. . THIS DATE IN BASEBALL HISTORY
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2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1995
1994
1993
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1983
1976
1975
1972
1971
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1961
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1959
1957
1955
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1950
1948
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1936
1934
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1931
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1927
1922
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1916
1914
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1909
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1906
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1901
. July 18th

2002
» The Blue Jays beat the Orioles, 5–4, as Baltimore SS Melvin Mora ties a major league record by being hit by a pitch three times.

2001
» A train carrying toxic substances derails in Baltimore, causing the postponement of the second game of the Orioles day-night doubleheader against the Rangers. Texas takes the first game, 6–4, behind Frank Catalanotto's 4-for-4, battering Sean Douglass (0-1) in his ML debut.

ML umpires drop their grievance over pitch counts against major league baseball.

The Mets down Florida, 4–3 in 11 innings and see Marlins manager Tony Perez ejected for arguing a call. It is his 1st ejection in 31 seasons and more than 3,800 games as a player and manager.

Houston batters St. Louis, 17–11, as 3B Jeff Bagwell hits for the cycle. He is the 212th major-league player since 1901 to cycle, 106 in the NL. The Cardinals score six runs in the 5th inning, but the Astros answer with eight in their next at bat. Batting notables include Moises Alou, who has a 3-run home run to stretch his hit streak to 23 games, and Bobby Bonilla, with his 2,000th career hit. McGwire, with his 564th, and Pujols also homer for the Birds.

Jeremy Giambi is 4-for-4 with six RBIs to lead the A's to a 7–2 won over the Twins. It is their 15th win in 19 games.

The Padres–Diamondbacks game is suspended after two innings because of an explosion in a LF light tower. Curt Schilling throws two perfect innings allwing no hits.

Quack. Carlos Baerga, who was playing with the Long Island Ducks, in the independent Atlantic League, has his contract sold to the Samsung Ducks, in the Korean Baseball League.

2000
» The Royals defeat the Cubs, 12-4, as OF Johnny Damon gets five hits, including a major league record-tying four doubles. two players do it today.

The Mets outslug the Blue Jays, 11-7, as C Mike Piazza hits his 3rd grand slam of the season. Toronto OF Shannon Stewart gets a ML record-tying four doubles in the game.

The Tigers purchase vet 1B Hal Morris from the Reds.

1999
» Don Larsen, who hurled a perfect game for the New Yorkers in the 1956 World Series, throws out the first pitch prior to New York's game against the Expos. The Yankees then defeat the Expos, 6-0, as David Cone caps an emotional day by hurling a perfect game. Cone fans 10 batters as not a single Montreal player reaches base.

Oakland rookie Olmedo Saenz hits a 2-run homer, Jimmy Haynes continued his strong pitching and Billy Taylor bounced back from taking a batted ball off his head on Saturday as the hot Oakland Athletics defeated the Colorado Rockies, 3-2. A's vet Tim Raines is 0-for-1 before leaving the game for the hospital because of dizziness. He first felt a pain two days ago and tests will show he has Lupus. Raines will sit out a year and make a remarkable comeback in 2001 with the Expos.

1998
» The Boston Red Sox defeat the Detroit Tigers, 9–4, with the aid of a 7–run 4th inning. Mo Vaughn, Donnie Sadler, Darren Lewis, and Nomar Garciaparra all homer in the stanza, a first for Boston.

1997
» The Mariners, seeking pitching help, trade Scott Sanders (3–6) and two minor leaguers (pitcher Dean Crow and 3B Carlos Villalobos) to the Detroit Tigers on Friday for righthanders Omar Olivares (5–6) and Felipe Lira (5–7). Piniella practically begged for a trade after the M's lost to Minnesota 9-7 in 12 innings, cutting Seattle's lead to over Anaheim in the American League West to one-half game.

1995
» The White Sox blast Yankee P Jack McDowell for 13 hits and nine runs in four 2/3 innings in their 11-4 win in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. McDowell makes an obscene gesture to the fans as he is booed walking off the field.

The Marlins score a 12-10, 14-inning victory over the Giants. Florida is led by 1B Greg Colbrunn, who drives in seven runs on two home runs.

The Red Sox set an American League record by hitting four two-out homers in one inning as they beat host Detroit, 9–4. They hit the four dingers in the 4th inning.

Dave Andrews, public address announcer for the Abilene Prairie Dogs of the Texas-Louisiana League, is ejected from a game after Abilene manager Charlie Kerfeld is given the boot. Andrews proceeds to read a commercial for an eyeglass chain, infuriating the umpire. Andrews claims it was coincidence, but is still fined $50.

