On October 26 in Baseball History... 1911 - Danny Murphy of Philadelphia had four hits as the Athletics beat the New York Giants 13-2 to win the World Series in six games. The A's put the game out of reach with a seven-run seventh inning.
1931 - Charles Comiskey dies at age 72. The White Sox owner and pioneer player never recovered from the betrayal of the 1919 World Series. 1940 - Tigers' slugging left fielder Hank Greenberg (.340, 41, 150) is named the American League's Most Valuable Player with Indian hurler Bob Feller (27-11- 2.61) finishing second. Having won the award in 1935 as a first baseman, 'Hammerin' Hank' becomes the first player to win another MVP playing a different position.
1946 - Westbrook Pegler, a syndicated columnist, becomes the first to question in print the off-field association of Leo Durocher with actor George Raft and others allegedly tied to g@mblers. The Pulitzer Prize winning writer's expose of the Dodgers manager will start a series of events that will lead to the 'Lip's' one year suspension in 1947.
1949 - The San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League complete an Asian tour which includes five Japanese games. One of the Japanese games draws over 100,00 fans to watch Lefty O'Doul's team.
1950 - The BBWAA select Yankee shortstop Phil Rizzuto (.324, 7, 66) as the American League MVP. The ‘Scooter’, who receives 16 of 23 first-place votes, easily outpoints runner-up Boston’s Billy Goodman, the first player without a regular position to receive consideration for the prestigious award.
1950 - Walter O'Malley succeeds Branch Rickey as president of the Dodgers. O'Malley, who had offered to buy Rickey's share of the club to become majority owner, is forced to offer more money when 'the Mahatma', in a final act of defiance about being told to leave the organization, offers his share of the team to a friend for a million dollars.
1960 - After his family operates the team in Washington since his dad, Clark Griffith, took over as manager of the club in 1912, Calvin Griffith, president of the Senators, makes a decision to move his club to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area to become the Twins. The District of Columbia is awarded an expansion team, that will begin play next season, to fill the void placating the lawmakers who spoke of examining baseball's anti-trust exemption should the national pastime leave the nation's capital.
1960 - In a move designed to get a jump on the National League in the expansion race, the American League grants franchises to Washington and Los Angeles and okays the Senators move to Minnesota. The decision to place a new team in Washington is partly political because the owners fear the nation's lawmakers, upset about losing the American League's oldest club, will threaten baseball's anti-trust exemption.
1971 - Oakland's Vida Blue wins the AL Cy Young Award by a 98-85 margin over Mickey Lolich of the Tigers. Blue was 24-8 for the A's, posting 301 strikeouts, eight shutouts, and a 1.82 ERA. Ferguson Jenkins won the Cy Young Award in the NL.
1977 - Sparky Lyle becomes the first AL reliever to win the Cy Young Award. Lyle leads the league with 72 appearances, posting a 13-5 record with 26 saves and a 2.17 ERA.
1979 - Commissioner Bowie Kuhn notifies Hall of Famer Willie Mays that if he accepts a position with Bally Manufacturing Corporation, owner of several gambling casin0s, he must disassociate himself from major league baseball. Mays, a part-time coach and goodwill ambassador for the Mets, will relinquish his duties upon accepting Bally's job offer.
1980 - Former Yankee and Tiger skipper Ralph Houk comes out of retirement to manage the Red Sox. The 'Major' will compile a 312-282 (.525) won-loss record during his four-year tenure in Boston.
1982 - Steve Carlton becomes the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards. The Phils 37-year-old lefthander, who led the NL in wins (23), innings (295.2), strikeouts (286), and shutouts (six), was a previous winner in 1972, 1977, and 1980.
1985 - In Game 6 of the World Series, Don Denkinger's controversial ninth-inning call at first base enables the Royals to beat the Cardinals, 2-1. The play, in which Jorge Orta is called safe, when it appears first baseman Jack Clark's throw to Todd Worrell, covering the bag, clearly beats him, gives Dane Iorg the opportunity to hit a two-run walk-off single and to extend the Fall Classic to a decisive Game 7 that Kansas City will win to capture its first World Championship.
1991 - Kirby Puckett prevents two Atlanta runs with a leaping catch in the third inning and then lofts a sacrifice fly in the fifth to give the Twins the lead in Game Six. The Braves tie it in the seventh, but Puckett turned out the lights in the 10th with a home run to force a seventh game.
1995 - Orel Hershiser allows just two runs over eight innings and Jose Mesa survives a two-run home run by Ryan Klesko in the ninth inning to give the Indians a 5-4 win in Game Five.
1995 - The ceremonial first pitch prior to Game 5 of the World Series is thrown by Commander Ken Bowersox, who is onboard the space shuttle Columbia. The ceremony, transmitted from space via satellite and shown to the Indians and Braves fans at Jacobs Field, continues with an animation sequence on the scoreboard that ends with a ball that appears to fly in and land in center field.
1996 - In Game 6, after two one-sided losses at home, the Yankees take the next four games to win their first World Series since 1978 with a 3-2 victory over the defending World Champs Braves. The Fall Classic victory will be the first title of four in five years for the Bronx Bombers.
