Brooklyn Dodgers Play First Game At Ebbets Field

On April 5, 1913, the Brooklyn Dodgers play their first game at Ebbets Field, named after Dodgers owner Charles Ebbets. Besides being home to the Brooklyn Tigers of the NFL, Ebbets Field would hose the baseball team for their remaining time in Brooklyn.

Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York.

A total of 25,000 fans crammed inside to see the first exhibition game between the Dodgers and Yankees. With the help of an inside-the-park home run by Casey Stengel, the Dodgers would go on to win 3-2. Their first regular season game occurred four days later.

The design of Ebbets Field would go on to inspire the vaulted exterior of the New York Mets new park, Citi Field.

Ebbets Field was torn down in 1960 just four years after the Dodgers had moved west to Los Angeles.

Yankees Beat Mets In All New York World Series

On Oct. 26, 2000, the New York Yankees defeat the New York Mets four games to one to win their third straight World Series championship. Making them one of only two teams to win the World Series three consecutive times. The other only other team besides the Yankees to do complete the feat was the Oakland Athletics from 1972-1974. The MVP of the World Series was New York Yankees shortstop, Derek Jeter.

The Yankees would go on to do the unthinkable and make the World Series in 2001, bidding for the firs time in Major League history that a team would win four consecutive World Series trophies. But it was the Arizona Diamondbacks who would win the World Series, keeping the record for most consecutive World Series championships at three.

The World Series championship in 2000 was the Yankees twenty-sixth and last until they won No. 27, in 2009.

For the Mets, it was the last time they visited the World Series, and the last time the team won a Wild Card berth.

Since 2000, the Mets have made the playoffs just once, in 2006, when they won the East Division Title and won their NLDS matchup. However, for the Mets they were eliminated from the playoffs after losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 of the NLCS.

Buckner Costs Sox The Series

On Oct. 25, 1986, Buckner's mistake costs Red Sox the World Series.

On this day in 1986, the famous Bill Buckner error took place in Game 6 of the World Series. 

The Red Sox led 5-3 in the bottom of the tenth inning and were on their way to winning the World Series trophy. 

But a Mets rally kept the game alive. 

After a wild pitch, Bill Buckner misplayed a routine ground ball and allowed the Mets to steal the game. 

New Work would take the series in seven games.

Fernandez Hits For The Cycle

On September 3, 1995, New York Yankees Tony Fernandez hits for the cycle against the Oakland Athletics.

Fernandez became just the tenth Yankee to hit for the cycle joining greats like Bert Daniels, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Joe Gordon, Tony Lazzeri, Mickey Mantle, Bob Meusel, Bobby Murcer and Buddy Rosar.

Only DiMaggio, Gehrig and Meusel hit for more than one cycle during their careers with the Yankees, and Meusel was the only player who hit for the cycle in pin stripes more than twice, completing the feat three times in 1921, 1922 and 1928.

Fernandez would finish his 17-year career that saw him play 2,158 games with the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers with a .288 batting average, 2,276 hits consisting of 414 doubles, 92 triples and 94 home runs. He also had 1,057 runs scores, 844 RBIs, 690 walks, 246 stolen bases and struck out 784 times.

Fernandez was a five-time All-Star, including back-to-back appearances in 1986 and 1987. He was a four-time Gold Glove winner, including four-consecutive awards from 1986-1989. He was a World Series Champion in 1993 with the Toronto Blue Jays and has been honored by the Blue Jays in their “Level of Excellence.”

The 1989 season also saw Fernandez set a nine-year record for shortstops with a .992 fielding percentage.

Since Fernandez hit for the cycle in 1995 only one Yankee has accomplished the feat. In 2009 Melky Cabrera hit for the cycle.

A total of 234 cycles were hit before Hernandez hit for his in 1995, with two others coming that season by Gregg Jefferies of the Philadelphia Phillies and Rondell White of the Montreal Expos.
Since Fernandez hit for the cycle in 1995 the feat has been achieved 68 times, with the most recent cycle coming by Houston Astros Brandon Barnes on July 19, 2013.

