Baseball Timeline of Events

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Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

Timeline of Events

1845

9.23.1845

The Knickerbockers Baseball Club, the first baseball team to play under the modern rules, is founded in New York.

1892

6.7.1892

Benjamin Harrison becomes the first President of the United States to attend a baseball game.

1903

10.1.1903

Baseball: The Boston Americans play the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of the modern World Series.

1904

5.5.1904

Pitching against the Philadelphia Athletics at the Huntington Avenue Grounds, Cy Young of the Boston Americans throws the first perfect game in the modern era of baseball.

1912

4.20.1912

Opening day for baseball stadiums Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, and Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.

1921

10.5.1921

Baseball: The World Series is broadcast on the radio for the first time.

1929

8.11.1929

Babe Ruth becomes the first baseball player to hit 500 home runs in his career with a home run at League Park in Cleveland, Ohio.

1930

4.28.1930

The first night game in organized baseball history takes place in Independence, Kansas.

1939

7.4.1939

Lou Gehrig, recently diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, tells a crowd at Yankee Stadium that he considers himself "The luckiest man on the face of the earth" as he announces his retirement from major league baseball.

1944

6.10.1944

In baseball, 15-year old Joe Nuxhall of the Cincinnati Reds becomes the youngest player ever in a major-league game.

1945

10.6.1945

Baseball: Billy Sianis and his pet billy goat are ejected from Wrigley Field during Game 4 of the 1945 World Series (see Curse of the Billy Goat).

1952

2.20.1952

Emmett Ashford becomes the first African-American umpire in organized baseball by being authorized to be a substitute umpire in the Southwestern International League.

1961

5.9.1961

Jim Gentile of the Baltimore Orioles becomes the first player in baseball history to hit grand slams in consecutive innings.

7.31.1961

At Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, the first All-Star Game tie in major league baseball history occurs when the game is stopped in the 9th inning because of rain.

1965

4.9.1965

Astrodome opens. First indoor baseball game is played.

1975

4.8.1975

Frank Robinson manages the Cleveland Indians in his first game as major league baseball's first African American manager.

1981

9.26.1981

Baseball: Nolan Ryan sets a Major League record by throwing his fifth no-hitter.

1982

4.21.1982

Baseball: Rollie Fingers of the Milwaukee Brewers becomes the first pitcher to record 300 saves.

1989

3.21.1989

''Sports Illustrated'' reports allegations tying baseball player Pete Rose to baseball gambling.

3.21.1989

''Sports Illustrated'' reports allegations tying baseball player Pete Rose to baseball gambling.

8.24.1989

Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose is banned from baseball for gambling by Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti.

2007

8.7.2007

Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants breaks baseball great Hank Aaron's record by hitting his 756th home run.