Nolan Ryan Becomes First Pitcher To Record 4,000 Strikeouts

July 11, 1914 - Babe Ruth breaks in with Boston, pitching a 4-3 win over Cleveland. In his first Major League at-bat, Ruth strikes out. He will be 2-1 with Boston, spending most of the year in the International League at Providence.

July 11, 1944 - Phil Cavarretta of the Cubs sets an All-Star Game record by reaching base five successive times on a triple, single, and three walks in a 7-1 National League romp.

July 11, 1950 - Making a leaping, off-the-wall catch of a Ralph Kiner drive, Ted Williams fractures his left elbow in the All-Star game at Chicago. Remaining in the game, he puts the American League ahead, 3-2, with an RBI single. Kiner's ninth-innving home run ties the game, and Red Schoendienst's blast in the fourteenth inning wins it.

July 11, 1961 - Strong winds dominate the first All-Star Game of 1961. A capacity crowd sees pitcher Stu Miller blown off the mound in the ninth inning at Candlestick Park. A balk is called, and it enables the American League to forge a 3-3 tie before losing 5-4 in ten innings.

July 11, 1962 - For the first time since 1938, when the Waner brothers pulled the trick, brothers Hank and Tommie Aaron homer in the same inning. Both were hit in the last of the ninth, and Hank's grand slam provides the winning margin in a 8-6 Braves win over the Cards.

July 11, 1968 - Earl Weaver, who never played in the Majors, replaces Hank Bauer as manager of the Orioles. Weaver will become famous for his boisterous temper and run-ins with umpires, but his 1,480 wins and .583 winning percentage in Baltimore will land him in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

July 11, 1978 - At San Diego, the National League wins the All-Star Game 7-3. Steve Garvey singles and triples to earn the game's MVP trophy. Vida Blue starts for the National League, becoming the first pitcher to start for both leagues. Blue also started in 1971 and 1975 for the American League.

July 11, 1985 - Nolan Ryan becomes the first pitcher to record 4,000 strikeouts, fanning Danny Heep in the sixth inning of Houston's 4-3 win over the Mets. Ryan finishes with eleven strikeouts in seven innings, but gets no decision.

July 11, 1987 - Billy Ripken, 22, joins his brother Cal in the Orioles starting lineup in Baltimore's 2-1 loss to the Twins. Orioles manager Cal Ripken, Sr., is the first to manage two sons in the Majors.

July 11, 1989 - Bo Jackson and Wade Boggs lead off the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back home runs off Rick Reuschel to spark the American League to a 5-3 win in the All-Star Game at Anaheim Stadium. Jackson earns MVP honors.