. Twice he beats perfect throws by C Ira Thomas. After Cobb reaches on a fielder’s choice in the 3rd, Sam Crawford homers. In the 7th, Cobb walks, is bunted to second, and scores on a sacrifice fly, knocking the ball out of the hands of the new catcher, Paddy Livingston.

At Pittsburgh, the Giants win, 4 – 3, behind Rube Marquard’s pitching. Rube strikes out the side in the 2nd and 3rd innings, setting down Dots Miller, Newt Hunter and Owen Wilson, then blowing by pitcher Elmer Steele, Bobby Byrne and Tommy Leach in the 3rd frame.

Highlander third baseman Roy Hartzell, acquired from the Browns in January for Jimmy Austin and Frank LaPorte, has a career day as the cleanup hitter. He hits a three-run double and another double in one inning, then piles on a sacrifice fly and grand slam, to drive in eight runs. It is an American League record until Jimmie Foxx’s nine RBI in a game in 1933. New York defeats the Browns, 12 – 2.

In the Highlanders’ 4 – 1 win over the Browns, New York pitcher Jack Warhop swipes home in the 3rd. It is Warhops’s second steal of home in three years.

In Boston, the Red Sox edge the Tigers, 1 – 0, in 11 innings. Smoky Joe Wood goes all the way in the win allowing five hits and striking out 10.

Philadelphia’s Boardwalk Brown walks 15 Tigers in 7 2/3 innings, but staggers to a 16 – 9 win. Brown has only one walkless inning – the 1st. Ty Cobb, out for a week with an injured knee, plays 2B for the only time in his career, and makes three errors in his five fielding chances.

With the temperature at Fenway Park near 100 degrees, Boston sweeps the White Sox behind complete game wins by Ernie Shore, 2 – 1, and Dutch Leonard, 3 – 1.

7/12/1917: In the second game of a doubleheader, Reds left fielder Greasy Neale hit an inside-the-park homer with Hal Chase on base. However, base umpire Pete Harrison had called time before the pitch because of a ball loose on the field. Thus, the four-bagger was nullified.

Babe Ruth hits his 137th career home run, passing 19th century star Roger Connor’s record of 136.

Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees hits his 137th career home run, moving past fellow Hall of Famer Roger Connor

Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees hits his 137th career home run, moving past fellow Hall of Famer Roger Connor

Baseball’s biggest battery is recorded, appropriately, with the New York Giants, as Garland “Gob” Buckeye, a 260-pound pro football lineman in the off-season, makes his National League pitching debut with 250-pound Shanty Hogan behind the plate. The Giants lose to the Cardinals.

The largest crowd in the history of Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis, 45,715 (in a ballpark with 35,000 seats), creates a travesty and permanently distorts the record for doubles hit in a game. Easy fly balls drop for ground rule doubles among the fans encroaching on the field. There are 32 doubles hit in two games, including 23 in the second game, setting records both for the most doubles in one game and in a doubleheader.

Schoolboy Rowe fans 11 Yankees in a 4 – 2 win that puts the Tigers back in first place.

Chuck Klein is out of the Cubs lineup because of injuries as they beat the Braves, 7 – 4. He is batting .331 with 19 homers and 65 RBI, but will miss much of the second half and never again will return to the high level of performance previously shown.

At Cincinnati, Phillies starter Joe Bowman gives up his first hit of the game, a leadoff triple in the 9th inning to Kiki Cuyler, and then is relieved by Claude Passeau, who retires the next three batters. The Phils win, 4 – 0.

The Phillies score six runs in the 7th inning to beat Hal Schumacher and the Giants, 6 – 3. With the bases loaded in the 1st, Giants OF Mel Ott starts an unusual 9-2-5 triple play. But the highlight of the game comes when umpire Bill Klem ejects Giants manager Bill Terry for the first time in Terry’s 15-year career.

The Pirates take the National League lead for the first time, beating the Cubs for their 12th straight win.

Robert Joyce kills 1 and wound's another defending the Brooklyn Dodgers

Robert Joyce kills 1 and wound’s another defending the Brooklyn Dodgers

An Armed Forces All-Star team managed by Babe Ruth and featuring Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams play a fund-raising game against the Braves in Boston. Ruth pinch-hits in the 8th and flies out to right. The All-Stars win on a Splendid Splinter home run, 9 – 8.

