Today In Baseball History: April

April 19th:

1900: The Phillies beat the Braves 19-17 in ten innings, setting the M.L. record for the most runs score between two teams on Opening Day.

1938: In the top of the first at Philadelphia, the Dodgers Ernie Koy homers in his first M.L. at bat. In the bottom of the ninth, Heinie Mueller also homers in his first M.L. at bat.

1949: Before the season opener at Yankee Stadium, monuments honoring Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Miller Huggins are presented.

1965: Because of the sun's glare making fly balls hazardous, the roof of the Astrodome is painted. That causes the grass to die, bringing the introduction of Astroturf.

1966: The Angels lose to the White Sox 3-1 in the first game at Anaheim Stadium.

1979: After losing to the Orioles, Yankee teammates Goose Gossage and Cliff Johnson brawl in the clubhouse. Gossage sprains a left thumb ligament in the fight and is out until July 12th.

1981: In an International League game, the Rochester Red Wings and Pawtucket Red Sox play to a 2-2 tie through 32 innings before play was suspended at 4:07 AM. The game was completed later in the season, with Pawtucket scoring the winning run in the 33rd inning. It was the longest game in professional baseball history.

1981: The A's beat the Mariners in the first of a doubleheader to set a M.L. record with 11 straight wins to start the season. The streak ends in the nightcap with a Mariners win.

1984: The Royals Bret Saberhagen beats the Tigers for his first M.L. win. For the Tigers, it was their first loss after starting the season 9-0. They would never be out of first place in the A.L. East the entire season.

1986: In the A's 7-2 win over the Mariners, the two teams set a modern M.L. record in a nine inning game by combining for 30 strikeouts. The A's Jose Rijo sets a team record with 16 strikeouts.

1987: With a 6-4 win over the Rangers, the Brewers set the A.L. record with 12 wins to start the season.

1997: The Cardinals sweep the Padres in a doubleheader at Aloha Stadium in the first M.L. games played in Hawaii. The Padres gave up three home games because of renovations of their stadium.
 
2014: 16 games into the season, Freddie Freeman has the highest OPS in the majors at 1.200. Chase Utley is 2nd at 1.198.
 
April 21st:

1904: Ty Cobb makes his pro debut for Augusta of the South Atlantic League, hitting a double and a home run in an 8-7 loss to Columbus.

1934: Senators catcher Moe Berg plays his 117th straight error-less game (dating back to 1931), setting an A.L. record.

1955: The Dodgers beat the Phillies 14-2 , setting a M.L. record at the time with their tenth straight win.

1967: The Dodgers were rained out for the first time after playing 737 games in Los Angeles.

1982: The Braves win their 13th straight game in a 4-3 victory over the Reds.

1984: In only his second start since August 1982, the Expos David Palmer pitches five perfect innings in a rain shortened 4-0 win over the Cardinals.

1987: The Brewers 13 game winning streak to start the season is snapped in a 7-1 loss to the Brewers. That streak to start the season tied the '82 Braves M.L. record.

1994: The Indians Eddie Murray sets a M.L. record by homering from both sides of the plate for the 11th time in his career, breaking Mickey Mantle's mark. The two home runs also gave him 444 for his career, passing Dave Kingman for 20th on the all time list.
 
April 22nd:

1876: Boston defeats Philadelphia 5-4 in the first ever National League game.

1914: At age 19, Babe Ruth makes his professional debut, pitching a six hit shutout for Baltimore of the International League in a 6-0 win over Buffalo. The second hitter he faced was Joe McCarthy, who would be Ruth's manager 17 years later with the Yankees. As a batter, he had two hits.

1915: Pinstripes appear on Yankee uniforms for the first time.

1955: The A's beat the Tigers 6-2 in their first game at Kansas City.

1959: In the seventh inning of a 20-6 win over the A's, the White Sox scored 11 runs on just one hit. In that inning, the A's issued ten walks (five with the bases loaded), hit one batter and committed three errors.

1966: The Braves beat the Mets 8-4 in their first game in Atlanta.

1970: In a 2-1 win over the Padres, the Mets Tom Seaver struck out 19 batters, including the last ten in a row. No pitcher had ever struck out ten straight batters.

1981: Dodgers rookie Fernando Valenzuela pitched his third shutout in four starts, struck out 11, and had the only RBI in a 1-0 win over the Astros.

1982: The Braves lose to the Reds 2-1, ending their 13-game win streak to start the season.

1993: The Mariners Chris Bosio pitches a no-hitter against the Red Sox.

1996: The Mets John Franco becomes the first lefty to reach 300 saves.
 
