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This Week’s Memorable Moments
July 10, 1934: Pitcher Strikes Out 5 HOFers in a Row at the All-Star Game
New York Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell struck out five consecutive Hall of Famers in that year’s All-Star Game. The five players he struck out were:
Babe Ruth
Lou Gehrig
Al Simmons
Jimmie Foxx
Joe Cronin
Hubbell was the an early-inning pitcher for the National League in the game, which was held at the Polo Grounds in New York City. He entered the game in the second inning and struck out Ruth, Gehrig, and Simmons in succession. He started the fourth inning by striking out Foxx and Cronin.
The feat was even more impressive, considering that all five of the players Hubbell struck out were among the best hitters in baseball at the time. He delivered one of the most dominant pitching performances in All-Star Game history.
He struck out 10 batters in 3 innings and allowed only one hit. The National League ultimately lost the game, but Hubbell's performance was one of the highlights of the evening.
July 11, 1985: Nolan Ryan Gets 4,000th Strikeout
Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history to reach the 4,000-strikeout mark. Ryan accomplished the feat in the sixth inning of a game against the New York Mets, when he struck out Danny Heep.
The game was played at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, and the crowd of 20,921 was on its feet after the first two strikes. Heep swung and missed at a curveball in the dirt to record Ryan's 4,000th strikeout.
Ryan finished the game with 11 strikeouts, and the Astros won 4-3 in 12 innings. Ryan was 38 years old then and went on to strike out 5,714 batters in his career, which is still the most in Major League history.
July 12, 1949: The First Black Players Appear in an All-Star Game
Larry Doby, of the Cleveland Indians, was the first black player to appear in an All-Star Game. He was joined by his teammates Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Don Newcombe, all of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The game was held at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York, and the American League won 11-7.
The National League committed five errors in the game, which helped the American League to victory. The appearance of black players in the All-Star Game was a significant moment in the history of baseball. It was a sign of progress in the fight against segregation in the sport, and it helped to pave the way for more black players to be integrated into Major League Baseball.
July 13, 1982: The First All-Star Game is Played Outside the United States
The first All-Star Game to be played outside of the United States was at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The National League won the game 4-1, and Cincinnati Reds shortstop Dave Concepcion was named the MVP after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning.
The game was attended by 58,389 fans, which was a record for an All-Star Game outside of the United States. The game was also notable for being the first All-Star Game to feature a Canadian player on the starting lineup, as Montreal Expos outfielder Tim Raines was in the lineup for the National League.
July 14, 1968: Hank Aaron hits Home Run #500
Hank Aaron hit his 500th home run at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. He hit a three-run home run off of San Francisco Giants pitcher Mike McCormick in the third inning of a game against the Giants. The home run helped the Atlanta Braves to a 4-2 victory.
Aaron's 500th home run was a significant moment in baseball history. He became the seventh player to reach the milestone and was the first African American player to do so.
The home run was met with a standing ovation from the crowd at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. His teammates then mobbed Aaron in celebration, and Braves President Bill Bartholomay presented him with an award.
Hop Into the Time Machine!
At this time last year, we published an episode about the top-hitting pitchers in baseball history. Take a moment to check it out!
July 15, 1999: The Seattle Mariners Play its First Outdoor Home Game
After 22 1/2 years in the indoor-only Kingdome, the Seattle Mariners played their first outdoor home game at their new stadium, Safeco Field. The opening of the new ballpark was a major event for the city of Seattle, featuring modern conveniences and a retractable roof. The venue was built with public funding, and it was seen as a symbol of the city's growth and prosperity.
The game itself was a close one, but the Mariners pulled away in the late innings. Edgar Martinez hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning, and Bret Boone added a solo home run in the eighth inning to lead Seattle to a 7-2 win over the San Diego Padres.
July 16, 1909: The Longest Scoreless Game in AL History Takes Place
The Detroit Tigers and Washington Senators played a scoreless game on July 16, 1909, at Bennett Park in Detroit, Michigan. The game lasted 26 innings, which is the longest scoreless game in AL history.
The Tigers were led by pitcher Ed Summers, who went the distance for Detroit. Summers gave up only seven hits and struck out four batters. The Senators were led by pitcher Dolly Gray, who also went the distance. Gray gave up eight hits and struck out three batters.
The game was called due to darkness after 26 innings. The score was still 0-0.
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This Week in Baseball History: July 10-16