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April 22
⚾ Tom is Terrific
TODAY ON THE DAILY HIGHLIGHT
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April 22, 1970, New York Mets ace Tom Seaver ties a major league record by striking out 19 batters in a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres. Seaver also strikes out the last 10 batters he faces, setting another big-league mark.
Seaver received his 1969 Cy Young Award in a pregame ceremony.
Seaver was in control from the start, striking out two in the first inning as the Mets grabbed a quick 1–0 lead. Bud Harrelson singled and scored on a Ken Boswell double.
San Diego tied it in the second with a solo homer by Al Ferrara, but Seaver quickly settled in, ending the inning with his third strikeout. He added two more in the third, showing command and velocity.
The Mets went back ahead in the third when Tommie Agee singled and scored on Harrelson’s triple. That was all Seaver needed.
From there, he was dominant. He struck out two more in the fourth and fifth, and by the end of the sixth had 10 strikeouts while allowing just two hits.
As shadows crept over home plate in the seventh, Seaver struck out the side. Padres pitching instructor Johnny Podres marveled at Seaver’s rhythm and control.
He repeated the feat in the eighth—three more strikeouts. That brought him to 16 strikeouts and seven straight punchouts heading into the ninth.
Holding a slim 2–1 lead, Seaver took the mound to a buzzing Shea Stadium. He struck out Van Kelly, Cito Gaston, and finally Ferrara—who had homered earlier—for his 19th strikeout and a record 10th in a row.
Over the final five innings, only three Padres made contact. “I might as well have played without a glove,” said Harrelson afterward.
Seaver’s 19 strikeouts tied the major-league record for a nine-inning game as did his 10 consecutive strikeouts set a new standard—one that stood for decades.
Game of the Day
April 22, 1970 San Diego Padres vs New York Mets
Seaver dominates
Today’s line up: Click to Listen
Did you know?
April 22, 1947 -- The Phillies players, inspired by their Alabama-born racist skipper Ben Chapman, repeatedly shout racial epitaphs, throw beanballs, and intentionally spike Brooklyn's rookie first baseman, Jackie Robinson the first African-American to play major league baseball in the 20th century. The incident is so severe that Philadelphia's that infielder Lee "Jeep" Handley will later publicly apologize, and baseball commissioner Happy Chandler will chastise team's manager for his bigoted leadership.
🎙️ Classic Baseball Moment of the Day! 🎙️
Don Larsen(1956), Sandy Koufax(1965), Bob Gibson (64,67 and 68), Mantle, DiMaggio, Williams (1941), Clemente 1971, Brooks 1970, Oakland Three Peat and so many others!
With Classic Baseball Broadcasts, you can relive these legendary moments through the actual radio calls that made history!
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Trivia:
Who broke Tom Seaver’s 19 strikeout record?
Hint: The answer is below
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
April 22, 1915, the New York Yankees wear their famed pinstripes for the first time. Although they are not the first club to use the vertical stripes, the Yankees become so associated with them that writers will commonly refer to the team as the “Pinstripers.” Harry Wolverton Highlander manager dons the Yankee pinstripes, the first time they appeared on the New York uniform.
April 22, 1931 -- Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees collides with Charlie Berry, Boston Red Sox catcher and former pro football player, while trying to score on a sacrifice fly. Ruth is carried off the field at Fenway Park and taken to a hospital after the collision.
April 22, 1947 -- Al Zarilla's single in the 7th inning is the only hit off Bob Feller as the Indians beat the Browns, 5 - 0, at Cleveland Stadium.
April 22, 1957 -- John Kennedy becomes the first black to play for the Philadelphia Phillies, making them the last National League team to integrate. Kennedy pinch runs for Solly Hemus in the 5 - 1 loss to the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. He will play only briefly in five games, two at third base, and will go hitless.
April 22 , 1974 -- Cesar Cedeno drills two homers and drives in five to pace Houston past Atlanta, 7-0 . Claude Osteen, who was dealt by the Dodgers over the winter, scatters seven hits.
April 22 , 1980 -- Nolan Ryan 's first win as an Houston Astro comes in an 8-0 victory over Cincinnati Red's, It's the initial dividend from baseball's first million-dollar-per-year contract. Ryan fans seven and walks six in seven innings. Jose Cruz is the star with three hits and five RBIs, including a bases-loaded triple in the first inning.
April 22, 1981 -- Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Fernando Valenzuela pitches his third shutout in four starts, strikes out 11, and has the game's only RBI with a single in a 1 - 0 win against the Houston Astros.
April 22, 2007, At Fenway Park four consecutive Boston batters hit home runs off Yankee pitcher Chase Wright at Fenway Park. The consecutive homers tie a major league mark, which has been accomplished just five times. The Red Sox batters are Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek. The victim for all four gopher balls is Chase Wright, who ties the major league record for home runs allowed in an inning. Paul Foytack in 1963 had been the only prior pitcher to allow four straight homers in an inning.
April 22, 2008 -- John Smoltz becomes the 16th major league pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters. The 40-year-old Braves hurler gets Felipe Lopez swinging on a 2-2 offering in the 3rd for his 3,000th K. He is the 6th-quickest to the mark in terms of innings pitched (3,386). Smoltz fans 10 in 7 innings in this win, showing that age has not yet caught up to him.
Quote of the day:
“I might as well have played without a glove,” said shortstop Bud Harrelson after the game
MILESTONES
Birthday Boys
Highlights: Bob Schmidt and Mickey Vernon
Debuts
Notable: Bob Rush & Charlie Keller
Final Games
Ralph Terry & Rick Reuschel
Passings
Bart Johnson & Lou Finney
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Trivia Answer:
Roger Clemens recorded 20 strikeouts on April 29, 1986
