St. Louis Cardinals Hall Of Famer Enos Slaughter Passes

On August 12, 2002, was a day of mourning for the St. Louis Cardinals. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Enos Slaughter passed away at the age of 86. He was inducted in 1985 after playing 19 seasons in the major leagues, 13 with St. Louis he was a career .300 hitter. 

Slaughter also led the Cardinals to two World Series titles.

Overall, Slaughter was involved in five World Series with four wins in 1942, 1946, 1956 an 1958, the first two with the St. Louis Cardinals and the later two with the New York Yankees.

He joined the New York Yankees later in his career and helped them to the promised land three years in a row from 1956 to 1950. In the storied history of the Cardinals, Slaughter was one of the most consistent hitters in the franchise's history.

Slaughter was also a 10 time All-Star selection, all 10 times coming with the St. Louis Cardinals. The St. Louis Cardinals retired his no. 9 jersey in 1996.

His career accomplishments are especially impressive considering that he missed three seasons beginning in 1943 (when he was 27) to serve in the military during World War II.

Scott Harper Gets His Fifteen Minutes Of Fame

 On August 9, 2005, in the 8th inning of a Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees game, 18 year-old Scott Harper got his fifteen minutes fame. 

Much like Patrick Lawler, a man who received notoriety because he didn't know he had a nail in his skull for four months, Scott Harper will not be remembered as "Scott Harper." He'll be remembered as the guy who dove 40 feet off the upper deck of Yankee Stadium and lived to tell about it.
Harper's fall ended when he crashed into the safety net behind home plate. The local YES telecast rattled as the net vibrated the camera line. The game temporarily came to a stop; everyone in the stadium watched as the kid, who was visibly shaken up, began to climb up the net towards the middle section of Yankee Stadium. Harper received a thunderous ovation from the crowd when he reached the seating area and was forcefully pulled away by security.

Harper left the stadium in a stretcher and was taken to a local hospital. When he was released the next day, Scott got a knock on his door from the police. Harper pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and received three years of probation. Even worse, he was permanently banned from all future New York Yankee home games.

Scott told the police that he wanted to test if the net could hold him and that he was pretty drunk at the time. "It was just like a stupid dare," said one of the friends who went to the game with him. ESPN decided not to air the clip of him falling when they learned it was intentional. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner called the stunt, "the only exciting thing that happened today," noting that the Yankees lost the game, 2-1.
Harper's plunge was not the first time a fan had jumped onto the safety net; Stephen Laurenzi had pulled the same stunt back in 2000.

Three weeks after his dive, Harper was pulled over for speeding in a residential area. He was again arrested, this time for the possession of marijuana. And that was the last of his fifteen minutes of fame.

New York Yankees' Lou Gehrig Hits First Career Grand Slam

On July 23, 1925, New York Yankees great and Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig hits his first of 23 career grand slam home runs.

The 23 grand slams by Gehrig are now the second most all-time, only behind another current Yankee, Alex Rodriguez who has 24.

Of current players on the list with most all-time grand slams Rodriguez, 24, Jason Giambi, 15, Travis Hafner, 12, Raul Ibanez, 11, Robinson Cano, 8, Mark Teixeria, 8, Nick Swisher, 7, Lance Berkman, 6, Curtis Granderson, 6, Vernon Wells, 6, Eric Chavez, 5 are on or have played on the Yankees at one point in their career.

Of the players with more than 10 grand slams in their career Jorge Posada, 10, Dave Winfield, 11, Bernie Williams, 11, Tino Martinez, 11, Reggie Jackson, 11, Cecil Fielder, 11, Don Baylor, 13, Gary Sheffield, 13, Joe DiMaggio, 13, Babe Ruth, 16, Dave Kingman, 16 played on the Yankees.

Gehrig goes down as one of the greatest players to ever don the Yankee’s pin-stripes and the nickname “Iron Horse” for the consecutive games played streak had his career cut short by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disorder now commonly known in the United States and Canada as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Despite the debilitating disease Gehrig finished his career with a .340 batting average, with 493 home runs, 2,721 hits and 1,995 RBIs. He was a seven-time All-Star, a six-time World Series Champion with the Yankees. He also won two MVP awards in 1927 and 1936. He was the Yankees captain from 1935 to 1938 and the Yankees retired his no. 4 jersey on July 4, 1939. He became the first baseball player to have his uniform number retired on January 6, 1940; his July 4, 1939 farewell to baseball speech, fans voted as the fifth-greatest moment in Major League Baseball history in 2002.

