Author: Bill Grimes

I'm from Chicago. I worked in broadcast journalism for much of the 1970's and 80's. In 1990 I became a litigation consultant, retiring in 2017. Around 2005 I recall flipping through the sports section of the newspaper coming across "On this day in baseball history Willie Mays hit his 600th home run." I enjoyed the one-liners, but I wanted more. I wanted a story. I took my news reporting skills and started researching and telling baseball stories, one for every day of the year. TodayinBaseball.com is the result.

OCT 29: “You’re out!”

OCTOBER 29, 1979 | ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY | Hall of Fame outfielder Willie Mays began work as a greeter for an Atlantic City Casino on this date in 1979, and Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspended him from the game.

Kuhn had given the former New York and San Francisco Giant’s star an ultimatum; if he took the casino job he’d have to sever all ties with Major League Baseball.

It created a dilemma for the game. On the one hand Mays made a good living during his career, but it didn’t set him up to be a retired multi-millionaire like it does today’s stars. He needed an income to continue his comfortable lifestyle. On the other hand Major League Baseball has been paranoid about gambling since long before the Black Sox Scandal of 1919. Baseball players and gamblers liked each others’ company in the game’s early days, and major league baseball was very uncomfortable about that.

The “Say Hey” kid however, was a hero to every red-blooded American baseball fan. He had just been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame that summer. Mays was not only one of the best ever, he was fun to watch.

Many fans gave him the benefit of the doubt a lesser star wouldn’t enjoy. They thought the Commissioner’s suspension was heavy-handed. It didn’t matter to Kuhn, Mays was unwelcome around pro baseball.

His suspension wasn’t lifted until 1985 by Peter Ueberroth, who succeeded Kuhn as Commissioner. Today Willie Mays is a special assistant to the San Francisco Giants.

CONTRIBUTING SOURCE:
Willie Mays: A Biography, by Mary Kay Linge, 2005

Oct 16: It’s the shoes

OCTOBER 16, 1969 – NEW YORK, NEW YORK • A good reason to shine your shoes; it could help you win a World Series, as it did on this date in 1969.

It was game 5 between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets. The Mets, in only in their 8th year of existence, led the heavily favored Orioles three games to one, but were behind by three runs in this game. Mets left fielder Cleon Jones was at bat. He claimed he was hit in the foot by a pitch and headed toward first base. The home plate umpire didn’t share Jones’ opinion.

There was a discussion involving Mets manager Gil Hodges. Somebody decided, ‘Let’s take a look at the ball.’ If it hit Jones’ foot there should be a smudge of shoe polish on the ball. There was. Jones was awarded first base.

Later that inning Jones scored on Donn Clendenon‘s third home run of the Series. Al Weis‘s home run an inning later tied the game. Ron Swoboda‘s double and two Baltimore errors in the 8th give New York a 5-3 win and the Series.

Contributing sources:
Mets
1969 World Series box score/stats/play-by-play

Oct 25: Through the legs

OCTOBER 25, 1986 | NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Today is the day in 1986 a seemingly routine grounder went through Bill Buckner‘s legs prolonging the Boston Red Sox agony of not winning a World Series since they sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919.

It wasn’t all Buckner’s fault though. When the day started the Red Sox had a 3 games to 2 lead over the New York Mets. It was the tenth inning of game 6. Boston had a 5-3 lead with 2 outs and nobody on base for the Mets.

The Mets started a rally, scored two runs to make the score 5-5. If Buckner had made the play it would have been the third out with the game still tied. Instead the Mets scored the winning run on that play, and won the Series in the next game.

Did you notice Buckner had high-top cleats on that night because he had a sore ankle? He’s the first player I ever saw wearing high-tops. It’s surprising they became so popular. Does anyone wear low-cut cleats anymore?

CONTRIBUTING SOURCE:
1986 World Series Game 6 box score & play-by-play

This baseball history calendar is brought to you by TODAY in BASEBALL.

Oct 21: Drama at Fenway

OCTOBER 21, 1975 | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – Many regard the game played on this date in 1975 as the best World Series game ever. Certainly game 6 of the ‘75 Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox ranks up there as one of the most exciting. The 12 inning classic is most remembered for Carlton Fisk‘s walk-off home run – more like “wish-off” home run – to force a game seven, but there was much more.

The ball Fisk hit was down the left field line. Fisk had to wish the ball, coax the ball, symbolically push the ball right, otherwise it’s a long strike. The ball stayed right. Game over.

But the opportunity wouldn’t have presented itself to Fisk without teammate Bernie Carbo hitting a pinch hit, 3-run homer with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game at 6.

Later in 11th, Dwight Evans made a game-saving catch in right of a long drive off the bat of Joe Morgan, then doubled Ken Griffey, Sr. (as in Ken Griffey, Jr.’s Dad) off 1st.

As exciting as that game was, it did not turn out to be a Cinderella story for Boston. Cincinnati won game 7 the next day 4-3.

CONTRIBUTING SOURCES:
Game 6 1975 World Series box score & play-by-play
More on 1975 World Series

This baseball history story about Carlton Fisk is brought to you by TODAY in BASEBALL.

Oct 18: Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!

OCTOBER 18, 1977 – THE BRONX, NEW YORK | Reggie Jackson forever became “Mr. October” on this date in 1977. It was game 6 of the World Series; Yankees against Dodgers; New York against Los Angeles; the biggest stage; the two biggest television markets.

In the fourth inning, Yankee right-fielder Reggie Jackson hit Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Burt Hooton‘s 1st pitch into the right-field seats for a two-run homer. The next inning, Jackson hit Elias Sosa‘s 1st pitch to almost the same spot for 2 more runs. In the eighth inning, Jackson hit Dodger pitcher Charlie Hough‘s 1st pitch into the center-field bleachers.

Which was more amazing? Hitting 3 home runs in one World Series game? Hitting each one on the first pitch? Hitting each one off different pitchers? Or, hitting the third one 475 feet into the hitting-backdrop bleachers?

The Yankees won the game 8-4 and the Series 4 games to 2. The last player to hit 3 home runs in a World Series game before Jackson? Babe Ruth, who did it twice. Albert Pujols (2011) and Pablo Sandoval (2012) have done it since.

Contributing Sources:
1977 World Series game 6 box score/play-by-play
Reggie Jackson: Baseball Hall of Fame
Sports Illustrated Greatest Teams, By Tim Crothers, 1998

This baseball history story about Reggie Jackson is brought to you by TODAY in BASEBALL.