<< Yesterday

This Day in Baseball History
October 16th

Tomorrow>>
34 Fact(s) Found
1909 Behind the complete game shutout by Babe Adams, the Pirates beat the Tigers, 8-0, in the seventh and deciding game of the World Series. Pittsburgh wins its first Fall Classic in franchise history with the help of their rookie phenom, who also won Games 1 and 5.
1910 American League president Ban Johnson declares Tigers outfielder Ty Cobb the league's batting champ after questioning Nap Lajoie's suspicious multi-hit performance in a season-ending doubleheader against the Browns. With the Georgia Peach sitting out the last two games of the season, hoping to hold onto his thin lead, the Cleveland second baseman, with the St. Louis shortstop playing deeper than usual, collected eight hits, six of which were bunts.
1912 Fred Snodgrass' 10th inning two-base error of pinch-hitter Clyde Engle's routine pop fly in center field sets up the tying run en route to the 3-2 Red Sox victory over the Giants and a World Championship for Boston. The play, which becomes infamously known as "Snodgrass' Muff," is followed by his spectacular catch of a long drive hit by Tris Speaker, but the 20-year-old outfielder historically becomes known as the goat in the Fall Classic.
1939 The City of New York swears in Lou Gehrig as a member of the Parole Commission, with Mayor Fiorello La Guardia on hand. Although the term is for ten years, the former Yankee slugger will eventually become too ill to sign his name, asking for a leave of absence next year.

1949 Brooklyn does not renew Branch Rickey's contract as president of the Dodgers. The 'Mahatma' will join the Pirates as the team's executive vice president and general manager, with his son, Branch Jr., assuming the post of Pittsburgh's vice president and farm system director.
1950 After five seasons at the helm, Eddie Dyer, who Marty Marion will eventually replace, resigns as the Cardinals manager. The former St. Louis skipper won a World Championship as a rookie pilot with the Redbirds in 1946, compiling an outstanding 446-325 (.578) record during his post-war tenure with the club that never included a losing season.
1957 With a year left on his contract, the Indians dismiss Hank Greenberg as general manager, citing the lack of fan support for the team's former slugger. The disgruntled Hall of Famer, who remains on the Board of Directors, urges the team to move to Minneapolis before being bought out in 1958.
1957 The Giants extend Bill Rigney's contract for two more seasons, making him the team's first skipper in San Francisco. The former franchise infielder, an Alameda native, replaced Leo Durocher in 1956 while the team still played in New York.
1961 After he compiled a 234-199 record during his 14 seasons in Philadelphia, the Yankees purchase Robin Roberts from the Phillies for slightly more than the $20,000 league waiver price. The right-hander, who will not appear in a regular-season game for the Bronx Bombers, will be released in May, but on the same day, will sign as a free agent with the Orioles, staying with Baltimore until July 31, 1965.
1962 With the tying and winning runs in scoring position at Candlestick Park, second baseman Bobby Richardson snags Willie McCovey's scorching line drive for the final out of the World Series. The Yankees win Game 7, beating the Giants, 1-0, capturing the franchise's 20th World Championship.
1964 After deliberating for four hours, the Indians' Board of Directors decide to keep the team in the Forest City after exploring options to shift the franchise to Seattle, Oakland, or Dallas. The Tribe signs a ten-year lease to use Cleveland Stadium at a reduced rent, including an escape clause for the city and the club after any season.
1969 Thanks to Ron Swoboda's double and two Oriole errors in the eighth inning, the Mets win their fourth straight World Series game to become World Champions. Jerry Koosman tosses a five-hitter, beating Baltimore 5-3 in Game 5, in a contest best remembered for manager Gil Hodges winning the 'shoe polish' argument.

1976 In Game 1 of the World Series against the Yankees, Dan Driessen, going 0-for-4 while batting fifth in the Reds lineup, becomes the first National League player used as a designated hitter. Although the concept had been adopted and used in the American League since 1973, this contest marks the first time the Fall Classic has a DH in the lineup.
1983 The Orioles win their fourth straight contest against the Phillies and take the World Series in five games. Scott McGregor pitches a five-hit complete game in the 5-0 victory at Veterans Stadium, and Eddie Murray hits two home runs.
1985 In Game 6 of the NLCS, Cardinal first baseman Jack Clark's dramatic come-from-behind two-out, three-run home run in the ninth inning stuns a sold-out Dodger Stadium. St. Louis wins the game, 7-5, and captures the National League flag.