1994
» The Houston Astros spot the visiting St. Louis Cardinals an 11-run lead after three innings, but rally to win 15–12. The Astros score 11 runs in the 6th on the way to matching the largest comeback in National League history.

Cleveland OF Albert Belle is suspended for 10 days for using a corked bat in a July 14 game against the White Sox. The suspension will be reduced to seven days plus a $7,000 fine when Belle agrees to drop his appeal.

The Major League Baseball Players Association rejects the owners' salary cap proposal as baseball moves a step closer to a strike.

1993
» Atlanta's Steve Avery and two relievers shut out the Pirates, 2-0, despite surrendering 13 hits, just one shy of the record for most hits allowed in a shutout.

The Braves obtain 1B Fred McGriff from the Padres in exchange for minor leaguers Melvin Nieves and Donnie Elliott.

1990
» A day after setting a major-league record for triple plays, the Twins and Red Sox set one for DPs. The Red Sox hit into six double plays, while the Twins ground into four to set the ML record, as the Red Sox win again, 5–4. The previous mark of nine DPs was last accomplished on April 15, 1961.

Arbitrator George Nicolau rules in favor of the players association saying that the 26 ML owners colluded and were aware of a databank that detailed 1987 salary offers.

1989
» Donnie Moore, 35, shoots himself to death at his home after shooting and critically wounding his estranged wife Tonya. Friends said Moore was haunted by the 2-run home run he surrendered to Dave Henderson in game five of the 1986 ALCS, costing the Angels a trip to the World Series, and that he had been even more depressed since his release last month by minor league Omaha.

The Dodgers trade P Tim Leary and SS Mariano Duncan to the Reds for OF Kal Daniels and IF Lenny Harris.

1988
» Seattle's Gene Walter balks four times in two 1/3 innings in a 12–3 loss to Detroit. He is the 3rd American League pitcher to tie the major-league record this season.

1987
» Don Mattingly hits a home run in his 8th consecutive game, tying the major-league record set by Dale Long in 1956, but the Yankees lose to Texas 7–2. His streak will end tomorrow when he goes 2-for-4 but no homers.

1986
» The Royals announce that 50-year-old manager Dick Howser, who led the club to a World Championship last season, will miss the rest of the season to undergo treatment for a brain tumor that is later revealed to be malignant. 3B coach Mike Ferraro will manage the club in Howser's absence.

Against Baltimore's Scott McGregor, the Twins first two batters -- Kirby Puckett and Gary Gaetti -- hit homers Puckett adds another to help the Twins to a 7–3 win. Bert Blyleven is the winner.

1983
» Despite being in first place in the National League East, the Phillies fire manager Pat Corrales because the team is "not playing up to its potential." GM Paul Owens will manage the club instead. Managing his first game, the Phils drop a 9–2 decision as the Astros shell Steve Carlton. It's his 11th loss of the year and drops the Phils into a tie for 2nd place with the Pirates.

At Toronto, George Brett is robbed of an apparent triple by his teammate Mike Armstrong. Brett hits a liner down the RF line that Armstrong, sitting in the bullpen, thinks is foul and retrieves. Ump Bill Kunkel decides to send U.L. Washington, who scored on the play, back the 2B, and Brett is sent to 2B. Brett has a homer off Jim Clancy but KC eventually loses , 8–2.

1976
» Houston's Ed Herrmann goes 5-for-5, including a homer, and knocks in four runs in a 10-inning, 7–6, win over the Expos.

1975
» In a 9–3 win over the Kansas City Royals, Boston's Jim Rice clouts a tremendous homer over the CF wall at Fenway, to the right of the flag pole, just the 6th player to accomplish this feat. Owner Tom Yawkey calls it the longest shot he's ever seen at Fenway. The others: Detroit's Hank Greenberg, May 22, 1937; Boston's Jimmie Foxx, August 12, 1937; Yankees Bill Skowron, April 20, 1957; Boston's Carl Yastrzemski, May 16, 1970; Brewers Bob Mitchell, September 29, 1973.

1972
» San Diego's Steve Arlin takes a no-hitter against Philadelphia into the 9th inning before settling for a 2nd straight 2-hitter. The first hit comes when Denny Doyle hits a 2-out bloop single over the head of 3B Dave Roberts, playing in for a possible bunt. During the season, Arlin will notch three 2-hitters, a one-hitter, and a 10-inning one-hit stint, yet compile a 10-21 record.

