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1878 In a 3-1 National League loss to the White Stockings at Chicago's Lake Front Park, right-hander Jim McCormick of the Indianapolis Blues becomes the first player born in Scotland to appear in a major league game. Next season, as a 23-year old, the Glasgow native will managed the team, which will move to Cleveland, making him the youngest skipper in the history of the game.
1918 In what will become a precursor of a tragic event, Indian outfielder Tris Speaker is struck on the head by a pitch thrown by Red Sox hurler Carl Mays. The submarine pitcher, who will fatally bean Ray Chapman with a pitch in 1920 as a member of the Yankees, denies Speaker's allegation that the pitch was intentional.
1919 Red Sox southpaw Babe Ruth
hits the first of his 16 career grand slams. The bases-loaded home run proves to be the difference when Boston and the 'Bambino' beat the Browns at Sportsman's Park, 6-4.
1920 The Chicago police, dressed as soldiers and farmers, raid the Wrigley Field bleachers arresting two dozen Cub fans for gambling. All bets are off when Grover Cleveland Alexander blanks Philadephia, 6-0.
1925 Tris Speaker, scoring from first base on a single, plates the winning run in the Indians' 10-9 walk-off win over the Yankees. The Tribe score six times in the bottom of the ninth to accomplish the amazing comeback.
1940 Pinky Higgins hits three consecutive home runs at Detroit's Briggs Stadium. The slugging Tiger third baseman's offensive output helps the Tigers beat Boston, 10-7.
1948 In front of only 5,001 fans in Chicago, Joe DiMaggio strokes four extra-base hits for the fourth time in his career when he hits for the cycle for a second time in a 13-2 rout of the White Sox. The 'Yankee Clipper' paces the Bombers' 22-hit attack with a two home runs, a triple, a double and a single and drives in 6 runs.
1959 The Yankees become last-place club when they lose to Detroit, 13-6. It marks the first time in 19 years that the Bronx Bombers has occupied the basement of the American League.
1976 At Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox and Bronx Bombers are involved in one of the ugliest brawls in their fabled rivalry. The bench-clearing fight, instigated by a play at home plate in which BoSox backstop Carlton Fisk stabs Lou Piniella with the ball when the outfielder attempts to score, results in Bill Lee suffering a separated shoulder in a skirmish with Graig Nettles, causing the Boston southpaw to miss a significant portion of the season.
1978 In a 6-0 victory victory over Montreal, Willie Stargell hits the longest home run in the history of Olympic Stadium. The Pirates' first baseman 535-foot blast, hit off Expos' right-hander Wayne Twitchell, is his 407th round-tripper, tying him with Duke Snider for career homers.
1999 In a twin bill sweep of the Milwaukee, Mets' third baseman Robin Ventura becomes the first major league player to hit a grand slam in both ends of a doubleheader. As a member of the White Sox in 1995, the infielder also hit a pair of 'grand salamis' in game against against Texas.
2001 Barry Bonds becomes thirteenth player in major league history to hit home runs in four consecutive at-bats. The Giant outfielder went yard in his final two at-bats yesterday and homers in his first two official turns at the plate today.
2006 After barreling over fellow catcher Michael Barrett in a play he considered hard but clean, A.J. Pierzynski is surprised when the Cub backstop shows his displeasure by punching him the face. The incident ignites a bench-clearing brawl between the Windy City rivals that leads to a 15-minute delay and four ejections during the White Sox's 7-0 victory at U.S. Cellular Field.
2006 After a 29 at-bats homerless drought, Barry Bonds finally catches Babe Ruth with his 714th home run. The historic homer, which ties the designated hitter for second place for career round trippers, comes during the second inning of an interleague contest with the A's with the pitch thrown by southpaw Brad Halsey landing in the first deck of the right-center stands of McAfee Coliseum.
