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This Day in Baseball History
August 4th

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59 Fact(s) Found
1884 At Detroit's Recreation Park, Bison hurler Pud Galvin throws the most lopsided no-hitter in baseball history when the team beats the Wolverines, 18-0. The victory is the second career no-hitter for the 27-year-old Buffalo right-hander, who also held the Worcester Worcesters hitless in 1880.
1908 In Brooklyn, the last-place Cardinals blank the Brooklyn Superbas, 3-0. The teams use just one ball during the entire Washington Park contest.
1910 In one of baseball's all-time classic pitching duels, A's Jack Coombs and White Sox hurler Ed Walsh go the distance in a 16-inning scoreless tie before the Chicago contest ends at 7:00 pm due to darkness. In the final frame, 'Big Ed' pitches out of a second-and-third jam with no outs, and Colby Jack strikes out the side, with Walsh making the last out of the game.
1929 In front of 55,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Indians tally nine runs with two outs in the ninth inning to rout the Bronx Bombers in the nightcap, 14-6. Two New York errors assist the Tribe's comeback, including a miscue by Mark Koenig on a ground ball to short that would have ended the game.
1932 After being fined $1,000 and suspended until Carl Reynolds, the player whose jaw he broke in two places a month ago, was ready to play again for the Senators, Bill Dickey returns to the Yankees lineup. The future Hall of Fame catcher bangs out four hits, including a grand slam, despite missing 31 games.
1935 Steve O'Neill (36-23) relaces Walter Johnson (46-48), who resigned as the manager of the Indians. The Tribe has dropped 23 of its last 32 decisions.
1941 Mickey Owens becomes the first catcher to handle three foul pop-ups in one frame. The Brooklyn backstop's third-inning defense contributes to the Dodgers' 11-6 victory over New York at Ebbets Field.
1942 In a military relief game at the Polo Grounds, which will be the last war-time twilight game played, Pee Wee Reese's grand slam in the top of the ninth, which puts the Dodgers up 5-1, doesn't count because of the 9:10 pm government curfew. The game ends up as a 1-1 tie with the Giants.
1945 Pirates rookie catcher Bill Salkeld hits his only triple of the year to complete the 13th cycle in franchise history and becomes the second Buc to accomplish the feat this season. The 28-year-old southpaw-swinging backstop, with his five-for-five performance, drives in all of his team's runs, but Pittsburgh loses, 6 - 5, to the Cardinals in the Forbes Field contest.
1945 At Washington's Griffith Stadium, remarkable pitching debuts by two Senators rookies make their 15-4 nightcap loss to Boston a memorable contest.
  • Irish-born Joe Cleary gives up seven runs on five hits and three walks in his only big league appearance, finishing with a career with an 189.00 ERA.
  • Veteran Bert Shepard, wounded in WW ll and had his leg amputated, pitched five ⅓ innings, giving up just one run on three hits in his only major league appearance.
1948 Ernie Harwell, filling in for Red Barber, recovering from a bleeding ulcer, calls his first major league game when the Dodgers beat the Cubs at Ebbets Field, 5-4. To obtain the future Hall of Fame broadcaster, Brooklyn general manager Branch Rickey trades minor league catcher Cliff Dapper to the Atlanta Crackers.
1955 Ernie Banks hits three home runs in a game for the first of four times in his career when the Cubs outslug the Pirates, 11-10 at Wrigley Field. The Chicago first baseman accomplishes the feat off three different Buc hurlers, going deep off Lino Donoso in the first, connecting in the fourth off Max Surkont, and adding a two-run blast in the eighth off Dick Littlefield to give the team the lead for good.
1963 At County Stadium, Roger Craig suffers his 20th loss when the Mets lose to Milwaukee, 2-1. The defeat is the right-hander's 18th consecutive setback, tying Cliff Curtis' National League mark set in 1910 with the Braves and one loss shy of A's Jack Nabors' 1916 major league record.
1963 After missing two months of the season with a broken foot, Mickey Mantle makes a dramatic return to the lineup as a pinch-hitter when he homers to deep left field in the bottom of the seventh inning off George Brunet to tie the score with the Yankees trailing the Orioles, 10-9. The crowd of nearly 40,000 fans goes wild as the 'Mick' hobbles around the bases in the Bronx Bombers' eventual 11-10 walk-off win, a victory made possible by Yogi Berra's two-out walk-off round-tripper in the bottom of the 10th.
1965 Roy Hofheinz takes control of the Astros when he buys R.E. "Bob" Smith's remaining shares of the Houston Sports Association. Due to a rift, the former co-owner made the offer, thinking the 'Judge' couldn't put the funds together.
1968 The Yankees again honor their aging superstar when they host the second of three Mickey Mantle Days at the ballpark in the Bronx. Before the game, over 2000 young fans paid tribute to the future Hall of Fame outfielder by parading across the field with homemade banners expressing their admiration for the living legend. 
1968

"Here stands baseball's perfect warrior. Here stands baseball's perfect knight." - FORD FRICK, inscription on Stan Musial's statue from a quote attributed to former baseball commissioner.

