This Date In Baseball

 

Compiled by PAUL MONTELLA
Oct. 12
1916 – The Boston Red Sox won the World Series in five games with a 4-1 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ernie Shore pitched a three-hitter for Boston.
1920 – Cleveland’s Stan Coveleski won his third game in the World Series as the Indians beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 3-0 and won the championship, five games to two.
1929 – The Philadelphia Athletics, trailing the Chicago Cubs 8-0 in the fourth game of the World Series, scored 10 runs in the seventh inning to win 10-8.
1967 – Bob Gibson pitched a three-hitter against the Boston Red Sox to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 7-2 win and the championship in seven games.
1977 – The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees 6-1 to even the World Series after two games. Catfish Hunter, who had not pitched in over a month, started the game for the Yankees. Ron Cey, Steve Yeager and Reggie Smith all homered and knocked out Hunter in the third inning.
1982 – Paul Molitor of Milwaukee had five hits, a World Series record, in the 10-0 opener over the Cardinals in St. Louis. Mike Caldwell tossed the shutout for the Brewers.
1986 – The California Angels were one pitch away from their first pennant when they let the Boston Red Sox back into the American League playoffs with an 11-inning 7-6 victory in Game 5.
1987 – The Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 9-5 and won their first American League pennant in 22 years. The Twins, with the worst road record of any pennant or division winner in history (29-52), took two of three in Detroit to win the best-of-7 playoffs in five games.
1990 – The Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 in Game 6 to take the National League championship. Danny Jackson gave up one run and one hit in six-plus innings. Relievers Norm Charlton and Randy Myers gave up no hits.
1993 – The Toronto Blue Jays, behind the strong pitching of Dave Stewart, beat the Chicago White Sox 6-3 to win the American League pennant in six games.
2003 – Josh Beckett threw his first complete game in 51 career starts, allowing two hits and striking out 11, as Florida shut out Chicago 4-0 in Game 5 of the NLCS. Beckett tied an NLCS record for fewest hits allowed in a complete game.
2005 – The Chicago White Sox tied the AL championship series with a disputed 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski appeared to strike out against Angels reliever Kelvim Escobar to end the ninth inning, but plate umpire Doug Eddings ruled Angels catcher Josh Paul dropped the third strike and Pierzynski reached first base. Pablo Ozuna, who ran for Pierzynski, stole second and scored on Joe Crede’s double into the left-field corner.
2010 – Cliff Lee tossed another postseason gem and Texas won a playoff series for the first time, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 in a decisive Game 5 of the ALDS. It was the first time in major league history that the road team had won every game in a postseason series. It was the first playoff series victory in the 50-season history of the Washington/Texas franchise. Lee, who struck out 11 in a six-hitter, improved to 6-0 with a 1.44 ERA and three complete games in seven career postseason starts.
2013 – Rookie Michael Wacha pitched into the seventh inning with zero margin for error and the St. Louis Cardinals silenced the Los Angeles Dodgers for the second straight day, winning 1-0 for a 2-0 lead in the NL championship series. The Cardinals managed only two hits off Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers, but Jon Jay’s sacrifice fly set up by A.J. Ellis’ passed ball in the fifth stood up.
2013 – Anibal Sanchez and four Detroit Tigers relievers came within two outs of the first combined no-hitter in postseason history, striking out 17 to beat the Boston Red Sox 1-0 in the AL championship series opener. Boston was hitless until Daniel Nava singled off Joaquin Benoit with one out in the ninth. Jhonny Peralta had an RBI single off Jon Lester in the sixth for the game’s only run.
Today’s birthdays: Trevor Bell 28; Charlie Morton 31; Nolan Reimold 31; Casey McGehee 32.
Oct. 13
1903 – The Boston Pilgrims won the first World Series, five games to three, with a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1914 – The Boston Braves completed a sweep of the Philadelphia Athletics, first in World Series history, with a 3-1 victory.
1921 – Art Nehf tossed a 1-0, four-hitter against the New York Yankees for the World Series title in eight games. The Giants scored their run in the first inning on an error by shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh.
