Daily Rewind

The role of a closer was not an officially role until the term Save came into play officially in 1969. Bill Singer of the Los Angeles Dodgers was the first to register a save when he pitched 3 nearly perfect games to open the 69 season at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. 

The actually stat was created by Jerome Holtzman after he got frustrated watched Elroy Face receive so much credit after his 18-1 season. He felt Face was far bet...

April 6 1973 - Ron Bloomberg comes to the plate for the New York Yankees as the first officially DH in Fenway Park. It may surprise you though to know the DH debate was started all the way back in 1887 by Al Spaulding and the vote to have a DH narrowly failed and again it nearly took hold in 1928.

Here is the story behind the story! 

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcas...

Over the past 93 seasons, the Cleveland Indians had finished first just 3 times. Going to 3 World Series and winning 2. On average they finished over 18 games out of first place. 

On April 4, 1994 The Jake opened and despite the first 7 innings when they were no hit, a new era was born and the Indians will go on to be one of the most successful regular season teams the last 20+ seasons.  

Mentioned in this episode:

Clas...

April 3, 1987, the Chicago Cubs trade Dennis Eckersley for 3 minor league players to the Oakland A's. At one time trading "The Eck" would have been big news! However, at the time the Eck was a struggling pitcher heading towards the end of his effectiveness. 

Unknown to Oakland or Chicago the Eck had already taken incredible steps to turn his life around. 

Here is the story of the trade, what Oakland thought they were g...

On April 2, 1976 the Oakland A's trade future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and World Series hero and Al Start Pitcher Ken Holtzman to the Baltimore Orioles for Don Baylor, Mike Torrez and Paul Mitchell. 

At the time Jackson had won an MVP, made 6 All-Star appearances, was a driving force in 3 Championships, and he was second all-time in home runs for the franchise and 4th in career RBI's. 

Holtzman was a workhorse...

Happy Birthday, Luke Appling!   Born in High Point, North Carolina on April 2, 1907, Lucius Benjamin Appling moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his family as a child. After graduating from Fulton High School, where he played baseball and football, Appling attended Oglethorpe College in Georgia for two years. Appling starred on the university's baseball team, while also playing fullback on the football team, before leaving ...

On today's rewind brings us too, April 1, 1914, that day future Hall of Famer George Edward Waddell, better known as “Rube” dies from tuberculosis in San Antonio, TX. 

Sponsor Waddell's Page - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/rube-waddell-page/

We review his oddities and tremendous pitching career. Such as his love for fire engines, wrestling alligators and never collecting a regular salary. 

Today's trivia question ...

On March 30 , 2000 —  Enron Field officially opens with a 6-5 exhibition win over the A.L. Champion New York Yankees, paralleling the feat that occurred when the Astrodome opened in 1965. Daryle Ward’s two-run homer caps a four-run eighth-inning rally to open up the Astros’ new home in style.

Enron Field - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/tag/enron-field/

Jeff Bagwell -  https://thisdayinbaseball.com/tag/jeff-bagwell...

On March 29, 1867 — Denton True “Cy” Young is born in Gilmore, a tiny village near Newcomerstown, Ohio. Young will earn his nickname for his cyclone-like pitching motion and he will win (and lose) more games than any pitcher in major league history with a 511-316 record and a 2.63 ERA over 22 seasons. Young will win 20 or more games 15 times, and top the 30-win mark five times. He will be elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball...

On March 28, 1913, the St. Louis Browns make an unusual “trade,” sending infielder Clyde “Buzzy” Wares to the Montgomery Rebels a minor league team in exchange for the rental of a stadium. The Montgomery Rebels will allow the Browns to use their stadium during spring training-rent free. he Southern Association Class-A team will return the 26 year-old infielder to St. Louis later in the season. He will debut on September 15, 1913 &n...

On March 27, 1879 —– Miller Huggins is born in Cincinnati, Ohio. A second baseman adept at getting on base, Huggins will lead the National League in walks four times, score 100 or more runs three times, and regularly collect 30 or more stolen bases and an on-base percentage near .400. He will start as a player-manager with the St. Louis Cardinals before heading to the New York Yankees in 1918. Huggins will lead the Yankees to six A...

On March 26, 1951 —– In an exhibition game at the University of Southern California, Mickey Mantle propels a home run estimated at 654 to 660 feet. The shot clears Bovard Field and then goes the width of a practice football field before landing. Mantle has two homers, a bases-loaded triple, and drives in seven runs as the Yankees flunk the Trojans, 15 – 1.

Listen to Mickey talk New York, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, DiMaggio and Maris.&...

On March 21, 1975, Hall of Fame outfielder Joe “Ducky” Medwick dies in Saint Petersburg, Florida at the age of 63. As one of the feared hitters on the famed “Gashouse Gang,” Medwick clubbed 205 home runs and batted .324 over a 17-year career. Medwick gained election to the Hall of Fame in 1968.

Listen to the hall of fame interview conducted on February 2 1968 - https://collection.baseballhall.org/PASTIME/joe-medwick-oral-history-in...

On March 20, 1973 — Roberto Clemente becomes the first Hispanic American to gain election to the Hall of Fame. The Baseball Writers Association of America announces the results of a special ballot, with Clemente receiving 393 of 424 votes. Clemente died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve. In light of his tragic death, the Hall’s Board of Directors waived the five-year waiting p...

On March 19, 1927 --- Don Richard (Richie) Ashburn is born in Tilden, Nebraska. A five-time All-Star, Ashburn will be a solid center fielder and a solid hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies. He will hit over .300 during 9 of his 15 major league seasons, twice capturing the National League batting title and conclude his career with a .308 lifetime average. Following his playing career, he will call Phillies games for more than three...

March 17, 1918: A young Babe Ruth, still primarily a pitcher, slugs a pair of home runs during a spring training game at Whittington Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The second long ball is thought to be the first 500-plus foot blast in baseball history. The Herculean shot—hit off Brooklyn Robins hurler Norman Plitt—soared far over the fence in deep right-center, coming to rest in the middle of an inhabited pond at the Arkansas All...