Today In Baseball History: May

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 1st:

1883: The New York Gothams, later known as the Giants, defeat the Boston Beaneaters 7-5 in their first game.

1884: Toledo's Moses Fleetwood Walker becomes the first black player in M.L. history.

1901: Herm McFarland hits the first grand slam in A.L. history, helping the White Sox defeat the Tigers 19-9. The Tigers commit an A.L. record 12 errors.

1906: The Phillies Josh Lush pitches a no-hitter in a 6-0 win over the Brooklyn Superbas.

1925: In a 9-4 A's loss to the Senators, Jimmie Foxx singles in his first M.L. at bat.

1926: Pitching for Chattanooga in a Negro Southern League game, Satchel Paige makes his professional debut. He gives up two hits in a 1-0 win over the New Orleans Algiers.

1951: Mickey Mantle hits the first of his 536 career home runs.

1969: The Astros Don Wilson pitches a no-hitter in a 6-0 win over the Reds. The prior day, the Reds Jim Maloney no-hit the Astros.

1991: Rickey Henderson steals his 939th career base, breaking Lou Brock's all time record.

1991: The Rangers Nolan Ryan pitches his seventh career no-hitter in a 3-0 win over the Blue Jays.

2002: Trevor Hoffman records his 321st save with the Padres, setting a new M.L. record with one team.

2004: In the Giants 6-3 win over the Marlins, Barry Bonds is intentionally walked four times, a new M.L. record for a nine inning game.

2012: With an Orioles victory over the Yankees, Buck Showalter records his 1,000th managerial win.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 2nd:

1876: Against the Reds in Cincinnati, Chicago's Ross Barnes hits the first home run in National League history.

1877: Hall of Famer Eddie Collins is born in Millerton, New York.

1920: In the first National Negro Baseball League game played, the Indianapolis ABC's defeat the Chicago Giants 4-2.

1923: Walter Johnson pitches his 100th career shutout in the Senators 3-0 win over the Yankees.

1930: A Western League game in Des Moines, Iowa against Wichita becomes the first baseball game to be played under permanent lights. Instead of the usual 600 fans in attendance, 12,000 are at the game.

1939: Prior to the Yankees game in Detroit against the Tigers, Lou Gehrig tells manager Joe McCarthy he's benching himself for the good of the team, ending his streak of 2,130 consecutive games played.

1944: Ted Williams is commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.

1972: Vida Blue ends his holdout, signing a deal worth $63,000 with the A's.

1988: Commissioner Bart Giamatti suspends Reds manager Pete Rose for 30 days after he shoves umpire Dave Pallone the prior day after he argues a delayed call.

1999: Nike's "Chicks Dig the Longball" ad featuring Braves Cy Young Award winning pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine airs for the first time. In the ad, Maddux and Glavine try to become power hitters after being frustrated at the attention give to Mark McGwire from actress Heather Locklear and a friend:


2000: The Braves defeat the Dodgers 5-3 for their 15th straight win.

2002: The Mariners Mike Cameron hits four home runs in a 15-4 win over the White Sox.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 3rd:

1936: Joe DiMaggio makes his M.L. debut. He collects three hits and scores three runs as the Yankees beat the Browns 14-5.

1951: In the ninth inning of the Yankees 17-3 win over the Browns, Gil MacDouglad ties the M.L. record with six RBIs in one inning. He hit a grand slam (first ML. homer) and later in the inning, hit a two run triple.

1966: Luis Tiant pitches his third straight shutout in the Red Sox 1-0 win over the Yankees.

1979: Bobby Bonds hits his 300th home run. He joins Willie Mays as the only players in M.L. history to hit 300 homers and steal 300 bases.

1980: With a 3-2 Rangers win over the Orioles, Fergie Jenkins joins Cy Young, Jim Bunning, and Gaylord Perry as the only pitchers in M.L. history to win 100 games in both leagues.

1980: In the Giants 3-2 loss to the Expos, Willie McCovey hits the last of his 521 home runs. He also joined Ted Williams as the only players to homer in four different decades.

1983: In a Texas League game, Dave Wilhelmi of the Shreveport Captains pitches a perfect game in a 7-0 win over the Arkansas Travelers.

2001: Rangers manager Johnny Oates resigns. Third base coach Jerry Narron takes over.

2006: MLB sells the Nationals to a group led by Maryland real estate developer Theodore Lerner for $450 million.

2008: The Mets Carlos Delgado hits his 435th home run, passing Juan Gonzalez for the most among Puerto Rico born players.

