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This Day in Baseball History
April 25th

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24 Fact(s) Found
1876 The Chicago White Stockings make their National League debut with a 4-0 victory over the Grays at the Louisville Baseball Park. The franchise, which will be also known as the Colts and Orphans before becoming the Cubs in 1903, will finish in first place in the circuit's inaugural season.
1901 On Opening Day at Bennett Park in Detroit, the Tigers tally ten times in the bottom of the ninth to beat Milwaukee, 14-13. The contest is the American League's first game in Detroit.
1904 At American League Park, the Senators remain winless since the start of the season as they lose their eight consecutive game bowing to New York 4-1. Yankees pitcher Jack Chesbro picks up the first of his record 41 victories he'll record this season.
1933 Yankees rookie hurler Russ Van Atta goes 4-for-4 and shutouts the Senators, 16-0 in his major league debut.
1933 Philadelphia shortstop Dick Bartell becomes the first major leaguer to stroke four consecutive doubles in a nine-inning game. Rowdy Richard's quartet of two-baggers help the Phillies defeat the Braves at the Baker Bowl, 7-1.
1952 After homering in his major league debut up two days ago, Giant hurler Hoyt Wilhelm hits a three-bagger in his second major league at bat. During the next 21 years, covering a span 1070 games and 432 official at-bats, the Giant hurler will never triple or homer again.
1967 Dodger third baseman Jim Lefebrve commits three errors in the fourth inning paving the way for a Braves 7-1 win.
1970 Tiger pitcher Earl Wilson nearly scores after he strikes out because Twin catcher Paul Ratliff inadvertently rolled the ball to the mound instead off tagging the batter or throwing to first after trapping a third strike.
1975 Dodger pitcher Any Messersmith strokes three doubles in his 6-5 win over the Giants.
1976 During the fourth inning of the game being played at Dodger Stadium, Cubs' 30-year old fly chaser Rick Monday becomes a national hero when he takes away an American Flag about to be set on fire by the two trespassers (a father and son) in the outfield. Baseball’s Man of the Hour, who served six years in the Marine Reserves, will be presented the flag a month later at Wrigley Field by Dodgers executive Al Campanis as a gesture of patriotic thanks.

1977 George Foster has seven RBIs, scores five runs times, bangs out four hits (two home runs, double and a single) as the Reds rout the Braves 23-9. Cincinnati ties a National League record by scoring 12 runs in one inning.
1978 The Cardinals fire manager Vern Rapp and replace him with fan-favorite Ken Boyer.
1978 At Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, the Philie Phanatic makes his debut in a game against the Cubs. The six foot green mascot with a 90-inch waistline is played by Dave Raymond, who will keep the job for 15 years after starting as an intern in the team's front office..
1981 Hoping to give his pitchers an edge, Maury Wills gets the Kingdome’s ground crew to enlarge the batter box making it a foot closer to the mound. Prior to the game, A’s skipper Billy Martin shares his suspicions with the umpire Bill Kunkel, and the exposed Mariners manager is suspended for two games.
1984 In a 2-1 victory over Montreal at Olympic Stadiumi, Mets right-hander Dwight Gooden becomes the first teenager to strike out ten batters in a major league game since Bert Blyleven accomplished the feat with the Twins in 1970. The 19-year old rookie will lead the National League with 276 strikeouts this season.
1989 The Mariners trade their ace, Mark Langston, along with minor leaguer Mike Campbell to Expos for Brian Holman, Gene Harris, and 6' 10" southpaw Randy Johnson. The left-handed 'Big Unit' will become a mainstay in the Seattle's rotation for a decade compiling a 130-74 (.637) record and next season will throw the first no-hitter in franchise history.
1995 The 257-day strike ends as the Dodgers beat the Marlins 8-7. The work stoppage caused last season to end early, force the cancellation of World Series, and delayed the opening of this season.
1997 In an Indian 11-4 victory, the Tribe (8 - a team record) and Brewers (3) tie a major league record for a home runs in a nine-inning night game slugging a combined 11 dingers. Matt Williams contributes three homers and David Justice goes deep twice.
1997 In a 13-8 Mariners victory over the Blue Jays at SkyDome, center fielder Ken Griffey, Jr. hits three home runs, two off Roger Clemens and one off Mike Timlin. The blast barrage gives Junior 13 homers this month breaking the record for the most round-trippers hit in April.
1997 The Indians establish a team record hitting eight home runs in one game when Matt Williams (3), David Justice (2), Manny Ramirez, Sandy Alomar, and Chad Curtis all go deep in an 11-4 rout of the Brewers at County Stadium. With the additional three homers slammed by Milwaukee, the teams combine to tie a major league record for round-trippers in a nine-inning night game with 11.
1998 The 'Iron Man's' streak continues as Cal Ripken plays in his 2,500th consecutive game as the Orioles host the A's at Camden Yards.
2000 Honoring the work stoppage called by Cuban-Americans work stoppage over the Elian Gonzalez situation, Marlins Alex Fernandez, Vladimir Nunez, Michael Tejera and Mike Lowell, Devil Rays' Jose Canseco and Mets' Rey Ordonez and Cookie Rojas do not participate in major league action.
2001 Padres' outfielder Rickey Henderson, 42, breaks the career walks record established by Babe Ruth when he receives his 2,063rd base on balls.
2007 In a sixteen strikeout performance against the Diamondbacks in a 3-2 Padres loss at Chase Field, Jake Peavy comes within one check swing from tying Tom Seaver's major league record of ten consecutive strikeouts. The right-hander loses his bid to tie the mark when Eric Byrnes' apparent swing on a 3-2 count is ruled a ball four, a questionable call by the first base umpire Jeff Kellogg.
24 Fact(s) Found