An Armed Forces All-Star team managed by Babe Ruth and featuring Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams plays a fund-raising game against the Braves in Boston. The All-Stars win on a Splendid Splinter’s’ home run, 9-8.

The Chicago Cubs stop Tommy Holmes’s modern-day National League-record hitting streak at 37 games, beating the Boston Braves, 6 – 1, behind Hank Wyse, for their 11th victory in a row. The Braves take game two, 3 – 1, as Claude Passeau loses his first after nine straight wins. Holmes hit .433 during the streak and will finish at .352, second in the National League. His nine strikeouts coupled with 28 homers and 47 doubles is unparalleled for making contact and hitting for average and power.

Tommy Holmes goes 0-for-4 in the Braves’ 6-1 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field to end his consecutive-game hitting streak at 37, which sets a modern National League record. The mark will stand for 33 years until Pete Rose surpasses it in 1978 en route to establishing a new standard of 44, but the Reds’ infielder’s effort remains a game shy of the all-time record set by Willie Keeler’s 45-game streak over the 1896 and 1897 seasons with the NL’s Baltimore Orioles.

holmes_tommy

Tommy Holmes of the Boston Braves goes hitless, ending his National League record hitting streak at 37 games

Johnny Sain just misses a perfect no-hitter when Grady Hatton’s pop fly drops among three Braves behind third base. No one else gets on as the Braves win, 1 – 0, in Cincinnati.

pie traynor

Pittsburgh Pirates’ third baseman Pie Traynor is in Cooperstown to be inducted into the Hall of Fame

The major league owners agree to install warning tracks made of cinder in front of outfield fences prior to the start of next season.

Jackie Robinson congratulates Stan Musial after his homerun in the 1949 All Star Game at Ebbets Field.

The National League commits five errors, allowing the American League to record an 11 – 7 triumph in the All-Star Game at Ebbets Field. The contest marks the first appearance of black players in an All-Star Game: Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe in the NL lineup, and Larry Doby among the AL stars.

The major league owners agree to install warning tracks made of cinder in front of outfield fences before the start of next season. The origin of the concept began at Yankee Stadium, where an actual running track, used in the ballpark’s track and field events, helped fielders know their proximity to the outfield fence when attempting to make a play.

Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians and Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers become the first African Americans to play in an All-Star Game

Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians and Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers become the first African Americans to play in an All-Star Game

Allie Reynolds of the New York Yankees no-hits the Cleveland Indians

Allie Reynolds of the New York Yankees no-hits the Cleveland Indians

At Cleveland, Allie Reynolds of the New York Yankees blanks Cleveland, 1 – 0, for the first of his two no-hitters this season. Gene Woodling’s 7th-inning homer off loser Bob Feller is the difference in the 1 – 0 game. The Chief’s no-hitter is the first by a Yankee since Monte Pearson in 1928. New York takes the nitecap behind Vic Raschi as Joe DiMaggio cinches it with a three-run homer off Chuck Stobbs.

The Red Sox and White Sox draw a record crowd of 52,592 for a twi-night doubleheader at Comiskey Park. Boston wins the opener, 3 – 2. In the second game, Saul Rogovin of the White Sox goes the route in a 17-inning contest, only to lose, 5 – 4, on Clyde Vollmer’s sac fly. Ellis Kinder of Boston pitches 10 scoreless innings in relief for the win.

At Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Yankee right-hander Allie Reynolds, facing only 29 batters, no-hits the Indians, 1-0, thanks to Gene Woodling’s solo home run off Bob Feller in the seventh inning. The ‘Chief’ retires the last seventeen batters to face him, striking out Bobby Avila to end the game.

The Yomiuri and Mainichi newspaper chains inaugurate the Nichi-Bei Series, a program of regular visits by American major-league clubs to Japan. The program will be sponsored by the Yomiuri chain alone from 1966.

Braves slugger Eddie Mathews hits the first grand slam in the history of the Milwaukee franchise, as the Braves sweep two from the Cardinals, 10 – 1 and 4 – 3, in St. Louis.

