April 12 In Baseball

1800S

1900S

1906 - Johnny Bates of the Boston Beaneaters became the first modern player to hit a Home Run in his first major league At-bat , when he connects in the second inning against Brooklyn Superbas ' Pitcher Harry McIntire . Pitcher Irv Young allowed only one hit, a Double by Harry Lumley , as Boston beat Brooklyn 2–0.

1909 - With Christy Mathewson sidelined with Diphtheria , Red Ames pitches the opener for the New York Giants , a 3–2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Baker Bowl .

1910S

1912 - The Chicago Cubs famed Double Play combination of Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance makes its final appearance together in a Opening Day game. The triumvirate of Shortstop Joe Tinker , Second Baseman Johnny Evers and First Baseman Frank Chance will be broken up after at the end of the season.

1916 - The Cleveland Indians acquire Outfielder Tris Speaker from the Boston Red Sox for Pitcher Sad Sam Jones , minor league Infielder Fred Thomas , and $55,000 cash. In 1916 Speaker will lead the American League in Batting (.386), Slugging (.502), On-base Percentage (.470), Hits (211), Doubles (41), and Total Bases (287).

1920S

1922 - There are no playing managers in the National League for the first time since 1900. Long considered an economic necessity, the dual role is no longer essential. It will be 1930 before the American League has a year with all bench managers.

1928 - St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander opens his 18th season by Shutting Out the Pittsburgh Pirates 5–0.

1930S

1940S

1950S

1955 :

---After a big civic parade, the transplanted Athletics open their first season in Kansas City with a victory over the Tigers , 6–2, at Municipal Stadium . The standing-room crowd of 32,147 is the largest paid crowd for any event in Kansas City.

---In a 4-2 win over the Reds , Milwaukee Braves Rookie Chuck Tanner hits a eigth-inning Pinch - Homer in his first major league At-bat .

1960S

1960 :

---With 42,269 fans in attendance, the San Francisco Giants edge the St. Louis Cardinals , 3–1, in the first game played at Candlestick Park . Giants Pitcher Sam Jones threws a three-hitter, and Cardinals Outfielder Leon Wagner hits the first Home Run in the $15 million stadium. In the third inning, the Umpires protest that the foul poles are several inches in fair territory, rather than on the foul lines: the Giants will make the correction after the season.

--- Chuck Essegian 's 11th-inning Pinch-hit home run beats the Chicago Cubs , 3–2, before a record Opening Day crowd (67,550) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum . The home run is Essegian's third straight as a pinch hitter, including two in the 1959 World Series . Don Drysdale pitches a Complete Game for the Dodgers , Striking Out 14 Cubs.

---The Detroit Tigers make one of their best trades ever, acquiring Norm Cash from the Cleveland Indians for Steve Demeter . In 1961, Cash will lead the American League with a .361 Batting Average , and will go on to hit 373 Home Run s for the Tigers in 14 seasons.

1962 - Los Angeles Dodgers Relief Pitcher Pete Richert makes his major league debut and Strikes Out the first six batters he faces. Richert ties a record originally set by Karl Spooner in 1954.

1965 - Richie Allen of the Philadelphia Phillies hits the first regular season Home Run in the history of the Astrodome . Allen connects against Houston Astros Pitcher Bob Bruce in the Phillies’ 2–0 victory. Previously, Mickey Mantle had hit the first overall home run in the Astrodome in an exhibition game between the Astros and the New York Yankees .

1966 - Before a crowd of 50,671 at Fulton County Stadium , the Braves play their first game in Atlanta after moving from Milwaukee . Joe Torre hits two Home Runs for the Braves, but Willie Stargell spoiled the occasion with a two-run homer in the 13th inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3–2 victory.

1970S

1970 - Plaques honoring Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle are dedicated at Yankee Stadium . The plaques are located in Center Field and will eventually be moved to “Monument Park” beyond the Left Field fence when the stadium is renovated in the mid-1970s.

1980S

1980 - At County Stadium , Cecil Cooper and Don Money of the Milwaukee Brewers each hit second inning Grand Slams against the Boston Red Sox . The base-clearing home runs lead the Brewers to an 18-1 win, which include a two-run homer by Gorman Thomas and a solo shot of Robin Yount .

1990S

1992 - At Cleveland Stadium , Boston Red Sox left-hander Matt Young pitches eight no-hit innings, but loses a 2–1 decision to the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a doubleheader. In the second game, Roger Clemens Shut Outs Cleveland as the Indians manage only two hits against him, setting a major league club-record for fewest hits (2) in a twinbill.

1994 - Scott Cooper Hit For The Cycle and Drove In five runs to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 22–11 rout of the Kansas City Royals .

2000S

2003 - The Detroit Tigers won for the first time this season, getting a three-run Home Run from Shane Halter to beat the Chicago White Sox , 4–3. The Tigers (1-9), the only team since 1900 to start back-to-back seasons with nine straight losses, started 0-11 last season.

2004 - Bobby Abreu of the Philadelphia Phillies hits the first Home Run in the new Citizens Bank Park . The National Baseball Hall Of Fame And Museum will display the bat used by Abreu.

BIRTHS

1876 - Vic Willis , Hall of Fame pitcher (d. 1947 )

1880 - Addie Joss , Hall of Fame pitcher (d. 1911 )

1881 - Harry Ostdiek , catcher (d. 1956 )

1887 - Sam Agnew , catcher (d. 1951 )

1889 - Reb Russell , pitcher (d. 1973 )

1909 - Eric McNair , infielder (d. 1949 )

1912 - Jack Wilson , pitcher (d. 1995 )

1918 - Chucho Ramos , IF/OF (d. 1977 )

1922 - Bill Wight , pitcher

1926 - Walt Moryn , All-Star outfielder (d. 1996 )

1930 - Johnny Antonelli , All-Star pitcher

1933 - Charlie Lau , catcher (d. 1984 )

1942 - Tommie Sisk , pitcher

1943 - Vicente Romo , pitcher

1964 - Mike Macfarlane , catcher

1971 - Matt Williams , All-Star infielder

1972 - Paul Lo Duca , All-Star catcher

1973 - Antonio Osuna , pitcher

1977 - D.J. Carrasco , pitcher

DEATHS

1937 - Ed Morris , pitcher (b. 1862 )

1940 - Fred Klobedanz , pitcher (b. 1871 )

1983 - Carl Morton , pitcher (b. 1994 )

1988 - Frank Skaff , player and manager (b. 1910 )

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April 12 In Baseball