This day in baseball

[Lefty]

September 24.

1916 At Cleveland's League Park, Marty Kavanaugh hits the first-ever pinch hit grand slam in baseball history. The infielder's historic homer proves to be the difference as the Indians beat the Red Sox, 5-3.


1922 Cardinals outfielder Rogers Hornsby hits home runs off Giant hurlers Jesse and Virgil Barnes. The homers served up by the brothers enables the ‘Rajah’ to set the National League record for round trippers in a season with 42.


1928 A crowd of only 404 fans, the smallest American League crowd ever in Detroit, watch the Tigers blank the last-place Red Sox, 8-0.


1940 At Shibe Park, Red Sox first baseman Jimmie Foxx blasts his 500th career home run off A's pitcher George Caster. The historic homer is one of four round trippers hit in the inning setting an American League mark.


1957 Grounding out, Pirates left-handed first baseman Dee Fondy becomes last player ever to bat in Ebbets Field as the Dodgers blank the Bucs, 2-0 in the last major league game ever played in Brooklyn.


1969 Gary Gentry four-hits the Cardinals, 6-0, helping the Mets become the first team to clinch a National League East title.


1974 At Memorial Stadium, Tiger outfielder Al Kaline gets his 3000th hit. The milestone hit is a double off Oriole hurler Dave McNally in a 5-4 loss to the Birds.


1984 The Cubs clinch the National League East flag as Rick Suttcliffe two-hits the Pirates, 4-2. It is the Northsiders first title since 1945,


1985 Andre Dawson hits two homers in the same inning for the second time in his career becoming the second major leaguer to accomplish the feat. The Expo outfielder also went yard twice in the same frame on July 30, 1978.


1986 Astros rookie starter Jim Deshaies sets a major league record by striking out the first eight batters he faces. The young left-hander will finish with a two-hitter and 10 strikeouts beating the Dodgers, 4-0.


1988 Jose Canseco of the A's becomes baseball's first 40-40 player as he swipes his 39th and 40th base in a 14 inning victory over the Brewers, 9-8.


1992 At the age of 40, Dave Winfield drives in four runs with a homer and a two-run double becoming the oldest player to drive in 100 runs. The future Hall of Famer's offensive outburst helps the Blue Jays beat the Orioles, 8-2.


1992 Rookie center fielder Kenny Lofton establishes an Indian record stealing his 62nd base of the season.


1993 Defeating the Reds the Cincinnati Reds 9-2, the Rockies set a National League record for wins by an expansion team. Colorado's 65th win of the season surpasses the mark established by the Houston Colt .45s. in 1962.


1998 Red Sox reliever Tom Gordon records his 42nd consecutive save establishing a major league record.


2001 Hitting his 55th home run off fireballer Daisuke Matsuzaka, former American major leaguer Tuffy Rhodes ties the Japanese record set by Sadaharu Oh in 1964. The Kintetsu Buffaloes outfielder has five games left to break the immortal Oh's record.


2002 Thanks to Jason's two home runs in the Yankees 6-0 whitewash of the Devil Rays, the Giambi brothers (Jason 40, Jeremy 20) pass the DiMaggio siblings for the highest single-season total for homers with 60. The DiMaggios (Joe 46, Vince, 13) went yard 59 times in 1937.


2002 The Astros have their first rain delay at home since July 15, 1976. To save time, officials decide to cover the Minute Maid field with a tarp during the 19-minute rather than use the retractable roof .

 

[Lefty]

September 25.

1907 In a game against the Giants. Pirates' third baseman Honus Wagner swipes four bases, including second, third, and home in the second inning. Fred Clarke also has four stolen bases for the Pittsburgh.

1929 After turning over the team over to Art Fletcher and checking into the hospital, Yankee manager Miller Huggins dies suddenly at the age of 50 as a result of erysipelas. "Hug', who won six pennants and three World Series in his 12 years as skipper of the Bronx Bombers, will be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964.


1941 Combined with a Cardinal defeat, the Dodgers win their first pennant in 21 years when they beat the Braves, 6-0 .Whitlow Wyatt's throws a five-hitter and Pete Reiser hits a homer in the winning cause.


1954 A crowd 14,175 Fenway faithful fans pay tribute to retiring Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams who is playing his last game at home. The 'Splendid Splinter's retirement will only last until May when his divorce is finalized with his contract being excluded from the settlement.


1955 At the age of 20, Al Kaline becomes the youngest player to win a batting title. The Tigers' outfielder finishes the season with .340 average.


1956 Dodger Sal Maglie, 39, no-hits the Phillies, 5-0, at Ebbets Field. The 'Barber's' gem helps Brooklyn to keep pace in the pennant race with the Braves and Reds.


1960 Defeating the Red Sox, 4-3, the Yankees clinched the American League. It will be 70-year old Casey Stengel's tenth and last pennant as he will let go by the Yankees and be replaced by Ralph Houk next season.


1965 At the alleged age of 60, Satchel Paige becomes the oldest player ever to appear in a major league game. Pitching for the Kansas City A's, he blanks the Red Sox for three innings striking out one and giving up just one hit to Carl Yastrzemski.


1965 At age 34, Willie Mays becomes the oldest player to slug 50 home runs in a seasons. Giant center fielder was also the youngest to accomplish the feat hitting 51 homers in 1955.


1973 It's Willie Mays Day in Flushing as the Mets honor the 'Say-Hey Kid' in an emotional ceremony at Shea Stadium.


1974 In a revolutionary surgical operation, Dr. Frank Jobe repairs Tommy John's damaged ulnar collateral ligament by replacing the elbow tendon of the pitching arm with a tendon from the right wrist. The procedure, now known as Tommy John surgery, give the southpaw, who was unlikely ever be able to pitch again, an opportunity to win an additional 164 victories.


1979 Behind the solid pitching of Frank Tanana, the Angels defeat the Royals, 4-1, to win their first American League West title.


1984 Mets' Rusty Staub becomes only the second player to hit home run as a teenager and one after his 40th birthday. Ty Cobb was the first major leaguer to accomplish the feat.


1987 In a 5-3 loss to the Dodgers, Padres' catcher Benito Santiago sets a major league record for rookies by hitting safely in his 27th consecutive game.


1989 Red Sox announce the team will not exercise its option on Jim Rice next season. Bob Stanley, the club's all-time save leader with 173, reports he will call it quits after this season.


1989 Wade Boggs extends his own modern major league record when he collects his 200th hit for the seventh consecutive season. The Red Sox third baseman goes 4-for-5 as Boston beats the Yankees, 7-4.


1997 The Astros clinch their first division 11 years by beating the Cubs, 9-1. Houston wins the National League Central despite only being five games over .500.


1997 Donning uniform number 43 to honor recently fired manager Cito Gaston, Joe Carter becomes the Blue Jay's career home run leader hitting his 203rd in a 4-3 victory over the Orioles. George Bell had been Toronto's home run leader.


1998 With a 6-1 win over the Devil Rays, the Bronx Bombers set an American League record with their 112th win. The 1906 Cubs, who went 116-36, are the only team with more victories than the 1998 Yankees.


1998 By hitting a 462-foot blast at the Astrodome, Sammy Sosa hits #66 (and his final homer of the season) to take the lead in the HR race. Less than an hour later, however, Mark McGwire also hits his 66th in the Cardinals' 6-5 victory over the Expos to tie the Cub outfielder in the historic home run race.


1998 Ken Griffey, Jr. hits his league-leading 56th homer of the season and 350th of his career becoming the youngest player ever to reach the 350 mark.


2000 At Jacobs Field, the Indians play both the White Sox and the Twins in the first three-team doubleheader since 1951. The Tribe wins the opener 9-2, but losses the second game, to Minnesota, 4-3.


2001 In the Brewers 9-4 victory over the Diamondbacks, Richie Sexson and Jeromy Burnitz both hit three home runs. It is the first time in major league history two teammates have hit three homers in the same game.


2003 Sammy Sosa becomes the first National Leaguer to have at least 100-RBIs nine seasons in a row. The Cubs' right fielder surpasses Mel Ott and Willie Mays who had accomplished the feat eight straight seasons, and joins Rafael Palmeiro and Jimmie Foxx as the only players in major league history to hit 35 home runs and 100 RBI for nine consecutive seasons.


2003 Carlos Delgado becomes the 15th player in big-league history and only the fifth American Leaguer player to hit four home runs in one game. The Blue Jays' first baseman's first homer was the 300th of his career and his barrage gives him 41 for the season.

 

[Lefty]

September 26.

1896 Cleveland's Jesse Burkett gets three hits to finish the season at .410. The 'Crab' becomes the first player to hit .400 in consecutive seasons.


1906 After setting a major league record of being shutout for 48 consecutive innings, the A's finally score a run thanks to Harry Davis' two-run double. The Mackmen, however, still lose to the Cleveland Naps, 5-3.


1908 Ed Reulbach pitches two shutouts in the same day whitewashing Brooklyn 5-0 on a five-hitter and 3-0 on a three-hitter. The entire doubleheader is played in less than three hours.


1926 In his final day in a Tiger uniform, Ty Cobb watches his replacement in centerfield gets six hits in a twin bill with the Red Sox to become the new batting champs as Heinie Manush edges Babe Ruth 378 to .372 for the title.


1954 With three hits in the season finale, Willie Mays wins the batting title finishing with a .345 average. The ‘Say Hey’ goes third to first in batting average with his performance passing teammate Don Mueller (.342) and Dodger centerfielder Duke Snider (341).


1961 Yankee outfielder Roger Maris Yankees ties Babe Ruth's 34-year-old single season home run record with his 60th when he homers off Oriole Jack Fisher.


1965 Twin hurler Jim Kaat stops the Senators in a 2-1 decision and Minnesota (formerly the original Senators) clinch their first pennant since 1933.


1975 By beating J.R. Richards and the Astros, 3-2, Burt Horton sets a Dodger record for starting pitchers by winning his twelfth consecutive game.


1976 Phillies beat Expos in the first game of a doubleheader to clinch National League East title. After the second game, Dick Allen bolts from the team to protest Tony Taylor not being placed on the post-season roster.


1981 At the Astrodome, Astro Nolan Ryan becomes the first pitcher to throw five no-hitters defeating the Dodgers, 5-0.


1983 Cardinal Bob Forsch pitches his second career no-hitter beating the Expos, 3-0.


1993 By striking out 13 A's in 10 innings of a 3-2, extra inning loss, Mariner Randy Johnson becomes the 12th pitcher this century to strike out 300 batters in a season.


