This Weekend in Baseball History
June 19th, 2007: After joking on the bus ride to Shea Stadium that he will have his head shaved if the night's starter, Johan Santana, threw a shutout, Twins broadcaster Bert Blyleven has to face his own music. After Santana authors a 9-0 shutout over the Mets, the lefthander would have the honor of working the razor on the ex-big leaguer's head.
June 19th, 1995: The Yankees sign Darryl Strawberry as a free agent. The ex-Met becomes a valuable contributor for much of the rest of the decade, belting 41 home runs in a Yankee uniform.
June 19th, 1974: Steve Busby of the Royals throws his second no-hitter in 14 months. George Scott of the Brewers walks in the 2nd inning; he's the only base runner in KC's 2-0 victory.
June 19th, 1973: Pete Rose of the Reds and Willie Davis of the Dodgers each reach 2000 career hits in their teams respective games (against the Giants, and Braves). And Padres rookie (and future Hall of Famer) Dave Winfield gets the first of his 3110 career hits, when he singles against the Astros' Jerry Reuss.
June 19th, 1970: Ball Four is published. Jim Bouton's candid, yet witty diary of his baseball career is a breakthrough for "tell-all" sports books. The best-seller leads to the former Yankee's next career as a TV sportscaster.
June 19th, 1968: Steve Carlton fires a one-hit shutout as the Cardinals blank the Cubs 4-0 at Busch Stadium. Orlando Cepeda delivers the big hit, a three-run homer in the bottom of the 3rd.
June 19th, 1846: Alexander Cartwright's New York Knickerbockers and the New York Nine play the first organized baseball game. It takes place not in New York, but at Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey -- across the Hudson River from Manhattan.
June 20th, 2015: One out away from a perfect game, Max Scherzer plunks Jose Tabata with a pitch -- which some feel the Pirate outfielder leaned into. Scherzer retires the next batter Josh Harrison to finish off his no-hitter, a 6-0 Nationals win at Pittsburgh.
June 20th, 2009: Jeff Weaver outpitches his younger brother Jered as the Dodgers edge the Angels 6-5 in Anaheim. They're the eighth set of siblings to be opposing starters in a major league game.
June 20th, 2004: Ken Griffey Jr. homers off the Cardinals Matt Morris to become the 20th major leaguer to reach 500 home runs. It's the highlight of a 6-0 Reds victory at Busch Stadium.June 20th, 2003: Miguel Cabrera's first major league hit is a two-run, 11th inning walk-off homer as the Marlins beat the Devil Rays in Miami.
June 20th, 1980: Freddie Patek becomes the smallest player ever to belt three home runs in a game, as the Angels destroy the Red Sox 20-3 at Fenway Park.
June 20th, 1963: A New York baseball tradition is revived: the first Mayor's Trophy Game since the Dodgers and Giants moved west, also marked Casey Stengel's return to Yankee Stadium for the first time since he was fired in October of 1960. His upstart Mets shock the World Champion Yankees 6-2 in an exhibition game benefiting local sandlot baseball. Before more than 50,000 fans, Jay Hook worked the first five innings, and Carl Willey the last four for the Mets. Tim Harkness’ two-run single was the big blow in a five-run third inning rally.
June 20th, 1950: Joe DiMaggio's 2000th career hit comes on a 7th inning single off Marino Pieretti of the Indians. It's one of his three hits in an 8-2 Yankees victory in Cleveland.
June 21st, 2009: Tony La Russa gets his 2,500th victory as a manager when the Cardinals beat the Royals 12-5 at Kauffman Stadium. He joins Connie Mack and John McGraw in that select circle.
June 21st, 2005: Trailing by four entering the bottom of the 8th inning (and behind 10-2 after 4), the Yankees rally for 13 runs to crush the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 20-11. Bernie Williams gave the Yanks their first lead of the night with a bases-loaded triple.
June 21st, 1989: Sammy Sosa hits his first major league home run off Roger Clemens in the Rangers 10-3 win over the Red Sox at Fenway.
June 21st, 1975: Frank Tanana strikes out 17 (and walks none!) in the Angels 4-2 victory over the Rangers. That season, he'd go on to lead the American League in strikeouts.
June 21st, 1964: Jim Bunning's perfect game: in the opener of a Father's Day doubleheader at Shea Stadium, the proud papa of seven at the time, retires all 27 Mets batters for the seven perfecto in baseball history and the National League's first since 1880. That 6-0 game -- in which he struck out 10 and threw just 90 pitches -- also makes him the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in each league (his other came for the Tigers at Boston on July 20th, 1958). While it was a perfect day for baseball, the ballpark was only slightly over half full: the paid attendance was 33,226.
Check out the final out in this MLB.com video clip: https://youtu.be/7aO_E0S4Mo8
A personal note: I was one of the 33,226. Baseball was the hobby that bonded my father and me. Having spent much of his childhood in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, he enjoyed seeing the Phillies when they came to New York. And a Sunday doubleheader seemed perfect -- especially during a season when the Phillies were legitimate contenders. So, my parents and I drove out to Shea for a day of baseball under the sun, with Bunning, the team's big off-season acquisition, set to work the first game. Bunning's day in the office, as noted above, was one destined to be the greatest Fathers Day performance ever. It was the first time I recall a home crowd cheering for a visiting player. '
Think about that: as a 10-year old, I'd been used to Yankee Stadium crowds backing their legends and stars; while Mets fans always hoped for the best, amidst the reality that their still-new team was bereft of top talent. But the Polo Grounds and Shea crowds never lost hope. Until this day.
Aware that history was in the making, the fans took Bunning under their wing. By the 9th inning, with the Phillies comfortably ahead, the fans were standing and cheering for number-14 in red and road grey. When John Stephenson struck out to end the game, you'd have sworn Bunning was a Met. And for that brief and beautiful moment, he was, at the least, an honorary New Yorker.
June 21st, 1959: Hank Aaron's first three home run game of his career comes at Seals Stadium in San Francisco, as the Braves beat up on the Giants 13-3.
June 21st, 1957: Just a month after graduating high school, Cardinals rookie Von McDaniel pitches a 2-hit shutout blanking the Dodgers 2-0, (and holding them without a hit until the 6th inning). Only Jim Gilliam and Duke Snider hit safely -- Pee Wee Reese reached on an error in between them. McDaniel then worked out of a bases-loaded, none out situation. The 18-year old went on to post victories in his first four major league decisions. The following year, he lost his pinpoint control and went to the minors but never regained his form.
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