Baseball – 1991

Baseball in 1991

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January


January 7Pete Rose is released from federal prison in Marion‚ Illinois‚ after serving five months for tax evasion. He will now begin the second part of his sentence‚ consisting of 1‚000 hours of community service at Cincinnati inner-city schools.
January 8Rod Carew‚ Gaylord Perry‚ and Ferguson Jenkins are elected to the Hall of Fame‚ with Carew becoming the 22nd player to be named in his first year of eligibility.
January 9Former Padres and Orioles IF Alan Wiggins dies in a Los Angeles hospital at age 32‚ reportedly from complications due to AIDS.
January 10The Orioles obtain slugging 1B Glenn Davis from the Astros but give up the farm sending OF Steve Finley‚ P Pete Harnisch‚ and P Curt Schilling to Houston. It may very well be the worst trade in the Orioles’ history.
January 12Tigers obtain C Mickey Tettleton from the Orioles in exchange for P Jeff Robinson.
January 13While playing for the Oakland Raiders of the NFL‚ Bo Jackson suffers a career-threatening injury in an AFC playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Originally diagnosed as a pulled thigh muscle‚ the Kansas City Royals learn of the severity of the injury just as spring begins. They will release Jackson shortly after‚ fearing that his baseball career is over‚ and he’ll sign with the White Sox.
January 20Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens is arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer during a disturbance at a Houston nightclub. Clemens’ brother Gary is also arrested.
January 22Dodger announcer and Hall of Fame pitcher Don Drysdale is arrested on drunk driving charges following an accident in which a woman is injured.

February


February 4The 12 members of the board of directors of the Hall of Fame vote unanimously to bar Pete Rose from the ballot. He will become eligible again only if the commissioner reinstates him by December‚ 2005.
February 5Jack Morris signs a contract with his hometown team‚ the Minnesota Twins. In doing so‚ he turns down a 3-year offer from the Detroit Tigers.
February 8Boston pitcher Roger Clemens signs a 4-year $21‚521‚000 contract extension‚ making him baseball’s highest paid player. The contract calls for Clemens to receive $4.4 million in 1992‚ $4.5 million in 1993‚ $5 million in 1994‚ $5.5 million in 1995‚ and an option worth $5‚830‚250 for 1996.
February 26Former Yankee 2B Tony Lazzeri and former major league owner Bill Veeck are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee.

March


March 11Jim Palmer‚ who is in the Orioles camp as a non-roster player‚ has a shaky outing against the Red Sox at McKechnie Field in Bradenton‚ giving up 5 hits and 2 runs in 2 innings. Palmer‚ who retired in 1984‚ will retire again tomorrow‚ citing a hamstring injury.
March 12Commissioner Fay Vincent orders a ban on the use of smokeless tobacco in the Class A Appalachian and Northwest leagues and the rookie Pioneer and Gulf Coast leagues.

At a gambling trial in Mississippi‚ Philadelphia Phillies OF Lenny Dykstra admits to having lost $78‚000 playing poker during the 1988 and 1989 off-seasons.
March 14The Angels obtain DH Dave Parker from the Brewers in exchange for OF Dante Bichette and a player to be named later.
March 18California hurler Jim Abbott‚ born without a right hand‚ lashes a 400-foot triple in an exhibition game against the Giants in Scottsdale‚ Arizona. Rick Reuschel surrenders the 3-bagger.
March 22At Sotheby’s in New York‚ a 1909-10 tobacco card in mint condition of Honus Wagner sells for $451‚000 (with the 10% auction house premium) to hockey star Wayne Gretzky and LA Kings owner Bruce McNall. A 1952 Topps card of Mickey Mantle goes for $49‚500‚ tripling the pre-auction estimate‚ while a baseball‚ signed by 12 players at the 1939 Hall of Fame induction ceremony‚ sells for $20‚900.
March 26Pinch-hitter Dan Lehrman of Ball State ties an NCAA record by hitting 2 homers in the same inning in a 13-8 victory over Indians-Purdue.
March 28Methodist College defeats Maryville‚ 43-0‚ to set an NCAA record for runs in a game. The previous record of 42 had been set by King College in 1902. Methodist scores 15 runs in the 1st inning‚ and strokes 34 hits in the contest‚ including 7 by Brandon Bridgers.

April


April 1Expos trade OF Otis Nixon and minor league 3B Sol Rodriguez to the Braves in exchange for C Jimmy Kremers and a player to be named later.
April 3Nolan Ryan and his son‚ Reid‚ pitch against each other as the Rangers take on the University of Texas. Reid‚ a 19-year-old freshman‚ gives up 4 runs in 2 innings‚ and is down 4-1 to his father when he leaves the game. Dad gives up 5 hits‚ 3 runs‚ and strikes out 7 in 5 innings‚ as the Rangers win 12-5.

The White Sox sign former Royal Bo Jackson to a contract which could earn him more than $8 million over 3 years if he is healthy.
April 7Phillies obtain P Mitch Williams from the Cubs in exchange for P Chuck McElroy and P Bob Scanlan.
April 8Major league umpires strike on Opening Day‚ as amateur umps are used as replacements. The arbiters‚ whose working agreement expired on December 31‚ will settle and return to work the next day. Among the benefits won by the union is an increase in starting salaries from $41‚000 to $60‚000.

Nolan Ryan starts and Goose Gossage pitches in relief for Texas in a 5-4 loss to Milwaukee. It marks the first time a 300-game winner hurls in the same contest as a teammate with 300 saves.
April 9The average baseball salary on Opening Day reaches a record $891‚188‚ with 223 players making at least $1 million.
April 10Scott Sanderson hurls 8 no-hit innings against the Tigers in his first appearance as a Yankee. He surrenders a wind-blown double to Tony Phillips on his first pitch of the 9th‚ and is replaced by Greg Cadaret‚ who finishes the 1-hitter for a 4-0 NY victory.

Sixty-eight-year-old Minnie Minoso is denied a chance to appear in a professional game in his 6th consecutive decade by baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent. Minoso had been scheduled to suit up for the independent Miami Miracle of the Class A Florida State League in their April 13 game against the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees. Vincent refuses to allow Minoso to sign a contract‚ even for a single night.
April 11Oakland pitcher Eric Show goes on the disabled list with an infected thumb from repeatedly biting his nails.

Astros SS Eric Yelding rushes the mound after Reds pitcher Rob Dibble throws a pitch behind Yelding in the Astros’ 4-1 victory. Yelding will be fined $1‚000 and suspended one day for his actions‚ while Dibble will receive a 3-game suspension.

Montreal’s Rick Mahler gives up 5 runs in less than 5 innings as the Mets beat Montreal‚ 6-3. For Mahler‚ it is his 11th consecutive loss to the Mets. Last year he suffered his 11th consecutive defeat against Houston.
April 13California’s Dave Winfield collects 15 total bases and 6 RBIs on 3 HRs‚ a double and single in the Haloes 15-9 win over the Twins.
April 14In the 3rd inning of the Rangers 15-3 win over the Orioles‚ Nolan Ryan becomes the 12th pitcher in history to reach 5‚000 innings pitched. Ryan notches the victory for his 1st win of the year and his 1st over the Orioles in 15 years. Since beating the Birds as an Angel‚ in 1976‚ Ryan had lost 9 straight.
April 15Phillies pitcher Jason Grimsley uncorks 4 wild pitches in a 5-4 loss to the Cubs.

Giants P Bud Black and C Steve Decker start together against the Dodgers‚ marking the first Black & Decker battery in major league history. Black pitches 7 innings and loses the contest‚ 2-1‚ while Decker gets 1 hit in 4 at bats.

Mariners hurler Randy Johnson commits a balk in the 4th inning of a game against Minnesota when the Seattle mascot‚ Mariner Moose‚ throws a bag of peanuts onto the Kingdome turf. Johnson shakes it off and goes the distance in the 8-4 victory for his 1st win of the season.
April 18Orioles 1B Glenn Davis commits 4 errors in an 11-inning 4-3 loss to the Brewers to tie the AL single game mark originally set in 1939 by Jim Wasdell of the Senators.

The White Sox play the first game ever in the new Comiskey Park‚ losing 16-0 to the Tigers. Frank Tanana hurls the 7-hit shutout for Detroit.
April 21Pittsburgh becomes the first team in ML history to come back from a 5-run deficit in the bottom half of an extra inning to win a game. After the Cubs score 5 runs‚ 4 on a grand slam by Andre Dawson‚ the Pirates strike 6 times in the 11th inning to eke out a 13-12 victory. Don Slaught‘s double with 2 on ends the inning in which the Bucs made 5 hits.

Milwaukee scores 5 runs in the 8th to tie Toronto at 8 apiece and then win in the 10th on Robin Yount‘s 3-run homer.

The Giants Steve Decker connects in the 9th inning off Curt Schilling for a game-ending HR as San Francisco beats Houston‚ 1-0.

