This Weekend in Baseball History
September 18th, 2010: CC Sabathia works the first seven innings and becomes a 20-game winner for the first time as the Yankees beat the Orioles 11-3.
September 18th, 2007: Mike Mussina becomes the first American League pitcher to win at least 10 games in 16 consecutive seasons. He works the first seven innings as the Yankees shut out the Orioles 12-0 in the Bronx.
September 18th, 2007: Greg Maddux makes also history, posting his 13th win for the 20th consecutive season, snapping the mark long held by Cy Young. The future Hall of Famer works the first five innings of the Padres 5-3 victory over the Pirates at Petco Park.
September 18th, 2006: Jose Valentin belts a pair of home runs, while Steve Trachsel teams with three relievers on a four-hit shutout, as the Mets clinch their first division title since 1988, beating the Marlins 4-0.
September 18th, 2006: Jim Thome homers off Fernando Rodney and becomes the second player to hit 40 home runs for three different teams. After reaching it with the Indians and Phillies, the White Sox DH matches the achievement previous posted by Alex Rodriguez with the Mariners, Rangers and Yankees.
September 18th, 1996: Roger Clemens ties his own major league record with 20 strikeouts in the Red Sox 4-0 win over the Tigers in Detroit. The rightander didn't just have power but great control on this night -- he didn't walk a single batter! Travis Fryman was his final victim as he tied the record. Ironically, it was Clemens' final win in a Boston uniform. After general manager Dan Duquette showed little interest in bringing Roger back to the Sox, he would sign with Toronto as a free agent over the winter.
September 18th, 1988: Vince Coleman's steals 2nd base (against the Cubs in Chicago) to begin a record 50 consecutive stolen bases without being caught. It continues thru July of the following season when Coleman is thrown out by the Expos' Nelson Santovenia.
September 18th, 1976: Frank Robinson's pinch hit single (off Baltimore's Rudy May) in the 8th inning drives in Joe Lis and is the last at-bat of the Indians' player-manager's Cooperstown-bound career.
September 18th, 1975: Harmon Killebrew, then with the Royals, homers off the Twins' Ed Bane for the 573rd and final home run of his career.
September 18th, 1975: Rusty Staub becomes the first Mets player to drive in 100 runs in a season. His two-run homer is a highlight of a 7-5 win over the Cubs at Shea Stadium.
September 18th, 1968: A night after being no-hit by the Giants' Gaylord Perry, Ray Washburn of the Cardinals turns the tables on San Francisco, holding them without a hit in a 2-0 St. Louis victory. Mike Shannon put the Cards ahead with a 7th inning RBI double, and Curt Flood singles in an insurance run an inning later.
September 18th, 1967: Bob Gibson returns to the mound for the Cardinals after missing seven and a half weeks with a broken leg. He fires a three-hitter in a pennant clinching 5-1 victory over the Phillies.
September 18th, 1963: The Mets play their last game at the Polo Grounds: Before a slim Wednesday afternoon crowd of just 1752, the Phillies beat the Mets 5-1. New York's Jim Hickman connected off the Phillies' Chris Short for the legendary ballpark's final home run. Mets shortstop Chico Fernandez's single in the bottom of the 9th is the final base hit. The next batter, Ted Schreiber, ends the game when he grounds into a double play.
September 18th, 1930: The Yankees top the Browns at Sportsman's Park 7-6 in 10 innings, as starting pitcher Red Ruffing homers twice in his seven innings of work. The future Hall of Fame right-hander, will homer 37 times over his 22 year career.
September 19th, 2001: Roger Clemens becomes the first pitcher in baseball history to start a season 20 - 1. He goes 6-1/3 effective innings, and with relief help from Mike Stanton, Jay Witasik and Mariano Rivera, the Yankees defeat the White Sox 6-3 at (new) Comiskey Park. Derek Jeter is the Yankees batting star, with a pair of home runs.
September 19th, 2001: Albert Pujols drive in three runs to break the NL rookie RBI record long held by Wally Berger of the Boston Bruins. Pujols will finish his first big league season with 130 RBI.
