Contributed by Ryan Campbell

Events

1962 – Roger Maris sets a Major League record by being walked intentionally four times in one game. 

1982 – Mario Mendoza completes his last at-bat as a Major Leaguer with a fielder’s choice. He finishes his career with a .215 batting average, slightly higher than the .200 average that is referred to as the Mendoza line.

1990 – Andrew Dawson one-ups Maris on the same day in history, earning five intentional passes in one game, but this time it took 16 innings.

Deaths

1975 – Hall of Famer Lefty Grove, who on nine occasions led the AL in ERA, and won an MVP Award in 1931 when he won 31 games.

1954 – Hall of Famer Chief Bender, who is sometimes credited as the first pitcher to use a slider, which he called a “nickel change”.

Births

1902 – Hall of Fame outfielder Al Simmons, who’s BBWAA HOF voting percentage jumped from 3.7% in 1947 to 49.6% in 1948.

1943 – Tommy John, who in 1974 was the first player to undergo successful Tommy John surgery, otherwise known as UCL reconstruction.

1966 – Jose Mesa, who in 1995 finished second in Cy Young voting while leading the AL with 46 saves, and posting a sparkling 1.13 ERA.