October 17
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 October 17.
- 1911 - The Philadelphia Athletics scored twice in the 11th inning to beat the New York Giants, 3 - 2, in Game Three of the World Series. Frank Baker hit a home run in the ninth inning off Christy Mathewson to tie the score, 1 - 1. Baker was tagged with the nickname "Home Run" for his exploits.
- 1960 - National League owners vote to add two expansion franchises, bringing their membership to 10 teams. The new teams, based in Houston and New York, will begin play in 1962.
- 1964 - Despite a 99-63 record, the Yankees fire manager Yogi Berra after losing the World Series to the Cardinals in seven games. Manager Johnny Keane of the World Champs Cardinals resigns unexpectedly. He will take Yankee job which opens as the result of the firing of Berra.
- 1971 - Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates caps off an incredible World Series by belting a home run in Game Seven against Mike Cuellar of the Baltimore Orioles. Steve Blass wins a 2-1 decision and Clemente is named Series MVP after hitting .414.
- 1974 - The Oakland Athletics defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3 - 2, to win their third straight World Series. Joe Rudi's seventh inning home run provides the winning margin. The Athletics join the New York Yankees as the only franchises in major leagues to win three straight titles.
- 1976 - On a cold Sunday night, the Cincinnati Reds gang up on pitcher Catfish Hunter for three runs, but the Yankees battle back to tie it up. With two outs in the ninth inning, Yankees shortstop Fred Stanley throws Ken Griffey's easy grounder into the dugout. A walk and a Tony Perez single follow and Cincinnati win Game Two of the World Series, 4 - 3.
- 1978 - The New York Yankees win their fourth straight game, 7 - 2, to clinch their second consecutive World Championship over the Dodgers. Brian Doyle and Series MVP Bucky Dent have three hits apiece.
- 1979 - Willie Stargell hit a two-run home run to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 4 - 1 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles and the World Series in seven games.
- 1982 - Robin Yount records his second four-hit game of theWorld Series to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 6 - 4 victory in Game Five and give his team a 3-2 lead overall over St. Louis. Yount is the first player ever to have multiple four-hit games in one World Series.
- 1985 - Lou Piniella is named manager of the New York Yankees replacing Billy Martin, who had piloted New York to second place finishing with a 91-54 record.
- 1987 - The Minnesota Twins overpowered St. Louis, 10 - 1, in the opening game of the World Series. It was the first World Series game played indoors. Dan Gladden's grand slam capped a seven-run fourth inning. Frank Viola, whose brother got married the same day, was the winning pitcher.
- 1989 - Minutes before Game Three of the World Series between Oakland and San Francisco Giants, an earthquake hit the San Francisco Bay area. The game was postponed and the Series resumed 11 days later.
- 1990 - In the first extra-inning World Series game since 1986, the underdog Cincinnati Reds beat the powerful Oakland Athletics 5 - 4 in ten innings to take a surprising 2-0 lead in the World Series. Reds outfielder Billy Hatcher goes 4-for-4 to run his consecutive hitting streak to seven, tying World Series record set by Thurman Munson.
- 1991 - In Game Seven of the NLCS, Atlanta Braves Brian Hunter's two-run home run in the first inning is all John Smoltz needs as he tosses a 4 - 0 shutout over the Pittsburgh Pirates as the Braves win their first National League pennant since their move from Milwaukee.
- 1992 - Tom Glavine pitched a complete game to give the Atlanta Braves a 3 - 1 victory over Toronto in Game One of the World Series.
- 1993 - In the World Series, a five-run uprising in the third inning pushes the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6 - 4 victory over Toronto in Game Two. Closer Mitch Williams earns his only save of the Series.
- 1995 - The Cleveland Indians beat the Seattle Mariners, 4 - 0, in Game Six of the ALCS, winning their first pennant since 1954.
- 1996 - The Atlanta Braves had the biggest blowout in postseason history, beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 15 - 0, in Game Seven of the NLCS to complete a comeback from a 3-1 deficit. The Cardinals became the only club to blow a 3-1 edge three times in the postseason.
- 2000:
- In a come-from-behind victory over the Seattle Mariners, 9 - 7, David Justice propels the Yankees with a three-run home run to their record 37th American League pennant setting up the for the first time in 44 years a Subway Series in New York.
- Mariners catcher Dan Wilson snaps the longest hitless streak in postseason history by ending his 0-for-42 skid with an opposite field single. Marv Owen of the Detroit Tigers had gone 0-for-31 in the 1934 and 1935 World Series.
- 2002 - The legal suit against the fan who caught Barry Bonds' record breaking 73rd home run ball at Pac Bell Park, brought three friends, claiming a promise, in exchange for a ticket to the game to split the ball's value if caught, is settled when Jay Arsenault agrees to sell the ball and divide the money. Arsenault's lawyer said had his client initially eluded the friends because of being overwhelmed by the situation.