After losing his 1st two starts when the Twins were shut out‚ Scott Erickson is victorious‚ 4-3‚ at California. He allows 5 hits and benefits from an tie-breaking unearned run off reliever Mark Eichhorn. It is the start of a 12-game win streak for Erickson‚ who will go 20-8 on the year.
April 22Giants 2B Robby Thompson hits for the cycle in a 7-5 loss to the Padres. Thompson triples in the 1st‚ homers in the 3rd‚ singles in the 6th‚ and doubles in the 9th.
April 23Rob Dibble of the Reds fans 6 consecutive Astros to tie the NL record for most Ks in a row by a relief pitcher. Dibble records his 2nd save of the year as the Reds defeat the Astros‚ 3-1.

Manager Nick Leyva is fired by the Phillies after just 13 games‚ and replaced by Jim Fregosi. It is the second-fastest firing in major league history. Cal Ripken Sr. was fired by Baltimore after 6 games in 1988. Under Fregosi‚ the Phils lose their 10th in 14 games‚ dropping a 2-1 decision to the Mets. Jason Grimsley is the loser as both Mets score on walks.

In the top of the 6th at Fenway‚ the Jays John Olerud is at bat when Sox pitcher Roger Clemens catches Joe Carter napping and picks off the baserunner unassisted at 1B. Carter was caught by pitcher John Ceruti the same way in 1986.
April 24Houston rookie P Darryl Kile hurls 6 hitless innings against Cincinnati in his 1st big league start. Manager Art Howe removes him with the no-hitter intact rather than risk an injury to his arm. The Reds finally manage a single off Curt Schilling in the 9th as Houston wins‚ 1-0.
April 26Roger Clemens’ appeal of the 5-game suspension and $10‚000 fine levied against him for his confrontation with umpire Jim Evans and threat to “get” umpire Terry Cooney during the 1990 AL playoffs is denied by commissioner Fay Vincent.
April 28Jack Morris of the Twins wins the 200th game of his career‚ defeating the Mariners‚ 8-2. He is the 89th hurler to reach the mark.

Philadelphia hurler Jason Grimsley sets a major league mark by tossing a wild pitch in his 9th consecutive game (dating back to 1990)‚ but Grimsley notches a 9-2 win over the Padres. The old record of 8 was set in 1985 by Jaimie Cocanower of the Brewers. In the same contest‚ the Phillies turn the 1st triple play in the 20-year history of Veterans Stadium. It happens in the 1st inning after the 1st two batters walk: Randy Ready catches Gwynn’s line drive‚ steps on 2B‚ then steps around the runner Tony Fernandez to throw to 1B‚ missing a chance for an unassisted triple play. Afterwards‚ Ready says‚ “”I really didn’t think about it at the time. My instincts just said to throw the ball to first and get the easy play and that’s what I did.”

After recording the final out in his save of the Reds 4-3 win over the Cubs‚ Cincinnati pitcher Rob Dibble takes the ball from catcher Joe Oliver and hurls it into the center field bleachers‚ where it strikes Meg Porter‚ a 27-year-old first-grade teacher. Dibble later apologizes for his tantrum‚ saying‚ “I have to mature. I have to come to grips with it.” The righthander will receive a 4-game suspension for his actions.
April 30Delino DeSheilds hits a leadoff game-ending homerun in the 9th inning off Mike Morgan to give Montreal a 1-0 victory over the Dodgers. It is just the 2nd hit off Morgan in the game. Dennis Martinez is the victor.

May


May 144-year-old Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan hurls the record 7th no-hitter of his amazing career‚ defeating the Toronto Blue Jays on Arlington Appreciation Night by a score of 3-0. Ryan strikes out 16 batters in the process‚ marking the 209th time he has fanned 10 or more in a game‚ and the 26th time putting 15 or more down on strikes.

The Brewers defeat the White Sox in a 6-hour‚ 5-minute‚ 19-inning contest‚ the longest in the AL since the same two clubs played 25 innings on May 8‚ 1984. Oddly enough‚ Willie Randolph‚ who drove home the winning run in the 19th‚ had been the last out in Nolan Ryan‘s 6th no-hitter.

Oakland’s Rickey Henderson garners his 939th career stolen base in the 4th inning of a game against the Yankees to break Lou Brock‘s all-time mark. With Brock standing next to him‚ Henderson modestly proclaims‚ “Lou Brock was certainly a great basestealer‚ but today I’m the greatest of all time.” In another curious tie-in with Nolan Ryan‚ Henderson had been the victim of Ryan’s 5‚000th career strikeout.

Dodger OF Darryl Strawberry ties an NL record by striking out 5 times in a game against the Expos. I really can’t figure it out‚” he says‚ “because I feel so good up there.” Strawberry also drops a fly ball for a 3-base error in the 9-3 loss.
May 3The Pirates defeat the Astros 1-0 in a 1-hour‚ 45-minute contest‚ the NL’s shortest 9-inning game since September 1‚ 1981.
May 4Mackey Sasser and Mark Carreon stroke consecutive pinch HRs‚ off Jeff Brantley‚ in the Mets’ 6-4‚ 12-inning win over the Giants. It is the first time the feat has been performed in the NL since 1975. Howard Johnson finishes the scoring with a 2-run homer in the 12th.

Chris James of the Indians collects 9 RBIs in Cleveland’s 20-6 victory over the A’s. James hits 3-run HRs in the 1st and second innings off Kirk Dressendorfer.
May 5Rookie Jeff Bagwell of the Astros clobbers a 456-foot HR into the upper left field seats in Three Rivers Stadium in a 6-4 victory over the Pirates. He is the 9th player to reach the upper deck at Three Rivers.

Kevin Maas of the Yankees homers in the top of the 16th to give New York a 4-3 lead over the Mariners. Greg Briley answers with a 2-run game ending HR to give the M’s a 5-4 win.

Dodd Johnson‚ 1B for the Reno Silver Sox of the California League‚ homers‚ doubles‚ singles‚ and drives in 5 runs in a single inning against High Desert. Reno sends 20 batters to the plate and scores 15 runs in the inning on its way to a 20-8 win.
May 6Phillies OF Lenny Dykstra crashes his Mercedes into two trees while driving home with Darren Daulton from teammate John Kruk’s bachelor party. Dykstra‚ who is charged with driving under the influence‚ suffers 3 broken ribs‚ a broken collarbone‚ and a broken cheekbone‚ and will be sidelined until mid-July. Daulton’s injuries are less severe.
May 7Harold Baines leads Oakland to an 11-3 win over Baltimore by bashing 3 home runs and a double in 4 at bats. Mike Moore (5-0) is the winner.
May 8Howard Spira is found guilty of trying to extort money from Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Spira had already received $40‚000 from Steinbrenner.
May 10Oakland OF Jose Canseco is photographed leaving the West Side apartment of singer Madonna. He then goes 0-for-3 in Oakland’s 5-3 loss to the Yankees.
May 11When a heckler taunts recovering alcoholic Albert Belle during Cleveland’s 2-1 loss to California‚ the Indians’ OF hits the fan in the chest with a baseball. Many in the crowd applaud Belle‚ who is suspended for one week by AL president Dr. Bobby Brown and ordered to contribute a week’s salary to a charity of his choice.

Behind Eric Davis and Paul O’Neill‚ each of whom hit a pair of homers‚ the Reds down the Cubs‚ 12-2. O’Neill adds a pair of doubles and knocks in 6 runs. Hatcher for the Reds and Dunston for the Cubs‚ also homer.
May 12Six-foot ten-inch Randy Johnson of the Mariners squares off against 6-foot 7-inch Ben McDonald of the Orioles in the tallest pitching matchup in history. Neither is involved in the decision in the game won by the Mariners‚ 5-4.

At Fenway‚ the Red Sox celebrate “Ted Williams Day” by renaming Lansdowne Street‚ behind the LF wall‚ “Ted Williams Way.” Boston then spoils an 8-inning effort by Roger Clemens and loses in 10 innings to the White Sox‚ 4-3. Thigpen is the winner.
May 13California’s Dave Winfield moves into 25th place on the all-time RBI list by bringing home the 1‚538th of his career in California’s 9-5 win over Cleveland. He surpasses Joe DiMaggio in the process.

During a intentional walk‚ Gary Pettis of the Tigers is picked off 3B by the Rangers. Texas wins‚ 8-1.

Three generations of Carays make history by broadcasting the Braves-Cubs game-Hall of Fame announcer Harry‚ son Skip‚ and grandson Chip.
May 15Paul Molitor of the Brewers hits for the cycle in a 4-2 victory over Minnesota. Molitor triples in the 1st‚ singles in the 3rd‚ doubles in the 5th‚ and homers in the 7th.

The Red Sox defeat the White Sox by a 9-6 score in a night game at Fenway Park‚ which takes 4 hours and 11 minutes to complete for a new AL record. The contest is 9 minutes longer than the previous longest night game.

