TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

August 24, 1951 — In another of Bill Veeck’s legendary public relations stunts, “Fans Managers’ Night,” the Browns defeat the Athletics, 5 – 3. The Browns’ coaches hold up placards for 1115 fans, who vote “yes” or “no” on the options given them. Manager Zack Taylor sits in a box behind the dugout with two fans who monitor the voting. Adding to the festivities is Max Patkin, the clown prince of baseball, who coaches at first base for several innings. Sherm Lollar voted in to start behind the plate instead of Matt Batts, has three hits including a homer, and Hank Arft, also voted in, knocks home two. Gus Zernial’s 28th home run accounts for all the A’s runs. When the stunt was announced on August 15, A’s GM Art Ehlers bitterly denounced it as “farcical.”

So, just how did the managers do? In his autobiography, Veeck — As in Wreck, the Browns owner wrote of the Grandstand Managers’ performance, “Never has a game been called better.” And, though Veeck was certainly prone to hyperbole, he had a point: The managers correctly decided to leave Garver in the game, and they even voted to play back for a double play with runners on first and third with one out in the first inning — while Athletics second baseman Pete Suter obliged by grounding into a double play.

The Grandstand Managers only made one glaring mistake in the game. After tying the game with a single in the first inning, the group instructed Arft to steal second base with two outs. Unfortunately, the Athletics apparently saw the move coming, and Arft was thrown out easily to end the inning.

Watch a video library on Bill Veeck here on mediaburn

Todays Podcast

August 24, 1919 — In his first start as a member of the Indians since being traded from the Red Sox, right-hander Ray Caldwell is knocked unconscious after being struck by lightning with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. The 31 year-old free-wheeling spitballer, who was was unconscious for about five minutes, refuses to leave the game, needing just one more out for the complete-game victory, and goes on to record the final out for the 2-1 victory over Philadelphia at Cleveland’s League Park.

August 24, 1940, Left fielder Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox pitches the last two innings in a 12-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Williams allows three hits and one run but strikes out Tiger slugger Rudy York. Joe Glenn, who caught Babe Ruth’s last pitching appearance in 1933, is Williams’catcher.

August 24, 1941 — During a double-header against the Cardinals, a ragtag group of five ‘musicians’, dubbed the Dodger SymPhony by announcer Red Barber, makes their Ebbets Field’s debut. This band, in which none of the members can read music, performs their zany antics at all evening and weekend games.

August 24, 1967 — While pushing a car, Philadelphia’s Dick Allen suffers a severe injury when he pushes his hand through the headlight. It will sideline him for the remainder of the season. The Phils will go 14-21 without him.

August 24, 1969, the expansion Seattle Pilots trade knuckleballing pitcher Jim Bouton to the Houston Astros for pitchers Dooley Womack and Roric Harrison. The reinvented knuckleball pitcher, who posted a 2-1 record along with an ERA of 3.91 in his 57 games with the Northwest expansion team, will continue to chronicle the 1969 season for his controversial book, Ball Four. Bouton will become a celebrity one year when his book, “Ball Four”, is published and becomes a best-seller.

August 24, 1971 — At Wrigley Field, Ernie Banks hits the final home run of his career in the Cubs’ 5-4 loss to Cincinnati. Mr. Cub’s 512th round-tripper, tying him for seventh-place on the all-time list with Eddie Mathews, comes in the fourth frame off right-hander Jim McGlothlin, a two-out solo shot to left field that ties the score at 3-3.

August 24, 1973 — Sitting in the top row of the bleachers at Cleveland Stadium, John Adams begins a tradition, that continues to this day, when he bangs on his drum to cheer on the Tribe. In 2011, the team paid tribute to the fan-favorite, in a pregame ceremony commemorating his 3000th game that included Adams taking a ceremonial swing with his drum at a pitch thrown by Joe Charboneau.

August 24, 1976 — “Mariners” is selected from 15,000 contest entries as the new Seattle franchise’s nickname.

August 24, 1983 — At Memorial Stadium Baltimore Orioles southpaw Tippy Martinez picks off three runners in the 10th inning as the Blue Jays take long leads trying to take advantage of his new battery mate, Lenn Sakata, an infielder with no professional catching experience pressed into service behind the plate. Martinez picks off in order – Barry Bonnell, Dave Collins and Willie Upshaw.

The converted catcher gets revenge as his three-run homer in the bottom of the frame wins the game, 7 – 4.

August 24, 1989 “In the absence of a hearing and therefore in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, I am confronted by the factual record of the Dowd report, and on the basis of that, yes, I have concluded that he bet on baseball.” – A. BARTLETT GIAMATTI, commissioner commenting on Pete Rose’s lifetime banishment.

“Regardless of what the commissioner said today, I did not bet on baseball.” – PETE ROSE, defending himself at Riverfront Stadium news conference.

Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti, stating he believed that Pete Rose had bet on games, including those of the team he managed, announces an agreement that bans Mr. Rose permanently from baseball. The five-page agreement, signed by the commissioner and the Reds manager, does not indicate the suspension is specifically for betting on baseball games and does not include language that Rose wagered bets on games. The ruling will prevent Rose from seeking employment in the major leagues.

Giamatti says that he considers Rose’s acceptance of the ban to be a no-contest plea to the charges.

Coach Tommy Helms is named Rose’s interim replacement as Cincinnati manager.

 ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA

TRIVIA ANSWER: MAYO SMITH

Smith’s move of CF Mickey Stanley to shortstop for the World Series is widely admired as one of the savviest in WS memory.

Thank you Horsehide Trivia

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