New York Mets' Dwight Gooden Gets 20th Victory

On Aug. 25, 1985, the New York Mets defeat the San Diego Padres 9-3, making Mets starting pitcher Dwight Gooden the youngest pitcher to ever win 20 games in a season. At 20 years and nine months old, the second-year Met was a full month younger than Bob Feller, who won 24 games for the Cleveland Indians in 1939. The win was also his fourteenth in a row.

Gooden finished the season with a 24-4 record, a 1.53 ERA, 16 complete games, and 268 strikeouts in 276-and-two-thirds innings -- all of which led the National League. He won the Cy Young Award that year, just one season after winning the Rookie of the Year Award, and joined Herb Score as the only pitchers to strikeout 200 batters in their first two seasons. He was already being touted as one of the greatest pitchers of all time and was a sure-fire Hall of Famer just on talent alone.

 

Sadly, Gooden never lived up to his expectations. 1985 was the final year he won 20 games, although he did follow that up with six solid seasons. After that, his career became a bona fide trainwreck, as he struggled to overcome addictions to both alcohol and cocaine. He retired with a record of 194-112, and as one of the biggest what-ifs in baseball history.

Check out the video below of Gooden earning his 20th win:

Major League Baseball Suspends Pete Rose For Life

On August 24, 1989, former Major League Baseball player and manager Pete Rose is suspended from baseball for life for gambling on the sport.

Rose had a long and storied career, which saw stints playing and coaching on the Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Rose would total 4,256 hits in his career with 3,215 singles.

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, th

e 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.

Rose won the Rookie of the Year award in 1963, was a Gold Glove winner twice, and a Silver Slugger once.

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 with 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 gambling on baseball.

Anaheim Angels Garret Anderson Has 10 RBI Game

 On Aug. 21, 2007, Anaheim Angels outfielder Garret Anderson gets 10 RBI’s against the New York Yankees.

The game was an 18-9 victory by the Angels over the Yankees. Anderson’s performance started in the first inning as he drove in two runs on a double off of Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina.

Anderson would continue his day with another RBI-double in the second inning, making his RBI total three, through two innings.

In the third inning Anderson would hit a three-run homer off the Yank’s, making his RBI total 6 through three innings and putting the score at 12-5.

Anderson would make his first out of the game in the bottom of the fifth, but when he came back up to bat in the sixth, Anderson continued his tear. He hit another home run, this time a grand slam, putting his RBI total for the game at 10, and putting the score at 18-5.

Anderson would get out in his final at-bat during the eighth inning, ending the day going 4-6 with 10 RBI’s, including a three run homer and a grand slam.

This would be Anderson’s most prolific game from the batters box. Anderson finished his career with 287 home runs, 1,365 RBI’s, a .293 average and 2,529 hits.

San Farncisco Giants' Barry Bonds Breaks MLB Home Run Record

On August 7, 2007, San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron’s career record for home runs, with his 756th.

It took Bonds 21 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants to Break Aaron’s record, which stood for 33 years. 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 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 player.

In the American League former Martinez native and Yankee slugger Joe DiMaggio earned three MVP’s. Two of DiMaggio’s teammates also earned three MVP’s, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle. Current Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez also has three MVP’s.

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’s. Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt and another Cardinal in Albert Pujols also earned three MVP awards.

On top of being on of the most decorated hitters of all time, Bonds also was an outstanding outfielder in his younger years as he racked up eight Gold Glove awards from 1990-1998.

  
He 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 400/400 club, hitting over 400 home runs and stealing over 400 bags. He would then further himself from the rest of baseball when he entered the 500/500 club in 2004 when he swiped his 500th stolen base.

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’ stats indicate he should be a first ballot Hall of Famer into Cooperstown, however, with the steroid issues and Balco perjury scandals it is unlikely that Bonds will be nominated into Cooperstown.

Check out the video below of Bonds' 756th home run: 

Cincinnati Reds' Pete Rose Breaks Singles Record

On July 27, 1984, Cincinnati Reds Pete Rose collects his record-breaking career single 3,053 versus the Philadelphia Phillies, a team in which he played on for five years during the middle of his career.