1971
» The Pirates sweep a doubleheader from the Dodgers 3–2 and 7–1 to extend their winning streak to 11 games. In the 2nd game, Luke Walker has a no-hitter until Joe Ferguson homers in the 9th inning for Los Angeles. Pittsburgh is now in front by 11 1/2 games, their largest lead of the year.

1970
» San Francisco's Willie Mays, at the age of 39, strokes a single off Montreal's Mike Wegener for his 3,000th hit. Mays' safety comes in his 2,639th game and he joins Hank Aaron, who stroked his 3,000th a month earlier. Aaron's was hit in his 2,460th game. The Giants coast to a 10–1 victory.

Milwaukee's Ted Kubiak has seven RBIs—on a single, double and grand slam—to lead the Brewers to a 10–5 win over the Red Sox at Fenway. The Red Sox blow a 5–1 lead, reached when Yaz hits a 3-run homer and Reggie Smith solos. Sparky Lyle (0-4) is the loser allowing one run.

1969
» Red Sox pitcher Ray Jarvis drives in two runs and beats the Orioles, 6–1. The only score for the O's is a homer by Don Buford with Dave May on 1B. May holds up to watch Tony Conigliaro fall into the RF stands in a vain attempt to catch the drive and Buford passes May. May scores but Buford is called out and is credited with a single.

Tommy John scatters eight hits in the White Sox 6–1 win over the Royals. The Sox outfield records no putouts behind John.

At Crosley Field, the Astros take a 9–0 lead after batting in the 6th, only to lose, 10–9. The Reds score a run in the 6th, two in the 7th, and tie it with six in the 8th. Cincy wins it in the 11th when Ted Savage drives in a run off Jack Billingham.

1967
» Harry Walker (42-42) is fired as manager of the Pirates. Danny Murtaugh is called back to finish the season.

1965
» Twins manager Sam Mele is fined $500 and suspended five days following an altercation with umpire Bill Valentine in Minnesota's doubleheader split with the Angels.

1964
» Ken Boyer, Bill White, and Tim McCarver of the Cards hit consecutive 8th-inning home runs in a 15–7 bombing of the Mets.

The Reds Pete Rose hits the only grand slam of his career as he drives in six runs in the Reds' 14–4 home win against the Phillies. His grand slam is served up by Dallas Green.

1962
» Minnesota is the first 20th-century club to hit two grand slams in one inning when Bob Allison and Harmon Killebrew connect in a team-record, 11-run first inning, against Cleveland. Barry Latman and Jim Perry serve the grand gophers. The Twins coast home 14–3.

1961
» Bill White and the Cards continue to beat up on the Cubs, sweeping 8–3 and 7–5. White goes 3-for-4 in each game and ties Ty Cobb's 49-year-old record of 14 hits in consecutive twin bills.

Henry Aaron, Joe Adcock, and Joe Torre of the Braves startle the Reds with a triple steal in the 6th inning. For Aaron, it is his first steal of home.

Mickey Mantle poles two homers, off rookie Joe McLain, to pace New York to a 5–3 win over the Senators. In pre-game ceremonies, Mantle teamed with New York Congressman Eddie Dooley to win the homer-hitting contest against other Congressional-player duos.

1960
» The National League votes to expand to 10 clubs if the Continental League does not join organized baseball. The new NL clubs would invade CL territories.

The Yanks score five runs in the 3rd off Dick Stigman, and Whitey Ford coasts to a complete game 9–2 victory over the Indians.

1959
» The Tigers drop game one to the Orioles, 5–2, their 13th loss in 15 games, then win the nitecap, 2–0, despite getting just two hits off Wilhelm. Hoyt allows two singles, but his knuckler proves elusive to Myron Ginsberg, who allows four passed balls to tie the American League record held by Gus Triandos and two others. O's catchers Ginsberg & Triandos will set the modern major-league record for passed balls this season with 49.

1957
» In what will later be revealed as false testimony, Kansas City A's owner Arnold Johnson denies before the Celler committee that he had any ties to the Yankee ownership or has favored them in any trades.

Ernie Banks and Chuck Tanner of the Cubs both hit inside-the-park homers at spacious Forbes Field. The Cubs nip Pittsburgh 6-5.

Horace Stoneham says that the Giants will quit New York after the season. He says he has not heard anything more from San Francisco and that his move is not contingent on that of the Dodgers. He sees a new stadium or joint occupancy with the Yankees as the only reason for the Giants to stay in New York.

