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Happy birthday to Frank Schwindel, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 2004 – At Bank One Ballpark, the Diamondbacks’ 40-year-old fireballer Randy Johnson records his 4,000th career strikeout to become the fourth player in major league history to reach the plateau. The “Big Unit” needs fewer innings (3,237.1) than Nolan Ryan (3,844.2), Roger Clemens (4,151) or Steve Carlton (4,991.1) to accomplish the feat, and other stories as well.
Today in baseball history:
- 1905 – At Brooklyn, the Giants tally seven runs in the first three innings off Mal Eason to coast to an 11-1 victory. Christy Mathewson leaves after five innings of shutout ball. Dan McGann paces the offense with a triple and homer, while Moonlight Graham, in his only game in the majors, takes over in right field as a late-inning replacement. Graham will have no at-bats. bat, but he will be immortalized by W.P. Kinsella‘s book Shoeless Joe and the movie based on the book, Field of Dreams.
- 1915 – Led by Tris Speaker‘s 5-for-5 day, the Red Sox trip the Yankees, 4-3, in 10 innings. Babe Ruth gets the win, going all the way before Sheriff Gainer hits for him in the 10th.
- 1935 – Despite Cardinal outfielder Joe “Ducky” Medwick hitting for the cycle, the Reds beat the “Gas House Gang” and Daffy Dean, 8-6.
- 1941 – In a doubleheader with the Senators, Joe DiMaggio ties and then breaks the American League consecutive game hitting streak of 41 established by George Sisler.
- 1968 – In the first game of a doubleheader, Mickey Mantle ties the score with a two-run homer in the sixth, but rookie Reggie Jackson breaks the tie in the 8th with his ninth homer of the year.
- 1969 – Tony Oliva collects eight straight hits in the Twins’ twinbill split with the Royals. Kansas City takes the opener, 7-2, behind homers by Mike Fiore and Bob Oliver. Oliva flies out his first time up, then strokes three singles. In the Twins’ 12-2 win in the second game, Oliva hits two homers, a double and two singles, driving in five runs.
- 1977 – In a 9-1 win, Willie Stargell hits his 400th career home run, this one coming off Eric Rasmussen of the Cardinals.
- 1984 – Pete Rose plays in his 3,309th major league game, surpassing Carl Yastrzemski as the all-time leader.
- 1990 – Oakland’s Dave Stewart and the Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela both throw no-hitters today, the first time this has happened since Hippo Vaughn and Fred Toney‘s double no-hitter in 1917.
Today in Cubs history:
- 1897 – The Chicago Colts of the National League establish the record for most runs scored in a game by one team as they maul Louisville, 36-7.
- 1935 – Gabby Hartnett goes 4 for 4 and drives home the game winner in the Cubs’ 2-1 victory over the Pirates.
- 1969 – On Billy Williams Day in Chicago, the Cubs outfielder passes Stan Musial‘s National League record for consecutive games played (896).
- 1984 – In Los Angeles, Steve Sax hits a first-inning triple, then swipes home, and Orel Hershiser scatters nine hits to lead the Dodgers past the Cubs and Rick Sutcliffe, 7-1. Sutcliffe will not lose again in the regular season.
Cubs Birthdays: Frank Schwindel*, Brooks Raley, Pedro Valdés, Bruce Kimm, John Boccabella, Bob Shaw, Bobby Morgan. Also notable: Harmon Killebrew HOF. Wilbert Robinson HOF.
Today in history:
- 1613 – Shakespeare‘s Globe Theatre in London burns down during a performance of “Henry VIII”.
- 1863 – George Armstrong Custer, aged 23, appointed Union Brigadier General.
- 1940 – Batman Comics, mobsters rub out a circus highwire team known as the Flying Graysons, leaving their son Dick (Robin) an orphan.
- 1953 – Oklahoma governor declares today “Maria Tallchief Day” in honor of Native American prima ballerina Maria Tallchief.
- 1958 – FIFA World Cup Final, Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden: Vavá and Pelé each score two goals as Brazil defeats Sweden 5-2.
- 1963 – Beatles’ first song “From Me to You” hits UK charts.
- 1967 – Keith Richards is sentenced to 1 year in jail on drugs charge.
- 1971 – Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are sentenced for a drug offense.
- 1979 – Mascot San Diego Chicken is reborn at Jack Murphy Stadium.
*pictured.
