On This Day In Baseball

On this day, August 4th 1993, Robin Ventura would make what is probably one of the worst decisions of his life. I'll leave it at that. #1993

On this day, August 2nd 1907, a 19 year old kid from Humboldt, Kansas named Walter Johnson would make his major league pitching debut for the Washington Senators. Taking on the Ty Cobb led Detroit Tigers inside American League Park (home of the Senators), Johnson would show promise and potential right off the bat. Through the first six innings of his outing, Walter would allow only 3 hits, two of which being bunts. His outing would end after 8 innings, allowing only 2 runs to cross home plate on 6 hits in a hard-luck loss against the 1st Place Tigers. In storybook fashion, the first hit ever given up by the right-hander was off the bat of Ty Cobb, bunting for a base hit. Cobb was quoted after the game praising the young slinger, stating, "We couldn’t touch him.… Every one of us knew we’d met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ball park.” Of course, Johnson would go on to have one of the greatest pitching careers the game has ever seen, registering a mind-boggling 417 wins and 3,509 strikeouts. #1907

On this day, July 26th 2015, the last place Cincinnati Reds would trade their longtime ace, Johnny Cueto, to the Kansas City Royals. With the Reds being obvious sellers at the trade deadline, and Cueto pitching at a Cy Young level once again, the demand for Johnny, all be it as a rental, was as high as could be. The Royals would make the call and make the move, sending three pitching prospects to Cincinnati. Those being Brandon Finnegan (NO. 4 Royals Prospect & NO. 75 in MLB), John Lamb, and Cody Reed. Despite the rental status of Cueto, becoming a free agent at the conclusion of the 2015 season, you can say without a shadow of a doubt that the Kansas City Royals won this trade. Cueto would go on to become a key member in the Royals run to the World Series Championship, peaking in Game 2 of the World Series, throwing a Complete Game 2-hitter, allowing only 1 run to cross. On the Reds side of the deal, Brandon Finnegan would be out of the Majors by 2018, John Lamb the same, and Cody Reed would go 0-7 his rookie year with a 7.36 ERA. #2015

On this day, July 19th 1936, a 17 year old farm boy out of Van Meter, Iowa named Bob Feller would make his Major League debut with the Cleveland Indians. The future Hall of Famer and soon-to-be Indians ace would enter this midseason bout against the Washington Senators in relief, going 1 inning, walking 2 and striking out 1 in a scoreless frame. It wasn't the most memorable of debuts for Feller, who would stay in an unfamiliar relief role until August 23rd. But once he made that first MLB start on August 23rd, the future was staring every baseball fan right in the face, with Feller going on to throw a complete game against the St. Louis Browns, striking out 15 batters. #1936 #

On this day, July 12th 1996, Minnesota Twins Centerfielder, Kirby Puckett, would announce his retirement from the game of baseball, effective immediately. After waking up on the morning of March 28th without vision in his right eye, and undergoing multiple operations in an effort to restore its vision, it was now clear to Puckett that his playing days were over. Despite being 36 years old, an age that usually means an athlete is past his prime, Puckett was showing absolutely no sign of slowing down. Coming off of another all-star season in '95, batting .314 with 23 Home Runs & 99 RBI, Puckett was entering Spring Training in 1996 ready to rock. Sadly, baseball fans around the world wouldn't be able to see exactly how much Kirby had left in the tank. Even with the unfortunate retirement, Puckett still had himself a fantastic major league career. Across 12 major league seasons, Puckett would be selected to 10 All-Star games, win 6 Gold Glove Awards, 6 Silver Slugger Awards, a batting title in 1989 (hitting .339), an ALCS MVP in 1991, and 2 World Series Championships in 1987 and 1991. #1996

