In Play Magazine
1934 At Shibe Park, 15,000 fans witness the first legal baseball game between major league teams played on a Sunday in the city of Philadelphia. In a hometown exhibition game, the Phillies beat the A's, 8-1.
1963 In his first major league at-bat, Pete Rose works out a walk off Pirates' pitcher Earl Francis.
1963 The Tigers claim Denny McLain on first-year waivers from the White Sox. The right-hander, who will become the game's last 30-game winner playing in the motor city, will win the American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award in 1968 helping Detroit to win its first World Series in 23 years.
1963 The Tigers claim Denny McLain on first-year waivers from the White Sox. The right-hander, who will become the game's last 30-game winner playing in the motor city, will win the American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award in 1968 helping Detroit to win its first World Series in 23 years.
1969 Jack Murphy Stadium is dedicated as 23,370 fans watch the Padres make their National League debut defeating the Astros, 2-1
1969 The Royals play their first game in the history of the franchise and joins the winner circle along with the other three new clubs making their debuts today Reliever Moe Drabowsky picks up the win as Kansas City beat the Twins in 12 innings, 4-3.
1974 Hammerin' Hank Aaron passes Babe Ruth as the all-time home run leader with his 715th off Dodger hurler Al Downing in Atlanta's home opener.
1975 In the season opener at Fenway Park, Tony Conigliaro, who retired four years ago after being traded to the Angels in 1970, plays in the first game of his attempted comeback with the Red Sox. As a designated hitter, the 30-year old fan-favorite, who will only collect 7 hits in 21 games, singles in his first at bat in Boston's 5-2 victory over the Brewers.
1987 Indian hurlers Phil Niekro and Steve Carlton combine to beat the Blue Jays, 14-3, making it the first time in major league history that two 300-game winners pitched for the same team in the same game. Niekro goes six innings to get his 312th career win and 'Lefty' blanks Toronto for four innings.
1991 In a 5-4 Opening Day loss to the Brewers at Arlington Stadium, future Hall of Famer Goose Gossage (2008) relieves in a game started by Rangers hurler Nolan Ryan (1999), also a future member of the Hall of Fame. It's the first time in major league history that a 300-game winner appears in the same contest with teammate who has 300 saves.
1994 Braves' Kent Mercker no-hits Los Angeles, 6-0 at Dodger Stadium. It is the lefthander's first complete game in the major leagues.
1997 In a 14-8 Mariners victory over the Indians at the Kingdome, M's pitcher Josias Manzanillo, who doesn't wear a protective cup, is hit the groin by a Manny Ramirez 107 mph line drive . Now a firm believer in the use of protective gear, the 29-year old reliever will be put on the 15-day disabled list for surgery needed to repair a tear in testicles.
2003 At the home opener at PNC Park, Pittsburgh unveils a sculpture of Ralph Kiner. The Hall of Fame home run hitter, who is depicted in the bronze artwork gripping a Kiner-model Louisville Slugger bat, joins Willie Stargell, Honus Wagner and Roberto Clemente as other former Pirates honored with a ballpark statutes.
2003 By going went 4-for-4 along with three walks, Rockies' first baseman Todd Helton sets a club record by reaching base in all seven plate appearances. Chris Stynes also set a franchise mark for most plate appearances in a game with eight.
2004 In the first game of their new downtown ballpark, the Padres come from behind twice after Trevor Hoffman blows a save in the ninth to beat the Giants in 10 innings at Petco Park, 4-3. San Diego scores in the bottom of ninth knotting the score at 2-2 and then scores two runs in the tenth after falling behind in the top of the frame.
2008 An emotional Bill Buckner returns to Fenway Park for the first time in more than a decade to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Red Sox home opener. The beleaguered former Boston first baseman, best known for letting Mookie Wilson’s grounder roll between his legs in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, receives a heart-felt standing ovation from the stunned crowd as he walks slowly from left field to the pitchers mound.
2008 At the Play Ball, Chicago! event in the Windy City, the U.S. Postal Service unveils a stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of the song, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game". The very popular song was written on a New York City train a century ago when passenger Jack Norworth, actor, singer and songwriter, who claimed never to have seen a major league game wrote the lyrics after seeing a sign about an upcoming contest at the Polo Grounds, home of the New Giants.