At Milwaukee's County Stadium, Stan Musial comes to bat in the bottom of 12th inning of a 5 - 5 All-Star deadlock. American League catcher Yogi Berra complains about his feet hurting and Musial tells him "Don't worry, I'll have you home in a minute"... then "the Man" hits a game-winning home run on the next pitch. The American League had taken a five-run lead on a three-run homer by Mickey Mantle off Robin Roberts, only to see the NL tie it. Braves P Gene Conley strikes out the side in the 12th to get credit for the win.

At Milwaukee’s County Stadium, Stan Musial comes to bat in the bottom of 12th inning of a 5 – 5 All-Star deadlock. American League catcher Yogi Berra complains about his feet hurting and Musial tells him “Don’t worry, I’ll have you home in a minute”… then “the Man” hits a game-winning home run on the next pitch. The American League had taken a five-run lead on a three-run homer by Mickey Mantle off Robin Roberts, only to see the NL tie it. Braves P Gene Conley strikes out the side in the 12th to get credit for the win.

At Milwaukee’s County Stadium, Cardinal outfielder Stan Musial comes to bat leading off the bottom of the 12th inning of a 5-5 All-Star deadlock. After Yankee catcher Yogi Berra complains about his feet hurting, ‘The Man’ tells him, “Don’t worry, I’ll have you home in a minute”, then promptly hits a game-winning home run off Frank Sullivan on the next pitch.

Orlando Cepeda’s three-run home run off Warren Spahn gives the Giants a 5 – 3 win and pulls San Francisco to within a half game of the Braves.

Roberto Clemente’s walk-off wall-banger makes it 19 straight for Elroy Face. At Forbes Field, the Pirates reliever blows a four-out save against St. Louis, thanks to Bill White’s RBI single, but gets out of trouble and settles down long enough to reap the benefits of the Bucs’ bats. “The Pirates won their 12th of 13 extra-inning games,” reports the Associated Press, “when Roberto Clemente smashed a hit off the right-field wall with the bases filled in the 10th.” Face’s record goes to 14-0 with the win; his streak will extend to 22 before he takes his first and only loss of the year, en route to an unprecedented 18-1 season.

NBC uses outfield television cameras with 80-inch lenses to show the catchers’ signals during a Yankee-Red Sox game. Commissioner Ford Frick requests that they halt its use. It doesn’t help New York, which dropped its last four games to the Red Sox. Boston wins today, 7 – 3.

Larry Sherry loses his second start for the Dodgers, as the Redlegs nip him, 4 – 3. Sherry will not lose again, winning his next seven starts.

Exactly one month after accomplishing the feat for the first time, the Aaron brothers both homer again in the same game, giving Milwaukee an exciting 8-6 victory over St. Louis at County Stadium. Behind 6-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, Tommie’s solo shot cuts the deficit to two runs, and his older sibling Hank seals the deal four batters later with a walk-off grand slam.

Aaron brothers homer in second game in a month

Aaron brothers homer in second game in a month

St. Louis hosts a hot midsummer All-Star classic. Maury Wills' 10th-inning single scores Tim McCarver, as the National League wins, 2 - 1, in 105-degree heat. Brooks Robinson's stellar game (3 hits, eight chances) earns him the game MVP award. Asked about the new ballpark, Casey Stengel remarks, "it holds the heat well." On-field temperature is 113 degrees.

St. Louis hosts a hot midsummer All-Star classic. Maury Wills’ 10th-inning single scores Tim McCarver, as the National League wins, 2 – 1, in 105-degree heat. Brooks Robinson’s stellar game (3 hits, eight chances) earns him the game MVP award. Asked about the new ballpark, Casey Stengel remarks, “it holds the heat well.” On-field temperature is 113 degrees.

The National League All-Stars edge the AL, 2-1, in a game played at the newly-built Busch Stadium when hometown favorite Tim McCarver scores the winning run on Dodger shortstop Maury Wills’s tenth-inning walk-off single, with Giants hurler Gaylord Perry getting the victory by tossing a scoreless ninth and tenth inning. The 105-degree weather, 113 degrees on the playing surface, results in nearly 150 people needing treatment for heat exhaustion.

