On This Day In Baseball History: April 2nd


April 1

Today in Baseball History
April 2
April 3
2017 Madison Bumgarner becomes the first pitcher to hit two home runs on opening day when he takes two different Diamondbacks pitchers deep. The two homers aren’t quite enough as the Diamondbacks beat the Giants 6-5.
2011 Ian Kinsler becomes the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit a leadoff home run in the first two games of a season.
2011 David Ortiz passes Edgar Martinez for most career RBI by a designated hitter by driving in three runs against the Texas Rangers bringing his total rbis as a DH to 1,004.
2011 Ten years to the day of his first career hit Ichiro Suzuki collects his 2,248th career hit, passing Edgar Martinez for most in Seattle Mariners history.
2008 Red Sox first basemen Kevin Youkilis sets a new Major League record when he plays his 194th consecutive errorless game at first base, breaking Steve Garvey’s 23-year old record established between 1983-1985 with the Padres.
2007 Mariners 20-year old righty Felix Hernandez becomes only the fourth player in history under age 21 to win an opening day game. Hernandez pitched eight innings against the A’s as his Mariners won 4-0.
2003 Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez becomes the youngest player in Major League Baseball history to hit 300 career home runs. At 27 years and 249 days he bests Jimmie Foxx’s record of 27 years and 328 days.
2003 In his first at-bat in Yankee pinstripes Todd Zeile homers making him the only major leaguer to hit a home run for ten different teams. Zeile has hit homers as a Cardinal, Cub, Phillie, Oriole, Dodger, Marlin, Ranger, Met, Rockie, and Yankee.
2002 6’11” Chicago White Sox pitcher Jon Rauch makes his major league debut earning him the destinction of being the tallest pitcher to ever appear in a major league game.
2001 Ichiro Suzuki becomes the first Japanese position player to play in a Major League Baseball regular season game. He will finish the season as the AL Rookie of the Year and the AL MVP.
2001 New York Yankee starter Roger Clemens passes Walter Johnson to become the all-time American League strikeout leader when he collects his 3,509th strikeout.
2001 San Diego Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn becomes just the fifth player in National League history to play 20+ years with one franchise. He joins Cap Anson (Cubs 1871-1897), Mel Ott (Giants 1926-1947), Stan Musial (Cardinals 1941-1944, 1946-1963), and Willie Stargell (Pirates 1962-1982).
1998 Colorado Rockies outfielder Ellis Burks homers at Arizona’s Bank One Ballpark setting a new major league record by homering in 33 different stadiums.
1998 The Milwaukee Brewers win their first National League game when they beat the Braves 8-6 in 11 innings. Along with expansion franchises Arizona and Tampa Bay, the Brewers switching of leagues allows for each league to have three divisions of five teams each.
1931 During an exhibition game at Engel Stadium in Chattanooga, TN, a 17-year old women named Jackie Mitchell strikes out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
1874 At a meeting of the National Association, the batter’s box is officially adopted. Also agreed upon is the expulsion of any player caught betting on his own team.