June 15

Events, births and deaths that occurred on June 15.

[edit] Events

• 1902 - Corsicana defeats Texarkana, 51 - 3, in a Texas League game. Nig Clarke of Corsicana takes advantage of the small park and hits eight home runs. Some telegraph operators, thinking there is a mistake, report the score as 5 - 3.
• 1923 - Lou Gehrig makes his Major League Debut with the New York Yankees as a pinch hitter.
• 1925 - The Philadelphia Athletics go into the bottom of the 8th inning trailing, 15 - 4, and score 13 runs to defeat the Cleveland Indians, 17 - 15.
• 1928 - Ty Cobb of the Philadelphia Athletics steals home for the 54th and final time in his 24-year career to extend his major league record. It comes in the 8th inning against the Cleveland Indians. The Athletics beat Cleveland, 12 - 5, as Lefty Grove is the winning pitcher.
• 1931 - Cut-down day for major league rosters includes the retirement of Eddie Collins and Harry Heilmann. Collins becomes a coach for the Philadelphia Athletics and Heilmann will return briefly to the Cincinnati Reds next season.
• 1938 - Johnny Vander Meer of the Cincinnati Reds stuns the baseball world by pitching his second successive no-hitter in five days, defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers, 6 - 0, as Brooklyn plays the first night game ever at Ebbets Field. In front of 38,748 fans, including spectator Babe Ruth, Vander Meer strikes out seven and walks eight, including three one-out walks in the 9th inning. A force at home and a fly ball end the game. Vander Meer no-hit the Boston Bees, 3 - 0, on June 11th.
• 1948 - The Detroit Tigers beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 4 - 1, before a crowd of 54,480 in the first night game at Briggs Stadium. The Tigers are the last American League team to install lights.
• 1949 - Eddie Waitkus of the Philadelphia Phillies is shot by 19-year-old Ruth Steinhagen at Chicago's Edgewater Beach Hotel. She will later be placed in a mental hospital. Waitkus battles for his life but will come back to play the following season.
• 1952 - The St. Louis Cardinals set a National League comeback record by rallying from an 11 - 0 deficit to post a 14 - 12 victory over the New York Giants. St. Louis scores seven runs in the 5th inning, three in the 7th, two in the 8th and two in the 9th to cap off the incredible comeback.
• 1961 - The expansion Washington Senators are 30-30 after winning today. It is the latest date an expansion team will be at .500. Washington will lose its next 10 games.
• 1962 - Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente trade grand slams in a wild battle between the Braves and Pirates, but it is Clemente's that ignites a seven-run rally in the 8th for a 9 - 8 Pirate victory.
• 1963 - Juan Marichal of the San Francisco Giants pitches a 1 - 0 no-hitter against the Houston Colt .45's. It is the first Giants no-hitter since Carl Hubbell pitched one in 1929.
• 1964 - The St. Louis Cardinals make one of their best trades ever, acquiring outfielder Lou Brock from the Chicago Cubs for pitchers Ernie Broglio and Bobby Shantz and outfielder Doug Clemens. As a member of the Cardinals, Brock will set the all-time stolen base record and reach the 3,000-hit mark.
• 1965 - Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain makes a 1st-inning relief appearance and strikes out the first seven batters he faces, setting a major league record. He records 14 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings as Detroit rallies to beat the Boston Red Sox, 6 - 5. Bill Freehan has a record-tying 19 putouts at catcher.
• 1969 - The New York Mets help their power needs by adding first baseman Donn Clendenon. Clendenon had refused a January trade that would have sent him from Montreal to Houston, but he agrees to go to New York. In exchange, Montreal receives Steve Renko, Kevin Collins, and two minor leaguers, and also acquires pitcher Dick Radatz from Detroit in a separate deal.
• 1971 - "If they ever want to rate the 10 greatest catches of all time," maintains The Sporting News's correspondent and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports editor Charley Feeney, "Roberto Clemente's fantastic catch of Bob Watson's line drive in Houston's Astrodome will have to be among them." Most of the 16,307 fans give Clemente a standing ovation for his feat, which deprives Watson of a home run in the 8th inning. It would have put the Astros ahead, 2 - 1. Instead, Steve Blass holds on to a 1 - 0 lead and the Bucs will score twice more for a 3 - 0 win. Joe Morgan is on first base with two out when Watson hits his vicious liner toward the right field corner. Clemente, going full speed, races toward the wall and, in one sudden move, makes a twisting leap for a one-handed grab, back to the plate, just before the ball would have hit above the yellow line on the wall, in home run territory. When Clemente comes down, his body hits the wall and he suffers a bruised left ankle and his left elbow also is swollen. Blood spills from a gash on the left knee. Clemente slumps on both knees, back to the infield. The Houston fans stand up and cheer. A second standing ovation will precede Clemente's at-bat in the top of the 9th. On the preceding play, Clemente made a skidding shoestring catch of Cesar Cedeno's Texas Leaguer, then threw perfectly to second base while on his knees to prevent Morgan from advancing.
• 1973 - Former Atlanta Braves outfielder Tommie Aaron becomes the first black manager of a team located in the deep South. Aaron will manage Savannah which becomes the first Double-A team to employ an African-American manager.
• 1976:
  • A game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros is rained out at the Houston Astrodome. Only members of both teams are able to make it to the stadium. The game is postponed when heavy rains and flooding prevent umpires, fans and stadium personnel from arriving at the dome. It is the first rainout in Astrodome history.
  • Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley attempts to sell three of his star players. Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers are sent to the Boston Red Sox for $1 million apiece and Vida Blue to the New York Yankees for $1.5 million. Three days later, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn will void the moves, saying they are "not in the best interests of baseball."
• 1977 - In an unpopular move, the New York Mets trade franchise pitcher Tom Seaver just moments before the trading deadline. The Mets send Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds for four lesser players: infielder Doug Flynn, outfielders Steve Henderson and Dan Norman, and pitcher Pat Zachry. Seaver will go on to win 75 games for the Reds in five and a half seasons. The same day, New York trades slugger Dave Kingman to the San Diego Padres for utility player Bobby Valentine and a minor league pitcher.
• 1980 - Jorge Orta of the Cleveland Indians hits a double and five singles and scores four runs in a 14 - 5 triumph over the Minnesota Twins. Toby Harrah records seven RBI for Cleveland.
• 1983 - In one of the worst trades in franchise history, the St. Louis Cardinals send first baseman Keith Hernandez to the New York Mets in exchange for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey. The deal is motivated by Hernandez's penchant for cocaine, which he will overcome in New York.
• 1992 - Jeff Reardon breaks Rollie Fingers' career save mark of 341 when he preserves a 1 - 0 victory for the Boston Red Sox with one scoreless inning against the New York Yankees.
• 1997 - In one of the more surprising developments of the first weekend of interleague play, the Baltimore Orioles complete a sweep of the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field, on Lenny Webster's 10th-inning home run off Mark Wohlers. One byproduct of interleague play that isn't a surprise is the increase at the turnstiles. Attendance is up nearly 10,000 per game for the weekend, and the Seattle Mariners average 52,074 for their four interleague games in the Kingdome.
• 2002 - Rafael Palmeiro of the Texas Rangers reaches his 1,000th career extra-base hit by hitting a double in the 5th inning of a 4 - 0 loss to the Houston Astros. Palmeiro becomes the 25th major leaguer to reach the mark.
• 2007 - Julio Franco comes to bat against Roger Clemens. Their combined age is 93 years, 246 days, the oldest pitcher-batter matchup in the major leagues since Rube Walberg and Nick Altrock on October 1, 1933. Franco and Clemens had first faced off on May 15, 1984, 19 months before the Mets' starting left fielder in this game, Chris Gomez, was even born.
• 2008:
  • Scott Baker strikes out four batters in an inning, the first Minnesota Twins hurler to accomplish the feat. In the third inning of a 4 - 2 loss to Milwaukee, Baker fans Ryan Braun. On a strikeout of Prince Fielder, the ball bounces away from backstop Mike Redmond, letting Fielder reach first. Baker strikes out Russell Branyan and then gets Mike Cameron looking to end the frame.
  • Chien-Ming Wang, who is 8-2 after back-to-back 19-win seasons, breaks his right foot running the bases in an interleague game with the Astros, spoiling a 13 - 0 Yankee rout. Wang will miss the remainder of the season and the injury will completely derail his career.
  • Carlos Delgado drives in his 1,405th run in the majors, breaking Juan Gonzalez's record for most RBI by a Puerto Rican player.
• 2010:
  • Just called up from AAA Portland, Aaron Cunningham hits a grand slam off Brett Cecil in the Padres' 8 - 2 win over Toronto. Cunningham was called up to replace the injured Matt Stairs, and the slam is his first hit in a San Diego uniform. Mat Latos is the winner, but all is not rosy for the Friars: catcher Yorvit Torrealba is handed a three-game suspension and is fined an undisclosed amount for bumping umpire Larry Vanover in the previous day's game.
  • Unwanted by the Brewers, pitcher Jeff Suppan shows flashes of his old form in his return to the St. Louis Cardinals. One of the heroes of the team's conquest of the 2006 World Series title, Suppan gives up a run in four innings and hits a double and scores a run; reliever Blake Hawksworth gets credit for the 4 - 2 win over the Mariners.
• 2011:
  • One day after seeing their 9-game winning streak stopped by James Shields's shutout, the Red Sox are back at it, getting even with the Rays as Josh Beckett tosses a one-hitter in a 3 - 0 win. Kevin Youkilis hits a three-run homer off Jeremy Hellickson in the 7th for the game's only runs. Reid Brignac has Tampa Bay's only hit, a 3rd-inning single.
  • Rickie Weeks homers and doubles twice as the Brewers defeat the Cubs, 7 - 5, to complete their climb to the top of the NL Central, claiming sole possession of first place after a slow start to the season. Ryan Braun doubles twice, singles and scores three runs and Corey Hart also has three hits as the Brew Crew's bats are not dampened by rainy conditions at Wrigley Field.
  • Mark Teixeira homers from both sides of the plate in a 12 - 4 Yankee win over Texas. It is his 11th time doing so, tying Eddie Murray and Chili Davis for the all-time record.
• 2012:
  • An 8-run explosion by the Rockies in the 10th inning takes them to a 12 - 4 win over the Tigers. For the Rockies, it's the most runs they have ever scored in an extra inning; the win stops an 8-game losing streak and is their first in 10 interleague games this year. A fielding error by P Jose Valverde on Eric Young's sacrifice bunt sets up the big inning, and Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer hit back-to-back homers off Luis Marte before the Rox are done.
  • The Rays crush their cross-state rivals the Marlins, 11 - 0, as Matt Moore gives up only one hit in 7 innings. Burke Badenhop and Brandon Gomes complete his effort with a hitless inning each for a combined one-hit shutout. Desmond Jennings drives in four runs for the Rays.