September 19th, 1997: Mark McGwire -- who came to the Cardinals in a July 31st deadline deal -- homers twice to become the first major leaguer to hit 20 or more home runs for two different teams in the same season. St. Louis holds off the Pirates 6-5 at Three Rivers Stadium.
September 19th, 1983: Joe Morgan celebrates his 40th birthday at Veteran Stadium, by going 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs, as the Phillies edge the Cubs 7-6.
September 19th, 1970: Outfielders and brothers Tony and Billy Conigliaro of the Red Sox each hit home runs the Red Sox 11 – 3 win over the Washington Senators at Fenway Park.
September 19th, 1962: Jim Fregosi hits the first inside-the-park home run in both Angels -- and Dodger Stadium -- history, as he connects in the bottom of the 6th off Steve Barber at the Orioles in a 9-2 Angels victory.
September 19th, 1949: Ralph Kiner becomes the first National League player to reach 50 or more home runs in multiple seasons. But Davey Williams' home run in the top of the 10th pushes the Giants past the Pirates 6-4.
September 19th, 1937: Hank Greenberg becomes the first player to hit a home run into the dead center field bleachers in Yankee Stadium, in the Tigers 8-1 victory.
September 20th, 2019: Pete Alonso homers off the Reds' Sal Romano to become the first rookie to hit 50 home runs the year he makes his major league debut. The Mets go on to pound the Reds 8-1.
September 20th, 2012: The Nationals clinch Washington's first spot in the post-season since 1933, with a 4-1 win at home over the Dodgers.
September 20th, 2010: The Yankees unveil a gigantic 7-by-5-foot, bronze monument in honor of recently deceased owner George Steinbrenner.
September 20th, 2002: Mike Bordick of the Orioles set a record when he plays his 102nd successive game at shortstop without committing an error -- surpassing the old mark held by Rey Ordonez of the Mets (1999-00).
September 20th, 1998: After 2632 games (nearly 16 years) without missing a game, Cal Ripken takes himself our of the Orioles lineup. Baltimore falls to the Yankees 5-4 at Camden Yards in an ESPN Sunday night game.
September 20th, 1992: Mickey Morandini executes baseball's first unassisted triple play in 24 years. In the bottom of the 6th at Three Rivers Stadium, the Phillies 2nd baseman takes Jeff King's line drive, steps on the bag (to nab Andy Van Slyke), then tags Barry Bonds to cap the first unassisted triple play in the NL since Paul Waner (of the Pirates) in 1927.
September 20th, 1984: The Padres clinch their first NL West title with a 5-4 win over the Giants. Tim Lollar's three-run homer is the big hit.
September 20th, 1980: The Yankees unveil a Monument Park plaque for their late catcher and captain Thurman Munson.
September 20th, 1972: Milt Pappas of the Cubs reaches 200 victories -- but is the first to reach the milestone without ever having won 20 in a season.
September 20th, 1968: Mickey Mantle homers off Jim Lonborg of the Red Sox. It's the 536th and last of his major league career. But it's not enough to overcome Boston 4-3.
September 20th, 1961: In the last regular season game at the L.A. Coliseum, Sandy Koufax works all 13 innings as the Dodgers outlast the Cubs 3-2.
September 20th, 1960: For the first and only time, Ted Williams is lifted for a pinch hitter. The Red Sox legend fouls a ball off his ankle in the top of the 1st inning, has to leave the game, and is replaced by Carroll Hardy. The Red Sox lose to the Orioles 4-3 at Memorial Stadium.
September 20th, 1959: The Giants lose to the Dodgers 8-2 in the last game ever played at Seals Stadium. Don Demeter drives in three for L.A. and Duke Snider hits the final home run in the former minor league ballpark.
September 20th, 1954: The Giants clinch their second pennant of the decade with a 7-1 win over the Dodgers at Ebbets Field. Willie Mays and Hank Thompson each have three hits, to back Sal Maglie's complete game for his 14th win of the season.
September 20th, 1924: Grover Cleveland Alexander fires a complete game for his 300th career victory as the Cubs beat the Giants 7-3 in 12 innings. "Old Pete" will go onto win 373 games en route to induction in the Hall of Fame.
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