May 1
From BR Bullpen
| Stats of players who were born this day | |
| Stats of players who died on this day | |
| Standings on this day | |
| Permanent link to Today's Entry | |
| Sources | |
| Baseball Library Chronology | |
| Today in Baseball History | |
Events, births and deaths that occurred on May 1.
[edit] Events
- 1883 - National League baseball returns to the City of Brotherly Love as Philadelphia hosts its first NL game since 1876. The Philadelphia Quakers, after holding their first spring training at Recreation Park, open their regular season there bowing to the Providence Grays, 4 - 3.
- 1884 - In American Association action, Toledo Blue Stockings catcher Moses Fleetwood Walker becomes the first black to play in the major leagues during a game against the Louisville Eclipse team.
- 1890 - Opening Day in the National League. At West Side Park in Cincinnati, the Chicago Colts spoil the official opening of the new park by beating the Reds, 4 - 3, with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. This is the first professional game ended in "sudden death," as the old rules required that the full inning be played out even if the team batting last was already ahead.
- 1891 - In front of almost 10,000 fans, Cy Young of the Cleveland Spiders defeats the Cincinnati Reds, 12 - 3, in the first game ever played in Cleveland's League Park.
- 1898 - The Board of Discipline of the National Baseball League adopts a set of rules to suppress rowdy ball playing. John T. Brush will later say that the resolution, which he proposed, "has worked like a charm."
- 1901 - Herm McFarland of the Chicago White Sox hits the first grand slam in American League history in a 19 - 9 victory over the Detroit Tigers. His teammate Dummy Hoy also hits a grand slam, in a contest which features Detroit committing 12 errors, 10 by the infield, to set another AL record, which Chicago will tie on May 6, 1903, against the Tigers.
- 1906 - John Lush of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches a 6 - 0 no-hitter against the Brooklyn Superbas at Washington Park.
- 1912 - George Sisler, a freshman at the University of Michigan, strikes out 20 in seven innings. Sisler will start his Hall of Fame career in 1915 with the St. Louis Browns.
- 1920:
- Joe Oeschger of the Boston Braves and Leon Cadore of the Brooklyn Robins each pitch a 26-inning marathon in a 1-1 tie, the longest in major league history. Tony Boeckel and Charlie Pick of Boston each go 0-for-11 at the plate during the deadlock at Braves Field, to set a major league record for hitless at-bats in one game.
- Babe Ruth hits his 50th career home run, and the first for the New York Yankees, in the Boston Red Sox 6 - 0 loss at the Polo Grounds.
- 1924 - Bill Barrett of the Chicago White Sox steals home twice, in the first and ninth innings, against the Cleveland Indians.
- 1925 - The Philadelphia Athletics introduce another future Hall of Famer, 17-year-old catcher Jimmie Foxx, who pinch-hits a single in the 9 - 4 loss to the Washington Senators.
- 1926 - Legendary pitcher Satchel Paige makes his debut in the Negro Southern League. Paige, at 19 years of age, leads Chattanooga to a 5 - 4 win over Birmingham.
- 1927 - Hod Lisenbee of the Washington Senators pitches a shutout in his first major league start, a 6 - 0 win over the Boston Red Sox.
- 1939 - At Comiskey Park, the White Sox defeats the Cubs and Dizzy Dean, 4 - 1, in an exhibition game to benefit Monty Stratton. The former pitcher, who lost his leg in an off-season hunting accident, tries to pitch in the game and receives a new car and nearly $30,000 as a result of the contest.
- 1944 - George Myatt goes 6-for-6 to help the Washington Senators beat the Boston Red Sox, 11 - 4.
- 1947 - For the first time, the Cleveland Indians will play all their games at Cleveland Stadium. The Indians abandon League Park, where most weekday games have been played since Cleveland Stadium opened. New Cleveland owner Bill Veeck installs an inner fence to cut power alleys from 435 to 365 feet at Municipal Stadium.
- 1949 - Elmer Valo of the Philadelphia Athletics becomes the first player in American League history to hit two bases-loaded triples in a game. Valo will hit a third bases-loaded triple during the season to tie the league mark set by Shano Collins in 1918.