1998 David Cone sets a new major league record for the most years between 20-win seasons as the Yankees beat Devil Rays, 3-1. Cone, who was 20-3 in 1988 as a Met, passed the mark set by Jim Katt who won twenty in 1966 and 1974.


1998 In a 5-2 loss to the Orioles at Fenway, Red Sox reliever Dennis Eckersley pitches in his 1,071st game breaking Hoyt Wilhelm's major league mark for the most career pitching appearance.


1998 Rickey Henderson, 39, steals his 66th base of the season. The all-time stolen base leader is the oldest player to ever steal more than 50 bases in a season.

 

[Lefty]

September 27.

1877 With their 19th victory in the last 20 games, Boston clinches the National League pennant beating the Hartford Dark Blues,13-2. James 'Deacon' White, the league's leading hitter, paces the Reds' attack with a 4-for-4 performance.


1898 Reds' first baseman Jake Beckley handles a record 22 chances (21 put outs, one assist and no errors) during a victory over the Cleveland Spiders.


1904 Cleveland Naps' right-handed pitcher Bob Rhoads holds Boston hitless until Chick Stahl singles with two outs in the ninth.


1905 Boston Pilgrim hurler Bill Dinneen pitches the season's fourth no-hitter beating the White Sox, 2-0.


1914 Cleveland's Napoleon Lajoie doubles against the Yankees for his 3000th career hit to become the second modern major leaguer to reach the milestone.


1920 An article appearing in the Philadelphia North American quotes local gambler Bill Maharg saying he and former major league pitcher Billy Burns offered eight White Sox players $100,000 to throw the 1919 World Series. The team will become known as the Black Sox.


1936 Replacing Johnny Mize, who is tossed by an ump for arguing, Cardinal rookie first baseman Walter Alston makes an error in handling two chances and strikes out in his only major league at-bat. 'Smokey' will, however, win seven pennants and four World Series in his 23-year Hall of Fame career as Dodger manager from 1954 to 1976.


1938 Tiger first baseman Hank Greenberg hits two home runs to extend his league-leading total to 58. Although five games remain, Hammerin' Hank does not break Babe Ruth's mark of 60.


1946 In Detroit's Briggs Stadium, Indian fireballer Bob Feller ties Rube Wadell's strikeout mark with his 343rd K of the season. Future research, however, will show Rube Waddell had struck out 349 in 1904.


1952 During the Braves' final win in Boston, Eddie Mathews becomes the first rookie in major league history to hit three home runs in a game.


1953 In a fitting finale, the St. Louis plays their last game as the Browns and lose their 100th game, 2-1, to the White Sox in 11 innings. Next season the team will move to Baltimore and will become the Orioles.


1963 At Colt Stadium, Colt .45s skipper Harry Craft starts an all rookie team which includes future stars such as Joe Morgan, Rusty Staub, Jimmy Wynn, and Jerry Grote. The freshmam team, who has average age is 19years and 4 months, lose to the Mets, 10-3, with 17-year old starting pitcher Jay Dahl making his only major league appearance.


1964 The Houston Colt 45's play their final game in Colt Stadium. The future 'Astros' beat the Dodgers in the 12th inning, 1-0.


1973 Angels' fireballer Nolan Ryan establishes a major league record striking out 383 batters in a season. The Texan reaches the mark by whiffing 16 Twins in a 5-4, 11-inning victory.


1992 Mariner Randy Johnson ties Ron Guidry's American League mark for strikes out (18) in a game for a lefthanders.


1993 In a 7-3 victory over the Dodgers, Cubs' reliever Randy Myers becomes the first National League pitcher to record 50 saves in a season.


1993 Bo Jackson hits a three-run home run beating the Mariners, 4-2, helping the White Sox to clinch their first American League West title in 10 years.


1996 Roberto Alomar spits in the face of the umpire John Hirschbeck and will be suspended for five games. The Oriole second baseman appeals the decision and is allowed to play the next day helping Baltimore clinch the wild card.


1998 In the season finale, Mark McGwire ends the historic season hitting his 69th and 70th home runs in the Cardinals' 6-3 win over the Expos. Big Mac hits #70 in his last at-bat off of Expos' rookie Carl Pavano of Southington, Connecticut.


1998 In Blue Jay's 2-1 victory over the Tigers, Detroit pinch-hitter Bobby Higginson homers with two outs off of Blue Jay Roy Halladay to spoil the rookies' bid for a no-hitter. The Denver, Colorado native comes within one out of allowing no hits in only his second major league start.


1998 The 1998 Yankees win their seventh straight game to end the season with a .704 winning percentage. The Bronx Bombers (114-48) become the first team since the 1954 Indians (111-43) to play over .700 ball for the entire season.


1998 In the Reds' 4-1 victory over Pirates, two sets of brothers appear in the same lineup for the first time in major league history. Stephen Larkin plays first, Bret Boone is at second, Barry Larkin is at short and Aaron Boone plays third making up the all-brother infield.


1998 Padres' reliever Trevor Hoffman ties the National League saves record as he gets three straight outs in a 3-2 victory over Arizona. His 53rd save (out of 54 chances) matches the standard set by current teammate Randy Myers, who did it for the Cubs in 1993.


1999 In the final game to be played in the 87-year old park, Detroit catcher Robert Fick hits the last home run, a grand slam, in Tiger Stadium as the home team defeats the Royals, 8-2 at the corner Trumbull and Michigan.


2000 The United States Olympic team, managed by former Dodger skipper Tommy Lasorda, stuns the world beating the much-favored Cuban team to win the country's first gold medal in its national pastime. Ben Sheets ends Cuba's 21-game Olympic winning streak with 4-0 shutout.


2002 Braves' first-year closer John Smoltz establishes a new National League mark by recording his 54th save of the season. The previous record of 53 was shared by Randy Myers (Cubs) and Trevor Hoffman (Padres) had shared the previous record.


2002 At Cleveland's Jacob Field, first baseman Jim Thome establishes a new single-season Indian home run record by hitting his 51st homer. Albert Belle hit 50 for the Tribe in 1995.


2003 At Veterans Stadium, Javy Lopez hit his 42nd home to break the major league record for home runs hit by a catcher. In 1996, Mets' backstop Todd Hundley hit 41 surpass Roy Campanella's 1953 mark.


2003 Cubs' slugger Sammy Sosa blasts his 40th home run to establish a National League record by reaching the plateau for the sixth consecutive season. The Chicago right fielder, who had previously been tied with Ralph Kiner and Duke Snider, needs another season of at least 40 homers to equal Babe Ruth's major league mark of seven seasons set from 1926 to 1932.


2003 With a startling rally, the Tigers avoid equaling the modern major league record of 120 losses set by the expansion 1962 Amazin' Mets. It takes one of the biggest comeback in franchise history as Detroit beats the wins on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth after trailing by eight runs, 9-8.

 

[Lefty]

September 28.

1919 In a game that lasts only 51 minutes, the Giants beat the Phillies, 6-1 making it the shortest nine-inning game in major league history.


1920 In the 'Black Sox Scandal', eight players of the White Sox are indicted by the grand jury on charges of fixing the last season's World Series.


1923 Setting an American League record, the Yankees bang out thirty hits in one game as they maul the Red Sox, 24-4.


1930 As a Yankee, Babe Ruth returns to the mound at Fenway park and pitches a complete game defeating the Red Sox, 9-3.


1938 In the ninth inning at Wrigley Field, Gabby Hartnett's 'Homer in the Gloamin' gives the Cubs a 6-5 victory. Their ninth consecutive win proves to be significant in their quest of the National League pennant.


1941 Batting really .399955, Ted Williams elects to play in a doubleheader against the Athletics on the final day of the season rather than to back into the coveted .400 average because the number is rounded off. The 'Splendor Splinter' comes through going 6-for-8 in the twin bill to finish the season with .4057 mark (.406).

1948 A crowd of 60,405 attend Joe Early Night at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium. Early is a 26-year old night watchman who wrote Bill Veeck asking why an average fan never gets a 'Day', and the Indians' owner responded by giving the World War II veteran a day of his own.


1951 Allie Reynolds no-hits the Red Sox helping the Yankees clinch the pennant for the third consecutive season. It was the 'Chief's' second no-hitter of the season.


1958 .With 7 hits in his last 11 at-bats, Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams wins his sixth and final batting becoming the first 40-year old to lead the league in hitting. The 'Splendid Splinter's' .328 batting average beats out his teammate Pete Runnels, who goes 0-for-4 today and ends up with .322.


1960 In his last major league at bat, Ted Williams homers off Oriole hurler Jack Fischer. Despite the Fenway's Faithful thunderous ovation, the 'Splendid Splinter' refused to tip his hat the hometown fans.


1965 Red Sox hurler Dave Morehead faces and loses to the Angels for the tenth consecutive time since the start of his career (1963) establishing an American League record.


1974 At Anaheim Stadium, Angel Nolan Ryan strikes out 15 batters as he no-hits the Twins, 4-0. It is the third of seven the Alvin, Texas native will toss during his career.


1975 In a tune-up for the ALCS against the Angels, A's pitchers Vida Blue, Glenn Abbott, Paul Lindblad and Rollie Fingers share a no-hitter. It is the first time four pitchers have accomplished such a feat.


1995 A fan takes exception when a Cub reliever gives up two-run, pinch-hit home run to James Mouton giving the Astros a eighth inning 9-7 lead. As the Houston pinch hitter rounds the bases, the 27-year old spectator runs out of the stands and heads toward the mound where he is immediately pinned by Randy Myers, who in addition to his pitching prowess, is well trained in the martial arts.


1987 Royals' Kevin Seitzer becomes the first rookie in 23 years to collect 200 hits in a season. Dick Allen and Tony Oliva both accomplished the feat in 1964.


1988 In his last start of the regular season, Dodger Orel Hershiser tosses 10 shutout frames to extend his streak to 59 breaking Don Drysdale record of 58 consecutive scoreless innings.


1996 Rockies' Ellis Burks becomes the fourth player to hit 40+ home runs and swipe 30 bases in a single season.


1997 With his 40th home runs, catcher Mike Piazza sets a single season Los Angeles Dodger record. Duke Snider holds the franchise record slugging 43 round-trippers for Brooklyn in 1956.


