Mike Witt Tosses A Gem

 On Sept. 30, 1984, California Angels pitcher Mike Witt tossed the eleventh perfect game in Major League history.  

Witt’s Angels defeated the Texas Rangers 1-0 in a game played at Arlington Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Witt’s perfect game came on the final day of the season as he thoroughly dominated the Rangers.  

He had 10 strikeouts on the day to go along with 13 groundouts, as only four balls left the infield throughout the course of the game.  

A few years later in 1990, Witt would finish off a no-hitter started by teammate Mark Langston. After pitching seven innings of no-hit ball, Langston left the game and was replaced by Witt, who finished off the final two innings.  

There have only been nine combined no-hitters in Major League history.

To this day there has only been 23 perfect games pitched in the Major Leagues, with three of the last six coming against the Tampa Bay Rays. Both the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox have the most perfect games in history with three each. The Oakland Athletics have two to their credit and the Giants franchise dating back to New York has one, Cain’s from last season.

Bonds' Joins 40-40 Club

On Sept. 26, 1996, San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds becomes just the second player to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a single season, joining the 40-40 club.

Bonds joined only former Oakland Athletics slugger Jose Canseco who completed the feat for the first time in MLB history in 1988 with 42 home runs and 40 stolen bases.

Bonds would end the 1996 season with 42 home runs and 40 stolen bases, tying Canseco.

Since Bonds completed the feat in 1996, it has been achieved twice more. Former Seattle Mariners short stop Alex Rodriguez in 1998 with 42 home runs and 46 stolen bases and in 2006 by former Washington Nationals outfielder Alfonso Soriano with 46 home runs and 41 stolen bases.

Bonds would finish his career with 762 home runs, and is still the all-time leader in MLB history for most career home runs. Part of Bonds’ success came from the fact that he is the all-time leader with consecutive seasons of 30 or more home runs, in which he has 13, from 1992-2004.

Bonds also leads the MLB in home runs in a single season with 73, career walks with 2,558 and career intentional walks with 688.

Bonds was also a seven time National League MVP. His seven MVP Awards are four more than the next best player.

To put it in better perspective, Bonds who won four consecutive MVP Awards from 2001-2004, would be the leader in MVP Awards if he never won another outside of the span.

In the American League, former Martinez native and Yankee slugger, Joe DiMaggio earned three MVP Awards. As well, two of DiMaggio’s teammates also earned three MVP Awards, catcher Yogi Berra and outfielder Mickey Mantle. Current Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez also has three MVP’s. Former Philadelphia Athletics slugger Jimmy Foxx also won three MVP Awards during his career.

In the National League, St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial earned three MVP Awards in his career. Former Brooklyn Dodger Roy Campanella earned three MVP Awards. Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt and another former Cardinal, Albert Pujols also earned three MVP Awards.

On top of being on of the most decorated hitters of all time, Bonds was also an outstanding outfielder in his younger years as he racked up eight Gold Glove awards from 1990-1998. As of 2009, Bonds was the most awarded Left Fielder to win a Gold Glove Awards in the National League.

Barry is also tied with his father Bobby for the most seasons of 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases with five. Bonds would continue his terror on the base paths throughout his career and managed to become the only member of the 400 home run and 400 stolen base club. He would then further himself from the rest of baseball when he entered the 500-500 club in 2004 when he swiped his career stolen base 500.

Bonds’ was also just a season shy from joining the elusive 3,000 hit club as he finished his career with 2,935 hits.

Bonds would finish his 22-year career with 2,986 games played and 9,847 at-bats. He would accumulate a career .298 batting average, a .444 on-base percentage, a .607 slugging percentage for a 1.051 on-base plus slugging percentage. He totaled 2,935 hits, consisting of 1,495 singles, 601 doubles, 77 triples and 762 home runs. He would also total 2,227 runs scored with 1,996 RBIs, 515 stolen bases, 2,558 walks with 688 intentional walks, while striking out just 1,539 times.

Bonds would lead the league in walks and intentional walks 12 times over the course of his career with his highest single season totals coming in 2004 with 232 walks and 120 intentional walks. Bonds led the league in on-base percentage 10 times, with his highest single season percentage coming in 2004 with a .609 mark. Bonds would lead the league in slugging percentage seven times, with highest single season percentage coming in 2001 with a .863 mark. Bonds would lead the league in home runs twice with his highest single season total coming in 2001 with 73. Bonds also led the league in runs scored and RBIs once with his highest single season totals coming in 1992 and 1993 respectively, with 109 runs scored, and 123 RBIs, although neither of those were single season career highs, which he set in 2001 with 129 RBIs (he reached 129 RBIs four times over his career) and 137 runs scored.

Bonds’ stats indicate he should be a first ballot Hall of Famer into Cooperstown, however, with the steroid issues, the Mitchell Report incident and Balco perjury scandals it is unlikely that Bonds will be nominated into Cooperstown, although he was one of the bests to ever play the game.

Maris Ties Ruth

On Sept. 26, 1961 New York Yankees great Roger Maris hits home run 60 of the season off Jack Fisher, tying Babe Ruth's record for most home runs hit in a single season.

Maris would go on to break Ruth’s record later that season, finishing the season with a total of 61 home runs. The record Maris totaled would stand until 1998 when Chicago Cubs Sammy Sosa and St. Louis Cardinals Mark McGwire broke the record hitting 66 and 70 home runs respectively.

Over the course of his 12-year career, Maris played for four teams including the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals and Yankees.

Maris had an impressive career that saw him play in 1,463 games with 5,101 at-bats, where he put up a career batting average of .260. Maris totaled 1,325 hits, with 195 doubles, 42 triples and 275 home runs. He would also accumulate 850 RBIs and 826 runs scored with 652 walks and 21 stolen bases while striking out 733 times.

Maris led the league in RBIs twice, in 1960 and 1961, his first two years with the Yankees. His highest single season total of RBIs came in 1961, the year he broke Ruth’s home run record. Maris also led the league in runs scored and home runs in 1961 with 132 and 61 respectively, both of which were single season career highs for Maris.

Maris would rack up quite a few awards during his career including seven All-Star appearances, including two in each of the 1960, 1961 and 1962 seasons when MLB featured two All-Star Games during the season. He would win two American League MVP Awards in 1960 and 1961. He would also win two AL RBI Champion Awards in 1960 and 1961. In 1960 he won a Gold Glove and in 1961 he won the Home Run Champion award.

Maris would appear in seven World Series with the Yankees and Cardinals, and was on the winning end three times in 1960 and 1961 with the Yankees and in 1967 with the Cardinals.

The New York Yankees retired Maris’ No. 9 jersey on July 21, 1984, which was Old-Timers’ Day.

A new Roger Maris plaque was also dedicated in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. The plaque calls Maris, "A great player and author of one of the most remarkable chapters in the history of major league baseball." Maris participated in the ceremony wearing a Yankee number 9 uniform.

