This day in baseball: The first Ladies’ Day
Posted: June 16, 2018 Filed under: 19th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Cleveland Spiders, New York Giants, New York Gothams, Polo Grounds, sports Leave a commentThe first ‘Ladies’ Day’ in major league history took place on June 16, 1893 when the New York Gothams (later known as the Giants) offered free admission to all women, both escorted and un-escorted, at the Polo Grounds. The lucky ladies had the opportunity to watch their Gothams defeat the Cleveland Spiders, 5-2.
Polo Grounds (ballparksofbaseball.com)
This day in baseball: The almost-no-hitter
Posted: June 11, 2018 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Bob Wicker, Chicago Cubs, history, New York Giants, Sam Mertes, sports Leave a commentOn June 11, 1904, Bob Wicker of the Cubs pitched 9 1/3 innings of no-hit baseball before Giants’ outfielder Sam Mertes managed New York’s only hit in the 10th. Wicker had to settle for a 1-0, twelve-inning one-hit victory.
Wikipedia
This day in baseball: The first pinch hit
Posted: June 7, 2018 Filed under: 19th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Brooklyn Grooms, Cleveland Spiders, Eastern Park, George Davies, history, Jack Doyle, sports Leave a commentOn June 7, 1892, the Spiders’ Jack Doyle became the first player to collect a pinch hit with a single, coming off the bench to bat for Cleveland hurler George Davies. The Spiders lost 2-1 that day to the Grooms at Brooklyn’s Eastern Park. Doyle, a utility player, would finish his 17-year career going 3-for-5 (.600) as a pinch-hitter.
Jack Doyle (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: Gehrig’s streak begins
Posted: June 1, 2018 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, history, Lou Gehrig, Major League Baseball, MLB, New York Yankees, Pee Wee Wanninger, sports, Wally Pipp 1 CommentLou Gehrig made the only pinch-hit appearance of his career on June 1, 1925 when he came off the bench to hit for infielder Pee-Wee Wanninger. While the common tale told is that Gehrig’s 2,130-game streak started when he replaced Wally Pipp at first base (held out of the line-up due to the aftereffects of a concussion), the first game of Gehrig’s streak actually came the day before, with this pinch-hit appearance.
The ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter
This day in baseball: Introduction of the spitball
Posted: May 29, 2018 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers, Elmer Stricklett, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, New York Giants, sports Leave a commentAccording to legend, the spitball made its debut on May 29, 1905, introduced by Dodger hurler Elmer Stricklett in a game against the New York Giants. Stricklett managed to defeat the Giants, 4-3.
While it is widely accepted that Stricklett was one of the early pioneers of the spitball, Stricklett himself denied that he actually invented the pitch. Stricklett did, however, claim to be the first pitcher to master the pitch and to feature it as the key pitch in his arsenal.
Elmer Stricklett (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: Coveleski’s long start
Posted: May 24, 2018 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Cleveland Indians, history, Joe Wood, Major League Baseball, MLB, New York Yankees, Polo Grounds, sports, Stan Coveleski 2 CommentsOn May 24, 1918, right-hander Stan Coveleski pitched 19 innings in the Indians’ 3-2 victory over the Yankees at the Polo Grounds. Smoky Joe Wood hit a home run in the top of the 19th for the Tribe that proved to be the difference. Coveleski gave up 12 hits and 6 walks with 4 strikeouts over the course of the game.
Coveleski (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: The first Scot
Posted: May 20, 2018 Filed under: 19th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Chicago White Stockings, Cleveland Blues, history, Indianapolis Blues, Jim McCormick, sports 2 CommentsOn May 20, 1878, Jim McCormick became the first player born in Scotland to appear in a major league game. In his debut, right-handed pitcher McCormick and the Indianapolis Blues lost to the Chicago White Stockings, 3-1. The following season, the Scot would become the team’s manager as the team made its move to Cleveland. At the age of 23, this made McCormick the youngest skipper in the game.
Wikimedia Commons