Queen Elizabeth and President George Bush are among the 32‚596 on hand at Camden Yards for the O’s-A’s game. Bush tosses out the first ball. Bob Welsh wins‚ 6-3 for Oakland‚ allowing 3 solo home runs‚ 2 by Randy Milligan and one by Worthington.
May 16The Triple A Calgary Cannons hit 3 grand slams in their 22-7 win over the Tacoma Tigers. Dave Cochrane‚ Chuck Jackson‚ and Alonzo Powell connect with the bases full for the Cannons in what is believed to be a 1st in professional baseball.
May 21Manager Don Zimmer is fired by the Cubs and replaced by Jim Essian.
May 22Manager John Wathan is fired by the Royals. He will be replaced by Hal McRae.

Oakland reliever Dennis Eckersley picks off Toronto pinch runner Kenny Williams in the 9th of a 2-1 A’s victory. Eck’s last pickoff occurred 4 years ago when‚ on June 29‚ 1987‚ he picked off a White Sox runner. Kenny Williams!
May 23Philadelphia’s Tommy Greene tosses a 2-0 no-hitter against the Expos. Greene strikes out 10 batters and walks 7 in the contest. The victory gives Greene one fewer career wins (6) than Nolan Ryan has no-hitters (7).

Kirby Puckett has his 2nd career 6-hit game in a 12 inning 10-6 loss to Texas. Russell is the winner over Steve Bedrosian.

Manager Frank Robinson is fired by the Orioles-the 3rd manager in three days to get the ax-and replaced by first-base coach Johnny Oates.
May 27In a game against the Portland Beavers at Civic Stadium‚ Portland‚ Vancouver OF Rodney McCray runs through a plywood fence in right field while trying to catch a ball hit by Chip Hale. McCray was not hurt seriously‚ but becomes an instant celebrity as the play is shown repeatedly on newscasts across the country.
May 28Minnesota’s Scott Erickson. the AL pitcher of the Month‚ shuts out Texas‚ 3-0‚ stopping the Rangers’ 14-game winning streak‚ the longest in club history‚ but not the longest in the AL this season. Starting June 1‚ the Twins will win 15 in a row.

Ron Gant leads off with a HR for the 2nd time in two games‚ and the Braves rally in the 9th to beat the Padres‚ 8-6. David Justice hits a 2-run single in the 9th.
May 30OF Rickey Henderson of the A’s hits a leadoff HR against Todd Stottlemyre of Toronto. It is the 46th time he has started a game with a homer‚ extending his major league record. Oakland defeats the Blue Jays‚ 8-6.
May 31Mets trade IF Tim Teufel to the Padres for SS Gary Templeton.

Class A pitcher Mike Hampton pitches a no-hitter for the San Barnardino Spirit‚ a Seattle farm team.

June


June 2After 6 seasons and 49 games‚ manager Buck Rodgers is fired by the Expos and replaced by 3B coach Tom Runnells. “I knew and the players knew that Tommy Runnells was [GM] Dave Dombrowksi’s man‚” opines Buck. “I wasn’t.”
June 3LHP Brien Taylor of East Carteret HS in Beaufort‚ NC‚ is selected by the Yankees as the 1st pick in the major league draft. The Yanks will sign him for $1.55 million-three times the previous high. Arizona State OF Mike Kelly is taken 2nd by the Atlanta Braves. The Indians pick up Manny Ramirez in the 1st round; the Twins take Brad Radke (8th round)‚ the Brewers pick Jeff Cirillo (11th)‚ the Expos take Kirk Kreuter (19th)‚ while the Mariners pick Matt Mantei on the 25th. The Mets pick up Jason Isringhausen on the 44th round.

In a CWS matchup of first round pitchers‚ Creighton’s Alan Benes (drafted in 1993) and Wichita State’s Tyler Green‚ drafted earlier today by the Phils‚ battle for 9 innings with each giving up 2 unearned runs. Benes allows 4 hits and walks none in 8 1/3‚ while Green strikes out 14 in 9 innings. Shockers CF Jim Audley beats out an infield hit in the 12th and comes around to score‚ putting Wichita up‚ 3-2. Audley then throws out a runner at home to end the game.
June 6The Royals defeat the Rangers‚ 4-3‚ in 18 innings‚ stranding an AL record 25 baserunners in the process. The two teams combine to tie a major league mark by combining to leave 45 runners on base. Texas 1B Rafael Palmeiro goes 0-9 in the contest.
June 7Indians OF Albert Belle is sent to the minors after failing to run hard on a double-play grounder in a 2-1 loss to Chicago.
June 8Louisiana State University wins the College World Series with a 6-3 win over Wichita State behind Chad Ogea. The Tigers complete the season with a mark of 55-18 en route to their 1st national championship.
June 12Atlanta’s Steve Avery defeats the Mets by a score of 6-1. By going 4-for-4 at the plate‚ Avery becomes the 1st pitcher to stroke 4 hits in a game since Cincinnati’s Danny Jackson did so in 1988.

In a straw vote held at the owner’s meetings in California‚ NL owners voted unanimously to admit Denver and Miami to the league beginning in 1993.
June 14The Cleveland Indians are shut out for the 3rd game in a row‚ losing 7-0 to Minnesota. The mark matches the team record and falls one short of the major league mark.

In a trade that upsets the Reds players‚ Cincy sends minor league prospect Reggie Jefferson to Cleveland for minor leaguer Tim Costo. Jefferson hit .417 in spring training‚ was brought up in May and contracted pneumonia June 4. Rather than put him on the disabled list‚ the Reds chose to “designate him for assignment‚” meaning that after 10 days they had to trade him or risk losing him.
June 15Pitching against the Reds in only his second major league start‚ Phillies rookie Andy Ashby strikes out the side on 9 pitches in the 4th inning. A first for the Phillies‚ it is the 19th time in major league history this has happened‚ and the 4th time a rookie has accomplished the feat. Hod Eller (1917)‚ Sloppy Thurston (1923)‚ and Nolan Ryan (1968) were the other freshmen to turn the trick. Ashby is the loser in the 3-1 Phillie loss.

Another rookie makes his mark as the Giants Mike Remlinger‚ in his first ML start‚ shuts out the Pirates‚ 4-0.

Former baseball commissioner Albert “Happy” Chandler dies of a stroke at age 92. As commissioner from 1945 to 1951‚ Chandler held office when Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947.
June 16In a 7-6 loss to Montreal‚ the Braves’ Otis Nixon steals 6 bases to set a new NL mark‚ and tie the major league record of Eddie Collins‚ who did it twice in 1912. Nixon singles to lead off the 9th and steals 2nd. After two are out‚ he steals 3B uncontested. Told afterwards he had tied the record‚ a surprised Nixon remarks‚ “I thought the record was held by Rickey Henderson or Vince Coleman. I don’t know who this guy (Collins) is.”
June 17The Orioles defeat the Twins‚ 6-5‚ putting a halt to Minnesota’s 15-game club-record winning streak-the longest in the majors since 1977. Seven of the wins came against Cleveland. During the streak‚ which began June 1‚ the Twins go from 5th to leading by 1/2 game. Baltimore’s Cal Ripken Jr. records his 6th consecutive multi-hit game by going 2-4 in the contest. The last player to perform the feat was Baltimore’s Eddie Murray in 1980.
June 18Former Giants pitcher Dave Dravecky‚ 35‚ has his left arm amputated to alleviate chronic infection and nerve damage. The operation is done at New York’s Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital. Dravecky has had three operations on the arm to remove cancerous tumors. He won a game 10 months after his first operation‚ when doctors removed 50% of the major pitching muscle in his arm.
June 19In the 9th inning of a game against Minnesota‚ Orioles relief pitcher Gregg Olson tosses 3 wild pitches and commits an error‚ helping the Twins score 5 runs and come back to beat the Orioles‚ 8-4.
June 22Mickey Tettleton of the Tigers becomes the 17th player to ever hit a ball out of Tiger Stadium in Detroit as the Tigers drop a 10-3 decision to the Angels.
June 24California’s Dave Winfield goes 5-for-5 and hits for the cycle as the Angels defeat Kansas City‚ 9-4. In so doing‚ he becomes the oldest player in history (39) to accomplish the feat. He completes the cycle‚ the first of his career‚ in the 8th with a triple off infielder Bill Pecota‚ making his first pitching appearance. Winfield was the first batter faced by Pecota‚ who took over when Tom Gordon‘s hemorrhoids acted up.

The Twins Scott Erickson wins his 12th consecutive decision‚ tops the majors‚ stopping the Yankees‚ 5-0‚ on 2 hits. He retires 24 of the final 25 batters.
June 26Mickey Tettleton repeats his feat of 4 days ago by again hitting a HR out of Tiger Stadium‚ in an 8-7 win over the Brewers. The Tigers break a 7-7 tie with 2 outs in the 9th.

The California Angels set an AL mark by playing their 13th consecutive errorless game‚ a 10-5 win over Kansas City. The previous mark of 12 had been set by Detroit in 1963.