The United States Postal Service issued a "Roger Maris, 61 in 61" commemorative stamp on September 17, 1999. On September 22, 2011, the Yankees celebrated the 50-year anniversary of Roger Maris' single-season home run record at Yankee Stadium.

Although not elected to Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame, Maris is eligible to be identified as a Golden Era candidate in 2014: The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) appointed-Historical Overview Committee (10-12 representatives; BBWAA members) who will identify 10 Golden Era candidates from the 1947 to 1972 era, for possible election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2015.

Election of any of the 10 Golden Era ballot candidates in 2014 requires getting 75 percent of the 16-member Golden Era Committee vote during its winter meeting in December 2014.

Marshall Beats Xavier

On Sept. 25, 1971, the "Young" Thundering Herd, with an almost entirely new team following the 1970 plane crash that claimed the lives of 37 players, win their home debut against Xavier.

Marshall won on a last-second touchdown when quarterback Reggie Oliver rolled to the right and found freshman Terry Gardner open at the opposite end of the field. Gardner's score gave them the 15-13 win and one of the most touching victories ever in college football.

"It was a storybook finish," said new coach Jack Lengyel. "No one thought we had a chance to win except the team."

Marshall finished the year 2-8, with the other victory coming against Bowling Green. This moment and the entire tragedy surrounding the crash were remembered in the 2006 film "We Are Marshall" – named so because it was the school's rallying cry after the crash.

Paige Sets MLB Record

On Sept. 25, 1965, Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige becomes the oldest person to play in an MLB game.

At age 59 (or 60 depending on where you read it) Paige was brought in by the last-place Kansas City Athletics, who figured he could attract some fans. Satchel played the part of the old man in style, sitting in the bullpen in a rocking chair as a nurse rubbed his arm. Then he went out and shutout the Red Sox for three innings, striking out one and allowing a sole hit to Carl Yastrzemski. He exited to a standing ovation from the 9,289 faithful, with "The Old Gray Mare" playing in the background.

Paige continued to play minor league ball for several years before he became a Braves assistant in 1969. The position allowed him to qualify for pension, and Paige did most of his coaching from his living room in Kansas City.

Two years later, a special committee selected him as the first Negro League star to be inducted in the Hall of Fame. He was a Hall of Famer at age 65, even though he was only six years removed from pitching. But as Paige himself once said, "Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter."

Rose Gets Another 200 Hit Season

On Sept. 24, 1979, in his first year with the Philadelphia Phillies, Pete Rose reaches 200 hits in a season. It was the tenth time in his career he reached that mark.

Rose, most likely the best hitter of his time, and maybe of all time, accumulated 4,256 hits in his career, which still marks first all-time. He played in 3,562, the most all-time. Rose also racked up the most at-bats for any player all-time with 14,053, singles with 3,215 and times on base with 5,929.

Rose finished his career with a .303 batting average, 4,256 hits, 746 doubles, 135 triples, 160 home runs, 1,314 RBIs, 2,165 runs scored, 198 stolen bases and 1,566 walks.

Rose has 67 more hits than Ty Cobb who is the second ranked player on the list, and nearly 500 more hits than Hank Aaron who is ranked third all-time. Rose would also earn 17 more Major League records during his career, the most notable behind the hits record is most career games played, 3,562, which is 254 more than Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox who played in 3,308 games between 1961 and 1983.

Over the course of his career Rose played every single game of the season eight times, and five times led the league in games played. Rose led the league in batting average three times, with his highest single season average being .348 in 1969. He led the league in hits seven times with his highest single season hit total 230, coming in 1973. He also led the league in runs scored four times. His highest single season total of runs scored came in 1976 with 130 runs scored.

Rose would win the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 1973 and was in the top 10 in MVP voting 10 times over his career. 1973 also was a season Rose was the National League batting champion. Rose was a three time World Series Champion in 1975, 1976 with the Reds and 1980 with the Phillies.

Some of Rose’s other accomplishments include, 1963 NL Rookie of the Year award, 1973 NL MVP, 1975 World Series MVP, two gold gloves, and one silver slugger award.

Rose would be selected to 17 All-Star games in his 24-season career. The most famous occurrence of Rose in an All-Star game came in 1970, when Rose smashed into then Cleveland Indians catcher Ray Fosse on a play at the plate. Rose would give Fosse a separated shoulder from the incident, but scored the winning run in the process.

Rose even though the all-time hit leader in MLB, and owner of over 17 Major League records has not been elected into Cooperstown the baseball Hall of Fame because of his gambling issues, and there might be a chance he will never dawn the tan jacket.

Ruth Says Farewell To Baseball

On Sept. 24, 1934, 2,500 fans see Babe Ruth's farewell Yankee appearance at Yankee Stadium.

Babe Ruth without question was one of the best hitters of all time.  If you include his high quality of pitching in his early years, there is no doubt that he is the greatest all around baseball players of all time.

Before Ruth’s decline, he was hands down the best player during his era in the Major Leagues. He still holds records for .690 career slugging percentage and 1.164 career on base plus slugging percentage, and still ranks top 10 in over 15 offensive categories.

Ruth was the first player to 60 home runs, and he did so in a time when the next best player was hitting in the low teens. He was a seven time World Series Champion with the New York Yankees, he was voted 1923 American League MVP and was a two-time All-Star. He led the American League in home runs 12-times, and was a six-time American League RBI Champion.

“The Sultan of Swat,” as often named, was the American League Batting Champion in 1924, but only after he gave up as an honored pitcher who won the American League ERA title in 1916.

During his career “The Great Bambino” hit for a .342 career average, with 714 home runs, 2,873 hits, 2,213 RBI’s. He also pitched for an amazing 94-46 record with a 2.28 ERA.

The Yankees retired his no. 3 jersey and Major League Baseball has honored Ruth’s legacy by nameing him to the All-Century and All-Time teams.

“The Babe,” was elected into Cooperstown Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1936 with 95.13 percent of the vote.

Ruth has been named the greatest baseball player of all time in various surveys and rankings. In 1998, The Sporting News ranked him number one on the list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players".

In 1969, he was named baseball's Greatest Player Ever in a ballot commemorating the 100-year anniversary of professional baseball.

In 1993, the Associated Press reported that Muhammad Ali was tied with Babe Ruth as the most recognized athlete in America.

In a 1999 ESPN poll, he was ranked as the second-greatest U.S. athlete of the century, behind Michael Jordan.

The Babe Ruth Award is an annual award given to the Major League Baseball (MLB) player with the best performance in the World Series. The award, created by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) in honor of Babe Ruth, was first awarded in 1949, one year after Ruth's death.

The Babe Ruth Home Run Award is an annual award presented to the leading home run hitter in MLB. Ruth’s daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, or her son, Tom Stevens, usually presents it to the recipient.

Nothing Goes Right For San Francisco In 27-7 Loss

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco 49ers were the talk of the NFL coming into the 2013 season, but have begin to show signs for concern in the last two weeks, losing to the Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts back-to-back.

Sunday’s loss to the Colts was more surprising then the lost to the Seahawks, who were thought to be the 49ers biggest competition going into the year.