- 1951 - On Mother's Day, Mickey Mantle hits the first home run of his career off Randy Gumpert in an 8 - 3 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park. In the same game, former Negro Leagues star Minnie Miñoso becomes the first black player in the history of the White Sox franchise. Miñoso belts a home run in his first major league at-bat off Vic Raschi.
- 1955 - Cleveland Indians starters show up for a 'pitching clinic' during a doubleheader sweep of the Boston Red Sox at Cleveland Stadium. Veteran Bob Feller pitches hitless ball for 6+ innings and hurls his major league record 12th one-hitter in a 2 - 0 victory in the opener, and in the nitecap rookie Herb Score strikes out the first nine batters (for a total of 16) en route to a 2 - 1 four-hit victory.
- 1959 - At the age of 39, Early Wynn of the Chicago White Sox pitches a one-hit shutout, strikes out 14, and hits a double and home run for a 1 - 0 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Comiskey Park.
- 1965 - Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Tommy Davis breaks his ankle sliding into second base. Although Davis will go on to play another 11 seasons, he will never recapture the excellence he displayed prior to the injury. In 1962, Davis led the National League with a .346 batting average and 153 RBI.
- 1968 - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher John Boozer is ejected by umpire Ed Vargo at Shea Stadium for throwing spitballs during his warmup pitches. Boozer is only the second major league pitcher to be ejected from a game for this.
- 1969 - At Crosley Field, Don Wilson of the Houston Astros pitches his second career no-hitter. Wilson strikes out 15 in downing the Cincinnati Reds, 4 - 0, one day after Cincinnati pitcher Jim Maloney no-hit the Astros and nine days after Wilson absorbed a 14 - 0 pounding by the Reds.
- 1973 - At Candlestick Park, the San Francisco Giants score seven runs with two outs in the ninth inning to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8 - 7.
- 1974:
- Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits three batters with pitches during the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds, with Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Dan Driessen being his victims. Ellis, who admits to trying intentionally to hit each Reds batter that faced him, throws two pitches behind Tony Perez' head before walking him and is taken out of the game by Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh while facing the next batter, Johnny Bench.
- Tom Seaver strikes out 16 Dodgers and gives up only three hits in over twelve innings, but the Mets lose in the 14th, 2 - 1.
- 1975 - Hank Aaron collects four hits and two RBI in the Brewers' 17 - 3 win over Detroit. This brings his career RBI total to 2,211, breaking Babe Ruth's published record of 2,209. On February 3, 1976, the Records Committee will revise Ruth's total to 2,204. In actuality, Aaron set the record with 2,205 on April 18, 1975.
- 1978 - Former major league pitcher and controversial author Jim Bouton begins a comeback with the Savannah Braves of the Southern League. The 39-year-old Bouton will eventually earn a promotion to the Atlanta Braves, where he will struggle in a late-season stint.
- 1980 - Bill Madlock of the Pittsburgh Pirates receives a 15-game suspension and a $5,000 fine for hitting umpire Jerry Crawford in the face with his glove during a recent game. Madlock will appeal the suspension and continue playing until June 6, when he decides to withdraw his protest.
- 1984 - Dwight Gooden becomes the first teenager to strike out a least ten players since Bert Blyleven accomplished the feat in 1970. The Mets' 19-year old phenom, who will set a major league rookie record with 276 strikeouts, will have a total of 15 double-digit strikeout games this year.
- 1985 - Jimmy Key becomes the first left-handed starting pitcher in 614 games to win a game for the Toronto Blue Jays.
- 1987 - Free agents Ron Guidry (Yankees), Rich Gedman (Red Sox), Bob Boone (Angels) and Tim Raines (Expos) all re-sign with their former clubs on the first day they are allowed to do so, after being victims of collusion during the off-season. Doyle Alexander (Braves) will re-sign on May 5.
- 1991:
- Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics surpasses Lou Brock as the MLB career stolen base leader with his 939th steal in a 7 - 4 victory over the New York Yankees. Henderson breaks the record in the fourth inning, when he steals third base against catcher Matt Nokes.
- Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers pitches the seventh no-hitter of his major league career. The 44-year-old Ryan, who defeats the Toronto Blue Jays, 3 - 0, becomes the oldest pitcher to hurl a no-hit game. His masterpiece includes 16 strikeouts and only two walks. It is also the 209th time he has struck out 10 or more in a game, and the 26th time putting 15 or more down on strikes.
- At County Stadium, the Milwaukee Brewers defeat the Chicago White Sox in a six-hour, five-minute, 19-inning contest, the longest in American League history since the same two clubs played 25 innings on May 8, 1984. Willie Randolph hits the winning RBI in the 19th.
- 1992:
- The Los Angeles Dodgers postpone a three-game series against the Montreal Expos because of rioting in Los Angeles following the Rodney King verdict.
- Rickey Henderson garners his 1,000th stolen base in the first inning of the Athletics' 7 - 6 victory over Detroit at Tiger Stadium.
- 1995 - MLB owners and the Umpires Association reach an agreement on a five-year contract, ending the lockout. Regular umpires will return to work on May 3.
- 2000:
- San Francisco Giants left fielder Barry Bonds becomes the first player to hit a ball into San Francisco Bay (McCovey's Cove) as the first 'splashdown' home run at Pacific Bell Park helps the Giants beat the Mets, 10 - 3.
- With the help of a Quilvio Veras home run, the Braves establish a franchise-record 14th straight victory beating the Dodgers, 2 - 1.
- 2002 - Recording his 321st save for the San Diego Padres, Trevor Hoffman sets a new major league record for the most saves for one team, surpassing the mark set by Dennis Eckersley with the Oakland Athletics. The long-time San Diego closer, now eighth on the all-time list, was traded as a rookie by the Florida Marlins as part of the Gary Sheffield deal in 1993.
- 2004:
- In the 6 - 3 victory over the Marlins at Pac Bell Park, Barry Bonds of the Giants sets a major league record by being intentionally walked four times in a nine-inning game. In 1990, Cubs' outfielder Andre Dawson was given five intentional passes in a 16-inning contest against Cincinnati.
- Frank Catalanotto of the Toronto Blue Jays becomes the first player in franchise history to collect six hits in one game, as he hits five singles and a double helping Toronto to beat the Chicago White Sox, 10 - 6.
- 2005 - Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana ends his 17-game winning streak in the Minnesota Twins' 2 - 1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Santana strikes out seven over eight innings and allows just two hits, but they are solo home runs by Vladimir Guerrero and Jose Molina.
- 2009 - Duaner Sanchez walks Russell Martin with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 9th to give Los Angeles a 1 - 0 win over San Diego. The Dodgers are now 8-0 at home for the season.
[edit] Births
- 1859 - Tom Forster, infielder (d. 1946)
- 1860 - Bill White, infielder (d. 1924)
- 1863 - Frank Foreman, pitcher (d. 1957)
- 1865 - Charlie Reynolds, catcher (d. 1944)
- 1868 - Pete Allen, catcher (d. 1946)
- 1878 - Larry Battam, infielder (d. 1938)
- 1885 - George McQuillan, pitcher (d. 1940)
- 1886 - Billy Kelly, catcher (d. 1940)
- 1889 - Dave Howard, infielder (d. 1956)
- 1889 - Fuller Thompson, pitcher (d. 1972)
- 1894 - Paul Carter, pitcher (d. 1984)
- 1896 - Bernard Kelly, coach (d. 1968)