After the Cardinals' 6-5 extra-inning loss to Chicago in front of a capacity crowd, the team unveils a ten-foot bronze statue of Stan Musial at Busch Stadium. In a pregame ceremony honoring 'Stan the Man,' the seven-time NL batting champ is joined by his 1941 teammates.

The Man Musial
Stan 'The Man' Musial by Adam Fagen on Flickr
licensed under CC BY NC-SA 2.0

1971 In a Texas League contest, Tommy Walker hurls a 15-inning no-hitter, beating the Albuquerque Dukes, 1-0. The Dallas-Fort Worth Spur right-hander faces only 47 batters during the minor league game, two over the minimum.
1973 At Cleveland Stadium, Brewer left fielder John Briggs enjoys a 6-for-6 day at the plate in the team’s 9-4 triumph over the Indians. The Milwaukee leadoff batter strokes two doubles and four singles, scoring two runs, but doesn’t record any RBIs.
1974 In Chicago's 13–10 victory over the Rangers, Bill Melton breaks Minnie Minoso's franchise mark of 135 home runs when he hits a sixth-inning two-run round-tripper off Steve Foucault in the nightcap of a twin bill at White Sox Park. Beltin' Melton finishes his eight-year tenure on the Southside with 154 homers, establishing a team record that lasts until 1987 when Harold Baines overtakes the third baseman's total.
1980 In the first managerial change in franchise history, Maury Wills replaces Darrell Johnson in the Mariners dugout. The M's will fare no better under their skipper (20-38, .345), finishing the season 44 games under .500.
1982 After driving in the winning run in the Mets' 7-4 victory over the Cubs, Joel Youngblood, traded to the Expos during the game, flies to Philadelphia and singles for Montreal, becoming the first player to have a hit for two teams on the same day in different cities. The 30-year-old All-Star collected his historic hits off two future Hall of Famers, a single off Ferguson Jenkins in Chicago and the other off Steve Carlton in the City of Brotherly Love.
1983 Dave Winfield kills a seagull at Exhibition Stadium with a warmup throw before the home fifth inning. After the 3-1 victory over the Blue Jays, the Yankees outfielder is arrested by the Ontario police and charged with animal cruelty.
1984 Jeffrey Leonard collects five hits in the Astros' 9-2 rout of the Giants. The cleanup slugger gets all singles and, therefore, cannot demonstrate his one-flap-down home run trot in front of the Houston fans at the Astrodome.
1985 Before the loss that results in Tom Seaver winning his 300th game, the Yankees honor Phil Rizzuto by retiring their former player and current broadcaster's uniform #10. The 'Scooter,' known for the expression' Holy Cow,' is knocked over in a pregame ceremony by a fitting gift from the team, a cow wearing a halo.
1985 On the same day Tom Seaver wins his 300th game, Mets' phenom Doc Gooden records his 11th consecutive game, breaking Tom Terrific's franchise mark established in 1969. The 20-year-old right-hander, going the distance, beats the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 4-1, to improve his record to 17-3 this season.
1985 In a 4-1 complete-game victory at Yankee Stadium, 40-year-old White Sox right-hander Tom Seaver becomes the 17th player in major league history to record his 300th victory, limiting the Bronx Bombers to six hits, all singles. Owner George Steinbrenner becomes irate when the fans start chanting 'Let's Go Mets,' as an homage to the beloved right-hander, who spent 12 years with his team's crosstown rivals.

1985 In front of an enthusiastic crowd of 41,630 at Anaheim Stadium, Angels' first baseman Rod Carew singles off of Minnesota southpaw Frank Viola to become the 16th major leaguer to amass 3000 hits. After the historic hit, Halos' manager Gene Mauch brings the first-base sack into the dugout, replacing it with another new bag.