It wasn’t just the offense that played poor against the Colts, but the defense as well. The 49ers allowed a season high in points to the Colts who only managed 21 in a win against the Oakland Raiders in week one, and 20 in a loss to the Miami Dolphins in week two.

Sure the addition of Trent Richardson aided the Colts former No. 1 overall draft selection and former Stanford-Harbaugh product Andrew Luck to beat his former coach, but Luck played better than Kaepernick. He didn’t turn the ball over, and scored one on his feet.

TOD FIERNER / Courtesy
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick wasn’t able to manage much of a game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. Kaepernick was 13-27 passing for 150 yards with an interception. He rushed for 20-yards.

"I know he's grinning from ear to ear," said Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano. "I've never seen him smile the way he was smiling after this one."

"I wasn't caught up in, Oh my gosh, I'm going up against Coach(es) Harbaugh, Roman and Fangio," said Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. "I figured any time you play this sport, coaches and players come and go so much that you always end up going against someone that you played for or played with or had a good relationship with."

But it was just as much the lack of play by the 49ers that saw them fail to reach double digits in scoring for the second straight week.

"There's no one thing, we just didn't execute this offense," said 49ers starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

The 49ers now 1-2, will have to get ready to face another divisional opponent as the go on the road to face the St. Louis Rams (1-2), and another former No. 1 overall pick, in Sam Bradford.

The 49ers need to have an impressive performance to reassure their fans that all of the off-season hype and off the field problems with players like Aldon Smith are not going to deter this team from at least making their third consecutive appearance in the NFC Championship game come January.

Rheaume Plays In NHL

On Sept. 23, 1992, the National Hockey League was never known for being diverse, but on this day in 1992, the sport did something rather dynamic: a girl played in it.

Manon Rheaume, a 20 year-old Canadian woman, played goalie for the Tampa Bay Lightning in a preseason game against the St. Louis Blues. Rheaume allowed two goals on nine shots and was lifted in the first quarter with score tied at two. She would play in another NHL exhibition game in 1993, again playing for the Lightning. These were her only two game appearances.

Rheaume continued to play in the independent hockey circuit and was the goalie on the Canadian woman's hockey team in 1998, which won a silver medal. She never played in a regular season NHL game however. The Lightning were an expansion team when Rheaume first played for them, and Tampa Bay general manager Phil Espesito readily admitted that her preseason appearance was mostly for publicity.

Although Rheaume never got in a real game, she went further than any woman had ever gone in the four major sports leagues. No woman has ever played in an NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL game.

Carlton Sets A New NL Strikeout Record

On Sept. 21, 1981, Philadelphia Phillies great and Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton strikes out a National League record 3,118 batters, fanning Montreal Expos outfielder Andre Dawson. Carlton would end his career with 4,000 strikeouts in the National League, which is still the most of all-time.

The next highest player who is currently playing is Livan Hernandez with 1,922, so it is fairly easy to say that Carlton will most likely hold the National League strikeout record forever.

Carlton’s 4,000 career strikeouts in one league are also the second highest mark of any player in a single league to that of Roger Clemens, who has 4,167 career strikeouts in the American League.
Carlton spent the majority of his 24-year career with the Philadelphia Phillies, but also saw time with the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians and the Minnesota Twins.

Carlton finished his career with 10 All-Star appearances, including four consecutive appearances from 1979-1982. He was a four time National League CY Young Award winner, a Gold Glove winner in 1981 and a two-time World Series Champion, winning the 1967 World Series with the Cardinals and 1980 World Series with the Phillies.

Although he never won an MVP award, he was in the conversation six-times, being in the top five in voting three times.

Over his career Carlton stacked up some impressive numbers including 329 wins, 244 losses with two saves in 744 games, including 709 starts. He was able to pitch 254 complete games and 55 shutouts. Over his career Carlton put together a lifetime 3.22 ERA over 5,217.2 innings pitched with 4,136 strikeouts allowing 4,672 hits, 1,864 earned runs, 1,833 walks and 414 home runs.

Over the course of his career Carlton led the league in wins four times, with his highest single season total coming in 1972 with 27 wins. He led the league in losses twice, with his highest single season total coming in 1973 with 20. He led the league in ERA once in 1972, with his lowest single season ERA coming that same year with a 1.97 mark. He also led the league in games started four times, with his highest single season total of starts coming in 1972 with 41.

Carlton also led the league in complete games three times, with his highest single season total coming in 1972 with 30. He led the league in shutouts once in 1982 with six, although his highest single season total came in 1972 when he had eight. He led the league in innings pitched five times, with his highest single season total of innings pitched coming in 1972 with 346.1. He also led the league in strikeouts five times, with his highest single season total coming in 1972 with 310.

Carlton’s No. 32 jersey was retired by the Phillies in 1989.

In 1994 Carlton was inducted into the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame with 95.8 percent of the vote on the first ballot on which he appeared.

Payton Breaks NFL Rushing Touchdown Record

On Sept. 20, 1987, 1987 Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton scored his record breaking career regular season rushing touchdown 107.  Payton broke the record, which was previously held by Cleveland Browns great Jim Brown.

Without a doubt, Walter Payton was one of the greatest football players that ever played the game.  At the time of his retirement he had the most career rushing touchdowns, most career rushing yards and no player carried the ball more times in their career than “Sweetness”. 

Payton was a nine-time Pro Bowler and was named league MVP in the 1977 season.  

Payton’s greatest on-field accomplishment was being one of the leaders of the Super Bowl champion 1985 Chicago Bears, a team considered by many as one of the greatest of all-time.

Payton would retire from football in 1987 with a record 110 rushing touchdowns. However, his record would not last long.  

In 1995 former Oakland Raider and then Kansas City Chiefs running back Marcus Allen would break Payton’s record with his career rushing touchdown 111. Allen would finish his career with 123 rushing touchdowns.

Since then only two players have eclipsed the record broken by Payton and Allen including LaDanian Tomlinson with 145 touchdowns and Emmit Smith, who finished with 164 touchdowns. Smith still stands as the single player with the most rushing touchdowns in a career.

Griffey Jr. Pinch-hits Home Run 400

On Sept. 19, 2000, Ken Griffey Jr. pinch-hits for home run number 400. Griffey Jr. becomes the first major leaguer to reach the mark of 400 home runs with a pinch-hit blast.

Griffey Jr. also known as “The Kid” goes down as one of the best ball players during the 1990’s and was elected to the All-Century team in 1999.

A 13-time All-Star, Griffey was one of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history; his 630 home runs rank as the sixth-most in MLB history behind only Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and former teammate Alex Rodriguez. Jr. is also tied for the record of most consecutive games with a home run (8 games, tied with Don Mattingly and Dale Long).

Griffey was also an exceptional defender and won 10 Gold Glove Awards in center field over the course of his career.

Griffey Jr., also won seven Silver Slugger Awards, the 1997 American League MVP Award, the 1992 MLB All-Star Game MVP, the 2005 National League Comeback Player of the Year Award. Despite only winning one MVP award Jr. was in the conversation 10 times over the course of his career, being in the top five in voting five times.

