It seems trivial to discuss baseball as we remember – not “celebrate,” as a certain prominent government official stated – the 25th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Then again, sports did play a role in healing the country. Thus, acknowledging that baseball should take a backseat in our reflections today, while also understanding that a little bit of baseball might be a much-needed diversion for some, I present the following baseball happenings for September 6-12.
Records Fell
September 6, 1995: After a players’ strike canceled a good chunk of the 1994 baseball season and the World Series, Baltimore Orioles iron man Cal Ripken Jr. gave MLB a much-needed feel-good moment when he played in his 2,131st consecutive game, breaking what was thought to be an unbreakable record held by Lou Gehrig. In the starting lineup against the California Angels at Camden Yards, the shortstop received a 45-second standing ovation when he came to the plate for the first time in the bottom of the second inning. In the middle of the fifth, when the game became official, the 46,272 in attendance gave Ripken a 22-minute standing ovation. After leaving the dugout several times to acknowledge the crowd (or maybe to get away from Bobby Bonilla, who was shamelessly following him everywhere in said dugout to get as much TV time as possible), teammates pushed Ripken out to take a lap around the field. When the game finally resumed, the Orioles won, 4-2, with Ripken going 2-for-4 with a home run.
After the game, Ripken told Ross Newhan of the Los Angeles Times, “If someone had said to me 15 years ago that I was going to play 2,000 straight games, I would have said they were crazy. . . I certainly didn’t set out to do what I’ve done. . . I can’t explain it other than to say I learned a work ethic from my father and think it’s important to the team and to my teammates to be in the lineup every day.” I know people who watched the game and taped it for posterity but never watched the tape. They tell me, “Nothing really happened except that he played.”
September 8, 1998: Well, it was exciting at the time, until St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire burst our bubble by testifying before Congress that he wasn’t there “to talk about the past” during hearings to investigate performance-enhancing drug use in baseball, as though he thought he were some swami who’d been dragged there to predict the future. On this date, another thought-to-be-unbreakable record fell when McGwire hit his 62nd home run of the season, surpassing the single-season record of Roger Maris. The historic homer came in the fourth inning off the Chicago Cubs’ Steve Trachsel at Busch Stadium. Unlike other McGwire blasts, this one barely cleared the left field wall. According to Ben Walker of the Associated Press, McGwire said, “I tell you what, I was so shocked because I didn’t think the ball had enough to get out.” The home run overshadowed the game, which the Cardinals won, 6-3.
It was 10 minutes before another pitch was thrown. In a disgusting display that surely had Tracshel seething, the Cubs’ infielders congratulated him as he rounded the bases, and Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa, who was chasing the same record, joined the Cardinals’ celebration. The ball, which could have been sold for more than $1 million to a collector, was retrieved by grounds crew worker Tim Forneris, 22, who readily gave it to McGwire. (That’s something I never would have done. Today, Forneris is 50 and might be putting a kid through college and wishing he’d kept the ball and sold it. McGwire has probably forgotten Forneris’ name by now.) Meanwhile, Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Rossotti stepped in to refute previous IRS statements to the effect that whoever found the ball would be subject to income tax on the value of the ball; giving it to McGwire would then result in a gift tax. Congressmen on both sides of the aisle decried the IRS theory. Thus, Forneris had unwittingly unlocked the secret to getting the United States government to care about an ordinary citizen: become a millionaire. Said Rossotti, “All I know is that the fan who gives back the home run ball deserves a round of applause, not a big tax bill.”
September 10, 1974: With one stolen base, two records fell. At Busch, Cardinals left fielder Lou Brock stole two bases in an 8-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. The second stolen base was number 105 for the season and number 739 of his career. With that, Brock broke Maury Wills’ single-season record of 104 set in 1962 and Max Carey’s National League career record of 738. Afterward, Brock told United Press International, “I’m a good friend of Maury and often call him for advice. . . Maury is still the Godfather and one of the greatest base-runners I’ve ever seen.”
September 11, 1985: Needing one more hit to surpass Ty Cobb and become baseball’s all-time leader in hits, Cincinnati Reds first baseman/manager Pete Rose wasted no time. The second batter in the first inning, Rose slashed the San Diego Padres’ Eric Show’s 2-1 slider on a line to left-center field, where it dropped and made Rose Major League Baseball’s all-time hits king. Rose sprinted to first base and rounded the bag aggressively, lest the ball be misplayed, then retreated to first as 47,237 fans at Riverfront Stadium celebrated. He added a triple later in the game, which the Reds won, 2-0. Rose entered the game hitting .264/.385/.320, with 2 HR and 42 RBI. Arguably, Rose was the only manager who would have used Rose the player, 44, as his regular first baseman. Four years later, allegations of gambling on baseball would surface, resulting in Rose’s lifetime suspension. Today, MLB finds itself in an embarrassing situation where neither its all-time hits leader nor its all-time home run king are in the Hall of Fame.
