July 2, 1903, A three-time .400 hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies, Ed Delahanty was the sport's first bona fide slugger, leading the league with 19 homers and 146 RBI in 1893. Ten years later "the King of Swat" was dead — his fatal plunge off the International Bridge into the foot of Niagara Falls remains shrouded in mystery. On the night of July 2, 1903, a drunken Delahanty was ejected from a train traveling from Detroit to New York. He was found standing on the Canadian side of the International Bridge. The next thing the bridge watchman heard was a splash 20 feet below. Several days passed before anyone connected the stranger on the bridge to the great ballplayer. On July 9, his body was found at the base of Niagara Falls. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1945. A career .346 hitter, he is the only player ever to win both an AL and NL batting title.

Today's Daily Highlights

Joe DiMaggio sets a new major league hitting streak record on this day in 1941 — his 45th consecutive game, surpassing Wee Willie Keeler's mark of 44, with a three-run homer in front of 52,832 at Yankee Stadium. Also: Carl Hubbell pitches 18 shutout innings in a 1-0 win in 1933, Juan Marichal vs. Warren Spahn in a legendary 16-inning pitchers' duel in 1963, 11 classic broadcasts, and today's Vintage Commercial: Coney Island Penny Machine.

🎙️ Did you know?

Joe DiMaggio has 83 broadcasts in our library — including from the legendary 1941 season when he hit in 56 straight games.