1998 In the first National League playoff since 1980, the Cubs beat the Giants, 5-3, in a one-game showdown to take the National League's wild card berth.


2000 The Brewers play the last game at Milwaukee County Stadium bowing to the Reds, 8-1 as Warren Spahn throws the ceremonial first pitch to Del Crandall, his battery on Opening Day 48 years ago in 1953 when the Spahn and the Braves beat the Cardinals in 10 innings, 3-2.


2000 Troy Glaus, who leading the American League with 45 home runs, hits his 44th playing the hot corner breaking the league record for homers by a third baseman set in 1953 by Al Rosen.


2001 In the first home game at Wrigley since the terrorist attacks on America, Sammy Sosa, after hitting his 59th home run of the season, pulls out a small American flag and waves it as he circles the bases. After scoring and making a curtain call from the dugout, the Cub slugger continues to wave Old Glory.


2001 Ranger infielder Alex Rodriguez becomes the 20th player and first shortstop in major league history to hit 50 home runs season. The milestone blast is given up by Angel hurler Ismael Valdes in the first inning in at Edison Field in an 11-2 Texas win.


2001 Angel infielder David Eckstein breaks Frank Robinson's rookie record for getting hit by a pitch. The Halos' shortstop is struck by Rangers hurler Aaron Mayette's fifth inning pitch making it the 21st time he been plunked this season.


2001 On a night he hits his 68th round tripper of the season in quest of Mark McGwire's single season home run record, Barry Bonds is walked for the 163rd time breaking 'Big Mac's' 1998 National League record for bases on balls. The major league record is 170 walks held by Babe Ruth.


2003 Ron Santo, the team's radio color commentator joins Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Billy Williams becoming third player to have his number retired by the Cubs. The former third baseman, who spent 14 of his 15-year career with the Chicago (1960-73), will have his uniform #10 below Ernie Banks' on the left-field foul pole.

 

[Lefty]

September 29.

1907 Phillies' freshman hurler George McQuillan begins his major league career with 32 shutout innings establishing a rookie record.


1908 Allowing only one walk, Ed Walsh wins both ends of a doubleheader to establish an American League record. The Meriden, Connecticut resident beats the Red Sox at Chicago’s South Side Park 5-1 and 2-0.


1913 Senators' legend Walter Johnson beats the Philadelphia A's, 1-0, to finish the season with 36 victories.


1946 On the last day of the campaign, by striking out opposing pitcher Hal Newhouser and four others, Bob Feller establishes a major league record by striking out his 348 batters in one season. Future research, however, will show Rube Waddell had struck out 349 in 1904.


1951 At Philadelphia’s Shibe Park, Don Newcombe becomes the first black to win 20 games in a season. The Dodger right-hander bests Robin Roberts and blanks the Phillies, 5-0.


1954 Centerfielder Willie Mays makes 'The Catch', a spectacular over-the-shoulder grab, robbing Vic Wertz of an extra hit. The Giants, thanks to pinch-hitter Dusty Rhodes home run, beat the Indians 5-2 in Game 1 of the World Series.


1958 At Forbes Field on the last day of the season, Dave Philley of the Phillies establishes a big-league record by getting his 8th consecutive pinch hit in a 10-inning 6–4 victory over the Pirates.


1963 In his last game, Stan Musial helps the Cardinals beat the Reds, 3-2 at Busch Stadium getting two hits in his final three at-bats. The 'Man' will retire with 3,630 hits (1815 hits at home and 1815 on the road).


1971 Expos second baseman Ron Hunt is plunked by a pitch for the 50th time of the season establishing a big league record. By comparison, the runner-up in the league, teammate Rusty Staub, will only be hit by a pitch nine times.


1976 Tommy Lasorda is named to succeed Walter Alston as Dodger manager. 'Smokey', compiled a 2040-1613 record (.558), during his 23-year tenure with the club winning seven pennants and four world championships.


1986 Mike and Greg Maddux become the first siblings to start a game against one another. In the rookie match-up, Cubs' righty Greg beats his older brother and the Phillies, 6-3.


1987 Yankees' first baseman Don Mattingly sets a major league record by hitting his sixth grand slam of the season.


2000 Gary Sheffield ties Duke Snider's 1956 mark for the Dodgers' franchise single-season home run record with his career best 43rd round tripper helping Los Angeles to defeat the Padres, 3-0.


2001 On three consecutive pitches, Astros' starter Dave Mlicki gives up homers to Fred McGriff, Rondell White and Todd Hundley. The back-to-back-to-back homers enables the Cubs to beat Houston, 6-2.


2001 Mariners' outfielder Ichiro Suzuki gets his 234th hit of the season breaking 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson 1911 record for the hits in a season by a rookie. The historic hit also ties the major league record for singles in a season established in 1985 by Red Sox infielder Wade Boggs with 187.


2001 Miguel Tejada's seventh inning grand slam makes him the 15th player in A's history to hit for the cycle. The slugging shortstop had tripled in the first inning, singled in the third and doubled in the sixth.


2002 On the last day of the season, the Braves use 24 players and the Mets use 21 to tie the major league record for the most players used in a nine-inning game The Expos and the Cubs also combined to use 45 players on September 5, 1978.


2002 Barry Bonds sets a new season mark for on-base percentage with a .582 OBP. The 38-year old Giant left fielder, who became the oldest first-time winner of a batting title hitting .370, easily surpassed the 1941 mark established by Ted Williams with a .553 OBP.


2004 Major League Baseball announces Washington D.C. will become the new home of the Montreal Expos in time for the 2005 season. The nation's capital, which was chosen over finalists including Las Vegas and Northern Virginia, will have baseball first time in 33 years since the expansion Senators left in 1971 to become the Texas Rangers.

 

[Lefty]

September 30.

1904 White Sox pitcher Doc White pitches his fifth shutout in eighteen days. The southpaw pitches six of his season total of seven shutouts in September.


1907 Cardinals' first baseman Ed Konetchy steals home twice in the same game. St. Louis swipes home plate three times during the contest.


1923 It's Zack Wheat Day at Ebbets Field and the retiring Dodger outfielder collects two hits and is given an automobile. Cy Williams of the Phillies spoils the special day as he ties the score in the seventh inning with his 39th homer and his 40th in the 12th frame gives Philadelphia the victory, 6–4.


1927 Babe Ruth breaks his own 1921 home run record by hitting number 60 off of Senator's Tom Zachary.


1945 Hank Greenberg hits a pennant winning grand slam on final day of the season. The Tiger left fielder's ninth-inning bases-full homer beats the Browns,6-3, clinching the AL flag for Detroit over the second-place Senators.


1947 Ralph Branca becomes the youngest player to start a World Series opener. At Yankee Stadium, the 21-year (9 month) old righthander and the Dodgers loses to the Bronx Bombers, 5-1.


1956 At the age of 16, Jim Derrington becomes the youngest pitcher to start a major league game this century. The teenager loses to the A's 7-6, but singles becoming the youngest player to get a hit in the American League.


1962 The Mets end inaugural season with their 120th loss (a 20th century record) as Joe Pignatano hits into an eighth inning triple play in his last career at-bat.


1969 With a 3-2 win over the Reds, the Braves clinch the first ever National League West division.


1972 Roberto Clemente doubles off Mets Jon Matlack to become the eleventh major leaguer to collect 3000 hits. The hit, sadly, will be the Pirate right fielder's last as he will die in a plane crash on New Year's Eve attempting to bring relief aid to earthquake-stricken Managua, Nicaragua.


1973 Dave Augustine of the Pirates appears to hit a game-ending home run in the 13th inning but the ball hits the top of the fence and Met outfielder Cleon Jones catches it and throws out a runner at home. The Mets win the game, National League East title and Augustine will never homer in the majors.


1984 Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly wins the American League batting title with .343 average.


1984 On the final day of the season, Mike Witt uses only 97 pitches to retire 27 consecutive hitters. The Angels' hurler throws the perfect game against the Rangers and beats Charlie Hough on an unearned run, 1-0.


1988 Ronald Reagan, nearing the end of his presidency, throws out the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field. The former Cub announcer then spends an inning and a half doing play-by-play with Harry Caray in the WGN television booth.


1990 The final game is played at old Comiskey Park with the White Sox edging the Mariners, 2-1. The final regular-season won-loss record at old ballpark is 3,024-2,926 (.508).


1992 George Brett singles off Tim Fortugno in the seventh inning for his 3000th hit. It is the Royals' third baseman fourth hit in the Kansas City 4-0 victory over the Angels.


1995 Albert Belle becomes the first player in major league history to hit fifty home runs and fifty double in the same season.


1998 After the a removal of a brain tumor nine months ago, former Royal reliever Dan Quisenberry dies of brain cancer at the age of 45.


1999 Mets' shortstop Rey Ordonez plays in his 96th consecutive game without committing an error breaking Cal Ripken's major league record for errorless games in that position. The flashy infielder will finish the season extending the record to 100 games.


1999 The largest regular-season crowd in Candlestick Park history, 61,389 fans, watch the Dodgers beat the home team, 9-4 in the last baseball game to ever be played at the 'Point'. Giant greats help mark the occasion with Juan Marichal tossing out the ceremonial first pitch before the game and Willie Mays throwing out the ballpark's final pitch after the game.


1999 For the twenty-third time this season, Diamondback fireballer Randy Johnson K's at least 10 batters to tie Nolan Ryan's 1973 major league record for the most double-digit strikeout games in a season. The tall left-hander whiffs 11 Padres in seven innings in a 5-3 victory to bring his season ending total to 364 which ranks fourth all-time.


2000 In the highest scoring game in A's franchise history, Oakland defeats the Rangers 23-2 to remain a half-game ahead of the Mariners for the western division lead as Seattle scores the most runs ever against the Angels, 21-9 assuring the team at least a tie for the American League wild card.

 

[Lefty]

October 1.

1903 In the first World Series game ever played, Pirates' hurler Deacon Phillippe beats Cy Young and the Pilgrims, 7-3 at the Huntington Avenue Grounds in Boston. Jimmy Sebring hit the first Fall Classic home run.


1921 White Sox backstop Ray Schalk is the first catcher to make a putout at every single base. The feat has not been accomplished again.


