May 31

[edit] Events

[edit] 1869

• The first ever rainout in professional baseball occurs when rain postpones a game between the Red Stockings and the Anioch Nine.

[edit] 1927

• John Neun of the Detroit Tigers converts an unassisted triple play at Navin's Field after catching a line drive off the bat of Homer Summa. It was the second consecutive day where the rare feat was accomplished.

[edit] 1938

• The New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox, 12-5 in Lou Gehrig's 2000th consecutive game.

[edit] 1961

• Boston Red Sox pinch hitter, Carroll Hardby bunts for a single when pinch-hitting for Carl Yastrzemski. Hardby is the only player to pinch hit for both Yastrzemski and Ted Williams

[edit] 1976

• Ted Turner, owner of the Atlanta Braves, invites the 2994 fans in attendance for a Braves/San Diego Padres game to come back the next night free of charge after the Braves lose 10-7 to the Padres thanks to a 6 run 8th inning started by an error.

[edit] 1979

• In a battle of brothers, Pat Underwood and the Detroit Tigers beat Tom Underwood and the Toronto Blue Jays, 1-0 thanks to 8.1 shutout innings from Pat. It was his major league debut.

[edit] 1980

• Ken Landreaux of the Minnesota Twins sees his 31-game hitting streak end after an 0-4 performance against the Baltimore Orioles

[edit] 1997

• Ila Borders make a relief appearance for the St. Paul Saints making her the first woman to ever appear in a minor league baseball game. She would allow three runs to Sioux Falls without getting anyone out. The next night she would strike out the side.

[edit] 2001

• The Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees after losing 7 consecutive times to them. It was their first win since their ace, Pedro Martinez said "Wake up the Bambino and let me face him. I'll drill him in the ass", in reference to not believing in curses. He was 7-1 with a 1.44 ERA when he made the comment, but went winless in his next 7 starts, his first such streak since his rookie year.

• Felipe Alou is fired by the Montreal Expos and replaced by Jeff Torborg

[edit] 2005

• Buddy Bell is hired to manage the Kansas City Royals. They were the worst team in baseball at the time of his hiring, but then they went on to sweep the New York Yankees....before finishing the year as the worst team in baseball.

[edit] 2006

• Jason Kendall homers off of Joel Peralta snapping his homerless streak of 247 games and 961 at bats. He had 601 AB's in 2005 and went the whole season without connecting for a home run.

• Roger Clemens decides to go for one more year and signs a one year deal with the Houston Astros

• The Chicago Cubs acquire Phil Nevin and cash from the Texas Rangers in exchange for Jerry Hairston in an attempt to fill the void left by the injured Derrek Lee

• Pedro Martinez and Brandon Webb each throw gems as the New York Mets finally score in the 13th and beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 1-0. Each starter allowed only 5 baserunners; Webb in 7 innings, Martinez in 8.

[edit] Debuts

[edit] 2006

• Lastings Milledge makes his Major League debut for the New York Mets.

[edit] Births

[edit] 1943

• Joe Namath, Hall of Fame NFL quarterback.

[edit] 1967

• Kenny Lofton is born in East Chicago, Indiana.

[edit] Deaths