Eddie Stanky is fired as manager of the White Sox and replaced by Al Lopez.

The Giants trade P Lindy McDaniel to the Yankees for P Bill Monbouquette.

The Cardinals beat the Astros, 8 – 1, but Houston scores a run on Bob Gibson. Denis Menke’s bloop double, fair by inches, drives home the lone run. Houston reliever Tom Dukes ties the major-league record with his 9th straight relief appearance for the Astros.

In the 2nd inning of an eventual 7 – 3 win over the Orioles, the Tigers lay down a record-tying three sacrifice bunts.

In the second inning of an eventual 7-3 win over the Orioles, the Tigers lay down a record-tying three sacrifice bunts and score a run on a sac fly. Detroit muffs Cesar Gutierrez’ and Mickey Lolich’s attempts to give themselves up, resulting in both players advancing a runner and reaching first base without making an out.

The A’s Dave Duncan is 5 for 5, but the Red Sox win, 7 – 6.

Dave Parker make sure his debut

Dave Parker make sure his debut

In a 10 – 4 loss to Texas, Luis Tiant hits and flies out. He is the first Boston pitcher to hit since the designated hitter was put into effect in 1973.

A tentative agreement between the players and owners on labor contracts is reached. The formal agreement will be announced August 9th.

Willie Randolph hits the game-winning homer and Don Gullett pitches the Yankees to a 5 – 2 win over the Brewers. The win stops the Yanks loss streak at three games.

Steve Henderson hits a game-winning home run off Bruce Sutter to give the Mets a 4 – 2 victory over the Cubs. After the game the Cubs relief ace admits his arm is bothering him, and asks to be excused from the All-Star Game. Bleeding will be found in Sutter’s arm and he will get the week off after the All-Star break to rest it.

Former major league reliever Horacio Pina hurls a perfect game for Aguascalientes of the Mexican League

Former major league reliever Horacio Pina hurls a perfect game for Aguascalientes of the Mexican League

After a delay of an hour and 16 minutes, the White Sox are forced to forfeit the second game of twi-night doubleheader against the Tigers when over 5,000 fans refuse to leave the field during a Disco Demolition Night promotion gone awry. Mike Veeck’s promotion involves admitting fans for 98 cents with a disco record, collecting the vinyl and then literally blowing up the LPs and 45s in center field.

After a delay of an hour and 16 minutes, the White Sox are forced to forfeit the second game of a twi-night doubleheader against the Tigers when over 5000 adolescent fans refuse to leave the field during Disco Demolition Night. Mike Veeck’s promotion involves admitting fans for 98 cents with a disco record, collecting the vinyl and then literally blowing up the LPs and .45s in center field.

Disco Demolition Night” at Comiskey Park

Disco Demolition Night” at Comiskey Park

The Yankees trade P Bob Tewksbury and two minor league pitchers to the Cubs for Steve Trout, who has just pitched back-to-back shutouts.

After being maligned by the press as an unworthy All-Star starter, A’s catcher Terry Steinbach hits a solo home run and a sacrifice fly to lead the American League to a 2 – 1 victory at Riverfront Stadium and is named the 1988 All-Star Game’s MVP. The A’s catcher becomes the first major leaguer to have homered in his first major league at-bat (on September 12, 1986) and also in the mid-summer classic.

Terry Steinbach homers in his first at-bat as an All-Star. The A’s catcher becomes the first major leaguer to have homered in his first major league at-bat (9/12/86) and also in the Midsummer Classic.

Ron Guidry retires from baseball. During his 14-year career with the New York Yankees, “Louisiana Lightning” compiled a 170-91 record with a 3.29 ERA.

Yankee left-hander Ron Guidry retires from baseball, compiling a 170-91 record with a 3.29 ERA during his 14-year career with New York. In 1978, Gator won the American League’s Cy Young Award unanimously after enjoying one of the most incredible seasons in baseball history, posting a 25-3 record with an ERA of 1.74.

