We’re still awaiting Craig Kimbrel’s official return to the Atlanta Braves but for now, enjoy this blast from the past.
Braves Franchise History
1914: Before 18,000, Christy Mathewson scatters ten hits in shutting down the Braves, 2-0. A Jack Meyers double of Lefty Tyler accounts for both New York runs. Boston is now 3-11, ten games behind the Pirates.
1925: Behind Jesse Barnes, the Braves beat the visiting Cubs, 2-1, in 11 innings. Dave Harris’s game-ending homer in the 11th wins it.
1935: The Braves’ Rabbit Maranville sets a record for National League service by appearing in his 23rd season. It is his first appearance since breaking his ankle in last year’s spring training. The Rabbit had a single, but Tex Carleton is too much for the Braves and the Cubs win, 8-1.
1946: At Chicago, Braves first sacker Johnny Hopp swipes home in the 12th to break a 2-2 tie with the Cubs. Boston scored twice more to win, 5-2, with Lefty Wallace taking the decision over Ray Prim.
1947: Heralded Giant rookie Clint Hartung makes his first pitching appearance and throws six shutout innings of relief against the Braves. He will start 20 games and compile his best record at 9-7. He will also play seven games in the outfield and bat .309 for the year. But the Braves win today, 6-2, behind Warren Spahn.
1971: At San Francisco, the Atlanta Braves and Giants split a pair. After the Giants win the opener, 5-2, the Braves take the nightcap, 6-5, in 11 innings. Orlando Cepeda connects for a grand slam and solo homer for Atlanta, while Willie McCovey has a three-run home run for San Francisco. The Braves won it in the 10th when Ralph Garr scores after collecting his fourth hit.
1979: Four bench-clearing brawls and two grand slams, by Gary Matthews and John Milner, highlight the Pirates’ wild 17-9 victory over the Braves. Substitute umpires eject five players, four managers, and a coach.
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1984: Umpire Joe West ejects two television cameramen from Shea Stadium when they allow the Mets to view replays of a controversial play at the plate in which Hubie Brooks is called out. The Mets beat Atlanta, 3 – 1, with Ron Darling getting the win.
1993: The Rockies reach the 1,000,000 mark for attendance in their meeting with Atlanta. It is the fastest any team has gotten to the magic number (17 home dates). The Braves win the game, however, 12-7.
1997: Prior to the team’s game with Atlanta, Pirates players stand inside the stadium gates to shake hands and pose for pictures. They then proceeded to beat the Braves, 9-0.
2013: In his third game since returning from shoulder surgery, C Brian McCann homers and drives in three runs to lead the Braves to a 6-3 win over the Giants. Craig Kimbrel picks up his 100th career save in the contest.
2015: Bryce Harper continues his insanely hot streak, as he connects for a two-run walk-off homer against Cody Martin to give the Nationals an 8-6 win over the Braves. This comes a day after he became the youngest player ever to hit five homers in two days. He is also the first player in ten years to have hit six homers in three games, since Hee-Seop Choi in 2005.
MLB History
1871: The first Hispanic player in major league baseball is Esteban Enrique Bellan. The 21-year-old Cuban infielder plays for the Troy Haymakers of the National Association.
1930: The Yankees’ and the Tigers’ outfielders make only two putouts for an American League record which has never been equaled. The National League record for outfield idleness is one chance (Pittsburgh versus Brooklyn on August 26, 1910). Detroit’s George Uhle strikes out eight in winning, 5-4, and dropping the Yanks to seventh place. Hank Johnson (seven innings) and George Pipgras are the New York hurlers.
1979: At the Astrodome, substitute umpire Dave Pallone ejects the entire Cardinal bench after the players throw helmets and bats onto the field to protest a call. The minor league arbitrator was pressed into duty due to the major league umpire strike.
2010: Dallas Braden pitches the 19th perfect game in major league history as the Oakland A’s defeat the Tampa Bay Rays, owners of the best record and best offense in the majors coming into the game, 4-0. Braden’s is the second perfect game in franchise history, following that of Catfish Hunter on May 8, 1968; it also comes less than ten months after Mark Buehrle pitched the last perfecto, also against the Rays, on July 23, 2009.
2015: The Pirates become the first team in major league history to turn a 4-5-4 triple play in their 7-5 win over the Cardinals. With runners on second and third base in the 2nd inning, Yadier Molina lines out to 2B Neil Walker, who throws to 3B Jung Ho Kang to double off Jhonny Peralta; Kang then throws back to Walker who gets to second base ahead of Jason Heyward, who freezes between second and third base.
Information for this article was found via Baseball Reference, NationalPastime.com and Today in Baseball History.