[edit] Births

• 1840 - Washington Fulmer, outfielder (d. 1907)
• 1862 - Peek-A-Boo Veach, infielder (d. 1937)
• 1863 - Jerry Hurley, catcher (d. 1950)
• 1866 - Nick Wise, catcher/outfielder (d. 1923)
• 1869 - Tom Hart, catcher (d. 1939)
• 1876 - Charlie Dexter, outfielder (d. 1934)
• 1878 - Ed Wheeler, infielder (d. 1960)
• 1884 - Heinie Beckendorf, catcher (d. 1949)
• 1890 - Dutch Schirick, pinch hitter (d. 1968)
• 1890 - John Wilson, pitcher (d. 1954)
• 1891 - Frank Crossin, catcher (d. 1965)
• 1891 - Lou North, pitcher (d. 1974)
• 1894 - Mike Cantwell, pitcher (d. 1953)
• 1894 - Norm Glockson, catcher (d. 1955)
• 1896 - Ray Richmond, pitcher (d. 1969)
• 1897 - Cy Twombly, pitcher (d. 1974)
• 1904 - Ed Pipgras, pitcher (d. 1964)
• 1904 - Pid Purdy, outfielder (d. 1951)
• 1904 - Hank Winston, pitcher (d. 1974)
• 1906 - Monte Weaver, pitcher (d. 1994)
• 1912 - Babe Dahlgren, infielder; All-Star (d. 1996)
• 1912 - Mem Lovett, pinch hitter
• 1916 - Bud Stewart, outfielder (d. 2000)
• 1925 - Gene Baker, infielder; All-Star (d. 1999)
• 1927 - Ben Flowers, pitcher (d. 2009)
• 1927 - Matt Zidich, minor league pitcher, outfielder (d. 2008)
• 1928 - Gene Hassell, minor league infielder and manager
• 1931 - Bernice Gera, minor league umpire (d. 1992)
• 1932 - Mario Cuomo, minor league outfielder
• 1934 - Harvey Tomter, minor league pitcher (d. 2005)
• 1936 - Hiroo Kataoka, NPB catcher
• 1938 - Billy Williams, outfielder; All-Star, Hall of Famer
• 1939 - Ty Cline, outfielder
• 1941 - Bruce Dal Canton, pitcher (d. 2008)
• 1943 - Al Closter, pitcher
• 1946 - Ken Henderson, outfielder
• 1946 - Champ Summers, outfielder (d. 2012)
• 1949 - Dusty Baker, outfielder, manager; All-Star
• 1949 - Andy Bottin, minor league outfielder and manager
• 1955 - Greg Bonin, umpire
• 1956 - Lance Parrish, catcher; All-Star
• 1957 - Brett Butler, outfielder; All-Star
• 1958 - Wade Boggs, infielder; All-Star, Hall of Famer
• 1960 - Nelson Rood, minor league infielder and manager
• 1963 - Randy Smith, general manager
• 1966 - Dave Liddell, catcher
• 1967 - Daren Epley, minor league infielder
• 1969 - Tim Holland, minor league infielder
• 1969 - Félix Isasi Jr., Cuban league outfielder
• 1969 - Tim Keuter, Hoofdklasse pitcher
• 1969 - Brian Lane, minor league infielder
• 1971 - Stuart Howell, Australian national team pitcher
• 1972 - Tony Clark, infielder; All-Star
• 1972 - Ramiro Mendoza, pitcher
• 1972 - Andy Pettitte, pitcher; All-Star
• 1972 - Carlos Subero, minor league infielder and manager
• 1973 - Jon Edwards, minor league pitcher
• 1974 - Scott Tunkin, Australian national team infielder
• 1975 - Boris Rothermundt, Division Elite pitcher
• 1975 - Chris Wakeland, outfielder
• 1977 - Bret Prinz, pitcher
• 1978 - Zach Day, pitcher
• 1979 - Tom Lorrentop, First Division pitcher
• 1979 - Matt Smith, pitcher
• 1980 - Muhammad Iftikhar, Pakistani national team infielder
• 1980 - Erik Kratz, catcher
• 1980 - Jin-young Lee, KBO outfielder
• 1981 - Jeremy Reed, outfielder
• 1982 - Clayton Hamilton, minor league pitcher
• 1982 - Anderson Mejía, minor league catcher and pitcher
• 1983 - Abel Moreno, minor league pitcher
• 1983 - Niels van Weert, Hoofdklasse infielder
• 1984 - Vicente Cafaro, minor league infielder
• 1984 - Tim Lincecum, pitcher; All-Star
• 1984 - Cliff Pennington, infielder
• 1985 - Michael Fiers, pitcher
• 1986 - Trevor Plouffe, infielder
• 1986 - Sean West, pitcher
• 1987 - Jake Elmore, infielder
• 1987 - Josh Lindblom, pitcher
• 1987 - Eduardo Nunez, infielder
• 1987 - Alexandre Periard, minor league pitcher
• 1988 - Jake Locker, drafted outfielder
• 1991 - Travis Jankowski, minor league outfielder
• 1992 - Alejandro Sanchez, minor league infielder

