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August 26
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
Today's August 26 Daily Highlights
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August 26, 1939 — At Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field, NBC televises the first major league game in history on experimental station W2XBS, covering a doubleheader split in which the Reds win the first game, 5-2, and the Dodgers take the nightcap, 6-1. The network employs two cameras, one behind home plate, showing a wide view of the field, and the other on the third base line to capture the plays at first base. Legendary announcer Red Barber broadcasts the game
Between the two games, a ceremony is held to honor Alexander Cartwright with a Hawaiian-themed celebration to mark the centennial anniversary of baseball.
Regular programming did not yet exist, and very few people owned television sets–there were only about 400 in the New York area. Not until 1946 did regular network broadcasting catch on in the United States, and only in the mid-1950s did television sets become more common in the American household. Just 3,000 people were able to enjoy the Reds-Dodgers game in 1939 from their homes, while last year’s World Series attracted 14 million viewers.
As for the games, in the night cap Hugh Casey pitched a gem in game 1 for the Dodgers allowing just 8 hits over 9 innings, and 1 unearned run. the Dodgers were up 6-0 after 3 and cruised to the 6-1 victory. More fans were in attendance than owned TV’s as 33,000+ were at Ebbets Field.
During the first game, Babe Phelps commits 2 errors in the 8th inning allowing 4 unearned runs to cross in the 8th inning of the Reds 5-2 win over the Dodgers. Bucky Walters got the win for the Red’s and went the distance, as Luke Hamlin was the hard knocks loser for the Dodgers.
The total time of the two games combined – 3 hours and seventeen minutes.
FAST FORWARD - August 26, 2002 — The first video streaming coverage of a major league baseball game takes place on the internet. Approximately 30,000 fans visit MLB.com to see the Yankees defeat the Rangers, 10 – 3. Alfonso Soriano sets a team record for home runs by a second baseman. The previous mark of 30 was established in 1940 by Joe Gordon.
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Todays Trivia . . .
Who was the first manager to lead the expansion Blue Jays to the postseason?
Hint: #1 For that accomplishment he was voted American League Manager of the Year.
Hint: #2 He was three times National League Manager of the Year.
Hint: #3 As a player, he once completed a triple play throwing the ball to Mickey Mantle.
Hint: #4 He ranks fourth in career games won as a manager. All three ahead of him required more seasons.
Hint: #5 No manager was ejected from more games.
Hint: #6 He was inducted into the Hall of Fame with two of his players.
Answer in a bit!
Quote of the day:
“The field was even greener than my boy’s mind had pictured it. In later years, friends of ours visited Ireland and said the grass there was plenty green all right, but that not even the Emerald Isle itself was as green as the grass that grew in Ebbets Field.”– Dodger Duke Snider aka “The Duke of Flatbush”
Game of The Day:
Game of the Day — August 26, 1976 Philadelphia Phillies vs Cincinnati Reds
Harry Kalas on the Mic and at Riverfront Stadium as Gary Nolan faces future Hall of Famer Jim Kaat
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🎧 Other Classic Broadcasts — August 26
August 26, 1978 Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds
Starting pitchers: Bill Bonham vs Ray Burris Broadcasters: Tom Manning
August 26, 1978 Cleveland Indians vs Chicago White Sox
Todays starting pitchers: Steve Stone vs David Clyde
Todays broadcasters: Harry Caray
August 26, 1970 Oakland Athletics vs Baltimore Orioles
Todays starting pitchers: Jim Palmer vs Catfish Hunter
Todays Podcast
August 26 highlights and Historic Days!
August 26, 1947, At Ebbets Field 27 year-old right-hander Dan Bankhead becomes the first black pitcher in major league history. Bankhead becomes the first National League pitcher to homer in his first at-bat, but gives up eight runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings in a 16 – 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
August 26, 1950, future Hall of Famer Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers hits three consecutive home runs to spearhead his club to a 7-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The hard-hitting catcher connects each time against Reds starter Ken Raffensberger.
August 26, 1961 — Roger Maris, hitting his 51st round-tripper of the season, has the most homers in major league history at this point in the season. The Yankees’ right fielder goes deep off right-hander Jerry Walker in the sixth inning of the team’s 5-1 victory over Kansas City at Municipal Stadium.
August 26, 1962 — At Metropolitan Stadium, Twins’ left-hander Jack Kralick throws the team’s first no-hitter since the franchise moved to Minnesota last season, and the fifth no-no hurled this season in the major leagues. The slight southpaw retires the first 25 A’s batters he faces A 3 – 2 walk to George Alusik with one out in the 9th spoils the bid for a perfect game. Alusik had beaten Kralick with a 2-run home run on August 8, but he retires the next two hitters to no-hit Kansas City, 1-0.
August 26, 1965 — At Shea Stadium, the Mets beat the Dodgers, 5-2, making Tug McGraw (2-2) the first Mets pitcher to defeat Sandy Koufax (21-7). Previously, New York had lost 13 consecutive times to the future Hall of Fame southpaw.
August 26, 1972 — Leo Durocher, formerly of the Cubs, replaces Harry Walker as manager of the Astros. It is only the second time someone has managed two National League teams in the same season. The first was in 1948, when Durocher piloted the Dodgers and the Giants.
August 26, 1981 — Cardinals’ manager Whitey Herzog fines Garry Templeton $5,000 and suspends him indefinitely without pay for his rude behavior that includes an obscene gesture directed toward Cardinal fans after they boo him in the first inning for not hustling to first base of a 9 – 4 win over the Giants.
The St. Louis shortstop, who will be traded to the Padres in the offseason for Ozzie Smith, agrees to seek psychiatric help and will be reinstated to the lineup on September 15.
News Reels August 26
This Week in Baseball August 26, 1989 - Pete gets banned
Milestones August 26
🎙️ Did you know? August 26, 1916 — At Philadelphia’s Shibe Park, Philadelphia A’s hurler Joe Bush no-hits the Cleveland Naps (Indians), 5 – 0. ”Bullet Joe” will be credited with 15 of the last-place Athletics’ 36 victories this season.
Also, Nap Lajoie plays his final major league game. Playing for Connie Mack’s Athletics, Lajoie collects a triple in his last game, the 3,252nd hit of his illustrious career. He is elected to the Hall of Fame in 1937.
Birthdays:
Notable: Alex Kellner
Debuts:
Notable: John McGraw
Final Games:
Highlights: Nap Lajoi
Passings:
Notable: Cal Mclish
New From Around the League!
ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA
TRIVIA ANSWER: BOBBY COX
TOR won the AL East for the 1st time in 1985 with Cox. The Jays had never finished any place but last (1977-1981) until Cox became their manager.
- #1 He became a hero in Canada. He described it as 4 of the happiest years of his life.
- #2 Cox won the NL MOY with ATL in 1991, 2004 & 2005, the 1st NL manager to win it in consecutive seasons.
- #3 On 03-Jun-1968 in Minnesota, Cox took the toss from P Dooley Womack and fired it to Mickey Mantle at first base for the 3rd out of the play.
- #4 Manger Wins Years %
Connie Mack 3,731 53 .486
Tony LaRussa 2,884 35 .536
John McGraw 2,763 33 .586
Cox 2,504 29 .556
- #5 Cox was kicked out of 162 MLB games, 41 more than 2nd-place McGraw.
- #6 In 2014, Cox & pitchers Greg Maddux & Tom Glavine became Hall of Famers
Thank you Horsehide Trivia
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