He was a three-time Home Run Derby winner, a four time American League Home Run Champion, and the 1997 American League RBI Champion.

Griffey Jr. would finish his career with a .284 average, 2,781 hits consisting of 524 doubles, 38 triples and 630 home runs. He would also have 1,836 RBIs, 1,662 runs scored, 1,312 walks, 184 stolen bases. He struck out 1,779 times.

Four times Griffey led the league in home runs with his highest single season total coming in 1997 and 1998 when he hit 56 home runs each season.

Junior’s career had some stellar moments including playing with his father Ken Griffey Sr. in 1990 and 1991.

On September 14, the pair hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the first, off of California Angels pitcher Kirk McCaskill, becoming the first father-son duo to hit back-to-back home runs. The duo played a total of 51 games together before Griffey Sr. retired in June 1991.

Griffey Jr. is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have appeared in Major League games in four different calendar decades.

On Jan. 22, 2013, the Mariners announced Griffey would be the seventh person inducted into the team's Hall of Fame.

Banks Hits Fifth Grandslam Of Season

On Sept. 19, 1955, Chicago Cubs slugger Ernie Banks hits his fifth grand slam of season, setting a new Major League record.

Banks would finish the season with five grand slams, which was a record until 1987 when New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly hit six grand slams. In 2006 Cleveland Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner would also hit six.

Banks five grand slams are still a National League record though, only being matched in 2009 by former St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols.

Banks would finish his career with 12 grand slams, which is good enough to be tied for twenty-seventh all-time, however, at the time of his retirement Banks was ranked no. 10 all-time in most career grand slams.

At the end of his 19-year career, Banks compiled a .274 batting average in 2,528 games with 9,421 at-bats. He totaled 2,583 hits with 407 doubles, 90 triples, 512 home runs. He would also total 1,636 RBIs, 1,305 runs, 763 walks and 50 stolen bases while striking out 1,236 times.

Six times Banks led the league in games played, with his highest single season total coming in 1960 with 156 games played which led the league. The 156-games was the amount all teams would play in a season without going to a tiebreaker. He led the league in home runs twice, with his highest single season total coming 1958 with 47 home runs. He led the league that year. He also led the league in RBIs twice, with his highest single season total coming in 1959 with 143, which led the league. He also led the league in at-bats in 1958 with 617, which also was his highest single season total.

Banks enjoyed a great career with the Chicago Cubs, filled with awards as he was a 14-time All-Star, including 11 consecutive appearances, with two All-Star appearances coming in 1959, 1960 and 1962, when the league had two All-Star Games a year.

Banks might have had one of the best two-year runs in baseball when he was awarded back-to-back National League MVP Awards in 1958 and 1959. Those same two years he was the National League Home Run Champion and RBI Champion.

Banks was in the MVP voting nine more times, including his rookie year when he was second in Rookie of the Year voting, and sixteenth in MVP voting.

In 1960 Banks won the Gold Glove award and in 1967 he won the Lou Gherig Memorial Award.

In 1977 Banks elected into the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame with 83.8 percent of the vote on the first ballot in which he appeared.

The Chicago Cubs retired Banks iconic no. 14 jersey in 1982.

Sosa Hits 60 Home Runs Again

On Sept. 18, 1999, Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa records hits home run number 60 of the season. The home run also marked the first time a player had reached 60 home runs in back-to-back seasons, 1998 and 1999.

Sosa would hit 60 home runs again 2001, but would never hit that many again after that season. He would finish his career with 609 home runs, putting him in the top six of all-time at the time of his retirement. Since than Alex Rodriguez and Jim Thome have passed him, and now Sosa is currently ranked eighth all time.

Sosa won the MVP in 1998, the year he hit 66 home runs, was a seven time All-Star, and six time Silver Slugger in the National League.

Thought Sosa has so many home runs and was the first player and only player to hit back-to-back 60 home run seasons, his name was drug through the steroid issues of the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Along with an issue of using a corked bat, Sosa will likely not make Cooperstown’s Baseball Hall of Fame.

Jackson Joins Musial and Ruth With Rare Feat

On Sept. 18, 1986, Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson or hits three home runs and collects seven RBIs in one game for the California Angels. His three homers in one game at age 40 put him into a rare group that only included Stan Musial and Babe Ruth.

This was not the first time Jackson had hit three home runs in a single game though. In 1978, in World Series clinching game six. Jackson his three home runs, each on the first pitch off of a different pitcher in each at-bat. With his home run in game five off Don Sutton it meant Jackson had hit four consecutive home runs off of four different pitchers on four swings.

Since Jackson’s historic day another former Oakland Athletic, Jason Giambi joined the club while hitting three home runs in a game for the Colorado Rockies in May of 2011.

Jackson’s career featured 563 long balls, 33 of which came after he turned 40-years of age.

Jackson was named the American League MVP in 1973, and an All-Star 14 times. He was a five time World Series Champion, three times with the Oakland Athletics in 1972, 1973, and 1974, and two times a World Series Champion with the New York Yankees, in 1977 and 1978. He was the World Series MVP in 1973 and 1978.

Jackson was nominated into Cooperstown, baseball hall of fame in 1993 on the first ballot, with over 93 percent of the vote.

The Tarps Are Coming Off In Oakland

Your wish is my command!

Those are a few words Oakland Athletics fans would have never expected to come from the front office of the East Bay’s baseball franchise, the Oakland A’s. However, your wish is being granted.
No the ownership group didn’t decide on a location in Jack London Square for a new stadium to keep the team in Oakland, but they did agree to take the tarps off of the third deck of the coliseum, minus the tarps that cover Mt. Davis. Of note, the third deck already has a few sections behind home plate that are called the “Value Deck” where you can purchase a ticket that includes free food and beverages. Those seats will now be apart of the “View Level” seating which is the entire bowled section of the third deck.

Here is a tweet from the Oakland Athletics official twitter handle @Athletics – Due to strong demand, additional View Level seating is now available for #Athletics ALDS games #OAKtober http://atmlb.com/188XA4y - 12:44 PM - 17 Sep 2013.

Last year the A’s ownership group noted they would take off the tarps on the third deck if the team made the ALCS, although the note was made after the team was already down 0-2 to the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS. The team would push a Game 5 at home, but would eventually lose to those same Tigers, who ended up losing in the World Series to the San Francisco Giants, the A’s cross bay rival.

My assumption is, if the A’s move on beyond the American League Divisional Series to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) or the World Series the tarps will remain off, and possibly more tarps will be coming off of Mt. Davis, in an attempt to gain more revenue.

So what does this mean?

First off, it means more seats for people looking to go to a playoff game in the Bay Area.
The current capacity, and will be for the remainder of the regular season of the O.Co Coliseum is 35,067 plus standing room only tickets. For the ALDS and likely the Wild Card game or other series in the playoffs, the attendance figures will be bumped up to near 44,000 seats plus standing room only.

Secondly, it means that the fans and fan base that supports the A’s is growing in numbers and their voices are beginning to be heard. Well at least their dollars are willing to seen.

