Dodgers Hit Four Consecutive Home Runs 09/18/2006

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

Frank Howard: The Capital Punisher

Frank Howard broke in with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In his rookie season Howard hit 23 home runs with 77 RBI earning the National League Rookie of the Year award.

His best offensive seasons would come as a member of the Washington Senators uniform. He hit forty plus home runs in 68-70 seasons. In 1968 and 1970, he led the American League in home runs. He had the creative nicknames of “The Washington Monument”, “Hondo” and “The Captial Punisher.” Howard was a four time all-star. After his playing days, he managed the New York Mets and San Diego Padres. He also served as a coach for his several clubs.

He hit 382 home runs with 1,119 RBI with a hitting line of .273/.352/.499. 

The Detroit Tigers Mickey Lolich

In the 1968 World Series southpaw Mickey Lolich registered three complete game wins, and walked away with the MVP trophy. He sparked the Tigers to comeback from a 3 games to 1 deficit to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals.  He his three complete game victories haven't been matched in World Series play since. It wasn't until 2001, when another southpaw Randy Johnson would get three World Series wins. In game two of the World Series (8-1 Tiger win), he would hit the only home run of his career.

Lolich would sign with the Detroit Tigers out of high school and toiled in their farm system for five seasons until making his major league debut in the fifth season in 1963, when he went 5-9 splitting time between being a starter and reliever. It all changed in when he had a won-loss record of 18-9, tossed six shutouts finished with an ERA of 3.26.  Lolich would be a consistent starter for the Tigers, he won 14 or more games in 11 consecutive seasons.  From 1969 through 1974, Lolich would strike out 200 or more in six consecutive seasons. His best season would be in 1971, when he would lead MLB with 25 wins, 308 strike outs, 45 starts, 29 complete games, 376 innings pitched. He was an American League all-star three times in 1969, and 1971-1972. He would follow up the 1971 with 22 wins in 1972, and sending the Tigers into postseason as the American League East champions.

Lolich would be traded after the 1975 season to the New York Mets. He went 8-13 with a 3.22 ERA, and retired at the end of the season. After sitting out the 1977 season, he signed as a free agent with the San Diego Padres pitching two seasons making only seven starts in 47 appearances. 

He retired with a career won-loss record of 217-191 with an ERA of 3.44, and 2,832 strike outs. 

Ferguson Jenkins Records His 3,000th Strikeout

May 25, 1982. Chicago Cubs right-hand pitcher Ferguson Jenkins whiffs Gary Templeton of the San Diego Padres to record his 3,000th career strike out.

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

A. J. Burnett No-Hits The Padres

May 12, 2001. The Florida Marlins rookie right-hander A.J. Burnett no-hits the San Diego Padres 4-0 despite issuing nine walks. Every hitter in the Padres lineup reached base. Can you safe he was effectively wild?

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

Greg Maddux Wins Number 350

May 10, 2008. Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux becomes only the third pitcher in Major League Baseball to win 350 games since 1928, and only the 9th in major league history. Maddux accomplishes the feat pitching for the San Diego Padres in a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. He would be inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Trevor Hoffman's 400th Save

May 6, 2005. The San Diego Padres Trevor Hoffman notches his 400th career saves over the St. Louis Cardinals. He is only the third reliever to notch 400 career saves with Lee Smith at 478, and John Franco with 424.

Mark Grace's First Major League Hit

May 2, 1988. Chicago Cubs rookie Mark Grace gets his first hit against the San Diego Padres. Grace would go on to notch 2,445 hits in a sixteen-year career with the Cubs and Diamondbacks. He would win four Gold Glove Awards playing first base. Grace was a three time All-Star, and played on the 2001 World Series champion  Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ryan Braun's Hits Three Home Runs

April 30, 2012, Milwauke Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun hits three home runs and triple accounting for 15 total bases. Braun knocks in six runs, and it is the first time since Freddie Lynn of the Red Sox did it in 1975 that a player hits three home runs, and a triple in the same season. The Brewers win the game at Petco Park 8-3.

Mike Piazza's 400th Home Run

April 26, 2006, Mike Piazza becomes the 41st player in Major League Baseball History to hit 400 home runs. He hits an upper deck shot against the Arizona Diamondbacks to enter the 400-home run club. In his career he will hit 427 home runs with 1335 RBI. Piazza was a 12 time All-Star, 10 time Silver Slugger Award winner, and 1993 Rookie of the Year. He was elected to Baseball Hall of  Fame 2016.

Phil Humber Hurls Perfect Game

On this day on April 21, 2012, the Phil Humber of the Chicago White Sox hurls a perfect game at SafeCo Field in Seattle as the White Sox down the Mariners 4-0. He becomes the third White Sox pitchers to accomplish the feat in team history. Humber struggled throughout his career finishing with a 16-23 record with an ERA of 5.31. He signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres for 2016, but opted to retire on March 29, 2016.

Julio Franco: The Oldest Player To Homer

April 20, 2006. Julio Franco becomes the oldest player to homer in a Major League Baseball history surpassing Jack Quinn of the Philadelphia A's (ironically Quinn was a pitcher). The feat was accomplished at PetCo Park in New York Mets 7-2 win over the San Diego Padres. He will go on to hit another home run for the New York Mets  in the following season at 48, it will be his last after 23 seasons in the major leagues.

Addie Joss Tosses A No-hitter

April 20, 1910. Addie Joss of the Cleveland Naps  no-hit the Chicago White Sox 1-0, on Oct. 2, 1908, he had pitched a perfect game against Hall of Famer Ed Walsh of the White Sox. He became the first pitcher to no-hit the same team twice. It was a feat that wouldn't be duplicated again until Tim Lincecum of the Giants no-hit the Padres in 2013 and again in 2014. Joss was 160-97 with an ERA of 1.89. He died tragically at 31, on April 14, 1911 from tuberculous meningitis. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978 be the Veteran's Committee.