September 24

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

Mr. Tiger Al Kaline collects his 3000th!

After 22 seasons, 2,826 games, and 11,564 plate appearances, Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline finally joined baseball’s most exclusive club on September 24, 1974. Playing in his hometown of Baltimore, the 39-year-old outfielder-turned-designated hitter collected the 3,000th hit of his career with a fourth-inning double off Orioles left-hander Dave McNally at Memorial Stadium.

Only 11 players before Kaline had reached the milestone. Needing 139 hits entering the 1974 season—more than he had in the previous two years combined—Kaline embraced the designated hitter role to keep his bat in the lineup. The Tigers, buried in the American League East standings, had little to play for, but Kaline’s chase became a season highlight.

At exactly 8:20 P.M., Kaline lined McNally’s fastball down the right-field line for a stand-up double, drawing a standing ovation from the 11,492 fans in attendance. The game paused as Kaline was congratulated by teammates, opponents, and his family, who were seated near the Tigers dugout. True to form, the celebration was brief—Kaline preferred it that way. The bat and ball were later sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Kaline added another hit later in the game, but Baltimore rallied to win 5-4 in a critical contest for their own pennant race. For Kaline, however, the night was about relief and gratitude.

“I’m happy it’s over with and it’s tremendous,” Kaline told WJR Radio afterward. “I’m very sorry in a way that I couldn’t wait and get it in Detroit, but if I didn’t get it there I’m very happy to get it here in Baltimore because I had a lot of relatives. … I’m very relieved that it’s all over.”

Kaline would finish his career with 3,007 hits, cementing his place as one of the game’s greatest and most consistent hitters.

Source: SABR Games Project

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Historic Days!

They don’t make them like this anymore!

September 24, 1904 -- At the Polo Grounds, Christy Mathewson wins his 32nd, defeating the Pirates, 3 - 1. Matty allows just four hits - two each to Ginger Beaumont and Tommy Leach - in beating Joe Robitaille.

September 24, 1931 -- Lefty Grove wins his 31st, beating the Red Sox, 9 - 4, his 11th straight win over the Red Sox stretching back to May 26, 1930. Since July 25th of that year, Grove's record is 46-4, the best 50-decision streak in the century.

Only Ruth!

September 24, 1919 -- With a blast that clears the roof of the Polo Grounds, Red Sox outfielder Babe Ruth ties the game in the top of the ninth in an eventual 2-1 loss to the Yankees that takes 13 innings to complete. The Bambino's round-tripper, his 28th of the season, breaks the 19th century home run record established in 1894 by Ned Williamson of the NL's Chicago White Stockings. During the contest, Boston's Waite Hoyt pitches nine perfect innings against the Yankees, but they come in between the 4th and the 13th in which he gives up hits to lose the game 2-1.

September 24, 1920 -- In the first game of a twinbill, Babe Ruth hits his 50th home run in the 1st inning, off the Senators' Jose Acosta. He then adds number 51 in a 4-for-4 second game, a 2 - 1 win, to give the Yankees a sweep. The other three hits off loser Jim Shaw are by Del Pratt.

September 24, 1927 -- The Yankees win their 106th, 6 - 0 over Detroit, for a new American League high. Babe Ruth leads the way going 2-4 with a walk. They will win 110, a record until the 1954 Indians win 111.

September 24, 1934 -- Idle Detroit wins the pennant, as the Red Sox beat the Yankees, 5 - 0, in the season's finale at Yankee Stadium. Babe Ruth walks in the 1st inning, limps to first base, and leaves for a pinch-runner,   Myril Hoag in his last home game as a Yankee. Only 1,500 came to the stadium to see Ruth and Yankees despite them winning 91 games.

Homerun History!

September 24, 1940, At Shibe Park, Boston Red Sox slugger Jimmie Foxx hits his 500th home run. Foxx connects against his former team George Caster, of the Philadelphia A’s. Fellow Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Joe Cronin also reach the seats against pitcher George Caster, who allows six home runs on the day.

More History!

September 24, 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates play the final game in the history of Ebbets Field. Grounding out, Pirates' left-handed first baseman Dee Fondy becomes last player ever to bat in Ebbets Field as the Dodgers blanked the Bucs, 2 - 0, in the last major league game ever played in Brooklyn. Danny McDevitt is the winner and Gil Hodges has the last RBI. The Dodgers, who will move to Los Angeles after the season.

September 24, 1969, the New York Mets clinch their first post-season berth, wrapping up the first National League East title. The Mets defeat the defending Steve Carlton NL Champions St. Louis Cardinals, 6-0, At Shea Stadium to officially eliminate the Chicago Cubs from contention. Mets starter Gary Gentry four-hits the Cardinals, 6 - 0 and Donn Clendenon and Ed Charles hit home runs. 

 September 24, 1975 -- Tom Seaver in action pitching a near no-hitter against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. After striking out Don Kessinger and Rick Monday in the 9th, rookie Joe Wallis singles to right for the Cubs first hit. Seaver will pitch 10 scoreless innings (as did Rick Reuschel) but the Cubs will go on to win 1-0 in 11 innings on Bill Madlock's game winning RBI off Skip Lockwood.

September 24, 1977 -- Jack Brohamer becomes the first White Sox player since Ray Schalk in 1922 to hit for the cycle as Chicago whips the Mariners, 8 - 3. Brohamer also adds a double.

September 24, 1979 -- Pete Rose singles in the Phillies' 7 - 2 loss to the Cardinals, giving him 200 hits in a season for the 10th time. He breaks the major-league record of nine formerly held by Ty Cobb. Rose hits safely in his 18th straight game, and will extend it to 23 by the end of the season.

September 24, 1992 -- At the age of 40, Dave Winfield drives in four runs with a homer and a two-run double, becoming the oldest player to drive in 100 runs, his season total is not 103. The future Hall of Famer's offensive outburst helps the Blue Jays beat the Orioles, 8-2.

Quote of the day:

“There’s a drive down to right field into the corner; it’ll be in for a base hit, maybe extra bases. Al is digging for second. He’s in with a stand-up double. A two-base hit for Al Kaline, hit number three thousand in his fabulous career of 22 years as a member of the Tigers. Listen to this standing ovation

TRIVIA

Who had the most hits of any MLB player 1950-59?

Hint:     He was purchased from the Cubs to help start a new franchise.

Hint:     He was the first player ever to come to bat for the new team.

Hint:     He is one of six Hall of Famers born in his native state.

Answer in tomorrow’s newsletter

 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

BILLY GOODMAN 

-  Batted .354 in 1950 to lead the AL and in fact, to lead the majors.  Boston’s Pete Runnels won batting titles in 1960 & 62.  Williams won in 1941, 42, 47, 48, 57 & 58.

-  624 G @ 2b; 406 G @ 1b; 330 @ 3b

-  1^st HR 29-Jul-1948

-  He is one of the Red Sox depicted in the Rockwell painting “The Rookie”

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