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This Day In Baseball History

This Day in Baseball History - April 8th
 
1934 - At Shibe Park, 15,000 fans witness the first legal baseball game between major league teams played on a Sunday in the city of Philadelphia. In a hometown exhibition game, the Phillies beat the A's, 8-1.
 
1963 - In his first major league at-bat, Pete Rose works out a walk off Pirates' pitcher Earl Francis.
 
1963 - The Tigers claim Denny McLain on first-year waivers from the White Sox. The right-hander, who will become the game's last 30-game winner playing in the motor city, will win the American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award in 1968 helping Detroit to win its first World Series in 23 years.
 
1966 - At the Astrodome, the Astros and Dodgers play baseball's first game on synthetic grass. Thanks to the Monsanto chemical company, who proposed using an experimental playing surface of nylon grass, the plan to play on an all-dirt field, necessitated by the need to paint the dome's glass panes to reduce the glare that prevented natural grass from growing, was alleviated by the use of 'Astro Turf'.
 
1969 - Jack Murphy Stadium is dedicated as 23,370 fans watch the Padres make their National League debut defeating the Astros, 2-1. Scoring all of their runs in the top of the first, the Seattle Pilots make their major league debut defeating the Angels, 4-3. And finally, the Royals play their first game in the history of the franchise and join the winner circle along with the other three new clubs making their debuts today. Reliever Moe Drabowsky picks up the win when Kansas City beats the Twins in 12 innings, 4-3.
 
1970 - As partial compensation for the loss of Curt Flood, who refuses to report to Philadelphia, the Cardinals send minor league prospect Willie Montanez to the Phillies. The former St. Louis outfielder takes exception to being traded without his consent, ultimately appealing his challenge of the reserve clause, unsuccessfully, to the U.S. Supreme Court.
 
1974 - Braves' outfielder Henry Aaron passes Babe Ruth as the all-time home run leader with his 715th off Dodger hurler Al Downing in Atlanta's home opener. 'Hammerin' Hank' equaled the Bambino's mark on Opening Day in Cincinnati.
 


 
This Day in Baseball History - April 9th
 
1912 - The Red Sox beat Havard in the very first game ever played at Fenway Park. The exhibition contest against the Crimson takes place during a spring snow storm.
 
1913 - Ebbets Field makes its debut as 12,000 cold fans watch the Phillies beat the Dodgers, 1-0.
 
1953 - For the first time since 1901, big leaguers play baseball in Milwaukee. In the first game ever at County Stadium, the newly-arrived Braves take on their former cross-town rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in a pre-season exhibition game, which the hometown trails, 3-0, is washed-out after two innings due to rain.
 
1959 - At Washington, D.C.'s Griffith Stadium, the Orioles become the first major league team to turn a triple play on Opening Day. Vice-President Richard Nixon, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch substituting for President Eisenhower, sees the hometown Senators post a 9 - 2 victory over Baltimore, behind a solid seven-hit, complete game performance by Pedro Ramos.
 
1963 - As a favor to former Indians infielder Johnny Berardino, now known as Johnny Beradino who plays Dr. Steve Hardy on General Hospital, Yogi Berra makes a cameo appearance on the popular ABC soap opera. The Yankee legend, known for his paradoxical contradictions, plays the role of Dr. Lawrence Berra, a brain surgeon.
 
1965 - Houston begins playing in the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' when they host an exhibition game against the Yankees at the Astrodome, the first domed sports stadium in history. In the opening ceremonies, 24 astronauts throw 24 ceremonial first pitches as the Colt .45's become the Astros. 
 
1966 - After sharing space at Wrigley Field in 1961 and Dodger Stadium from 1962-65 during their first five seasons in Los Angeles, the Angels move to nearby Anaheim into their own stadium. The 'Halos', now known as the California Angels, host the San Francisco Giants in a pre-season exhibition game in the first contest ever played at Anaheim Stadium.
 
1970 - On the Dick Cavet Show, Paul Simon tells Mickey Mantle the lyrics to Mrs. Robinson would have been 'Where have you gone, Mickey Mantle' but explains to his favorite player, "it's about syllables, Mick. It's about how many beats there are." The songwriter's most interesting and well-known lyrics will be instead, "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio, A nation turns its lonely eyes to you (Woo, woo, woo), What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson Joltin' Joe has left and gone away, (Hey, hey, hey...hey, hey, hey).
 


 
This Day in Baseball History - April 10th
 
1913 - In a game which features President Woodrow Wilson throwing out the first pitch, Washington's Walter Johnson gives up an unearned run in the first inning of the home opener but the 'Big Train' will not yield another tally for 56 innings. The Senators beat the team now known as the Yankees, 2-1, switching from the Highlanders, the nickname the team used since the franchise moved from Baltimore to New York for the 1903 season.
 