Cory Davis’ 434-foot homer off San Diego’s Craig Lefferts keeps the Giants from being shut out three straight times.
June 27The Indians trade P Tom Candiotti and OF Turner Ward to the Blue Jays in exchange for OF Glenallen Hill‚ OF Mark Whiten‚ P Denis Boucher‚ and a player to be named later.
June 28Reds SS Barry Larkin hits 3 consecutive HRs in an 8-5 win over the Astros‚ giving him a major league record-tying 5 over a 2-game span. Ernie Banks and Fred Patek are the only other SS to homer 3 times in a game.
June 29In an 8-4 loss to the White Sox‚ the Twins Kirby Puckett collects his 1500th career hit‚ off winner Greg Hibbard. Scott Erickson is the loser‚ ending his 12 game win streak.

The visiting Yankees score 3 in the 9th off Dan Plesac to beat Milwaukee‚ 9-8. Kevin Maas and Jess Barfield homer for the Bombers. Teddy Higuera (3-2)‚ in the first year of a $13 million‚ 4-year contract pitches 7 innings‚ allowing 3 runs. Higuera‚ who started the year on the DL‚ will go on the DL again when a significant tear to his rotary cuff is discovered. This is his last ML appearance.

July


July 2After grounding out in a 4-1 loss to the Dodgers‚ Padres C Benito Santiago throws his batting helmet in disgust. The helmet bounces into the dugout‚ where it strikes pitching coach Mike Roarke in the head before ricocheting over to bean coach Greg Riddoch‚ giving him a concussion. Santiago is fined $300.
July 5Denver and Miami are approved by NL owners as expansion franchises scheduled to begin play in 1993.
July 6In a 9-7 loss to Oakland at Royals Stadium‚ Danny Tartabull of the Royals becomes the 1st Royal to hit 3 HRs in a game.

Manager John McNamara is fired by the Indians and replaced by 1B coach Mike Hargrove.
July 7Umpire Steve Palermo and former pro football player Terence Mann are shot while coming to the aid of two women during an attempted robbery in a restaurant parking lot in Dallas. Palermo is listed in stable condition after being shot in the stomach.

44-year old righthander Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers strikes out 14 batters, including 7 batters in a row, in 8 1/3 innings against California Angels. Texas wins, 7-0, beating Chuck Finley(12-4). Ryan had enjoyed some of his greatest seasons as a member of the Angels from 1972-79.
July 9Cal Ripken Jr.’s 3-run HR lifts the AL to a 4-2 win over the NL in the annual All-Star Game. Andre Dawson homers for the NLers who lose for the 4th straight year. Ripken‚ who also won the pre-All-Star Game Home Run Derby‚ is named the game’s MVP.
July 11The Reds trade 1B Todd Benzinger to the Royals in exchange for OF-1B Carmelo Martinez.

Recently released by the Angels‚ Fernando Valenzuela signs a minor league contract with them and will report to Midland‚ Texas.
July 13The Orioles defeat the A’s 2-0 on a combined no-hitter by pitchers Bob Milacki‚ Mike Flanagan‚ Mark Williamson‚ and Gregg Olson. It is only the second time in history that 4 pitchers have combined to throw a no-hitter. On September 28‚ 1975‚ Vida Blue‚ Glenn Abbott‚ Paul Lindblad‚ and Rollie Fingers turned the trick for Oakland against the California Angels. Starter Bob Milacki is lifted in the 6th after Willie Wilson smashes a ball off the pitcher’s index finger.

The only rainout in Astrodome history is caused by major flooding in Houston. The seven inches of rain prevents players and no more than 20 fans from getting to the ball park.
July 14Pitcher Kip Gross loses 2 games‚ in 2 different leagues‚ 1‚100 miles apart. The Cincinnati hurler takes the loss in the Reds 10-6 defeat by the Pirates‚ and also becomes the loser of a game played by the Triple A Nashville club. It was the completion of a game in Denver‚ which had been suspended by rain back on May 15.
July 15Seattle’s Edgar Martinez just misses hitting for the cycle for the second game in a row. He stokes a single‚ double‚ and triple in a 5-1 win over the Yankees. On the 14th‚ he had 2 singles‚ a triple‚ and a HR against the Indians.

Mets trade P Ron Darling and minor league P Mike Thomas to the Expos in exchange for P Tim Burke.
July 17Two naked Braves fans run onto the field at Fulton County Stadium then slide into home plate. The duo are apprehended by security guards. Not distracted‚ the Braves defeat the Cubs‚ 12-2.

In a 15-inning‚ 9-8 loss to the Royals‚ Sam Horn of the Orioles becomes the first non-pitcher to strike out 6 consecutive times in a single game. Pitcher Carl Weilman of the Browns was the only other player to have the dubious distinction‚ performing the feat on August 25‚ 1913. Striking out six times labels a batter a “Horn‚” a term Mike Flanagan will coin in the July 29 “Sports Illustrated.”

Cleveland defeats Oakland‚ 2-1‚ as Indians hurler Rod Nichols gets the victory and breaks a personal 13-game losing streak dating back to September of 1989.

Randy Johnson takes just 4 innings to rack up 10 walks. He fans 4‚ tosses a wild pitch and allows one hit and 4 runs in his stint‚ a 6-1 loss to the Brewers. Bill Wegman takes the complete game win.
July 19Detroit pounds Kansas City‚ 17-0 to give Bill Gullickson an easy win over Tom Gordon. It is the worst loss in franchise history for KC‚ and a reversal of the matchup on July 14th between the same two starters. The Royals routed the Bengals‚ 18-4.

Cal Ripken Jr. strokes his 20th HR of the season in Baltimore’s 4-1 victory over Seattle. He becomes just the 8th player in history to reach that number in each of his first 10 big league seasons and it comes in Ripken’s 1‚500th consecutive game played. Roy Smith is the winner over Rich DeLucia.

Robin Ventura drives in 6 runs on 2 homers and 2 doubles to lead Chicago to a 14-3 win over Milwaukee. Jack McDowell (12-4) is the winner.
July 20At Boston‚ Twins ace Scott Erickson stops the Red Sox‚ 5-0. Kirby Puckett hits his first ever homer at Fenway.
July 21The Expos trade P Oil Can Boyd to the Rangers for pitchers Jonathan Hurst and Joey Eischen‚ and a player to be named later. Boyd last pitched on the 19th‚ shutting out the Giants‚ 6-0‚ on 5 hits.

Losing 14-1 to the Twins‚ the Red Sox put OF Steve Lyons on the mound. Lyons‚ who pitched once last year for Chicago‚ toils one inning giving up 2 hits and recording a strikeout. Kevin Tapani is the winner as the first-place Twins complete a 4-game sweep.

The Mets jump on Bob Ojeda for 8 runs in 3 innings and coast to a 9-4 win over the Dodgers. Dwight Gooden notches his 11th consecutive win over the Dodgers stretching back to 1985.
July 23Texas’s Nolan Ryan notches his 308th career win in a 5-4 victory over the Red Sox and Rich Gossage garners his 308th career save in relief. The game marked Ryan’s 545th consecutive start‚ surpassing Steve Carlton‘s major league record.

During an 8-5 Chicago win‚ Cincinnati P Rob Dibble throws a ball at Cubs OF Doug Dascenzo as Dascenzo runs to 1B. Dibble is fined by the league office‚ but not suspended. Cubs OF Andre Dawson bumps umpire Joe West and will be suspended for one game and fined $1‚000.
July 24In a game against the Mariners‚ the Yankees score 3 runs on a ground ball hit back to the pitcher. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out in the 4th‚ Pat Kelly hits a comebacker to Erik Hanson. The Seattle hurler traps Kevin Maas in a rundown between 3rd and home‚ but Maas scores when 3B Edgar Martinez‘s throw hits him in the back. The ball rolls up the 1st base line in foul territory where it is recovered by C Dave Cochrane. Cochrane throws home to head off Alvaro Espinoza who is also attempting to score. The throw goes into the Mariners’ dugout allowing Espinoza and Kelly to cross the plate with the 2nd and 3rd runs.

Recently recalled 1B Brian Hunter of the Braves hits a HR in Atlanta’s 7-4 loss to Pittsburgh while his former minor league team‚ the Richmond Braves‚ is finishing a suspended game against Pawtucket. Hunter had homered in that game before it was called‚ giving him round-trippers in the major and minor leagues on the same day.
July 25A jersey once worn by Yankees Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle is sold for $71‚500 at an auction in Manhattan. A Ty Cobb tobacco card brings in $62‚700.
July 26Against the Dodgers‚ Montreal’s Mark Gardner pitches a no-hitter for 9 innings before Lenny Harris beats out an infield single in the 10th. The Dodgers get 2 more hits‚ including an RBI single by Darryl Strawberry‚ to plate the only run of the contest. After a 2-out walk in the 1st to Eddie Murray‚ Gardner retires 19 in a row. The Expos manage only 2 hits themselves against the combined efforts of Orel Hershiser‚ Kevin Gross‚ and Jay Howell. Gardner is the 11th pitcher to lose a no-hitter after 9 innings; the last being Jim Maloney‚ on June 14‚ 1965‚ and the first pitcher to hurl 9 no-hit innings against the Dodgers since Johnny Vander Meer‚ in 1938.