2011: The Twins Francisco Liriano pitches a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over the White Sox.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 4th:

1919: In Brooklyn, the Dodgers defeat the Braves 6-2 in the first M.L. game played on a Sunday.

1954: In the Phillies 14-10 win in eleven innings, the two teams set a M.L. record by using 42 players.

1963: In the Braves 7-5 loss to the Cubs, pitcher Bob Shaw sets a M.L. record by committing five balks.

1966: In the Giants 6-1 win over the Dodgers, Willie Mays hits his 512th home run, making him the National League's all time leader.

1975: The Astros Bob Watson scores the one millionth run in M.L. history.

1999: In the Cubs 12-11 win over the Rockies, Mark Grace, after 6,136 career at bats, hits his first grand slam.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 5th:

1904: Cy Young pitches the first perfect game in A.L. history in the Red Sox 3-0 win over the A's.

1917: The Browns Ernie Koob pitches a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over the White Sox.

1953: In the Braves 10-3 win over the Reds, Max Surkont sets a new M.L. record with eight straight strikeouts.

1962: The Angels Bo Belinsky, in his fourth M.L. start, pitches a no-hitter in a 2-0 win over the Orioles.

1978: Pete Rose records his 3,000th hit.

2000: Tommy Lasorda is named manager of the United States Olympic baseball team for the Sydney games.

2004: Mike Piazza hits his 352nd home run as a catcher, breaking Carlton Fisk's M.L. record.

2004: In the fifth inning of the Astros 9-2 win over the Pirates, Roger Clemens records his 4,137th strikeout, moving past Steve Carlton for second on the all time list.

2014: In a Midwest League game, the Clinton Lumberkings pull off the biggest comeback in professional baseball history, rallying from a 16 run deficit to beat the Burlington Bees 20-17 in 12 innings.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 6th:

1906: The Pirates become the first team to use a tarp to cover the infield, keeping it dry due to a rain storm for the next day's game against the Cubs.

1915: Babe Ruth hits his first career home run.

1917: A Browns pitcher throws a no-hitter for the second straight day. Bob Groom pitches the day's no-hitter in a 3-0 win over the White Sox.

1931: Willie Mays is born in Westfield, Alabama.

1951: The Pirates Cliff Chambers pitches a no-hitter in a 3-0 win over the Braves.

1953: In his first M.L. start, the Browns Alva Lee Holloman pitches a no-hitter in a 6-0 win over the A's. It was one of three wins in his only season in the majors.

1968: Giants reliever Lindy McDaniel sets a new N.L. record by playing in his 225th straight game without committing an error.

1981: The Mariners fire manager Maury Wills, replaced by Rene Lachemann.

1982: Gaylord Perry records his 300th win.

1994: In the Cubs 10-1 win over the Pirates, pitcher Anthony Young ends his 27-game losing streak as a starter.

1998: In the Cubs 2-0 win over the Astros, Kerry Wood ties the M.L. record for a nine inning game with 20 strikeouts.

2005: In the Padres 6-5 win over the Cardinals, Trevor Hoffman joins Lee Smith and John Franco as the only relievers with 400 saves.

2007: At age 44, Roger Clemens signs a one year deal worth $28 million deal with the Yankees.

2009: With a 10-3 victory over the Nationals, the Dodgers break the M.L record with their 13th straight win at home to start the season.

2011: Eric Hosmer makes his M.L. debut with the Royals, walking twice and stealing a base in a 3-2 loss to the A's.

2012: At age 45, the Blue Jays Omar Vizquel becomes the oldest player in M.L. history to start a game at shortstop.

2014: The Pirates become the first team get a walk-off win after a replay review. Originally, Starling Marte was called out at the plate by umpire Quinn Wolcott, but replay showed he was safe and the Pirates got a 2-1 win over the Giants.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 7th:

1903: In the first game of what would turn out to be one of baseball's most bitter rivalries, the Pilgrims (later Red Sox) defeat the Highlanders (later Yankees) 6-2.

1917: Babe Ruth out-pitches Walter Johnson and drives in the only run with an eighth inning sacrifice fly in the Red Sox 1-0 win over the Senators.

1957: The A's Vic Power becomes the first player in the modern era to hit both a leadoff and walk-off homer in the same game in a 3-2 win over the Orioles.

1959: At the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Yankees defeat the Dodgers 6-2 in an exhibition to benefit Roy Campanella, who was paralyzed in a car accident before the 1958 season. 93,103 fans attended the game, in which a ceremony beforehand started with Pee Wee Reese pushing Campanella in his wheelchair into the stadium, lit only by the fans holding candles or matches.