Gehrig won a triple crown in 1934 batting .363 with 49 home runs and 165 RBIs, but did not win the MVP award that year. He became the only player in MLB history to collect 400 total bases in five seasons as he did so in 1927, 1930, 1931, 1934 and 1936.

With St. Louis Cardinals great Stan Musial, he is only one of two players with at least 500 doubles, 150 triples and 450 home runs in his career. He is also only one of four players with Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Musial to end career with a minimum .330 batting average with 450 home runs and 1,800 RBIs. He is also only one of two players to hit 40 doubles and 40 home runs in the same season three separate times.

Gehrig was named a member of the MLB All-Century team in 1999, MLB All-Time team in 1997 and was inducted into Cooperstown’s Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939 through a special election.

Gehrig was also the first athlete ever to appear on a box of Wheaties.

Cal Ripken Jr. Plays 1,000th Consecutive Game

On June 25, 1988 Hall of Famer and Baltimore Orioles great, Cal Ripken Jr. plays consecutively for 1,000 games. He would go on to play a total of 2,131 consecutive games breaking the record previously held by Lou Gehrig, in 1995 and in 1998 he would see his consecutive game streak end at 2.632.

To this day Ripken Jr. is still holds the most games played consecutively.

 

Ripken Jr. giving a curtain call farewell to his fans at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Ripken Jr. finished his career with a .276 batting average, 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, 1,078 extra base hits, 603 doubles, 1,129 walks 1,647 runs and 1,695 RBIs in 3,001 games played. All of which are Baltimore Orioles records.

Ripken Jr. was the 1982 American League Rookie of the Year, and was a 19-time All-Star; making the All-Star team in every season he played except for his Rookie campaign. He was the All-Star Game MVP twice in 1991 and 2001, and is still the All-time leader in MLB All-Star fan balloting with 36,123,483 votes. He has the most starts at shortstop for the American League in an All-Star game with 15, and 17 in total with two at third base.

He won the World Series once with the Orioles in 1983, was a two-time Gold Glove winner in 1991 and 1992. He was an eight-time Silver Slugger award, including four straight from 1983-1986. He was a two time American League MVP in 1983 and 1991. Ripken was the 1991 Home Run Derby winner and in 1992 he received the Roberto Clemente and Lou Gehrig Awards.

In 1999 Ripken Jr. was named to Major League Baseball’s All-Century Team. That same yea he was ranked number 78 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players.

Ripken Jr. had his iconic number eight Baltimore Orioles jersey retired in 2001, that same year he was ranked the third greatest shortstop all-time in The New Bill James Historical Abstract.

He was elected into the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 with 98.53 percent of the vote on the first ballot in which he appeared. The third highest for a player ever, and the highest ever for a position player.

New York Yankees' Joe Pepitone Hits Two Home Runs In One Inning

On May 23, 1962, Joe Pepitone becomes the second New York Yankees player ever to hit two home runs in one inning, joining non-other than the Yankee Clipper, and Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio.

Joe Pepitone in 1971.

Pepitone is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder that played the bulk of his career for the New York Yankees. He also played several seasons with the Chicago Cubs and had short stints with the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves.

During his time with the Yankees, Pepitone was thrice named to play in the All-Star Game and also won three Golden Glove awards. His fame was sufficient for him to become something of a cultural icon.

In June 1973, Pepitone accepted an offer of $70,000 ($362,016 today) a year to play for the Yakult Atoms, a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League. While in Japan, he hit .163 with one home run and two RBIs in 14 games played.

According to an edition of Total Baseball, Pepitone spent his days in Japan skipping games for claimed injuries only to be at night in discos, behavior that led the Japanese to adopt his name into their vernacular—as a word meaning "goof off".

Joe Pepitone (right) at Yankees stadium in New York in the late 2000s.

After baseball in the late 1970s, Pepitone played for the New Jersey Statesmen in the American Professional Slow Pitch League (APSPL), one of three professional softball leagues active during this period.

Pepitone would also serve the front office of the North American Softball League (NASL) for their only season in 1980.

In June 1982, Pepitone was hired as a batting coach with the Yankees, but was replaced by Lou Piniella later in the season.

In the late 1990s, Pepitone was given a job in the Yankees' front office.

He currently spends his time signing autographs and baseball memorabilia at autograph shows, and working in a public relations capacity for the Yankees.