- 2003 - Early editions of the New York Post include an editorial claiming the New York Yankees lose to the Boston Red Sox in Game Seven of the ALCS. Although New York trailed the Red Sox , the team rallies to beat their arch rival in 11 innings, 6 - 5.
- 2005 - At Minute Maid Park, the Houston Astros were one out from their first World Series appearance, but Albert Pujols saved the St. Louis Cardinals by hitting a stunning three-run home run off Brad Lidge in the ninth inning, giving the Cardinals an eventual 5-4 victory. Houston still leads the NLCS 3 games to 2, but St. Louis forces a Game Six to be played at Busch Stadium.
[edit] Births
- 1859 - Buck Ewing, catcher, manager; Hall of Famer (d. 1906)
- 1861 - Ecky Stearns, infielder (d. 1944)
- 1863 - Count Campau, outfielder, manager (d. 1938)
- 1870 - George Nicol, outfielder (d. 1924)
- 1873 - Pop Dillon, infielder (d. 1931)
- 1877 - Ed Kenna, pitcher (d. 1912)
- 1886 - Bert Maxwell, pitcher (d. 1961)
- 1887 - Harry Kirsch, pitcher (d. 1925)
- 1892 - Frank Madden, catcher (d. 1952)
- 1892 - Ted Welch, pitcher (d. 1943)
- 1898 - Clint Blume, pitcher (d. 1973)
- 1900 - Ernie Wingard, pitcher (d. 1977)
- 1906 - Paul Derringer, pitcher; All-Star (d. 1987)
- 1908 - Red Rolfe, infielder, manager; All-Star (d. 1969)
- 1915 - Mike Sandlock, catcher
- 1917 - Johnny Ostrowski, outfielder (d. 1992)
- 1919 - Charlie Cozart, pitcher (d. 2004)
- 1919 - Howie Moss, outfielder (d. 1989)
- 1921 - Ken Brondell, pitcher (d. 2004)
- 1927 - Johnny Klippstein, pitcher (d. 2003)
- 1928 - Jim Gilliam, infielder; All-Star (d. 1978)
- 1929 - Hardy Peterson, catcher
- 1931 - Dan Porter, outfielder
- 1933 - Leroy Powell, pinch runner
- 1942 - Pete Cimino, pitcher
- 1945 - Bob Christian, outfielder (d. 1974)
- 1946 - Rich Folkers, pitcher
- 1947 - Jim Hutto, outfielder
- 1957 - Kelly Paris, infielder
- 1960 - Ken Dixon, pitcher
- 1961 - Dan Pasqua, outfielder
- 1962 - Glenn Braggs, outfielder
- 1963 - Ravelo Manzanillo, pitcher
- 1965 - Charlie Montoyo, infielder
- 1967 - Mark Johnson, infielder
- 1969 - Joe Fleet, minor league player
- 1969 - Chris Tremie, catcher
- 1970 - John Mabry, outfielder
- 1974 - Curt Lyons, pitcher
- 1974 - Luis Pineda, pitcher
- 1974 - John Rocker, pitcher
- 1975 - Hector Almonte, pitcher
- 1976 - Seth Etherton, pitcher
- 1976 - Jason Jones, outfielder
- 1979 - John Ennis, pitcher
- 1979 - David Wallace, minor league player
- 1982 - Abe Alvarez, pitcher
- 1985 - Carlos González, outfielder
[edit] Deaths
- 1905 - John Otten, catcher (b. 1870)
- 1933 - Joe Kostal, pitcher (b. 1876)
- 1940 - George Davis, infielder, manager; Hall of Famer (b. 1870)
- 1944 - Jack Powell, pitcher (b. 1874)
- 1950 - Tom Tuckey, pitcher (b. 1884)
- 1951 - Al Clancy, infielder (b. 1888)
- 1953 - Jim Delahanty, infielder (b. 1879)
- 1961 - Harry Felix, pitcher (b. 1879)
- 1962 - Olaf Henriksen, outfielder (b. 1888)
- 1964 - Carson Bigbee, outfielder (b. 1895)
- 1966 - Bob Swift, catcher, manager (b. 1915)
- 1971 - Mike Massey, infielder (b. 1893)
- 1977 - Cal Hubbard Hall of Famer (b. 1900)
- 1981 - Johnny Peacock, catcher (b. 1910)
- 1982 - Hank McDonald, pitcher (b. 1911)
- 1985 - Bud Sheely, catcher (b. 1920)
- 1987 - Pete Cote, pinch hitter (b. 1902)
- 1989 - John Mackinson, pitcher (b. 1923)
- 1992 - John O'Connell, catcher (b. 1904)
- 1994 - Joe Paparella, umpire (b. 1909)
- 1996 - Bob Adams, pitcher (b. 1901)
- 2004 - Ray Boone, infielder; All-Star (b. 1923)
- 2007 - Mickey Rutner, infielder (b. 1919)
