This Day in Baseball History: July 24th (’Tek and A-Rod Brawl At Fenway Park)
By Administrator | July 24, 2008
In 1931, for the second time in ten days, Babe Herman hit the cycle… the Dodgers outfielder is one of only three men to hit for the cycle three times.
In 1948, five teammates of the Duluth club (Northern League) were killed and nineteen others were hurt in a bus-truck crash near St. Paul, MN. The injured included future major league manager Mel McGaha and Elmer Schoendienst, brother of Cardinals’ infielder, Red.
In 1961, in an unusual mid-season exhibition game at Yankee Stadium, the San Francisco Giants beat the Yankees, 4-1… Mickey Mantle’s homer accounted for the only Yankees run… Willie Mays had two RBI for the visitors.
In 1968, White Sox hurler Hoyt Wilhelm broke Cy Young’s record when he made his 907th career appearance.
In 1973, although he was not elected, Willie Mays appeared in the All-Star game thanks to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn increasing the player limit so the ‘Say Hey Kid’ could participate in the Mid-Summer Classic.
In 1978, Billy Martin resigned as Yankees manager and was replaced by Bob Lemon… the new skipper piloted the Yankees to the World Championship.
In 1979, Red Sox first baseman Carl Yastrzemski became the 18th major leaguer (7th in the American League) to hit 400 career home runs. ‘Captain Carl’ would go on to end his 23-year career with 452 homers.
In 1983, in what came to be known as “The Pine Tar Game”, George Brett’s ninth inning homer, which puts the Royals ahead, was disallowed by the umpires — who ruled the third baseman used too much pine tar on his bat… American League president Lee McPhail would later overrule the decision and, on August 18th, the game resumed with the Royals beating the Yankees, 4-3.
In 2004, another saga in the Red Sox-Yankee rivalry was added when a bench-clearing brawl broke out after Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo hit Alex Rodriguez with a pitch… A-Rod, who hit a game-winning home run the previous night, glared out at the mound on his way to first base… Sox catcher Jason Varitek stood between the batter and pitcher and, after a verbal exchange, pushed the Yankees third baseman in the face — igniting the brawl. Many people point to the incident as the catalyst that spurred the Red Sox to their first world championship in 86 years.
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Sox Sweep Mariners, Head Home To Face Yankees
By Administrator | July 24, 2008
This afternoon at Safeco Field, the Red Sox completed their first three-game sweep on the road this season with a 6-3 win over the Mariners.
Young guns Clay Buchholz and Justin Masterson pitched well over eight innings, holding Seattle to three runs on seven hits and two walks while whiffing ten Mariners batters. Buchholz pitched pretty well — he allowed three runs on two swings of the bat (home runs by Raul Ibanez and Jose Vidro) and otherwise held Seattle scoreless while striking out seven hitters. Masterson retired all eight batters he faced.
The Red Sox scored two runs in the top of the third inning on singles by Coco Crisp, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis… Youk’s hit drove in a run with a second run scoring on an error by right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.
The Mariners got a run back on a solo home run by Ibanez in the fourth, but the Sox got that run back in the sixth inning. Youkilis and Mike Lowell singled and Sean casey walked to load the bases witgh no one out. Felix Hernandez then struck out Jed Lowrie and Jason Varitek before walking Crisp to force in a run. Seattle responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame, courtesy of Vidro’s two-run home run.
The game remained 3-3 until extra innings. In the twelfth inning. Mike Lowell hit a two-run single off reliever Sean Green, and the Red Sox capitalized on two outfield errors, to defeat the Mariners, 6-3.
The Red Sox played the game without David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez… Ortiz has missed several weeks with a wrist injury and Ramirez missed the game with a sore knee that magically developed into a problem over night.
Jacoby Ellsbury began the 12th inning with a single off Sean Green (2-3). A groundout got Ellsbury to second before Green intentionally walked J.D. Drew. Kevin Youkilis then hit a liner that center fielder Willie Bloomquist misplayed (”I just flat-out missed it”… Bloomquist)… the error loaded the bases, and Lowell unloaded them with his second hit of the game. Sean Casey, the designated hitter for Ramirez, singled home Youkilis to make it 6-3.
Jonathan Papelbon earned his fourth win with a scoreless inning of work. He created a jam in the 11th inning by botching a pickup of Vidro’s leadoff squibber down the first-base line for a generously scored infield single. Craig Hansen allowed Seattle to load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the 12th but retired Vidro on a ground out for his second save in four chances.