1947 - During the sixth inning of an exhibition game against their minor league team at Ebbets Field, the Montreal Royals, Dodgers' president Branch Rickey issues a two-sentence statement to the press that will forever change the game. It reads "The Brooklyn Dodgers today purchased the contract of Jackie Roosevelt Robinson from the Montreal Royals. He will report immediately."
 
1959 - Nellie Fox, who goes 5-for-7, hits an unlikely 14th-inning Opening Day home run off Don Mossi to beat the Tigers, 9-7. The White Sox second baseman did not homer in 623 at-bats the last season.
 
1961 - In the last opener ever to be played at Griffith Stadium, rookie president JFK throws out the longest and hardest thrown ceremonial first pitch in history as the ball sails over the heads of the players lined up in front of the presidential box. The newly elected commander in chief, an avid Red Sox fan, stays for the entire game and sees the 'new' Washington Senators, the former team having moved to Minnesota, play their first game losing to the White Sox, 4-3.
 
1962 - At Colt Stadium in Houston, thanks to a pair of three-run home runs by Roman Mejias, the Colt .45's, in their first ever major league game, defeat the Cubs, 11-2. Former Yankee hurler Bobby Shantz gets the win for the new franchise on the owner Judge Hofheinz's 50th birthday.
 
1962 - In front of 52,564 fans, Reds infielder Eddie Kasko doubles off of Johnny Podres in the first ever at-bat at Dodger Stadium. The home team, who played their first four seasons on the West Coast at the LA Memorial Coliseum, drops a 6-3 decision to Cincinnati in the debut of the new ballpark in Chavez Ravine.
 
1969 - Tommy Agee hits a monster shot into the into the top tier of seats in left field making the blast the longest home run to reach the seats in Shea Stadium history. A disc commemorating the Mets center fielder's historic homer is placed in the upper deck at the Flushing ballpark.
 
1971 - Despite temperatures in the low 40s, a crowd of 55,352, the largest in the history of Pennsylvania ever to watch a baseball game, witnesses the Phillies' first game at Veterans Stadium. Jim Bunning throws the first pitch and Larry Bowa singles, for the park's first hit, as Philadelphia defeats the Expos, 4-1.
 
1977 - At Fenway Park, the Indians (13) and the Red Sox (6) established a major league record for the most runs scored by both teams in one inning. The eighth inning barrage proves to be too much for Boston as Cleveland beats the home team, 19-9.
 
1985 - Cal Ripken sprains his left ankle during a pick-off play in the third inning of a game (444 of the streak) against the Rangers. The 'Iron man' does not leave the game and X-rays taken later in the day will reveal no fractures.
 
1989 - Dave Stieb pitches his third one-hitter in his past four starts when the Blue Jays beat the Yankees in the Bronx, 8-0. The 30-year old right-hander had also limited Baltimore and Cleveland to a lone hit during his last two starts the previous season.
 
1989 - Ken Griffey Jr., the youngest player in the majors, hits his first career homer on the first pitch he ever sees at his home ballpark, the Kingdome. The 19-year old, son of the Reds outfielder with the same name, takes White Sox's Eric King’s pitch deep on his father’s 39th birthday.
 
1990 - Wade Boggs is intentionally walked three times tying a major league mark for a nine-inning game.
 
1990 - At the SkyDome in Toronto, George Bush becomes the first U.S. president to throw the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day in Canada. After the international toss, the Blue Jays beat the visiting Rangers, 2-1.
 
2000 - Ken Griffey Jr. becomes the youngest player in major league history to hit 400 home runs when he goes deep into the left-field seats off Rolando Arrojo in the fourth inning of the Reds' 7-5 loss to Colorado at Coors Field. Thirty-year old 'Junior' reaches the milestone 107 days younger than Jimmie Foxx, who accomplished the feat in 1938 playing with the Red Sox.
 
2013 - The Red Sox sellout streak comes to an end when the less-than-capacity crowd of 30,863 fans watch the team drop an 8-5 decision to Baltimore at Fenway Park. The streak of 820 regular season and post season games, which began on May 15, 2003, surpasses the Portland Trailblazers' mark of 814 consecutive sold out contests, making the span the longest in major professional sports.
 
This Day in Baseball History - April 11th
 
1928 - On Opening Day, Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker are in the starting lineup for the Philadelphia A's. It is the future Hall of Famers' first game as teammates.
 
1961 - The upstart Angels playing their first game in franchise history defeat a strong Oriole team, 7-2. Ted Kluszewski homers twice and Eli Grba tosses a complete game for Los Angeles.
 
1961 - At Fenway Park, Red Sox rookie Carl Yastrzemski gets his first knock. A's hurler Ray Herbert gives up the first of 3,318 hits 'Captain Carl' will amass over a 23-year career.
 
1968 - The Tigers get the first of the 103 victories of their World Champion campaign in a dramatic manner. Gates Brown hits a walk-off home run as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth at Tiger Stadium to beat the Red Sox 4-3.
 
