TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

April 29, 1986 — Roger Clemens Strikes Out 20

Before Roger Clemens took the mound against the Seattle Mariners on a chilly April night at Fenway Park, first baseman Bill Buckner pulled aside pitcher Al Nipper with a prediction. The way Clemens had been throwing, and the way the Mariners had been swinging and missing, Buckner figured 18 strikeouts was a reasonable number. He would turn out to be conservative.

Clemens came into 1986 with something to prove. Shoulder surgery had cut short his 1985 season and the 23-year-old Texan was determined to show he was not only healthy but dominant. He had struck out 19 batters in his first three starts of the year. The Mariners, meanwhile, had accumulated 166 strikeouts in their first 19 games — on pace for 200 more than any team in history.

The conditions were perfect for history.

Clemens struck out the side in the first inning, retiring all three batters on 21 pitches. He worked through the lineup with increasing authority, at one point fanning eight consecutive batters — tying Nolan Ryan and Ron Davis for the American League record. Fans in the Fenway bleachers began hanging red K signs on the back wall. Spike Owen broke the string with a fly to center in the sixth, prompting some fans to actually yell for the outfielder to drop it.

The game itself was tense. A Gorman Thomas home run put Seattle up 1-0 in the seventh despite Clemens having allowed almost nothing. The Red Sox answered in the bottom half when Dwight Evans crushed a three-run homer, giving Clemens a 3-1 cushion. It was all he needed.

Heading into the ninth with 18 strikeouts, Clemens still did not know exactly how close to the record he was. Nipper told him. One to tie, two to set it. Clemens was unfazed. Owen went down swinging for number 19, tying the record. Phil Bradley took a called third strike for number 20. Fenway's message board lit up. Wade Boggs came over from third base to shake his hand mid-inning.

Ken Phelps grounded out almost as an afterthought. In 138 pitches Clemens had done something that had never been done in 111 years of major league baseball. Seattle managed to put only 10 balls in play all night.

Clemens finished 1986 at 24-4, winning both the Cy Young Award and the AL MVP. A decade later almost to the day he struck out 20 again — this time against the Detroit Tigers.

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April 29, 1918 — Cleveland Indians centerfielder Tris Speaker executes the fourth unassisted double play of his career in Cleveland’s 8 – 4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

April 29, 1931 — Wes Ferrell of the Cleveland Indians pitches a 7 – 0 no-hitter over the St. Louis Browns, whose roster includes his brother, Rick. Wes helps his own cause with a home run, a double, and four RBI

April 29, 1939 — On a chilly Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, Lou Gehrig comes to the plate in the fourth inning and singles off Washington hurler Ken Chase for his 2,721st and last hit, the most ever in franchise history. The ‘Iron Horse’s’ record will stand for over 70 years until Derek Jeter, another 35 year-old team captain, surpasses the mark in 2009.

April 29, 1953, Joe Adcock of the Milwaukee Braves becomes the first major league player to blast a home run into the center-field bleachers at the Polo Grounds. Adcock’s titanic shot against the New York Giants travels an estimated 475 feet, helping the Braves beat the Giants 3-2. Adcock’s blast was off Jim Hearn in the 3rd inning with 1 on and 2 outs. Warren Spahn will win his 2nd game of the seasons for the Braves.

April 29, 1962 — Russ Snyder accomplishes the rare feat of getting two hits in one inning as a pinch hitter in the Orioles’ 8-3 victory at Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium. Leading off the top of the seventh, the Oriole outfielder, batting for Wes Stock, ties the score at 3-3 with a solo home run, and he will add a two-out RBI single before the frame is finished.

Bob Elson Interviews Earl Weaver on April 29, 1978

April 29, 1981, At Veterans Stadium, Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies becomes the first left-handed pitcher in major league history to notch 3,000 strikeouts. Carlton fans Tim Raines, Jerry Manuel and Tim Wallach of the Montreal Expos in the first inning to reach the milestone. Carlton would go to pitch a complete game as the Phillies would beat the first place Expos 6-2. Carlton chipped in with 2 hits and 2 walks at the plate as well.

April 29, 1983 — After a 7-2 loss to L.A. at Wrigley Field, Cubs manager Lee Elia launches into an obscenity-laced tirade, that will become a much-reported media story on the airwaves and in print for days to come. The Chicago skipper’s rant clearly shows his frustration with the team’s fan base, “the (bleepers) don’t even work. That’s why they’re out at the (bleeping) game. They oughtta go out and get a (bleeping) job and find out what it’s like to go out and earn a (bleeping) living. Eighty-five percent of the (bleeping) world is working. The other 15 come out here. A (bleeping) playground for the (bleepers). Rip them (bleepers)! Rip them (bleeping) (bleepers) like the (bleeping) players!”

April 29, 1986, Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox sets a major league record by striking out 20 batters in a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners. The 23-year-old Clemens surpasses the record of 19 strikeouts shared by Hall of Famers Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan, and Tom Seaver.

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TRIVIA

TRIVIA: Whom did Nolan Ryan designate as the obvious heir to the his position as the fastest and scariest pitcher in the majors?

Hint: #1 He is the only National League relief pitcher to strike out seven consecutive batters in a game.

Hint: #2 His immaculate inning was numerically possibly, the most immaculate ever.

IF you think you know the answer and bonus points for how many respond with details and if you are right I will give you a shut out! No Googling!

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 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA:  Why did the Astrodome create Astroturf and when?

When the dome opened, it featured a special type of grass bred to be grown indoor and a translucent roof to provide natural grass. But after players complained about the glare off the roof, some sections were painted white and the grass died. Before the stadium fully installed the AstroTurf it became known for, the Astros played parts of two seasons on dirt that was painted green.

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