Template:Today in Baseball/April 11
From BR Bullpen
July 21: Today's featured birthday is that of Lance Painter, who turns 59.
- 1907 - Roger Bresnahan (pictured) becomes the first catcher to don shin guards in a Major League Baseball game, wearing them on Opening Day.
- 1961 - The Los Angeles Angels make their debut as a major league team. Ted Kluszewski homers twice to power them past the Baltimore Orioles. Eli Grba gets the club's first win.
- 1962 - The New York Mets play their first game, losing 11-4, to the St. Louis Cardinals, despite homers from Gil Hodges and Charlie Neal.
- 1963 - Warren Spahn breaks Eddie Plank's major league record for wins by a southpaw, picking up victory #328, in a 6-1 win over the Mets.
- 1966 - Emmett Ashford becomes the first black umpire in Major League Baseball history.
We're Social...for Statheads
Every Sports Reference Social Media Account
Site Last Updated:
Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction?
Subscribe to our Free Email Newsletter
Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE
Your All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database
Do you have a sports website? Or write about sports? We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Find out more.