The seats in the third deck are starting at $35 for the ALDS and will continue to increase if the team extends its post-season run.

Third, this means the A’s are giving their fan base a shot as packing the house, like it used to be in the early 2000’s and before that, a few more times once the post season begins.

So A’s fans, and baseball fans alike, now is your chance to get tickets, which went on sale Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 10 a.m.

To purchase tickets online you can visit www.OaklandAthletics.com/tickets, you can also visit their box offices at the O.Co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif.

With less than two weeks until the post season begins, it’s time to put on your rally cap and root for your team. The playoffs are upon us.

Cal Bears Fall To Ohio St. Buckeyes

BERKELEY, Calif. – The California Golden Bears knew they were in for a tough battle when No. 4 ranked Ohio St. made their way to Memorial Stadium for the Saturday afternoon game. The Bears, looking for their first win over a top five team since beating No. 3 USC 34-31 back on Sept. 27, 2003.
The Bears just didn’t know how early it would begin.


The Buckeyes wasted no time as they scored their first touchdown, a 90-yard passing play from Kevin Guiton to Devin Smith on the second play from scrimmage. The Buckeyes would keep attacking as the Bears young and inexperienced defense was handed a 21-0 deficit in the first quarter.
“We’re kind of grabbing guys. We have to go with who we have,” said Head Coach Sonny Dykes.

Dan Gluskoter / Courtesy – Ohio St. Devin Smith (left) out runs Stefan McClure (right) for a touchdown. Smith caught three balls for 149 yards with two scores against Cal on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013

“We’ve made some wholesale changes back there from really where we started the season and what we thought the depth chart would be and where it is now. It’s not an excuse. It is what it is. Our job is to win football games and put guys in position to win. We have enough good players to win. We’re going to have some growing pains. When someone goes down, the next guy has to step up and you keep on rolling.”

Dan Gluskoter / Courtesy –  Cal quarterback Jared Goff, 379 passing yards, was 21 yards shy from breaking a UC Berkeley record for yards passing through the first three games of a career.

Although down, the Golden Bears were not out. Led by freshman quarterback Jarred Goff, the Bears would battle back and pull within 11-points at the half, with the score 31-20 in favor of Ohio St. Goff would end the game with 379-yards of passing, just 21-yards short of setting a new record Cal record of three 400-yard passing games to start a career.

The second half wouldn’t change the outcome, but did give the fans a good showing of what is to come as the Bears notched 14 more points in the second, although allowing 21 more to the Buckeyes.
The final score was 52-34 with No. 4 Ohio St. on top.

“I’m not a believer in moral victories, but I thought our team played hard,” said Coach Dykes. “I hate the whole moral victory thing. That’s one of the things we have to get out of our program. You play the game to win. That’s something we have to learn how to do.”

The Cal schedule doesn’t get any easier as their next game pits them against the No. 2 Oregon Ducks. The game is at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. Kick off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Raiders Run By Jaguars In Home Opener

Tod Fierner / Courtesy – Former Oakland Raiders linebacker and actor in several movies including Rocky Carl Weathers (back left) poses with the Hern Family before Aaron (front left) handed the game ball to Weathers.

OAKLAND, Calif. – Before the Oakland Raiders would kick off their home opener for the 2013-2014 NFL season, they gave one Martinez resident the game ball to hand off to officials. That one Martinez resident was Aaron Hern, who was hurt in the Boston Marathon bombing. Hern attended, what would be the Raiders first win, a 19-9 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.



The Raiders were headed by running back Darren McFadden who had quite an impressive performance with 129 yards rushing and one touchdown on 19 touches. He also caught four passes from Terelle Pryor for 28 yards.

Tod Fierner / Courtesy – Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden provided most of the offense for the silver and black, and their only touchdown against Jacksonville.

The Raiders offense was simple by design in their week two performance. They ran 34 rushing plays against only 24 passing plays, for a total of 340 offensive yards, 226 which of came on the ground.

The Raiders defense, which only allowed 248-yards was aided in part by an injury to former De La Salle standout Maurice Jones-Drew, who was injured near the end of the first half with an ankle injury. In Jones-Drew’s last appearance at the O.Co Coliseum last year, he was sidelined for the remainder of the season after being injured by the silver and black defense.

"I think our defense is stepping up,” said Head Coach Dennis Allen.

However, the Raiders defense had their own injury problems as Tyvon Branch was helped off the field in the first quarter, in what appeared to be a quite serious leg injury.

"That looks to be a significant injury," said Coach Allen. "We'll find out more later."

Branch is the Raiders highest paid player for the current season making 9.5 million dollars this year, and is one of just two returning starting defensive players from last years squad. The other, defensive lineman Lamarr Houston.

Branch was replaced by Usama Young and Brandian Ross to play along side of Charles Woodson as the Raiders two safety positions.

The Raiders also saw an injury to Lucas Nix, who injured his ankle. Nix was replaced by Andre Gurode.

Despite the injuries the Raiders were able to hold off the Jaguars and earn there first victory of the season, with 13 of their 19 points coming from the leg of Sebastian Janikowski.

Tod Fierner / Courtesy – Oakland Raiders Sebastian Janikowski was 4-5 on field goal attempts in the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013.

"It's one win. There's bigger fish out there," said Charles Woodson. "It looks like Denver put up a lot of points again, so we've got to get over this one."

The Raiders next matchup takes them a mile high when they travel the Denver to take on the Broncos on Monday Night Football.

The game is scheduled for a 5:40 p.m. kickoff.

Nomo No-Hits Rockies At Coors Field

On Sept. 17, 1996 Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo no-hits Colorado Rockies, 9-0 at Coors Field.

Before coming to the Major Leagues here in America, Nomo pitched in Japan for five seasons racking up a record of 78 wins and 46 losses with a 3.14 earned run average and 1,204 strikeouts. After a successful five years in Japan, where he earned such awards as the 1990 Pacific League MVP, and Rookie of the Year, Nomo moved over to the United States, where he enjoyed a great career in the MLB.

Nomo finished his 14-year career in the MLB with 123 wins and 109 losses, a 4.24 earned run average and 1,918 strikeouts.

Nomo finished his career with two no-hitters, one in the National League and one in the American Leagues, making him only one of five pitchers to ever complete the rare feat.

To date Nomo is the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter at Coors Field in Colorado, as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, against the Rockies. His second no-hitter came at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 4, 2001 as a member of the Boston Red Sox, against the Orioles.

Jackson Hits Home Run 500

On Sept. 17, 1984 California Angels slugger and Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson becomes just the thirteenth player in Major League Baseball history to hit 500 home runs.

Jackson joined Babe Ruth, Jimmy Foxx, Mel Ott, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantles, Eddie Matthews, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Harmon Killebrew, Frank Robinson and Willie McCovey in the 500 home run club.

Since Jackson hit career home 500, the club has grown in size with Mike Schmidt, Eddie Murray, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, Alex Rodriguez, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield joining the club.

