Classic Baseball Daily Highlights

• August 25, 1985, Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets becomes the youngest pitcher to win 20 games in a season. At 20 years, nine months, and nine days - one month younger than Bob Feller was when he won 20 games in 1939 - Gooden defeats the San Diego Padres, 9-3. Gooden will not follow Feller into the Hall of Fame but had 194 career wins and was part of two world champions, even though in 12 post season appereances he never won a game.

Holy Cow!

• August 25, 1956, the New York Yankees release longtime shortstop Phil Rizzuto, ending his playing career. The Yankees cut Rizzuto in order to make room for another Hall of Famer - outfielder Enos Slaughter. In 1957, the Yankees will add Rizzuto to their broadcasting crew. Four years earlier on this date Rizzuto was involved in controversional play, In a 1-0 win over the Yankees, Virgil Trucks of the Tigers pitches his second no-hitter of the season. The no-hitter is in doubt for three innings when a play made by shortstop Johnny Pesky in the third inning is under debate. Rizzuto's grounder is ruled an error, then a hit, before it is switched back to an error.

A pair of dazzling rookies:

• 1997 - Boston's Nomar Garciaparra singles twice to extend his hitting streak to 27 games, breaking the American League rookie record set by Guy Curtright of the Chicago White Sox in 1943. The Red Sox come back to beat the Mariners 9-8. Garciaparra's streak will extend to thirty games.
• 1986 - Oakland A's third baseman Mark McGwire hits his first major league home run, a 450-foot blast to center field off Walt Terrell, as Oakland beats Detroit 8-4 at Tiger Stadium.

Born on this day:

• Future Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers is born in Steubenville, Ohio. After a brilliant amateur career that includes American Legion “Player of the Year” honors, Fingers will make his major league debut with the Oakland A’s in 1968 and will become one of baseball's top relievers.

Historical Recap performed by:

Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says

This Day In Baseball is Sponsored by - www.vintagebaseballreflections.com - Join the membership today and listen to 50 years of baseball history told to you by the folks who were there! As a special offer, all our listeners can use the term - thisdayinbaseball at the membership check out.

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• August 24, 1989, Pete Rose signs an agreement that bans him from baseball permanently. Commissioner Bart Giamatti announces that the agreement does not contain either “an admission or a denial” that Rose bet on baseball games. The ruling will prevent Rose from seeking employment in the major leagues.
• August 24, 1971, Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs hits his 512th and final career home run. Banks’ homer helps the Cubs to a 5-4 victory.
• How many fans wish they had a owner like this? August 24, 1951, St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck pulls off another one of his famous stunts. Veeck allows over 1,000 fans to act as “managers” during a game at Sportsman’s Park. The fans use placards to vote on lineup and strategy decisions.
• August 24, 1969, the expansion Seattle Pilots trade knuckleballing pitcher Jim Bouton to the Houston Astros for pitchers Dooley Womack and Roric Harrison. Bouton will become a celebrity one year later when his book, "Ball Four", is published and becomes a best-seller.

Joe Glenn catches baseball's best hitters:

• Left fielder Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox pitches the last two innings in a 12-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Williams allows three hits and one run but strikes out Tiger slugger Rudy York. Joe Glenn, who caught Babe Ruth's last pitching appearance in 1933, is Williams'catcher.
• 1919 - Cleveland pitcher Ray Caldwell is flattened by a bolt of lightning in his debut with the team. He recovers to get the final out of the game, and defeats Philadelphia, 2-1.

Historical Recap performed by:

Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says

This Day In Baseball is Sponsored by - www.vintagebaseballreflections.com - Join the membership today and listen to 50 years of baseball history told to you by the folks who were there! As a special offer, all our listeners can use the term - thisdayinbaseball at the membership check out.

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Classic Baseball Broadcasts

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Grease Discovery:

• August 23, 1982, Gaylord Perry of the Seattle Mariners is caught putting a foreign substance on the ball. Long suspected of throwing a “spitball,” Perry is ejected from a game for the first and only time in his career.

Hall of Fame Debut:

• August 23, 1936, future Hall of Famer Bob Feller makes his first major league start and strikes out the first eight batters he faces. The Cleveland Indians’ rookie finishes the game with 15 strikeouts and a complete-game victory.

