This day in baseball: Lajoie hits 3,000
Posted: September 27, 2017 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Cap Anson, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Naps, history, Honus Wagner, League Park, Major League Baseball, Marty McHale, MLB, Nap Lajoie, New York Yankees, sports Leave a commentOn September 27, 1914, Cleveland’s Nap Lajoie became just the third player in baseball history to reach 3,000 hits, joining Cap Anson and Honus Wagner. His 3,000th hit was a double off New York’s Marty McHale as the Indians won 5-3 at League Park.
Nap Lajoie, c. 1908 (New York Public Library)
This day in baseball: Ruth’s debut
Posted: July 11, 2016 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Babe Ruth, Baltimore Orioles, Baseball, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Naps, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, sports Leave a commentBabe Ruth made his major league debut on July 11, 1914, taking the mound for the Red Sox against the Indians. The Boston Red Sox just purchased nineteen-year-old Ruth’s contract the day before from the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched seven innings in the game to lead the Sox to a 4-3 victory.
Associated Press
Ten Million
Posted: March 6, 2015 Filed under: 19th Century, 20th Century | Tags: Baseball, Cleveland Naps, Ford Auto Company, history, Joe McGinnity, Minor League Baseball, Northwestern League, Ten Million 5 Comments
Wikimedia Commons
Best known for his unconventional name, Ten Million was a minor league baseball player who played for several teams in the Northwestern League prior to World War I. Born on October 14, 1889 in Mount Vernon, Washington, Million’s paternal grandmother wanted her grandson to have a name that stood out. Suffices to say that she succeeded. Million attended Broadway High School, where he graduated in 1908, then went on to attend the University of Washington. While at UW, Million was captain of the baseball team.
Million, an outfielder, played for the Victoria Bees in the Cleveland Naps (now the Indians) organization in 1911, though he never made it to the majors due to a knee injury. From 1912 to 1914, Million played for the Tacoma Tigers under Hall of Fame pitcher Joe McGinnity. Million also played with the Sioux City, Moose Jaw, Victoria, and Spokane teams within the Northwestern League. Much of his career was spent at the Class B level, and Million finished with a .257 batting average for his career.
His knee injury ended his career at the age of 25, and when his playing days were done, Million did a brief tour in the Army before moving to Seattle, where he could live close to home. He worked for the city as a claims adjuster before taking on a job working at the local Spalding Sporting Goods store. While working at the store, Million met his future wife, Christine. During his downtime, Million refereed in games for various high school sports.
Million later became a salesman for the Ford Auto Company. When Ford produced its 10 millionth car in the 1920s, the vehicle was shipped to Seattle in order that Ten Million could be the one to sell it. Unsurprisingly, the story made the papers, as a Seattle newspaper ran an article with a photo covering the event.
Ten Million died on June 18, 1964.
