This Day In Baseball June 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 June 15 in baseball history.

Notable Events and Chronology for June 15

On June 14th, 1876 George Hall of the Philadelphia Athletics became the first player ever to hit for the cycle.

6/15/1889: Al Maul of the Alleghenys (Pirates) hit a ball over the LF fence for a home run in Indianapolis. Maul stopped at 3B and did not score because he wanted there to be a base runner. This would make the catcher play closer up to the plate. At the time, catchers would stand farther back behind the batter to make it easier to catch pitches.

Nig_Clarke

Nig Clarke reportedly hits eight home runs for Corsicana against Texarkana

1923 – Lou Gehrig makes his Major League debut with the New York Yankees as a pinch hitter.

Al Simmons caps an amazing 13 run comeback with 2 out 3 run homer

Al Simmons caps an amazing 13 run comeback with 2 out 3 run homer

1928 – Ty Cobb of the Philadelphia Athletics steals home for the 54th and final time in his 24-year career to extend his major league record. It comes in the 8th inning against the Cleveland Indians. The Athletics beat Cleveland, 12 – 5, as Lefty Grove is the winning pitcher.

1931 – Cut-down day for major league rosters includes the retirement of Eddie Collins and Harry Heilmann. Collins becomes a coach for the Philadelphia Athletics and Heilmann will return briefly to the Cincinnati Reds next season.

Johnny Vander Meer pitches second consecutive no hitter

Johnny Vander Meer pitches second consecutive no hitter

Future Hall of Fame outfielder Billy Williams is born

1948 - The Detroit Tigers beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 4 - 1, before a crowd of 54,480 in the first night game at Briggs Stadium. The Tigers are the last American League team to install lights.

1948 – The Detroit Tigers beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 4 – 1, before a crowd of 54,480 in the first night game at Briggs Stadium. The Tigers are the last American League team to install lights.

Eddie Waitkus is shot by 19-year-old Ruth Steinhagen

Eddie Waitkus is shot by 19-year-old Ruth Steinhagen

The Cubs trade Andy Pfako along with Johnny Schmitz, Wayne Terwilliger, and Rube Walker to the Dodgers for Bruce Edwards, Joe Hatten, Eddie Miksis, and Gene Hermanski. The deal, which prevents the coveted ‘Handy Andy’ from going to the rival Giants, is the first of many to be made by Buzzy Bavasi, Brooklyn’s new general manager.

Enos Slaughter Mad Dash

Cardinals set record for coming back after being down 11-0

In a move that is perceived to be a prelude to a second deal with the Yankees, the A’s trade Woodie Held and Vic Power to the Indians for southpaw Dick Tomanek, utility player Preston Ward, and right fielder Roger Maris. Owner Arnold Johnson, already under pressure for allowing Kansas City to become a farm club for the Bronx Bombers, is warned by American League president Will Harridge not to send the outfield slugger to New York for at least 18 months.

Wade Boggs is born in Omaha

Wade Boggs is born in Omaha

1961 – The expansion Washington Senators are 30-30 after winning today. It is the latest date an expansion team will be at .500. Washington will lose its next 10 games.

Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente trade grand slams in a wild battle between the Braves and Pirates

Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente trade grand slams in a wild battle between the Braves and Pirates

Juan Marichal 1963

San Francisco’s Juan Marichal spins a 1-0 no-hitter against the Colts at Candlestick Park

Lou Brock is acquired by St Louis Cardinals

Lou Brock is acquired by St Louis Cardinals

Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain strikes out the first seven batters he faces, setting a major league record.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain strikes out the first seven batters he faces, setting a major league record.

Jim Wynn Houston Astros Signed Autographed 3x5 Photo Card W/coa

Jimmy Wynn becomes the first Astro to hit three homers in one game, becoming the first of only two Houston players to have accomplished the feat in the 34-year history of the Astrodome. In 1994, ‘Toy Cannon’s’ performance will be matched by future Hall of Fame first baseman Jeff Bagwell.

The Phillies fire manager Gene Mauch and replace him with Bob Skinner, skipper of the team's farm club in San Diego. 'The Little General', who is best remembered for being at the helm during the club's infamous collapse in 1964, compiled a 646-684 (.486) record during his 8+year tenure with Philadelphia.

The Phillies fire manager Gene Mauch and replace him with Bob Skinner, skipper of the team’s farm club in San Diego. ‘The Little General’, who is best remembered for being at the helm during the club’s infamous collapse in 1964, compiled a 646-684 (.486) record during his 8+year tenure with Philadelphia.

Donn Clendenon New York Mets

New York Mets acquire first baseman Donn Clendenon

En route to setting the National League record of playing in 1,117 consecutive games, Billy Williams, after fouling a pitch off his foot in yesterday’s contest, hobbles to the plate as a pinch hitter in the Cubs’ 7-6 loss to Cincinnati at Crosley Field. The contest marks the first time “Sweet Swingin’ Billy” has not been in the starting lineup during the 878 games of the streak.

