TODAY IN BASEBALL courtesy of National Pastime
1961 – At Yankee Stadium, Roger Maris ties Babe Ruth’s 34 year-old single season record with his 60th home run of the year, a high drive down the right-field line off on a curve ball thrown by Orioles right-hander Jack Fisher. The Bronx Bomber outfielder’s accomplishment comes in the 159th game of the newly expanded season, which at the time keeps Ruth the single-season home run leader according to an edict made by baseball commissioner Ford Frick, who ruled for the mark to be shared or broken the historic round-tripper had to come in the first 154 games of the season.
1981 – Nolan Ryan becomes the first pitcher to throw five no-hitters when the Astros defeat the Dodgers at the Astrodome, 5-0. The Ryan Express, who will finish his 27-year major league career with a record seven no-hitters, previously has thrown hitless gems against the Royals (1973), Tigers (1973), Twins (1974), and Orioles (1975).
2011 – Vladimir Guerrero, with a single up the middle, becomes the all-time career hit leader among players born in the Dominican Republic. The 36 year-old Orioles DH’s 2,587th career hit puts him ahead of Hato Mayor del Rey native Julio Franco.
And finally…in 2013, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, with two out in the ninth inning, emerge from the dugout to take out legendary closer Mariano Rivera, giving the sold-out crowd at Yankee Stadium one last chance to cheer their beloved reliever. The unexpected visit to the mound, the brainchild of manager Joe Girardi, who asked permission from the umpires to implement the unorthodox move, triggers an emotional encounter between the remaining Core Four teammates that renders Mo speechless as he weeps from the adulation of his friends and fans.
PLAYERS BORN TODAY
Dave Duncan (1945), Dave Martinez (1964), Sean Doolittle (1986) and Chris Archer (1988)
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