Template:Today in Baseball/May 1

July 5: Today's featured birthday is that of Jay Spurgeon, who turns 50.

• 1884 - Fleet Walker becomes the first known African-American player in Major League Baseball history, appearing at catcher for the Toledo Blue Stockings.
• 1901 - Herm McFarland hits the first grand slam in the history of the American League (during its time as a major league) as the White Sox beat the Tigers, 19-9, thanks to 12 Detroit errors.
• 1920 - In the longest game in major league history, the Robins and Braves battle to a 1-1 tie after 26 innings. Joe Oeschger and Leon Cadore (pictured) both pitch the entire game.
• 1959 - Eiji Sawamura and Matsutaro Shoriki are voted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. Both men have had awards named after them - the Sawamura Award for the top pitcher in Japan and the Matsutaro Shoriki Award for the person who has contributed the most to the game that year.
• 1991 - Rickey Henderson breaks Lou Brock's career major league stolen bases record when he swipes #939. Later in the day, Nolan Ryan steals the spotlight by throwing his seventh no-hitter. At age 44, he becomes the oldest pitcher to have thrown one. He strikes out 16.

Recent days: April 30 – April 29 – April 28