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A 9-3 groundout: ON THIS DATE (April 19) IN BASEBALL HISTORY


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April 19, 1900

Ban Johnson's upstart American League -- which will not be recognized as an "equal" rival to the National League until 1901, opens with Buffalo Bisons' lefty Doc Amole no-hitting the Detroit Tigers, 8-0.

 

April 19, 1912

Behind the pitching of Walter Johnson, Washington wins its home opener 6-0 over the World Champion Philadelphia Athletics. Only 10,000 fans show up as shocking news of the Titanic sinking keeps people away. President William Howard Taft skips the game and Vice President James Sherman does the tossing of the first ball.

 

April 19, 1915

St. Louis Cardinals righthander Lee Meadows makes his National League debut and becomes the first player to wear glasses regularly on the field since pitcher Will White in 1886.

 

APRIL 19, 1938

In the top of the first inning at Philadelphia, Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder Ernie Koy homers in his first Major League at bat. In the bottom of the inning, Phillies leadoff man Emmett "Heinie" Mueller also hits a home run in his first time up in the Majors.

 

APRIL 19, 1939

Only 39 fans attended an American Association contest between the Kansas City Blues and Columbus Senators. The Blues won the game, 5-3, in near-freezing Columbus, Ohio weather.

 

APRIL 19, 1948

In the second game of a doubleheader, Philadelphia Athletics' rookie left-handed pitcher Lou Brissie defeats the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, 4-2. Wounded in World War II, Brissie, who has a metal plate in one leg and wears a shinguard as protection, is hit on the shin by a Ted Williams line drive.

 

APRIL 19, 1949

At pregame ceremonies marking the season opener in Yankee Stadium, a granite monument to Babe Ruth is unveiled in center field. Plaques honoring Lou Gehrig and Miller Huggins are also presented.

 

April 19, 1952

Eddie Mathews of the Boston Braves hits his first Major League HR off Ken Heintzelman of the Phillies in Philadelphia. The Braves win 4-0.

 

April 19, 1960

On Patriot's Day at Fenway Park, Roger Maris makes his debut with the Yankees a smash as he goes 4-for-5, including two home runs, and drives in four runs. The Yanks spoil Boston's opener with an 8-4 win as Jim Coates goes all the way for New York. Tom Brewer is the loser. Red Sox catcher Haywood Sullivan has his first Major League hit after five seasons and 16 at bats. Mayor John Collins, wheel-chair bound because of polio, tosses out the first ball.

 

APRIL 19, 1961

In response to complaints that vendors were blocking the view of fans, Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck hires Eddie Gaedel and seven other midgets to act as vendors in the box seat sections.

 

APRIL 19, 1963

Springfield Giants hurler Bob Bishop no-hits the Reading Red Sox in an Eastern League (class AA) contest, 2-0.

 

APRIL 19, 1965

At a cost of $20,000, the outer Astrodome ceiling is painted because the sun's glare makes fielding fly balls hazardous. Outfielders had been wearing batting helmets in preseason games because of the glare. Painting the skylights will reduce the lighting by nearly 40% and create the need for lights. However, the lack of sunlight will cause the grass to die and spur the unfortunate introduction of artificial turf.

 

APRIL 19, 1966

In a Class A Carolina League contest, Durham Bulls pitcher Juan Quintana no-hits the Greensboro Yankees, 8-0.

 

APRIL 19, 1971

Legendary Giants announcer Russ Hodges dies at Mill Valley, California.

 

APRIL 19, 1977

Baltimore Orioles legend Brooks Robinson makes his last Major League home run a dramatic one. Pinch hitting for Larry Harlow, he hits a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning off Dave LaRoche to beat the Cleveland Indians 6-5. Brooks will go to bat just 47 times in 1977, finishing his career with 268 homers.

 

APRIL 19, 1984

Kansas City Royals' rookie Bret Saberhagen picks up his first Major League victory as the Royals beat the Detroit Tigers, 5-2 -- ending the Tigers' nine-game winning streak to begin the 1984 season.

 

APRIL 19, 1994

A rare 9-3 groundout! Montreal Expos right fielder Larry Walker throws out San Francisco Giants pitcher John Burkett at first base on a ground ball into right field.

 

APRIL 19, 1996

At The Ballpark In Arlington, the Texas Rangers embarrass the Baltimore Orioles, 26-7. The Rangers explode for 16 runs in a 56-minute 8th inning, the largest 8th inning tally in Major League history.

 

April 19, 1998

Florida Marlins rookie 3B Kevin Millar makes his first Major League start against the Diamondbacks. On the first pitch he sees from Jeff Suppan, Millar swings and hits a foul ball. In doing so, he breaks the hamate bone in his left hand, sending him to the DL. Florida goes on to defeat Arizona, 4-3.

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APRIL 19, 1956

In the first Major League game ever played in New Jersey, the Dodgers begin their Jersey City home game experiment with a 10-inning 5-4 victory over the Phillies at Roosevelt Stadium. Pinch hitter Rube Walker's sacrifice fly, scoring pinch runner Don Zimmer in the bottom of the 10th, was the game-winner.


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