This Date in 1992


Replacing an injured Lenny Dykstra, Ruben Amaro Junior goes three for four, including a home run, scores three runs and drives in three in the Phillies' 11 - 3 win over the Cubs at Veteran Stadium. That round tripper came in the 7th inning, when three Phils smacked round trippers: the others were by Wes Chamberlain.

Amaro became a valuable fourth outfielder for the club the next few seasons -- including the 1993 pennant winners. The Stanford grad moved into the front office and succeeded Pat Gillick as the Phillies general manager -- before being fired in 2016. He's since moved onto the Red Sox and now the Mets as 1st base coach.


  • The same day, Paul Sorrento of the Indians hit the first home run in Camden Yards history (off Orioles pitcher Bob Milacki).
  • A year later (1993), Carlos Baerga became the first Indians player to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same inning! It was part of a nine-run eruption, as Cleveland crushed the Yankees 15 - 5. (The righty shot came off Steve Howe; the lefthanded one was against Steve Farr).
  • On April 8th, 1994, Michael Jordan made his professional baseball debut as the right fielder for the Chicago White Sox double-A farm team, the Birmingham Barons. For the season, Jordan bats .202 with 51 RBIs, 30 stolen bases and 114 strikeouts in 127 games. His presence boosts attendance throughout the Southern League. 
  • In 2003, Hideki Matsui became the first Yankee ever to hit a grand slam home run in his first Yankee Stadium game. It's the big blow in a 7 - 3 win over the Minnesota Twins.
And, of course, on April 8th, 1974, Hank Aaron homered off Al Downing of the Dodgers to become baseball's all time home run champ.

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