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The game was scoreless in the third inning when JD Drew drove a ball to the right field fence… but Ichiro Suzuki sprinted with his back to the plate and leaped above the right-field wall to take a three-run homer away from Drew.
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Hernandez has allowed three earned runs or less in eight consecutive outings.
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In The Silo: Pawtucket Does Extras To Snap Losing Streak; Sea Dogs Game Suspended In 4th Due To Rain
By Administrator | July 23, 2008
July 23rd
In Columbus, the PawSox snapped their season-high four-game losing streak this evening, beating the Clippers (WAS), 3-2, in ten innings.
Devern Hansack was outstanding for the Sox… he pitched seven innings, allowing one run on five hits and a walk while striking out eleven. He left the game with Pawtucket leading, but got a No Decision when the Clippers got a run in the eighth inning off reliever Hunter Jones to tie the game. Jones pitched a scoreless ninth and earned the win when the Sox scored in the top of the tenth inning. Chris Smith pitched a scoreless tenth inning, earning his tenth save despite allowing two hits.
Pawtucket jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and then failed to score again until the tenth inning. Jeff Bailey led off the game with a walk and advanced to third base on a Joe Thurston double… he scored on Chris Carter’s ground out. Thurston then scored on George Kottaras’ rbi-double.
Columbus got one run back in the bottom of the inning on an rbi-double by former PawSox first baseman Luis Jimenez… they were held scoreless thereafter until Lastings Milledge drove in Roger Bernadina with a ground ball to 1B Jeff Bailey in the eighth inning.
Thurston led off the tenth inning with a ground-rule double. He advanced to third base on a long fly out by Jonathan Van Every and then scored on George Kottaras’ clutch, two-out single.
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In Portland, tonight’s Sea Dogs game against the Connecticut Defenders (SF) has been suspended due to rain and poor field conditions.
The ‘Dogs led the Defenders, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth inning… they had the bases loaded with two out and Mickey Hall coming to the plate when the game was suspended.
The game will be completed at noontime tomorrow, to be followed by the regularly scheduled game, which will be seven innings in duration.
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This Day in Baseball History: July 23rd (Happy B-Day, Nomah!)
By Administrator | July 23, 2008
In 1890, Harry Stovey of the Boston club in the Players League became the first Major League player to reach 100 career home runs.
In 1925, Yankees legend Lou Gehrig hit the first of his major league record 23 career grand slams in New York’s win over the Senators.
In 1930, Pirates third baseman Pie Traynor hit game-winning homers in both ends of a doubleheader… the Hall Famer hit a ninth inning home run to win the opener and then ended the nightcap when he connected in the 13th inning.
In 1956, Joe Cronin and Hank Greenberg were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame
In 1962, infielder Jackie Robinson, pitcher Bob Feller, outfielder Ed Roush and manager Bill McKechnie were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 1965, former Red Sox and current Phillies first baseman Dick Stuart homered at Shea Stadium, making him the first player to go deep in 23 major league ballparks.
In 1978, after the NY Yankees won their fifth straight game over the White Sox, manager Billy Martin was interviewed at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. In responding to a reporter’s question about Reggie Jackson and George Steinbrenner, Martin replied: “The two deserve each other. One’s a born liar; the other’s convicted”. The remarks cost Billy his job.
In 2000, the 1975 World Series rolled into Cooperstown, as Cincinnati first baseman Tony Perez, manager Sparky Anderson and Reds announcer Marty Brennaman were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame along with Red Sox Game #6 hero Carlton Fisk.
Born Today: Pee Wee Reese (1918), Don Drysdale (1936), Nomar Garciaparra (1973)
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“A Day At The Ballpark”… Part IV, The Grounds Crew
By Administrator | July 22, 2008
For fourteen years, the City of Portland, Maine oversaw the maintenance of Hadlock Field – the home of the Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox); but this year, for the first time in the franchise’s existence, the Sea Dogs franchise assumed responsibility for field maintenance.
