1. materials characteristic of baseball and the culture of baseball; 2. collectible baseball Americana
1975
It was not his defining game for certain, but Joe Torre of the New York Mets grounded into four double plays in a 6-2 loss to the Houston Astros. Felix Millan had four singles but was wiped out each time by Torre.
1958
Jim Bunning of the Detroit Tigers threw a no-hitter, beating the Boston Red Sox 3-0 in the first game of a doubleheader.
1978
Doc Medich of the Texas Rangers saved the life of a 61-year-old fan who had a heart attack before a game against the Orioles at Baltimore. Medich, a med student, administered heart massage until help arrived.
1980
Johnny Bench broke Yogi Berra’s record for home runs by a catcher as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Montreal Expos 12-7. Bench hit his 314th homer as a catcher off David Palmer. Bench had thirty-three home runs while playing other positions.
1943
The first nighttime All-Star Game, at Shibe Park, went to the AL, 5-3, despite a single, triple and home run by NL center fielder Vince DiMaggio of the Pirates. The big blow was a three-run homer by Bobby Doerr of the Red Sox, which gave the AL the lead for good.
1989
Bo Jackson and Wade Boggs lead off the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back home runs off Rick Reuschel to spark the American League to a 5-3 win in the All-Star Game at Anaheim Stadium. Jackson earns MVP honors.
1949
Monte Irvin and Hank Thompson are the first blacks to play for the Giants. Thompson—the first black to play for the St. Louis Browns (in 1947)—starts at 2B, and Irvin pinch-hits in the 8th. When Thompson steps in against Don Newcombe, it is the first time in MLB that a black pitcher and hitter have faced off.
…Continue readingOn This Day: July 8
2000
Luis Gonzalez became the first Arizona player to hit for the cycle as the Diamondbacks beat the Houston Astros 12-9.
1970
Detroit’s Joe Niekro no-hits the Yankees until Horace Clarke singles in the 9th inning as the Tigers win 5-0. This is the third time in a month that Clarke has busted a no-hitter, having spoiled bids by Royals Jim Rooker (June 4) and Red Sox Sonny Siebert (June 19).
1986
Detroit beats the Milwaukee Brewers 9-5 in the first game of a doubleheader split, making Tigers manager Sparky Anderson the first manager ever to win six-hundred games in each league.
