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July 29
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
Today's Daily Highlights
In 1915, a 41-year-old Honus Wagner became the oldest player of the modern era to hit a grand slam — an inside-the-park shot that stood as the record until Tony Perez broke it 70 years later. Also: Rickey Henderson stole five bases and scored four runs in 1989 without a single official at-bat, Steve Garvey's 1,207-game iron-man streak came to an end in 1983, and Bo Jackson somehow homered mid-swing after being denied a time-out in 1988. 9 classic broadcasts today, pulled from our library of 3,100 games and 1,000 interviews, and today's Vintage Commercial: Goodyear Rubber Cement.
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July 29, 1996, Tommy Lasorda announces that he is retiring as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 68-year-old Lasorda, who had suffered a heart attack earlier in the year, will become a team vice-president. The future Hall of Fame skipper, who was named the National League Manager of the Year in 1983 and ’88, led Los Angeles to four pennants and two World Series championships during his 21 seasons at the helm.
More on Tommy -
"My heart bleeds Dodger blue," Lasorda has claimed, during his 35-plus years in the Dodger organization. He looked like a promising pitcher on June 1, 1948 when, in a 15-inning game for the Schenectady Blue Jays (Canadian-American League, Class C), he struck out 25 Amsterdam Rugmakers, setting a since-broken pro record. He even drove in the winning run with a single. In his next two starts, he struck out 15 and 13, gaining the attention of the Dodgers, who signed him for their Montreal club. Lasorda compiled a 98-49 record in nine years with Montreal of the International League, the Dodgers' top farm club, 1950-1955 and 1958-1960. His best records were 17-8 in 1953 and 18-6 in 1958, when he led the league in victories, complete games, and shutouts. Lasorda helped Montreal to the International League championship five times. He received only two brief trials with the Dodgers, and on May 5, 1955 he tied a ML record with three wild pitches in one inning. Lasorda was demoted in 1955 to make room for bonus baby Sandy Koufax, then sold to Kansas City in 1956, but couldn't stick with the Athletics or Yankees either. Stuck in the high minors, Lasorda moved to Los Angeles a year before the Dodgers did, with the Angels of the Pacific Coast League.
After his second stint in Montreal, Lasorda became a Dodger scout in 1961 and then a minor league manager in 1965. He won five pennants and finished second twice and third once through 1972, with only one record below .500.
Promoted to the Dodgers as a coach, Lasorda served as Walter Alston's understudy until September 29, 1976, when Alston retired. He inherited the infield of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell, and Ron Cey that he had helped assemble in the minor leagues, and he reacquired catcher Joe Ferguson, another of his proteges, to alternate with Steve Yeager. In 1977-78, he became the first NL manager to win pennants his first two seasons, but the Dodgers lost the WS to the Yankees in six games each time. After the 1981 player strike, Lasorda's Dodgers defeated the Astros in the divisional playoff; beat the Expos in the LCS on Rick Monday's two-out, ninth-inning homer; and then crushed the Yankees with a power display in the World Series. Lasorda managed the Dodgers to division titles in 1983 and 1985, but lost both times in the LCS. In 1988, he shared NL Manager of the Year honors with the Pirates Jim Leyland and took the Dodgers to an upset win over the Mets in the LCS and a shocking WS upset of the A's. A media favorite, Lasorda is noted for his good humor and his love of Italian cooking.
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Todays Trivia . . .
Who was the World Series game-winning pitcher when Joe Carter homered off Mitch Williams?
Answer in a bit!
Quote of the day:
"I bleed Dodger blue and when I die, I'm going to the big Dodger in the sky." - Tommy Lasorda
Game of The Day:
Game of the Day — July 29, 1936 Philadelphia Athletics at Chicago White Sox
Connie Mack leads the Philadelphia A’s vs Luke Appling and the White Sox called by Hal Tr
👇 Join and Listen to the full game right here
🎧 Classic Broadcasts — July 29
San Francisco Giants vs. Chicago Cubs (July 29, 1969) — Late-60s NL action from two clubs building toward very different outcomes that decade.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (July 29, 1969) — A good companion to the Giants-Cubs game above if you want to bundle a full slate of 1969 broadcasts together.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds (July 29, 1978) — Big Red Machine-era Reds against a Phillies club deep in its late-70s contending years.
Montreal Expos vs. New York Mets (July 29, 1985) — Solid mid-80s NL East rivalry baseball.
San Francisco Giants vs. Houston Astros (July 29, 1989) — The most modern broadcast in today's set, a nice contrast against the vintage-heavy slate.
Todays Podcast
July 29 highlights and Historic Days!
July 29, 1915, At Forbes Field, Pittsburgh Pirates 41-year-old Honus Wagner becomes the oldest player in the history of the modern era to hit a grand slam when he connects off Robins hurler Jeff Pfeffer for a grand slam in the eighth inning. Wagner’s home run, an inside-the-park shot, helps Pittsburgh to an 8-2 victory over Brooklyn. Wagner’s record will stand until 1985, when 42-year-old Tony Perez belts a grand slam.
July 29, 1958, At Briggs Stadium, Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox blasts his 17th career grand slam off future hall of farmer Jim Bunning. The home run places Williams in a second-place tie with Babe Ruth on the all-time grand slam list behind Lou Gehrig, who had 23. Williams also adds a go ahead three-run homer in the 11th off Bill Fischer, as Boston beats Detroit, 11 – 8.