Portland native Rick Anderson has a rich pedigree in facilities and turf maintenance. His father worked for the City of Portland for thirty-five years, the last fifteen of which he served as the Director of Parks & Recreation… his brother holds the Director’s position in the City of South Portland. Rick, himself, worked for the Portland Parks Department for thirty-five years – for the last twenty-five years he was employed as the foreman for the city’s athletic facilities. When Sea Dogs franchise was awarded to the City (then, part of the Florida Marlins organization) he was assigned responsibility for overseeing the maintenance of the ballpark… and he has been taking care of Hadlock Field ever since.
When the Sea Dogs assumed responsibility for the ballpark this past winter, Anderson retired from the City and became an employee of the ballclub.
Rick Anderson maintains the Hadlock Field warning track on his Toro “Sand Pro”… in back of him is the Hadlock Field version of The Green Monster… SOX1FANation photo
When I asked him if things have changed significantly as a result of the transition to the ballclub he chuckled: “Well, the basics and the routine are pretty much the same because I was running the show then just as I’m running the show now… the only difference really is that someone else is signing my paycheck”.
Anderson reports to the park at 8:00 AM (for a 7:00 PM game) and every minute of the next eleven hours is spent getting the field ready for the night’s contest. The first thirty minutes are spent walking the field – making note of that day’s particular problems and creating an action plan. When his staff (of two interns) arrives at 8:30 AM, they have a brief (15 minute +/-) crew meeting at which time job assignments are made… by 8:45 AM they begin work on the field.
The first hour is spent watering the problem areas of the field, the so-called “hot spots”. These are areas that are not covered by the field’s irrigation system, or areas that have been subjected to an unusual amount of wind (and thus are drying out more quickly). By ten o’clock, the three-man crew is preparing the batter’s box and the mound… the process of adding clay, tamping it and re-shaping the two areas takes an hour.
Rick mows the lawn himself… it is a two-and-one-half hour, meticulous process. While he does the mowing, the interns prepare the mound and home plate area in each of the two bullpens – replicating the effort exerted a short time earlier on the playing field. After they finish in the bullpens, they will busy themselves by doing some cleanup (litter, etc), raking and general maintenance.
From 1:30 – 2:30, the three men will prepare the field for batting practice – laying out mats and distributing the protective screens. While the teams take BP, the crew will eat lunch and clean / maintain the landscaping equipment… during this time frame, one member of the crew will always be available to respond to requests that either team may make. About the time batting practice ends, a part-time employee joins Rick and his interns to assist with game-time responsibilities… the part-timer arrives at about 5:30 and will work for the next 5 ½ to 6 hours.
When BP is over, the grounds crew collects the mats and breaks down the screens… and then, as soon as the equipment is put away, they prepare the field for the game. The field is raked… the infield is dragged and watered… touch-ups are made to the mound and home plate… and the “fair lines” (foul lines, to you and I) are PAINTED. That’s right, painted. [NOTE: Rick explained that dry lime builds up quickly and requires extensive maintenance… he said that, with a small crew, every minute is crucial so they use paint because it breaks down quickly and is readily raked out of the grass each day]
During the game, the crew remains in the grounds area in case they are needed. The infield is dragged periodically throughout the game.
After the final out, the crew is back at work within five minutes. They immediately make initial, large-scale repairs to the mound and home plate – clay is added to the large holes in order to allow it to set and firm overnight (the finer, cosmetic repairs will be made early the next day between 10:00 and 11:00 AM, see above). Afterwards, the basepaths are raked and dragged, the mound and home plate areas are watered, and the tarps are placed over the mound and home plate.
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The mound and home plate are covered daily to control moisture levels to ensure that the clay performs properly… but the infield is not covered with a tarp on a daily basis, it is only covered when a substantial amount of rain is forecast.
If rain is in the forecast, Anderson confers with the General Manager. If only a small amount of precipitation is predicted the field will be left uncovered so the turf gets a drink of natural rain… if a large amount of precipitation is forecast the grounds crew will cover the entire infield with the large tarp.
Anderson explained that grounds keepers HATE to put a tarp on the field…
He says that, first and foremost, the use of a tarp can cause a variety of problems to the field: “When you put the tarp on the field it can pull a lot of material from the skin part of the infield… that can create lips and other significant maintenance problems”. Additionally, tarps heavy-laden with rainwater can leave impressions in the grass and infield.
He also cautioned that if the skies cleared and the sun came out while the tarp was still laid on the infield, the sun could cause the tarp to heat very quickly – burning the infield grass in as little as fifteen minutes.