The Indians trade IF Brook Jacoby to the A’s for OF Lee Tinsley and P Apolinar Garcia.

Cincinnati 3B Chris Sabo pushes an autograph seeker into a window in Busch Stadium following a 5-1 loss to the Cardinals.
July 27Dan Gladden’s 3-run homer in the 9th enables the host Twins to beat Milwaukee‚ 7-4. Gladden’s hit follows a bunt single by Shane Mack and a dribbler by Randy Bush. He has now driven in the winner in three straight games.
July 28Dennis Martinez of the Expos tosses the 13th (excluding Haddix and Shore) perfect game in major league history‚ setting down all 27 Dodgers to face him in a 2-0 win. Martinez strikes out 5 in the contest. Catcher Ron Hassey becomes the 1st receiver to catch 2 perfectos‚ having been behind the plate for Len Barker‘s masterpiece in 1981. Dodger IF Alfredo Griffin goes 0-for-3 against Martinez‚ to go along with his 0-for-3 in Tom Browning‘s perfect game in 1988‚ and 0-for-2 in Len Barker‘s perfecto in 1981.
July 29During a game at Yankee Stadium‚ Oakland OF Jose Canseco is bombarded with assorted objects by unruly fans. Included among the objects are an inflatable doll‚ a transistor radio‚ and a head of cabbage. Oakland escapes with a 10-8 victory‚ and Canseco strokes a double in 4 at bats.

The Mariners hit 4 consecutive doubles in an inning of their 11-4 victory over the Orioles‚ falling one shy of the major league record.
July 30Boston relief pitcher Jeff Gray collapses in the clubhouse prior to the Red Sox game with Texas. He becomes lightheaded‚ his speech slurs‚ and he suffers weakness in the right side of his body. Diagnosed as suffering from a stroke‚ Gray will undergo 2 years of rehab and‚ in 1994‚ become a minor league pitching coach. Gray’s stroke comes on the 11th anniversary of J.R. Richards stroke. In the game which follows‚ the Red Sox Carlos Quintana ties a major league record by driving in 6 runs in one inning in Boston’s 11-6 victory. He strokes a double and a grand slam.

The Angels trade 3B Jack Howell to the Padres for OF Shawn Abner.
July 31The Astros trade P Jim Clancy to the Braves for P Matt Turner and a player to be named later.

The Expos trade recently acquired P Ron Darling to the A’s for 2 minor league pitchers.

The Phillies trade P Roger McDowell to the Dodgers for P Mike Hartley and OF Braulio Castillo.

August


August 2Mike Jeffcoat of the Rangers gets an RBI double in the 9th inning of a 15-1 win over the Brewers. He becomes the first AL pitcher to drive in a run in a game since the DH rule went into effect in 1973‚ and the first AL pitcher to get a hit since Ferguson Jenkins did so on October 2‚ 1974.

Following the Reds’ 7-3 loss to the Giants‚ Cincinnati manager Lou Piniella accuses umpire Gary Darling of being biased against the Reds. The eruption occurs when Darling overrules Dutch Rennert‚ who had called Bill Doran’s ball a home run. The Major League Umpires Association will file a $5 million defamation suit against Piniella on the 4th.
August 3Oakland OF Dave Henderson blasts 3 HRs in his first 3 at bats in an 8-6 loss to Minnesota.
August 6The Blue Jays edge the booming bats of the Tigers‚ 2-1‚ and increase their lead to 5 1/2 games over Detroit. Toronto’s Tom Henke saves his 24th game in 24 opportunities breaking the record set by John Franco in 1988‚ and tied by Rob Dibble two years later. Guillermo Hernandez of Detroit saved 32 consecutive games in 1984‚ but blown saves were not an official stat at the time.
August 7The Giants Darren Lewis hits a leadoff home run for the only score of the game against Atlanta‚ as Bud Black (9-9) wins‚ 1-0. Lewis’s homer off Charlie Liebrandt is his first ML homer.

Schottzie‚ the St. Bernard mascot of the Cincinnati Reds‚ is put to sleep. The dog is buried at team owner Marge Schott’s home‚ with a Reds’ cap on his head.

Deion Sanders makes the conversion from baseball to football‚ practicing with the Atlanta Falcons for the first time. Neon Deion hits .304 in 97 games with the Braves‚ and his 14 triples will lead the majors.
August 8The Detroit Tigers fan a team record 21 times in a 14-inning‚ 4-0 win over the Blue Jays. Mark Salas hits a 3-run pinch homer of Tom Henke in the top of the 14th. Mickey Tettleton follows 1 out later with another HR. Starters Gulickson and Candiotti match zeroes for 7 innings‚ with Candy striking out 12.
August 10The game between the Astros and Braves was delayed for 5 minutes when a moth became lodged in the ear of Houston OF Mike Simms. Astros trainer Dave Labossiere removed the insect with a pair of tweezers. The Braves record a 4-0 victory when the game is finally completed.
August 11White Sox hurler Wilson Alvarez becomes the first rookie to throw a no-hitter since 1983 when he defeats the Orioles‚ 7-0‚ in his 2nd big league start. In his first start‚ on July 24‚ 1989‚ he did not retire any of the 5 batters he faced‚ giving up 2 hits and 3 walks.
August 14California’s Dave Winfield slugs the 400th HR of his career‚ becoming the 23rd player in history to reach the milestone‚ in a 7-4 win over the Minnesota Twins. The blow comes off Minnesota southpaw Dave West.

Jeff Reardon of the Red Sox and Lee Smith of the Cardinals both reach the 30-save level for the 6th season. Reardon notches his in a 2-1 win over Cleveland‚ while Smith saves St. Louis’ 5-4 victory over the Mets.

San Diego’s Fred McGriff hits a grand slam for the 2nd game in a row‚ tying a major league mark. He is the 12th player-but just the 3rd National Leaguer-to perform the feat‚ with Babe Ruth the only one to do so twice. His blast brings home all San Diego’s runs in a 4-1 win over the Astros.

Seattle’s Randy Johnson tosses a 1-hitter against the Oakland A’s‚ losing the no-hitter in the 9th inning when Mike Gallego singles. He records his 11th win of the year with the 4-0 victory.

Atlanta’s Tom Glavine (18-3) leaves after 7 innings and Randy St. Claire and Mike Stanton mop up a 15-0 whitewash over Pittsburgh. Lonnie Smith has 5 hits and Hunter and Nixon 4 apiece for the Braves. St. Claire‚ in his 2nd year with Atlanta‚ along with his father Ebba‚ is the first father-son pair to play for the Braves.
August 15Yankees 1B Don Mattingly is benched and fined $250 for refusing to cut his shoulder-length hair‚ but the Yankees still beat Kansas City‚ 5-1. He will get one two days later‚ and the hair will eventually be auctioned off for $3‚000 to benefit a children’s charity. Mattingly is not alone; Steve Farr‚ Matt Nokes‚ and Pascual Perez have all been told their hair length violates club policy. Mel Hall‚ who wears his hair in a small ponytail before and after games‚ is warned his appearance is “borderline.”
August 16The Red Sox obtain P Dan Petry from the Braves in exchange for a player to be named later.
August 18Toronto’s first two hitters-Devon White and Roberto Alomar-hit home runs off Detroit’s Bill Gullickson in the Blue Jays’ 4-2 win. Gullickson teed up leadoff homers once before‚ in the NL.
August 20Dickie Thon’s 2-out‚ two-run homer in the 9th gives the Phils a 6-5 win over the Pirates. The Phillies had gone 346 games since winning in the 9th: tomorrow‚ they’ll win again in the 9th‚ and on the following nite‚ win in the 10th.
August 21Yankees OF Bernie Williams fans 5 consecutive times in a 7-4 loss to the Royals to tie the major league mark for a 9-inning game. He’s consoled by Yankee hitting coach Frank Howard‚ one of the 28 batters who share the mark.

After nearly two months off with a chronic backache‚ David Justice rejoins the Atlanta Braves in time for tonight’s twinbill with the Reds. Even without him‚ the Braves are just two games behind the Dodgers in the NL West.

Toronto manager Cito Gaston is hospitalized with a herniated disk and Gene Tenace takes over on an interim basis. He’ll be 13-6 in his first 19 games to keep Toronto on top.

