Baseball
On July 21st, 1975 Joe Torre grounded into 4 straight double plays. What’s funny is that batting ahead of the Mets Catcher that day was second baseman Felix Millan, who happened to hit 4 singles, only to be put out at 2nd on each of Joe’s grounders. Torre ranks 16th all-time with 284 GIDP.
Flashing it back this Friday to July 3rd, 1983, Oakland, CA. The A’s score two runs in the bottom of the 9th inning, to force extras against AL West Foe Texas. After 5 more scoreless innings, the Rangers lineup bats around and scores a MLB record 12 runs in the top of the 15th inning. The most runs scored in an extra inning. Our dude Odell Jones pitched the final 3.2 innings for Texas earning the W. Happy Friday Fellas!
April 5th, 1993 - In the inaugural game of the Florida Marlins Outfielder Jeff Conine went 4 for 4. The man they call ‘Mr. Marlin’ also recorded the first stolen base in Marlins history during their 6-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers that day. Happy Birthday Jeff !!
On August 7, 1999, Wade Boggs collected his 3,000th hit with a home run. He is one of only three players whose 3,000th hit was a HR. Happy Birthday Chicken Man !!
I had planned to make this post about Von on June 11th, because on that day in 1985 he became the First MLB player to hit two HR’s in the 1st inning. He led off the game with a solo shot and as the Phillies batted around the lineup, Hayes hit a Grand Slam in his second at-bat to put Philly up 8-0. They went on to beat the Mets 26-7.
Anyways, I had a dream about Von last night. Nothing happened, just an urge to post this today instead of on the day it happened. He probably made an appearance because I was watching 1989 MLB All-Star game Player introductions before I went to sleep. 1989 was Von’s only all star season.
In the span of one week back in the 1989 season, our Blue Jays Birthday Boy, Nelson Liriano broke up not One but Two No-Hitters in the 9th Inning!
We’ve got some FREE Blaze going to the Fan who can tell us the two pitchers who’s hitless masterpieces were ruined by Nelson.
On September I6th, 1975 in a 22-0 rout of the Chicago Cubs, Rennie Stennet became just the Second player to ever go 7 for 7 during a 9 inning game. He joined Wilbert Robinson, who accomplished the feat in 1892.
Stennet was also the leadoff hitter playing second base for the Pirates on September Its, I97I when they fielded the first all black starting lineup in MLB History.
Stennett Enters Record Books by Ryan Turnquist
Did you know that the First Home Run in Montreal Expos history was hit by a Pitcher?
Can you name him? Hint: He didn’t start the game.
For a Bonus Point. What Hall of Fame Pitcher did he hit it off of?
On April 9th, 1980 Seattle Mariners Pitcher Mike Parrott earned an opening day victory for the M’s against the Toronto Blue Jays. Would you believe it that this 8-6 victory would be Mike’s only W on the season? He would finish 1980 with a 1-16 record. Ouch.
Did you know that Tony Gwynn only struck out 23 times in 606 at bats during the 1984 Season? In his first full season in the bigs Mr. Padre batted .351 for the National League Champion Padres. It was the first pennant in team history, and the first of Tony’s eight eventual NL Batting Champion awards.
Lets go back to November 17th, 1992 and the MLB Expansion Draft featuring the Colorado Rockies & Florida Marlins. With the first selection Colorado selected pitcher David Nied. He owns the distinction of throwing the first pitch in Rockies history. He’s also the last Colorado player to wear # 17 before Todd Helton came aboard. With the 2nd selection Florida picked outfielder Nigel Wilson. Nigel would never record a hit for the Marlins, going 0-16 with 11 strikeouts in his short time with the club. He did go on to play in Japan for six seasons, batting .265 with 337 RBI & 119 HR.
Here is a great three part article looking back at Expansion Drafts in baseball.
Looking Back at the 1992 Expansion Draft by Chuck Wasserstrom
Yankees pitcher Andy Hawkins pitches a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox and somehow still loses. With two outs in the bottom of the 8th inning of a hitless beauty, Hawkins and the Yanks suddenly found themselves down 4-0 . An error by third baseman Mike Blowers allowed Sammy Sosa to beat out the throw to first. Hawkins followed that up with a pair of walks to Ozzie Guillen & Lance Johnson to load em up. A misplay of a Robin Ventura fly ball by left fielder Jim Leyritz allowed all three runs to score. Add another error and run, and it’s done. White Sox win! Andy lost his place in the No Hit club as well after MLB changed their definition of NO-NO, to say a pitcher must pitch a full 9 innings of hitless ball to get credit for it. Not 8. Bummer Dude.