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Rick said that the ballclub is employing a full turf management program – aeration, fertilization, and related turf management practices. The program is essentially utilized when the team is ‘on the road’ – time does not permit employment of all the requisite management practices when games are being played on the field.
As stated earlier, in past years, the field was maintained by a crew employed by the City of Portland… the 2008 season is the first year in which interns have been employed in the maintenance operation. This season, the interns are students in sports management and business… Anderson told me that in future years the team will lean towards employing interns who are studying turf management.
[NOTE: The maintenance of the field is further complicated due to the fact both Portland high schools (Deering HS and Portland HS) play their full inter-scholastic schedule at hadlock Field (a total of 22 games, including the playoffs)]
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This Day in Baseball History: July 22nd (RIP: Mike Coolbaugh)
By Administrator | July 22, 2008
In 1909, Detroit’s Ty Cobb stole three bases in the one inning against the Red Sox.
In 1935, the Red Sox win a game for the second consecutive day on a walk-off home run by Wes Ferrell.
In 1941, Dick Wakefield became baseball’s first ‘bonus baby’ when he signed with the Tigers for $52,000 and a new car.
In 1966, Clay Dalrymple broke up a no-hitter bid by Giants hurler Gaylord Perry with an eighth inning single. It was the second time the Phillies’ catcher spoiled a no-hit bid in the eighth inning at Candlestick Park — he collected the only hit in Juan Marichal’s debut in 1960… also in the eighth inning.
In 1969, the All-star game was postponed by rain for the first time in major league history.
In 1983, Angels’ outfielder Brian Downing saw his American League record for consecutive errorless games end at 244 when he misplayed Chet Lemon’s line drive.
In 2002, more than 20,000 fans gathered at Fenway Park for a tribute entitled: “Ted Williams: A Celebration of an American Hero”. The event was a two hour salute to the man who many consider to be the greatest hitter in baseball history… Teddy Ballgame was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and a generous supporter of the Jimmy Fund. The program included a moving music and video presentation, and include comments from present and former Red Sox players and broadcasters, historian Ken Burns, and former U.S. Senator John Glenn — who was Williams’ wing man during the Korean War.
In 2007, Mike Coolbaugh, hitting coach and first base coach for the Tulsa Drillers (Double-A, Texas League), was killed when he was struck in the head by a foul ball.
Born Today: Albert “Sparky” Lyle (1944), Dave Stieb (1957), Scot Shields, (1975)
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Lester, Sox Prevail in Seattle, Shut Out M’s, 4-0
By Administrator | July 22, 2008
The Red Sox have struggled mightily on the road this season… add to that the fact that they were 3-11 in their last fourteen games in Seattlke and tonight seemed destined to be a rough night.
Enter Jon Lester. The Washington native carried a shutout into the eighth inning in the Red Sox 4-0 win over the Mariners at Safeco Field. Jason Varitek ripped a two-run home run and rookie Jed Lowrie stroked a two-run single to help the Sox end the three-game skid that marked the beginning of the post-All Star Game portion of the season.
With the win, Lester (who was born in Tacoma, WA) is now 5-0 with a 2.79 ERA in his last nine starts. He allowed eight hits in 7 1/3 innings… he left the game with the bases loaded after Willie Bloomquist ripped a one-hopper than hit the southpaw in the right shin (the ball struck so hard that Lester was unable to hobble after the ball). Closer Jonathan Papelbon entered the game and induced a double play from Raul Ibanez to end the inning.
Papelbon finished off the M’s to earn 29th save in 33 save opportunities.
Manny Ramirez had three singles in the game to extend his hitting streak to ten games.
Lester was constantly ahead in counts and had only three three-ball counts in the game… he threw 103 pitches, 75 for strikes (significantly better than the 2-to-1 strike-to-ball ratio that I look for as the harbinger of a quality start).
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Earlier in the day, Sox manager Terry Francona was asked if he would sit Varitek, who has hit .114 in his last 26 games. Tito responded: “I won’t hit for him. We need him. I believe in him. I will always believe in him. When times are tough, you don’t waver from that. If we want to get where we ultimately want to get, the faith in him will bear itself out”.
Varitek responded with two hits, including his eighth home run.
After he returned to the dugout after the homer, the first man to greet him at the top step was Tito — who gave him a high-five and a pat on the shoulder.