Melido Perez of the Chicago White Sox pitches a rain-shortened, six-inning no-hitter against the New York Yankees

Melido Perez of the Chicago White Sox pitches a rain-shortened, six-inning no-hitter against the New York Yankees

In a 6-inning rain-shortened contest, White Sox starter Melido Perez no-hits the host Yankees, 8 – 0. His brother Pascual, who is watching from the New York bench, also hurled an abbreviated no-no in 1988 holding the Phillies hitless for five innings at Veterans Stadium. This is the 7th no-hitter this season, the most since 1917. Lance Johnson makes a diving over-the-shoulder catch in the 5th to save a hit and also bangs a three-run home run.

Atlanta SS Jeff Blauser hits three home runs in a 7 – 4 win over the Cubs. Blauser had hit only 39 round-trippers in the previous six seasons. He becomes only the 4th SS ever to hit three homers in a game, joining Ernie Banks, Barry Larkin and Freddie Patek.

Mariners’ outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. becomes the first and only major leaguer to hit Baltimore’s B&O Warehouse on the fly. The estimated 460-foot shot is launched during the All-Star Game home-run hitting contest at Camden Yards in 1993.

Moises Alou’s double in the 10th inning gives the National League an 8 – 7 victory over the American League in the All-Star Game. The NL is now a perfect 9 – 0 in extra-inning contests. Houston P John Hudek becomes the first pitcher in history to appear in an All-Star Game before recording a major league victory. Fred McGriff, whose two-run homer in the 9th inning ties the score, takes MVP honors.

At the Pirates’ Three Rivers Stadium, the National League ends its record six-game Mid Summer Classic slump when Tony Gwynn scores on Moises Alou’s double in the tenth inning, giving the Senior Circuit an 8-7 victory. Fred McGriff is named MVP, earning the honor with his dramatic two-run home run off Lee Smith that tied the game in the bottom of the ninth.

In a scene reminiscent to yesteryear, the first basemen leave their mitt in the field between innings throughout Montreal’s 3-2 victory over the Cubs. The Expos’ first baseman David Segui is really sharing his glove with Chicago’s Mark Grace, whose equipment did not arrive at Olympic Stadium, due to a shipping error.

Minnesota Twins star and future Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett announces his retirement

Minnesota Twins star and future Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett announces his retirement

Montreal defeats the Cubs by a score of 3 – 2. Throughout the game, Expo 1B David Segui shares his mitt with Chicago’s Mark Grace as Grace’s glove did not arrive at the ballpark due to a shipping mix-up. The players leave the mitt in the field between innings, as players did at the turn of the century.

Minnesota star Kirby Puckett announces he is retiring, effective immediately, because of glaucoma in his right eye.

Down 9 – 2 as they bat in the last half of the 7th inning in Colorado, the Rockies score 11 times and hold on for a 13 – 12 win over the Padres. 3B Vinny Castilla’s grand slam – his second homer of the game – is the big blow of the inning.

In Pittsburgh’s first non-Opening Day sellout since 1977, a crowd of 44,119 sees Francisco Cordova and Ricardo Rincon combine on a 10-inning no-hitter as the Pirates down the Astros, 3 – 0, on a 10th-inning pinch home run by Mark Smith. Cordova hurls the first nine innings while Rincon hurls the 10th and gets the win. The victory keeps the Pirates in a tie for 1st place with the Astros in the NL Central.

Pitching for the first time in Fenway Park not wearing a Red Sox uniform, Roger Clemens strikes out 16 as the Blue Jays defeat Boston, 3 – 1. During the game, it appears the “Rocket” is continually glaring up at Dan Duquette in the general manager’s suite.

Roger Clemens, pitching in Fenway for the first time as an opponent, strikes out sixteen when the Blue Jays defeat Boston, 3-1. During the game, it appears the ‘Rocket’ is continually glaring up at Dan Duquette in the general manager’s suite.

In front of a full house at Three Rivers Stadium on Jackie Robinson Night, two Pirates pitchers throw the first extra inning combined no-hitter in big league history. Ricardo Rinon takes over in the tenth inning to preserve starter Francisco Cordova’s effort and gets the win when Mark Smith pinch-hits a three-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the inning.

Mark McGwire becomes the second player to hit 40 home runs in both leagues. The Cardinals’ first baseman, who accomplished the feat three times with the A’s, joins Darrell Evans, who hit 41 with the Braves (1973) and 40 with the Tigers (1985).