The most cycles hit by a single player is three, achieved by three players; Babe Herman twice in 1931, and once in 1933; Meusel in 1921, 1922 and 1928; and John Reilly, twice in 1883, and once in 1890.

Babe Herman is the only three-cycle player to accomplish the feat for two different teams—the Brooklyn Robins (May 18 and July 24, 1931) and the Chicago Cubs (September 30, 1933).

The only players to hit for more than one cycle in the same season include chronologically; Reilly, 1883; Tip O’Neill, 1887; Herman, 1931; Aaron Hill, 2012.

The shortest span between the two cycles in one season came off the bat of O’Neill, who hit his cycles just seven days apart on April 30, 1187 and May 7, 1887.

Most recently Hill hit his cycles just 11 days apart on June 18, 2012 and June 29, 2012.

Two players, John Olerud and Bob Watson, have hit for the cycle in both the National and American Leagues.

Family pairs to hit for the cycle include father and son Gary and Daryle Ward, who accomplished the feat in 1980 and 2004, respectively; and grandfather and grandson Gus and David Bell, the elder of whom hit for the cycle in 1951, and the younger in 2004.

The most cycles hit in a single major league season is eight, which has occurred twice: first in the 1933 season, and then again in the 2009 season; all eight cycles in each of those seasons were hit by different players.

Cycles have occurred on the same day twice in Major League Baseball history: on September 17, 1920, hit by Bobby Veach of the Detroit Tigers and George Burns of the New York Giants; and again on September 1, 2008, when the Arizona Diamondbacks' Stephen Drew and the Seattle Mariners' Adrián Beltré each completed the four-hit group.

Conversely, the longest period of time between two players hitting for the cycle was five years, one month, and 10 days, a drought lasting from Bill Joyce's cycle in 1896 to Harry Davis' in 1901.

Two current teams in Major League Baseball have never had a player hit for the cycle: the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres. The Padres are also the only active major league franchise to have never had a pitcher throw a no-hitter.

Seaver Sets A New Strikeout Record

On September 1, 1975, Hall of Famer and New York Mets great Tom Seaver becomes the first pitcher to strike out 200 in eight consecutive seasons.

Seaver would finish his career with 3,640 strikeouts, which at the time was good enough for third all-time being behind only Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton at the time of his retirement.

The list of current 3000 strikeout pitchers includes in this order from most to least, Nolan Ryan, 5,714, Randy Johnson, 4,875, Roger Clemens, 4,672, Steve Carlton, 4,136, Bert Blyleven, 3,701, Tom Seaver, 3,640, Don Sutton, 3,574, Gaylord Perry, 3,534, Walter Johnson, 3,509, Greg Maddux, 3,371, Phil Niekro, 3,342, Ferguson Jenkins, 3,192, Pedro Martinez, 3,154, Bob Gibson, 3,117, Curt Schilling, 3,116 and John Smoltz, 3,084.

The 3,000-strikeout club might become more elusive as the closest pitcher to the feat is 48-year-old Jamie Moyer. Moyer is the active leader in strikeouts with 2,405 but is currently a free agent after being released by the Toronto Blue Jays AAA affiliate. Because of this Moyer will most likely not reach 3,000, and with the way the game has changed in recent years, one wonders if we will ever see another pitcher join the elusive 3,000 strikeout club.

Seaver had an excellent career that spanned 20-seasons with the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox, though he primarily known for his time with the Mets.

Seaver’s career numbers include 656 games pitched with 647 starts for a total of 4,783 innings pitched. He put up 311 wins, 205 losses and one save, with 231 complete games and 61 shutouts. He had a 2.86 ERA with 3,640 strikeouts, to just 1,390 walks, allowing just 380 home runs over his career.