1949 Alex Kellner becomes the first 20 game winner for the A's since Lefty Grove accomplished the feat in 1933.


1955 In Game 4 of the World Series at Ebbets Field, the Dodgers defeat the Yanks, 8-5.


1961 Breaking the Babe's single season home run mark, Roger Maris hits his historic 61st homer off Tracy Stallard as Yankees defeat the Red Sox, 1-0. On the this date, exactly two years later, a baby named Mark McGwire will be born. Box Score
October 1, 1961 Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees Audio CD


1970 The Phillies beat the Expos in final game to be played at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia, 2-1. After the game, fans swarm onto the field and destroy it.


1973 In the first game of a scheduled make-up double-header at Wrigley Field, a day after the regular season ends, the Mets beat the Cubs, 6-1,to capture National League East flag. The Miracle Mets, who were 11 and half games behind and in last place on August 5, by winning its 82nd game, (the lowest number victories ever to win a title) clinch the division making the second game of the twin bill unnecessary to play.


1975 The Expos fire manager Gene Mauch and replace him with Karl Kuehl.


1980 With much media and fan pressure Red Sox fire manager Don Zimmer.


1995 The Yankees and Rockies become first wild-card teams in new major league baseball playoff system.


1995 Beating the Giants,10-9, the Rockies win first wild card in the National League thus becoming the first team to make the postseason before their seventh year in existence. Colorado's posts the best ever record for a third-year team finishing ten games over .500 (77-67, .535).


1998 In a 6-3 win over the Astros, Tony Gwynn goes 2-for-3 raising his league-leading batting average to .313. The Padres' outfielder becomes the first National League batting champion to win the title with an average below .320.


2004 With a little ground ball through the box, Ichiro Suzuki makes history in a big way as he breaks the major league record for hits in a single season. The historic hit by the Mariner outfielder from Japan surpasses George Sisler’s 84-year-old mark of 257 hits established in 1920 with the St. Louis Browns.

 

[Lefty]

October 2.

1904 White Sox Doc White's streak of 45 consecutive scoreless innings is snapped by the New York Highlanders in Chicago.


1908 On the last day of the season, future Hall of Famer Addie Joss hurls a perfect game beating Ed Walsh and the White Sox, 1-0. The Wisconsin right-handers' performance kept the Naps' hopes alive, but the Tigers edges Cleveland by a 1/2 game for the American League pennant.


1920 In the only tripleheader ever played in the 20th century, the Reds win the first two games, 13-4 and 7-3, with the Pirates avoid the sweep in the finale, 6-0. Peter Harrison is the home plate umpire for all three games.


1932 The Yankees win their 12th consecutive World Series game and sweep the Fall Classic for the third time. At Wrigley Field, the Bronx Bombers bang out 19 hits as they club the Cubs, 13-6.


1947 In Game 3 of the Fall Classic, Yogi Berra hits the first pinch-hit home run in World Series history. The Dodgers will rally to win the game defeating the Yankees, 9-8.


1952 Carl Erskine strikes out 14 Yankees in Game 3 to establish a new World Series mark. The Dodger hurler's performance bests the record of A's Howard Ehmke who struck out 13 Cubs in the Game 1 of 1929 Fall Classic.


1954 The Giants complete the World Series sweep of the Indians as Don Liddle beats Bob Lemon, 7-4. Cleveland's season record of 111-43 set an American League mark for regular season wins.


1961 Coming out of retirement, Casey Stengel agrees to manage the Mets, New York's National League expansion team.


1968 Bob Gibson establishes a new World Series mark by striking out 17 batters as the Cardinals defeat the Tigers in Game 1 of the Fall Classic, 4-0.


1969 Only 5,473 patrons attend the Pilots' last game in Seattle as the last place team is defeated by the A's 3-1 for their 98th loss of year. The American League's newest franchise attracts only 677, 944 fans for the season and will play in Milwaukee as the Brewers next season.


1974 In his last National League at-bat, Henry Aaron homers off Rawly Eastwick of the Reds for his 733rd round-tripper which is also the his 3600th career hit.


1977 When Dusty Baker hits his 30th homer of the season against the Astros' J.R. Richard, the Dodgers become the first team in major league history to have four players hit 30 or more home runs. He joins with Steve Garvey (33), Reggie Smith (32) and Ron Cey (30) to complete the foursome.


1978 In an American League East one-game playoff at Fenway Park, the Yankees defeat the Red Sox 5-4. Light-hitting infielder Bucky Dent is the unlikely hero hitting a three-run home run over the Green Monster off Mike Torrez.


1982 At San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, recording artist Vicki Carr and 43,077 fans sing an enthusiastic rendition of Happy Birthday prior to the Padres game with the Braves helping owner Ray Kroc celebrate his 80th birthday. As part of the fun the San Diego Chicken along with Ronald McDonald pop out of a giant cake.


1985 The Galbreath family and Warner Communications sell the Pirates to the Pittsburgh Associates which is a group of private investors committed to keeping the team in Pittsburgh.


1986 Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly establishes a new team record collecting his 232nd hit of the season breaking 1927 mark set by Earl Comb.


1986 In an 8-2 victory over the Pirates including seven Ks, Mets' phenom Dwight Gooden becomes the first pitcher in baseball history to strike out 200 batters in each of his first three seasons.


1988 In St. Louis, Mets' outfielder Kevin McReynolds establishes a major league record swiping 21 bases without being caught stealing during the season. The A's Jimmy Sexton had set the record in with 16 stolen bases without being thrown out in 1982.


1991 The Blue Jays clinch the American League East title and become the first sport franchise in history to draw four million fans in one season.


1995 In a one-game playoff for the American League West title, Mariners' southpaw Randy Johnson throws a three-hitter and beats the Angels, 9-1.


2000 Expos Vladimir and Wilton Guerrero both homer in the same game. The brothers join Hank and Tommie Aaron, Matty and Jesus Alou, Aaron and Bret Boone , Billy and Tony Conigliaro, Al and Tony Cuccinello, Rick and Wes Farrell, Graig and Jim Nettles, Cal and Billy Ripken and Paul and Lloyd Waner as siblings who have gone yard in the same game.


2001 Slugging Sammy Sosa becomes the first player in baseball history to slug 60 home runs in three seasons. The Cubs' outfielder connects off Reds starter Lance Davis to reach the milestone.


2002 Former Diamondback Alex Cabrera slams his 55th home run to tie the Japanese single-season home run mark. The 31-year-old Seibu Lion joins Sadaharu Oh (1964) Tuffy Rhodes (2001) in the record book.


2004 Jeff Kent hits two round-trippers to become the all-time home run leader of second basemen. The Astros infielder records his 278th dinger and 302nd overall to break Ryne Sandberg's major league record established in 1997.

 

[Lefty]

October 3.

1937 In the season finale, Hank Greenberg gets the only ribbie as Detroit defeats the Indians, 1-0. The twenty-six year old Tiger first baseman finishes the season with 183 RBIs, just one shy of Lou Gehrig's 1931American League record.


1947 In Game 4 of the Fall Classic, Bill Bevens comes within one out from pitching the first no-hitter in World Series history. The Yankee hurler loses his claim to fame and the game when Cookie Lavagetto, pinch-hitting for Eddie Stanky, hits a two-out ninth-inning double giving the Dodgers a 3-2 improbable victory.


1951 In Game 3 of National League play-off series at the Polo Grounds, Bobby Thompson's 'shot heard around the world' beats the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth and the Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant. Box Score


1962 At Dodger Stadium, the Giants win the rubber game of the National League playoffs beating Los Angeles, 6-3 as Don Larsen gets the win in relief of Juan Marichal. Thanks to the extended season, Maury Wills sets a major league record for the most games played in a season appearing in 165 games.


1965 On the last day of the season, Giants' outfielder Willie Mays hits his 52nd home run to break the franchise record he established in 1955. The 'Say Hey Kid's' league leading home run is given up by Reds hurler Billy McCool as San Francisco defeats Cincinnati at Candlestick Park, 6-3.


1974 Frank Robinson becomes the first black manager in major league history. The former Reds and Oriole superstar signs a $175,000 contract to manage and play for the Indians.


1976 On the last day of the season, George Brett noses out Kansas City teammate Hal McRae (.333 vs .332) for the American League batting title. The deciding hit, an inside-the-park home run, is really a misplayed line drive leading McRae to believe the lack of effort was intentional.


1976 Appearing as the designated hitter, Brewer Henry Aaron gets an infield single of Tiger hurler Dave Roberts in his last major league at-bat. 'Hammerin' Hank' will be the last major leaguer to appear in a big league game who also played in the Negro Leagues.


1982 On the last day of the season, the Brewers celebrate their American League East title clinching victory on the field at Memorial Stadium after beating the Orioles,10-2 to edge Baltimore by one game in the final standings. The 51,642 hometown fans, although disappointed by the results, stay after the game and give retiring manager Earl Weaver a heartfelt, tremendous 45-minute series of ovations for his 15-year tenure as the Birds' skipper.


1990 George Brett pinch hits a fifth-inning RBI sac fly and singles in the seventh inning to end the season with a .329 batting average and his third batting title. The Royals superstar is the only player to win three batting crowns in three different decades (1976-.333 ; 1980-.390).


1993 Despite winning a 103 games, the Giants are eliminated from the Western Division race as the Dodgers derail their division dreams, 12-1. Catcher Mike Piazza, who will be named the league's Rookie of the Year, hits two home runs in the game.


1993 Eighty-three year old Mel Harder throws the ceremonial 'last' pitch at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. As a member of the 1932 Indian squad, he also had thrown the park's first pitch.


1995 The Yankees, Indians, Reds and Braves win first games ever played in divisional playoffs including wild cards.


1999 Cardinal first baseman Mark McGwire hits #65 and his final homer of the season passing Ted Williams and Willie McCovey to move into the tenth spot on the all-time career home run list with 522 round trippers.


1999 In the final regular-season game ever to be played at the Astrodome, Mike Hampton (22-4) beats the Dodgers, 9-4. The victory clinches the division title as the Astros finish one game ahead of the Reds in the National League Central.


2000 Against the Braves, Cardinal rookie starter Rick Ankiel sets a modern day major league record by uncorking five wild pitches in the third inning of Game 1 of NLDS. He joins Buffalo's Bert Cunningham who accomplished the same feat in the first inning in an 1890 Players League contest.


2001 Barry Bonds walks three times breaking Babe Ruth's major league record of 170 base on balls. Astro reliever Nelson Cruz gives up the historic walk in the sixth.


