This day in baseball: Ruth’s first start
Posted: March 25, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Babe Ruth, Baseball, Boston Red Sox, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, Philadelphia Athletics, sports Leave a commentBabe Ruth made his first career start on the mound on March 25, 1914 for the Boston Red Sox. The 19-year-old pitcher defeated the world champion Philadelphia Athletics, 6-2, in an exhibition game played in Wilmington, North Carolina. Prior to this game, Ruth had faced 29 batters in relief, allowing just six hits, thus earning his spot in the starting rotation.
Babe Ruth pitching (Bleacher Report)
This day in baseball: AL marathon
Posted: September 1, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: American League, Baseball, Boston Red Sox, Huntington Avenue Grounds, Jack Coombs, Joe Harris, Major League Baseball, MLB, Philadelphia Athletics, sports Leave a commentThe longest game in American League history (up to that point) took place on September 1, 1906. The Philadelphia Athletics defeated the Boston Red Sox in 24 innings, 4-1. The starter for both teams went the distance, as A’s hurler Jack Coombs beat Boston’s Joe Harris at Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds.
Huntington Avenue Grounds (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: Thompson’s MLB debut
Posted: July 17, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: American League, Baseball, Hank Thompson, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, Philadelphia Athletics, sports, St. Louis Browns Leave a commentLess than two weeks after Larry Doby’s debut with the Indians, Hank Thompson became the second black player to debut in the American League on July 17, 1947. In the game, Thompson went 0-for-4 as the Browns suffered a 16-2 loss to Philadelphia at Sportsman’s Park. Thompson would play in only 27 games for St. Louis because his presence did not significantly raise attendance.
Hank Thompson (nlbm.mlbblogs.com)
Lost Baseball Teams
Posted: May 12, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century | Tags: Baseball, Boston Braves, documentaries, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, Philadelphia Athletics, sports, St. Louis Browns Leave a commentWhile this is far from a comprehensive collection of “lost” teams in baseball history, this short clip provides an interesting look at the St. Louis Browns, Boston Braves, and Philadelphia Athletics. Being the number two team in your own city is never an easy position to overcome.
This day in baseball: Luis Castro’s major league debut
Posted: April 23, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Baseball, Connie Mack, history, Luis Castro, Major League Baseball, MLB, Orlando Ramirez, Philadelphia Athletics, sports Leave a commentLuis Castro made his major league debut on April 23, 1902, making him the first player from Colombia to play in the big leagues. Castro took the field at second base for Connie Mack’s Philadelphia’s A’s in an 8-1 victory over the Orioles at Oriole Park that day. The 25-year-old Medellin native would play in 42 games that year and would also prove to be the last player from Colombia to appear in major league baseball until Orlando Ramirez broke in with the Angels in 1974.
Castro in 1902 (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: Connie Mack passes
Posted: February 8, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Connie Mack, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, Philadelphia Athletics, sports, World Series 1 CommentThe legendary Connie Mack died on February 8, 1956 at the age of 93. Mack had fallen and suffered a hip fracture a few months previously in October 1955, undergoing surgery on October 5 and missing the World Series that week for the first time ever. He remained wheelchair-bound from that point on. Officially, it was announced that Connie Mack died of “old age and complications from his hip surgery.”
National Baseball Hall of Fame Library/Major League Baseball/Getty Images
This day in baseball: A Series of shutouts
Posted: October 14, 2019 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Chief Bender, Christy Mathewson, Major League Baseball, MLB, New York Giants, Philadelphia Athletics, sports, World Series Leave a commentThe 1905 World Series was the only World Series in history in which every game ended as a shutout. Game 5 of the Series, played on October 14th, featured Christy Mathewson of New York against Chief Bender of Philadelphia on the mound. Mathewson defeated the A’s 2-0, marking his third victory of the Series to secure the Giants’ World Series victory.
Christy Mathewson (Chicago Historical Society)
This day in baseball: Out confusion
Posted: September 14, 2019 Filed under: 19th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Bob Reach, Boston Red Stockings, Cap Anson, Fergy Malone, George Wright, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, Philadelphia Athletics, sports Leave a commentIn a game between the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Red Stockings on September 14, 1872, the Athletics led 4-1 in the seventh inning with runners on first and second. Fergy Malone popped up to shortstop George Wright, who caught the ball in his hat and then proceeded to throw the ball to third base. The ball was then thrown to second base. Wright claimed a double play has been completed, as a batter cannot be retired with a “hat catch,” and thus runners Cap Anson and Bob Reach should have been forced out. This naturally caused some confusion, and ultimately , the umpire decided to give Malone another at bat, declaring nobody out on the play. The Athletics won this game, 6-4.
George Wright, 1872 (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: Double steal fiasco
Posted: August 13, 2019 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Dave Fultz, Detroit Tigers, Harry Davis, history, Philadelphia Athletics, sports Leave a commentOn August 13, 1902, the Philadelphia A’s attempted a double steal against the Tigers. Harry Davis took off from first base while Dave Fultz, the runner on third, waited for the Tigers to make the throw. However, Detroit conceded second base to Davis, thus holding Fultz to third.
Not willing to give up the play so easily, Davis returned to first base on the next pitch. He took off for second base again, this time drawing a throw. Fultz managed to score from third on the throw, and Davis was called safe at second.
Davis was credited with just one stolen base out of the ordeal.
Harry Davis (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: Williams’s six-game streak
Posted: August 2, 2019 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: American League, Baseball, Ken Williams, Major League Baseball, MLB, Philadelphia Athletics, sports, Sportsman's Park, St. Louis Browns Leave a commentKen Williams of the St. Louis Browns homered in his sixth consecutive game on August 2, 1922, setting what was at the time an American League record. However, the Browns still lost to the Athletics, 8-4, at Sportsman’s Park.
Library of Congress