1985 The Royals, coming back from a 3 to 1 game deficit, capture their first American League pennant, beating the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the ALCS, 6-2. Dick Howser's squad will beat the Cardinals to win the franchise's first World Series championship.
1988 At Dodger Stadium, Don Baylor becomes the first player to participate in three consecutive World Series for three different teams when he pinch-hits in the eighth inning of the A's 6-0 loss to L.A. in the second game of the Fall Classic. The 39-year-old veteran played with the pennant-winning Red Sox in 1986 and the World Champion Twins in 1987.
1990 The A's ten-game postseason winning streak ends when the Reds take Game 1 of the World Series at Riverfront Stadium, 7-0. Reds' outfielder Eric Davis becomes the 22nd player to hit a homer in his first Fall Classic at-bat.
1999 In a game slated to be a battle between the respective aces of each team, the Red Sox crush the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS, 13-1. The dream pitching duel between Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens at Fenway Park doesn't materialize when the 'Rocket' fails to get out of the third inning, giving up five earned runs on six hits.
2000 In Game 5 of the NLCS, the Mets capture their fourth National League pennant when Mike Hampton throws a complete-game three-hit shutout, blanking the Cardinals at Shea Stadium, 7-0. Bobby Valentine's team joins the 1997 Marlins as the only other wild-card team to advance to the World Series.
2001 Diamondback southpaw Randy Johnson strikes out 11 batters en route to throwing a three-hitter, beating Greg Maddux and the Braves 2-0 in Game 1 of the NLCS. The matchup at Bank One Ballpark features starters who have collectively combined for 457 career victories and have won seven Cy Young Awards.
2003 In Game 7 of the ALCS, the Yankees capture their 39th American League pennant, beating the Red Sox, 6-5, thanks to Aaron Boone's 11th inning home run at the Bronx ballpark. The defensive replacement becomes the fifth player to end a postseason series with a homer, joining Bill Mazeroski ('60 Pirates, WS Game 7 vs. Yankees), Chris Chambliss ('76 Yankees, ALCS Game 5 vs. Royals), Joe Carter ('93 Blue Jays, WS Game 6 vs. Phillies), and Todd Pratt ('99 Mets, NLDS Game 4 vs. Diamondbacks).

2005 The White Sox, after a 46-year absence from the Fall Classic, will represent the American League in the World Series. The Pale Hose's starting rotation threw four consecutive complete-game victories against the Angels to capture the ALCS in five games to earn an opportunity to play for the World Championship for the first time since 1959.
2006 Former Manager of the Year (1995 and 2001 Mariners) Lou Piniella inks a three-year contract worth approximately $10 million, including an option for a fourth year to manage the Cubs. The 64-year-old fiery skipper replacing Dusty Baker (66-96) has a 1,519-1,420 record during his 18-year managerial tenure with the Yankees, Reds, Mariners, and Devil Rays.
2006 After winning the AL West and sweeping the Twins in the ALDS, the A's fire Ken Macha when the Tigers eliminate the team from the postseason. Oakland GM Billy Beane cites a need for more communication between the players and the manager, who compiled a 368-280 record and brought the team to the playoffs twice in his four-year tenure in the dugout.
2007 Bill Stoneman, citing he wants to spend more time with his wife, retires as the general manager of the Angels, a post he has held since the end of 1999. The 63-year-old executive, who was at the helm for the team's only World Championship (2002), will remain with the club as a senior advisor.
2008 The first pitch of a potential Game 6 of the World Series will begin eight minutes later to accommodate Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama's desire to purchase the 8-8:30 p.m. slot on the Fox network, the same airtime the campaign as CBS and NBC. The Tropicana Field game now has a scheduled start time of 8:35 p.m.
2008 The Red Sox, behind 7-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, score eight runs in the three last frames to beat the Rays in Game 5 of the ALCS at Fenway Park, 8-7. Boston's comeback victory is the biggest postseason rally since the 1929 A's tallied ten times in the seventh inning to wipe out an eight-run deficit against the Cubs in their 10-8 victory in Game 4 of the World Series.

2010 The Rangers record their first playoff win at home in the franchise's 50-year history when they take Game 2 of the ALDS, defeating the Yankees, 7-2. The victory in Arlington ends a ten-game postseason losing streak against New York, including yesterday's heartbreaking loss in which Texas had an early 5-0 lead over the Bronx Bombers.
2011 The Cardinals capture their 18th pennant with a 12-6 victory over the Brewers at Miller Park in Game 6 of the NLCS. The Redbird relievers toss 28.2 innings, accounting for three wins while compiling a 1.88 ERA.
2014 Giants' journeyman Travis Ishikawa's walk-off three-run homer ends the NLCS, giving the team a 6-3 pennant-clinching victory over the Cardinals in Game 5. San Francisco will face the Royals in a Wild Card team World Series, making their third Fall Classic appearance in the past six seasons. 
2017 In a 7-3 loss to the Indians in Game 4 of the ALCS, Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, and Manny Ramirez blast consecutive home runs for the Red Sox. In 1998, Indians sluggers Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, and Mark Whiten hit homers off Yankees starter Andy Pettitte in the bottom of the 5th inning of Game 3 of the ALCS, but the round-trippers were not consecutive.
2020 The Astros, staving off elimination, beat the Rays in Game 6 of the ALCS at Petco Park, 7-4, marking only the second time a team climbs back from a 3-0 playoff deficit to force a Game 7. In the 2004 ALCS, the Red Sox, down three games to none, came back against the Yankees, advancing to win the World Series over the Cardinals in four games.
2020 The sixth inning of Game 5 of the NLCS was the best and worst of times for Will Smith, the Dodgers catcher, who smacks a three-run homer off Will Smith, the Braves reliever. The Globe Life Field matchup marks the first time in postseason history that a hitter faces a pitcher with the same first and last name.
34 Fact(s) Found