On this day, July 9th 2011, Derek Jeter would become immortal, collecting his 3000th career hit with a 3rd inning home run off of Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price. In a dream scenario, Mr. November would round third only to be greeted by the entire Yankees dugout at home plate, immediately embracing longtime teammate Jorge Posada. The day wouldn't be over for Jeter either, as he would end up going 5 for 5 with 3 singles, a double, and that infamous homer. #2011

On this day, July 6th 1933, the first ever MLB All-Star Game would take place as a part of the World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois. Initially thought of by Chicago Tribune sports editor Arch Ward, the superstar filled event was meant to be a one-off. But with its immense success, it would end up becoming one of the richest traditions in baseball. This inaugural edition of the Midsummer Classic would feature 8 future Hall of Famers on the National League side and 12 future Hall of Famers on the AL side, with the Junior Circuit getting the victory 4-2 behind a Babe Ruth 2-Run blast. #1933

On this day, July 5th 1987, the bottom-dwelling San Diego Padres and the NL West leading San Francisco Giants would complete a 7 player swap, with 3 players heading to the Bay Area and 4 players going down south to San Diego. The Padres would send former All-Star pitcher Dave Dravecky, reliever Craig Lefferts, and budding star Kevin Mitchell to San Francisco. In exchange, the Giants would give the Padres an All-Star 3rd Baseman in Chris Brown, journeyman relief pitcher Keith Comstock, starter turned reliever Mark Davis, and 23 year old starting pitcher Mark Grant. Both teams would no doubt benefit from this enormous trade, with two stars coming out and flourishing in their new homes. Kevin Mitchell would move from his native San Diego and become an MVP in San Francisco, while Mark Davis would become a full-time reliever in San Diego, being named to consecutive All-Star teams in '88 & '89, also winning the Cy Young Award in 1989 with a 1.85 ERA and a league leading 44 saves. #1987

On this day, July 2nd 1941, Joltin' Joe DiMaggio would break a record that was previously deemed "unbreakable". In the Bottom of the 5th inning, on a sweltering day inside Yankee Stadium, DiMaggio would rock a 2-run jimmy jack off of Red Sox pitcher Dick Newsome, marking the 45th consecutive game in which he registered a hit. With the 45 game hitting streak of Joe D now overtaking the 44 game hitting streak of "Wee" Willie Keeler, DiMaggio wouldn't let his foot off the gas pedal. As we all know very well, Joltin' Joe would continue his hitting ways, extending that record hitting streak to 56 games, a number that truly feels unbreakable. #1941

On this day, June 30th 1995, Eddie Murray would become the 20th player in Major League history to join the 3,000 Hit Club. Coming off of the worst statistical season of his Hall of Fame career, and going into his 2nd season as a member of the Cleveland Indians, Murray would enter the infamous Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota only 1 hit away from 3,000. With no outs in the Top of the 6th inning, Steady Eddie would punch a single into rightfield off of Twins starter Mike Trombley, forever etching his name in baseball history. #1995

On this day, June 28th 2001, one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game, Tony Gwynn, would announce that the 2001 season would be his last. In the middle of his age 41 season, Gwynn would make the call after 20 years in the show, having been named an All Star 15 times, winning 5 Gold Glove Awards, 7 Silver Slugger Awards, and 8 Batting Titles, hitting a career high .394 in 1994. Mr. Padre would finish off the '01 campaign in typical Gwynn fashion, batting over .300 (.324 to be exact) across 71 big league games. #2001

On this day, June 23rd 2003, Barry Bonds would become the founding member of the 500-500 club. In the opening game of a 3 game set against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, Bonds would steal 2nd Base for the 500th of his career. Having already accumulated 500 career homers, Barry Bonds would further cement himself as one of the greatest players to ever live, becoming the first player in Major League history to rack up 500 Dingers and 500 Stolen Bags. We have yet to see any other player join this exclusive club, and it's very possible that we never will. The only active "threat" to Bonds solo status in the 500-500 club is, you guessed it, Mike Trout, currently sitting at 310 Homers and 203 Stolen Bases. #2003