1960 – Bill Mazeroski opened the bottom of the ninth with a home run off Ralph Terry of the Yankees to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 10-9 victory and the World Series in seven games.
1971 – The first World Series night game was played in Pittsburgh with the Pirates beating Baltimore 4-3. Roberto Clemente had three hits for Pittsburgh.
1978 – New York third baseman Graig Nettles put on a fielding clinic and prevented seven runs as the Yankees beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in the third game of the World Series. Nettles made four spectacular stops and gave the Yankees the first victory of the series.
1984 – Alan Trammell’s two home runs backed Jack Morris’ second complete game to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-2 victory and a 3-1 lead over the San Diego Padres in the World Series.
1993 – Tommy Greene of Philadelphia outpitched Greg Maddux and the Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 6-3 to win the National League pennant in six games.
1996 – Powered by a three-homer third inning and eight strong innings from Andy Pettitte, New York won its 34th American League pennant with a 6-4 victory over Baltimore. The Yankees took the ALCS 4-1 and went to the World Series for the first time since 1981.
1998 – The New York Yankees advanced to the World Series for a record 35th time after beating the Cleveland Indians 9-5 to win the AL championship series in six games.
2002 – Adam Kennedy hit his third homer of the game in the seventh inning and the Angels erupted for a 13-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins to win the AL championship series in five games and advance to the World Series for the first time in their 42-year history.
2007 – Manny Ramirez hit his 23rd postseason homer in Boston’s 13-6 11-inning loss to Cleveland. The two-run drive broke the playoff record he had shared with former New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams.
2012 – The New York Yankees lost the AL championship series opener and their captain when Derek Jeter broke his left ankle moments after Detroit’s Delmon Young doubled home the go-ahead run in the 12th inning, giving the Tigers a 6-4 win. Detroit was coasting toward a 4-0 win before the Yankees rocked Tigers closer Jose Valverde in the ninth. Ichiro Suzuki started the comeback with a two-run homer with one out, and 40-year-old Raul Ibanez hit another two-run drive with two outs to force extra innings. Jeter rolled when he dove in an attempt to glove Jhonny Peralta’s grounder up the middle in the 12th. Unable to move, he flipped the ball toward the mound. His leg was dangling as he was assisted to the dugout by manager Joe Girardi and trainer Steve Donahue.
2013 – David Ortiz revived the Red Sox with a tying grand slam in the eighth inning, then Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a winning single in the ninth that sent Boston past the Detroit Tigers 6-5 to even the AL championship series at 1-all.
Oct. 14
1905 – Christy Mathewson blanked the Philadelphia Athletics 2-0 to give the New York Giants the World Series in five games. All were shutouts, with Mathewson getting three, Joe McGinnity one, and Chief Bender of Philadelphia one.
1929 – The Philadelphia A’s rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 and take the World Series in five games. Mule Haas’ two-run homer tied the game and Bing Miller’s RBI double won it.
1965 – Sandy Koufax tossed his second shutout to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 2-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins and the world championship in seven games.
1969 – New York’s Tommie Agee made two spectacular catches to save five runs and secure a 5-0 victory over Baltimore as the Mets took a 2-1 lead in the World Series.
1971 – Pittsburgh’s Nelson Briles threw a two-hitter against the Orioles for a 4-0 victory to give the Pirates a 3-2 edge in the World Series.
1975 – The Reds took a 2-1 lead in the World Series with a controversial 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Boston Red Sox in Cincinnati. In the 10th, Reds pinch-hitter Ed Armbrister attempted a sacrifice bunt and bounced the ball in front of the plate. Catcher Carlton Fisk fielded the ball but collided with Armbrister and threw the ball into center while trying to force Cesar Geronimo at second. Geronimo went to third – and later scored the game-winning run – and Armbrister moved to second. Home plate umpire Larry Barnett ruled there was no interference despite heated protests by the Red Sox.
1976 – Chris Chambliss hit a ninth-inning home run off Kansas City’s Mark Littell to give the New York Yankees a 7-6 victory over the Royals and their first American League pennant since 1964.