In Helena‚ Montana‚ the Helena Brewers beat Idaho Falls‚ 28-0 in the Pioneer League. Helena has 27 hits‚ including six homers‚ but sets no records. The good news for Idaho Falls is no errors‚ and their last pitcher is 1B Loren Gress. He outpitches the real pitchers‚ giving up no runs and a hit in 1 1/3 innings.
August 22Forget about taking one for the team; in the Phils 10-inning victory‚ John Kruk gets hit by a pitch for the first time in 2‚682 at bats when the Pirates Randy Tomlin plunks him. “It didn’t feel good‚” grouses Kruk. Herm Winningham had held the record for active players (1‚799 appearances).
August 23The Rangers 6-1 win over the Royals is marked by an unusual play in the 8th inning. KC’s 2B Terry Shumpert is charged with a 4-base error when he collides with RF Danny Tartabull while going back on a short fly hit by Juan Gonzalez. Gonzalez and the 2 runners in front of him score as the ball rolls all the way to the warning track.
August 24Mariners hurler Rob Murphy sets what is believed to be a major league record by appearing in his 121st straight game without a win‚ a 7-2 loss to Detroit. Tom Henke had pitched in 120 consecutive winless games from 1986 to 1988.
August 25Cubs OF Doug Dascenzo commits an error in Chicago’s 12-9 loss to San Diego‚ ending his NL-record streak of 242 consecutive games without a miscue (442 chances). The streak‚ which began in 1988‚ is 2 games short of the AL record.

Manager Doug Rader is fired by the Angels and replaced by former Expos manager Buck Rodgers.
August 26Number 1 draft pick Brien Taylor is signed to a guaranteed $1.55 million contract by the Yankees. It is the largest deal ever given to an amateur player‚ surpassing the $1.2 million paid to Todd Van Poppel by Oakland in 1990.

Bret Saberhagen of the Royals hurls a no-hitter against the White Sox‚ winning by a 7-0 count. He strikes out 5 while walking only 2. Charlie Hough takes the loss for Chicago‚ becoming the 7th pitcher in history to wind up on the losing side of more than one no-hitter. Saberhagen also becomes the 3rd pitcher in history to throw a no-hitter‚ win a Cy Young Award‚ and be named World Series MVP‚ joining Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson.
August 28Cincinnati’s Tom Browning defeats Montreal’s Dennis Martinez‚ 11-3‚ in the first matchup of perfect game hurlers in 25 years. Sandy Koufax and Jim Bunning performed the feat on October 2‚ 1966.

Jim Eppard of the Salinas Spurs of the California League plays all 9 positions as the Spurs defeat the San Bernardino Spirit‚ 2-1. Eppard gets credit for the win by pitching a scoreless 5th inning. The former California Angels OF becomes one of the few left-handers to play every position in a single game.

The Mets trade P Alejandro Pena to the Braves for P Tony Castillo and a player to be named later.
August 29The White Sox Carlton Fisk crashes two homers to become the oldest player in the 20th century to accomplish the mark. He’ll top this by hitting two homers on October 3rd. Jack McDowell (15-8) goes the distance to beat Cleveland‚ 7-2.
August 30The Rangers trade 3B Steve Buechele to the Pirates in exchange prospect Kurt Miller and a player to be named later. The “Later named” is another pitching prospect‚ Hector Fajardo.
August 31The Twins Chuck Knoblach hits his first ML homer‚ off the Orioles Mike Mussina‚ and it puts the Twins ahead in the 6th. It is Knoblach’s only homer this year. The Twins win‚ 5-2‚ with the W going to Kevin Tapani.

September


September 2Three months after an operation that replaced a vein in his arm with one from his leg‚ White Sox pitcher Roberto Hernandez holds the Royals hitless for 6 innings before Bill Pecota leads off the 7th with a double‚ the only hit Hernandez allows in Chicago’s 5-1 win over KC. In the same game‚ Bo Jackson makes his miraculous return to the majors following a career-threatening football injury. He hits a sacrifice fly to drive in a run against his former team. Bo will end the year hitting .225 in 23 games‚ with 3 homers and 14 RBIs.
September 3In a game in Montreal‚ shortstop Jeff Blauser breaks a big left toe and will be out for two weeks. The Braves will call up SS Rico Rossy to replace him.

Three months after undergoing 8 1/2 hours of surgery to remove two blood clots from his right forearm‚ White Sox rookie Roberto Hernandez makes his ML debut‚ limiting the Royals to 1 hit in 7 innings. The Sox win‚ 5-1. The other medical story in the game is the return of Bo Jackson‚ following his hip transplant surgery. Bo is hitless.

Milwaukee’s Jim Ganter has a double and hits his 1st homer since 1987‚ a streak of 1762 at bats without a dinger. In 2 days he’ll hit another. With 2 outs in the 9th‚ Robin Yount bangs a 3-run HR off Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley for a 5-3 win.
September 4After 30 years‚ the asterisk attached to Roger Maris‘ 61 HRs in 1961 is removed by an 8-man Committee for Statistical Accuracy. Regarding the expunging of the asterisk‚ historian Bill Deane later points out‚ “It was an easy job: the asterisk never existed. Maris’s record was‚ from 1962 until 1991‚ listed separately from Ruth’s and was never actually defined by ‘some distinctive mark.'” The committee also defines a no-hit game as one which ends after 9 or more innings with one team failing to get a hit. This removes 50 games from the list that had previously been considered no-no’s‚ mostly shortened games‚ but also including Harvey Haddix‘s 12 perfect innings against the Braves in 1959 and Jim Maloney‘ 1965 1-0 loss in 11-innings. Another casualty is Ernie Shore‘s 27 straight outs in 1917‚ a game in which he relieved Ruth with a runner on and no outs in the 1st. It is now a combined no-hitter.

Lou Gehrig‘s 1938 Yankee road uniform brings $220‚000 at a memorabilia auction in San Francisco‚ becoming the most expensive non-card sports memorabilia item ever sold. A Honus Wagner card goes for $125‚500 while an autographed Gehrig bat sells for $47‚500.

Infielders Shane Turner and Tommy Shields both play all 9 positions for the Rochester Red Wings in their season finale‚ an 8-0 win against Syracuse of the Class AAA International League.
September 6The White Sox score 10 runs in the 4th inning of a game against the Royals‚ all with 2 outs. Chicago wins by a score of 11-2. Bo Jackson drives in 3 runs with his first two hits since returning from a serious hip injury. Slugger Frank Thomas receives a mauling‚ bruising his wrist in a 2nd inning collision with Terry Shumpert‚ then chipping two front teeth when his is hit in the mouth with a ball thrown by pitcher Charlie Hough. Hough gets a throwing error on the toss.
September 7Tim Teufel breaks up a scoreless tie between the Padres and Cardinals by hitting a 10th inning walkoff homerun. Mike Maddux‚ with 2 innings of relief for the Pads‚ is the winner and Cris Carpenter takes the loss.
September 9At Cleveland‚ Eric Bell debuts with three innings of scoreless relief‚ and leaves in the 8th with the score‚ 3-3. The Sox score a run and win‚ 4-3.
September 11Atlanta’s Kent Mercker‚ Mark Wohlers and Alejandro Pena combine to toss a 1-0 no-hitter against San Diego. It is only the second no-hitter in Atlanta history‚ following Phil Niekro‘s 1973 masterpiece over the same Padres.
September 12Texas Ranger Nolan Ryan wins his 10th game‚ beating the Twins‚ 4-3‚ and becoming just the second pitcher ever to reach double figures in wins in 20 different seasons. Don Sutton did it 21 seasons. The win‚ Ryan’s 312th of his career moves him past Tom Seaver into 14th place on the career list. Jack Morris is the CG loser.
September 13Toronto OF Joe Carter drives in a run in the Blue Jays’ 7-6 victory over the A’s‚ becoming the 1st player in history to reach the 100 plateau in 3 consecutive seasons with 3 different teams. Nine players (Dick Allen‚ Orlando Cepeda‚ Rocky Colavito‚ Goose Goslin‚ Rogers Hornsby‚ Reggie Jackson‚ Lee May‚ Al Simmons‚ and Vic Wertz) have collected 100 RBI with three teams‚ but none consecutively.

Paul O’Neill has 5 RBIs on a homer and three doubles‚ and Hal Morris and Chris Sabo each have 3 RBIs to lead the Reds to a 13-2 victory over Houston. For O’Neill it is his 2nd gam ethis year in which he collects 4 extra base hits‚ tying the ML record.

A 55-ton concrete beam crashes onto an empty public walkway at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The Expos will reschedule‚ playing their final 13 home games on the road while the stadium is repaired and growing cracks in concrete ribs supporting the stadium are checked out.
September 14Mariano Duncan‚ Hal Morris‚ and Paul O’Neill hit back-to-back-to-back HRs off Astros hurler Mark Portugal for the Reds. The homers account for the only Cincinnati runs in a 7-3 loss.

In the 10th inning of the game between Cleveland and Baltimore‚ Indians reliever Eric Bell pitches to the Orioles’ 2B Juan Bell‚ who skies a fly to left where it is caught by the Tribe’s Albert Belle. Cleveland comes out on top with a 6-5 win‚ and Eric Bell‚ with 1 2/3 innings of relief‚ rings up his first win.