Historic Sale:

• August 23, 1980, Charlie Finley sells the Oakland A’s to the Levi Strauss company for nearly $13 million. During Finley’s reign in Oakland, the A’s won three consecutive World Championships. Finley also influenced the adoption of the designated hitter, World Series night games, and multi-colored uniforms.

3 7th Inning Stretches:

• 1989 - Rick Dempsey homers off Dennis Martinez in the top of the 22nd inning to break up a scoreless tie and give the Dodgers a 1 - 0 win over the Expos. The game features one thumbing - the umps toss the Expos mascot Youppi! in the 11th for annoying Tommy Lasorda - and he then returns in the 13th wearing pajamas. He carries a pillow and sleeps on the home dugout roof, where the umps have restricted him. In the 16th, Larry Walker apparently scores the game-winner, but the Dodgers appeal - with two umps in the tunnel - and get the play revesed. Eddie Murray in the 18th moves the second base ump and slams a drive that Walker traps off the padding in RF. Fans stand for three "seventh-inning stretches" during the major-league record (in time, and for a 1 - 0 game) 6 hours, 14 minute game. Other club records are set and several major league records are noted: most innings (22) without a walk by the Expos tops the Pirates (who used one pitcher) against the Giants, July 17, 1914.

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Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

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Cooperstwon Match up:

On August 22, 1989, Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers becomes the first major league pitcher to reach the 5,000 strikeout mark. Ryan fans Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A’s On a 96 mph fastball in the fifth inning. The "Ryan Express" strikes out 13 and gives up only five hits, but loses the game 2-0.

On August 22, 1965, San Francisco Giants ace Juan Marichal hits Los Angeles Dodgers catcher John Roseboro over the head with a bat. Marichal became angered when he thought Roseboro was throwing the ball too close to his head while returning throws to Sandy Koufax. The National League will suspend Marichal for eight days.The Los Angeles backstop suffers cuts on the head during the 14-minute brawl.

August 22, 1961, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hits his 50th home run of the season during a 4-3 loss to the expansion Los Angeles Angels. Maris becomes the first player to reach the 50-home run mark during the month of August. Maris will eventually break Babe Ruth’s record for most home runs in a single season.

2010

Lou Piniella retires after 23 seasons as a manager. In his last game at the helm, his Cubs lose, 16 - 5, at home to the Atlanta Braves. Piniella missed some time earlier this year to be with his ailing mother, and had announced that this season would be his last. Coach Mike Quade will take over as interim manager for the remainder of the season. Piniella retires with a lifetime record of 1835-1712.

August 22, 1959, future Hall of Famer Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds hits three home runs in an 11-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Robinson’s trio of blasts come in consecutive at-bats. and 7 years later in 1966 - At a private party for the Robinson falls into a swimming pool and is saved from drowning by Andy Etchebarren, who dives in to rescue his teammate.

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August 20th, 1923 - A four-piece bat used by Babe Ruth is banned by American League president Ban Johnson because of the glue used on it. Johnson rules that all bats must be one piece with nothing added except tape extending to 18 inches up the handle.

On August 20th, 1934 Lou Gehrig hits a first-inning grand slam off A’s pitcher Buck Ross in an 11-3 Yankee win. It is the 23rd and last grand slam of his career for a still-standing record.

August 20th, 1960, Ted Williams joins Babe Ruth as the only batters to collect 2,000 walks during the Red Sox's split of a twi-night doubleheader with Baltimore.

August 20th, 1965, Eddie Mathews hits his 28th home run as the Braves win 4-3 at Pittsburgh. The Braves duo of Mathews and Hank Aaron, from ‘54 to ‘65, becomes the top home run duo in major league history, passing the Ruth-Gehrig total of 772 home runs while they were Yankee teammates.

August 20th, 1989, Howard Johnson hits his 30th home run of the season in the Mets' 5 - 4 loss to the Dodgers and joins Barry Bonds and Willie Mays as the only players to compile 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in two different seasons.

August 20th, 1998, Cardinal first baseman Mark McGwire becomes the first player in major league history to hit 50 home runs in three consecutive seasons with a seventh-inning solo shot. The Cards beat the Mets, 2-0.

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Classic Baseball Broadcasts

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August 19th, 1917 While Coaching at third base for Detroit in a 1-1 tie against The Senators, Ty Cobb shoves base runner George Burns as he pulled up at third on a long hit. Burns headed home scoring the winning run.