1966: The Yankees fire manager Johnny Keane. He is replaced by GM and former manager Ralph Houk.

1998: In a 6-0 loss to the Blue Jays, the Mariners tie a M.L. record by leaving 16 runners on base.

2003: A man wanted by police for drug and parole violations is arrested during a Reds game at The Great American Ballpark. His cover was blown when he was seen kissing his girlfriend on the stadium's kiss cam.

2009: The Dodgers Manny Ramirez is suspended 50 games for a positive drug test.

2010: At age 47, Jamie Moyer becomes the oldest pitcher in M.L. history to pitch a shutout, leading the Phillies to a 7-0 win over the Braves.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 8th:

1878: Outfielder Paul Hines of the Providence Grays becomes the first player in M.L. history to turn an unassisted triple play.

1929: The Giants Carl Hubbell pitches a no-hitter in an 11-0 win over the Pirates. He's the first lefty to do so in 13 years.

1961: The New York Metropolitan Baseball Club Inc. announces the new N.L. team in New York for the next season will be known as the Mets.

1966: The Cardinals lose 10-5 to the Giants in the final game played in Busch Stadium, formerly known as Sportsman's Park.

1968: The A's Catfish Hunter pitches a perfect game in a 4-0 win over the Twins, the first in the A.L. in 46 years.

1971: In the Braves 5-2 win over the Giants, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays hit home runs, making it the first time in M.L. history that two players with 600 homers go deep in the same game.

1973: The Cardinals Bob Gibson sets a new M.L. record for pitchers by making his 242nd straight start.

1984: Kirby Puckett makes his M.L. debut, collecting four singles in the Twins 5-0 win over the Angels.

1992: Astros pitcher Butch Henry becomes the first player in M.L. history to hit an inside-the-park home run for his first M.L. hit. It was his only home run in his seven year career.

2011: The Angels Mike Scioscia becomes the 23rd manager in M.L. history to win 1,000 games.

2012: The Rangers Josh Hamilton hits four home runs in a 10-3 win over the Orioles.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 9th:

1947: After he used racial slurs the prior day towards Jackie Robinson, Phillies manager Ben Chapman attempts to make amends by posing with him. Robinson admitted later it was one of the most difficult things he ever did. The gesture, while orchestrated, happened after bad press of Chapman's slurs and also anger from Commissioner Happy Chandler.

1967: Roger Maris hit his first N.L. home run in the Cardinals 6-3 win over the Pirates.

1987: In the Orioles 9-6 win over the White Sox, Eddie Murray becomes the first player in M.L. history to homer from both sides of the plate in consecutive games.

1999: Florida State University's Marshall McDougal hits six straight home runs and drives in 16 runs, both single game NCAA records, in a 26-2 win over Maryland.

2001: Randy Johnson joins Roger Clemens and Kerry Wood as the only pitchers to strike out 20 batters in nine innings.

2007: The Braves Jarrod Saltalamacchia makes his M.L. debut, making him the player with the longest surname in M.L. history.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 10th:

1909: In a Bluegrass League game, Fred Toney of the Winchester Hustlers pitches the longest no-hitter in professional baseball history. He pitches 17 innings of no-hit ball in a 1-0 win over the Lexington Colts.

1967: Against the Phillies Jim Bunning, Hank Aaron hits the only inside-the-park home run of his career.

1970: The Braves Hoyt Wilhelm becomes the first pitcher in M.L. history to appear in 1,000 games.

1981: The Expos Charlie Lea pitches a no-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Giants.

2005: Tony Pena resigns as Royals manager and is replaced by bench coach Bob Schaffer on an interim basis.

2008: With the Padres 3-2 victory over the Rockies, Greg Maddux records his 350th win.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 11th:

1919: The Red Hod Eller pitches a no-hitter in a 6-0 win over the Cardinals.

1963: Sandy Koufax pitches his second no-hitter in the Dodgers 8-0 win over the Giants.

1972: The Giants trade Willie Mays to the Mets for Charlie Williams and $50,000 cash.

1977: Trying to end the team's 16-game losing streak, Braves owner Ted Turner takes over for one night as manager. It doesn't work as the Braves lose to the Pirates 2-1. N.L. President Chub Feeney tells Turner he can't do that again because of a rule prohibiting a manager from having a financial stake in the team.

1996: The Marlins Al Leiter pitches a no-hitter in an 11-0 win over the Giants.