1984 – Kirk Gibson hit two home runs to lead Detroit to an 8-4 victory and the World Series in five games over the San Diego Padres.
1985 – Ozzie Smith’s one-out, ninth-inning home run off Tom Niedenfuer gave the St. Louis Cardinals a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers and a 3-2 lead in the National League playoffs.
1992 – The Toronto Blue Jays became the first Canadian team to reach the Series with a 9-2 win over the Oakland Athletics in Game 6 of the American League championship series.
1997 – The Florida Marlins defeated the Atlanta Braves 7-4 behind Kevin Brown’s complete game and Bobby Bonilla’s three RBIs to win the NL championship series, 4-2.
1998 – The San Diego Padres reached the World Series for the first time since 1984, shutting down the Atlanta Braves’ comeback bid behind MVP Sterling Hitchcock for a 5-0 victory in Game 6 of the NL championship series.
2000 – Roger Clemens pitched a one-hitter and struck out an ALCS record 15 as the New York Yankees beat Seattle 5-0. Clemens tied the LCS record with San Francisco’s Livan Hernandez, who struck out 15 in Game 5 of the 1997 NLCS between Florida and Atlanta.
2006 – Magglio Ordonez hit two home runs, including a series-ending, three-run shot in the bottom of the ninth to lead Detroit to a 6-3 victory and a ALCS sweep of Oakland.
2008 – Evan Longoria hit his rookie-record fifth home run of the playoffs, and Carlos Pena and Willy Aybar also homered off aging knuckleballer Tim Wakefield on to give Tampa Bay a 13-4 victory and a 3-1 lead over the Red Sox in the ALCS. Carl Crawford tied an AL championship series record with five hits and Aybar had four hits and five RBIs.
Today’s birthday: Seth Maness 26; Kole Calhoun 27; Carlos Marmol 32.
Oct. 15
1917 – The Chicago White Sox won the World Series when the New York Giants left home plate uncovered and Eddie Collins dashed home with third baseman Heinie Zimmerman chasing him in helpless pursuit.
1925 – Kiki Cuyler’s bases-loaded double in the eighth inning gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 9-7 victory over Walter Johnson and the Washington Senators in Game 7 of the World Series, capping a comeback from a 3-1 deficit.
1946 – Enos Slaughter scored from first on Harry Walker’s double to give the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 victory and the World Series title in the seventh game against the Boston Red Sox.
1981 – Dave Righetti, Ron Davis and Goose Gossage combined on a 4-0 shutout of the Oakland A’s to give the New York Yankees their 33rd American League pennant.
1986 – The Boston Red Sox capped one of the greatest comebacks in history by defeating the California Angels 8-1 to win the American League pennant after trailing three games to one in the playoffs.
1986 – Ray Knight keyed a three-run ninth to tie the score and the New York Mets won their third National League pennant by beating the Houston Astros 7-6 in 16 innings in the longest postseason game.
1988 – With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Kirk Gibson hit a two-run, pinch homer to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Oakland in Game 1 of the World Series. Gibson, who did not start because of a strained left knee, limped around the bases as the Dodgers won one of the most dramatic games in series history.
1997 – The Cleveland Indians survived another brilliant effort by Mike Mussina and claimed their second pennant in three years, defeating the Baltimore Orioles 1-0 on an 11th-inning homer by Tony Fernandez to win the AL championship series 4-2.
2003 – The Florida Marlins took their third game in a row, winning the NLCS with a 9-6 victory over Chicago in Game 7. Florida became just the ninth team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven series.
2007 – With their 21st win in 22 games, the Colorado Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 to sweep the NL championship series and advance to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. The wild-card Rockies joined the 1976 Cincinnati Reds as the only teams to start a postseason with seven straight wins. Matt Holliday’s three-run homer highlighted a six-run fourth inning for Colorado.
2008 – Jimmy Rollins homered in the first inning, Cole Hamels pitched his third gem of the playoffs and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the bumbling Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 to win the NL championship series 4-1 for its first pennant since 1993.