Senators Manager and future Hall of Famer Clark Griffith protested and American League President Ban Johnson upheld the protest, as the rule bans coaches from touching a runner. The game is replayed and Washington wins 2-0.

On August 19th, 1921 Ty Cobb becomes the youngest player to collect 3000 hits singling off Red Sox hurler Elmer Myers at the age of 34.

The New York Giants Board of Directors votes 9-1 in favor of moving the team to San Francisco on August 19th, 1957.

August 19th, 1982 - Scheduled to pitch against the Expos at home, Braves rookie Pascual Perez misses his scheduled start when he can't find his way to the ballpark. Perez circled the stadium on the interstate several times but was lost. He will be given a Braves jacket with the new number I-85 on it. Phil Niekro steps in and wins, 5-4, running his record to 11and 3.

August 19th, 1987, Paul Molitor leads the Brewers, collecting four hits in a 13–4 drubbing of Cleveland. Molitor extends his hitting streak to 34 games tying Dom DiMaggio for 11th on the all-time list.

August 19th, 1998 Starting Pitcher Dustin Hermanson of the Montreal Expos allows three hits in seven innings in an 8–2 victory. This was Felipe Alou’s 521st career win as manager of the Montreal Expos, most in franchise history. Hermanson was clearly Alou’s good luck charm as he was also the starting and winning pitcher in Alou's 400th, 450th, and 500th win.

August 19th, 2000 Jeff Bagwell hits two home runs and drives home five runs in the Astros 10-8 victory over the Brewers. Bagwell is the first Astro to reach 300 homers in his career.

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Classic Baseball Broadcasts

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August 18th, 1967 During the Red Sox “Impossible dream” season, tragedy strikes when Tony Conigliaro is beaned by the Angels' Jack Hamilton. Hit just below his left eye, Conigliaro would miss the rest of the season and all of ‘68. The injury effectively ended the career of a player who by the time he was 22 had become the youngest in American League history and second-youngest player in major-league history to hit 100 career homers.

August 18th 1989, in a 9-2 Toronto win, Baltimore shortstop Cal Ripken plays in his 1,208th consecutive game passing Steve Garvey for the 3rd longest streak in major league history.

August 18th, 1995, after 39 years at the mike, Yankees announcer and Hal of Famer, Phil Rizzuto retires as team broadcaster. The “Scooter’s” retirement was prompted by a dispute with WPIX-TV who refused to allow him to miss a game to attend the funeral of teammate Mickey Mantle. The voice of the Yankees would eventually return for the 1996 season.

Taking full control of the game, Milwaukee pitcher Lew Burdette pitches a 1-0 no-hitter against the Phillies facing just 27 batters and scoring the game’s only run.

On August 18th,1906, Wee Willie Keeler strikes out for only the second time this season, falling both times to White Sox pitcher Ed Walsh’s illegal spitball.

In 1902, the first unassisted triple play ever in a professional game is executed by first baseman Hal O'Hagan of the Rochester Bronchos (Eastern League) against Jersey City.

Roberto Clemente was born on this day on August 18th, 1934.

Historical Recap performed by:

Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Mentioned in this episode:

New CBB Podcast Intro

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August 17th, 1966 San Francisco Giant outfielder Willie Mays moves into second place on the all-time home run list with a 4th-inning blast off Ray Washburn. Seven years to the day later, in 1973, the 42-year old Mays, now with the Mets hits the 660th and final home run of his career off Reds lefty Don Gullett.

August 17th, 1923. After 111 games, Babe Ruth has 31 homers and is hitting .401. He ends the season with his highest single season batting average, .393, a major league record 170 walks, and 4 times hit by pitches. Ruth collected 205 hits and reached base a record 379 times.

The Iron Man Cometh…August 17th, 1933 Lou Gehrig quietly surpasses the record of 1,308 consecutive games played held by Everett Scott on his way to a new record of 2,130 consecutive games played.

August 17th, 1985 Reggie Jackson hits his 522nd career home run off Oakland's Bill Krueger to move past Ted Williams and Willie McCovey into 8th place on the all-time list.

August 17th, 1986, Pete Rose makes his final major league appearance, striking out as a pinch hitter against Padres closer Rich “Goose” Gossage.