Oakland Athletics Retire Reggie Jackson's Jersey

On May 22, 2004, the Oakland Athletics retire Reggie Jackson's jersey No. 9 honoring the slugger who played his first nine Hall of Fame seasons with the A's helping the team club capture three-consecutive World Series (1972-74).

The former Athletics' right fielder, who had his number 44 retired by the Yankees in 1993, becomes the eighth player to have his number retired by two or more teams.

Jackson would start and finish his career with the Athletics, but played for the Orioles (1976), Yankees (1977-81), and California Angels (1982-1986), before returning to the Athletics in 1987 to retire.

Jackson would finish his career with 14 All-Star appearances, six on the Athletics, five World Series Championships, three with the Athletics, two silver slugger awards, one AL MVP in 1973 with the Athletics, two World Series MVP Awards, one in 1973 with the Athletics, and the Babe Ruth Award in 1977.

Jackson would be a first ballot Hall of Famer when he was inducted into Cooperstown in 1993 with 93.6 percent of the votes.

Boston Red Sox Roger Clemens Earns Win 200

On May 21, 1996, former Red Sox pitcher and Hall of Famer Roger Clemens beats the New York Yankees for career win 200.

Clemens nicked “The Rocket” would go on to have a great career pitching for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and the Houston Astros.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens in 1995.

Clemens would rack up many more accolades in his career besides just winning 200 games, including seven CY Young awards, in 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2004, which are two more than the next player on the list Randy Johnson, who would earn five over his 20-year career. Clemens would also win the 1986 All-Star Game MVP.

Clemens would be nominated to the All-Star game 11 times, including 1986, 1988, 1990-1992, 1997-1998, 2001, 2003-2005. Clemens also won two World Series titles with the New York Yankees in 1999 and 2000.

Clemens is also one of only two pitchers to have a 20-strikeout game; the other was Chicago Cubs Kerry Wood. However, Clemens is the only pitcher to accomplish the feat twice, doing so in 1986 and 1996.

Clemens would finish his career with

In 1986 Clemens won the MVP and the CY Young award, becoming the first pitcher in the American League since 1971 to win both awards in the same season. In 1971 Vida Blue did the feat.

Clemens finished the season with a league leading 24 wins, 238 strikeouts and a league leading 2.48 ERA. Clemens fantastic season on the mound beat out Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees for the MVP, Mattingly had a solid season with a league leading 238 hits, league leading 53 doubles, 31 home runs, 113 RBI’s and a .352 batting average.

Since Clemens two other pitchers have won the CY Young award and the AL MVP in the same season.

New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens in 2000.

Oakland Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley in 1992, with a record of 7-1, with a league leading 51 saves, 91 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.91. The runner up that year was Kirby Puckett of the Minnesota Twins. Puckett had a good season with a league leading 210 hits, 19 home runs, 110 RBI’s and a .329 batting average.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander in 2011, with a record of 24-5, league leading 250 strikeouts and a league leading ERA of 2.40. The runner up that year was Jacoby Ellsbury of the Boston Red Sox. Ellsbury had a good season with 32 home runs, 105 RBI’s, 39 stolen bases and a .321 batting average.

When Clemens finished his career he had 354 wins and 184 losses, a 3.12 ERA and 4,672 strikeouts. His 354 wins were good enough for seventh all-time when he retired, but Greg Maddux has since surpassed him with 355 wins. His 4,672 strikeouts were good enough for second all-time when he retired but since then Randy Johnson has surpassed him with 4,875.

Clemens won the pitching Triple Crown twice in his career, both in his time with the Blue Jays in back-to-back seasons. In 1997 Clemens finished the season with a 2.05 ERA, 21 wins and 292 strikeouts leading the MLB in all three categories. In 1998 his stats would not be as impressive but he would once again lead the MLB in ERA with 2,65, wins with 20 and strikeouts with 271.

Clemens in one of only five pitchers to have won the pitching Triple Crown more than one time. The others are Christy Matthewson, 2, Walter Johnson, 3, Grover Cleveland Alexander, 3, Left Grove, 2, Lefty Gomez, 2 and Sandy Koufax, 3.

In 1999, Clemens was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Clemens was on the ballot for the Cooperstown Hall of Fame this year but with his name still being dragged through the mud, which is the Mitchell Report and steroids in baseball it might be a few years before he makes his entrance into the Hall of Fame.