The Phillies trade hurler Andy Ashby, 33, to the Braves for pitchers Bruce Chen and Jimmy Osting. Chen, who made 22 appearances for the Braves this year, all in relief, will make 15 appearances for the Phils – all starts.

In a six-player deal, the Reds trade Denny Neagle (8-2, 3.52) and outfielder Mike Frank to the Yankees for minor league third baseman Drew Henson, outfielder Jackson Melian and pitchers Brian Reith and Ed Yarnall. None of the four top prospects acquired by the Reds will pan out.

Three Minnesota players homer twice in the Twins’ 13 – 5 defeat of Milwaukee. Jacque Jones, Torii Hunter and Corey Koskie each hit a pair of four-baggers to tie a major league record.

During the All-Star Game Town Hall discussion, Bud Selig, believing the designated hitter is a big part of the game, states the rule will remain in use for the foreseeable future. The commissioner however makes it clear the National League will not adopt the 1973 addition to the American League rule book.

At the Home Run Derby in Detroit, Bobby Abreu shatters the records for a single round, the championship round and the grand total for all three rounds of the derby by hitting 41 dingers into every part of Comerica Park. The Phillies outfielder, who is representing Venezuela in the event’s new international format, goes deep 24 times in the first round, tacks on six more in the second round and finishes with 11 more in the championship round.

At the Home Run Derby in Detroit, Bobby Abreu shatters the records for a single round, the championship round, and the total for all three rounds of the derby by hitting 41 dingers into every part of Comerica Park. The Phillies outfielder, who was representing Venezuela in the event’s new international format, goes deep 24 times in the first round, tacks on six more in the second round, and finishes with 11 more in the championship round.

The Cuban national team wins the 2009 World Port Tournament despite the defection of Aroldis Chapman on day one of the event. In the finale, Cuba beats the Dutch national team, 8 – 3, scoring 5 unanswered runs in the last 3 innings. Maikel Folch tosses four shutout relief innings for the win. Both Sidney de Jong and Eriel Sánchez hit two-run homers.

Rene Tosoni and Dayan Viciedo hit consecutive doubles to lead the World team to a 7 – 5 comeback win over the United States in the 2009 Futures Game in St. Louis. The game is shortened to 7 innings because of rain.

The Cubs and Cardinals split a day/night doubleheader at Wrigley Field. Chicago wins the opener, 7 – 3, on home runs by Micah Hoffpauir and P Carlos Zambrano, and the Cards take the nightcap, 4 – 2. Ryan Ludwick hits two two-run home runs to account for all of St. Louis’s runs; Adam Wainwright picks up his 10th win and Ryan Franklin strikes out the side in the 9th for his 21st save. As a result, the first four teams in the NL Central are within 3 1/2 games of each other heading into the All-Star break.

The Red Sox dedicate the center-field flagpole to Dom DiMaggio by raising a banner just below the stars and stripes with the former center fielder’s name on it. After the ceremony, his widow, Emily, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the Fenway Park contest against Kansas City.

Veteran slugger David Ortiz wins the All-Star Game’s Home Run Derby with a dazzling performance, lining ball after ball into the right field stands at Angel Stadium, for a total of 32 long balls – 11 of them in the final round, where he defeats fellow Dominican Hanley Ramirez. He dedicates his performance to his friend, pitcher Jose Lima, who passed away suddenly a few weeks earlier.

The National League is the winner of the 2011 All-Star Game, played in Phoenix, AZ, 5 – 1 over the American League. Prince Fielder hits a three-run homer to put the NL ahead in the 4th and wins the game’s MVP award; Adrian Gonzalez accounts for the junior circuit’s only run with a solo homer. Tyler Clippard picks up the win and C.J. Wilson the loss.

The Milwaukee Brewers bolster their bullpen by acquiring closer Francisco Rodriguez from the Mets for two players to be named later. K-Rod will become the set-up man for John Axford.

A half-hour after the Mid-summer Classic is completed, the Mets send former All-Star reliever Francisco Rodriguez and cash to the Brewers for two players to be named later. K-Rod, an outstanding closer for the Mets and Angels, will be used primarily as a set-up man for Milwaukee’s John Axford.