1987 In the fourth matchup of 300-game winners since 1900, Angels' hurler Don Sutton (317) allows four hits in six innings to beat Steve Carlton (328) and the Twins, 12-3. The 645 combined victories are the largest number of wins ever accumulated by pitchers starting the same major league game.
1989 Dave Stieb retires the first 26 batters he faces before giving up two hits in a 2-1 win over the Yankees. Last September, the Blue Jays' hard-luck hurler lost back-to-back no-hit bids with two outs in the ninth inning.
1990 The Braves trade Dale Murphy to the Phillies for Jeff Parrett, Jim Vatcher, and Victor Rosario. The move enables youngster David Justice to return to right field and win the Rookie-of-the-Year Award.
1992 At an auction, actor Charlie Sheen pays $93,500 for the 'Mookie Wilson Ball' which went through Bill Buckner's legs, capping the miraculous Met comeback in the sixth game of the Fall Classic in 1986. Arthur Richman, the team's traveling secretary, was given the ball that night by right field umpire Ed Montague, who donated all the proceeds to charity. 

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1993 Tony Gwynn enjoys a career-high, six-hit game in the Padres' 11–10 win over the Giants in 12 innings at Jack Murphy Stadium. The outfielder's 6-for-7 performance, which includes two doubles, ties a major league record with four games of five or more hits in a single season shared by Stan Musial (Cardinals, 1948), Ty Cobb (Tigers, 1922), and Willie Keeler (NL Orioles, 1897).
1993 After getting hit by a Ryan Express fastball, Robin Ventura charges the mound to get at the 46-year-old pitcher. Nolan Ryan responds by putting the White Sox third baseman in a headlock and punching him six times, much to the pleasure of the Rangers fans at Arlington Stadium.

(Ed Note: Nolan Ryan's third-inning pitch marks the 158th and final batter he plunks, becoming the most memorable HBP of his 27-year career. - LP)

1994 In Anaheim, Goose Gossage makes his 1000th major league appearance, retiring Tim Salmon on a pop-up in the seventh inning of an eventual 4-2 Angels loss to the Mariners. The future Hall of Fame reliever will end his 22-year career playing in 1002 games with seven teams.
1994 Fan-favorite Kent Hrbek announces his retirement effective at the end of the season. The Twins' first baseman, who played his entire 14-year career in Minnesota, ranks near the top in most offensive categories for the team.
1996 The Hall of Fame inducts Baltimore managers Earl Weaver and Ned Hanlon. Kentucky congressman Jim Bunning and Negro League star Bill Foster also enter the Cooperstown shrine.
1998 Darryl Strawberry hits a game-tying pinch-hit grand slam, highlighting a nine-run ninth inning in the Yankees' 10-5 come-from-behind victory over Oakland. The 'Straw' is the first player in the American League to hit two pinch-hit grand slams in one season.
1999 All nine Angel batters use Jim Edmonds' bat the first time through the order to break out of a team slump that has resulted in 15 losses in 19 decisions. The center fielder's lumber yields dramatic results when the Halos go 4-for-8 with one walk in the first inning, including Bengie Molina's first career hit, an RBI double, in LA's 4-3 win over Kansas City at Edison Field.
2000 Joining Dave Kingman, Frank Huelsman, Willis Hudlin, Paul Lehner, Wes Covington, Ted Gray, and Mike Kilkenny, Dave Martinez ties a major league record as he appears for his fourth team in a season. In the past four months, the veteran outfielder/first baseman, recently obtained by Toronto from Texas, has played for the Devil Rays, Cubs, Rangers, and now the Blue Jays.
2000 With 32 home games remaining, the Astros, who moved from the pitcher-friendly Astrodome to homer-haven Enron Field this year, already set a franchise record by hitting 83 homers at home this season.
2003 Major League Baseball announces a five-year deal, generating more than $500 million in revenue for global licensing rights for apparel and headwear. The seven companies involved in the agreement include Majestic Athletic, New Era Cap, Twins Enterprises, Nike USA, Dynasty Apparel Industries, Drew Pearson International, and VF Imagewear.
2004 Mike Matheny's major league errorless streak behind the plate ends when his errant throw allows the runners to advance to second and third base on an infield single. The Cardinals' catcher has not committed an error since August 2, 2002, a span of 252 games.
2004 Continuing a tradition over half a century old, the Cardinals announce their new ballpark, scheduled to open in 2006, will also be known as Busch Stadium. In 1953, a month after Anheuser-Busch purchased the Cardinals, the brewery bought Sportsman's Park, renaming it Busch Stadium, and then kept the name in its new downtown stadium, which opened in 1966, calling the facility Busch Memorial Stadium.
2005 After the team goes into a free fall from first place, the Orioles fire manager Lee Mazzilli (129-140), replacing him on an interim basis with bench coach Sam Perlozzo. Currently suffering an eight-game losing streak, the Birds have dropped 16 of their last 18 games.
2006 In the Phillies' 5-3 victory over the Mets, Chase Utley's hitting streak ends at 35 consecutive games. Philadelphia's second baseman, who goes 0-for-5, has the fourth-longest stretch in National League history.
2006 At age 95, Elden Auker, the last living pitcher to face Babe Ruth, dies of congestive heart failure. The author of Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms, which he wrote when he was ninety, started his major league career in 1931 by striking out Babe Ruth and getting Lou Gehrig to pop out.
2007 Needing only 14 seasons to accomplish the feat, Alex Rodriguez becomes the 22nd and youngest player (32 years and eight days) to hit 500 career home runs. The historic three-run homer, off Royals' starter Kyle Davies, recently acquired from the Braves, is blasted into the left-field seats at Yankee Stadium, making A-Rod and Mickey Mantle the only two players to reach the milestone in the Bronx.