Dodger slugger Gil Hodges hits his 12th career grand slam to tie the NL record of Rogers Hornsby and Ralph Kiner, as the Dodgers edge the Cards 10-9. St. Louis remains a game behind the Phils. The slam comes against the Cardinals Wilmer Mizell.

Gene Woodling of the Indians throws out two Washington runners from LF in the first inning, tying a ML record. Washington wins 4-0.

1955
» Newly acquired Jim Wilson of Baltimore 2-hits the White Sox 3-0.

1954
» The NL awards a forfeit victory over the Cards to the Phils for a stall that follows a first-inning brawl featuring Phils manager Terry Moore and 1B Earl Torgeson, and Cards C Sal Yvars. The Cardinals are under the impression that local ordinances prevent lights being turned on to continue a game. Down 8-1 in the fifth inning of game two, St. Louis begins stalling.

After winning 13 in a row, the Yankees lose the second game of a doubleheader to Detroit 8-6. They now trail Cleveland by 1/2 game.

1953
» Dodger backup 1B Wayne Belardi scores two runs in the 8th inning, one on a pinch-hit grand slam. His slam in the eighth is the third Dodger grand slam in three games (Gil Hodges connected on the 16th, and Billy Cox, on the 17th). The Dodgers' 8-6 win over the Cardinals puts Brooklyn three games ahead of Milwaukee.

1B Whitey Lockman, 3B Hank Thompson, and CF Bobby Thomson hit first inning HRs, as the Giants beat the Cubs 12-7 to move into fourth place.

1951
» The Pirates Ralph Kiner drives in seven runs hitting three HRs, including his 10th grand slam, in a 13–12 slugfest win over the Dodgers. His final homer, a solo shot of Erv Palica in the eighth, breaks a 12–12 tie. Manager Chuck Dressen berates Palica, publicly questioning the pitcher's courage by clutching his throat in a choke signal. In Kiner's final at bat, in the ninth, Carl Furillo pulls down the sluggers long drive near the CF gate. Garagiola and Bell also homer for the Bucs, while Campanella and Robinson homer for Brooklyn.

Congressman Emanuel Celler says that President Harry Truman backs his probe of the reserve clause and sports status under the antitrust legislation.

The Reds purchase OF Hank Edwards from the Dodgers.

1950
» At Chicago, the Phils split with the Cubs, winning the nitecap 8–3 as Bubba Church beats big Bob Rush. Chicago wins the opener, 5–2, with Paul Minner besting Robin Roberts. The Phils now share the top spot in the NL with Boston and the Cards.

Virgil Stallcup's 3rd-inning home run is the only tally as the Reds beat the visiting Giants, 1–0.

1948
» Pat Seerey, chunky Sox left fielder, hits four home runs, the last in the 11th inning, to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 12–11 victory over the Athletics in Philadelphia. Seerey is the 5th ML player to accomplish the feat and is the only player in ML history to twice reach 15 or more total bases in a game, having totaled 15 bases in 1945. Fat Pat's first shot is over the LF bleacher roof off Carl Scheib, the next two —off Scheib and Bob Savage—are on the roof, and the last, off Lou Brissie, into the upper LF stands. Brissie, the 5th pitcher, is the loser against Howie Judson. The A's take the 2nd game, 6–1, in five innings as Seerey is 0-for-2. On the 24th, Seerey will become the first player to strike out seven times in a doubleheader.

The Cards beat the Dodgers, 6–3, in 11 innings, then drop the nitecap, 13–4. In the 2nd inning, 17 Dodgers reach base against the Cardinals with nine hits, six walks, a fielder's choice, and an error before P Hank Behrman whiffs to end the inning. The other outs are on the bases.

In the first of two before 39,623, the Chicago Cubs beat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 3–2. With two outs and the bases loaded in the 9th inning, rookie Robin Roberts hits Phil Cavarretta and Andy Pafko on the back with successive pitches to force home the winner. Chicago's Johnny Schmitz allows just four hits, three by Johnny Blatnik. The Jays (as they are still occasionally referred to in print) win the nitecap, 6–4, collecting 17 hits, including a homer by Del Ennis. Schoolboy Rowe evens his record at 5–5, beating Russ Meyer.

1947
» Freddie Hutchinson of the Tigers shuts out the Yankees 8-0, stopping their winning streak at 19.

