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This Day In Baseball History: June 17th (DiMaggio’s Hit Streak Kept Alive By An Official Scorer)
By Administrator | June 17, 2009
In 1915, after pitching the longest relief stint ever — 18 1/3 innings — Cubs pitcher Zip Zabel beat the Dodgers 4-3 in the 19th inning.
In 1941, Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak was controversially kept alive (at 30 games) by a Yankee Stadium official scorer named Dan Daniel … The Yankee Clipper was credited with a hit when an easy grounder to shortstop bounced up and hit Luke Appling on the shoulder…
[How could a hometown scorer rule it an error and end the streak when the AL record of 41 straight games was in sight? How could he have ever shown his face at Yankee Stadium ever again? Inquiry to members of SOX1FANation: Did he deserve a hit, or was it a generous ruling by a hometown sycophant? I obviously wasn't there... has anyone ever seen video the play? Can anyone offer an informed opinion as to whether it should have been ruled a hit?]
In 1943, Red Sox player-manger Joe Cronin became the first major leaguer to pinch-hit home runs in both ends of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia A’s.
In 1960, Ted Williams hit his 500th career home run off of Wayne Hawkins at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium… Teddy Ballgame was the fourth major leaguer to reach the 500 HR plateau.
In 1970, at Candlestic Park, Giants’ legend Willie Mays (615 HR) and Cubs’ legend Ernie Banks (504 HR) both homer… it is the first time two big leaguers with 500+ home runs go deep in the same game.
In 1978, Yankee southpaw Ron Guidry struck out 18 Angels… thus establishing a new American League mark for left-handers. During the ballgame, Yankee’s announcer Phil Rizzuto began referring to Guidry as ‘Louisiana Lighntning’ — a nickname that has stuck with him ever since.
In 1987, former Royals manager Dick Howser died at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City…. he led the Royals to their first World Championship in 1985, but was forced to give up managing during the 1986 season because of a brain tumor. His uniform number, 10, was retired by the club later that year on July 3.
In 1993, Baseball owners voted 26-2 in favor of expanding the playoffs… the new system, which would begin in 1994, will double the number teams that qualify for the post-season by realigning each league to three divisions with two teams qualifying as wildcards. It was the first expansion of the playoffs since division play began in 1969.
Born Today: Willard Nixon (1928), Donnie Sadler (1975), Kerry Wood (1977)
Topics: MLB History |