"If they ever want to rate the 10 greatest catches of all time," One of the top 10 catches of all time - Roberto Clemente's fantastic catch of Bob Watson's line drive in Houston's Astrodome 

“If they ever want to rate the 10 greatest catches of all time,” One of the top 10 catches of all time – Roberto Clemente’s fantastic catch of Bob Watson’s line drive in Houston’s Astrodome 

tommie aaron

Tommie Aaron becomes the first black manager of a team located in the deep South

1975 – Cliff Johnson swats a grand slam off Mike Garman in the top of the ninth for an 8-7 stunner over St. Louis. The Redbirds had just tallied three to snap a 4-4 tie. 

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Oakland sells 3 Players – Bowie Kuhn voids the trades

First Rainout in Astrodome History

First Rainout in Astrodome History

New York Mets trade franchise pitcher Tom Seaver just moments before the trading deadline

New York Mets trade franchise pitcher Tom Seaver just moments before the trading deadline

Kingman traded to the Padres

Kingman traded to the Padres

1980 – Jorge Orta of the Cleveland Indians hits a double and five singles and scores four runs in a 14 – 5 triumph over the Minnesota Twins. Toby Harrah records seven RBI for Cleveland.

Keith Hernandez traded

Cardinals trade Keith Hernandez to Mets

Tony Bernazard traded for Julio Cruz

Tony Bernazard traded for Julio Cruz

1987 - Mike Scott and Dave Smith combine for 17 strikeouts in a 4-0 shutout of the Reds. Scott fans the first 14 over eight innings then Smith punches out the final three. Bill Doran homers while Kevin Bass adds a two-run triple. 

1987 – Mike Scott and Dave Smith combine for 17 strikeouts in a 4-0 shutout of the Reds. Scott fans the first 14 over eight innings then Smith punches out the final three. Bill Doran homers while Kevin Bass adds a two-run triple. 

1992 – Jeff Reardon breaks Rollie Fingers’ career save mark of 341 when he preserves a 1 – 0 victory for the Boston Red Sox with one scoreless inning against the New York Yankees.

The NY-Penn Minor League Erie Sailors beat the Jamestown Expos in 13 innings at College Stadium, 6-5, marking the first ever game played by a team representing the National League’s new expansion team, the Florida Marlins. The first pitch of the franchise is thrown by John Lynch, who will leave baseball to eventually become a safety for the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos.

Dodgers turn their first triple play in forty-seven years

1997 – In one of the more surprising developments of the first weekend of interleague play, the Baltimore Orioles complete a sweep of the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field, on Lenny Webster’s 10th-inning home run off Mark Wohlers. One byproduct of interleague play that isn’t a surprise is the increase at the turnstiles. Attendance is up nearly 10,000 per game for the weekend, and the Seattle Mariners average 52,074 for their four interleague games in the Kingdome.

Baltimore first baseman Will Clark gets his 2,000th career hit, a 10th-inning single in the team’s 6-5 walk-off victory over the Royals at Camden Yards. The 35 year-old ‘Thrill’ will end his 15-year big league career next season with a .303 batting average, collecting 2,176 hits with the Giants, Rangers, Orioles, and Cardinals.

Garry Maddox and Gavvy Cravath are inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame.

Garry Maddox and Gavvy Cravath are inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame.

2002 – Rafael Palmeiro of the Texas Rangers reaches his 1,000th career extra-base hit by hitting a double in the 5th inning of a 4 – 0 loss to the Houston Astros. Palmeiro becomes the 25th major leaguer to reach the mark.

Reed Johnson becomes fourth player to hit a leadoff and walkoff Homerun in same game

Reed Johnson becomes fourth player to hit a leadoff and walkoff Homerun in same game

6/15/2006: David Ortiz of the Red Sox hit a towering fly ball in the top of the sixth inning at the Metrodome. The ball soared toward the upper deck but struck a speaker hanging from the ceiling and fell onto the field. Ortiz only reached first base and was out on a double play. After the game, Boston manager Terry Francona said: “It’s like playing putt-putt golf where you’ve got to go around the windmill. That’s embarrassing. The outcome of the game should never, never hinge on a speaker.” The Twins completed a three-game sweep of the Red Sox, 5-3.

2007 – Julio Franco comes to bat against Roger Clemens. Their combined age is 93 years, 246 days, the oldest pitcher-batter matchup in the major leagues since Rube Walberg and Nick Altrock on October 1, 1933. Franco and Clemens had first faced off on May 15, 1984, 19 months before the Mets’ starting left fielder in this game, Carlos Gomez, was even born.

Carlos Delgado drives in his 1,405th run in the majors, breaking Juan Gonzalez’s record for most RBI by a Puerto Rican player.

Chien-Ming Wang, who is 8-2 after back-to-back 19-win seasons, breaks his right foot running the bases in an interleague game with the Astros, spoiling a 13 – 0 Yankee rout. Wang will miss the remainder of the season and the injury will completely derail his career.

Scott Baker strikes out four batters in an inning, the first Minnesota Twins hurler to accomplish the feat. In the 3rd inning of a 4 – 2 loss to Milwaukee, Baker fans Ryan Braun. On a strikeout of Prince Fielder, the ball bounces away from backstop Mike Redmond, letting Fielder reach first. Baker strikes out Russell Branyan and then gets Mike Cameron looking to end the frame.