2011 – Nelson Cruz and the Texas Rangers finished off the Detroit Tigers to become the American League’s first repeat champion in a decade. Cruz set a postseason record with his sixth home run of the series, Michael Young hit a pair of two-run doubles in a nine-run third inning, and the Rangers romped to a 15-5 win in Game 6 of the ALCS. Cruz had 13 RBIs in the series, another postseason record, and was selected MVP.
2013 – John Lackey edged Justin Verlander and Boston’s bullpen shut down Detroit’s big hitters with the game on the line to lift the Red Sox over the Tigers 1-0 for a 2-1 lead in the AL championship series. Mike Napoli homered in the seventh inning off Verlander, and Detroit’s attempt at a rally fell short in the eighth when Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder both struck out with runners at the corners.
Oct. 16
1909 – The Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series as rookie Babe Adams registered his third victory by beating the Detroit Tigers 8-0 in the seventh game.
1912 – Fred Snodgrass dropped a fly ball in the 10th inning that helped the Boston Red Sox score two runs and take the World Series from the New York Giants.
1962 – With the tying and winning runs in scoring position, San Francisco’s Willie McCovey hit a hard line drive at second baseman Bobby Richardson for the final out and the New York Yankees won 1-0 in Game 7 for their 20th World Series title.
1969 – The New York Mets won their fourth straight game from the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-3 triumph behind Jerry Koosman and took the World Series in five games.
1975 – Tony Perez broke an 0-for-15 slump with two home runs to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 5 of the World Series.
1983 – Eddie Murray hit two homers and Scott McGregor pitched a five-hitter to give Baltimore a 5-0 victory, their fourth straight, over the Philadelphia Phillies and the World Series in five games.
1985 – The Kansas City Royals captured the American League pennant with a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7, capping a comeback from a 3-1 deficit.
1985 – Jack Clark’s three-run homer with two out in the top of the ninth gave the St. Louis Cardinals a 7-5 come-from-behind victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers and the National League pennant.
1999 – Pedro Martinez dominated for seven shutout innings while the Red Sox roughed up Roger Clemens in sending the New York Yankees to their most lopsided loss in postseason history, 13-1 in Game 3 of the AL championship series.
2000 – Mike Hampton pitched a three-hitter and the New York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-0 to win the NL championship series 4-1. The Mets joined the 1997 Florida Marlins as the only wild-card teams to make the World Series.
2001 – In a matchup of pitchers who have combined for seven Cy Young Awards and 457 victories, Randy Johnson threw a three-hit masterpiece as Arizona beat Greg Maddux and the Braves 2-0 in Game 1 of the NL championship series.
2003 – Aaron Boone hit a pennant-winning homer leading off the bottom of the 11th in New York’s 6-5 win over Boston in Game 7 of the ALCS. Mariano Rivera pitched three scoreless innings in relief for the win.
2005 – The Chicago White Sox, behind Jose Contreras’ five-hitter, beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 to win the ALCS in five games, their first pennant since 1959.
2007 – Jhonny Peralta hit a three-run homer to help Cleveland defeat Boston 7-3 in Game 4 of the ALCS and move within one win of reaching the World Series. Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez hit consecutive homers for Boston, only the second time in postseason history.
2008 – The Boston Red Sox pulled off the major leagues’ biggest postseason comeback in 79 years, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 8-7 on J.D. Drew’s two-out single in the ninth to stave off elimination in the AL championship series. Boston trailed 7-0 with two outs in the seventh, then rallied when David Ortiz’s three-run homer followed Dustin Pedroia’s RBI single. Drew hit a two-run homer in the eighth and Coco Crisp tied it with a two-out RBI single.
2011 – David Freese hit a three-run homer in the first and manager Tony La Russa turned again to his brilliant bullpen for seven sturdy innings as St. Louis captured its 18th pennant with a 12-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. For the series, St. Louis relievers finished 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA over 28 2-3 innings.
Today’s birthdays: Bryce Harper 22; Jonathan Schoop 23.
Oct. 17
1911 – The Philadelphia Athletics scored twice in the 11th to beat the New York Giants 3-2 in Game 3 of the World Series. Frank Baker hit a home run in the ninth inning off Christy Mathewson to tie the score 1-1. Baker was tagged with the nickname “Home Run” for his exploits.
