This day in baseball – Archived Innings

This day in baseball: Cunningham’s wild pitch record

September 15, 2023

In a Players’ League game between the Buffalo Bison and the Chicago Pirates on September 15, 1890, Bison pitcher Bert Cunningham threw five wild pitches in the first inning at South Side Park. This performance established a dubious regular-season record, which would later be matched by Cardinals pitcher Rick Ankiel during a 2000 playoff game against the Mets.

Cunningham was nevertheless inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1996.

Bert Cunningham with the Louisville Colonels, 1897 (public domain)

This day in baseball: Feller records 20 wins

September 8, 2023

In defeating the St. Louis Browns 12-1 on September 8, 1939, Bob Feller became the youngest pitcher ever to record 20 wins in a season. The 20-year-old Indians pitcher would finish the season with a 24-9 record and an ERA of 2.85.

This day in baseball: Babe Ruth show up late to BP

August 29, 2023

Babe Ruth showed up late to batting practice on August 29, 1925 following a night out on the town. Yankees manager Miller Huggins suspended Ruth and slapped a $5,000 fine on him for disobeying orders on the field and team rules off the field. Ruth would be forced to apologize before he’s reinstated nine days later.

This day in baseball: Bigbee comes to the plate 11 times

August 22, 2023

In a 22-inning game against the Dodgers on August 22, 1917, Pirates outfielder Carson Bigbee set a major league record with 11 at-bats. Bigbee collected 6 hits with two RBIs in Pittsburgh’s 6-5 loss to Brooklyn.

Thirteen other players have since matched Bigbee’s single game at-bats mark.

This day in baseball: Spahn displays offensive prowess

August 15, 2023

On August 15, 1955, in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Braves pitcher Warren Spahn hit both a triple and a home run, contributing 3 RBIs to Milwaukee’s 12-1 victory over the Red Birds. Spahn also pitched a complete game, giving up only one walk with 8 hits and 4 strikeouts.

This day in baseball: Cravath hits 4 doubles

August 8, 2023

In a game against the Cincinnati Reds on August 8, 1915, Phillies outfielder Gavvy Cravath collected four doubles to tie a major league record. Cravath’s performance helped lead Philadelphia to a 14-6 victory at Redland Field.

Gavvy Cravath, c. 1913-1914 (public domain)

This day in baseball: Dizzy Dean strikes out 17

July 30, 2023

On July 30, 1933, Dizzy Dean of the St. Louis Cardinals struck out 17 en route to an 8-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Dean also helped himself by driving in two RBIs in the Sportsman’s Park contest, which was completed in an hour and 42 minutes.

Dizzy Dean

This day in baseball: Carl Weilman strikes out 6 times

July 25, 2023

On July 25, 1913, Carl Weilman became the first player ever recorded to strike out six times in a single game. The St. Louis Browns’ 23-year-old lefty entered the game in relief with one out in the first inning, pitching the rest of the contest. Weilman accomplished the dubious strikeout feat over the course of 15 innings at Griffith Stadium against the Senators, and the game ended in an 8-8 tie.

This day in baseball: Cubs collect 21 hits

July 18, 2023

In a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 18, 1912, the Chicago Cubs collected 21 hits in eleven innings. The Cubs still lost to the Phillies, however, when Philadelphia scored two runs in the top of the eleventh, and Chicago was only able to respond with one. The final score of the contest was 9-8.

West Side Grounds, Chicago, 1910 (public domain)

This day in baseball: Magee swipes four

July 12, 2023

On July 12, 1906, Phillies outfielder Sherry Magee established a franchise record by stealing four bases in a game against St. Louis at Robison Field. In spite of Magee’s performance, Philadelphia lost to the Cardinals, 7-6. Magee’s mark would later be matched by Garry Maddox (1978) and Jayson Werth (2009).

Archived Innings

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Category: This day in baseball