This Weekend in Baseball History
June 25th, 1999: Cardinals rookie Jose Jimenez becomes the first rookie pitcher since Wilson Alvarez of the 1991 White Sox to toss a no-hitter; and the first Cardinal rookie to do so since Paul 'Daffy' Dean in 1934. Thomas Howard's RBI single in the top of the 9th produces the game's only run as the Cards blank the Diamondbacks 1-0 at BancOne Ballpark in Phoenix. The 25-year-old native of the Dominican Republic outpitches future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson (who whiffed 14 on the night, giving him 2500 for his career).
June 25th, 1999: Jesse Orosco pitches in the top of the 8th inning for the Orioles against the Yankees -- and breaks Kent Tekulve's record for most relief appearances by a pitcher. It's #1051.
June 25th, 1989: In a National League first, the Mets' defense does not record a single assist in a 5–1 Shea Stadium win over the Phillies -- matching what New York's other team, the Yankees did on July 4th, 1945. Mets pitchers retire the Phillies on 13 strikeouts, 12 fly outs, and two ground balls to 1st base. Sid Fernandez is the winning pitcher, with Rick Aguilera tossing an inning of relief. (Kevin McReynolds and Gregg Jeffries contribute RBI doubles to fuel a four-run 3rd inning for New York.)
June 25th, 1976: Mike Phillips -- who came into the game hitless over his last 21 at-bats, hits for the cycle in the Mets’ 7–4 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. After striking out to lead off the game, the Mets third baseman hits a double in the 3rd, triples in the 5th, homers in the 7th, and completes the rarity with an 8th inning single.
June 25th, 1968: Bobby Bonds makes his major league debut with the Giants and, after grounding out and being hit by a pitch his first two times up, belts a grand slam home run off John Purdun of the Dodgers to cap a six-run 6th inning at Candlestick Park in San Francisco's 9-0 victory.
June 25th, 1961: The Angels and Orioles combine to use 16 pitchers -- eight by each side -- in a marathon game. Ron Hansen puts Baltimore ahead to stay with a homer (against Ron Kline) leading off the top of 14th, for a 9-8 win at LA's Wrigley Field.
June 25th, 1950: Ralph Kiner hits for the cycle at Ebbets Field. He adds a second home run for a five-hit game in the Pirates 16-11 win over the Dodgers.
June 25th, 1937: Augie Galan of the Cubs becomes the first switch hitter to homer from both sides of the plate in a National League game, as Chicago beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 11-2.
June 25th, 1934: Lou Gehrig hits for the cycle for the first of two times in his career as the Yankees crush the White Sox at Yankee Stadium 13-2.
June 26th, 1970: Frank Robinson hits grand slams in consecutive at-bats as the Orioles crush the Senators 12-2. The future Hall of Famer becomes the seventh major leaguer to hit two bases-full homers in the same game.
June 26th, 1968: Bob Gibson throws his fifth consecutive shutout -- blanking the Pirates 3-0 in the opener of a Busch Stadium twi-night doubleheader -- and extending his consecutive inning scoreless streak to 47.
June 26th, 1968: Don Drysdale's 200th career victory comes against the Dodgers forever rivals, the Giants. Wes Parker takes care of the offense with a two-run 7th inning double, in Drysdale's complete game 2-1 victory at Candlestick Park.
- I was there: It was the first week after schools closed. A cousin of mine old enough to drive got us tickets -- and promised his mother and mine we'd be home for dinner. (We lived about a half hour away from the Polo Grounds in Westchester County.) The game was exciting... and still tied after 9 innings and 10... and, well, you know the rest.
- At about 5:45, my cousin told me we had to go -- we had to keep our word. No debate, no discussion. We had to get back by 6:30. So, sadly, we left the old ballyard. (I honestly don't recall whether or not we stayed long enough to see Billy Williams' inside-the-parker put the Cubs ahead.)
- So, of course, as soon as we got back to the car, and turned on the radio, there was the "happy recap." Harkness' grand slam made the Mets walk off winners (before the term was coined). Yes. We got back home in time to keep up our end of the bargain. Because when you grew up when we did, the rules still mattered.
June 26th, 1962: Earl Wilson fires a no-hitter against the Angels at Fenway Park. The first Black pitcher in Red Sox history, drove in the game's first run when he homered off Bo Belinsky.
June 26th, 1961: Yogi Berra singles in the 5th inning of the Yankees-Angels game at Wrigley Field for the 2000th hit of his career. And, it drives in Whitey Ford and Bobby Richardson to tie a game the Yanks went on to win 8-6.
June 26th, 1939: The Yankees play (and lose) their first-ever night game, falling 3-2 to the A's at Shibe Park. Cotten Pippen outpitches Bump Hadley, while Eric Tipton's bottom of the 8th sacrifice fly brings home the winning run.
June 27th, 2010: Jamie Moyer breaks the record for allowing the most home runs in a career. Vernon Wells' 3rd inning blast, in the Phillies 11-2 victory over the Blue Jays is the 506th he's surrendered, one more than longtime Philadelphia legend Robin Roberts.
June 27th, 2008: At Yankee Stadium, Carlos Delgado drives in a Mets club record nine runs -- on a grand slam, a three-run homer and a two-run double -- in the Mets 15-6 win in the afternoon half of a day-night, two-stadium doubleheader. The Yankees turned tables in the nightcap, with Sidney Ponson teaming with three releivers on a 9-0 shutout at Shea Stadium.
June 27th, 2007: Ryan Howard of the Phillies becomes the fastest player in major league history to reach 100 career home runs -- getting there in his 325th career game. Ralph Kiner held the old mark at 385 games.
June 27th, 1993: At Shea Stadium, the Cardinals come from behind to defeat the Mets 5-3, to hand Anthony Young his record-setting 24th loss in a row.
June 27th, 1980: Jerry Reuss of the Dodgers no-hits the Giants 8-0 at Candlestick Park. L.A. puts the game away with a five-run 5th inning, highlighted by Dusty Baker's three-run homer. Jack Clark was the only base runner, reaching on Ron Cey's error in the bottom of the 1st.
June 27th, 1977: Willie McCovey blasts two home runs in the 6th Inning of the Giants 14-9 win over the Reds at Riverfront Stadium -- making him the first player ever to twice hit two home runs in the same inning! He'd done it the first time back on April 12th 1973 against Houston.
June 27th, 1973: Mike Schmidt's first two-home run game comes against the Mets at Shea Stadium. He connects off Harry Parker and Phill Hennigan in the Phillies 7-1 win in the nightcap of a doubleheader.
June 27th, 1971: Roberto Clemente delivers the first pinch hit home run in Veterans Stadium history. And it proves to be a game winner. The top of the 8th inning blast off Joe Hoerner gives the Pirates their winning margin as they outscore the Phillies in the nightcap of an afternoon doubleheader.
June 27th, 1963: Johnny Callison hits for the cycle as the Phillies pound the Pirates 13-4 at Forbes Field.
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