‘Tek now has 153 home runs as a catcher, four behind Carlton Fisk for most in Red Sox history.
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In The Silo: Bowden Loses In Triple-A Debut; Sea Dogs Win As Big Papi Makes Hadlock Field Debut
By Administrator | July 22, 2008
July 21st
In Columbus, OH, Pawtucket starting pitcher Michael Bowden acquitted himself nicely in his Triple-A debut, keeping the PawSox in the game until he turned it over to the bullpen… he allowed three runs on seven hits in four innings pitched. As for the bullpen, Michael Tejera and Eric Hull pitched very well — holding the Clippers to one run over the final five innings, but the three efforts weren’t good enough this evening…
Columbus starter Garrett Mock allowed one unearned run on five hits and a walk while striking out six ‘Sox hitters in seven innings to earn the win.
There were few highlights offensively for Pawtucket. They scored their only run in the third when Sean Danielson singled, stole second and moved on to third when the throw from catcher Luke Montz went into center field… he scored on a sacrifice fly by 2B Joe Thurston.
Bowden’s nerves seemed obvious early in the contest… he allowed a pair of singles and a double (and two runs) to the first three hitters of the game. After a short visit from his pitching coach, Bowden settled down nicely and retired the next three batters in succession — on a strikeout and two ground outs. In the second inning, he surrendered a ground rule double to the first batter, but then settled down and again retired the next three batters in order (a run scored on a sac bunt and a grounder).
He allowed one hit in each the third and fourth innings — both doubles — but managed to work his way out of both frames without further damage. All in all, a relatively successful start to his IL career…
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David Ortiz made his fourth rehab outing tonight — his first in a Sea Dogs uniform — in Portland’s 8-2 win over the Connecticut Defenders at Hadlock Field… photo courtesy of StewartSmithPhotography.com
In Portland, ME, the Sea Dogs defeated the Connecticut Defenders, 8-2, last night at Hadlock Field in a game that will be remembered for the presence of Red Sox DH David Ortiz as much as for the result. “Big Papi” went 2-for-3 (2 singles) with a walk and an rbi in his fourth rehab appearance — first with the Sea Dogs.
Ortiz is 5-for-12 (.417) in the four games with Pawtucket and Portland.
Starting pitcher Dave Gassner allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in six innings to earn his second win of the season.
The Sea Dogs offense scored four runs with two outs in the first inning. Ortiz, Wagner and Bates walked to load the bases… OF Josh Reddick, one of the Red Sox top prospects who joined the team earlier in the day from the Lancaster JetHawks, then delivered a 2-run single. Next, Tony Granadillo reached on an error by SS Dave Maroul to bring home the third run. Finally, Argenis Diaz ripped a run-scoring single into left field.
Portland added two runs in the second inning. Bryan Pritz reached on Maroul’s second error and scored on Mickey Hall’s Maine Monster double… Big Papi singled Hall over to third base and Mark Wagner brought him in with a sacrifice fly.
The Sea Dogs scored two in the sixth inning on Hall’s sac-fly and Ortiz’s rbi-single.
Richie Lentz, Daniel Bard and Beau Vaughan sealed the win with one scoreless inning apiece.
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“A Day At The Ballpark”… Part III, Promotions
By Administrator | July 21, 2008
Ever wonder what goes on at the ballpark before the gates open? Did you know that an entire staff of people have been hard at work all day, many since eight o’clock in the morning, to make certain a 7:00 PM game goes off without a hitch? The “Day At The Ballpark” series is designed to give fans a peak behind the curtain — to give you an idea of who does what and when in order to ensure that your ballpark experience is enjoyable. Hopefully the series will help to eliminate some of the mystery as to how the Wizard makes “Oz” work…
There are two types of promotional activities that are undertaken by the Portland Sea Dogs (or, for that matter, by most organizations in minor league baseball) – those that are geared to get the fans in the park and those that are intended to entertain them once they are through the turnstyle.
As I wrote yesterday, the Sea Dogs play to a near-capacity crowd throughout the summer (they enjoy 98% capacity for games from June through August), but in the months of April and May the demand for tickets is not quite as intense. The team has to get creative to fill the stadium before Memorial Day.
Assistant General Manager Chris Cameron starts thinking about how to fill the stands long before the season begins… in truth, he starts working on it long before the prior holiday season. In November, he sends letters to all the schools in Maine promoting a couple of programs that are designed to get students (and their families) into the ballpark.