1998: By striking out 13 Diamondbacks, the Cubs Kerry Wood sets a M.L. record with 33 strikeouts in consecutive games.

2003: The Marlins fire manager Jeff Torborg and replace him with Jack McKeon.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 12th:

1910: The A's Chief Bender pitches a no-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Cleveland Naps.

1925: Hall of Famer Yogi Berra is born in St. Louis, Missouri.

1941: After being known as the Bees for five years, the N.L. franchise in Boston changes its nickname back to the Braves.

1955: The Cubs Sam Jones pitches a no-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Pirates.

1956: The Dodgers Carl Erskine pitches a no-hitter in a 3-0 win over the Giants.

1966: The Cardinals defeat the Braves 4-3 in the first game at Busch Stadium.

1970: The Cubs Ernie Banks his his 500th home run.

2001: Even though he issues nine walks, the Marlins A.J. Burnett pitches a no-hitter in a 3-0 win over the Padres.

2013: The Cubs and Anthony Rizzo agree to a seven year deal worth $41 million.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 13th:

1929: The Yankees/Indians game in Cleveland becomes the first in M.L. history in which the players on both teams are wearing numbers on the back of their uniforms.

1947: During pregame practice, fans at Cincinnati's Crosley Field start yelling racial slurs at Jackie Robinson. Teammate Pee Wee Reese talks to, then puts his arm around Robinson. The gesture stuns the fans in silence.

1958: Stan Musial records his 3,000th hit.

1982: The Cubs become the first team in M.L. history to win 8,000 games.

1985: In the Reds 7-3 win over the Phillies, 43 year old Tony Perez becomes the oldest player in M.L. history to hit a grand slam.

1993: George Brett hits his 300th home run. He joins Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Carl Yastrzemski, Wllie Mays, and Al Kaline as the only players in M.L. history with 300 home runs and 3,000 hits.

2000: The Mets release Rickey Henderson.

2002: Due to injuries in recent years, Jose Canseco retires.

2010: The Royals fire manager Trey Hillman and replace him with baseball operations assistant Ned Yost.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 15th:

1901: The Senators Watty Lee pitches the first shutout in A.L. history, beating the Boston Americans 4-0.

1912: After listening to heckling from Yankees fans, Ty Cobb jumps into the stands and beats up a handicapped fan.

1941: With a hit against the White Sox Edgar Smith, Joe DiMaggio's record 56 game hitting streak begins.

1944: The Reds Clyde Shoun pitches a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over the Braves.

1952: The Tigers Virgil Trucks pitches the first of two no-hitters that season in a 1-0 win over the Senators.

1960: In his debut with the team after being traded from the Phillies, the Cubs Don Cardwell pitches a no-hitter against the Cardinals.

1967: Hall of Famer John Smoltz is born in Warren, Michigan.

1973: Nolan Ryan pitches the first of his seven career no-hitters in the Angels 3-0 win over the Royals.

1981: The Indians Len Barker pitches the 11th perfect game in M.L. history in a 3-0 win over the Blue Jays.

1989: The Blue Jays fire manager Jimy Williams and replace him with hitting coach Cito Gaston.

1998: The Marlins trade Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson, Jim Eisenreich, and Manuel Barrios to the Dodgers for Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile.

2002: The Royals name Tony Pena, the bench coach for the Astros, as their new manager.

2008: The Brewers and Ryan Braun agree to an eight year deal worth $45 million.

2015: The Mariners Felix Hernandez records his 2,000th strikeout.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 16th:

1912: Ty Cobb is suspended for his assault on a handicapped fan the prior day.

1939: In Philadelphia, the Indians defeat the A's 8-3 in the A.L.'s first night game.

1965: Pitching 3.2 innings of relief in the Orioles 7-5 victory over the Yankees, Jim Palmer records his first M.L. win.

1966: Tigers manager Charlie Dressen suffers a heart attack. Bob Swift is named acting manager.

2000: A fan in Wrigley Field steals the hat of Dodgers catcher Chad Kreuter in the team's bullpen. Several Dodger players and coaches start a fight with the fans. Several fans are arrested and the game is delayed ten minutes due to debris on the field.

2011: Drayton McLane sells the Astros for $685 million to a group led by Jim Crane.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 17th:

1925: Tris Speaker records his 3,000th hit.

1939: Princeton defeats Columbia 2-1 in the first baseball game to be televised. The game is broadcasted on W2XBS, an experimental station in New York City.

1963: The Colt .45's Don Nottebart pitches a no-hitter in a 4-1 win over the Phillies.