April 23rd:

1903: The New York Highlanders defeat the Washington Senators 7-2 for their first win.

1936: The Giants Carl Hubbell beats the Boston Bees for his 17th straight win, dating back to July of 1935.

1946: The Dodgers Ed Head pitches a no-hitter in a 5-0 win over the Braves.

1952: The Browns Bob Cain and the Indians Bob Feller both pitch a one-hitter, with the Browns winning 1-0.

1952: Future Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm gets his first victory in a 9-5 win over the Braves, pitching in relief. He also homered in his first at bat. It turned out to be his only home run in 1,070 games.

1954: Hank Aaron hits his first M.L. home run off the Cardinals Vic Raschi.

1958: In a 7-6 loss to the Cubs, the Dodgers Gil Hodges hits his 300th home run while Pee Wee Reese plays in his 2,000th M.L. game.

1962: The Mets beat the Pirates 9-1 for their first win.

1964: Houston's Ken Johnson becomes the first pitcher to lose in a nine inning no-hitter. The Reds win 1-0 on a Nellie Fox error.

1978: The Reds Joe Morgan commits an error in a 2-1 win over the Giants. It ends a streak of 91 consecutive games without an error.

1999: In a 12-5 win over the Dodgers, the Cardinals Fernando Tatis becomes the first player to hit two grand slams in one inning. He also sets a record with eight RBIs in that one inning. Chan Ho Park became the second pitcher in M.L. history to allow two grand slams in an inning. The other was Bill Phillips of the Alleghenys back in 1890.
 
April 24th:

1901: Chicago beats Cleveland 8-2 in the first American League game.

1917: The Yankees George Mogridge pitches a no-hitter in a 2-1 win over the Red Sox.

1945: The owners vote Albert Happy Chandler as commissioner, succeeding the late Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis.

1962: The Dodgers Sandy Koufax strikes out 18 Cubs in a 10-2 win.

1965: Casey Stengal records his 3,000th managerial win in a Mets 7-6 victory over the Giants.

1966: The Braves beat the Mets 5-2 in the first of a doubleheader. It was the Braves 18th straight win over the Mets, setting a N.L. record. The first 17 were as the Milwaukee Braves.

1972: Chipper Jones is born in DeLand, Florida.

1978: Nolan Ryan strikes out 15 Mariners. It marks the 20th time in his career he recorded 15 strikeouts in a game.
 
April 25th:

1901: Going into the ninth inning, Detroit trailed Milwaukee 13-4. The Tigers would then score ten runs to win the game 14-13.

1904: The Yankees Jack Chesbro records the first of his A.L. 41 wins for that season.

1976: During a game against the Dodgers, the Cubs Rick Monday rescues an American flag from two people who tried to burn it in the outfield of Dodger Stadium.

1977: During a 23-9 win over the Braves, the Reds scored 12 runs in the fifth inning, tying a N.L. record.

1995: Major League Baseball returns after a labor dispute lasting 257 days.
 
CrimsonCowboy said:
April 25th:

1901: Going into the ninth inning, Detroit trailed Milwaukee 13-4. The Tigers would then score ten runs to win the game 14-13.

1904: The Yankees Jack Chesbro records the first of his A.L. 41 wins for that season.

1976: During a game against the Dodgers, the Cubs Rick Monday rescues an American flag from two people who tried to burn it in the outfield of Dodger Stadium.

1977: During a 23-9 win over the Braves, the Reds scored 12 runs in the fifth inning, tying a N.L. record.

1995: Major League Baseball returns after a labor dispute lasting 257 days.
Click to expand...

1901, I assume not many relievers back then? Were there 25 man rosters?

1904, 41 wins. 51 starts. 454 IP. For some reason I can't stop laughing at that line.

On a side note, anybody remember that crazy game between Cleveland and Seattle in 2001, where Seattle was up 14-2 after 3, and Indians clawed back to win 15-14 I think? It's crazy to think that game the Indians won was the difference between Seattle tying and breaking the single season record for team wins.

EDIT: Here http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE200108050.shtml

They were up 12-0 after 3. 14-2 after 6 innings.
 
April 26th:

1905: The Cubs Jack McCarthy becomes the second outfielder in M.L. history to complete three double plays in one game, throwing out three Pirates at home plate in a 2-1 win.

1941: The Cubs becomes the first team to install an organ at their games.

1961: Roger Maris hits his first home run of the season.

1980: The Phillies Steve Carlton pitches his sixth career one-hitter in a 7-0 win over the Cardinals, setting a modern N.L. record.

1986: During a Twins/Angels game at the Metrodome, strong winds tear a hole in the roof, causing suspended lights and speakers to sag towards the field. The game is delayed nine minutes to inflate the roof. The Angels would win 7-6.