1960 – The National League formally awarded franchises to the New York Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc., headed by Joan Payson and a Houston group headed by Judge Roy Hofheinz, Craig Cullinan and R.E. Smith.
1979 – Willie Stargell’s two-run homer gave the Pirates a 4-1 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles and the World Series in seven games.
1987 – The Minnesota Twins overpowered St. Louis 10-1 in the opening game of the first indoor World Series. Dan Gladden’s grand slam capped a seven-run fourth inning.
1989 – Minutes before Game 3 of the World Series between Oakland and San Francisco, an earthquake hit the Bay Area. The game was postponed and the series resumed 11 days later.
1995 – The Cleveland Indians beat the Seattle Mariners 4-0 in Game 6 of the American League championship series to claim their first AL pennant since 1954.
1996 – The Atlanta Braves had the biggest blowout in postseason history, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 15-0 in Game 7 of the NL championship series to complete a comeback from a 3-1 deficit. The Cardinals became the only club to blow a 3-1 edge three times in the postseason.
1999 – The New York Mets outlasted Atlanta with a 4-3 victory in 15 innings, cutting the Braves’ lead to 3-2 in the NL championship series. Robin Ventura’s grand slam-turned-single drove home the winning run and gave the Mets the win in the longest postseason contest in baseball history.
2000 – The New York Yankees followed the Mets into the World Series, rallying from a four-run deficit to beat the Seattle Mariners 9-7 and win the AL championship series 4-2. David Justice, who hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 6, was the MVP.
2001 – Tom Glavine allowed Arizona one run in seven innings to tie teammate John Smoltz’s major league record with his 12th postseason victory as Atlanta posted an 8-1 win.
2005 – The NL championship series shifted back to St. Louis after Albert Pujols’ dramatic two-out, three-run homer in the ninth inning rallied the Cardinals to a 5-4 win over Houston in Game 5.
Today’s Birthdays: Stefen Romero 26; Carlos Gonzalez 29.
Oct. 18
1910 – The Philadelphia Athletics pounded the Chicago Cubs 9-3 for a 2-0 lead in the World Series. Eddie Collins had three hits, including two doubles, and two stolen bases.
1950 – Connie Mack, at age 87, retired as manager of the Philadelphia Athletics after 50 years, and Jimmy Dykes was named to replace him. Mack, together with Ben Shibe, founded the Athletics in 1901.
1973 – The Mets’ Jerry Koosman and Tug McGraw combined to three-hit the Oakland A’s and take 3-2 lead in the World Series.
1977 – Reggie Jackson hit three consecutive home runs to lead New York to an 8-4 victory over the Los Angles Dodgers and give the Yankees the World Series title in six games. Jackson drove in five runs, and all three shots came on the first pitch.
1999 – Orlando Hernandez pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning and Derek Jeter hit a two-run homer as the New York Yankees won their record 36th pennant, beating the Boston Red Sox 6-1 in Game 5 of the AL championship series.
2012 – Max Scherzer capped a stupendous stretch for Detroit’s starting rotation, and the Tigers advanced to the World Series by beating the New York Yankees 8-1 for a four-game sweep of the AL championship series. Miguel Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta hit two-run homers in a four-run fourth inning against CC Sabathia, who was unable to prevent the Yankees from getting swept in a postseason series for the first time in 32 years. Austin Jackson added a solo shot in the seventh for Detroit, and Peralta hit another homer an inning later to make it 8-1. The Yankees hit .188 in the postseason, a major-league record, and .157 in the LCS.
2013 – Carlos Beltran and the Cardinals stunned Clayton Kershaw with a four-run third inning, rookie Michael Wacha was again magnificent on the mound and St. Louis advanced to its second World Series in three seasons by roughing up the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-0 in Game 6 of the NL championship series. Beltran had three hits and drove in two runs while facing Kershaw and made a spectacular catch in right field. St. Louis handed Kershaw four losses this season, including the two in the NLCS.
Today’s birthdays: Brad Miller 25; Yoenis Cespedes 29; David Murphy 33.
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