New York Yankees' DiMaggio Hits For The Cycle

On May 21, 1948, Hall of Fame New York Yankees great, Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle (single, double, triple, home run).

The Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio with the Yankees in 1942.

DiMaggio, nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper", was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees.

He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak (May 15 – July 16, 1941), a record that still stands.

DiMaggio's 56-game streak became one of the most idolized numbers in baseball and joined Babe Ruth's home run records, and later Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game, as the most hallowed records in all of sports. Whenever any player recorded a hit streak in the mid-thirties, still twenty short of the record, that player would receive an immense amount of coverage from the media. That's how enormous Joe's record was.

DiMaggio was a three-time MVP winner and an All-Star in each of his 13 seasons.

During his tenure with the Yankees, the club won ten American League pennants and nine World Series championships.

At the time of his retirement, DiMaggio ranked fifth in career home runs (361) and sixth in career slugging percentage (.579).  DiMaggio finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .325 with 2,214 hits and 1,357 RBIs.

Joltin' Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees in 1941.

The New York Yankees retired DiMaggio’s number 5 jersey in 1952.

He was inducted into the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955 with 88.84 percent of the vote on the third ballot in which he appeared, and was voted the sport's greatest living player in a poll taken during the baseball centennial year of 1969.

On Sept. 27, 1998, New York Yankee and Martinez native Joe DiMaggio makes his last public appearance at Yankee Stadium. Owner George Steinbrenner presents him with replicas of his 9 World Series rings, which had been stolen 30 years previously.

In 1999 DiMaggio was named as one of Major League Baseball’s All-Century Team members.

Mickey Mantle Hits 500th Home Run

On May 14, 1967, Mickey Mantle hits career home run 500 off Baltimore Oriole's Stu Miller.

Mickey Mantle slugging a home run with the New York Yankees.

Mantle retired with 536 home runs, the third most all time behind Babe Ruth and Willie Mays at the time of his retirement, now Mantle is ranked 16, behind Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Ruth, Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Jim Thome, Frank Robinson, Mark McGwire, Harmon Killebrew, Rafael Palmiero, Reggie Jackson, Manny Ramirez and Mike Schmidt.

Mantle still holds the record for most home runs in the World Series with 18, most RBI’s with 40, most runs with 42, walks with 43, extra-base hits with 26 and total bases with 123.

Mantle also is the career leader in walk-off home runs with a combined 13, 12 in regular season and one in the post-season.

Mickey Mantle (right) with teammate Joe DiMaggio (left) in 1962.

Mantle finished his career with a .298 batting average, 2,415 hits and 1,509 RBIs to go along with his 536 home runs. Those stats helped him become a 20-time All-Star, including 18-straight from 1952-1965, including twice in 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962 when the All-Star game was played twice in a season.

He was also a seven-time World Series champion with the Yankees, including three consecutive from 1951-1953.

Mantle was a three-time American League MVP, including back-to-back in 1956-1957. The 1956 season also saw Mantle win the Triple Crown, a season in which he batted .353 with 52 home runs and 130 RBI’s.

He won a Golden Glove in 1962, and the Hutch Award in 1965.

The New York Yankees retired Mantle’s no. 7 jersey on June 8, 1969.

Mantle was elected into Cooperstown Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1974 with 88.2 percent of the vote, on the first ballot in which he appeared.

Mantle was named to the MLB All-Century team in 1999.

Yankees' Lou Gehrig Game Streak Ends

On May 2, 1939, that Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak ended.  The streak was halted at 2,130 after Gehrig sat out a game against the Detroit Tigers, which the Yankees would go on to win by a score of 22-2.

Yankees Captain Lou Gehrig giving his famous speech after he retired from baseball.

Gehrig’s consecutive games streak would be one of his greatest achievements and perhaps the most notable highlight of his career.  He became known for his durability and perseverance, as his streak saw him play through several injuries.  For example, on July 13, 1934, Gehrig suffered a “lumbago attack” and had to be assisted off the field.  The following day he was listed at shortstop and batted in the leadoff position.  Following his first at bat of the game, he was replaced and given the rest of the game off to heal his aching back.

Gehrig’s record would stand until September 6, 1995, when Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles would play in his 2,131 consecutive games.  When Gehrig first established his record of 2,130 consecutive games, many thought it would never be broken.  Despite that not being the case, it did stand for a remarkable 56 years.