- 1896 - Heinie Meine, pitcher (d. 1968)
- 1896 - Joel Newkirk, pitcher (d. 1966)
- 1903 - Fritz Knothe, infielder (d. 1963)
- 1909 - Bill Dunlap, outfielder (d. 1980)
- 1915 - Bob Harris, pitcher (d. 1989)
- 1915 - A. Ray Smith, minor league executive (d. 1999)
- 1916 - Victor Starfin, NPB pitcher; Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame (d. 1957)
- 1917 - Johnny Berardino, infielder (d. 1996)
- 1917 - Tommy Nelson, infielder (d. 1973)
- 1919 - Al Zarilla, outfielder; All-Star (d. 1996)
- 1923 - Dorothy Stolze, AAGPBL infielder and outfielder (d. 2003)
- 1925 - Anna May Hutchison, AAGPBL pitcher and catcher (d. 1998)
- 1927 - Art Mazmanian, college coach
- 1930 - Stan Palys, outfielder
- 1932 - Felix Torres, infielder
- 1932 - Kazuhiro Yamauchi, NPB outfielder; Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame (d. 2009)
- 1947 - In-sik Kim, KBO manager
- 1948 - Von Joshua, outfielder
- 1950 - Rich Troedson, pitcher
- 1951 - Rudy Meoli, infielder
- 1952 - Bob Allietta, catcher
- 1954 - Roy Lee Jackson, pitcher
- 1955 - Steve Lubratich, infielder
- 1955 - Ray Searage, pitcher
- 1957 - Allan Ramirez, pitcher
- 1958 - Hitoshi Watarida, NPB umpire
- 1959 - Tim Cole, minor league pitcher
- 1960 - Charlie O'Brien, catcher
- 1963 - Dave Carlucci, coach
- 1964 - Dan Gakeler, pitcher
- 1964 - Jose Lind, infielder
- 1966 - Armando Reynoso, pitcher
- 1969 - Phil Hiatt, infielder
- 1972 - Bobby Chouinard, pitcher
- 1972 - Fausto Cruz, infielder
- 1973 - Rich Butler, outfielder
- 1974 - Stephen Randolph, pitcher
- 1976 - Jose De Jesus Jimenez, minor league pitcher
- 1979 - Brandon Claussen, pitcher
- 1979 - Joe Hietpas, catcher
- 1981 - Manny Acosta, pitcher
- 1981 - Ying-Chieh Lin, NPB pitcher
- 1981 - Randy Perez, minor league infielder
- 1986 - Jason Denham, minor league outfielder
- 1987 - Iván DeJesús Jr., minor league infielder
- 1987 - Conrad Orman, minor league pitcher
[edit] Deaths
- 1913 - Charlie Reynolds, pitcher (b. 1857)
- 1920 - Joe Leonard, infielder (b. 1893)
- 1923 - Henry Adkinson, outfielder (b. 1874)
- 1926 - Ed Conwell, infielder (b. 1890)
- 1928 - Bull Smith, outfielder (b. 1880)
- 1933 - Bobby Mitchell, pitcher (b. 1856)
- 1941 - Roxy Snipes, pinch hitter (b. 1896)
- 1947 - Kitty Bransfield, infielder (b. 1875)
- 1947 - Ray Brubaker, minor league infielder and manager (b. 1895)
- 1952 - Ernie Johnson, infielder (b. 1888)
- 1959 - Fritz Henrich, outfielder (b. 1899)
- 1959 - Branch Russell, Negro League outfielder (b. 1895)
- 1960 - Homobono Márquez, minor league executive; Salon de la Fama (b. 1888)
- 1960 - Lou Schettler, pitcher (b. 1886)
- 1961 - Jim Hanley, pitcher (b. 1885)
- 1965 - Frank Barberich, pitcher (b. 1882)
- 1965 - Hy Myers, outfielder (b. 1889)
- 1969 - Gary Wilson, infielder (b. 1879)
- 1973 - Bobby Reis, pitcher (b. 1909)
- 1974 - Hal Anderson, outfielder (b. 1904)
- 1978 - Claude Corbitt, infielder (b. 1915)
- 1986 - Ed Wells, pitcher (b. 1900)
- 1987 - Bobo Holloman, pitcher (b. 1925)
- 1992 - Celerino Sanchez, infielder (b. 1944)
- 1992 - Justin Stein, infielder (b. 1911)
- 1996 - Francisco Alcaraz, minor league pitcher/infielder and umpire; Salon de la Fama (b. 1920)
- 1996 - Jim Gleeson, outfielder (b. 1912)
- 1998 - Heinie Heltzel, infielder (b. 1913)
- 2008 - Buzzie Bavasi, general manager (b. 1915)
- 2009 - Danny Gans, minor league infielder (b. 1956)