2007 In the second inning at Petco Park, in front of a sellout crowd of 42,497 fans, Barry Bonds drives a Clay Hensley fastball over the left-field wall for his 755th home run, tying Hank Aaron's 33-year-old career home run record. The opposite-field drive, ironically off a pitcher who failed a steroid test as a minor leaguer in 2005, is met with mixed reactions when a few patrons hold up asterisk signs, and the crowd responds to the feat with a mixture of cheers and jeers.
2008 At the start of the rain delay during the Astros and Cubs game at Wrigley Field, fans take cover in the concourse due to a tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service for downtown Chicago. The game resumes in two hours and 45 minutes, but an hour later, more thunder and lightning and another 39-minute stoppage postpone the contest in the bottom of the eighth, with Houston credited with a 2-0 rain-shortened victory.

2008 During a Brewers' 6-3 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park, first baseman Prince Fielder confronts starting pitcher Manny Parra in the dugout, shoving the hurler twice after an angry exchange of words. The Milwaukee hurler had taken a no-hitter into the fifth but gave up six runs on four hits and four walks before leaving the game for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning.
2008 The Mariners stun the Twins with a 10-run seventh inning, coming back from a 6-0 deficit in an eventual 11-6 victory at Safeco Field. With six runs driven in, Raul Ibanez, who hits a grand slam and a two-run single in the frame, establishes a club record for RBIs in one inning, one more than Ken Griffey Jr.'s mark set in 1999.
2010 Three years to the day he hit his 500th round-tripper, Alex Rodriguez eclipses Babe Ruth in becoming the youngest player to hit 600 career home runs when he blasts a two-run first-inning shot into Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. The 35-year-old Bronx Bomber third baseman is the seventh player in baseball history to reach the milestone.
2010 The Phillies obtain Mike Sweeney from the Mariners for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Philadelphia placed their All-Star first baseman Ryan Howard on the disabled list with a severely sprained ankle, which necessitated the deal.
2012 Mike Baxter sets a team record and ties a National League mark when he walks five times in a nine-inning game in the Mets' 6-4 victory over San Diego at Petco Park. Only five of the 25 pitches thrown to the New York right fielder were strikes, with thirteen of the final 14 out of the strike zone.
2016 Bartolo Colon becomes the first pitcher in the history of the Subway Series to record a victory as a member of both New York clubs when the visiting Mets beat the Bronx Bombers, 4-1. In 2011, Big Bart pitched six strong innings of shutout ball in his only season with the Yankees to earn a 5-2 victory over the Big Apple rivals at Citi Field.
2016 The Angels play their fourth and final extra-inning contest this season, setting the mark for the fewest in a 162-game campaign. The Halos' ten-inning 4-3 loss to the visiting A's keeps the team winless in overtime this year.
2017 Jaime Garcia becomes the first pitcher to make three straight appearances as a starter for three different teams since 1895 when Gus Weyhing started consecutive games for the Phillies, Pirates, and Louisville Colonels. The 31-year-old southpaw, traded twice since July 24, has taken the mound for the Braves, Twins, and Yankees in the span of 15 days.
2024 Joining the 1916 A’s, ‘61 Phillies, '69 Expos, and the '88 Orioles, the White Sox become the first fourth team in the modern era (since 1900) years lose 20 consecutive games when they drop a 13-7 decision against the Twins. Another Chicago loss will tie the American League record established by the Orioles, who dropped 21 straight games at the start of the 1988 season.
59 Fact(s) Found