Jackson’s career included several other special moments including 563 regular season long balls, five World Series Championships, three with the Oakland Athletics including three consecutive from 1972-1974 and two with the Yankees in 1977 and 1978. Jackson was named the 1973 American League MVP, and in 1977 he earned the Babe Ruth award, for the most home runs hit in all of baseball. He also earned two Silver Slugger awards in 1980 and 1982. As well he was a 14-time All-Star in his 21-year career.

Jackson would finish his career with a .262 batting average, 2,584 hits and 1,702 RBI’s to go along with his 563 career home runs.

In 1993 Jackson was voted into Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame with 93.6 percent of the vote. It was the first time he appeared on the ballot. The Oakland Athletics have retired his no. 9 jersey and the Yankees his no. 44 jersey.

Sydney Olympics Kick Off

On Sep. 16, 2000, the opening ceremonies were held for the twenty-seventh Summer Olympic Games.  

The Games took place in Sydney, Australia marking just the second time the Summer Games were held in the Southern Hemisphere.

The United States would finish the Olympics atop the medal standings with a total of 94, as well as the most golds of any nation with 37.  

The host country, Australia, finished in a tie for third with China for total medals with 58 and finished fourth with 16 gold medals in the most successful Olympics for the nation.  

Marion Jones of the United States, who won three golds and two bronze medals, gave them all back in 2007 after confessing that she had taken tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), a substance that is banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC officially stripped Jones and her relay teammates of their medals shortly after her confession, however, her teammates were given an opportunity to appeal the decision.  

Jones’ teammates would eventually have their medals reinstated, while Jones was disgraced and would later spend six months in prison for lying to federal agents.

Clark Begins NFL Reception Record

On Sept. 14, 1980, San Francisco 49ers great Dwight Clark begins National Football League (NFL) streak of 105 consecutive games with at least one reception.

This streak would be passed by a former teammate of Clark, Jerry Rice, who would go on to have 274 games with at least one reception.

Clark played his entire career with the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1987. Clark played college football at Clemson University before being drafted by the 49ers with the first pick in the tenth round of the 1979 NFL Draft.

With the 49ers, Clark played on two Super Bowl championship teams. He caught the winning touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Joe Montana in the NFC Championship Game in January 1982 against the Dallas Cowboys.  The play, immortalized as "The Catch," propelled the 49ers to their first Super Bowl championship.

Over his career Clark racked up some amazing awards being named a Pro-Bowl selection twice in 1981 and 1982. Being named an All-Pro selection twice, in 1981 and 1982. Winning two Super Bowls, XVI (16) and XIX (19).

In 1981 Clark would be named UPI Second Team All-Conference.

In 1982 Clark would also be named a UPI First Team All-Conference, Associated Press First Team All-NFL, Pro Football Writers First Team All-NFL, Newspaper Enterprise Association First Team All-NFL, Pro Football Weekly First Team All-NFL, Sports Illustrated First Team All-NFL. He would also be awarded The Len Eshmont Award, and was named Sports Illustrated NFL Player of the Year.

That year Clark led the league in receptions, with 60, during a strike shortened season.

Clark would be apart of the 49ers front office for their next three Super Bowl wins XXIII (23), XXIV (24) and XXIX (29).

Over the course of his career Clark compiled 506 receptions for 6,750 yards with 48 touchdowns. He also rushed six times over his career for 50 yards with a long of 18 yards, coming in 1981. Over the course of his career he averaged 3.8 receptions per game, an average of 13.3 yards per reception with an average of 50.4 yards receiving per game. His longest career reception came in 1984 when he hauled in an 80 yard pass from Joe Montana.

Clark’s highest single season reception total came in 1981 with 85 receptions, although he did not lead the league in receptions that year. His highest single season total for touchdowns came in 1985 with 10, although he did not lead the league that year. His highest single season total for receiving yards came in 1981 with 1,105 yards, although he did not lead the league in receiving yards that year.

In 1988 the San Francisco 49ers retired Clark’s no. 87 jersey, and he was inducted into Clemson’s Hall of Fame.

After retiring from the NFL Clark served as the general manager of the 49ers in 1998 and in the same capacity with the Cleveland Browns from 1998 to 2002. As well as starring in the lead role in the 1994 direct-to-video comedy Kindergarten Ninja. Clark has also appeared in the video game, All-Pro Football 2K8.

In 2011 Clark joined Comcast SportsNet Bay Area as an analyst for 49ers Postgame Live.

Gooden Sets A New Strikeout Record

On Sept. 12, 1984, New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden sets the rookie strike out record at 251. He would finish with 276 strikeouts in his rookie year, which led the National League. His 276 strikeouts as a rookie is still a major league record to this day.

Gooden, nicknamed "Dr. K", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominant and feared pitchers in the National League in the middle and late 1980s. He would enjoy a successful career in the major leagues. He had a 16 season career that saw him play for the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Over his career Gooden would earn four All-Star appearances, including three consecutive from 1984-1986. He would earn three World Series Championship rings with the New York Mets, and New York Yankees. He would earn two National League strikeout championships in 1984 and 1985, during his rookie and sophomore campaigns. He would win the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1984, in 1985 he would earn the pitching Triple Crown, given for the pitcher with the most strikeouts, wins, and lowest ERA, his totals that year were 268 strikeouts, 24 wins and a 1.53 ERA.

That performance was enough to give Gooden his only Cy Young Award for his career, as well earn the NL Wins Champion award and NL ERA Champion award. In 1992 Gooden was awarded the Silver Slugger award and in 1996 he pitched a no-hitter, the only one of his career.

Gooden never won a postseason game, going 0–4 in the course of nine postseason starts over eight series. In the 1986 National League Championship Series, however, he had an earned run average of only 1.06 after starting two games and allowing just one earned run in 17 innings pitched.

Gooden retired in 2001 after he was cut by the Yankees in spring training, ending his career with a record of 194–112. More than half of those wins came before age 25.

Gooden finished his career with 194 wins and 112 losses and three saves in 430 games with 410 starts. He totaled a 3.51 ERA with 2,293 strikeouts and 954 walks over 2,800.2 innings pitched. He would total 68 complete games in his career with 24 shutouts.

Gooden led the league in strikeouts twice, his first two years in the league, with his highest single season total coming in his rookie season with 276. He led the league in wins and ERA once, his 1985 Cy Young season with 24 wins and a 1.53 ERA.

Though he never won an MVP award, Gooden was in the conversation three times, with his highest voting coming in 1985 with the fourth most MVP votes.

Yastrzemski Joins The 3,000 Hit Club

On Sept. 12, 1979, Boston Red Sox great and Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, becomes the fifteenth player to get 3,000 hits with his hit on this in day history.

Yastrzemski joined 14 players including Cap Anson, Honus Wagner, Nap Lajoie, Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, Paul Waner, Stan Musial, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Al Kaline, Pete Rose and Lou Brock in the 3,000 hit club.

