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March 21
⚾ Tommy Davis Dodger Record Holder March 21
TODAY ON THE DAILY HIGHLIGHT
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Herman Thomas (Jr.) Davis was born on March 21, 1939, in Brooklyn, NY. The hard-hitting left fielder spent the first eight years of his long major league career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But he made stops with nine other teams before he was through. In 1962, he won the National League batting title with 230 hits and a .346 average. That season, he drove in 153 runners, often sweeping teammate Maury Wills off the basepaths. He repeated as batting champ in 1963, and batted .300 six times in his 18 seasons. Injuries to his knees kept him out of the lineup quite a bit in the second half of his career, which prompted his move to a designated hitter role in the American League. Davis hit .348 in two World Series for the Dodgers.
His single season total of 153 RBI’s remain a Dodger record and his 230 hits is second behind Babe Herman’s mark of 241.
May 1, 1965, Davis suffered a severely broken ankle, causing him to miss most of the season and affecting him for the remainder of his career; while he was still a high average hitter after his return, he lost most of his power. He did bounce back to hit .313 in 100 games in 1966 and went 2-for-8 in that fall's World Series loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Following that season, he was traded to the New York Mets.
Davis did play for good teams in the second part of his career as well, including division winners with the Oakland A's in 1971 and the Baltimore Orioles in 1973 and 1974, where he was the first full-time designated hitter in the team's history. Although he is best remembered for his play with the Dodgers, he hit over .300 with Oakland in 1971 and Baltimore in 1973. He played for ten teams in his career, hitting over .300 for four different teams and compiling a lifetime .294 batting average during a period that has been called the second dead-ball era.
His .320 batting average as a pinch hitter is the highest of any batter with at least 150 at bats in the role, tied with Alex Arias. Based on similarity scores, the most similar player to Davis is his contemporary Felipe Alou.
Game of the DayOctober 3, 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers vs New York Yankees
Tommy D comes through for the Dodgers
Did you know?
March 21, 1936 -- New York Yankees outfielder Joe DiMaggio runs his spring training record to 12 for 20, in an 11 - 2 Yankees victory over the newly-named Boston Bees. Before the next game is played, the prize rookie is left unattended with his foot in a diathermy machine. The resulting burn ends his spring training and delays his major league debut until May.
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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!
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Trivia:
Tommy Davis hit two triples in game 2 of the 1963 World Series, 5 other players hit?
Hint: The answer is below
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
March 21, 1936 -- New York Yankees outfielder Joe DiMaggio runs his spring training record to 12 for 20, in an 11 - 2 Yankees victory over the newly-named Boston Bees. Before the next game is played, the prize rookie is left unattended with his foot in a diathermy machine. The resulting burn ends his spring training and delays his major league debut until May.
March 21, 1936 -- The Cincinnati Reds trade first baseman Jim Bottomley to the St. Louis Browns in exchange for utility player Johnny Burnett. Bottomley will have a strong season this year and, midway through the 1937 season, will be named manager.
March 21, 1954 -- Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella injures his left hand in an exhibition game against the Yankees. Though he will hit two home runs on Opening Day, Campanella will have surgery in early May for the bone chips, returning on May 30th. The injury started earlier when he was hit on the hand in the 1953 World Series.
March 21, 1962, the Philadelphia Phillies retire Robin Roberts’ uniform number. The ceremony took place At a cocktail party following a spring training game, the Philadelphia Phillies retire legendary franchise pitcher Robin Roberts' uniform #36.
March 21, 1977, Detroit Tigers pitching sensation Mark Fidrych tears cartilage in his left knee. The injury will require surgery, which will short-circuit the career of the 1976 American League Rookie of the Year. In 1976, Fidrych gained national attention for his strange gyrations and mannerisms on the mound, which earned him the nickname “The Bird.”
Quote of the day:
“I don’t know if I would have made the Hall of Fame,” Davis said in July 2011. “I had better years than some guys who are in. It’s not for me to judge.”
MILESTONES
Birthday Boys
Bill Plummer, Don Durham, Ed Klieman, Manny Sanguillen and Tommy David
Debuts
Ford Frick
Final Games
None Today
Passings
Edd Roush, Joe Medwick, Larry Miller and Pink Higgins
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Trivia Answer: In the order they were accomplished: Tommy Leach 10/1/03, Patsy Dougherty 10/7/03, Dutch Ruether 10/1/19, Bobby Richardson 10/12/60, and Mark Lemke 10/24/91
