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So let’s get the show going, starting with memorable historical moments that happened this week.
July 17, 1946: Joltin’ Joe’s Hitting Steak is Capped
Joe DiMaggio's historic hitting streak of 56 games came to an end at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium. The Yankees center fielder went hitless in three at-bats against Indians pitchers Al Smith and Jim Bagby, as the Yankees won the game, 4-3.
DiMaggio's streak had begun on May 15, 1941, and had taken the baseball world by storm. During the streak, DiMaggio hit .408 with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs. He had also faced some of the best pitchers in the game, including Bob Feller, Hal Newhouser, and Lefty Grove.
The streak ended in the bottom of the first inning when DiMaggio hit a sharp ground ball down the third base line. Indians third baseman Ken Keltner made a brilliant backhanded stop and threw DiMaggio out.
The crowd of 67,000 at Municipal Stadium was stunned by DiMaggio's streak coming to an end. However, they still cheered for the Yankees, who went on to win the game.
July 18, 1882: The First Ambidextrous Pitcher Makes His Debut
Tony Mullane of the Louisville Eclipse became the first ambidextrous pitcher in professional baseball history when he switched hands in the fourth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles. Mullane was a natural right-hander, but he had taught himself to throw left-handed after injuring his right arm.
In the fourth inning of the game against the Orioles, Mullane was struggling. He had given up seven runs in three innings, and the Orioles were leading 7-2. Mullane decided to switch to his left hand, and he retired the next three batters in order.
Mullane pitched with both hands for the rest of the game, but he was unable to prevent the Orioles from winning, 9-8. However, his performance in that game showed that he was a unique talent, and he went on to have a successful career as a switch-pitcher.
Mullane pitched in the major leagues from 1881 to 1894, and he won 284 games. He was a three-time 30-game winner, and he led the American Association in strikeouts in 1882. He was also the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the American Association, which he did on September 11, 1882.
July 19, 1909: The First Unassisted Triple Play Occurs
Cleveland Naps shortstop Neal Ball pulled off the first unassisted triple play in modern Major League history. The play occurred in the second inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at League Park.
With two men on base, Boston's Amby McConnell hit a line drive to Ball at shortstop. Ball caught the ball and stepped on second base to retire Heinie Wagner, who was running from first base. Ball then tagged Jake Stahl, who ran from second base to third base.
The unassisted triple play is one of the rarest plays in baseball. There have only been 15 unassisted triple plays in Major League history, and Ball's was the first one to occur in the modern era.
Ball was a journeyman shortstop who played for four different teams in his seven-year Major League career. He was not known for his defensive skills, but he made the most of his opportunity on July 19, 1909, and turned in one of the most memorable plays in baseball history.
July 20, 1880: Eddie Kolb, Cleveland Spiders Pitcher, is Born
Eddie Kolb was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched one game for the 1899 Cleveland Spiders. He was born on July 20, 1880, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
His only appearance in the majors came on October 15, 1899, in the second game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns. He pitched the game's final three innings, allowing two runs on three hits. The Spiders lost the game, 10-3. He was 19 years old when he made this debut.
Kolb never pitched in the majors again. He played for several minor league teams after 1899 and managed a few teams. He died on October 1, 1949, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
July 21, 1967: HOF Jimmy Foxx Dies
Jimmy Foxx was a Major League Baseball player who played from 1925 to 1945. He was born on July 22, 1907, in Sudbury, Massachusetts, and died in Miami, Florida on July 21, 1967. Foxx was a two-time American League MVP and a three-time World Series champion. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951.
Foxx was a power-hitting first baseman who was one of the best hitters in baseball during his era. He led the American League in home runs four times and in RBIs five times. He also won the Triple Crown in 1933, when he led the league in batting average (.356), home runs (58), and RBIs (169).
Foxx was a key member of the Philadelphia Athletics teams that won the World Series in 1929, 1930, and 1931. He was also a member of the Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series in 1946.
Foxx was a dominant force in baseball for over two decades. He was one of the most feared hitters in the game, and he helped lead his teams to many championships. He is considered one of the greatest first basemen in baseball history.
Hop Into the Time Machine! 🗓️
Last December, we published an episode about the best player-managers in MLB history. Take a moment to check it out!
July 22, 2000: A Roof Malfunction Ruins a Mariners Game
A rainstorm interrupted a game between the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field. The stadium roof, which had only been open for a few months at the time, was supposed to close automatically when it started to rain, but a computer problem prevented it from doing so.
The rain drenched fans in the stadium, and the game was delayed for 54 minutes while the roof was manually closed. The Mariners went on to win the game 13-5.
The computer problem that caused the roof to malfunction was later traced to a software glitch. The Mariners said that they had fixed the problem and that it would not happen again.
This was not the first time a computer problem had caused problems at Safeco Field. In 1999, the stadium's scoreboard malfunctioned during a game, causing the score to be incorrect. The Mariners said they had fixed the problem with the scoreboard, but it was unclear if the same problem had caused the roof to malfunction in 2000.
July 23, 1965: Dick Stuart Homers in His 23rd Different Ballpark
Dick Stuart hit a home run at Shea Stadium in a 5-1 win for the Philadelphia Phillies over the New York Mets. The home run was Stuart's 23rd in different parks, which set a Major League record at the time.
Stuart was a power-hitting first baseman who played for the Phillies, Pirates, and Cardinals during his 12-year career. He was known for his unorthodox batting stance, which involved holding the bat with the barrel facing down.
The home run at Shea Stadium was Stuart's 23rd in different parks, breaking the 22 set by Mel Ott in 1934. Stuart would go on to hit home runs in 24 different parks, but his record was eventually broken by Willie Stargell in 1973.
This Week in Baseball History: July 17-26