2002 The ax continues to drop as a total of six managers have been fired since the end of the regular season three days ago. Jerry Royster (Brewers) joins Bobby Valentine (Mets) and Jerry Narron (Rangers) who were dismissed yesterday as well as Bruce Kimm (Cubs), Luis Pujols (Tigers) and Hal McRae (Devil Rays) who were let go earlier in the week.


2004 On the last day of the season, Blue Jays television announcer John Cerutti is found dead in his SkyDome hotel room. The death of the 44-year old Albany, N.Y. native, who was a former big league pitcher, is due to natural causes with foul play not being suspected.


2004 At the site of the franchise's first National League game in 1969, the Expos, who are scheduled to move to Washington D.C. next season, play their last game in their 36-year history losing to the Mets at Shea Stadium, 8-1. Their finale, which turns out to be the rubber match of the franchise series with New York, gives the Amazin’s a 299-298 advantage in the 597 contests played since 1969.

 

[Lefty]

October 4.

1906 Setting a major league mark, the Cubs win their 116th game completing the season with an astounding .763 winning percentage.


1924 At Griffith Stadium, Calvin Coolidge becomes the first U.S. President to attend a World Series opener. The Giants edge the hometown Senators in 12 innings, 4-3.


1925 In the season finale, Tiger outfielder Ty Cobb and Browns' first baseman George Sisler pitch against each other as Detroit beats St. Louis, 11-6. Both players, better known for their hitting, are the player-manager of their respective teams.


1948 In a one-game playoff, the Indians, behind rookie Gene Bearden, beat the Red Sox for the AL flag, 8-3. It is the young knuckleballer's 20th victory of the season. Box Score


1955 After more than half a century of futility, the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers finally win a World Championship thanks to Johnny Podres' 2-0 shutout of the Yankees and an outstanding catch by Sandy Amoros. Box Score


1962 When Willie Mays scores on a surprise bunt by Jose Pagan in Game 1, Whitey Ford sees his World Series consecutive scoreless inning streak come to an end at 33 2/3 innings. Clete Boyer's 7th inning home run, however, helps Ford win a record 12th and his final Fall Classic victory as the Yankees defeat the Giants, 6-2.


1969 In the first ever League Championship Series playoff game, the Mets beat the Braves 9-5 in Atlanta.


1986 Yankee closer Dave Righetti saves both ends of a doubleheader bringing his major league record total to 46.


1987 Defeating the Blue Jays 1-0, the Tigers win the American League East title. Toronto loses their last seven games of the season, including three straight in the season-ending series at Tiger Stadium to complete one of the greatest collapses in baseball history.


1999 On the last day of the season, New York infielder Rey Ordonez extends the major league record playing 100 errorless games at shortstop. During this span, the Cuban native handles 411 chances flawlessly for the Mets.


2001 Barry Bonds ties Mark McGwire's single-season home run record established three years ago as he hits his 70th round-tripper. The historic homer, a shot to right-center at Enron Field, is given up in the ninth inning by Astro rookie hurler Wilfredo Rodriguez in a Giant 10-2 victory.


2001 With his third inning home run, 42-year-old Rickey Henderson breaks Ty Cobb's record to become the leading run-scorer in baseball history. To punctuate scoring his 2,246th run, the Padre outfielder slides into home.


2001 Appearing in a game against the Red Sox at Camden Field Oriole outfielders Tim Raines and Tim Raines Jr. become the second father-son combination played for the same team on the major league level. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. both played for the Mariners in 1990.


2002 The A's become the first team in postseason history to hit consecutive home runs to start a game. The back-to-back homers are hit by leadoff man Ray Durham (an inside-the-park round tripper) and Scott Hatteberg.


2002 Commissioner Bud Selig has apologizes to St. Louis fans for the late playoff start time for Cardinal and Diamondback Game 1 NLDS game and promises it will not happen again.. The 10 p.m. CDT start was due to many of the playoff teams coming from the west and baseball's desire not to have two game being played at the same time.


2003 The Cubs win their first postseason series victory since the 1908 when the franchise won the World Series. In front of a standing-room crowd of 54,357 at Turner Field, Chicago beat the Braves in the deciding Game 5 of NLDS, 5-1.

 

[Lefty]

October 5.

1888 At Swampoodle Grounds in Washington, D.C., James Francis Galvin of the Pittsburgh Alleghenys becomes the baseball's first 300-game winner by defeating the hometown Senators, 5-1. The 31-year old 'Pud', a workhorse who will win 20 games 10 of the 14 seasons he plays in the big leagues, will end his career with 361 victories.


1908 Defeating Detroit, 6-1, Ed Walsh wins his 40th game of the season. Big Ed's win total remains a White Sox single-season record.


1941 Mickey Owens' passed ball in the bottom of ninth with two outs and two strikes in Game 4 of the World Series turns a sure 4-3 Brooklyn win to a heart-breaking 7-4 loss to the Yankees.


1942 Behind the outstanding pitching of rookie Johnny Beazley, the Cardinals stun the baseball world by beating the Yankees, 2-1 to win the World Series in five games.


1947 Al Gionfriddo, inserted in left field for defensive purposes, makes one of most historic catches in World Series history as he robs Joe DiMaggio of an extra base hit with two men on base in the sixth. The outfielder's heroics helps to preserve a 8-5 Dodger victory in Game 6 of the Fall Classic.


1949 Don Newcombe, who allows only four hits and strikes out 11 through eight innings of Game 1 of the World Series, gives up a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth to Tommy Henrich as the Yankees beat the Dodgers, 1-0 . 'Old Reliable's shot to right field gives Allie Reynolds the complete game win and it is Casey Stengel's first post season victory.


1953 The Yankees win their fifth consecutive World Series dramatically as Billy Martin's twelfth World Series hit in the bottom of the ninth help to beat the Dodgers in Game 6, 4-3.


1966 Reliever Moe Drabowsky ties a World Series record striking out six consecutive batters in the Oriole 5-2 Game 1 victory at Dodger Stadium. The game features first inning Robinson (Brooks and Frank) back-to back homers.


1980 The Yankees break the American League regular attendance season record held by 1948 Indians with 2,627,417 fans.


1980 Reaching first on a fielder's choice in the top of the seventh in the 4-0 win over the Twins, Royals' leadoff hitter Willie Wison establishes a major league record for the most at-bats in a season with 705. The Kansas City outfielder will collect 230 hits and score 133 runs for the division winning club.


2001 With their 115th victory of the season, the Seattle Mariners break the 1998 Yankee record for most wins in a season. The 1908 Cubs hold the major league record with 116 wins.


2001 Barry Bonds breaks and then extends the mark for home runs in a season. The Giant outfielder connects off Dodger starter Chan Ho Park to break Mark McGwire's 1998 record of 70, and then homers again in his next at bat to bring the new record to 72 homers.


2001 The Braves maul the Marlins, 20-3 to clinch the National League East title and becomes the first team in professional sports to win 10 consecutive division titles. The Boston Celtics (1957-65) and Los Angeles Lakers (1982-90) had both won nine in a row.


2002 For the first time in its 42-year old history, the Angels win a post-season series by beating the Yankees, 9-5 to take the ALDS, 3 games to 1. It is the first play-off appearance for the franchise since 1986 when after being a strike away from advancing the to the World Series in Game 5 of the ALCS the team loses to the Red Sox in 7 games.

 

[Lefty]

October 6.

1923 The first unassisted triple play in National League history occurs when Braves' shortstop Ernie Padgett catches Walter Holke's line drive, doubles up James Tierney at second and tags Cliff Lee for the third out.


1926 In Game 4 of the World Series, Yankee outfielder Babe Ruth hits three home runs in a 10-5 victory over the Cardinals.


1933 After pulling on umpire Charlie Moran's bow tie and letting it snap back, Senator outfielder Heinie Manush is ejected from Game 4 of the Fall Classic.


1945 In an effort to promote his nearby Billy Goat Tavern, William Sianis buys tickets to Game 4 of the Fall Classic for himself and Murphy, his pet goat. The bar owner becomes so upset when the Wrigley Field ushers his guest to leave, the Greek immigrant places a curse on the team preventing the Cubs from ever winning a World Series again.


1948 In Game 1 of the Fall Classic at Braves Field, Boston manages only two hits, but Johnny Sain beats Bob Feller and the Cleveland Indians, 1-0 . 'Rapid Robert' appears to have pick off Phil Masi at second but umpire Bill Stewart says safe, and Tommy Holmes follows with a single which scores the game’s only run.


1959 The largest crowd ever to attend a major league game, 92,706 fans, watch a nail biter as White Sox hurler Bob Shaw beats Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers, 1-0 in Game 5 of the Fall Classic.


1963 The Dodgers complete a four-game World Series sweep of the Yankees as Sandy Koufax wins his second game, 2-1. Frank Howard leads the offense with a home run and a single and New York's first baseman Joe Pepitone's error (loses a thrown ball in white-shirted crowd) leads to the decisive run in the seventh inning.


1965 Sandy Koufax refuses to pitch the first game of the World Series against the Twins because game is scheduled on Yom Kippur, the most sacred of the Jewish holidays. As the Dodgers’ southpaw attended shul and fasted on the Day of Atonement, his teammates loses to Minnesota, 8-2.


1966 At the age of 20, Jim Palmer becomes the youngest player to pitch shutout in World Series as the young Oriole hurler blanks Sandy Koufax and Dodgers, 6-0. It will be Koufax's last major league appearance.


1978 Despite three solo home runs off Yankees' ace Catfish Hunter by Kansas City's third baseman George Brett, the Bombers win Game 3 of the ALCS beating the Royals, 6-5.


1980 In the 163rd game of the season, the Astros beat the Dodgers, 7-1, to capture the National League West division as Houston wins its first title in the franchise's 19-year history. The Dodgers had swept a season-ending three game series with the 'Stros (3-2, 2-1, and 4-3) making the one-game play-off necessary.


1983 In the second game of the ALCS, Oriole hurler Mike Boddicker throws a five-hitter and strikes out a playoff record 14 batters beating the White Sox, 4-0.


1985 On the last day of the season, Yankee knuckleballer Phil Niekro becomes the 18th and oldest player in major league history to win his 300th career victory as he blanks the Blue Jays, 8-0. The forty-six year old, who will win 318 games, also becomes the oldest pitcher to throw a shutout in the big leagues.


1991 With a policemen watching his every move from the Met dugout and the fear of being arrested at any moment due to false rape allegations, David Cone ties a National League mark for strikeouts as he fans 19 Phillies en route to 7-0 victory in the season's finale.


