TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

May 25, 1937, Mickey Cochrane had homered in his second at bat in the 3rd inning, will be his last, in the 5th inning he is hit in the right temple by Yankee hurler Bump Hadley with a 3-1 inside fastball. Near-death at first, the Tiger catcher/manager will spend six weeks in the hospital. This accident generated a call for protective helmets for batters, although tradition won out at that time.

He and will never return to the playing field only as its skipper he will manage only one more season in 1938. Cochrane posted a .582 winning percentage (348-250), leading the Tigers to two pennants and their first World Series title, in 1935. Cochrane wasn’t done he managed the Great Lakes Naval Academy baseball team during World War II, leading them to 33 consecutive wins at one point. His team included Johnny Mize, Schoolboy Rowe, and Virgil Trucks.

Big League Debut: April 14, 1925
In his debut, Cochrane caught Lefty Grove, who was also making his major league debut. It's the only time two future Hall of Famers debuted as teammates as a battery in the same game. Just Five weeks later on May 21, 1925, just five weeks into his big league career, Cochrane belted three homers in one game... Cochrane twice hit for the cycle: on July 22, 1932, and August 2, 1933.

More on Mickey . . .

Cochrane's Hall of Fame plaque notes that he "compiled a notable record as a player and manager. The spark of the Athletics' championship teams of 1929-30-31, he had an average batting mark of .346 for those three years. Led Detroit to two league championships and a World Series title in 1935." Cochrane's lifetime .320 average is the highest of any ML catcher.

Cochrane demonstrated his leadership and versatility in his years at Boston University, where he was not only a quarterback, punter, and running back, but also at times the trainer and coach. Cochrane's competitive nature secured him the sobriquet "Black Mike." "Lose a one-to-nothing game," said teammate Doc Cramer, "and you didn't want to get into the clubhouse with Grove and Cochrane. You'd be ducking stools and gloves and bats and whatever else would fly." A natural leader, Mickey was also quick enough of foot to occasionally be placed in the leadoff spot, but more often he hit third in the order.

Cochrane joined the A's in 1925 and hit .330 that year, the first of his nine .300 seasons. On May 21, 1925, the lefthanded batter hit three home runs in a single game. That season was the first of his four campaigns as fielding leader among AL catchers. During his career, Cochrane twice led in errors, but led catchers six times in putouts and twice each in double plays and assists. He caught over 100 games in all but his final two seasons. Cochrane batted a career-best .357 in 1930, and reached career highs in homers (23), RBI (112), and runs scored (118) two years later. He hit for the cycle twice in his career (on July 22, 1932, and August 2, 1933). He was named AL MVP in 1928 with Philadelphia and in 1934 with Detroit. Chosen as a player to two All-Star teams, he also managed the AL to victory in the 1935 contest.

Cochrane played in five World Series. In his first, 1929, he scored the tying run in Game Four as the A's overcame an 8-0 Cub lead with a 10-run seventh inning. The A's won the game en route to their first World Championship since 1913. In the 1930 WS, Cochrane hit an opening-game homer off Burleigh Grimes of the Cardinals, and a HR off Flint Rhem in Game Two. The A's won both contests. In 1935, on what he later called his "greatest day in baseball," Detroit's player-manager scored the run that beat the Cubs in the sixth and final Series game. Though he played in just 315 games over four seasons with the Tigers, Cochrane was chosen by Detroit fans in 1969 as the team's all-time catcher.

Black Mike's playing career ended abruptly on May 25, 1937, when his skull was fractured by a pitch from Yankee Bump Hadley. Cochrane, who had been the Tiger pilot since 1934, continued as manager until August 6, 1938. His .582 winning percentage (413-297) tops all who have spent at least one full season at the Detroit helm.

After WWII erupted, Cochrane was given a Navy commission to coach the Great Lakes Naval Base baseball team. In 1944, Great Lakes won 33 in a row, and beat the Cleveland Indians 17-4, to finish 48-2. Among his Great Lakes players were Tigers Barney McCosky, Schoolboy Rowe and Virgil Trucks, as well as John Mize, Billy Herman, and Gene Woodling. Following the 1944 season, the Navy assigned Lieutenant Commander Cochrane to the Pacific and replaced him at Great Lakes with Bob Feller. Cochrane eventually served as coach and GM for the A's, scout for the Yankees and Tigers, and VP of the Tigers. He and longtime batterymate Lefty Grove were elected to the Hall of Fame in 1947 by the BBWAA. Another Hall of Famer, Mickey Mantle, was named after Cochrane, his father's favorite player.

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May 25, 1935, At Forbes Field, Babe Ruth records just his second 3 homerun game. Ironically, they were the last home runs of his brilliant career. Ruth, wrapping up his playing days with the Boston Braves, adds a double to his 3 long balls in an 11-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ruth hits homers in the 1st inning against Red Lucas, 3rd inning against Guy Bush, and 7th inning off Bush again. Ruth’s 7th inning blast was his 714th career home run, it was hit clear out of Forbes Field, this was the first ball hit out of Forbes in the history of the ballpark. Ruth will retire 8 days later. Ruth’s total of 714 career home runs will stand as the major league record until surpassed by Hank Aaron in 1974.

May 25, 1941 – In a 10-3 victory over New York at Yankee Stadium, Red Sox left fielder Ted Williams goes 4-for-5 to raise his batting average to over .400 for the first time this season. The ‘Splendid Splinter’ will finish the campaign batting .406.

May 25, 1953 — Ralph Kiner hits the 300th home run of his career, off Al Corwin of the New York Giants at Forbes Field. Kiner is the 12th player to reach the mark.

May 25, 1964 — Ground is broken for a new park for the St. Louis Cardinals. The stadium is expected to be ready in time for the 1966 season.

May 25, 1975 – At Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland Indian’s rookie Dennis Eckersley shuts out world champion A’s in his first major-league start as he hurls a 3-hit shutout in beating Oakland 6-0. The game was the first game of a doubleheader and it was an extremely warm day, 87 degrees for this time of year.

May 25, 1982 — Future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins reaches the 3,000 strikeout plateau when he whiffs Gary Templeton in the third Jenkins is the 7th player to reach the plateau, but loses the game, 2 – 1 to the San Diego Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium. Next season, the 39 year-old Canadian-born right-hander will finish his 19-year major league career with a total of 3,192 K’s in 4,500.2 innings.

May 25, 1981 Carl Yastrzemski becomes just the 4th player ever to appear in 3,000 games. He finishes his career with 3,308 games played, second only to Pete Rose.

May 25, 1984, the Boston Red Sox acquire first baseman/outfielder Bill Buckner from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Dennis Eckersley and infielder Mike Brumley. Buckner will give the Red Sox nearly three productive seasons, but will be remembered mostly for his critical error in Game Six of the 1986 World Series.

May 25, 1989 — The Montreal Expos, hoping to add the last piece to a playoff contender, trade Brian Holman, Gene Harris, and 6′ 10″ Randy Johnson to the Seattle Mariners for Mark Langston. Mike Campbell will go to Montreal in July to complete the trade. Johnson will become an ace for the Mariners and develop into one of the greatest left-handed pitchers of all time.

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TRIVIA

TRIVIA: 31 players have hit 3 homeruns in one game but failed to hit 10 for the season, who is the most recent?

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