On This Day - May 22nd

OTD - 1962 - Roger Maris is intentionally walked four times to establish a major league record. The quartet of free passes is issued are by four different Halo hurlers in New York's' 2-1 victory over the Angels in 12 innings at Yankee Stadium.


OTD - 1963 - Mickey Mantle hit a pitch from Kansas City's Bill Fischer off the right-field facade at Yankee Stadium in an 8-7 victory over the A's.


OTD - 1982 - In his last major league at bat, Mario Mendoza, who will become a minor league hitting instructor, reaches first on a fielder’s choice ending his nine-year career with a .215 batting average. The Ranger infielder’s name will become infamous as players struggling at the plate will be described as performing below the ‘Mendoza Line’


OTD - 1990 - During the Cubs 2-1 victory against the Reds in a 16-inning contest at Wrigley Field, Andre Dawson is walked five time intentionally to set a major league record. The previous mark of four free passes in a game was established by Yankees outfielder Roger Maris in 1962 and then equaled by Padres shortstop Gerry Templeton in 1985.


OTD - 2002 - Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura approves a financing framework for a $330 million open-air stadium. The bill is the result a seven-year effort by the Twins to secure help from the state, but the plan has only tepid support from the club because team officials are unsure if they'll be able to find $120 million for a required down payment and get a guarantee from major league baseball that a team will play in Minnesota for at least 30 years.



Cheers,

On This Day - May 9th

OTD - 1937 - The Reds' backstop Ernie Lombardi goes 6-for-6 as Cincinnati routs the Phillies, 21-10.


OTD - 1961 - In a 13-5 victory over the Twins, Jim Gentile becomes first major leaguer to hit consecutive grand slams in the same game. The Orioles' first baseman accomplishes the feat in the first two innings of the contest.


OTD - 1967 - Cardinals' outfielder # 9 Roger Maris hits his first National League home run on the ninth day of the month in seat 9 of section 9.


OTD - 1984 - At Comiskey Park, the first eight-hour game in major league history ends in the 25th inning when Harold Baines belts a home run giving the White Sox a 7-6 win over the Brewers. Tom Seaver, who will also start and pitch 8 1/3 innings in the nightcap, gets the win pitching one inning of relief.


OTD - 2010 - Dallas Braden, recently made infamous due to his words with Alex Rodriguez when the Yankee third baseman cut across the diamond via the pitcher’s mound, throws the 19th perfect game in baseball history, a 4-0 victory over the Rays in Oakland. In attendance for the 26-year old left-hander's Mother's Day gem is his grandmother, who raised him after his mom died of a melanoma during his senior year at Stagg High School in Stockton, California.


Cheers,