2000 Reds' officials announce games played the final two seasons at Cinergy Field will be on natural grass. The surface in Cincinnati has been artificial turf since in 1970 when the ballpark opened as Riverfront Stadium.


2000 Chief executive officer John Harrington puts the Red Sox up for sale. Since the death of Jean Yawkey in 1992, the team has been owned by the Jean R. Yawkey Trust.


2001 With the club's 116th win, the Mariners tie 1906 Cubs as the winningest team in major league history. Bret Boone's 37th home run of the season and the shut out pitching of five Seattle pitchers proves to be the difference in the 1-0 historic win over the Rangers.


2001 At Camden Yards in front of a full house including Orioles notables Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer and Earl Weaver as well as Commissioner Bud Selig and former President Bill Clinton, Cal Ripken plays his 3,001st and final game. After a hitless night for 41-year-old, the final out of the 5-1 loss to Red Sox is made as Cal watches from the on deck circle.


2001 With his 151st pinch hit, Lenny Harris breaks the major league mark for career pinch hits established Manny Mota. Coming off the Met bench to bat for Rey Ordonez, he lines a 1-2 pitch off Expo starter Carl Pavano for a single to become career leader in pinch hits.


2003 Defeating the A's, 5-4, the Red Sox become the seventh team to win the last three games to win a best-of-five playoff series. Other teams to overcome an 0-2 deficit include the 1981 Dodgers (Astros-NLDS),1982 Brewers (Angels-1982), 1984 Padres (Cubs-NLCS), 1995 Mariners (Yankees-ALDS) ,1999 Red Sox (Indians-ALDS), and the 2001 Yankees (A's-ALDS).

 

[Lefty]

October 7.

1904 New York Highlander Happy Jack Chesbro defeats Boston, 3-2 to notch his 41st victory of the season.


1935 In Game 6 of the Fall Classic, the Tigers win their first World Series as Goose Goslin singles home Mickey Cochrane in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Cubs, 4-3.


1950 Rookie hurler Whitey Ford, with ninth inning help from Allie Reynolds, beat the Phillies, 5-2, as the Yankees complete the World Series sweep of Philadelphia’s ‘Whiz Kids’. Jerry Coleman wins the Babe Ruth Award as the series MVP.


1977 Trailing by two runs in Game 3 of the NLCS, the Dodgers rally for three runs with none on and two outs in the ninth to take a one-run lead. Los Angeles goes on to beat the Phillies, 6-5.


1978 Ron Cey scores in the 10th inning on Bill Russell's game winning single giving the Dodgers their second straight National League pennant.


1984 The Padres win the NLCS as Tony Gwynn's seventh inning two-run double breaks a 3-3 tie. The Cubs had a 2-0 game advantage as well as 3-0 lead in the deciding Game 5, but were unable to end the thirty-nine year World Series appearance drought.


1988 The Yankees replace manager Billy Martin with Dallas Green. 'Billy the Kid' will compiled a 1253-1013 (.553) record piloting the Tigers, Twins, Yankees, A's and Rangers during his 19-year managerial career.


2001 On the last day of the season, Rickey Henderson bloops a double down the right field line off Rockies' hurler John Thomson to become the 25th major leaguer to collect 3000 career base hits. Tony Gwynn, who is playing in his last major league game and is also a member of the 3000 hit club, meets the Padre outfielder at home plate in front of a sell out crowd QualComm Park.


2001 Barry Bonds extends his major league record for home runs in season to 73 as he drives a 3-2 first inning knuckleball off Dodger Dennis Spriner over the right field fence. The blast also secures two more major league records for the Giants' left fielder as he surpasses Babe Ruth (1920 - .847) with a .863 season slugging percentage and bests Mark McGwire (1998 - one HR every 7.27 AB) by homering in every 6.52 at-bats.

 

[Lefty]

October 8.

1908 In a make-up game necessitated by Fred Merkle's base running blunder on September 23, Three Finger Brown out duels Christy Mathewson, 4-2, as the Cubs win the National League pennant by one game over the Giants in one of the most dramatic pennant races of all time.


1922 Behind Art Nehf’s complete game five-hitter, the Giant repeat as World Champions sweeping the Yankees in five games, including one tie. The comeback 5-3 victory is fueled by George Kelly’s RBI single during the three-run eighth inning at the Polo Grounds.


1927 The 1927 Yankees, considered one of baseball's best team in history, live up to their reputation as they beat the Pirates, 4-3, to sweep the World Series in four games.


1929 In front outfielder 50,000 fans at Wrigley Field, surprise starter Howard Ehmke establishes a new World Series record striking out 13 Cubs en route to a 3-1 A's victory in Game 1 of the Fall Classic. The mark will last for 34 years until Dodger hurler Carl Erskine fans 14 Yankees in 1953.


1939 In the top of the tenth, Yankees' outfielder Joe DiMaggio scores all the way from first as Reds' catcher Ernie Lombardi lays in a daze at home plate as a result of being run over by 'King Kong' Charlie Keller. The Bronx Bombers score three runs thanks to ‘Lombardi's Swoon’ and go on to win the game, 7-4, completing the World Series sweep.


1948 Facing only thirty batters, Indian rookie pitching sensation Gene Bearden five-hits the Braves for a 2-0 victory in front of 70,000 fans in Cleveland. The Tribe takes a 2-1 World Series game lead.


1953 Birmingham bans Jackie Robinson's Negro-White All-Stars from playing in the city. The white players are dropped from the team as Robinson gives in to city officials.


1956 Don Larsen pitches the only perfect game in World Series history as he defeats the Dodgers, 2-0 in Game 5 of the Fall Classic.


1959 In Game 6, the Dodgers defeat the 'Go-Go Sox', 9-3, to win the World Series. Chicago's speed and quickness weren't enough to overcome Los Angeles hitting and pitching.


1961 In Game 4 at Crosley Field, Whitey Ford blanks the Reds for five innings to extend his World Series consecutive scoreless inning streak to 32 breaking Red Sox hurler Babe Ruth's previous record of 29 2/3 innings. Hector Lopez and Clete Boyer provide the offense driving in two runs each in the Yankee 6-0 victory.


1966 The Orioles managed only three hits of Claude Osteen, but Paul Blair's fifth inning 430-foot home run proves to be the difference as Baltimore beats the Dodgers in the Game 3 of the World Series, 1-0. Wally Bunker throws a six-hitter to get the victory in the first Fall classic game ever played in Baltimore.


1973 The Mets 9-2 victory over the Reds in Game 3 of the NLCS will best be remembered for the Pete Rose and Bud Harrelson brawl. The Mets' feisty shortstop takes exception to 'Charlie Hustle's' hard slide to break up a double play.


1983 In front of 64,494 fans at Veterans Stadium, the Phillies, behind the pitching of Steve Carlton and the power of Gary Matthews’ three-run homer, beat the Dodgers, 7-2, to win the NLCS. The team, will take on the Orioles in the Fall Classic which become known as the I-95 World Series.


1986 Astros' hurler Mike Scott throws a five-hitter and ties a playoff record with 14 strikeouts as Houston beats the Mets, 1-0 in Game 1 of the NLCS. A Glenn Davis home run off Dwight Gooden accounts for the only run.


1995 Thanks to a two-run double off Jack McDowell by Edgar Martinez, the Mariners become only the fourth team in major league history to overcome a two-game deficit to win a five game series as they dramatically come-from-behind and beat the Yankees, 6-5, in 11 innings.


2000 At Shea Stadium, the Mets blank the Giants, 4-0, to win the NLDS in four games. Bobby Jones, who was sent to the minors earlier in the season to work on his mechanics, retires the side in order eight of the nine innings allowing only a fifth inning double to Jeff Kent. It is only the sixth complete-game one-hitter in post season history.


2002 The Tigers select their former all-star shortstop Alan Trammell (1977-1996) to manage the faltering franchise. The Garden Grove, California native had been a coach with the Padres for the last three seasons.

 

[Lefty]

October 9.

1905 Christy Matthewson blanks Philadelphia in Game 1 of the World Series, 3-0. The New York ace will blank the A's twice more with each of the Fall Classic games being a shutout.


1909 With 7-2 victory, highlighted by Ty Cobb's steal of home, the Tigers knot World Series at one game apiece with Pirates.


1910 Ty Cobb, who sits out the last two games, wins the third of his nine consecutive batting titles by edging Nap Lajoie, who had six bogus hits on the last day, by less than a percentage point.


1915 Woodrow Wilson becomes, who becomes the first president to attend a World Series game, sees Red Sox hurler Rube Foster limits the Phillies to just three hits en route to a 2-1 victory in Game 2 of the Fall Classic.


1919 The White Sox lose the World Series to the underdog Reds, but before next season begins eight Chicago players, including Shoeless Joe Jackson, will be accused of accepting bribes to purposely throw the games.


1934 Commissioner Landis makes Cardinal Joe Medwick leave Game 7 of the World Series for 'his own safety'. The Tiger fans are upset with his aggressive slide into third and the angry mob begins hurling fruit at the St. Louis outfielder during the Cards 11-0 series-clinching win.


1928 At Sportsman Park, the Yankees sweep their second consecutive Fall Classic beating the Cardinals 7-3. Babe Ruth, as he did in the 1926 World Series, enjoys a three-home run day going deep in the fourth, seventh (after not striking out after an ump rules a quick pitch) and the eighth inning.


1938 Sweeping the Cubs in four games, the Yankees become the first team in major league history to win three consecutive World Series. Red Ruffing goes the distance beating Chicago, 8-3, at Yankee Stadium.


1948 Behind the solid pitching of Steve Gromek, the Indians win pivotal Game 4 of the Fall Classic edging the Braves, 2-1, to take a 3-1 series lead. Larry Doby's home run, the first by a black player in World Series history, provides the difference in the Tribe's victory.


1966 Happening just only three times previously in World Series history, the Orioles for the second consecutive day win a Fall Classic game, 1-0 game decided a home run. Frank Robinson takes a Don Drysdale pitch deep over the left field fence in the fourth inning accounting for the game's only run giving Baltimore a four-game sweep over the Dodgers.

 

[Lefty]

October 10.

1920 Indians' Bill Wambsganss becomes the only player in World Series history to complete an unassisted triple play as he makes a leaping catch, steps on second base and then tags the runner arriving from first base.