Five times Seaver led the league in strikeouts with his highest single season total coming in 1971 with 289. He led the league in ERA three times with his lowest single season ERA coming in 1971 with a 1.76 mark. Seaver also led the league in wins twice with his highest single season total coming in 1969 when he recorded 25 wins.

Seaver, a 12-time All-Star made seven consecutive appearances in the Mid Summer Classic from 1967-1973. He won three Cy Young Awards over his career in 1969, 1973 and 1975. He was a five-time National League Strikeout Champion, including back-to-back awards in 1970-1971, and 1975-1976. Seaver was a three time NL ERA Champion in 1970, 1971 and 1973. He was also a three time NL Wins Champion in 1969, 1975 and 1981. Seaver was also the 1967 Rookie of the Year.

Although he never won an MVP award Seaver was in the conversation 10 times over the course of his career and was on the top 10 in voting five times.

Seaver won the World Series in 1969 with the “Miracle Mets” and pitched a no-hitter on June 16, 1978 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Mets retired Seaver’s number 41 jersey in July of 1988.

Seaver was inducted into the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 with 98.84 percent of votes, making him the highest vote getter percentage wise ever in baseball history. He is also the only player to wear a New York Mets hat on his plaque in Cooperstown.

Gagne Breaks Consecutive Save Record

On Aug, 28, 2003, Eric Gagne sets a record with consecutive save 44 of the 2003 season, with a total of 52 in a row dating back to the 2002 season.

Gagne would continue his streak into the midst of the 2004 season and eventually earn 84 consecutive saves. By far more than any other closer.

Gagne would finish his career with 187 saves, almost half of those were earned during his streak which last over three consecutive seasons.

Henderson Breaks Brock's Record

On August 27, 1982, Oakland Athletics outfielder and Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson steals base 119 of the season, breaking Lou Brock's mark of 118 stolen bases in a single season.

Henderson would go on to steal 130 bases that season, setting the all time mark for the most stolen bases in a single season in the MLB. The record still stands to this day.

Henderson was a left fielder who played in Major League Baseball for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics.

Nicknamed "The Man of Steal", he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and base runner, holding the record for most career leadoff home runs with 81, and winning three Silver Slugger awards in 1981, 1985 and 1990.

His 1,406 career steals are almost double the previous record of 938 by Lou Brock, and more than 700 above the current active leader in stolen bases, Juan Pierre, who has 611 as of Aug. 26, 2013.
Henderson is the all-time stolen base leader for the Oakland A’s and previously held the New York Yankees' franchise record from 1988-2011. That is now owned by Mr. November, Derek Jeter, who has 348 stolen bases in pinstripes. Henderson had 326.

But he was more than just a speed demon around the bases. Henderson holds the major league records for runs scored and unintentional walks. Henderson is also the only player in American League history to steal 100 bases in a season, having done so three times.

A 12-time stolen base champion, Henderson led the league in runs scored five times and was among the league's top ten base stealers in 21 different seasons.

Henderson was named the AL's Most Valuable Player in 1990, and he was the leadoff hitter for two World Series champions: the 1989 Oakland A's and the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays.

At the time of his last major league game in 2003, the ten-time American League All-Star ranked among the sport's top 100 all-time home run hitters and was its all-time leader in base on balls.
His 25-year career elevated Henderson to the top ten in several other categories, including career at bats, games, and outfield putouts and total chances.

His high on-base percentage, power hitting, and stolen base and run totals made him one of the most dynamic players of his era.

He was further known for his unquenchable passion for playing baseball and a buoyant, eccentric and quotable personality that both perplexed and entertained fans.

Once asked if he thought Henderson was a future Hall of Famer, statistician Bill James replied, "If you could split him in two, you'd have two Hall of Famers.

In 2009, he was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot appearance with 94.8 percent of the vote.

The Oakland Athletics also retired Henderson’s no. 24 jersey in 2009.