August 17th, 1980, George Brett raises his batting average to .401 going 4 for 4 with five RBI in an 8 - 3 Kansas City win. His first hit of the day also extended his hitting streak to 29 consecutive games.

August 17th, 1992 – Dodgers pitcher Kevin Gross tosses a 99 pitch no-hitter, defeating the Giants by a score of 2 - 0. It is the eighth no-hitter in LA Dodgers history.

Historical Recap performed by:

Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says

This Day In Baseball is Sponsored by - www.vintagebaseballreflections.com - Join the membership today and listen to 50 years of baseball history told to you by the folks who were there! As a special offer, all our listeners can use the term - thisdayinbaseball at the membership check out.

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Classic Baseball Broadcasts

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Post Roll March 26

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“The Babe”, George Herman Ruth, was the first sports superstar. He had the potential to be baseball’s greatest left-handed pitcher. Instead, he moved to the outfield and became its greatest hitter. Until Ruth arrived in New York in 1918, the Yankees had never won a pennant. Babe Ruth dies of throat cancer at age 53 in New York on August 16th 1948. He lied in state at Yankee Stadium and St. Patrick’s Cathedral more than 100,000 mourners would show their respects.

August 16th, 2010 New York Giant Great, Bobby Thompson passes away. On October 3rd 1951, dubbed the "Shot Heard 'Round the World," Thompson hit a game-deciding, three-run home run the final game of a three-game playoff between the Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers. It is considered by many to be one of the most memorable and dramatic homers in baseball history.

August 16th 1940- Jimmie Foxx smashes two homers to help the Red Sox beat the Senators. The two round trippers move him ahead of Lou Gehrig on the all-time list with a total of 495. 2

August 16th, 1966 - Willie Mays hits his 534th home run, matching Jimmie Foxx's record for right-handed batters, as Gaylord Perry beats the Cardinals, 3 - 1.

August 16th 2002 The Twins down the Red Sox, 5 - 0, in the process ending Pedro Martinez's scoreless inning streak at 35. It is the longest such streak in the majors since 2000. Pedro’s 2000 season is considered by many to be the best season ever pitched in the history of the game.

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Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

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Post Roll March 26

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On August 15th, 1971 - Vida Blue raised his record to 22-4 as the A's beat the Yankees, 6 - 4. Blue masterfully scattered 10 hits and scored the tie breaking run on a wild pitch. He would finish the season at 24-8, with a 1.82 ERA earning him not only the American League Cy Young Award, but also the American League MVP.

On August 15th, 1977 In a 2 - 1 win over Kansas City, Boston's Jim Rice hits a 3rd-inning double and became the first Boston player since Ted Williams in 1939 to hit 20 homers, 20 doubles and 10 triples in a season. Between Williams and Rice, only Charlie “King Kong” Keller in 1946, DiMaggio twice in ’48 and 50, and Mickey Mantle accomplished the feat.

On August 15th, 1996 Frank Thomas hits three homers for the White Sox, becoming the ChiSox career home run leader, but Boston wins 9-8. Thomas hits his first two off Tim Wakefield, giving him 214 bombs to pass Carlton Fisk who caught for both the White and Red Sox during his career.

August 15th, 1916 - At Fenway Park in a battle of titans, Boston's Babe Ruth outduels Nationals' ace Walter Johnson, winning 1-0 in 13 innings. Ruth is now 3-0 in his meetings with Johnson.

August 15th, 1955, Mickey Mantle homers from both sides of the plate in the same game for the second time in his career, tying the major-league mark. The Yanks beat the Orioles 12 - 6 in game two and sweep the doubleheader to move back into first.

August 15th, 1962 - Pinch-hit home runs by the Mets' Choo Choo Coleman in the 6th and Jim Hickman in the 8th tie the major-league record for pinch home runs by one club in one game. The Mets still lose to the Phils, 8 - 7. Three years later to the day, Max Alvis and Leon Wagner also hit pinch hit homers for Cleveland in a 6-4 win over Minnesota.

Historical Recap performed by:

Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says

This Day In Baseball is Sponsored by - www.vintagebaseballreflections.com - Join the membership today and listen to 50 years of baseball history told to you by the folks who were there! As a special offer, all our listeners can use the term - thisdayinbaseball at the membership check out.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Mentioned in this episode:

Post Roll March 26

New CBB Podcast Intro