TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

April 30, 1961, Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants hits four home runs against the Milwaukee Braves. Mays’ outburst helps the Giants to a 14-4 win. The future Hall of Fame outfielder becomes the ninth player in major league history to hit four homers in one game…The San Francisco slugger is left on deck in the top of the ninth when the third out is made by the visiting Giants.

Willie Mays’ 1961 season started modestly — just two home runs and six RBI through his first 15 games. But everything changed in game No. 16.

In a single afternoon, Mays exceeded both his season home run and RBI totals — launching four home runs and driving in eight.

“I went out early to see him in batting practice,” remembered Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts, reflecting on Mays’ rookie season. “And he hit about five balls in the upper deck. Then he went out in the outfield and he could just run like the wind. And I remember thinking: This has got to be as good-looking a baseball player as I ever saw. And it turned out he was the best player I ever saw.”

Mays wasted no time getting started. In the first inning, he cracked a solo home run off Braves starter Lew Burdette. When Hank Aaron responded with a blast of his own in the bottom half, giving Milwaukee a brief 3–1 lead, Mays came back in the third with a two-run shot that flipped the score in the Giants’ favor.

After a fly out in the fifth, Mays made up for it in the sixth — hammering a three-run homer off Seth Morehead to break the game open at 11–3. And for good measure, he added his fourth home run in the eighth, a two-run drive off Don McMahon. Each of his last three homers brought home Jim Davenport, who scored four runs on the day.

Mays didn’t get a shot at a record-breaking fifth homer — he was left on deck in the top of the ninth. Still, his damage was done.

Remarkably, Mays almost didn’t play that day at all. After suffering from what appeared to be food poisoning the night before, he asked manager Alvin Dark to take him out of the lineup. But after swinging a lighter bat — one borrowed from teammate Joey Amalfitano — during batting practice, he changed his mind.

There have been 21 Four Homerun Games here is the full list with videos, game broadcasts and highlights.

Features over 90 games broadcasted

Hs interview vault includes:

25+ highlights and interviews

April 30, 1940 --  Picked up off the scrap heap by the Brooklyn Dodgers just months after being given his unconditional release by the Double-A Milwaukee Brewers, starting pitcher Tex Carleton throws a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field. Aside from making Brooklyn GM Larry MacPhail look like a genius, the 3 - 0 masterpiece maintains both Carleton's and the Dodgers' perfect start to 1940: Carleton at 2-and-0 and the Dodgers at a record-tying 9-and-0.

Listen to the game!

April 30, 1946, future Hall of Famer Bob Feller throws his second career no-hitter-and his first since returning from a three-and-a-half year stint in World War II. Feller blanks the New York Yankees, 1-0, winning the game on Frankie Hayes’ home run in the ninth inning.

April 30, 1951 -- Minnie Minoso is dealt to the White Sox by the Indians as part of a three-team trade that also involves the A's. Dave Philley, Gus Zernial, Paul Lehner, Lou Brissie, Ray Murray, and Sam Zoldak will be the other players also changing their uniforms in the seven-player deal.

April 30, 1952, Ted Williams plays his final game before leaving for military duty in Korea. In his last at-bat on “Ted Williams Day” at Fenway Park, the “Splendid Splinter” blasts a game-winning, two-run home run against Dizzy Trout of the Detroit Tigers. The home run gives the Red Sox a 5-3 win

April 30, 1969, At Crosley Field, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jim Maloney hurls a 13-strikeout no-hitter against the Houston Astros, beating them 10-0. Bobby Tolan drives in four runs in support of Maloney, who records his first nine-inning no-hitter after pitching a ten-inning masterpiece against the Cubs in 1965.

April 30, 1974, Nolan Ryan of the California Angels strikes out 19 batters in a 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox. Ryan ties a record established by Hall of Famer Tom Seaver for the most strikeouts in a single game.

April 30, 1977, Ron Cey of the Los Angeles Dodgers belts a home run in the seventh inning against the Montreal Expos, giving him a major league record of 29 RBIs during the month of April (since broken). With a victory against the Expos, the red-hit Dodgers improve to 17-3…start under new manager Tommy Lasorda.

Members click here or Start your free 7-day trial

TRIVIA

TRIVIA: What player has hit the most homeruns in EXTRA innings in MLB history?

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!

Know someone who loves baseball like you do? Earn rewards by sharing the Rewind!

 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

YESTERDAY'S 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.

Randy Johnson

JOIN CLASSIC BASEBALL BROADCASTS TODAY

"Every story in today's newsletter has a broadcast behind it. They're all in the archive, exactly as they sounded on the radio the day they happened. Start your free 7-day trial and hear them tonight."

Get the FREE 7 day trial!