This Day in MLB History
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1859 In the first college baseball game ever played, Amherst defeats their archrival, Williams College, 73-32 (66-32 by some reports). The game, played under Massachusetts rules (a square field with no foul territory) takes place near the corner of North Street and Maplewood Avenue in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
1914 Henry Kingman becomes the first person born in China to play in a major league game when he pinch-hits in the Yankees' 7-4 loss to the Senators at Griffith Stadium. The 22 year-old first baseman, born in Tientsin to missionary parents, will appear in a total of four games, playing the field in only one contest.
1920 At Fenway Park, Walter Johnson pitches the season’s only no-hitter, defeating the Red Sox, 1-0. Bucky Harris's error ruins the 'Big Train's' bid for a perfect game, but it's the Senator second baseman's hit which drives in the game's only run.
1920 At Cincinnati's Redland Field, Reds right-hander Fred Toney goes the distance in both ends of a twin bill, defeating the Pirates 4-1 and 5-1. The 28 year-old Nashville native’s two three-hitters set the mark for the fewest hits given up in a doubleheader by a pitcher.
1941 The WNBT broadcast of the Dodgers' 6-4 loss to the Phillies at Ebbets Field features television's first commercial. The station, formerly known as W2XBS, airs a one-minute spot before the first pitch, promoting Bulova that consists of a static image of a watch with the company's name.
1943 Although the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League will not have an All-Star Game until 1946, two teams, one composed of South Bend Blue Sox and Rockford Peaches, and the other from the Kenosha Comets and Racine Belles, put on an exhibition game. The AAGPBL contest is the first night game ever played in the historic Chicago ballpark at Wrigley Field.
1945 Away from the game for the longest tenure by any major leaguer, Hank Greenberg, the first player in the American League to register for the peacetime draft in 1940 in the U.S. Army, makes a dramatic return forty-seven months, homering in his first game back from the Armed Forces. 'Hammerin Hank's round-tripper helps the first-place Tigers beat the A's at Briggs Stadium, 9-5, in front of an emotional crowd of 47,700 fans.
1951 Indian right-hander Bob Feller becomes the third pitcher in major league history, joining Larry Corcoran and Cy Young, to pitch three career no-hitters when he defeats the Tigers, 2-1. Detroit scores its run in the fourth frame on an error, a stolen base, an errant pick-off throw, and a sac fly.
1968 Bob Gibson's scoreless inning streak ends abruptly at 47 when a wild pitch allows Len Gabrielson to score in the first inning of the Cardinals' 5-1 victory over the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine. The Redbird right-hander, who will blank San Francisco in his next start, would have been within three innings of breaking the mark of 58 scoreless frames established in June by Don Drysdale, tonight's losing pitcher. (Ed. Note: Gibson's streak may have reached to 55 innings without allowing an earned run if the questionable wild pitch had been ruled a passed ball by the official scorer.
1990 As Comiskey Park celebrates its 80th birthday, Yankee hurler Andy Hawkins throws a no-hitter against the White Sox but loses the game, 4-0. The right-hander is not credited with an official no-hitter, because the home team doesn't need to bat in the bottom of the ninth.
1991 During a 14-7 Orioles rout of the Angels, the teams tie a major league record, slugging 11 home runs during the Memorial Stadium contest. O's starter Mike Mussina gives up all of the Halos' round-trippers, tying Jim Palmer's club record of giving up five gophers in an outing.
1997 Collecting his 26th save in 27 chances this season, Randy Myers records the 300th save of his career when he strikes out the side in the Orioles' 4-1 victory over Philadelphia at Camden Yards. The 34 year-old closer, who will finish with 347 saves during his 19 years in the major leagues with six different teams, is the ninth reliever and the second southpaw in the history of the game to reach the milestone.
2003 The Marlins set a franchise mark for runs scored and tie a team record with 25 hits, with Miguel Cabrera, Ivan Rodriguez, and Luis Castillo collecting four each. An injury to a photographer, who is injured and airlifted to a hospital as a result of being hit by Darren Bragg's bat, which slips from the outfielder's hand and flies into the stands, subdues the celebration of the 20-1 victory over the Braves.
2011 In the seventh inning of a 5-0 interleague victory of the Angels in Anaheim, Dee Gordon steals second and third base and then completes the stolen base cycle by swiping home. The Dodger shortstop becomes the 40th major leaguer to accomplish the trifecta in the same frame.
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