1985 - Nursing a sprained left ankle suffered during a pick off play in yesterday's game against the Rangers, Cal Ripken does not play in an exhibition game against the midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.
 
1993 - When Brewer catcher Dave Nilsson catches for Graeme Lloyd they become first all-Australian battery in major league history.
 
1997 - To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the integration of baseball, Sharon Robinson, Jackie’s daughter, and Pumpsie Green each threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park. In 1959, Green became to the first black to appear in a Red Sox uniform making Boston the last team to integrate in the major leagues.
 
This Day in Baseball History - April 12th
 
1909 - The 61-year history of Shibe Park begins with the A's defeating the Red Sox, 8-1. The stadium, which will be renamed to honor Connie Mack in 1953, is the first concrete and steel ballpark in major league history.
 
1912 - At Griffith Stadium prior to the Senators' 6-0 victory over the A's, James S. Sherman becomes the first U.S. Vice President to throw the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day. William Howard Taft does not attend the game due to the death of Archibald Butt, a friend lost in the sinking of the Titanic.
 
1916 - Due to a salary dispute with Joe Lannin, the Red Sox president, Tris Speaker is traded to the Indians for Sam Jones, Fred Thomas and approximately $50,000. The future Hall of Fame outfielder will spend half of his Hall of Fame career in Cleveland, compiling a .354 batting average during his 11 seasons playing for the Tribe after playing nine outstanding seasons in Boston.
 
1953 - At a preseason exhibition game in Brooklyn, the Ebbets Field public address announcer informs the crowd, including the new dad as he approaches home plate to bat, "Mickey doesn't know it yet, but he has just become the father of an eight-pound, twelve ounce baby boy". Mickey Mantle Jr., whose given middle name is Elven in memory of the Yankee slugger's recently deceased dad, is the first of four children, all sons, with his wife, Merlyn.
 
1955 - Pinch-hitting for Warren Spahn, Chuck Tanner, who become better known for his managerial skills, hits a home run for the Braves on the first pitch of his first major league at-bat. The 26 year-old outfielder's eight inning round-tripper off Gerry Staley ties the score in Milwaukee's eventual 4-2 victory over Cincinnati at County Stadium.
 
1955 - At Municipal Stadium, the recently arrived Athletics beat the Tigers, 6-2, in their first game in Kansas City. At first, the franchise's shift from Philadelphia will be warmly recieved by the Missouri fans as the A's draw 1,393,054 patrons to the ball park in their first season, second only to the Yankees in American League attendance.
 
1960 - The Indians trade Norm Cash to the Tigers in exchange for Steve Demeter. The Tribe, who acquired Cash in an off-season deal with the White Sox, will regret the move as they give away a future American League batting champ for someone who will play only four games with the franchise.
 
1966 - The first major league game played in Atlanta goes overtime when Pittsburgh beats the hometown Braves, 3-2. With the game deadlocked at 1-1 in the top of the thirteenth inning, starter Tony Cloninger, who will go the distance, gives up a two-run homer to Willie Stargell.
 
1972 - The Players' Association and owners agree to terms ending the first players strike in baseball history.
 
1976 - For only the second time in the 14-year history of the ballpark, a game is rained out at Dodger Stadium. The washout ends a streak started in April, 1967, a span covering 724 consecutive contests.
 
1988 - Ranger Bobby Witt ties an American League record committing four balks in a 4-1 loss to Tigers.
 
1994 - Scott Cooper hits for the cycle and drives in five runs helping the Red Sox to rout the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, 22-11. The third baseman's fifth inning triple is the result of being thrown out at the plate trying to stretch the three-bagger into an inside the park home run.
 
2001 - The Blue Jays-Royals game is postponed as a result of large sections of SkyDome's dome falling onto the field during testing of the stadium's retractable roof.
 
2002 - In their first sellout since winning the World Series in 1991, the Twins beat the toothless Tigers in the home opener, 4-2, in front of 48,244 loud and enthusiastic fans at the Metrodome. The Minnesota franchise had been considered for elimination due to MLB's contraction plan proposed during the off-season.
 
2004 - A 10-foot bronze statue of Richie Ashburn is unveiled at Citizens Bank Park, the new home of the Phillies. Zenos Frudakis's work of the five-time all-star can be found behind centerfield in Ashburn Alley, which features the team's Walk of Fame.
 
2008 - The Charleston RiverDogs, a Class-A minor league affiliate of the Yankees, commemorate the first visit of Benedict XVI to the United States with a Pope on a Rope Night promotion. The first 1,000 fans attending the South Atlantic League game against Rome at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park receive receive a soap figurine which bears a likeness of the Holy Father.
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2010 - During an unusually warm spring day, the hometown Twins beat Boston, 5-2, in the first regular-season game played at Target Field. Minnesota DH Jason Kubel hits the ballpark's first home run, a seventh inning shot into the right-field seats.
 
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