1997 - Edgar Renteria ended one of the most thrilling Game 7s ever, singling with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Florida Marlins their first World Series championship with a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians. The 5-year-old Marlins became the youngest expansion team to win a championship.
1998 - Potential free-agent all-star catcher Mike Piazza signs the most lucrative contract in major league history when he agrees to terms with the Mets. The seven-year deal is worth over $91 million and includes having a suite on road trips and a luxury box for home games at Shea.
1999 - Chad Curtis leads off the tenth inning with his second home run of the game giving the Yankees a dramatic 6-5 walk-off victory over the Braves, and a commanding 3-0 lead in the World Series. The outfielder becomes the 11th player to end a Fall Classic game with a round-tripper when he goes deep off Atlanta reliever Mike Remlinger.
2000 - Derek Jeter becomes the first player to win the All-Star Game and the World Series MVP honors in the same season. The Yankee shortstop hit .409 and his nine hits included two doubles, a triple and a pair of home runs, in the Bronx Bombers' five-game victory over the Mets in the Fall Classic.
2000 - In Game 5 at Shea Stadium, the Yankees win their third consecutive World Series, the fourth title in five years and record 26th championship by defeating the Mets, 4-2. Luis Sojo's ninth inning two-out, tie-breaking single off starter Al Leiter is the decisive hit.
2000 - Joining Hall of Famers Joe McCarthy (7) , Casey Stengel (7) , Connie Mack (5) and Walter Alston (4), Yankee manager Joe Torre becomes only the fifth skipper to win four World Series championships.
2002 - When Russ Ortiz, who is tossing a 5-0 shutout, strikes out Garret Anderson to begin the seventh inning of Game 6, the Giants appeared destined to win their first World Series since 1954. The Angels, scoring a total of six times in the seventh and eighth innings, rally from the large deficit and stage the biggest comeback for a team facing elimination in the Fall Classic, beating the Giants, 6-5.
2003 - Citing disagreements with team owner George Steinbrenner, Don Zimmer resigns as the bench coach of the Yankees. ‘Pop-eye’, a close friend of skipper Joe Torre, will be named Senior Baseball Advisor for the Devil Rays before the start of next season.
2004 - Curt Schilling becomes the first starting pitcher to win a World Series for three different teams. In addition to his Game 2 Red Sox victory over the Cardinals, his 8-2 lifetime postseason record includes wins for the Phillies (1993) and Diamondbacks (2001).
2004 - Prior to Game 3 of the World Series, Edgar Martinez receives the Roberto Clemente Award, an honor that is given to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team. The Mariners designated hitter, a native of Puerto Rico like the award’s namesake, is involved in Parent Project/Muscular Dystrophy, Children's Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
2005 - White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen becomes the first foreign-born manager to win a World Series series as the ‘Wizards of Ozzie’ sweep the Astros in the Fall Classic. The 41-year old Venezuelan is also the youngest pilot to ever win a World Championship.
2005 - Tadahito Iguchi becomes the first Japanese native to win a World Series ring when the White Sox sweep the Astros, winning the Fall Classic for the first time in 88 years. The second baseman left the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks to sign as a free agent with Chicago prior to the start of the championship season. 2005 - Bobby Valentine becomes the first foreign manager to win the Japan Series in the 70-year history of Japanese baseball. Sweeping the Hanshin Tigers, the former Rangers and Mets skipper leads the Chiba Lotte Marines to their first league championship in 31 years.
2007 - Dmitri Young is announced as the National League Comeback Player of the Year by the MLB Players Trust and Yahoo! Sports. The big first baseman, who was released by the Tigers early last season due to both on and off-the-field issues, joined the Nationals as a non-roster player and became an All-Star selection for Washington, finishing the season batting .320, with the tenth best in the circuit.
2007 - The MLB Players Trust and Yahoo! Sports announce the selection of Devil Rays first baseman Carlos Pena as the American League Comeback Player of the Year. After missing most of the past two seasons and being told he wouldn't make the team in this year, the first baseman went on to set Tampa Bay's single-season records in homers, RBIs and walks.
2008 - In a 10-2 rout of the Rays in Game 4 of the World Series, right-hander Joe Blanton hits a home run making it only the 15th time in the history of the Fall Classic that a pitcher has homered. Ken Holtzman was the last hurler to accomplish the feat when he went deep off Andy Messersmith in 1974.
2008 - The Hank Aaron Award, given annually to the top offensive player in each league, is presented to Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis (.312, 29, 115) and Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez (.289, 27, 111). The honor was established in 1999 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Henry Aaron surpassing Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record.
2009 - Tony La Russa agrees to a one-year contract to return for his 15th season as manager of the Cardinals. The Redbirds have appeared in the postseason eight times under their 65-year old skipper, including a World Championship in 2006.
2009 - The Padres formally introduced 35-year-old Jed Hoyer as the team's new general manager. The former assistant to Boston's GM Theo Epstein replaces Kevin Towers, who held the position in San Diego for 14 seasons.