[edit] Deaths

• 1893 - Darby O'Brien, outfielder (b. 1863)
• 1906 - Sandy Nava, catcher (b. 1850)
• 1919 - Fred Tenney, outfielder (b. 1859)
• 1921 - Robert Foster, catcher (b. 1855)
• 1929 - Tim Flood, infielder (b. 1877)
• 1931 - Bill O'Hara, outfielder (b. 1881)
• 1937 - Al Krumm, pitcher (b. 1865)
• 1947 - Luke Stuart, infielder (b. 1892)
• 1949 - Jim Buchanan, pitcher (b. 1876)
• 1949 - Nig Clarke, catcher (b. 1882)
• 1954 - Lew Carr, infielder (b. 1872)
• 1956 - Scotty Ingerton, infielder (b. 1886)
• 1959 - Charlie Eakle, infielder (b. 1887)
• 1964 - Jim Spotts, catcher (b. 1909)
• 1965 - Jack Calvo, outfielder (b. 1894)
• 1967 - Ollie Welf, pinch runner (b. 1889)
• 1968 - Sam Crawford, outfielder; Hall of Famer (b. 1880)
• 1976 - Jimmie Dykes, infielder, manager; All-Star (b. 1896)
• 1977 - Bill Lee, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1909)
• 1987 - George Smith, infielder (b. 1937)
• 1987 - Schoolboy Johnny Taylor, Negro League pitcher (b. 1916)
• 1987 - Don White, outfielder (b. 1919)
• 1988 - Hugh Willingham, infielder (b. 1906)
• 1989 - Judy Johnson, Negro League infielder; Hall of Famer (b. 1899)
• 1990 - Bucky Jacobs, pitcher (b. 1913)
• 1991 - Happy Chandler, commissioner; Hall of Famer (b. 1898)
• 1992 - Ed Lopat, pitcher, manager; All-Star (b. 1918)
• 1997 - Bill Lawrence, outfielder (b. 1906)
• 1999 - Gene Markland, infielder (b. 1919)
• 2001 - Marcelino Solis, pitcher (b. 1930)
• 2005 - Carroll Sembera, pitcher (b. 1941)
• 2006 - Carl Thompson, minor league manager (b. 1921)
• 2007 - Larry Whiteside, writer (b. 1937)
• 2008 - John Buzhardt, pitcher (b. 1936)
• 2008 - Billy Muffett, pitcher (b. 1930)
• 2011 - Ted Gray, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1924)