TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

January 27, 1937 Crosley Field - In Cincinnati, OH, the worst flood in the city’s history inundates Crosley Field, when the flood-prone Mill Creek overflows its banks. The flood covered home plate with as much as 21 feet of cold water. The lower grandstand is completely covered.

Some First and Lasts at Crosley Field:

Ball Park First Game was vs. Chicago Cubs on April 11, 1912, the attendance – 23,500 and final score 10-6 (CIN) Starting Pitchers Frank Smith (CIN); King Cole (CHN) First Batter – Johnny Evers (CHN), First Hit was – Jimmy Sheckard (CHN), Singled and the first run was scored by Bob Bescher (CIN)

First Homerun – Jimmy Esmond (CIN) vs. Bill Steele (SLN) on April 21, 1912 (6th inning)

First Grandslam – Edd Roush (CIN) vs. Rube Marquard (BRO) on August 19, 1918 (7th inning) (PS - We have great interviews from both players)

First No Hitter – Hod Eller (CIN) vs. Cardinals on 05/11/1919

Ball Park Lasts

Last Game – vs. Giants: June 24, 1970, Final Score – 5-4 (CIN) Game attendance – 28,027Starting Pitchers – Jim McGlothlin (CIN); Juan Marichal (SFN), (See clip below)

Winning Pitcher – Wayne Granger (CIN) Losing Pitcher – Juan Marichal (SFN)

Last Batter – Bobby Bonds (SFN)

Last hit & HR – Lee May (CIN) vs. Juan Marichal (SFN) in the (8th inning)

Last Grand Slam – Willie Stargell (PIT) vs. Wayne Simpson (CIN) on May 1, 1970

Last No Hitter – ANSWER BELOW

Historic Days!

January 27 1927 — Citing accuser Dutch Leonard’s refusal to appear at the hearings of January 5th, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis issues a lengthy decision clearing Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker of any game-fixing charge. (listen to Joe Wood give full detail on the event).

January 27 1937 — In Cincinnati, OH, the worst flood in the city’s history inundates Crosley Field, when the flood-prone Mill Creek overflows its banks. The flood covered home plate with as much as 21 feet of cold water. The lower grandstand is completely covered. Cincinnati Reds pitchers Gene Schott, Lee Grissom, and the team’s traveling secretary, John McDonald row a boat out from the center-field wall. The photo appears across the country. Fortunately, with the season two months away, Opening Day will be unaffected.

January 27, 1944 Boston Braves fire manager Casey Stengel. Stengel had broken his leg in June of 1943 and Bob Coleman took over managing the club officially on June 18. With the ownership change, Lou Perini, Guido Rugo, and Joseph Maney the cited they wanted to bring in a new management team. Coleman stayed on for the 1944 season winning just 65 games and was let go in 1945.He would have to wait until 1949 for his next job as a manager with the New York Yankees, 1949-1960.

January 27, 1963 John Clarkson, Elmer Flick, Sam Rice and Eppa Rixey are elected to the Hall of Fame. Sam Rice is known for one of the most memorable plays in series history, during the eighth inning of Game 3 on Oct. 10th.

A tall left-hander, Eppa Rixey won 266 games in his 21-year career, which was split between the Phillies and Reds. Rixey was a fine athlete, despite his awkward size. He won 20 games four times, three times for Cincinnati, leading the National League with 25 in 1922. He pitched effectively until he was 42 years old, using his pinpoint control to keep the ball in play. Despite languishing on losing teams much of his career (they were .484 in games in which Rixey did not get the decision).

Thirteen hits from 3,000 is a lot more than Sam Rice could have been expected to accomplish considering his tragic pre-baseball life, the fact that he came up as a pitcher, and that he didn't secure a full-time major league job until he was 26 years old. A quick outfielder with a great arm, Rice led the American League in hits twice and stolen bases once, while finishing in the top ten in batting eight times. On six occasions he collected at least 200 base hits, and he was an effective player well into his 40s. He was one of the most popular players in Washington Senators' history, and one of the most respected men in baseball during his career. Rice is mainly known for one of the most memorable plays in series history, during the eighth inning of Game 3 on Oct. 10th. The Washington Senators’ Rice ran after an Earl Smith line drive hit into right-center field. Rice made a diving “catch” into the temporary stands but did not emerge with the ball for approximately fifteen seconds. The Pirates contested the play, saying a fan probably stuffed the ball into Rice’s glove. The call stood and Rice parried questions about the incident for the rest of his life—never explicitly saying whether he had or had not really made the catch. His typical answer was always “The umpire said I caught it.” Rice left a sealed letter at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum to be opened after his death. In it, he had written: “At no time did I lose possession of the ball.”

January 27 1977 — Boston sportswriters honor Luis Tiant as the Red Sox’s most valuable pitcher. This is the fifth year in a row that Tiant has won this honor, a record for the award begun in 1952.

January 27 1982 Chicago Cubs acquiring infielders Ryne Sandberg and Larry Bowa from the Philadelphia Phillies for shortstop Ivan DeJesus. Sandberg will go on to be one of the best second baseman in baseball history.

Todays featured clip:

Quote of the day:

TRIVIA

Crosley Field saw consecutive no-hitters thrown on April 30 and May 1, 1969, what Red’s pitcher and what opponent pitched them?

Reds:

Jim Maloney

Jim Merritt

Gary Nolan

Opponent:

Nolan Ryan

Don Wilson

Juan Marichal

Bob Gibson

Answer in tomorrows newsletter

 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

What player tied the big league record of seven pinch hit homeruns in a season in 2001?Craig Wilson, Matt Stairs owns the All Time record with 23.

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