Since Yastrzemski got hit 3,000, 13 players have joined the 3,000 hit club including Rod Carew, Robin Yount, George Brett, Dave Winfield, Eddie Murray, Paul Molitor, Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs, Cal Ripken Jr., Rickey Henderson, Rafael Palmeiro, Craig Biggio and Derek Jeter.

Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox (1961–1983). He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career played at first base and as a designated hitter.

Yastrzemski is an 18-time All-Star, and the 1970 All-Star Game MVP. He is the possessor of seven Gold Gloves, including three consecutive from 1967-1969. He is a member of the 3000 hit club, and the first American League player in that club to also accumulate over 400 home runs.

Since then Cal Ripken Jr. has matched the feat.

He is second on the all-time list for games played, and third for total at-bats.

He is the Red Sox' all-time leader in career RBIs, runs, hits, singles, doubles, total bases, and games played, and is second on the team's list for home runs behind another Red Sox great, Ted Williams, his predecessor in left field.

In 1967, Yastrzemski achieved a peak in his career, leading the Red Sox to the American League pennant for the first time in over two decades, in that season being voted the American League MVP, and was the last winner of the Triple Crown for batters in the major leagues until Miguel Cabrera achieved the feat in 2012.

Sports Illustrated named Yastrzemski the Sportsman of the Year after winning the Triple Crown.
Yastrzemski retired in 1983 at the age of 44, although he stated in his autobiography Yaz that he was initially planning on playing the 1984 season, until he tired from a long midseason slump. He also stated that had he known how good Roger Clemens would have been as a pitcher, he would have played in 1984 to have a chance to play with him.

Yastrzemski would finish his career with a .285 career batting average with 3,419 hits, 452 home runs and 1,844 RBIs.

Yastrzemski was inducted into the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 with 94.63 percent of the vote on the first ballot in which he appeared.

In 1999, Yastrzemski ranked number 72 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. That same season, he was named a finalist to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

As of the 2008 baseball season, on the all-time lists for Major League baseball, Yastrzemski ranks at number one for games played for one team, a record shared with Baltimore Orioles great and Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson.

Yastrzemski is number two for games played with 3,308, number three for at-bats, number six for hits with 3,419, number six for bases on balls with 1,845, number eight for total bases, number eight for doubles with 646, number nine with 1,157 extra base hits and 12 for RBIs with 1,844.

In addition, Yastrzemski only trails Ty Cobb in hits collected with a single team, and trails only Cobb and Tris Speaker in hits collected playing in the American League, both of whom played before World War II.

Bonds Walked 200 Times

On Sept. 11, 2004, San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds is walked three times in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. With the three walks Bonds became the first player to ever be walked 200 times in one season.

That season Bonds would set two different walk records in a single season, most walks in a single season with 232, most intentional walks with 120. He would also set a record for the best on-base percentage with .609. He would be named the MVP, for the fourth year in a row, in part to his seventh MVP award, also the most all time.

Never before had a player been intentionally walked more than 68 times, which Bonds did two years prior on 2002. To measure how outstanding being intentionally walked 120 times in a single season is here are the top five players and their amount of intentional walks in a single season. 1 – Bonds, 120, 2004. 2 – Bonds, 68, 2002. 3 – Bonds, 61, 2003. 4 – McCovey, 45, 1969. 5 – Pujols, 44, 2009. This stat was first kept in 1955, so Babe Ruth might have been on the list in front of McCovey or Pujols, but there was no official stat for being intentionally walked then.

Of the top 27 most intentionally walked players in a single season Bonds hits the list 11 times, while the next closest player is Albert Pujols with three. But all three of Pujols’ seasons that are on the top 27 still wouldn’t amount to what Bonds was intentionally walked in 2004. Pujols’ three seasons of intentional walks accumulate to 116, Bonds had four more than that in one season.

In his career Bonds was walked more than any other player with 2,558 walks, all of which came in the National League, for the Pirates and Giants. Babe Ruth, who owns the American League record for walks in a career, had 2,042 walks. Rickey Henderson is the number two player all time in walks with 2,129 walks, but his came in both the American and National Leagues.

Plank Reaches 300

On Sept. 11, 1915, Eddie Plank, playing for the St. Louis Terriers of the Federal League, collects win 300 in his career, making him the first left-hander to reach the 300-mark. 

 In his career, Plank went 326-194 with a 2.35 ERA and won 20 or more games in eight different seasons. One of the winningest lefties to ever play in the major leagues, Plank won as many as 26 games in a season but was the first player to reach 300 wins without leading the league in wins at least one time.

Plank, won 305 games in the American League for the Philadelphia Athletics and the St. Louis Terriers making him that league's winningest left-handed pitcher. He would help the Athletics to World Series titles in 1911, and 1913.

In addition, he was the winningest pitcher left or right-handed in the American league until 1921, when Walter Johnson, who finished his career with 417 wins, surpassed him. Plank is still one of the most winningest pitchers of all-time, he is now ranked no. 13 with his 326 wins. 

He also has the most career shutouts by a left-hander in MLB history with 69. His 69 shutouts also put him in the top five in baseball history for most shutouts, only behind the likes of Johnson, Pete Alexander, Christy Mathewson and Cy Young in that order. 

The next closest left-handed pitcher with shutouts is Warren Spahn with 63; he is sixth on the list for most shutouts all-time. Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay leads all active major league pitchers with 20 shutouts, in 16 seasons.

McGwire Has Another 50 Home Run Season

On Sept. 10, 1997, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire joins Babe as only players to hit 50 home runs in two consecutive years.

McGwire had his first of two back-to-back 50 plus home run seasons in 1996 with the Oakland Athletics as he hit 52 home runs to lead the American League in home runs. In 1997 he started the year with the Athletics, and had hit 34 home runs in 105 games but was traded to the Cardinals, where he finished off another 50 plus home run season, with 58 total. He had hit an amazing 24 home runs in 51 games with the Cardinals down the stretch.

McGwire would go on to collect four consecutive 50 plus home runs seasons as in 1998 with the Cardinals he would hit 70 home runs, and in 1999 again with the Cardinals he would hit 65 home runs.

McGwire is only tied with former Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa, as Major Leaguers who had four consecutive years of 50 plus home runs.

McGwire finished his career with a .263 career batting average, 1,626 hits, and 1,167 runs, 1,414 RBIs to go along with his 583 home runs. His career on base percentage was .394, his career slugging percentage was .588 and his on base plus slugging was .982.

McGwire was the 1987 American League Rookie of the Year, and was a 12-time All-Star including six-straight appearances twice, from 1987-1992 and from 1995-2000. He was a two-time World Series Champion, once as a player with the Oakland Athletics in 1989 and once as a coach with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011. He won a Golden Glove at first base with the A’s in 1990 and won three Silver Slugger awards, two with the A’s in 1992 and 1996 and one with the Cardinals in 1998.

McGwire also won the 1992 Home Run Derby and was given the Lou Gehrig Award in 1999.
Also in 1999 McGwire was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

McGwire also played for Team USA in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 helping Team USA earn a Silver medal. McGwire also helped the United States in international play during the Pan American Games and Intercontinental Cup in 1983 helping the USA earn a Bronze and Silver medals respectively.