Just called up from AAA Portland, Aaron Cunningham hits a grand slam off Brett Cecil in the Padres’ 8 – 2 win over Toronto. Cunningham was called up to replace the injured Matt Stairs, and the slam is his first hit in a San Diego uniform. Mat Latos is the winner, but all is not rosy for the Friars: catcher Yorvit Torrealba is handed a three-game suspension and is fined an undisclosed amount for bumping umpire Larry Vanover in the previous day’s game.

Unwanted by the Brewers, pitcher Jeff Suppan shows flashes of his old form in his return to the St. Louis Cardinals. One of the heroes of the team’s conquest of the 2006 World Series title, Suppan gives up a run in four innings and hits a double and scores a run; reliever Blake Hawksworth gets credit for the 4 – 2 win over the Mariners.

Mark Teixeira homers from both sides of the plate in a 12 – 4 Yankee win over Texas. It is his 11th time doing so, tying Eddie Murray and Chili Davis for the all-time record.

One day after seeing their 9-game winning streak stopped by James Shields’s shutout, the Red Sox are back at it, getting even with the Rays as Josh Beckett tosses a one-hitter in a 3 – 0 win. Kevin Youkilis hits a three-run homer off Jeremy Hellickson in the 7th for the game’s only runs. Reid Brignac has Tampa Bay’s only hit, a 3rd-inning single.

Rickie Weeks homers and doubles twice as the Brewers defeat the Cubs, 7 – 5, to complete their climb to the top of the NL Central, claiming sole possession of first place after a slow start to the season. Ryan Braun doubles twice, singles and scores three runs and Corey Hart also has three hits as the Brew Crew’s bats are not dampened by rainy conditions at Wrigley Field.

An 8-run explosion by the Rockies in the 10th inning takes them to a 12 – 4 win over the Tigers. For the Rockies, it’s the most runs they have ever scored in an extra inning; the win stops an 8-game losing streak and is their first in 10 interleague games this year. A fielding error by P Jose Valverde on Eric Young’s sacrifice bunt sets up the big inning, and Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer hit back-to-back homers off Luis Marte before the Rox are done.

The Rays crush their cross-state rivals the Marlins, 11 – 0, as Matt Moore gives up only one hit in 7 innings. Burke Badenhop and Brandon Gomes complete his effort with a hitless inning each for a combined one-hit shutout. Desmond Jennings drives in four runs for the Rays.

2013 – The Rockies hit for the cycle in the span of four batters against Phillies starter Jonathan Pettibone in the 1st inning, on their way to a 10 – 5 win. After Jordan Pacheco draws a one-out walk off Pettibone, Carlos Gonzalez doubles, Michael Cuddyer singles, Wilin Rosario triples and Tyler Colvin caps things off with a homer. The Rockies add another run before the end of the inning, on their way to getting 18 hits on the night; Tyler Chatwood is the beneficiary of the outburst, improving to 4-1.

The Mets snap the Blue Jays’ 11-game winning streak with a two-run rally in the bottom of the 11th that gives them a 4 – 3 win. Jose Bautista homers twice for Toronto, including a game-tying shot in the top of the 9th, and the Jays take the lead on Dioner Navarro’s sacrifice fly in the 11th, but RBI singles by Lucas Duda and Wilmer Flores in the bottom of the inning give the game to the Mets.

The Padres fire manager Bud Black after nine seasons at the helm. The Padres never reached the postseason during his tenure, and are two games under .500 after making wholesale changes meant to take them over the hump during the off-season.

Ichiro Suzuki collects a pair of hits in the Marlins’ 6 – 3 loss to the Padres. His 9th-inning double off Fernando Rodney is his 4,257th hit as a major leaguer, counting his time in Japan and the United States. This moves him ahead of Pete Rose for the all-time mark and brings him within 21 hits of the magic 3000 hit club in the U.S.

On the day SS Jose Reyes is eligible for reinstatement from his suspension following an off-season domestic violence incident, the Rockies decide to have him designated for assignment, eating approximately $40 million remaining on his contract. Rookie Trevor Story has emerged as a star during Reyes’ prolonged absence, prompting the Rockies to cut ties with the former All-Star.

“I’m not trying to take anything away from Ichiro, he’s had a Hall of Fame career, but the next thing you know, they’ll be counting his high-school hits.” – PETE ROSE, as quoted in USA Today. Ichiro Suzuki’s ninth-inning double in the Marlins’ 6-3 loss to the Padres at Petco Park raises his professional hit total to 4,257, surpassing Pete Rose’s all-time major league mark. The 42 year-old outfielder’s total includes the 1,278 hits he collected for Orix in Japan’s Pacific League.

2019 – With some of their big sluggers about to return from injury, the Yankees still add another one via trade, acquiring DH Edwin Encarnacion, who is leading the AL with 21 homers, from the Mariners for 19-year-old P Juan Then.

Todays Major League Birthdays On June 15

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Major League Baseball Deaths On June 15

 

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