1970: Hank Aaron records his 3,000th hit. Be becomes the first to do so also with 500 home runs.

1971: Luis Tiant signs a free agent deal with the Red Sox.

1985: The Rangers fire manager Doug Rader and replace him with Bobby Valentine.

1998: The Yankees David Wells pitches a perfect game in a 4-0 win over the Twins.

2011: Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew dies at age 74.

2015: The Marlins fire manager Mike Redmond and replace him with GM Dan Jennings, who never played in the majors or managed on any level.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 18th:

1912: Against the A's, the Tigers field a team of amateurs to avoid a $5,000 fine in support of suspended teammate Ty Cobb. Allan Travers, a pitcher from St. Joseph's College, goes the distance allowing 24 runs (14 earned), 26 hits, seven walks, and striking out one in a 24-2 loss to the A's.

1929: The Phillies and Dodgers set a M.L. record with 50 runs scored in a doubleheader. The Dodgers won the first game 20-16 with the Phillies winning the nightcap 8-6.

1937: Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson is born in Little Rock, Arkansas.

1946: Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson is born in Wyncote, Pennsylvania.

1956: Mickey Mantle hits his 136th home run, most for switch-hitters.

1969: In the third inning of the Twins, 8-2 loss to the Tigers, Cesar Tovar and Rod Carew set a M.L. record for teammates with five stolen bases in one inning. Tovar stole third and home with Carew stealing second, third, and home.

1988: The A's Dave Stewart commits his 12th balk of the season, breaking the M.L. record.

2000: Mark McGwire hits his 539th home run, passing Mickey Mantle for eighth on the all time list.

2004: The Diamondbacks Randy Johnson pitches a perfect game in a 2-0 win over the Braves.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 19th:

1933: For the first time in M.L. history, brothers on opposite teams homer in the same game. The Red Sox Rick Ferrell homers off his brother, Indians pitcher Wes. Wes would later hit his home run.

1962: Stan Musial records his 3,431st career hit, breaking the N.L. record.

1972: The Reds trade Bernie Carbo to the Red Sox for Joe Hague.

1979: The umpires return after a six week work stoppage.

1993: The Mets fire manager Jeff Torborg and replace him with Dallas Green.

2008: The Red Sox Jon Lester pitches a no-hitter in a 7-0 win over the Royals.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 20th:

1919: Babe Ruth hits the first of his 16 career grand slams.

1947: The Pirates beat the Braves 4-3 in which the teams combined for 22 hits, all of them singles. The Pirates got 12 of those hits.

1983: In a 5-0 Phillies loss to the Padres, Steve Carlton records four strikes, moving past Walter Johnson's total of 3,511 for second on the all time list.

1991: In the Red Sox 3-0 win over the Brewers, Jeff Reardon records his 300th save.

2000: Rickey Henderson joins Ted Williams and and Willie McCovey as the only players in M.L. history to homer in four different decades.

2004: The Cardinals Mike Matheny handles his 1,295th defensive chance without an error, breaking the M.L. record for catchers.

2006: After White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski barrels over Cubs backstop Michael Barrett, Pierzynski gets punched by Barrett, starting a brawl between the two Chicago teams.

2010: After trailing 9-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, the Braves score seven runs and win the game 10-9. The rally was capped by a grand slam hit by Brooks Conrad.

[CrimsonCowboy]

May 21st:

1919: The Giants trade Jim Thorpe to the Braves for Pat Ragan.

1941: Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox is born in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

1943: In the quickest nine inning game in A.L. history, it takes just 89 minutes for the White Sox to defeat the Senators 1-0.

1952: The Dodgers set a M.L. record by scoring 15 first inning runs on the way to a 19-1 win over the Reds.

1963: In the Reds 2-0 win over the Braves, Jim Maloney ties a M.L. record with eight straight strikeouts.

1992: In a crash involving the team bus, Angels manager Buck Rodgers and 11 others are injured. Rodgers would miss nearly 90 games.

2000: A M.L. record six grand slams are hit around the scheduled games. The Angels Garret Anderson, the Giants J.T. Snow, the Phillies Brian Hunter, the A's Jason Giambi, as well as the Dodgers Shawn Green and Adrian Beltre hit the slams.

2012: With his debut at Marlins Park, the Rockies Jamie Moyer extends his M.L. record by appearing in his 50th ballpark.

2013: In the Angels 12-0 win over the Mariners, Mike Trout becomes the youngest player in A.L. history to hit for the cycle.