August 8, 1877 - After St. Louis catcher John Clapp has his cheek smashed by a foul tip, replacement Mike Dorgan goes behind the plate wearing a mask. This is perhaps the first use of a catcher's mask in an official National League game.
August 8, 1903 - A week after pitching his first doubleheader victory, Joe McGinnity of the New York Giants did it again, beating the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-1 and 4-3. In the second game, he stole home.
August 8, 1905 - Pittsburgh second baseman Dave Brain, who hit three triples in a game for St. Louis against Pittsburgh on May 29, repeats the performance for Pittsburgh against Boston. He is the only player to perform the feat twice in one season.
August 8, 1915 - Philadelphia's Gavvy Cravath hit four doubles and drove in eight runs in a 14-7 victory over the Reds at Cincinnati.
August 8, 1916 - The Athletics set an AL record with their 19th loss in a row on the road. The streak began on July 25, making it a record for losses in two weeks.
August 8, 1920 - Howard Ehmke of the Detroit Tigers pitched the fastest game in American League history, one hour and 13 minutes, for a 1-0 victory against the New York Yankees.
August 8, 1931 - Bobby Burke of the Washington Senators pitched a 5-0 no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox.
August 8, 1954 - The Brooklyn Dodgers pounded the Cincinnati Reds 20-7 at Ebbets Field. The Dodgers scored 13 runs in the eighth inning after two were out.
August 8, 1957- Club President Walter O'Malley makes it official announcing the Dodgers will play in Los Angeles next season.
August 8, 1970- On Old Timers Day at the Stadium, the Yankees retire Casey Stengel’s uniform #37. The ‘Old Perfessor’s’ Bronx Bombers won seven World Series during his 12-year tenure with the team from 1949 to 1960.
August 8, 1972- After much speculation about the future of the team, the Yankees sign a thirty-year lease to play in the 'new' Yankee Stadium beginning 1976. After completing the Stadium's 50th-Anniversary new season, the Bronx Bombers will play their home games for the next two seasons at Shea Stadium while the 'House the Ruth Built' is completely remodeled.
August 8, 1973 - Designated hitter Orlando Cepeda hit four doubles as the Boston Red Sox posted a 9-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
August 8, 1982 - California's Doug DeCinces hit three home runs in a game for the second time in less than a week. DeCinces hit solo homers in the first and third innings and connected for a two-run shot in the eighth of a 9-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners. DeCinces hit three against Minnesota on Aug. 3.
August 8, 1985 - Baseball, after a two-day strike, resumed with an 18-game schedule, including five doubleheaders.
August 8, 1988 - The first night game in Wrigley Field's 74-year history was postponed with the Chicago Cubs leading the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 after heavy rains started in the bottom of the fourth inning. Philadelphia's Phil Bradley led off the game with a home run, but all numbers were wiped out by the rain.
August 8, 1992 - Oakland's Dennis Eckersley had his consecutive saves record snapped at 40. His two records - 36 straight to start a season, and 40 straight over two seasons - ended trying to protect a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals. Eckersley gave up a two-out, two-run single to Gregg Jefferies which gave the Royals a 3-2 lead. But the Athletics came back to win the game in the ninth, 5-3.
August 8, 1997 - Randy Johnson struck out 19, matching the major league record for left-handers he had tied earlier this season, as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-0.
August 8, 1998- At the age of 41, Twins' Paul Molitor becomes the fifth player in major league history to have at least 3,000 hits and 500 steals. His 5-for-5 performance and the theft of his 500th base allows him to join Ty Cobb (4,191 hits, 892 steals), Honus Wagner (3,415, 722), Eddie Collins (3,315, 744) and Lou Brock (3,023, 938) as the only players to accomplish this milestone.
August 8, 2002- Closer John Smoltz records his 40th save in the 114th game of the Braves' schedule making it the earliest point in a season a relief pitcher has reached that mark. Lee Smith of the Cardinals accomplished the feat in his 117th game in 1993, and White Sox Bobby Thigpen turned the trick in 118 games en route to setting the major league record with 57 saves in 1990.
August 8, 2004- In less than a masterful performance, Greg Maddux pitches five innings to register his 300th career victory as the Cubs beat the Giants, 8-4. The 38-year-old is the 22nd pitcher to reach the plateau and many believe may the last to reach this coveted milestone.
No comments:
Post a Comment