Submitted by BTGrimes on Fri, 07/30/2010 - 5:00am |
July 30, 1980: J.R. Richard collapsesJ.R. Richard stricken HOUSTON, TEXAS - On this date in 1980 Houston Astros phenom pitcher J.R. Richard was rushed to a Houston hospital after collapsing during a workout in the Astrodome. He underwent emergency surgery that night not only to try to save his pitching career, but to save his life. Doctors found a blood clot in his neck. It took 2 hours of surgery to remove. James Rodney Richard was drafted by the Astros in 1969 out of a Vienna, Louisiana high school. He was a flame thrower, reaching speeds of 100 mph, but he was a little slow out of the gate. He came on the major league scene in 1971 and was a combined 11-6 in his first 4 seasons. His breakout year was 1976 when he went 20-15. Richard won 18 games each of the next three seasons, and was 10-4 with an ERA of 1.89 at the time of his stroke. With 303 strikeouts in 1978 he became the first National League right-hander to strikeout more than 300. J.R. Richard's life was saved on this date in 1980 but his baseball career came to an end. Despite trying a comeback in 1981, he never played another regular season major league game. He finished his career with 107-71 and an ERA of 3.15. According to interviews done then and since, for example in the Houston Press, J.R. Richard thinks the Astros overlooked his complaints about a tired arm and other warning signs before his stroke. Whatever precipitated it, Richard fell on bad times to the point of being homeless living under a bridge in 1994. He later straightened out his life with the help of a minister and became a minister himself working with Houston youth. CONTRIBUTING SOURCES: This baseball history story is brought to you by TODAY in BASEBALL. |
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Submitted by BTGrimes on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 5:00am |
July 29, 2003: Red Sox Mueller 2 slams, 1 gameDouble slams One of the other National Leaguers to hit two grand slams in one game was a pitcher! On July 3, 1966 Atlanta Braves starter Tony Cloninger was 3 for 5 with 9 RBI on his way to a complete game win over the San Francisco Giants 17-3. Cloninger's offensive production was no fluke. He hit 5 home runs and drove in 23 that year. Josh Willingham is the player Contributing Sources: This baseball history story is brought to you by today in BASEBALL. |
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Submitted by BTGrimes on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 5:00am |
July 28, 1976: Two Sox pitchers no-hit A'sNo Hits, Many Walks OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - Chicago White Sox pitchers Blue Moon Odom and Francisco Barrios combined to no-hit the Oakland A's on this date in 1976. Odom started the game against his old team. Barrios relieved him in the 6th. So why would a pitcher throwing a no-hitter be lifted? Let me count the ways; 1) because he walked 9 batters in 5 innings, 2) it was a 2-1 game, 3) it was a key divisional rivalry (the White Sox and A's were both in the American League West in '76). The Sox ended up winning the contest 2-1. This baseball history story is brought to you by today in BASEBALL. |
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Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 07/27/2010 - 5:00am |
July 27, 1927: Mel Ott's 1st HRA Little Giant emerges CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - 18-year old Mel Ott hit his first major league home run on this date in 1927. Ott's first was an inside-the-park job which helped his New York Giants beat the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The 5'9" Gretna, Louisiana native hit 511 career homers, and that was the only that didn't go over the fence. This baseball history story is brought to you by today in BASEBALL. |
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Submitted by BTGrimes on Mon, 07/26/2010 - 5:00am |
July 26, 1987: Hunter, Williams, Dandridge elected to HallThis website will succeed if existing websites link to it. If you're in a position to make that happen it would be greatly appreciated. No hype, just talent COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK - Three "stars" were inducted into the Hall of Fame on this date in 1987. Jim "Catfish" Hunter, Billy Williams and Ray Dandridge didn't lust for headlines or seek attention, so you know the recognition they got on this date was due to pure talent. Catfish Hunter was a 20-game winner five times, four with Oakland A's and once with the New York Yankees. He was in the starting rotation for five World Series Champions, usually the ace of the staff; three with the A's and two with the Yankees. The Hertford, North Carolina native finished his career with 224 wins and 166 losses and an earned run average of 3.26. Sadly, James Augustus Hunter was stricken with Lou Gehrig's disease later in life and died at age 53 of injuries suffered in a fall probably caused by his illness. Billy Williams spent most of career with the Chicago Cubs. He was NL Rookie of the Year in 1961, a 6-time All-Star, set a record for consecutive games played with 1,117 (later broken by Steve Garvey with 1,207). He finished with .290 career batting average and 426 home runs. "Sweet Swingin" Billy Williams had at least 20 home runs for 14 seasons and at least 84 RBI for 13. Ray Dandridge was a star of the Negro Leagues, so unfortunately much of American didn't see him play. He played for teams in Detroit, Nashville and Newark. He also played in the Mexican League in 1940 with, and against, Major Leaguers. He led the league with a .369 batting average but it was his fielding at 3rd base that sparkled. Monte Irvin, who played against major leaguers and Negro Leaguers said Dandridge was the one of the best 3rd basemen he'd ever seen. Dandridge was finally signed by the New York Giants in 1949 but sent to Triple-A Minneapolis. Despite being named league MVP and leading his team to the championship, Dandridge was never called up to the majors.
CONTRIBUTING SOURCES: This baseball history story is brough to you by TODAY in BASEBALL. |
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