This Day in Baseball History

 

1954 - Willie Mays' famous catch

Willie Mays makes one of the most famous catches in baseball history during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, robbing Cleveland Indians slugger Vic Wertz of an extra-base hit with a sensational over-the-shoulder catch in center field.
The New York Giants superstar not only makes the incredible grab sprinting full speed with his back to the plate, but Mays also spins around and fires the ball back into the infield to limit the runner on second to one base. Mays' catch comes in the top of the eighth inning with the game tied 2-2
The iconic play turns out to be game-saving - the Giants win 5-2 en route to a series sweep - and the future Hall-of-Famer caps his effort with a 10-inning walk and stolen base before scoring the winning run.

1963 - Stan singles in his final at-bat 

St. Louis Cardinals legend Stan Musial collects a hit in the final at-bat of his Hall-of-Fame career, an RBI single off Cincinnati Reds right-hander Jim Maloney. It is the 3,630rd hit of Musial's career, second only to Ty Cobb (though later to be surpassed by Hank Aaron and Pete Rose).
The single gives the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning, and Musial's career officially ends when he is subsequently lifted for a pinch-runner. The three-time MVP finishes his final game 2-for-3, with his 1951st career RBI.

2004 - MLB announces Expos will relocate to Washington

The Expos play their final game in Montreal, hours after Major League Baseball's announcement that the franchise will move to Washington, D.C. the following season.
Montreal drops the contest 9-1 to the Florida Marlins, in front of the largest crowd of the year. It's the 2,786th game in club history and the last one ever played at Olympic Stadium.

Birthdays

1938 - Mike McCormick
1960 - Rob Deer

This Day in Baseball History