July 15 - Albert Belle gets protection

Bo Jackson -

On July 15, 1951, the New York Yankees demote struggling rookie Mickey Mantle to their Kansas City farm team in the American Association. Mantle will return to the Yankees in August and finish his first major league season with 13 home runs and 65 RBIs.

On July 15, 1967, St. Louis Cardinals ace Bob Gibson suffers a broken leg when he is struck by a line drive hit by another future Hall of Famer, Roberto Clemente. Incredibly, Gibson pitches to two more batters before leaving the game. Gibson was sidelined until Labor day. He would come back and would win 3 games in the World Series against the Red Sox.

On July 15, 1973, Before 41,411 in Detroit, California Angels ace Nolan Ryan hurls his second no-hitter of the season in taming the Detroit Tigers, 6 - 0. Ryan fans 17 batters, the most ever in a 9-inning no-hitter, including eight straight, but only one over the last two innings. Nolan's arm stiffens while watching his team rally for five runs in the top of the 8th. With two outs in the 9th, Norm Cash, who had struck out his three other times at bat, comes to bat wielding a piano leg. Umpire Ron Luciano points out the illegality and Cash then pops out using a regulation bat. Ryan's eight strikeouts in a row ties the American League record he set last year.

On July 15, 1990, Bo Jackson of the Kansas City Royals hits home runs in three consecutive at-bats before separating his shoulder trying to make a diving catch against Deion Sanders of the New York Yankees. Jackson's power surge helps the Royals to a 10-7 victory, but the two-sport star will miss the next six weeks.

On July 15, 1994 - In the first inning at Comiskey Park, Chicago White Sox manager Gene Lamont accuses Cleveland Indians slugger Albert Belle of using a corked bat, and umpire Dave Phillips confiscates the bat and stores it in the umps' dressing room. In a Mission Impossible caper revealed in 1999, the Indians' Jason Grimsley crawls 100 feet along a ceiling, drops down into the dressing room, and exchanges Belle's bat for one of Paul Sorrento's. After the 3 - 2 Indians win, the switch is discovered to the consternation of the umps and the White Sox. The Indians subsequently turn over one of Belle's bats and Belle is given a 10-day suspension, later reduced to seven games.

Historical Recap performed by:

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