July 29 1966 Cincinnati Reds hurler Jim Maloney strikes out 13 in the Reds’ 4 – 3 win over Houston
July 29, 1966 — At Comiskey Park, The New York Yankees edge the Chicago White Sox, 2 – 1, on Mickey Mantle’s 14th homer in 24 games. Mick moves ahead of Lou Gehrig into 6th place on the homer list with the blast. It was Mantles, 21st of the season and it came off White Sox Starter and loser Bruce Howard in the 4th inning. Al Downing goes 8+ for the Yankees picking up the win. The Yankees are however in the unaccustomed territory, this was their 47th win vs 52 defeats.
July 29 , 1970 – Disgruntled first baseman Joe Pepitone, who suddenly “retired” rather than play in Houston, is sold to the Cubs. He had belted 14 home runs during his four months in Texas. Bob Watson takes over at first as Larry Dierker is roughed up during a 9-2 loss at Wrigley Field.
July 29, 1983, Due to a dislocated thumb suffered in a collision at home plate in an attempt to score in the first game of the Padres’ doubleheader against Atlanta, first baseman Steve Garvey’s consecutive game streak ends in the nightcap at 1,207. It is the third-longest span in major league history without missing a game.
July 29, 1986 — Sparky Anderson, the first manager to win the World Series in each league, also becomes the first manager to win 600 games in both the National and American Leagues when his Tigers beat the Brewers, 9 – 5.
July 29, 1988 — After his request for time-out isn’t granted by the home plate umpire Mike Reilly, Bo Jackson recovers in time to hit a home run despite not being set in the batter box when the pitch is delivered. The Royals left fielder’s fourth-inning three-run poke off Jeff Ballard contributes to Kansas City’s 6-3 victory over Baltimore at Memorial Stadium.
July 29 1989 Rickey Henderson steals five bases and scores four runs without the benefit of getting an official time at-bat. The offensive output is made possible when the A’s leadoff hitter is issued four bases-on-balls by Randy Johnson, who still manages to get the win in the M’s 14-6 victory at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
July 29, 1989, On Steve Carlton Night at Veterans Stadium, the Phillies retire Lefty‘s uniform #32 during a pregame ceremony. Among the gifts he receives from the Phils are a gold watch, a ring with the number 32 in diamonds, and a trip around the world for his family. In 15 years with the Phillies (1972-1986), Carlton had 241 wins (1st in franchise history), 3,031 strikeouts (1st), 39 shutouts (2nd), & 3.09 ERA.
July 29, 1991 — During a game at Yankee Stadium, Oakland OF Jose Canseco is bombarded with assorted objects by unruly fans. Included among the objects are an inflatable doll, a transistor radio, and a head of cabbage. Oakland escapes with a 10 – 8 victory.
News Reels — July 29
Cal Ripken Delivers Hall of Fame Induction Speech — Ripken reflecting on his career in his own words at Cooperstown — essential for any Orioles fan.
Tony Gwynn 2007 Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Speech — Gwynn's induction remarks — a must-listen for anyone who appreciates pure hitting craftsmanship.
Brian McRae Charges Texas Rangers Dugout (July 29, 1993) — Old-school baseball chaos — always a fun, unpredictable listen.
Bill Stern Sports Newsreel (July 29, 1949) with Ronald Reagan Subbing — A rare guest-hosted Bill Stern edition with a future U.S. president on the mic — a genuinely fascinating old-time-radio crossover.
Cesar Cedeno Drives in J.R. Richard to Beat the Dodgers (July 29, 1979) — A clutch, walk-off-style moment worth the click for the drama alone.
Milestones July 29
🎙️ Did you know? In 1968, Washington shortstop Ron Hansen turned an unassisted triple play — the first in 41 years — and then, three days later, the Senators traded him away anyway. He's got 28 broadcasts and interviews in our library.
Birthdays:
Notable: Felix Mantilla
Debuts:
Notable: Willie Randolph
Final Games:
Highlights: Dave Henderson
Passings:
Notable: Lee May
New From Around the League!
ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA
TRIVIA ANSWER: DUANE WARD [SABR Bio]
- Ans. One of the details often overlooked in celebrations of Toronto's Game 6 and World Series victories in 1993. In game six, PHI regrouped in the T7. Dykstra hit a WS-MVP type HR cutting the TOR lead to 5-4. Jays’ pitchers Danny Cox & Al Leiter couldn't hold the fort & it ended up 6-5 PHI after 8. Ward had a splendid 1-2-3 T9, deservedly earning the W.
- #1 Ward’s franchise tops of 45 saves & 70 games finished have never been equaled since he set them in 1993.
- #2 He is behind only Tom Henke in Saves, Hits per 9 Innings Pitched, Games Finished & Field Independent Pitching.
- #3 He is tied with NM natives Steve Oniveros & Trevor Rogers with 1 ASG apiece.
- #4 He was drafted out of high school in the top ten of the first round, a few slots behind Dwight Gooden.
- #5 Ward’s basketball Scorpions had a 26-0 record that year.
- #6 In Ward’s 1st major league game on 12-Apr-1986, the opposing moundsman was Nolan Ryan. Ward pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Thank you Horsehide Trivia
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