Gehrig goes down as one of the greatest players to ever don the Yankee’s pin-stripes and the nickname “Iron Horse” for the consecutive games played streak had his career cut short by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disorder now commonly known in the United States and Canada as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Despite the debilitating disease Gehrig finished his career with a .340 batting average, with 493 home runs, 2,721 hits and 1,995 RBIs. He was a seven-time All-Star, a six-time World Series Champion with the Yankees. He also won two MVP awards in 1927 and 1936. He was the Yankees captain from 1935 to 1938 and the Yankees retired his no. 4 jersey on July 4, 1939. He became the first baseball player to have his uniform number retired (January 6, 1940); his July 4, 1939, fans voted farewell speech as the fifth-greatest moment in Major League Baseball history in 2002.

Gehrig won a triple crown in 1934 batting .363 with 49 home runs and 165 RBIs, but did not win the MVP award that year. He became the only player in MLB history to collect 400 total bases in five seasons as he did so in 1927, 1930, 1931, 1934 and 1936.

With St. Louis Cardinals great Stan Musial, he is only one of two players with at least 500 doubles, 150 triples and 450 home runs in his career. He is also only one of four players with Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Musial to end career with a minimum .330 batting average with 450 home runs and 1,800 RBIs. He is also only one of two players to hit 40 doubles and 40 home runs in the same season three separate times.

Gehrig was named a member of the MLB All-Century team in 1999, MLB All-Time team in 1997 and was inducted into Cooperstown’s Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939 through a special election.

Gehrig was also the first athlete ever to appear on a box of Wheaties

Toronto Blue Jays Play First Game

On April 7, 1977, the Toronto Blue Jays played their first ever regular season game, the attendance was 44,649 as the Jays took on the Chicago White Sox at Exhibition Stadium.

Exhibition Stadium in 1977 for the Toronto Blue Jays first ever regular season game.

The game was most remembered for the weather, which was cold and snowing at the time of the scheduled first pitch. However, snow would stop and the game would continue as planned.

The Jays would come out as the victor of the American League teams by a final score of 9-5.

The win for the Jays was one of just a few that year as they compiled a 54-107 record that year, 45.5 games behind the division winner Yankees.

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.

New York Yankees Mickey Mantle Retires

On March 1, 1969, New York Yankee great, Mickey Mantle announces his retirement from baseball. Mantle was the greatest sluggers in Major League history.

New York Yankees outfielder Mickey Mantle.

Mantle retired with 536 home runs, the third most all time behind Babe Ruth and Willie Mays at the time of his retirement, now Mantle is 16^th, behind Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Ruth, Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Jim Thome, Frank Robinson, Mark McGwire, Harmon Killebrew, Rafael Palmiero, Reggie Jackson, Manny Ramirez and Mike Schmidt.

Mantle also earned three MVP awards while playing and won the AL Triple Crown in 1956, a season in which he batted .353 with 52 home runs and 130 RBIs.

Mantle still holds the record for most home runs in the World Series with 18, most RBIs with 40, most runs with 42, walks with 43, extra-base hits with 26 and total bases with 123.

Mantle also is the career leader in walk-off home runs with a combined 13 in his career, 12 in regular season and one in the post-season play.

Yankees Name Mattingly Captain

On Feb. 28, 1991 that first baseman Don Mattingly was named captain of the New York Yankees.  Mattingly became the thirteenth captain in Yankees’ history.

Donnie Baseball earned the honor prior to his tenth year with the team.  He began his career with the Yankees in 1982, playing for them his entire career before retiring in 1995. He stepped in to fill the roll after the position had been vacant during the previous two seasons.

New York Yankees first baseman and captain Don Mattingly.

Since Mattingly’s departure, Derek Jeter is the only member of the Yankees to serve as captain. He was awarded the position in 2003, and has served it well over the course of the past nine seasons. It appeared as though Jeter’s tenure as captain would come to an end last off-season when he became a free agent, but the Yanks were able to reach an agreement with their All-Star shortstop, signing him to a three-year deal with an option for a fourth year.

Before Mattingly was the Yankees captain 12 others preceded him including in chronological order; Clark Griffith, Kid Elberfeld, Hal Chase, Frank Chance, Roger Peckinpaugh, Babe Ruth, Everett Scott, Lou Gehrig, Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, Willie Randolph and Ron Guidry.

