Baseball
Doug Dascenzo started off his career in 1988 by playing errorless baseball for a then NL record 241 straight games!! Dougie even got a chance to take the hill while playing with the Cubs in 1990 & 1991. On June 12th, 1990 the outfielder pitched a scoreless 9th inning during a 19-8 loss to the New York Mets. He finished his career with a 0.00 ERA in five innings of relief work, including two strikeouts.
Philadelphia Phillies Utility Man Steve Jeltz became the first player in team history and the 81st in MLB History to hit a Homerun from both sides of the plate in the same game. Steve-O and the Phils came all the way back from a 10-0 deficit in the first inning to beat the cross state rival Pittsburgh Pirates 15-11. Jeltz had only one career homer coming into the 1989 season, which he hit all the way back in 1984. He would bring his career total to 5 with his four dingers in ‘89.
Eric Davis was the Coolest!! He started out the 1987 season by winning NL Player of the Month for both April & May. In May alone he hit.329 with 12 homers & 36 rbi. ‘Eric The Red’ also set a NL record by hitting 3 Grand Slams in the month. Happy Birthday Mr. Davis !!
May 22nd, 1990. Manager Lou Pinella of the Cincinnati Reds chooses to intentionally walk NL HR & RBI leader Andre Dawson five times in one game. Hawk walked the 90 ft to 1st twice in the first nine innings and three times in extras. The record fifth and final free pass came in the bottom of the 16th where the next batter, Dave Clark, hit a bases loaded single to drive in the winner. Cubs walk-off win 2-1.
May 17th, 1971
As a member of the Atlanta Braves the man they call the ‘Roadrunner’ Ralph Garr hit two extra innings home runs in a game against Tom Seaver and the New York Mets . In the tenth inning Garr hit a two out homer off Seaver to tie the game at 3. And then in the bottom of the 12th, he hit another two out solo homer for the walk-off victory!!
Did you know that Carlos May is the only player in MLB History to wear his Birthday (May 17th) on the back of his Jersey. May (name) & 17 (day). May 17th is my Birthday!!
Local Legend Robby Thompson. I remember being a kid and my buddy Rob W. talk a lot about how his dad went to High School with Robby at Forest Hill High in West Palm Beach, FL.
Today in 1989 Kevin Elster’s record 88 game errorless streak at Short Stop comes to an end. The record was broken by the great Cal Ripken in 1990 when he had 95 straight errorless games.
May 4th, 1975 - Bob “Bull’ Watson is credited with scoring Major League Baseball’s One Millionth Run. Bob had to hustle from 2nd base on a three run homer by teammate Milt May to capture the record. Apparently at the same time, 12:32 pm, Davey Concepcion of the Cincinnati Reds had homered at Riverfront Stadium in Cincy and scored just seconds behind Bull.
On This Day - May 1st, 1991 - Rickey Henderson records his 939th stolen base, passing the great Lou Brock. The ‘Man of Steal’ would go on to play another dozen years, ultimately ending his career with 1,406 stolen bases.
Happy 70 to Old ‘Scrap Iron’ Phil Garner. 1977 was Phil’s best statistical season when he totaled 17 homers, 77 rbi’s and stole 32 bases. In the ‘79 World Series he batted .500 (12-24) for the champion Pittsburgh Pirates.
Happy Belated B-Day to one cool dude, Mr. Amos Otis. On September 7th, 1971 he became the 1st player since 1927 to steal 5 bases in one game. He led the AL in stolen bases that year with 52.
My first two dogs as a kid were named Amos & Otis.
April 15th, 1977 - Ellis Valentine of the Montreal Expos hits the 1st Home Run in the new Olympic Stadium. Ellis batted in the only two runs in a 7-2 Expos loss that day. The third inning solo shot off the Phillies Steve Carlton & an eighth inning two out rbi single. He teamed up with CF Andre Dawson & LF Warren Cromartie to form one of the coolest OF Trio’s of All Time.
On this day, April 12th, 1993 Catcher Benito Santiago hits the 1st home run in Florida Marlins History.
On Opening Day April 9th, 1985 Gary Carter in his first game as a New York Met, hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Remember eating cans of that lousy ravioli just trying to save up the labels to mail away for some just as crappy baseball cards. Love it!
Flashback 26 years to Monday April 5th 1993 & The Inaugural Game for the Florida Marlins. 45 year old Pitcher Charlie Hough took the mound against Orel Hershiser and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
I grew up about 45 minutes from Joe Robbie Stadium and I can remember being in 7th grade that day stuck in school and so jealous of my buddy Jim who got to go to the game with his Grandpa.
It’s Opening Day !! Wilson Alvarez threw out the 1st pitch in Tampa Bay Devil Rays History in 1998. Wilson was ousted by the 3rd inning in an 11-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Did you know Alvarez threw a no hitter in only his 2nd MLB start? He threw the no-no against the Baltimore Orioles on August 11th, 1991
Did you know Pitcher Jimmy Key is 7-0 all time on Opening Day. He pulled out the victories while a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Baltimore Orioles.