Rose would total 4,256 hits in his career with 3,215 singles.

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.

Rose won the Rookie of the Year award in 1963, was a Gold Glove winner twice, and a Silver Slugger once.

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 with 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 gambling on baseball.

Boston Red Sox Hall Of Famer Lefty Grove Earns 300th Win

On July 25, 1941, Red Sox Lefty Grove becomes just the twelfth pitcher to win 300-games, it was also his last victory.

At the time Grove joined Cy Young, 511; Walter Johnson, 417; Christy Matthewson, 373; Grover Cleveland Alexander, 373; Pud Galvin, 364; Kid Nichols, 361; Tim Keeke, 342; John Clarkson, 328; Eddie Plank, 326; Charles Radbourn, 309 and Mickey Welch, 307 as members of the 300 win club.

After Grover joined the 300-win club 12 pitchers have since joined the club. In chronological order they are Warren Spahn, 363; Early Wynn, 300; Gaylord Perry, 314; Steve Carlton, 329; Tom Seaver, 311; Phil Niekro, 318; Don Sutton, 324; Nolan Ryan, 324; Roger Clemens, 354; Greg Maddux, 355; Tom Glavine, 305 and Randy Johnson, 303.

Grove pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox during his 17 year career. He was a two-time World Series Champion, both with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1929 and 1930. In 1931 he was named the American League MVP. He was also a six-time All-Star including five straight appearances from 1935-1939.

Grove finished his career with 300 wins and 141 losses and 55 saves, in 616 games with 457 starts over 3,940.2 innings pitched. He accumulated a 3.06 ERA, with 2,266 strikeouts, 1,187 walks and allowing just 162 home runs over his career.

Grove was a 30 game winner once, and a 20 game winner eight times, with seven consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins from 1927-1933. Nine times Gove led the league in ERA, with his lowest single season ERA of 2.06 in 1931. In seven consecutive years Grove led the MLB in strikeouts with his highest single season total coming in 1930 with 209 strikeouts.

Grove pitched 298 complete games and had 35 shutouts. Three times he led the league in complete games and three times he led the league in shutouts. His highest total for complete games in a single season was 27, which he did in back-to-back seasons, 1931-1932. His highest single season tot

al for shutouts was in 1936 when he had six shutouts.

In 1947 Grove was elected to the Cooperstown Major League Baseball Hall of Fame with 76.4 percent of the vote on the third ballot in which he appeared.

In 1998 Grove ranked as no. 23 on the The Sporting News list of Baseball's Greatest Players. He was just the second left-handed pitcher listed behind Warren Spahn, third when Babe Ruth was counted as a pitcher.

In 1999 Grove was named as a member of the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

MLB Investigates Pete Rose

On March 20, 1989, Major League Baseball’s Pete Rose, who was then the manager of the Cincinnati Reds, announced by the MLB will be under investigation for gambling on baseball.

Pete Rose as a manager of the Cincinnati Red in 1989.

A few months later on, May 9, 1989, Special Investigator John Dowd delivers his report to Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti. A few months after that on August 24, 1989, Pete Rose voluntarily agrees to a lifetime ban from baseball. The agreement Rose signs with Giamatti contains no formal findings, but Giamatti states he believes Rose bet on baseball. Later that same day, Rose denies the claim.

Eight years later in September, of 1997, Rose applies for reinstatement to baseball.

Seven years after his application for reinstatement, as baseball is set to announce the election of Paul Molitar and Dennis Eckersley into the Hall of Fame, Rose admits he bet on baseball.

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.

Pete Rose doing one of his iconic head first dives as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1975.

Some of Rose’s other accomplishments include, 1963 NL Rookie of the Year award, 1973 NL MVP, 1975 World Series MVP, two gold gloves, one silver slugger award and 17 All-Star Game nominations.

Rose, who will most likely never be elected into the Hall of Fame, has earned his place in the Hall of Fame statistically, but because of his gambling issues, their might be a chance he will never dawn the tan jacket.

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.