Controversy in the 19th Century
September 7, 1889: The anonymous wire service reporter called it “the most disgraceful as well as the most exciting game of base ball [sic] ever seen in Brooklyn.” At Washington Park, the St. Louis Browns took a 4-2 lead over the Brooklyn Bridegrooms after six innings, after which they engaged in a most unusual strategy. Rather than play the game to its completion, the Browns spent the next two innings engaged in dilatory tactics in the hope that the umpire, identified only as “Mr. Goldsmith,” would call the game on account of darkness. They held up the game by disputing every play in the seventh and eighth innings. On the coaching lines, Browns player/coach Arlie Latham held up the game by performing “hand springs, cart wheels [sic], and other eccentric gymnastics.” Meanwhile, spectators were screaming, “Play ball!” Many left the game in disgust before the end. In the top of the ninth inning, with just three outs needed to secure a victory, Browns manager Charlie Comiskey took it upon himself to declare it too dark to play any further, and pulled his team off the field. (And they named a ballpark after this guy?) Goldsmith declared the Bridegrooms winners by forfeit, 9-0.
September 8, 1897: In 19th-century baseball coverage, writers’ bylines are rarely seen, and many were more like fans than they were journalists. The writer covering this game accused umpire Hank O’Day of “cowardice” in awarding the New York Giants an 8-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates when he called the game at the Polo Grounds on account of darkness. This time, the writer may have been right. After the top of the seventh, the Pirates led, 7-2. The Giants stormed back in the bottom of the inning, needing six runs to take the lead. They had four runs across with runners on second and third, when Willie Clark’s single to right field scored the two runners to put the Giants ahead. O’Day, who “was taught to believe that it is dangerous to cross the wishes of an enthusiastic home crowd. . . made use of the lesson by calling [the] game the moment the Giants’ winning run scored the plate.” The Pirates’ players surrounded O’Day and “protested vigorously until policemen cleared the field.”
Campy Plays Nine Positions
September 8, 1965: Most baseball fans know that Kansas City Athletics shortstop Bert Campaneris once played all nine positions in nine innings of a game. Few remember that the game, which the Angels won, 5-3, went 13 innings or that Campaneris was in a hospital bed when it ended. The idea was hatched by A’s owner Charlie O. Finley, who was never short on promotional ideas. He reportedly insured “Campy” for $1 million before the game.
The line in the box score read: Campaneris, SS-2B-3B-LF-CF-RF-1B-P-C. Here’s how it went down:
| Inning | Where’s Campy? |
| 1 | Campaneris starts at SS, his natural position. |
| 2 | Campaneris moves from SS to 2B. Wayne Causey moves from 2B to SS. |
| 3 | Campaneris moves from 2B to 3B. Ed Charles moves from 3B to 2B. |
| 4 | Campaneris moves from 3B to LF. Charles moves from 2B to 3B. Jose Tartabull moves from LF to RF. Dick Green enters game at 2B. RF Lou Clinton leaves game. |
| 5 | Campaneris moves from LF to CF. Tartabull moves from RF to LF. Jim Landis moves from CF to RF. |
| 6 | Campaneris moves from CF to RF. Landis moves from RF to CF. |
| 7 | Campaneris moves from RF to 1B. Mike Hershberger enters game in RF. 1B Randy Schwartz leaves game. |
| 8 | Campaneris moves from 1B to P. P Jim Dickson leaves game. Santiago Rosario enters game at 1B. |
| 9 | Campaneris moves from P to C. Auerlio Monteagudo enters game at P. C Billy Bryan leaves game. |
Bert Campaneris of the Kansas City A’s becomes the 1st player in major league history to play all 9 positions in one game, September 8, 1965. pic.twitter.com/hi4IvaZHab
— Baseball In Pics (@baseballinpix) September 8, 2026
Campaneris got a rather rude introduction to the catching position when the Angels’ Ed Kirkpatrick, who outweighed the 160-pound Campaneris by 35 pounds, collided with him in an attempt to score. Campaneris held onto the ball, and Kirkpatrick was declared out. Campaneris cocked his fist at Kirkpatrick, but was held back by the Angels’ Jose Cardenal, who happened to be Campy’s second cousin.
In the field, Campaneris was credited with five putouts and one assist. He was charged with an error in right field when he dropped a fly ball, leading to an unearned run. On the mound, Campaneris, who was ambidextrous, gave up a run on one hit and two walks, striking out one batter.