Mattingly would have a great career on the Yankees putting up a .307 batting average, 222 home runs, 1,099 RBI’s. He would earn six consecutive All-Star appearances, win the Gold Glove at first base nine times, win the Silver Slugger Award three times. He won the 1984 American league Batting Title and was crowned the 1985 American League RBI Champion as well the 1985 American League MVP.

The Yankees retired “Donny Baseball’s” no. 23 jersey on Aug. 31 1997.

Since his retirement, Mattingly got back into baseball, wearing a uniform, but playing a new position. He began coaching with the New York Yankees from 2004-2007, then moved to the West Coast to coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2008-2010. Currently Mattingly is managing the Dodgers, and entering his third season at that position. In his three plus years of managing he has accumulated a 260 wins and 225 losses, good enough for a .536 win percentage. This could potentially be Mattingly's breakout season as the Dodgers are once again touted as a World Series contender, in part to the fact the franchise has spent a lot of money on such players as Clayton Kershaw, Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez.

New York Yankees Dawn Pinstripes

On Feb. 27, 1912, the New York Yankees dawned pinstripes for the first time in franchise history.

The 1912 New York Yankees uniforms, which are still very similar to the uniforms the team wears today.

The Yankees have won 27 World Series titles, starting in 1923 with the first in the franchises history. The 27 titles are the most of any team in Major League Baseball.

The Yankees also are owners of a World Series record, winning four consecutive World Series titles from 1936-1939, a feat which has never been broken or tied. 

It must all be in the pinstripes.

DiMaggio Wins MVP

On Nov. 27, 1941, Martinez Native Joe DiMaggio beats Ted Williams to win the American League MVP.

Though the numbers would suggest Wiilliams might have had a superior season hitting than DiMaggio, as Williams hit for a .406 batting average, while clubbing 37 home runs and bringing in 120 RBI’s. However it was DiMaggio who had done something no man had ever done before, and has equaled to this date. While hitting for a very respectable .357 batting average with 30 home runs and bringing in 125 RBI’s, DiMaggio hit safely in 56-consecutive games.

DiMaggio would be the first and only hitter to hit safely in over 50 games, breaking the pervious record which is still held in the National League by Willie Keeler who played for the Baltimore Orioles.

Since DiMaggio hit safely in 56-consecutive games only four players have come within 20-games, and only a single player has come within 15.

In 1945 Tommy Holmes of the Boston Braves, was the first player who had a sizeable shot at catching DiMaggio’s record, as he hit in 37-consecutive games.

Over the 2005 and 2006 seasons a Bay Area native in Alameda’s Jimmy Rollins hit safely in 38-consecutive games.

In 1987 Paul Molitor of the Milwaukee Brewers hit safely in 39-consecutive games.

But no player since DiMaggio has hit in over 40-consecutive games besides Pete Rose, who hit safely in 44-consecutive games during his 1978 season with the Cincinnati Reds.

To me I think DiMaggio’s consecutive game hit-streak is one of the last of the untouchable records in baseball, with the others being Barry Bonds’ home run record for a single season and a career, along with Rickey Henderson’s stolen base record.

Red Sox End Curse

On Oct. 27, 2004, the Boston Red Sox put an end to the “Curse of the Bambino”. 

The Red Sox finally ended their championship curse as they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the World Series to complete the sweep.

It was the first title for the franchise since 1918. The Red Sox started their stunning postseason run by overcoming a 3-0 series deficit against the New York Yankees. Boston won eight straight games to close the postseason.

The Red Sox would continue their winning ways with another World Series title in 2006 as they swept the Colorado Rockies in four games.

This year the Red Sox are once again battling the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. But after last nights play the Red Sox now trail in the series two games to one.

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.

Cubs Win 116 Games

On Oct. 4, 1906, the Chicago Cubs picked up win 116 of the season against the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

The win moved the Cubs record to 116-36. That still stands as the best winning percentage ever. The Cubs failed to win the World Series, however, as they lost in six games. They would recover to win the World Series in 1907 and 1908.

Since 1906 only one team was reached as many wins as the Cubs, the 2001 Seattle Mariners who won 116 games but lost 46 compared to the 1906 Cubs who only lost 36. The reason for the discrepancy in games is because of the addition of more teams and more games to the regular season.

Since the record-tying performance with 116 wins by the Mariners in 2001, no team has gotten close to breaking the record. The 2004 St. Louis Cardinals have the most wins in the last decade with 105. In 2002 the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees tied for the leagues best record with 103 wins apiece.