In the Tigers’ 6-4 win over the Brewers‚ Detroit’s Cecil Fielder hits a 502-foot HR‚ which is believed to be the 1st ball ever hit out of Milwaukee’s County Stadium‚ off Dan Plesac. The ball lands in the back of a truck driven by Gary Schumacher‚ who doesn’t stop until he is near Madison.
September 15Cardinals rookie Ray Lankford hits for the cycle in a 7-2 win over the Mets.

In Baltimore’s 43 win over Cleveland‚ O’s OF Joe Orsulak-he starts today in LF and switches to RF-has an assist‚ his 6th assist in an 11-day stretch He leads ML outfielders with 20 assists and will finish with 22.
September 16It’s a day for suspensions. Atlanta OF Otis Nixon is suspended for 60 days (the remainder of the season) for violating baseball’s drug policy. Nixon‚ who had been arrested on charges of cocaine possession in 1987‚ is currently leading the NL with 72 SBs. He will miss the NL playoffs due to the suspension. Cincinnati P Norm Charlton is suspended for 7 days and fined an undisclosed amount for admitting he intentionally threw at Dodgers C Mike Piazza in a game played on September 9th.

Bonehead baserunning almost costs the Dodgers a win over the Reds. With one out in the 11th‚ and the score 3-3‚ L.A. has Jose Offerman on 3B‚ with Brett Butler on 1B. When Lennie Harris hits a ground ball‚ Offerman tries to score but fails to touch the plate and is tagged out on the throw. Harris is called out for passing Butler‚ who inexplicably stands watching the play. But the Dodgers rally with 3 runs in the 12th to win‚ 6-5. Eddie Murray hits his 1st triple of the year and Eric Karros has his 1st ML hit‚ a double‚ before Joey Hamilton’s game winning single. L.A. sets a NL-record in the 4 1/2 hour marathon by using 27 player‚ including 9 pitchers. The Reds use 19.

The Braves blow a 3-run lead and lose to the Giants‚ 8-5‚ at Candlestick Park. Darren Darren Lewis scores half the Giants runs despite having no hits. He has 3 stolen bases.

Barry Bonds homers and drives in his 100th run for the 2nd consecutive season‚ just the 8th Pirate to accomplish that. Pittsburgh beats the Cubs‚ 9-2‚

Kevin Tapani (15-8) becomes the Twins third 15-game winner‚ pitching a 3-hitter for 7 2/3 inning against the Royals. The Twins win‚ 9-0‚ jumping on Mark Gubicza. Tapani is 13-2 since June 5.
September 18In Toronto’s 5-3 win over Seattle‚ Toronto’s Rob Ducey is knocked unconscious in a collision at the plate with Seattle C Scott Bradley. Unlike most catchers‚ Bradley keeps his mask on for throws from the OF‚ and Ducey hits his head on the mask.

San Diego’s Tony Gwynn undergoes arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee. Gwynn has missed 11 of the Padres’ last 17 games. He has just 4 hits in his last 27 at bats and has fallen behind Hal Morris in the batting race.

Despite Cal Ripken’s 30th homer of the year‚ Baltimore loses to Boston‚ 7-5. With 42 doubles already‚ Cal is the first SS in ML history to top 30 HRs and 40 doubles in the same year.
September 22Eric Bell fires 4 innings of scoreless relief‚ and the Indians score two in the 9th to beat the Orioles‚ 2-1. With the 6‚863 in attendance‚ the Tribe tops one million.
September 24Howard Johnson of the Mets strokes his 37th HR of the season to set a new NL record for switch-hitters‚ in NY’s 10-8 loss to Pittsburgh. Johnson himself had set the previous mark in 1987. He will finish the year with 38 homers and 117 RBIs‚ becoming the 1st switch-hitter to lead the NL in driving home runs.
September 25Falcons defensive back Deion Sanders rejoins the Atlanta Braves for the remainder of the season to help the Braves’ pennant drive. Sanders still want to play in the Falcons’ game on the 29th against New Orleans.

John Kruk hits a grand slam and solo homer to provide all the scoring as the Phils edge the Cubs‚ 5-4.
September 27The Indians lose their 100th game as the Yankees beat Greg Swindell‚ 3-0. With 8 innings of work‚ Pascual Perez (2-4) earns his last ML decision.
September 28The 10th inning proves deadly for pitchers: Detroit’s Lou Whitaker hits a 3-run double off Greg Olson to give the Tigers a 5-4 win over the Orioles; Dean Palmer cracks a 3-run homer off Dennis Eckersley to give Texas a 6-3 victory over the Athletics.

In a 5-4 loss to the Indians‚ Yankees manager Stump Merrill goes to the bullpen for the 75th straight time‚ surpassing the record set by the 1977 Padres. Reliever Greg Cadaret takes the loss‚ while Eric Bell (3-0) wins in relief. to also set a record-most wins without a loss on a team with 100 losses He’ll win another on October 4 against New York to finish 4-0.

Following a 6-2 Mets loss to Phillies rookie Cliff Brantley‚ manager Bud Harrelson is fired by the Mets.

The Giants top the Dodgers‚ 4-1‚ as Don Robinson earns his first save in 3 years by stopping the Dodgers. In the 9th inning‚ L.A. loads the bases with one out‚ but does not score. Will Clark hits a 2-run homer to drive in his 109th and 110th runs of the year. With the Braves 5-4 comeback win over the Astros‚ the Dodgers lead in the West is one game with 7 to play.

The Cards Lee Smith ties the NL record for saves with his 45th‚ as St. Louis beats the Cubs‚ 3-2. Smith pitches a scoreless 9th to tie the mark of another Cardinal ex-Cub‚ Bruce Sutter‚ who racked up 45 in 1984.
September 29Rickey Henderson hits safely in each of the first 5 innings as Oakland scores 18 runs. Rickey has singles in the first‚ second‚ third and fourth innings before hitting a home run in the fifth. He is pinch-hit for in the seventh‚ leaving with 4 runs and 4 RBIs. Oakland wins over Texas‚ 19-5‚ inflicting much of the damage (8 runs) on starter Kevin Brown.

Braves acquire P Mike Bielecki and C Damon Berryhill from the Cubs in exchange for P Turk Wendell and P Yorkis Perez.

October


October 1Lee Smith of the Cardinals sets an NL record with his 46th save of the year in a 3-1 victory over the Expos. He’ll finish the year with 47.

At Fenway‚ the Tigers outhit the Red Sox to win‚ 8-5. Frank Tanana (12-12) evens his record. Wade Boggs has a pair of doubles to top the 40 mark for the 7th straight year. Only Joe Medwick has done this in ML history.
October 3In the 2nd game of a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins‚ Chicago C Carlton Fisk smashes 2 HRs to lead the White Sox to a 13-12 victory. In doing so‚ just 9 months shy of his 44th birthday‚ Fisk becomes the oldest 20th century player to hit a pair of 4-baggers in the same game. His 7th inning grand slam off Steve Bedrosian also makes him the oldest major leaguer ever to hit a bases loaded homer. Cap Anson‚ at 45‚ clubbed two homers on this date in 1897: he’s the oldest to hit a pair.
October 4Trailing 3-2 in the 9th‚ Cleveland’s Jim Thome hits a two-out‚ two-run homer‚ his first in the majors‚ to give the Tribe the lead over the Yankees. Steve Olin pitches the 9th to save the win for reliever Eric Bell. With four wins over the past month‚ Bell (4-0) ends the year with the most wins for an undefeated pitcher on a team losing a hundred games (as noted by Greg Crouse).
October 5The Cubs sweep a pair from the Cards‚ winning 3-2 and 7-5. Bob Scanlon wins game 1 and recently acquired Yorkis Perez takes game 2.
October 6Greg Maddux and the Cubs beat the Cards‚ 7-3‚ with Omar Olivares the loser. The Cards are thwarted in their attempt to become the first team since the 1912 Washington Senators to have 10 players with 10 or more stolen bases. In the 9th inning‚ Joe Torre inserts Tom Pagnozzi‚ with 9 steals‚ into the game as a pinch runner‚ but Hector Villanueva throws him out. Yesterday‚ Pagnozzi reached base twice and both times the burly Villanueva gunned him down.

It’s Fan Appreciation Day as David Cone of the Mets ties an NL record by striking out 19 Phillies in a 7-0 Mets win. The total gives Cone 241 for the year‚ as he leads the league for the 2nd straight season. Teammate Howard Johnson ends the season with 117 RBIs to lead the NL‚ the first Mets player to do so. He’s also the first NL switch-hitter to lead in ribbies.
October 7Manager Stump Merrill is fired by the Yankees.
October 8The Twins defeat the Blue Jays‚ 5-4‚ in Game 1 of the ALCS behind Jack Morris.

Manager Joe Morgan is fired by the Red Sox and replaced by Butch Hobson.
October 9The Blue Jays even the ALCS at 1 game apiece with a 5-2 triumph‚ snapping Minnesota’s post season home winning streak at 7 games.

The Pirates defeat the Braves in Game 1 of the NLCS‚ 5-1. 1990 Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek gets the victory for the Bucs and Andy Van Slyke homers.