Making his major league debut, the Astros’ Jarred Cosart takes a no-hitter into the 7th inning, holding the Rays to a pair of walks before giving up a one-out single to Ben Zobrist. Cosart gives up another hit in the 8th and a lead-off walk in the 9th before being replaced by Jose Veras, who allows a run to score. However, the Astros’ two 1st-inning runs on Carlos Corporan’s single stand up, as they win, 2 – 1, in spite of David Price pitching a complete game for the Rays.

The Red Sox acquire veteran reliever Matt Thornton from the White Sox in return for minor league OF Brandon Jacobs.

The United States team wins the 2015 Futures Game, 10 – 1, over the World team. C Kyle Schwarber is named the winner of the Larry Doby Award as the game’s MVP after hitting a two-run triple in the 3rd. Josh Bell adds a two-run homer in the 4th and the U.S. puts the game completely away with a five-run 6th. The game is played at Great American Ball Park as part of the All-Star Game festivities.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis hits three home runs to lead the Mets to a 5 – 3 win over the Diamondbacks; Nieuwenhuis is the 10th player to have a three-homer game for the Mets, but the first ever to do so at home.

The Angels enter the All-Star break with a half-game lead over the Astros on top of the AL West standings after a 10 – 3 win over the Mariners behind rookie Andrew Heaney, who pitches 7 scoreless innings. The Angels score 6 runs in the 6th, and also take advantage of three Seattle errors. They have won 11 of 14 while Houston has lost 6 straight.

Georg Bull is inducted into the German Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame, their first baseball inductee in nine years. A catcher of the 1980s and 1990s, he was the first German to play baseball in South Africa and the Dominican Republic and had managed seven German youth or junior national champions. He had won five Bundesliga-1 titles as a player.

The American League defeats the National League, 4 – 2, in the 2016 All-Star Game played at Petco Park in San Diego, CA. Royals teammates Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perezboth homer in a three-run 2nd inning and Hosmer later adds another RBI to be named the game’s MVP.

The Red Sox win their 10th game in a row as they defeat the Blue Jays, 6 – 4, thanks to 5 RBIs by Mookie Betts. He hits a grand slam off J.A. Happ to cap a five-run 4th inning, at the end of an epic 13-pitch at-bat, then adds an RBI single in the 7th as the crowd chants “MVP! MVP!” The Sox have now won 66 games, the most before the All-Star break in team history.

holmes_tommy

Tommy Holmes of the Boston Braves goes hitless, ending his National League record hitting streak at 37 games.

2013 – Rookie Jarred Cosart blanks the Rays over eight innings for his first big league win, a 2-1 victory. Carlos Corporan drives home a pair in the first against David Price which stands up the rest of the way. Jose Veras loses the shutout in the ninth but notches his 18th save. 

1997 – Pittsburgh’s Francisco Cordova and Ricardo Rincon team to no-hit the Astros, 3-0, in ten innings. Cordova is flawless through the first nine, but Chris Holt and Billy Wagner shut down the Pirates. After a perfect 10th from Rincon, John Hudek walks two then surrenders a three-run blast to Mark Smith. 

1972 – Jim Wynn bangs two home runs and drives in four to pace a 10-6 triumph over the Cubs. Norm Miller and Lee May also homer. Chicago’s Billy Williams is retired in his first time up, snapping his consecutive hitting streak, but stays hot with a double and a home run. 

1970 – San Francisco’s Gaylord Perry is met by two umpires and forced to towel down before the second inning of a game at the Dome. Minus the medicine, Perry gives up five runs as the Astros build an early lead. The Giants roar back to claim a 7-5 advantage before Houston tallies three in the ninth for an 8-7 triumph. Doug Rader singles home Jim Wynn with the game-winner. 

1964 – Nellie Fox singles home Eddie Kasko with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to end a wild 5-4 victory over the Giants at Colt Stadium. Tempers are hot as the Texas heat with players and managers from both teams getting run by umpire Lee Weyer. San Francisco’s Billy O’Dell is thumbed as he makes warm-up tosses after arriving from the bullpen. An angry Gaylord Perry grabs Fox’s bat when it’s all over and smashes it to pieces before handing it to the batboy.

Birthdays

Coming Soon

Death 

Coming Soon