The “School Night at the Ballpark” program provides tickets to schools at $3 apiece – the schools are then allowed to re-sell the tickets at full face value as a fundraiser. Depending upon the number of tickets the participating school sells, it earns a benefit (or benefits) from the ballclub – the right to have someone throw out the first pitch, sing the National Anthem or “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”, or possibly have one of the ballplayers visit the school.
Through the “Most Improved Student” program, the Sea Dogs recognize one student per class (from participating schools) as “most improved”. The club provides each student a free ticket to a ballgame and a certificate of achievement… on game night, the honored students go on the field for an award ceremony and have their names put on the scoreboard. The club typically sells somewhere in the vicinity of 8,000 additional tickets to family and friends who want to attend the game to share the salutory moment with the student.
The tickets for these promotions are sent to the schools as soon as they are paid for… it is unusual for the ticket office to have to distribute tickets when the schools arrive at Hadlock Field.
On game day, the front office ensures that the proper scripts are written for the on-field ceremonies and for the scoreboard salutations. Staff members greet the schools, direct them to their seats, and work with school officials to coordinate the first pitch and anthem ceremonies (obviously, it’s essential that everyone knows where they have to be — and when they have to be there — so that the ceremonies unfold seamlessly.
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Chris Cameron says that there are two types of fans who come to a ballgame – 1) the diehards who aren’t particularly interested in the promotions, and 2) the casual fan who wants to be entertained. As a result, the ballclub endeavors to provide a mixture of activities to cater to the needs of both kinds of fan… but at the same time they don’t want to suffocate fans, so they sponsor a promotion every other inning (as opposed to every inning, like in some ballparks).
The ‘Dogs sponsor video spots on the scoreboard that provide information (entertainment) to both groups of fans — the spots highlight great moments in franchise history, or former Sea Dogs players in the major leagues, or “Mainers in the Major Leagues” (that one speaks for itself).
The team also sponsors passive promotions, such as the mascot race.
But then there are the promotions that are interactive. These promotions are run every game… they are prepared and queued in the hours leading up to the game. Once the promotion is run, it is put away until it is time to prep and queue for the next game.
One promotion gives a fan an opportunity to win a car by throwing a baseball through a hole in a piece of plywood… of course, the hole isn’t especially large and the fan is throwing from a distance that is well in excess of, say, five feet. But the payoff is a car!
Another promotion is called “The John Deere Tractor Race”… it revolves around two fans racing against one another on race vehicles. But the vehicles aren’t cars or tractors – they are tricycles.
And then there is the most unique promotion – “The Lobster Toss” (this is a promotion you aren’t likely to find in Akron, OH)… interns use lacrosse sticks to toss plastic lobsters to fans outfitted with lobster traps… the fan who catches the most lobsters wins a prize.
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“Minor League Baseball is great! You don’t even have to like baseball to have a good time because there’s so much entertainment value in the other things we are doing at the ballpark”. Sea Dogs AGM Chris Cameron
Tomorrow: The Grounds Crew
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This Day in Baseball History: July 21st (A-Rod Hits #450)
By Administrator | July 21, 2008
In 1892, in a match up of 300 game winners, Phillies’ submariner Tim Keefe beat the Browns and Jim “Pud” Galvin, 2-0… the next time two National League pitchers with 300 or more victories faced each other, it was in 2005 when Greg Maddux of the Cubs beats Astros ace Roger Clemens at Minute Maid Park, 3-2.
In 1956, Dodgers’ shortstop Pee Wee Reese collected his 2000th hit.
In 1959, under intense public pressure, the Boston Red Sox became the last club to integrate… fourteen years after the club passed on signing Jackie Robinson, despite his successful tryout, Elijah ‘Pumpsie’ Green became the first black to play for the Red Sox.
In 1973, Atlanta OF Hank Aaron hit his 700th career home run.
In 1988, the Red Sox suspended OF Jim Rice for three days for shoving manager Joe Morgan… Rice became upset when the skipper pinch hit for him using light-hitting shortstop Spike Owen.
In 2006, 30-year old Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez collected his 2,000th career hit — a home run. At the same time, A-Rod became the youngest player to reach the 450 home run plateau.
Born Today: Al Hrabosky (1949), Dave Henderson (1958), C C Sabathia (1980)
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