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- ⚾ The Day Edd Roush Took a Nap—Mid-Game
⚾ The Day Edd Roush Took a Nap—Mid-Game
World Champ & Future Hall of Famer suspended for imitating Rip Van Winkle
June 8, 1920, the Cincinnati Reds played the Giants at the Polo Grounds. It wasn’t just another game—it was one for the books. After tying the score 4-4 in the top of the eighth, the Reds fell into chaos when George Burns of the Giants ripped a double down the line. The Reds erupted, claiming—loudly—that it was foul by ten feet.
While players argued and fans buzzed, center fielder Edd Roush removed his glove, doffed his cap, and lay down in the outfield… and fell asleep.
The game paused for over 15 minutes while the Reds “smote the murky atmosphere with words.” When calm returned, the ump spotted Roush asleep in center. He ejected him—not for napping, but for what came next: Roush woke up, stormed in, and tried to punch the umpire.
He was suspended “indefinitely,” which turned out to mean just a few days.
That moment of absurdity is a mere footnote in the story of a remarkable player. A .323 lifetime hitter and two-time batting champ, Roush was known for blazing speed and defensive brilliance. He racked up 30 inside-the-park home runs and appeared in the infamous 1919 World Series.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962, Roush’s resume is long—and far more than just a nap in center field. But on that wild day in 1920, Reds fans got more drama than the Republican National Convention—and one of the great baseball stories of all time.
Did you know?
June 8, 1965, the Kansas City A’s select collegiate star Rick Monday with the initial pick of the first-ever amateur free agent draft. Picking second, the Mets take pitcher Les Rohr. Future Hall of Famer Johnny Bench is taken by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round. Another Hall of Famer, Nolan Ryan, is chosen in the tenth round by the New York Mets.
TRIVIA:
Which one-time member of the New York Metropolitans would play thirteen straight seasons in the same city in his next assignment?
Hint: #1 He became the first catcher to play directly behind the batter on every play.
Hint: #2 He was the first president of the Baseball Players Protective Association.
June 8, 1933, At Shibe Park Jimmie Foxx of the Philadelphia A’s hits three home runs in a 14-10 win over the New York Yankees. His home runs come in his first three at-bats, Foxx had homered his last time up the previous day to give him four consecutive home runs.
June 8, 1945, while hosting the Philadelphia Phillies, Leo Durocher went a step too far, ambushing a fan in the dugout with the help of a stadium security guard. The incident led to his arrest on assault charges the following day.
June 8, 1950, The Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Browns, 29 - 4, at Fenway Park, and set major league records for runs scored; most long hits, 17 (nine doubles, 1 triple and 7 home runs); most total bases, 60; most extra bases on long hits, 32; most runs over two games, 49; most hits in two games, 51, including 28 this game. Bobby Doerr hits three home runs and drives in eight, while Walt Dropo and Ted Williams each slam two home runs.
June 8 1961 - The Milwaukee Braves set a major-league record with four consecutive home runs in the 7th inning against Cincinnati. Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron hit back-to-back home runs off starter Jim Maloney; Joe Adcock greets reliever Marshall Bridges with another home run, and Frank Thomas sets the record. When these four teammates end their major-league careers, they will have hit a combined total of 1,889 homers. For all the bombardment, the Braves lose, 10 - 8.
June 8, 1964 -- After other teams back off in their pursuit to sign the outstanding NC high schooler when his little toe is blown off by his brother in a hunting accident, the Kansas City A's ink Jim Hunter for $75,000. The youngest of ten children of a family from Hertferd will go on to lead the A's win 3 Championships in the 70's and become a Hall of Fame pitcher better known as 'Catfish', a name invented by club's owner Charlie Finley.
June 8, 1969, the New York Yankees retired the uniform number of one of their greatest players on Mickey Mantle Day” at Yankee Stadium. Mantle’s No. 7 is retired before a crowd of 60,096 fans, who stay on to watch the Yankees sweep a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. New York sweep the Chicago White Sox, 3 - 1 and 11 - 2 LISTEN
June 8 1977 - Nolan Ryan notches a 19-strikeout game for the 3rd time in his career, pitching the first 10 innings of a game against Toronto. His effort almost went naught, the Angels were down 1-0 in the bottom of the 9th, Bobby Bonds singles in Bobby Grich with 2 outs off Jesse Jefferson. Grich will hit a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 13th to deliver the 2-1 win for the Angels.
June 8, 1982, Hall of Famer Satchel Paige dies at the reported age of 76. Paige made his major league debut in 1948, after a long career in the Negro Leagues. He made his final major league appearance in 1965, pitching three innings for the Kansas City A’s.
Quote of the day:
"I didn't expect to make it all the way to the big leagues; I just had to get away from them damn cows." - Edd Roush, quoted on the official Edd Roush website, about his childhood on the farm and getting up before dawn to do milking
Milestones
Birthdays:Highlights: Del Crandell | Debuts:Notable: John Candelaria |
Final Games:Highlights: Danny Heep | Passings:Notable: Bidd Falk |
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