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⚾ Hack Wilson mammoth shot
May 23, 1926, at Wrigley Field, Hack Wilson of the Chicago Cubs becomes the first player to hit a home run that strikes the center field scoreboard at Wrigley Field. The blow was his fifth of the season and came in the fifth inning. According to the paper from that day, it was a prodigious drive..
Though he played as many as 140 games just five times in his brief 12-year career, Lewis "Hack" Wilson was selected by the Veterans Committee for induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. That honor came almost exclusively because of his record-setting 1930 season, in which he set the all-time single-season mark for RBI and blasted 56 home runs. Despite being rather small, Wilson packed a lot of punch and was very popular in every city in which he played.
Best Season, 1930
He posted career highs in almost every category, including games, at-bats, runs, hits, homers, RBI, walks, total bases, batting average, slugging, and OBP. His 191 RBI may never be challenged. His 56 homers were the NL standard bearer until McGwire and Sosa both shattered it in 1998. Despite his efforts, the Cubs finished two games behind the Cardinals
Today’s line up: Click to Listen
May 23, 1962 New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers
May 23, 1965 New York Mets at St Louis Cardinals
May 23, 1967 Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Mets
Did you know?
May 23, 1965 -- In the first inning of a 5-2 loss to San Francisco, Jimmy Wynn is unable to catch Jim Ray Hart's two-out routine fly ball when he loses the ball in the glare of diffused Texas sunlight streaming through plastic panes of the newly-opened Astrodome. The play, now a base-clearing inside-the-park three-run home run instead of an easy third out, results in the painting of the ballpark's ceiling the next day and will lead to the use of Astroturf next season because the grass will be unable to be grown due to the reduced amount of sunlight.
See highlights below.
TRIVIA:
What moundsman is the career leader in games started?
Hint: He gave up more earned runs that any other pitcher in history.
Hint: He only attended school up until the sixth grade. He dropped out so he could help on the family farm.
Hint: His only minor league experience was in the city (town) where the Hall of Fame is now.
Hint: Answer below
May 23, 1901, Clark Griffith, the White Sox's pitcher-manager, working in relief for his club, decides to walk Philadelphia's Napoleon Lajoie with the bases loaded intentionally. The strategy proves to be successful when he induces the next three batters to ground out to complete the 11-9 victory at Chicago's South Side Park
May 23, 1936 -- Tony Lazzeri hits 3 home runs‚ 2 in the nitecap‚ good for 4 RBI as the visiting Yankees pound the Athletics‚ 12 - 6 and 15 - 1. ,At the end of the second game the crowd of 24‚240‚ one of the largest in several seasons‚ pelts the field with cushions‚ bottles and other articles‚ making play difficult. Bill Dickey‚ Ben Chapman‚ Red Rolfe‚ and Frank Crosetti also homer for New York. More on Lazzeri
May 23, 1948, at Cleveland Stadium - Joe DiMaggio belts three consecutive home runs during the first game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians. The New York Yankees’ star swats two of the home runs against Bob Feller. The Yankees win the game, 6-5. Joe D interview
May 23, 1962 -- At Yankee Stadium, Joe Pepitone of the New York Yankees hits two home runs in the nine-run 8th-inning of the Yankees' 13 - 7 triumph over the Kansas City Athletics. Joe Pepitone interview
May 23, 1969 -- Mickey Lolich sets a Detroit record with 16 strikeouts while defeating Andy Messersmith and the Angels, 6 - 3. Mickey Stanley's grand slam is the difference. Lolich's mark breaks the record of 15 set by Paul Foytack in 1956. More on Mickey
May 23, 1970 -- At Connie Mack Stadium, Dick Allen belts two homers to drive in all the runs as the Cardinals beat the Phillies‚ 3 - 1. Bob Gibson picks up his 3rd win allowing 4 hits and strikes out 16. Jim Bunning takes the loss for the Phillies. Dick Allen Interviews
May 23, 1979 -- The Texas Rangers' Al Oliver hits 3 home runs in a 7 - 2 win over the Minnesota Twins at Arlington Stadium .
May 23, 1984 -- In a rematch against Steve Carlton‚ who hit a grand slam off him on May 16th‚ Fernando Valenzuela strikes out 15 Phillies while pitching the Dodgers to a 3-hit, 1 - 0 victory. Valenzuela drives in the only run of the game with a 5th inning ground out scoring Mike Scioscia, Carlton collects 1 of the 15 strikeouts and also 1 of the 3 hits on the day for the Phillies. Fernando!
May 23, 1989, at Arlington Stadium, Bo Jackson of the Kansas City Royals hits a monstrous 461-foot home run against Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers. Jackson had struggled in his previous matchups against the future Hall of Famer, striking out the last six times in succession
Quote of the day:
"For a brief span of a few years," wrote a sportswriter of the day, "this hammered down little strongman actually rivaled the mighty Ruth."
Milestones
Birthdays:Highlights: Zack Wheat | Debuts:Notable: |
Final Games:Highlights: Clete Boyer | Passings:Notable: Charlie Keller |
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