TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

April 5, 1913, in Brooklyn Dodger history, in 1913 Genevieve Ebbets, daughter of the club president, throws out the first ball before 25,000 as the new $750,000.00 Ebbets Field opens in Brooklyn. Nap Rucker pitched the 3-2 win over the New York Yankees and Casey Stengel of the Dodgers hits the first inside the park home run in the fifth inning.

Ebbets Field: The Iconic Home of the Brooklyn Dodgers

Ebbets Field, one of baseball’s most legendary ballparks, stood at the heart of Brooklyn from 1913 to 1957. Built on the site of a former garbage dump known as “Pigtown,” it was the vision of Dodgers owner Charlie Ebbets, who spent years acquiring the land before breaking ground in 1912. When the park opened in 1913, it quickly became a beloved home for baseball, witnessing some of the sport’s most dramatic moments.

With its intimate design, Ebbets Field was often referred to as a “bandbox” like Fenway Park and Tiger Stadium. It underwent several expansions over the years, including the addition of outfield seating and a towering scoreboard. The ballpark saw early success, with the Dodgers (then known as the “Robins”) winning National League pennants in 1916 and 1920.

The team's fortunes fluctuated until the arrival of Branch Rickey in 1943, who revolutionized baseball by signing Jackie Robinson in 1947, breaking the color barrier. The Dodgers became a dominant force, winning multiple pennants and capturing their lone Brooklyn-based World Series title in 1955.

Despite its storied history, Ebbets Field became outdated, with limited seating and little parking. A dispute over a new stadium led owner Walter O'Malley to relocate the team to Los Angeles after the 1957 season. The ballpark was demolished in 1960, but its legacy endures, symbolizing the golden age of baseball. Today, elements of its design live on in Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, honoring the ballpark that once defined Brooklyn baseball.

During the time that the Dodgers played there, they won the pennant nine times: in 1916, 1920, 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956. They won the 1955 World Series and came close several other times, losing 4-3 in 1947, the 1952 and the 1956 - all of these against the New York Yankees.

Famous Dodgers who played many seasons in Ebbets Field include Pee Wee Reese (15 seasons), Zack Wheat (14 seasons), Dazzy Vance (12 seasons), Gil Hodges (12 seasons), Duke Snider (11 seasons), Roy Campanella (10 seasons) and Jackie Robinson (10 seasons).

April 5, 1934 -- Cincinnati Reds president Larry MacPhail hires 26 year-old Red Barber to broadcast the team games on WSAL. The not-so-old "Ol' Redhead" will spend the first five years of his Hall of Fame career in Cincinnati, calling the contests from the stands of Crosley Field.

April 5, 1966 -- Don Larsen, the last active major leaguer who played for the Browns, is released by the Orioles. As a rookie in 1953, the Michigan City, Indiana native posted a 7-12 record for the hapless franchise, which lost 100 games in its final season in St. Louis.

April 5, 1972, The Montreal Expos trade 28 year-old All-Star right fielder Rusty Staub, who is stunned by the transaction, to the Mets in exchange for outfielder Ken Singleton and infielders Tim Foli and Mike Jorgensen. 'Le Grand Orange,' a fan favorite in Montreal, will miss most of the season due to injuries but will play a major role in New York's 'Ya Gotta Believe' pennant-winning team in 1973. Staub will hit .279 with 15 homeruns and 76 RBI's. He will hit 3 homeruns in the NLCS and hit .423 in the World Series against the A's.

April 5, 1972 — The season opener between the Astros and Reds is canceled due to the player strike which started on April 1. The work stoppage cancels Opening Day for the for the first time in major league history, with a total of 86 games not played until both sides agree on an increase in pension fund payments with the owners also adding salary arbitration to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

April 5, 1977, The New York Yankees acquire shortstop Bucky Dent from the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Oscar Gamble, pitchers LaMarr Hoyt and Bob Polinsky and an estimated $200,000. Dent will solidify New York’s middle infield and help the Yankees reach the World Series in 1977 and 1978. Dent famously hit a 3 run homerun in a one game playoff vs the Red Sox.

Gamble will have a fine season in Chicago and Hoyt – who is still known as Dewey Hoyt at the time – will blossom into the ace of the White Sox staff in the early 1980s.

April 5, 1983, Tom Seaver makes his first appearance for the Mets since his trade to Cincinnati in 1977. Seaver combines with Doug sisk defeats the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-0, on 5 hits on Opening Day at Shea Stadium. For Seaver, it’s his 14th Opening Day assignment, tying the record set by Walter Johnson.

April 5, 1993 — At Camden Yards, William Jefferson Clinton becomes the first U.S. president to successfully throw the first pitch of the season from the pitcher’s mound. Orioles starter Rick Sutcliffe doesn’t fare as well when the Birds lose to the Rangers, 7-4.

April 5, 2005 — Johan Santana’s streak of 22 straight starts of allowing three or fewer runs comes to an end when the southpaw gets the victory in the Twins’ 8-4 victory over Seattle at Safeco Field. Last season’s Cy Young Award winner has the second longest streak of giving fewer than four runs in consecutive outings, trailing only Dwight Gooden’s 24 in 1985.

TRIVIA

TRIVIA: On Jube 15, 1938 the first night game was played at Ebbets Field. What memorable event happened at the game?

IF you think you know the answer and bonus points for how many respond with details and if you are right I will give you a shut out! No Googling!

Know someone who loves baseball like you do? Earn rewards by sharing the Rewind!

 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA: On Jube 15, 1938 the first night game was played at Ebbets Field. What memorable event happened at the game?

Answer: Tom Glavine, Warren Spahn, and Early Wynn are the only pitchers in history to win 300 games despite never striking out 200 batters in any season.

JOIN CLASSIC BASEBALL BROADCASTS TODAY

"Every story in today's newsletter has a broadcast behind it. They're all in the archive, exactly as they sounded on the radio the day they happened. Start your free 7-day trial and hear them tonight."

Get the FREE 7 day trial!