In 1999, The Sporting News released a list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. The list had been compiled during the 1998 season and included statistics through the 1997 season. McGwire was ranked at Number 91.

In 2005, The Sporting News published an update of their list and McGwire had been moved up to Number 84.

However, in the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 balloting for the Baseball Hall of Fame, McGwire failed to attain election receiving 128 of the 545 cast (23.5 percent of the vote) in 2007, 128 of 543 (23.6) in 2008, 118 of 539 (21.9) in 2009, 128 of 539 (23.7) in 2010, 115 of 581 (19.8) in 2011, 112 of 573 (19.5) in 2012, and 96 of 569 (16.9) in 2013.

Currently McGwire is the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers, after being the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2010-2012.

McGwire had a Hall of Fame career based on his stats and accomplishments but because of his trouble with performance enhancing drugs (PED) his call to the hall might come in to questioning.

Sampas Takes Down Agassi

On Sept. 10, 1990, tennis great 19 year old Pete Sampras beats Andre Agassi to win US Open

Over his 15-year career Sampras totaled 762 wins and 222 losses for a 77.43 winning percentage, with 64 career titles. His highest ranking came at No. 1 on April 12, 1993.

In the Grand Slam, Sampras was the Australian Open in 1994 and 1997, Wimbledon seven times including four consecutive times from 1997-2000. He was on the US Open five times including back-to-back wins in 1995 and 1996. 

Sampras also won the Tour Finals five times, including back-to-back wins in 1996-1997. 

The best Sampras ever finished in singles at the French Open was in the semi-finals in 1996. He also made it to the third round of competition in the 1992 Olympic games.

In Doubles Sampras was not as impressive but still won two career titles, with 64 wins and 70 losses. His highest ranking as a duo came in 1990 when he and Jim Courier reached No. 27 overall on February 12, 1990.

The two titles Sampras won in doubles competition both came at the Davis Cup in 1992 and 1995, but he was never able to pair that success in the Grand Slam only making it to the first round in the US Open from 1988-1990, the second round of the Australian Open and French Open in 1989 and the third round of Wimbledon in 1989.

Since his retirement Sampras has played in many matches, with his first coming on April 6, 2006, three and a half years after his retirement. Sampras resurfaced in River Oaks, Houston, Texas, against 23-year-old Robby Ginepri. Ginepri won the match in two sets. Sampras later announced that he would be playing in World Team Tennis events.

The year 2007 saw Sampras become a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. It also saw Sampras announce that he would play in a few events on the Outback Champions Series, a group of tournaments for former ATP players who have met certain criteria during their careers. Sampras won his first two events on tour, defeating Todd Martin in both finals.

On November 20, 2007, Sampras lost the first of three exhibition matches in Asia against Roger Federer in Seoul, Korea. Two days later in Kuala Lumpur, Sampras again lost to Federer in two tie-breaks. However, Sampras was able to win the last match of the series, winning in two sets on fast carpet.

On February 18, 2008, in an exhibition match during the SAP Open at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Sampras defeated another active player, former world No. 2 Tommy Haas. Sampras dispatched the German in 43-minutes. 

On March 10, 2008, Sampras played another exhibition match against world No. 1 Roger Federer at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Sampras once again lost the match in three tight sets.

In 2009 Sampras won two Outback Champions Series titles. He defeated McEnroe in the final of the Champions Cup Boston in February and Patrick Rafter in the final of The Del Mar Development Champions Cup in March.

In 2010 with Roger Federer, Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal, he played an exhibition doubles match at Indian Wells to raise money for the people of Haiti who had been affected by the earthquake. 

On November 17, 2011, Sampras played and lost an exhibition match against Milos Raonic. This was the last match that Sampras had played in.

For his career Sampras still ranks as the fourth highest money winner in tennis history, with a total of $43,280,489 of prize money won.

Broncos Victorious Over Patriots

On Sep. 9, 1960, the Denver Broncos defeat the Boston Patriots, 13-10, in the first ever game played in the American Football League. 

The Broncos had lost all five of their exhibition games and wouldn't experience a winning season until 1973 -- after they had already merged into the NFL. 

But on this Friday afternoon, it was Denver who was victorious. 

Patriots kicker Gino Cappelletti scored the league's first points with a 35-yard field goal to begin the game.

While the Broncos would remain in Denver, the Patriots eventually moved south to Foxborough. When they did, the team was temporarily renamed the "Bay State Patriots," much to the chagrin of many sports writers. "When I came here in February of 1971, they were the Bay State Patriots," Upton Bell, then the General Manager of the Patriots, told the Boston Globe in 2009. "The first newspaper headline I saw read, ‘BS Patriots.’ I said, ‘Oh, no. The ‘BS Patriots’? Like the ‘bull [expletive] Patriots'?

"Everybody was making jokes about us. I figured, ‘We’re not in Boston, and we’re in the middle of New England -- why not become the New England Patriots?" 

The team did just that in March, only a month after becoming the BS Patriots.

Murray Blasts 500

On this day in 1996, Eddie Murray hit career home run 500.

Murray was playing with the Baltimore Orioles at the time. Murray's bomb came against the Detroit Tigers. He would play just one more season and end his career with 504 home runs.

Murray was just the fourteenth player to reach the milestone of 500 home runs. 

 There have been 10 players to reach the 500 home run mark after him. Murray is now ranked no. 25 on the all-time list of home run hitters. 

Murray ended his career as an eight time All-Star, including six consecutive selections from 1981-1986. He won all three of his Gold Gloves consecutively from 1982-1984 and won three Silver Slugger awards in 1983, 1984 and 1990.

Murray was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1977 and was part of the Baltimore Orioles team that won the 1983 World Series.

Murray’s career also saw playing time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians and Anaheim Angels to go along with his time with the Mets and Orioles.

Murray would finish his career with a .287 batting average, 3,255 hits, 504 home runs, 1,917 RBIs and 1,627 runs scored. He is one of only four players to have 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. The other three are Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Willie Mays as well as another famous Orioles slugger Rafael Palmeiro.

His 504 home runs are the most of a player who never hit more than 33 home runs in a season, the second most by a switch hitter to that only of New York Yankees great Mickey Mantle, who hit 536 in his career. They also rank Murray twenty-fifth in all-time home runs.

At the time of his retirement he was tied with Chili Davis for the most games in which he hit a home run from both sides of the plate, 11. In 2011 New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeria broke the record with 12.

A record not shown on the stat book but valuable is that Murray is the record holder for sacrifice flies with 128.

The Baltimore Orioles retired Murray’s jersey number 33 in 1998.

In 1999, Murray ranked Number 77 on The Sporting News list of Baseball's Greatest Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Murray was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003 with 85.3 percent of the vote on the first ballot in which he appeared.

Murray served as the hitting coach for the Cleveland Indians from 2002 to 2005.

On June 14, 2007, Murray was fired as hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers, after just months on the job.

In 2012 a Bronze statue of Eddie Murray's left handed hitting stance unveiled at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.