1990: In a 1-0 win over the White Sox, the Rangers Nolan Ryan ties Bob Feller's record by pitching his 12th career one-hitter.

1995: The Rockies beat the Mets 11-9 in 14 innings in the opener of Coors Field, the first baseball only stadium to open in the N.L. in 23 years. Dante Bichette hit a three run homer in the 14th to win the game.

1997: The Cubs Ryne Sandberg hits his 267th home run as a second baseman, breaking Joe Morgan's record.
 
April 27th:

1918: With Brooklyn's 5-3 win, the Dodgers 0-9 and the Giants 9-0 streaks to start the season are both snapped.

1926: In the Giants 9-8 win over the Phillies, 17 year old Mel Ott makes his first M.L. appearance, pinch hitting for Jimmy Ring. He won't play regularly until the next season.

1944: The Braves Jim Tobin homers and pitches a no-hitter in a 2-0 win over the Dodgers.

1947: Babe Ruth Day is celebrated all over Major League Baseball. At Yankee Stadium, 58,339 fans honor the ailing great.

1968: The Orioles Tom pitches a no-hitter in a 6-0 win over the Red Sox.

1971: After 13 games, Curt Flood leaves the Senators for Denmark, ending his career. He would continue his antitrust lawsuit against Baseball.

1971: Hank Aaron becomes the third player in MLB history to hit 600 home runs.

1973: The Royals Steve Busby pitches a no-hitter in a 3-0 win over the Tigers.

1983: In a 4-2 win over the Expos, Nolan Ryan struck out Brad Mills to pass Walter Johnson to become the all-time strikeout leader.

1994: The Twins Scott Erickson pitches a no-hitter in a 6-0 win over the Brewers.

1996: Barry Bonds joins his father Bobby, godfather Willie Mays, and Andre Dawson as the only players in M.L. history to have 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases.
 
April 28th:

1949: After a 15-2 loss to the Dodgers, a Giants fan charges New York manager Leo Durocher with assault. Commissioner Chandler suspends Durocher and also criticizes the Giants for a lack of security that allows fans on the field.

1956: Reds rookie outfielder Frank Robinson hits the first of his 586 career home runs.

1961: In a 1-0 Braves win over the Giants, 40 year old Warren Spahn becomes the second oldest pitcher to throw a no-hitter. Only Cy Young was older. It was 290th career win and his 52nd shutout.

1964: Future Hall of Famer Barry Larkin is born in Cincinnati.

1988: With a 4-2 loss to the Twins, the Orioles set an A.L. record with their 21st straight defeat.

1998: The Rangers Juan Gonzalez set a M.L. record with 35 RBIs in the month of April.
 
Yes, I'm doing this in the middle of the night because severe thunderstorms in my area have me wide awake/

April 29th:

1918: The Indians Tris Speaker turn as unassisted double play for the fourth time in his career.

1931: The Indians Wes Ferrell pitches a no-hitter in a 7-0 win over the Browns. He also drove in four runs with a double and a home run.

1981: With a strikeout of the Expos Tim Wallach in the first inning, the Phillies Steve Carlton becomes the sixth pitcher in M.L. history, the first left handed, to strike out 3,000 batters.

1986: In a 3-1 win over the Mariners, the Red Sox Roger Clemens sets a M.L. record with 20 strikeouts.

1987: The Cubs Andre Dawson hits for the cycle in an 8-4 win over the Giants.

1988: The Orioles beat the White Sox 9-0 to break their 21 game losing streak to start the season.

1994: The Expos Kirk Rueter becomes the first pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 to start his career 10-0 in a 3-2 win over the Pirates.
 
April 30th:

1922: The White Sox Charlie Robertson pitches a perfect game in a 2-0 win over the Tigers.

1946: In a 1-0 win over the Yankees, the Indians Bob Feller pitches his second no-hitter.

1958: Ted Williams becomes the tenth player in M.L. history to reach 1,000 extra base hits.

1961: Willie Mays hits four home runs in a 14-4 Giants win over the Braves.

1967: In the first of a doubleheader, the Orioles Steve Barber and Stu Miller pitch a combined no-hitter in a 2-1 loss to the Tigers.

1969: The Reds Jim Maloney pitches a no-hitter and struck out 13 in a 10-0 win over the Astros.

1970: The Cubs Billy Williams becomes the first player in N.L. history to play in 1,000 straight games.

1986: After striking out 16 times in a 9-4 loss to the Red Sox, the Mariners set a record with 36 strikeouts in two consecutive games.

1997: The Braves become the first team to finish April with 19 wins.
 
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