TODAY IN BASEBALL: August 29

august 29

web-graphics-podcast-2
TODAY IN BASEBALL courtesy of National Pastime

1977 – At Jack Murphy Stadium, 39 year-old Cardinals outfielder Lou Brock swipes his 893rd bag, breaking Ty Cobb’s 49 year-old major league career record for stolen bases. The Georgia Peach had established the mark in 1928 as a member of the Philadelphia A’s at the age of 41.

1993 – Joining Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, George Brett becomes only the third player in baseball history to swipe his 200th stolen base as well as collecting 3,000 hits and 300 home runs. The Royals’ third baseman’s historic heist takes place during a 5-4, 12-inning victory over the Red Sox at Kauffman Stadium.

1996 – The Orioles become the first major league team to have seven players hit 20 or more home runs in the same season when Bobby Bonilla goes deep off right-hander Bob Wells in the first inning of a 9-6 loss to Seattle at the Kingdome. The other Baltimore sluggers to reach the plateau are Rafael Palmeiro, Roberto Alomar, Cal Ripken, B.J. Surhoff, Brady Anderson, and Chris Hoiles.

And finally…in 2010, in a pre-game ceremony prior to their game against the Yankees, the White Sox retire Frank Thomas’ jersey number 35. The ‘Big Hurt’, a two-time American League MVP who played 16 of his 19 years in the big leagues in Chicago, retired in the off season with a .301 lifetime batting average, along with 521 homers and 1,704 RBIs.

PLAYERS BORN TODAY

Doug DeCinces (1950), Aaron Roward (1977), Roy Oswalt (1977) and Noah Syndergaard (1992)

web-graphics-podcast-2

Arrow to top