TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

May 3, 1975, Cincinnati Reds manager Sparky Anderson decides to switch Pete Rose from left field to third base, making room for promising slugger George Foster in the outfield. Over the next four seasons, Foster will average 36 home runs, 117 RBI, and a .302 batting average the move will help the “Big Red Machine” win World Championships in both 1975 and 1976.

Foster excelled in track, football, and baseball at El Camino College in California, drawing the attention of the Giants, who made him their third pick in the January 1968 draft. It took seven seasons in the majors and minors, with two organizations, before Foster arrived with Cincinnati to stay. The 6'1" 180-lb outfielder soon became an important cog in the Big Red Machine of the 1970s.

Foster became a regular in 1975. A mediocre fielder at best, Foster had a strong but inaccurate arm. He was a better than average baserunner. But he made a name for himself as a powerful, productive hitter who had five of the best seasons of any player of his time. Foster's three consecutive RBI championships (1976-78) tied a ML record. In 1977, his MVP year, he hit .320 with 149 RBI and 124 runs and blasted 52 HR to become only the seventh NL player to hit 50 or more in a season. He hit three straight homers in a July 14 game that season, and his 31 road homers set the ML record for righthanded batters. In 1978 Foster again led the NL with 40 HR.

After eleven seasons and three World Series with Cincinnati, Foster was traded to the Mets in 1982. Signing him to a five-year contract worth over $10 million, the team's new owners, Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon, showed their willingness to spend money to rebuild the Mets. He hit just 13 HR that year, 28 the next, and was considered a disappointment. Word got around among NL pitchers that he wouldn't lay off low curveballs, and he regularly struck out on curves in the dirt. Foster was released by the Mets in August of their World Championship 1986 season. The struggling veteran, hitting The struggling veteran, hitting .227 at the time, claimed he was the victim of racism, but he failed to regain his stroke after the White Sox picked him up. He retired tied for tenth in career grand slams with 13.

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May 3, 1938, Lefty Grove of the Boston Red Sox defeats the Detroit Tigers, 4-3, marking the start of a personal 20-game winning streak at home. Grove will not lose a game at Fenway Park until May 12, 1941.

May 3, 1936, After being sidelined at the start of the season because of a foot injury, Joe DiMaggio makes his much anticipated major league debut. The 21 year-old rookie outfielder lives up to the hype, DiMaggio collects two singles and a triple in six at-bats, helping the New York Yankees to a 14-5 win over the St. Louis Browns. DiMaggio’s first at bat came against Jack Knott, he reached on a fielders choice. He singled in his next at bats vs Earl Caldwell in the 2nd inning.

May 3, 1959 — Charlie Maxwell of the Detroit Tigers hits four consecutive home runs in a doubleheader sweep of the New York Yankees, 4 – 2 and 8 – 2, at Briggs Stadium.

May 3, 1961 — Another brilliant Warren Spahn performance is spoiled when left fielder Mel Roach’s misplay costs the Milwaukee Braves’ ace a second no-hitter in a row. Spahn settles for a two-hitter in topping the Dodgers, 4 -1 at County Stadium. He strikes out nine Dodgers and goes 3-for-4 at the plate, including a double.

May 3, 1975, Cincinnati Reds manager Sparky Anderson decides to switch Pete Rose from left field to third base, making room for promising slugger George Foster in the outfield. Over the next four seasons, Foster will average 36 home runs, 117 RBI, and a .302 batting average the move will help the “Big Red Machine” win World Championships in both 1975 and 1976.

May 3, 1979 — Bobby Bonds of the Cleveland Indians hits his 300th career home run against Moose Haas in a 6 – 1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Bonds has collected 413 stolen bases at the time and becomes the second player, after Willie Mays, to have 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases.

May 3, 1980, Willie McCovey of the San Francisco Giants hits the final home run of his Hall of Fame career. McCovey hits his 521st home run against Scott Sanderson of the Montreal Expos, helping the Giants to a 3-2 win. His shot ties him with Ted Williams on the all-time list. McCovey will enter the Hall of Fame in 1986.

May 3, 1995, rookie infielder David Bell makes his debut for the Cleveland Indians, representing the third generation of his family to play in the major leagues. David’s father, Buddy, and his grandfather, Gus, previously starred in the big leagues. The Bells become the second three-generation family in major league history, joining the Boone’s (Ray, Bob, Bret and Aaron).

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TRIVIA

TRIVIA: Who hit more home runs for the Cleveland Indians that any other player?

Hint: #1 He owns the top five seasons for drawing bases on balls for the American League Cleveland franchise.

Hint: #2 White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has said of him, "He can be a batting coach. He'd be a great batting coach, but someday he'll be a manager."

Answer below

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 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

TRIVIA Answer:  JIM THOME   

- Ans. Thome’s 337 HR for CLE may stand for a while. In 2^nd place, there is Albert Belle with 242. 

- #1 Thome led his team in walks in 1996 (123); 1997 (120); 1999 (127); 2000 (118); & 2002 122). His 111 BB in 2001 is tied for 7^th on the same list.

- #2 Thome has stated that he would like to manage a major league team.

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