1920 1920 Outfielder Elmer Smith becomes the first player to hit a grand slam in World Series history as the Indians defeat the Dodgers and Burleigh Grimes, 8-1. In the same game, Bagby becomes the first pitcher to hit a home run in World Series history.


1923 In the first post season game ever played at Yankee Stadium, veteran Giants' outfielder Casey Stengel breaks a 4-4 deadlock in the top of the ninth inning with an inside-the-park home run off Joe Bush. The contest is the first World Series game to be broadcast nationally.


1924 With the score tied at 3-3 and one out in the bottom of the 12th, Senators' backstop Muddy Ruel lifts a high catchable foul pop-up which Giant catcher Hank Gowdy misses as he stumbles over his own mask. Given a second chance, Ruel then doubles and eventually scores the winning run.


1948 The largest crowd ever to attend an American League game, 86,288 fans, jam Cleveland's Municipal Stadium to witness Boston Braves' hurler Warren Spahn beat Bob Feller and the Indians, 11-5 in Game 5 of the Fall Classic.


1968 Cardinal fireballer Bob Gibson sets mark for total strikeouts (35) in a World Series, but loses the seventh and deciding game to Tigers, 4-1.


1970 Boog Powell, Ellie Hendricks and Brooks Robinson homer to power the Orioles over Reds at Riverfront Stadium in the first game of the World Series.


1973 In the fifth and deciding game, the Mets win National League pennant beating Reds, 7-2. Tom Seaver bests Jack Billingham in the Shea stadium showdown.


1982 The Brewers become the first team to overcome an 0-2 start in a best of a five-game LCS and take the American League pennant by winning the remaining three games against Angels.


1993 Frank Thomas is selected as the American League's Most Valuable player. The first baseman batted .317 with 41 home runs and knocked in 128 runs for the division-winning White Sox.


1999 Scoring more than 19 NFL teams, the Red Sox establish a major league record for most runs and biggest margin of victory in a post-season game as they rout the Indians, 23-7 to tie the 5-game series at two games a piece.


2000 In a 2-0 Seattle victory, the Mariners (9) and Yankees (13) combined for 22 strikeouts to set an ALCS record in Game 1 of the series.


2003 With six hits in six consecutive at-bats, Kenny Lofton sets an NLCS record and ties the ALCS mark. Gary Matthews (Phillies-1983), Will Clark (Giants-1989), Steve Buechele (Pirates-1991) and Javy Lopez (Braves-1996) all held the previous NL distinction with 5 consecutive hits and Paul Molitor (Blue Jays-1993) establishing the major league standard, now shared with the Cub flychaser, with reaching safely six times in six consecutive at-bats.

 

[Lefty]

October 11.

1948 In Game 6of the Fall Classic, the Indians beat the Braves, 4-3 to win the World Series. Bob Lemon gets the win with Gene Bearden pitching the final one and two-thirds innings to earn the save.


1964 In Game 4 of the World Series, Ken Boyer's sixth inning grand slam off Yankee starter Al Downing gives the Cardinals a 4-3 victory over the Yankees. The St. Louis third baseman is the second National Leaguer to hit a post-season bases-loaded round-tripper.


1972 In the fifth and deciding game of the NLCS, Reds' outfielder George Foster scores the winning run from third base in the ninth on a wild pitch by Bob Moose of the Pirates.


1978 In Game 2 of the World Series, Bob Welch strikes out Reggie Jackson on a full count with two outs in the ninth to dramatically preserve a 4-3 victory over the Yankees.


1981 Expos hurler Steve Rogers blank the Phillies, 3-0, to win the National League Eastern Division playoffs. Divisional playoffs were devised to salvage the strike-shorten season.


1985 In Game 3 of the ALCS, the Royals beat the Blue Jays, 6-5 as George Brett contributes to the victory going 4-for-4, driving in three runs and scoring four times.


2000 The Yankees eight hits in the 8th inning set an ALCS record as they defeat the Mariners in the Game 2, 7-1. The Orioles (1970, Game 1), the Yankees (1981, Game 2, ) and the Blue Jays (1985, Game 3 ) had previously each 7 hits in one inning of a championship series.


2002 Former Yankee and Diamondback skipper Buck Showalter is hired by the Rangers to be the team's manager. The Cubs, Mets, Devil Rays and Brewers had also expressed interest the ESPN commentator.


2003 The Cubs (6) and Marlins (8) tie the NLCS homer record by hitting 14 dingers in the championship series. The mark was established by the Giants and Cardinals last year.


2004 After seven ties during their 43-year history, the Astros finally win a post-season playoff series as they eliminate the Braves in the deciding Game 5 of the NLCS,12-3. It is the third consecutive year Atlanta has lost Game 5 of the division series at Turner Field.

 

[Lefty]

October 12.

1907 At Detroit’s Bennett Park, the Cubs, behind the Three Finger Brown’s seven-hitter, blank the Tigers, 2-0, to capture the World Championship. Although Game 1 ended in a tie, Chicago becomes the first club to sweep a World Series.


1916 Ernie Shore three-hits the Dodgers, 4-1 as the Red Sox win the World Series in five games.


1920 At Cleveland's League Park, the Indians' hurler Stan Coveleski blanks the Robins, 3-0, to win the 1920 World Series. The Tribe wins the best of nine series 5 games to 2.


1948 The Yankees name Casey Stengel to pilot the team. In his previous stints as manager with the Braves and Dodgers, the 'Old Professor' has never finished higher than fifth place.


1967 The Impossible Dream comes to an end as Bob Gibson throws his third complete game and three-hits the Red Sox, 7-2.


1969 Thanks to Al Wiess' ninth inning hit and the combined two-hitter tossed by Koosman and Ron Taylor, Mets even the World Series at one game apiece with the Orioles.


1982 In Game 1, Brewer Paul Molitor establishes a World Series record getting five hits as Milwaukee beats the Cardinals, 10-0, behind Mike Caldwell's three-hitter.


1983 At Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, the Orioles even the series at a game apiece as they defeat the Phillies, 4-1. In a battle between rookie pitchers, Mike Boddicker throws a three-hitter besting Charles Hudson as John Lowenstein paces the Birds' offense with three hits, including a fifth inning home run.


1986 The Angels are one strike away from the World Series, when Dave Henderson, who had earlier watched Bobby Grich's fly ball bounce off the heel of his glove and over the center field fence to give California the lead, hits a two-run homer off of Donnie Moore on a 2-2 count putting the Red Sox ahead, 6-5; California will tie game in the bottom of the frame, but Boston will prevail scoring the deciding run in the 11th inning on a Henderson sac fly.


2001 Tom Kelly retires as the Twins' skipper. During his 15-season tenure, the longest among current managers, he won two World Series titles and compiled a record of 1140-1244 for the small market team.


2003 Thirty-five years after an anthem dispute, Jose Feliciano sings the Star-Spangled Banner at the Marlins' NLCS game against the Cubs at Pro Player Stadium. In 1968, during Game 5 of the World Series in Detroit , his nontraditional gospelized rendition of the song at Tiger Stadium caused such flap that some radio stations stopped playing the blind singer's records on the air.

 

[Lefty]

October 13.

1903 In Game 8 of the series, Boston defeats Pittsburgh, 3-0 to take baseball's first ever world championship, 5 games to 3.


1914 Boston become the first team to complete a four-game World Series sweep as the Miracle Braves beat the American League's heavily favored A's behind the solid pitching of Dick Ruldolf who bests Philadelphia, 3-1. The Braves, who were in last place in mid-July, win the National League pennant by ten and a half games.


1921 In the first all New York World Series, the Giants beat the Yankees, 1-0 to win the baseball's championship in eight games.


1923 Casey Stengel's home run is the difference as Giant hurler Art Nerf out duels Sam Jones and the Yankees, 1-0, in Game 3 of the World Series.


1960 At Forbes Field, Bill Mazeroski's dramatic bottom of the ninth inning home run off Yankee hurler Ralph Terry breaks up a 9-9 tie and ends one of the most exciting seven game World Series ever played. Text of Chuck Thompson's home run call


1971 In the first World Series night game ever played, the Pirates defeat the Orioles, 4-3 as Roberto Clemente collects three hits at Three Rivers Stadium.


1993 At the Veterans Stadium, the Phillies win the National League pennant by beating the Braves in Game 6 of the NLCS, 6-3. With Tommy Greene out dueling Greg Maddux and the timely hitting of Darren Daulton, Dave Hollins and Mickey Morandini, Philadelphia wins its third consecutive game to dethrone the defending champs.


2000 Extending his streak to 33 and a third innings, Mariano Rivera breaks the 38-year-old record of Whitey Ford for consecutive scoreless frames in postseason play as the Yankees defeat the Mariners, 8-2 in Game 3 of the ALCS. The Yankees' Hall of Fame lefty had established the record from 1960 to 1962 with 33 innings as World Series starter.


2001 Being down 2-0 in best-of-five series, the Yankees, thanks to the shut out pitching Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada's fifth-inning home run, stave off elimination beating the A's and Barry Zito, 1-0. Shortstop Derek Jeter backing up an errant relay throw down the first base and flipping it home to cut down Jeremy Giambi as the potential tying run will be remembered as one of the best defensive plays in post season history.


2003 A tearful 72-year-old Don Zimmer apologizes for his part in yesterday's brawl during Game 3 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Red Sox . During the fourth-inning matinee melee at Fenway, the Yankees' assistant to manager is thrown to the ground after charging Pedro Martinez.

 

[Lefty]

October 14.

1905 In Game 5, Christy Matthewson blanks the A's for the third time as the Giants beat the A's 2-0 to win the World Series. It will be the only Fall Classic in which every games ends in a shutout.


1906 The White Sox, known as baseball's 'hitless wonders' complete their unbelievable World Series upset of the their powerful crosstown rivals by beating the Cubs, 8-3 at South Side Park. The Cubs had won a record 116 regular season games.


1969 Thanks to great catches in the fourth and seventh inning, saving at least 5 runs, by center fielder Tommy Agee, the Mets take a 2-1 Series edge over the Orioles.


1976 The Yankees win their 30th pennant dramatically on Chris Chambliss' bottom of ninth-inning solo homer defeating the Royals, 7-6 in Game Five and deciding contest of the ALCS.


