Ol' Hank passes The Babe ... ON THIS DATE (April 8) IN BASEBALL HISTORY

[cheaptrick77]

<b><u>APRIL 8, 1964</u></b>

Houston Colt .45s pitcher <b>Jim Umbricht</b> dies of cancer at age 33. He was 4-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 1963. His #32 will be the first uniform retired by Houston.

 

<b><u>APRIL 8, 1969</u></b>

The expansion Seattle Pilots win their first-ever game, defeating the California Angels in Anaheim Stadium, 4-3. The Pilots score all four of their runs in the first inning off Halos' starter <b>Jim McGlothlin</b>, who lasts only one-third of an inning. Pilots starter <b>Marty Pattin</b> picks up the victory.

 

<b><u>APRIL 8, 1974</u></b>

At 8:07 PM CST, Atlanta Braves leftfielder <b>Henry Aaron</b> drove a 1-0 fastball from Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw <b>Al Downing</b> over the left field wall (and Dodgers leftfielder <b>Bill Buckner</b>) at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium for his 715th career home run, one more than <b>Babe Ruth</b>. The ball was caught in the Braves bullpen by future Rangers pitching coach <b>Tom House</b> (whose football-tossing techniques & instructional video were both endorsed by <b>Nolan Ryan</b>). 1997 Tyler WildCatters manager <b>Darrell Evans</b> was on first base when Aaron hit his historic home run - having reached base on a error by Dodgers shortstop <b>Bill Russell</b>.

 

<b><u>APRIL 8, 1975</u></b>

After <b>Rachel Robinson</b>, widow of <b>Jackie</b>, tosses out the first ball in Cleveland, <b>Frank Robinson</b>, the first black manager in Major League history, adds a dramatic touch by homering in his first Cleveland at bat (as a DH) during a 5-3 win over the visiting Yankees. For player-manager Robinson, it is his 8th Opening Day home run, setting a Major League record. Starter <b>Doc Medich</b> is the loser, going five innings and giving up all five runs. <b>Gaylord Perry</b> goes all the way to win for the Indians, while <b>Boog Powell</b> goes 3-for-3 with a double and home run.

 

<b><u>APRIL 8, 1985</u></b>

In the 1985 season opener against the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers starter <b>Charlie Hough</b> is lifted in the 6th despite giving up no hits. Hough walked 4 in a row (8 total) and catcher <b>Don Slaught</b> had allowed another run to score on a passed ball. Hough's replacement, <b>Dave Rozema</b> only allows 2 hits -- one of the hits is a 2-run home run in the 8th inning by <b>Eddie Murray</b> to snap a 2-2 tie. The O's hang on for the 4-2 victory.

 

<b><u>APRIL 8, 1987</u></b>

Cleveland Indians pitchers <b>Phil Niekro</b> and <b>Steve Carlton</b> team up to beat the Blue Jays, 14-3. Niekro wins his 312th and Carlton tosses four innings of relief. It is the first time two 300-game winners have pitched in the same game as teammates.

 

<b><u>APRIL 8, 1991</u></b>

<b>Nolan Ryan</b> starts and <b>Goose Gossage</b> pitches in relief for Texas Rangers in a 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. It marks the first time a 300-game winner pitches in the same game as a teammate with 300 saves.

 

<b><u>APRIL 8, 1993</u></b>

Cleveland Indians second sacker <b>Carlos Baerga</b> becomes the first player in Major League history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning, connecting in the 7th inning of Cleveland's 15-5 win over the Yankees.

 

<b><u>APRIL 8, 1994</u></b>

Atlanta Braves pitcher <b>Kent Mercker</b> no-hits the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-0. <b>Chan Ho Park</b> comes on to pitch in the 9th for the Dodgers, becoming the first Korean player to appear in a Major League game.

 

<b><u>APRIL 8, 1994</u></b>

<b>Michael Jordan</b> makes his professional debut, starting in right field for the Birmingham Barons in a Southern League contest against the Chattanooga Lookouts. Jordan flies out in his first at bat against Lookouts lefty <b>John Courtright</b> and goes 0-for-3 for the game -- in front of 10,359 and 130 members of the national and international media.

 

<b><u>APRIL 8, 1995</u></b>

Prince William Cannons (Class A Carolina League) pitchers <b>Brain Woods</b> & <b>Archie Vazquez</b> combine to no-hit the Salem Avalanche, 8-0.

 

<b><u>APRIL 8, 1995</u></b>

The Cleveland Indians sign free agent pitcher <b>Orel Hershiser</b>.

[shoelessjoelives]

A couple of other interesting facts about Aaron's 715th shot. The manager of the Braves that day was Eddie Mathews, who played with Aaron from 1954 to 1968. This duo hit a total of 1227 homers together. Mathews was also known as kind of an "enforcer" while patrolling third base with the Braves. Tyler's own "baseball treasure", Red Murff, told me of a time when Mathews came to his "rescue" during a game. Seems that Ole Red "brushed back" a hitter, who took exception to the pitch, and made his way to the mound to discuss the pitch, up close, with Red. Red tells it that "Eddie intercepted the disgruntled hitter, saying to him that it would better for his health if he turned around and went back to the plate and continued to bat". Red said that the batter looked at Mathews and quickly realized that Eddie was probably correct, and went back to finish his "at bat".

[cheaptrick77]

Oh, PLEASE, Baseball Gods .......... keep Hank's record sacred !! :(

[stevosev7]

i wouldn't mind anyone breaking aarons record...anyone but barry bonds that is.

[cheaptrick77]

[mellon]

The TRUE all time homerun king.

[DaveTV1]

I love Hammerin' Hank and George Herman. Henry Aaron still holds the record in my book. Barry can claim it, but Mr. Aaron did it the right way. Great Clip, Cheap Trick.

[ramsn03]

I remember seeing this on tv live, just got home from a friend's house and not longer after. Hank hits it.

[shoelessjoelives]

I still remember that day at Mike Carter when Ol' Red told that story about Eddie Mathews. Now they are all in the Field of Dreams and I bet they are having a blast !!

[Wild74]

Barry Bonds ####!!!! The Hammer is the true homerun king

[Wild74]

He beat the record with the same head size he came into the league with also

[cheaptrick77]

APRIL 8, 2001

In a game against the Blue Jays, Yankee pinch-hitter Scott Seabol becomes the lowest-drafted player (88th round in 1996) to ever appear in Major League game. This distinction will last just 11 days before Travis Phelps (Devil Rays' selection in the 89th round, also in 1996) makes his debut on April 19 ... and later broken by Clay Condrey (Yankees' 94th round in 1996) in 2002.