Musings about baseball and its history.

Joined May 2023
Shortstop Joe Cronin was traded from the #Senators to the #RedSox in exchange for Lyn Lary and $225,000 #OTD in 1934. Cronin would be a five-time All-Star in Boston, where he would also serve as manager and general manager before becoming president of the American League.
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Steve Rogers, pitcher for the #Expos, was born #OTD in 1949. A five-time All-Star, Rogers twice led the National League in shutouts and once in ERA, and finished in the top-three in Cy Young Award voting three times. He remains the all-time franchise leader in wins and innings.
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Heinie Groh, third baseman for the #Reds and #Giants, announced his retirement #OTD in 1927. A .292 career hitter, Groh led the National League in doubles and on-base percentage twice each and in runs, hits and walks once each. He was part of two World Series winners.
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Fergie Jenkins, longtime pitcher for the #Cubs, was traded to the #Rangers #OTD in 1973. Chicago received Vic Harris and Bill Madlock in return. In two years with Texas, Jenkins won 42 games and had a 3.32 ERA before being traded again to the the #RedSox.
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Bobby Thomson, outfielder mostly for the #Giants, was born #OTD in 1923. A three-time All-Star, Thomson drove in 100 runs four times and hit 20 homers eight times. He's most famous for hitting "The Shot Heard Round the World" in a playoff game against the #Dodgers in 1951.
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Pete Reiser, outfielder mostly for the #Dodgers, died #OTD in 1981. A three-time All-Star, Reiser led the National League in batting, slugging, runs, doubles and triples and 1941, and twice led the league in steals. His 10-year career was severely curtailed by injuries.
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Outfielder Larry Doby, the first Black player in the American League, was traded from the #Indians to the #WhiteSox #OTD in 1955. Cleveland received Chico Carrasquel and Jim Busby in return. Doby played only two years in Chicago before being traded back to Cleveland.
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Pedro Martínez. pitcher mostly for the #RedSox and #Expos, was born #OTD in 1971. An eight-time All-Star, Martínez led the league in ERA five times, won three Cy Young Awards and the pitching Triple Crown in 1999. He was elected to the #HallofFame in 2015.
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Al Brazle, pitcher for the #Cardinals, died #OTD in 1973. A valuable swing man, Brazle moved between the rotation and bullpen early in his career before becoming a full-time reliever. He twice led the National League in saves and was part of the 1946 World Series winners.
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The Toronto #BlueJays defeated the #Braves, 4-3, to win Game 6 of the World Series #OTD in 1992 and claim their first world championship. Their title was the first one in major league history to be won by a team located outside of the United States.
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Jack Russell, pitcher mostly for the #RedSox and #Senators, was born #OTD in 1905. A starter early in his career, Russell became one of the first relief specialists after being traded to Washington, twice leading the American League in saves and named an All-Star in 1934.
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Jackie Robinson, pioneering second baseman of the #Dodgers, died #OTD in 1972. He was just 53-years old. A seven-time All-Star and the 1949 National League MVP, Robinson became the first Black player in the major leagues in over 60 years when he joined the Dodgers in 1947.
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Sandy Koufax, pitcher for the #Dodgers, was unanimously named the winner of the Cy Young Award #OTD in 1963. Koufax had won the pitching Triple Crown that year, leading the National League in wins, ERA and strikeouts. It was the first of three Cy Youngs in his career.
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Louis Sockalexis, outfielder for the Cleveland Spiders, was born #OTD in 1871. A member of the Penobscot Nation, Sockalexis batted .338 as a rookie in 1897, but a severe drinking problem curtailed his career, ending it just two years later.
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Pitcher Jack Coombs of the #Athletics won his third game of the World Series #OTD in 1910, leading Philadelphia to their first world championship. It capped a remarkable season for Coombs in which he led the American League with 31 wins and 13 shutouts.
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Ewell Blackwell, pitcher mostly for the #Reds, was born #OTD in 1922. A six-time All-Star, Blackwell led the National League in wins and strikeouts in 1947 and in shutouts in 1946. Traded to the #Yankees, he was part of their 1952 World Series winning team.
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Outfielder Billy Williams of the #Cubs was traded to the #Athletics #OTD in 1974 in exchange for Darold Knowles, Bob Locker and Manny Trillo. In two years in Oakland Williams hit 34 homers and batted .231 before retiring. He was elected to the #HallofFame in 1987.
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Vern "Junior" Stephens, shortstop for the #Browns & #RedSox, was born #OTD in 1920. An excellent defensive shortstop and eight-time All-Star, Stephens also led the American League in RBI three times and in homers once. He hit 247 homers and drove in 1,174 runs in 15 seasons.
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Joe Carter, outfielder for the #BlueJays, hit a walk-off three-run homer to win Game Six of the World Series #OTD in 1993, giving Toronto their second straight championship. Carter's blast off #Phillies reliever Mitch Williams gave the Jays a comeback 8-6 victory.
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Jim Bunning, pitcher for the #Phillies and #Tigers, was born #OTD in 1931. A nine-time All-Star, Bunning led the league in strikeouts three times, in innings and shutouts twice, and in wins once. He had a 224-184 record and was elected to the #HallofFame in 1996.
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