1985 Ozzie Smith provides one of the most memorable moments in Cardinals history by hitting a dramatic homer to win Game 5 of the NLCS. The round-tripper was the first left handed home run of the Wizard's career (3009 at-bats). Text of Jack Buck's call


1992 Canada gets its first pennant as the Blue Jays clinch the AL crown with a 9-2 victory over the A's in the Game 6 of the ALCS.


1992 In Game 7 of the NLCS, Francisco Cabrera ninth inning, two-out pinch hit single tallies two runs giving the Braves a stunning comeback victory, 3-2 over the Pirates. The backup catcher had only three hits during the regular season.


2000 Giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead in the ALCS, Roger Clemens strikes out a record-setting 15 and one-hits the Mariners, 5-0.


2002 Light hitting second baseman Adam Kennedy becomes the fifth player to hit three homers in a postseason game helping the Angels to secure their first World Series berth in the team's 42-year history. Using a ten-run seventh inning, Anaheim beats the Twins 13-5 to win the ALCS in five games.


2002 Ending the regular season with a record of 90-46-1, Japan's Seibu Lions posts the Pacific League's highest win total in 46 years. Alex Cabrera fails to hit a in home run in the team's last five games and has to settle with tying the single season home run record with 55 along with Sadaharu Oh (1964) and Tuffy Rhodes (2001).


2003 Holding a 3-0 lead and needing only five more outs to go the World Series for the first time since 1945, the Cubs give up eight runs, on five hits, three walks and an error to the Marlins. The team appears to come apart after a Cub fan, sitting along the left-field line at Wrigley Field, tries to catch a foul ball that was about to be caught by Cubs' outfielder Moises Alou for the second out of the inning.

 

[Lefty]

October 15.

1892 On the last day the season, Cincinnati pitcher Charles 'Bumpus' Jones, in his first major league start, no-hits Pittsburgh. This will turn out to be the latest date in the season that a no hitter is ever pitched in the major league.


1917 The White Sox win the World Series as Eddie Collins scurries home scoring the winning run with Giant third baseman Heinie Zimmerman chasing him. New York leaves home plate uncovered.


1923 The Yankees defeat cross-town rivals New York Giants for their first World Championship.


1925 The Pirates become the first team to win a World Series after being down three games to one as the Bucs beat Washington and Walter Johnson in Game 7, 9-7. Kiki Cuyler's bases-loaded double in the eighth inning proves to be the difference.


1946 In Game 7 of the World Series, the Cardinals beat the Red Sox, 4-3 as Enos Slaughter streaked home from first on Harry Walker's single. The play surprises everyone including cut-off man shortstop Johnny Pesky who hesitates, as legend has it, throwing the ball home.


1964 Despite three Bronx Bombers home runs by Mickey Mantle, Clete Boyer and Phil Linz, Bob Gibson and the 1964 Cardinals hang on to defeat the Yankees, 7-5 to capture the World Championship.


1969 In Game Four of the Fall Classic at Shea Stadium, Tom Seaver and the Mets beat the Orioles in ten innings, 2-1. The game features an outstanding ninth inning run-saving catch by rightfielder Ron Swoboda and a controversial play in the tenth which interference is not called after J.C. Martin clearly gets in the way of Pete Rickert's throw to first resulting in an error on the pitcher.

1981 With Dave Righetti, Ron Davis and Goose Gossage combining to shutout Oakland, 4-0, the Yankees sweep the A's to capture their thirty-third AL pennant.


1986 In the longest postseason game ever played (4 hours and 42 minutes), the Mets clinch their third National League crown ever beating Houston in the sixteen innings at the Astrodome, 7-6. Trailing 3-0, Lenny Dykstra and Ray Knight spark a ninth rally which sends the game into extra inning.


1986 After being down three games to one in the ALCS, the Red Sox pull off one the greatest comebacks in playoff history by defeating the California Angels 8-1 to win the American League pennant.


1988 In his only plate appearance in the Fall Classic, pinch hitting in the ninth with two outs in Game One, a limping Kirk Gibson sends a 3-2 back door slider from the A's relief ace Dennis Eckersley over the right field fence. It's the first time a World Series game is ever decided on a come-from-behind home run in the final inning.


1997 Thanks to an 11th-inning homer by Tony Fernandez, the Indians win their second pennant in three years defeating the Orioles 1-0 to win the American League Championship Series in six games.


2001 The Yankees beat the A's 5-3 to win the ALDS. The Bronx Bombers become the first team ever to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games at home.


2001 In only their fourth year of existence, the Diamondbacks win their post season series beating the Cardinals, 2-1, thanks to Tony Womack's two-out game-winning hit in the deciding fifth game of the NLDS. Arizona had lost their first playoff appearance to the Mets in 1999.


2002 Kirk Gibson signs a three-year deal to become the Tigers' bench coach. The aggressive former outfielder joins the staff of former 1984 teammate of the World Champion Tigers of the newly hired Detroit skipper, Alan Trammell.


2003 Steve Bartman, the Cubs fan who deflected a foul ball in Game 6 of the NLCS, releases a statement explaining his actions. During a weepy apology, the 26-year old human resources company worker asks Chicago fans to redirect their negative energy into for positive support for the team during Game 7 of the series.

 

[Lefty]

October 16.

1910 Ban Johnson, American League president, declares Tigers' outfielder Ty Cobb the league's batting champ after questioning Nap Lajoie's suspicious eight-hit performance in a doubleheader against the Browns.


1912 Giant center fielder Fred Snodgrass's error in the 10th inning leads to the Red Sox scoring two runs en route to a 3-2 World Series deciding game victory.


1949 Brooklyn does not renew Branch Rickey's contract as president of the Dodgers.


1960 In the first structural change since the turn of the century, the National League votes to admit Houston and New York into the Senior Circuit.


1969 Thanks to Ron Swoboda's double and two Oriole eighth inning errors, the Mets win their straight fourth World Series game to become World Champs. Jerry Koosman tosses a five-hitter and manager Gil Hodges wins the 'shoe polish' argument beating Baltimore 5-3 in Game 5 of the Fall Classic.


1985 In Game 6 of the NLCS, Cardinal first baseman Jack Clark's dramatic come-from-behind ninth inning home run with two outs and two on stuns a sold-out Dodger Stadium. St. Louis wins the game, 7-5 and captures the National League flag.


1990 In Game 1 of the World Series, Oakland's ten-game post-season winning streak ends as the Reds beat the A's, 7-0. Reds outfielder Eric Davis becomes the 22nd player to hit a homer in his first Fall Classic at-bat.


2003 In Game 7 of the ALCS, thanks to Aaron Boone's 11th inning home run at the 'stadium', the Yankees capture their 39th American League pennant beating the Red Sox, 6-5. The defensive replacement becomes the fifth player to end a post-season series with a homer joining Bill Mazeroski ('60 Pirates, WS Game 7 vs. Yankees), Chris Chambliss ('76 Yankees, ALCS Game 5 vs. Royals), the Joe Carter ('93 Blue Jays, WS Game 6 vs. Phillies) and Todd Pratt ('99 Mets, NLDS Game 4 vs. Diamondbacks).

 

[Lefty]

October 17.

1964 Despite a 99-63 record, the Yankees fire Yogi Berra after losing the 1964 World Series to the Cardinals in seven games.


1964 Manager Johnny Keane of the World Champs Cardinals resigns unexpectedly. The former St. Louis skipper will take Yankee job which opens as the result of the firing of Yogi Berra which also occurs today.


1978 At Dodger Stadium, the Yankees beat Los Angeles, 7-2, to take their twenty-second World Championship. New York's shortstop Bucky Dent is named the World Series MVP.


1985 Lou Pinella is named Yankee manager replacing Billy Martin. 'Billy the Kid' had piloted the Bronx Bombers to second place finishing with a 91-54 record.


1989 As the Giants and A's get ready to play Game 3 of the World Series, the Bay Area is hit by a massive earthquake. The game is quickly postponed by Commissioner Fay Vincent, and he wisely orders the evacuation of Candlestick Park.
1989 World Series Game 3: Oakland A's @ San Francisco Giants Audio CD


2000 In a come-from-behind victory over the Mariners, 9-7, David Justice's three-run homer propels the Yankees to their record 37th American League pennant setting up the for the first time in 44 years a Subway Series in New York


2000 Mariner Dan Wilson snaps the longest hitless streak in postseason history by ending his 0-for-42 skid with an opposite field single. Tiger Marv Owen had gone 0-for-31 in the 1934 and 1935 World Series.


2002 The legal suit against the fan who caught Barry Bond's record breaking 73rd home run at Pac Bell Park, brought three friends, claiming a promise, in exchange for a ticket to the game to split the ball's value if caught, is settled when Jay Arsenault agrees to sell the ball and divide the money. Arsenault's lawyer said had his client initially eluded the friends because of being overwhelmed by the situation.


2003 Early editions of the N.Y. Post include an editorial claiming the Yankees lose to Boston and couldn't get the job done in Game 7 of the ALCS. Although the Bronx Bombers did trailed the Red Sox , the team rallies to beat their arch rival in 11 innings, 6-5.

 

[Lefty]

October 18.

1950 After 50 years of managing, Connie Mack retires as skipper of the A's. The winningest manager (most defeats, also) in major league history will be replaced by Jimmy Dykes.


1960 Five days after losing to the Pirates in Game 7 of the World Series, the Yankees fire Casey Stengel believing he's too old to manage. Few days later, the 'Old Professor' quips, "I'll never make the mistake of being seventy again".


1967 The American League owners grant Charley Finley permission to move the A's to Oakland and awards new franchises to Kansas City and Seattle.


1977 Reggie Jackson hits three home runs on three consecutive pitches propelling the Yankees to their twenty-first World Championship. 'Mr. October' also hit a homer in his last at bat in the previous game.


2001 Larry Dierker, who left the Astros' broadcast booth to take over the dugout duties as the team's skipper in 1997, resigns as Houston manager (448-362, .553, four divisional titles) despite tying the Cardinals for the best record in the National League (93-69) and winning the Central Division. The team failed to win a playoff series in his five-year tenure going 2-12 in post season action.


2004 After 5 hours, 49 minutes and 471 pitches, the Red Sox outlasts the Yankees, 5-4, in Game 4 of the league championship. Boston’s DH David Ortiz, who is the first player in baseball history to hit two walk-off home runs in during the postseason, ends the longest game in ALCS series history at 1:22 a.m. with a two-out single into center scoring Johnny Damon from second in the 14th inning at Fenway Park.