TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

May 24, 1969 — At San Diego Stadium For the first time since the start of the season, a span of forty-one games, Don Kessinger does not reach base. The Cubs Gold Glove shortstop grounds out four times and hits into a fly-ball double play that caught everyone off guard in his last at-bat. It should never have happened. Umpire Augie  Donatelli ruled that Cito Gaston. the Padre center fielder, caught Kessinger’s line drive in the eighth inning when it appeared from the press box as if Gaston clearly trapped the ball. Gas­ton also seemed surprised but recovered when he saw Donatelli’s right arm in the air and threw to first to double Ted Aber­nathy. The Chicago Cub’s however still win with a score of 7-5 win against the San Diego Padres behind Ernie Banks Grand slam.

Kessinger accepted a $25,000 bonus to sign out of the University of Mississippi. With Ernie Banks, Glenn Beckert, and Ron Santo, he gave Chicago an all-star infield. Though he led the NL in errors in his first season as a regular (1965), Kessinger quickly established himself as an outstanding fielder, leading league shortstops in putouts three years, assists four years, double plays four years, and fielding average once. He played 54 straight errorless games in 1969, then the record for shortstops, and started for the NL in five All-Star games. Kessinger's trademark play was to backhand a ground ball deep in the hole, leap into the air, and without planting his feet throw the runner out from short left field. During an interview with Harry Caray on the Fourth of July, 1969, Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins coined this play "The Down Pat".

He was a pesky, reliable hitter, he hit .252 with a .314 career OBP with almost no power over his career, with a top average of .274 in 1966 and 1972. On July 17, 1970 he went 6-for-6 in a 10-inning game. The clean-living Kessinger served as player-manager for the White Sox in 1979.

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May 24, 1918 — Stan Coveleski of the Cleveland Indians pitches a 19-inning, complete game to defeat the New York Yankees 3 – 2. Former P Joe Wood hits a home run in the 19th inning – his second of the game – to end the 3:45 marathon. For New York‚ Home Run Baker’s 11 assists tie the American League record for a third baseman in an extra-inning game. Interview with Stan Coveleski

May 24, 1935, the first night game in major league history is played at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. 25,000+ fans showed up and On the initiative of Larry MacPhail, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt pushes a button in the White House, the ballpark is illuminated. After a festive pre-game ceremony, the Reds defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-1. The Phils’ Lou Chiozza is the first batter vs the Reds’ Paul Derringer. Crosley Field

May 24, 1936, At Shibe Park, New York Yankee second baseman Tony Lazzeri batting eight becomes the first major league player to hit two grand slams in the same game when the Yankees annihilate the A’s, 25-2. Lazzeri adds a third homerun and a triple capping off a new American League record with 11 RBIs in a 25 – 2 rout of the Philadelphia Athletics. Another major league record is tied when Ben Chapman draws 5 walks as the Yanks are handed 16 bases on balls. Lou Gehrig exits early and is replaced by his favorite sub‚ Jack Saltzgaver. Monte Pearson is the winner over George Turbeville in the laugher. Tony Lazzeri

May 24 1947, at Ebbets Field Carl Furillo pinch hits for Gene Hermanski in the first inning and hits a three-run homer as a pinch-hitter in the first inning. Skeeter Newsome’s third career homer in 5 years ties the game in the 8th and the Phils win it in 10 innings‚ 4 – 3.

May 24, 1951 — Cleveland whips the Senators, 16 – 0‚ with Bob Feller pitching a 2-hitter. Larry Doby has a homer and 4 RBIs to lead the Tribe. Larry Doby Hall of Fame Speech

Piersall vs. Martin – May 24, 1952

Before the Red Sox and Yankees even took the field, the real action had already taken place—under the stands at Fenway Park.

Jimmy Piersall, Boston’s rookie firebrand, and Billy Martin, New York’s scrappy second baseman, came to blows in a 60-second fistfight that had more punch than the actual game. The feud started during batting practice, escalated with insults, and ended in a short-lived but fierce brawl.

Martin, a 5'11", 150-pound amateur boxer, invited the bigger 6'0", 175-pound Piersall “under the stands” to settle the score. Piersall tossed his glove, told pitcher Ellis Kinder to “hold my hat,” and charged in. Martin landed two punches before the melee was broken up by Kinder and Yankees coach Bill Dickey.

The scuffle stemmed from an earlier dust-up in New York, and the bad blood spilled over into the game, where Piersall continued to taunt Martin from the dugout—at one point pretending to film him like a cameraman.

Despite the chaos, no one was injured, though Kinder found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and nearly got trampled trying to break it up. Bob Elson Interviews Jimmy Piersall on June 23, 1979

May 24, 1956 — Mickey Mantle goes 5 for 5 with an intentional walk in an 11 – 4 win against the Tigers. Mantle is hitting .421. He combines with Joe Collins for back-to-back homers‚ off Duke Maas.

May 24, 1963 At Busch Stadium. The St Louis Cardinals beat the New York Mets 10-4. Bob Gibson started the game and pitched 8 innings but had a bout of wildness walking 8, hitting a batter but only gave up 4 hits. Bobby Schantz will pitch the 9th to seal the victory for the Cardinals. The Mets were up early 3-0, but the Cardinals came back with 2 in the 3rd and tied it in the 4th at 3-3, they chased Roger Craig in the 4th and after Bob Gibson homers in the 5th they go up 8-3 and will not look back. The Cardinals bang-out 14 hits including Stan Musial’s 7th home run in the second inning. the defeat was the Mets 5th in a row.

May 24, 1976 — Dennis Eckersley and Stan Thomas combine on a one-hitter as Cleveland stops the Orioles‚ 4 – 0.

May 24, 1976 — Bert Campaneris steals five bases in six attemps, one shy of the major league mark, in the A’s 12-7 victory over the Twins at the Oakland Coliseum. The fleet shortstop will swipe 54 bases, third best in the American League this season. As a team, the Athletics will pile up a record 341 stolen bases on the year.

May 24, 1984, at Anaheim Stadium the Detroit Tigers win their major league record 17th consecutive game on the road, defeating the Angels, 5-1 behind Jack Morris four-hit complete game, who improves to 9-1. The victory runs Detroit’s record to 35-5, the best 40-game start in baseball history. Morris allows 4 hits in 9 innings to win‚ and he is backed by homers from Lance Parrish and Alan Trammell. The Tigers will finally lose tomorrow in Seattle‚ 7 – 3.

May 24, 1987, At Wrigley Field Atlanta Braves pitcher, Charlie Puleo hits a home run against Rick Sutcliffe, however, Sutcliffe pitches well, giving up only that run through 8 innings. Lee Smith blows the save in the ninth, but pitches a scoreless 10th inning. The Cubs win it 3-2 in the 12th inning when Andre Dawson drives in Bob Dernier with a walk-off RBI single.

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TRIVIA

TRIVIA: Who is the only pitcher to lead the majors in strikeouts for five consecutive seasons?

Hint:    In the modern era, his record for strikeouts in a single season stood for sixty years.

Hint:    He threw the first Immaculate Inning in American League history.

Hint:    He was the last out of Cy Young’s perfect game.

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