Today is Monday, September 15, 2014 Today in Baseball History 1904 - Beating the Braves, 3-2, Giant hurler George Wiltse runs his career record to 12-0. Hooks dozen consecutive victories establish the record for the most wins at the start of a career for a starter. 1912 - Joe Wood (Boston Red Sox) won his 16th consecutive major league game. 1928 - The Braves play their ninth consecutive doubleheader. The streak, which began on September 4th, sees the team lose five in a row, including four to the Giants. 1938 - Lloyd and Paul Waner became the first brothers to hit back-to-back home runs in a major league game. It was Lloyds last home run. 1946 - At the end of the fifth inning of the second game of a doubleheader against the Cubs, a giant swarm of gnats engulfs Ebbets Field. With Dodger hurler Kirby Higbe slapping the critters with his glove, the game is postponed due to the insects and the impending darkness. 1960 - Giants superstar Willie Mays ties a major league mark by hitting three triples in an 8-6 victory over Philadelphia. The third three-bagger of the game in the eleventh inning for the ‘Say Hey Kid’, who collects 5 hits in 6 at-bats, leads to the eventual go-ahead run in the Connie Mack Stadium contest. 1963 - All three Alou brothers - Felipe, Matty and Jesus - played in the outfield at the same time for the San Francisco Giants in a 13-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. 1969 - Steve Carlton (St. Louis) struck out 19 Mets for a nine-inning game record. 1974 - Fred Lynn (Boston Red Sox) hit a home run on his very first major league at-bat. 1978 - The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first major league baseball team to pass the three-million mark in home attendance. 1979 - Bob Watson (Boston Red Sox) became the first player to hit for the cycle in both leagues. He hit for the cycle with the Houston Astros on June 23, 1977. 1990 - Bobby Thigpen (Chicago White Sox) became the first relief pitcher with 50 saves in a season. 1996 - The Baltimore Orioles broke the major league record for most home runs in one season. They finished with a total of 243. The New York Yankees had set the record at 240 in 1961. 1997 - Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Mariners) hit his 51st and 52nd home runs to become the sixth player to hit 100 or more home runs over two consecutive seasons. He had hit 49 home runs the previous season. 1998 - Mark McGwire (St. Louis) hit his 63rd home run of the season. 1998 - Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Mariners) became the fourth-youngest player to reach 1,000 RBIs when he hit his 52nd home run of the season. 2000 - In a 5-4 victory over the Giants, Padres closer Trevor Hoffman becomes the third player in baseball history to have four 40-save seasons. 2002 - Curt Schilling (Arizona Diamondbacks) struck out eight to reach 300 for the season. Schilling and Randy Johnson became the first teammates in baseball history to each strike out 300 in the same season. 2003 - With his 2,063rd career base on balls, Barry Bonds passes Babe Ruth on the all-time walks list. The Giant left fielder now trails only Rickey Henderson, who has 2,190 free passes. 2007 - Although it’s nowhere near the amount 1998’s Mark McGwires single season home run record ball commanded, Giants slugger Barry Bonds career No. 756 home run baseball sells for more than experts predicted. The ball thrown by Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik on August 7, which was auctioned by Matt Murphy, the fan who caught the historic homer, is won by an unidentified bidder for $752,467. 2011 - After hitting a first inning two-run homer, singling in the second, and stroking a leadoff double in the fifth, Pablo Sandoval hit for the cycle when he drives a pitch that sails just beyond the outstretched glove of Colorados right fielder Carlos Gonzalez for a triple. Panda, a third baseman not known for speed, becomes the 25th Giant player to accomplish the feat, and the first since Fred Lewis did the deed in 2007, also at Coors Field.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 00:21:39 +0000