Willard Marshall of the New York Giants hits 3 consecutive HRs, as Larry Jansen beats the visiting Reds.

The first 5-for-5 game of his career moves Ted Williams among the top hitters in the AL.

1936
» The Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia A's set an American League record for most runs scored by two teams, as the White Sox win 21–14 in the nitecap. Chicago OF Rip Radcliff ties an AL record with six hits (4 singles and two doubles) in seven at bats in the 9-inning game. The Sox also won the opener, 7–4.

1934
» Twenty-two players hit safely in the Cleveland 15-14 win over New York. Babe Ruth is hit in the leg by the ball and will be out for 10 days. It is the second time an injury has sidelined him this season.

1933
» The Yankees win their ninth straight and take the lead from the Senators, beating the White Sox 5-4.

1932
» Washington 3B Ossie Bluege equals the AL record with five walks in the first game of a doubleheader won by Detroit 8-6 and 2­1.

1931
» John McGraw is ejected from a game in St. Louis after he rages over an out call on the Giants Chick Fullis. A telegram McGraw receives before the next game causes another tantrum, as NL president Heydler fines him $150 and suspends him for three days.

1930
» Chuck Klein's consecutive-game hitting streak ends at 26. The Phillie outfielder is stopped by journeymen hurlers Al Grabowski and Jim Lindsey of the Cardinals.

1929
» Trying to curb the hitters, NL president Heydler orders umpires to rub up new balls before each game to remove the gloss.

1927
» The Philadelphia A's Ty Cobb makes his 4,000th hit, a double off Sam Gibson of Detroit. Detroit wins 5-3 over Lefty Grove.

1922
» Ray Grimes celebrates his return to the Cubs lineup with a home run, double, and two singles as Chicago thrashes the Phils 6–3. Grimes, who missed 10 days with an injury, has now driven in runs in 12 consecutive games.

1921
» The Black Sox trial begins in Chicago.

1916
» In Chicago, with the score tied 4–4 in the 10th, umpire Bill "Lord" Byron forfeits a game to Brooklyn when Hippo Vaughn, protesting alleged sign stealing by base runners, refuses to pitch.

At Boston, Babe Ruth pitches the Red Sox to a 4–3 win over the Browns. in the 3rd, Ruth triples and then scores on a infield grounder bowling over St. Louis C Hank Severeid and knocking him unconscious. Grover Hartley replaces the injured Severeid.

1914
» The Pirates spilt a twinbill with New York, winning Game One by a 3–0 score, then losing the nitecap, 6–5 in 10 innings. New York scores three in the top of the 10th off George McQuillan, and the Bucs came back with two off Christy Mathewson. Max Carey pops up with the tying run on 3B to end the game.

1913
» At the Polo Grounds, the Cards win the opener of two, 4–3, with help from the error-prone Giants. In blanking the Cards 5–0, in the nitecap, Christy Mathewson finally yields a base on balls, ending a record string of 68 walkless innings pitched. Ed Konetchy draws the pass in the 8th. Matty's record won't be topped until Bill Fischer, in 1962.

1912
» Gavvy Cravath swipes home in the 11th inning to give the Phils a 9–8 win over the Cubs. Reliever Tom Seaton is the winner over Jimmy Lavender. Seaton also pitches the 2nd game but loses, 4–2, to Ed Reulbach.

1909
» Harry Krause of the A's loses, 5–4, in 11 innings to the Browns, ending his 10-game winning streak.

1908
» The Cubs win by a run, beating the Giants, 5–4, behind Orval Overall. Hooks Wiltse takes the loss as Joe Tinker once again wins the game, this time with a two-run double in the 9th inning. Tinker also had a 6th inning triple off Hooks.

1906
» Ty Cobb, suffering stomach cramps, leaves the Tigers and returns to Detroit. He will undergo an operation for ulcers, and be out of the lineup until September.

Washington pitcher Fred Falkenberg bangs the century's first grand slam by a ML pitcher, connecting in the 6th inning off White Sox ace Frank Owen.

1905
» The Pirates tally eight hits including a HR, over seven innings against Christy Mathewson, to win, 2-1. The game is briefly stopped by Johnstone after a Giants fan tosses a pop bottle at Pirate RF Otis Clymer while he's chasing down a single.

1901
» In Boston's 6-5 loss at Cleveland, 1B Buck Freeman injures his foot chasing a foul ball. Freeman, leading the AL with seven HRs, is replaced by Lou Criger. Buck will be back in the lineup July 27.