2009 - Mark McGwire will join his former manager Tony La Russa on the Cardinals' bench as the team's hitting coach, replacing Hal McRae. The one-time single season home run champ, whose reputation was ruined when he infamously refused to answer questions about the use of steroids during a 2005 congressional hearing, had LaRussa for his skipper in 15 of the 16 years he played in the major leagues, both in Oakland and St. Louis.
2010 - The Nationals notify Jim Riggleman he will be returning as the team's manager next year. Washington finished last in the National League East for the third consecutive season, but improved by ten games in the win column, finishing the campaign with 69 victories.
2013 - With runners on second and third with one out, Jon Jay's grounder results in Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia easily throwing out Yadier Molina at the plate. After making the tag at home, Boston backstop Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s errant throw to third base causes third baseman Will Middlebrooks to collide with Allen Craig, who had gone to third and appears to be thrown out while advancing to home, but the umpires ruled that the infielder interfered the baserunner, giving the Cardinals an unusual 5-4 walk-off victory in the first World Series game to ever end on an obstruction call.
2014 - Cardinal rookie Oscar Taveras, who participated in seven postseason games with St. Louis earlier in the month, dies in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic. The 22 year-old outfielder, who batted .320 and slugged .516 as a minor leaguer, was considered by many to be a 'can't miss prospect'.
2014 - The San Diego State University baseball team continues their tradition in which every player dons a costume during a late-October intra-squad scrimmage. This year the fourth annual Halloween Game was held on Sunday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium - and surprised the crowd with a special "Thriller" flash mob on the infield diamond.
2014 - Madison Bumgarner hurls a four-hit, complete-game, blanking the Royals, 5-0, in Game 6 of the World Series. The southpaw's victory, giving the Giants a 3-2 edge, is the first shutout thrown by starter in the Fall Class since Josh Beckett accomplish the feat for the Marlins at Yankee Stadium in 2003, and the first for the franchise since 1962 when Jack Sanford whitewashed New York in 1962.
2015 - The Chicago White Sox signed Steve Lombardozzi as a free agent. 2017 - The Cincinnati Reds claimed Micah Johnson from the Atlanta Braves on waivers.
Baseball Birthdays on October 26...
1866 - Gleason, Kid 1866 - Sommers, Pete
1867 - Garfield, Bill
1867 - Wilson, Parke
1869 - Gilroy, John
1875 - Miller, Bert
1877 - Newton, Doc
1878 - Swindells, Charlie
1880 - Tannehill, Lee 1882 - Somerlott, Jock
1884 - Camnitz, Harry
1886 - Carlstrom, Swede
1887 - Chapman, Harry
1888 - Hoblitzel, Dick
1889 - Griffith, Tommy
1890 - Hopper, Bill
1897 - Winn, George
1897 - Friday, Skipper
1898 - Moore, Roy
1899 - Vogel, Otto
1904 - Sherlock, Monk
1910 - Shelley, Hugh
1913 - Bremer, Herb
1918 - Stirnweiss, Snuffy
1919 - Cassini, Jack
1920 - Byerly, Bud
1923 - Glaviano, Tommy
1926 - Bokelmann, Dick
1936 - Chacon, Elio
1947 - Gogolewski, Bill 1948 - Harrah, Toby
1949 - Hargrove, Mike
1949 - Rogers, Steve
1950 - Coleman, Dave
1950 - Garland, Wayne
1951 - Ontiveros, Steve
1957 - Chappas, Harry 1958 - Wills, Frank
1958 - Vande Berg, Ed
1961 - Polidor, Gus
1964 - Adkins, Steve
1965 - Heredia, Gil
1965 - Crouch, Zach
1967 - Novoa, Rafael
1968 - Lydy, Scott
1969 - Sweeney, Mark
1972 - Almanza, Armando
1975 - Bradley, Ryan
1977 - Sobkowiak, Scott
1978 - Cerda, Jaime
1983 - Liriano, Francisco 1984 - Flores, Jesus
1989 - Boscan, Wilfredo
1989 - Coulombe, Daniel
1991 - Leone, Dominic
1992 - Skoglund, Eric
1992 - Smith, Dwight
Baseball Deaths on October 26... 1893 - Sullivan, Dan
1909 - Siffell, Frank
1918 - Rhodes, Charlie
1923 - Ryan, Jimmy
1931 - Comiskey, Charlie 1939 - Lennox, Ed
1945 - Gust, Ernie
1949 - Mahaffey, Lou
1952 - Angley, Tom
1952 - Murphy, Mike
1955 - Bushelman, Jack
1956 - Nelson, Red
1957 - Renfer, Erwin
1963 - Hunter, Newt
1966 - Cronin, Bill
1969 - Blackburn, Jim
1970 - Underhill, Willie
1973 - Yount, Eddie
1976 - Silber, Eddie
1981 - Hoch, Harry
1982 - Podbielan, Bud
1984 - Mancuso, Gus
1985 - Scheffing, Bob
1986 - Holley, Ed
1991 - Bevens, Bill
2004 - Avila, Bobby
2004 - Derry, Russ
2006 - Marsh, Fred 2006 - Graham, Bill
2009 - Kirk, Bill
2011 - Cole, Dave
2014 - Robinson, Jeff
2014 - Taveras, Oscar
2016 - Johnson, Mark