Manager Tom Trebelhorn is fired by the Brewers.
October 10Steve Avery’s brilliant pitching helps the Braves even the NLCS at a game apiece. Avery holds the Pirates scoreless for 8 1/3 innings‚ allowing just 6 hits. Atlanta scores the game’s only run on a double by Mark Lemke in the 6th inning. In attendance are Bill Craib and Sue Easler‚ who visited ever major and minor-league ball park-all 178 of them-during the year. They began their tour on April 9th at Oakland and ended it October 6th at Yankee Stadium.

Manager Jim Lefebvre is fired by the Mariners and replaced by 3B coach Bill Plummer.
October 11Mike Pagliarulo strokes a pinch 2-run homer in the 10th inning to power the Twins to a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 3 of the ALCS.

The Mets hire Jeff Torborg as manager. Torborg resigned as manager of the White Sox to take the position with NY.
October 12The Twins take a 3 games to 1 lead in the ALCS with a 9-3 win behind Jack Morris. OF Dan Gladden drives in 3 runs for the victors‚ and Kirby Puckett homers.

Catcher Greg Olson’s 2-run homer caps a 4-run Brave 1st as Atlanta goes on to a 10-3 victory over Pittsburgh in Game 3 of the NLCS. Ron Gant and Sid Bream homer for the Braves‚ who take a 2 games to 1 lead.
October 13Minnesota advances to the World Series for the 2nd time in 3 years with a come-from-behind 8-5 win over Toronto. ALCS MVP Kirby Puckett leads the way with a homer in the 1st and a single to break a 5-5 tie in the 8th. Rick Aguilera gains his 3rd save of the series as reliever David West notches the win.

Mike LaValliere‘s 2-out pinch single in the 10th inning drives home the go-ahead run as the Pirates even the NLCS. Steve Buechele’s 3 hits give him 5 straight over 2 games to tie an NLCS record.
October 14OF David Justice of the Braves fails to touch 3B while running home‚ costing Atlanta a run in an eventual 1-0 loss to Pittsburgh in Game 5 of the NLCS. Jose Lind‘s single in the 5th accounts for the game’s only run.
October 16Greg Olson’s 9th inning double scores the only run of the game as the Braves‚ behind another magnificent performance by Steve Avery‚ shut out the Pirates‚ 1-0‚ to force a 7th game. Atlanta’s Ron Gant steals his 6th base of the series in the 9th for a new playoff record.
October 17The Braves advance to the World Series with John Smoltz leading the way as he hurls a 6-hit‚ 4-0 shutout. The Pirates fail to score in the last 22 innings of the series. Steve Avery is named the MVP of the NLCS.
October 18The managerial merry-go-round continues as Jim Essian is fired as manager of the Chicago Cubs. Managers axed to leave this year include Nick Leyva‚ Frank Robinson‚ John Wathan‚ Buck Rodgers‚ John McNamara‚ Don Zimmer‚ Doug Rader‚ Bud Harrelson‚ Jim Essian‚ Tom Trebelhorn‚ Joe Morgan (from Massachusetts)‚ Stump Merrill‚ and Jim Lefebvre.
October 19The Twins defeat the Braves 5-2 in Game 1 of the World Series. SS Greg Gagne‘s 3-run HR off Charlie Leibrandt in the 5th inning helps support the strong effort of winning pitcher Jack Morris.
October 20The Twins take a 2-0 lead in the Series with a 3-2 victory over the Braves. The deciding blow is a leadoff HR in the 8th inning by rookie Scott Leius. Chili Davis also homers for Minnesota.
October 222B Mark Lemke’s 2-out single in the 12th inning gives the Braves a 5-4 win in Game 3 of the Series. Lemke had made a potentially crucial error in the top half of the inning. The contest is the longest night game in Series history at 4 hours and 4 minutes‚ and the second longest by innings. The Twins use a WS-record 23 players in the game.
October 23The Braves even the Series at 2 games apiece with a 3-2 win in Game 4. Journeyman catcher Jerry Willard‘s sac fly in the bottom of the 9th is the deciding blow. Terry Pendleton and Lonnie Smith stroke solo homers for the NLers‚ while Mike Pagliarulo does the same for the Twins.
October 24The Braves win their 3rd game in a row‚ 14-5‚ to take the Series lead. Lonnie Smith‚ David Justice‚ and Brian Hunter pound out HRs‚ with Smith becoming the 1st player to homer in 3 consecutive Series games since Reggie Jackson in 1977. Smith became Atlanta’s starting LF when Otis Nixon was suspended for failing a drug test in September.
October 26Minnesota evens the Series at 3 games each with a 4-3 win on Kirby Puckett‘s dramatic HR in the bottom half of the 11th inning.
October 27The Twins become World Champions with a 1-0 victory in 10 innings behind Jack Morris‘s masterful pitching. Gene Larkin‘s single off Alejandro Pena scores Dan Gladden with the game’s only run. The game is the first Game 7 to go into extra innings since the Senators-Giants Series in 1924. Morris is named the Series MVP for the Twins‚ who win all 4 games in the Metrodome while losing all 3 in Atlanta. Four of the 7 games are decided on the final pitch‚ while 5 are decided by a single run‚ and 3 in extra innings. All are Series records. Morris’s 10-inning masterpiece is the last extra-inning complete game of the century.

November


November 3Jeff Bagwell is named the NL Rookie of the Year and is the first Astro to win the award. He hit .294 with a team-leading 15 homers and 82 RBIs. His 82 walks also led the Astros. Bagwell was picked in the 4th round of the 1989 draft by the Red Sox‚ then traded in the 1990 stretch drive for pitcher Larry Andersen.
November 5Terry Pendleton of the Braves wins the NL MVP Award. The third baseman led the NL in batting average and hits‚ tied for first in total bases and was 3rd in slugging. He’ll be named Comeback Player of the Year-the first player to raise his average 80 points and add 15 HRs-and win his 3rd Gold Glove. Barry Bonds is runner-up; the 2 will switch places next year.

The Indians trade P Greg Swindell to the Reds in exchange for P Jack Armstrong‚ Scott Scudder‚ and Joe Turek.
November 6The Twins Chuck Knoblach is named the AL Rookie of the Year. Knoblach hit .281 and stole 25 bases in 30 tries. His 15 post-season hits is a record for first-year players.
November 8Cal Ripken‚ Jr. is named the AL MVP‚ beating out Cecil Fielder of Detroit. The Gold Glove third baseman hit .323‚ 34 homers‚ and 114 RBIs.
November 25The Expos trade 1B Andres Galarraga to the Cardinals in exchange for P Ken Hill.
November 27The Dodgers acquire OF Eric Davis and P Kip Gross from the Reds in exchange for P Tim Belcher and John Wetteland. The Dodgers have high expectations of the brittle Davis‚ but he’ll play in just 76 games in 1992.

The Mets sign free agent 1B Eddie Murray to a 2-year‚ $7.5 million contract.

Lee Elia is named manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.

December


December 2The Mets sign free agent OF Bobby Bonilla to a 5-year‚ $29 million contract.
December 3The Dodgers sign free agent P Tom Candiotti to a 4-year contract.
December 6The Brewers obtain P Jesse Orosco from the Indians in exchange for a player to be named.
December 8The Angels acquire 1B-OF Von Hayes from the Phillies in exchange for P Kurt Abbott and OF Ruben Amaro, Jr.

The Reds trade P Randy Myers to the Padres in exchange for IF-OF Bip Roberts and a player to be named.

Brewers reliever Julio Machado (3-3) is arrested for murder in Venezuela. Machado is accused of shooting a woman following an auto accident between his car and a car in which the woman was a passenger. Machado will be convicted and‚ following appeals‚ be sentenced to 12 years in 1996.
December 9The Royals sign free agent 1B Wally Joyner to a 1-year‚ $4.2 million contract.

The Expos trade P Barry Jones to the Phillies in exchange for C Darrin Fletcher and cash.
December 10Admitted gambler Howard Spira is sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for attempting to extort $110‚000 from Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

The Giants trade OF Kevin Mitchell and P Mike Remlinger to the Mariners in exchange for Ps Bill Swift‚ Mike Jackson‚ and Dave Burba.
December 11In a blockbuster trade‚ the Mets obtain two-time Cy Young winner Bret Saberhagen along with SS Bill Pecota from the Royals in exchange for Kevin McReynolds‚ Gregg Jefferies‚ and Keith Miller.
December 18The Blue Jays sign free agent P Jack Morris to a 2-year‚ $10.85 million contract.
December 19Former minor league umpire Pam Postema files a sex discrimination suit against the National League, the American League‚ the Triple-A Alliance‚ and the Baseball Office for Umpire Development.

Yankees P Steve Howe is arrested in Montana on a charge of possession of cocaine. Howe has been suspended from baseball five times for drug and alcohol problems.

The Blue Jays sign free agent OF Dave Winfield to a 1-year contract.
December 29The White Sox sign free agent P Kirk McCaskill to a 3-year contract.