On the same day, Chicago White Sox pitcher Dave DeBusschere announced that he was retiring from baseball to concentrate on basketball. He had played both sports professionally for four years. DeBusschere, who hadn’t played in the majors since 1963, was 3-4 with a 2.90 ERA, 4.40 FIP, 1.388 WHIP, and 124 ERA+ in two seasons with Chicago. He made the right choice. He began his NBA career with his hometown Detroit Pistons, who, oddly, appointed him a player/coach when he was 24. Eventually, he stepped down from the coaching position and was traded to the New York Knicks, where he was better known as the starting power forward on two NBA champions.
Koufax is Perfect
September 9, 1965: The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax became the second left-handed pitcher to toss a perfect game and the first to pitch four no-hitters when he defeated the Cubs, 1-0, at Dodger Stadium. He struck out 14. The forgotten man is Cubs pitcher Bob Hendley, also a lefty, who pitched a one-hitter. Hendley lost his no-hitter with two outs in the seventh inning when Lou Johnson hit a pop-fly double into right field. Johnson also walked in the fifth inning. He was sacrificed to second base and promptly stole third. He scored when catcher Chris Krug’s throw sailed into left field. Johnson was the only player on either team to reach base. Meanwhile, Koufax was unaware he had a perfect game going, telling UPI, “I knew I had the no-hitter all along, but it never occurred to me it might be a perfect game.”
Today in 1965: Sandy Koufax pitched his 4th no-hitter, a perfect game, a 1-0 win over the Cubs. He had 14 Ks.
The Cubs’ pitcher, Bob Hendley, only allowed one hit, a double by Lou Johnson, but it did not factor in the scoring. The only run scored on a throwing error.
The game… pic.twitter.com/vUmW9HcwPr
— FunBaseballFacts (@FunBaseballFact) September 9, 2026
“Awfully Tired”
September 9, 2004: In the first game of a doubleheader at Comerica Park, Kansas City Royals third baseman Joe Randa went 6-for-7 with a double, six runs scored, and two RBI. It was part of a 26-hit attack as the Royals defeated the Detroit Tigers, 26-5. Kansas City manager Tony Pena kept Randa out of the lineup for the second game, joking, “He’s awfully tired from running the bases.” The Royals could have used him. They lost the second game, 8-0.
Return of the Social Leper
September 10, 1978: New York Daily News columnist Dick Young dubbed pitcher Jim Bouton a “social leper” in 1970 when Bouton’s tell-all diary, Ball Four, was published. The Houston Astros released Bouton that season, after which no major league team would touch him until he made a surprising comeback in 1978 with the Atlanta Braves at age 39. By then, bookstore shelves were jammed with tell-all books by professional athletes, and many current players grew up having read Ball Four. After some time in the minors, the knuckleballer Bouton debuted with the Braves at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium against the Dodgers. After keeping the Dodgers off the scoreboard in the first three innings, they erupted for five runs in the fourth. Bouton pitched five innings, surrendered six earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out three, and took the loss as Los Angeles went on to win, 11-5. Still, Bouton was pleased. “I proved I belonged out there,” he said. Meanwhile, Reds manager Sparky Anderson demanded an investigation. “We’re in a pennant race. Bouton should have to pitch against the Giants and Reds, too,” he said.
Reviews from the Dodgers were unkind. In Ball Four Plus Ball Five, Bouton wrote, “My phone was ringing off the hook from reporters wanting to know what I thought. I didn’t know what to say other than I felt sorry for the Dodgers who were obviously suffering from sun stroke.”
Orioles Managers Have Fun with Lineups
September 10, 1980: Who says the designated hitter has removed strategy from the game? At Tiger Stadium, Orioles manager Earl Weaver tried something different with his lineup, listing pitcher Steve Stone as his designated hitter, batting sixth. Not only did Weaver have no intention of bringing Stone to the plate, but Stone wasn’t even in Detroit. As was the custom then, since he wasn’t starting that night and the team would be moving on to Toronto for its next series, Stone was sent ahead. Weaver wanted to see how the game was going and would pick his designated hitter when Stone’s turn came up. That happened in the second inning. Weaver sent left-handed batter Terry Crowley to hit for Stone. Crowley hit into a double play against right-hander Jack Morris. However, given another crack at Morris in the fourth, Crowley hit a three-run homer. In the sixth, Baltimore loaded the bases against lefty Pat Underwood. Weaver sent right-handed-hitting Benny Ayala to bat for Crowley. When Anderson signaled the bullpen for righty Dave Rozema, Weaver countered with left-handed-hitting Pat Kelly, who hit a grand slam into the right-field upper deck. The Orioles won, 8-4.
Anderson, now the Tigers manager, seemed to be weighing in on everything. “[Weaver] called me and we talked about it,” he said. “I told him they’ll probably outlaw it. What they’ll probably do is make the DH face the starting pitcher at least once.” That’s what happened after a few more games with Stone as the designated hitter. Now the designated hitter must make at least one plate appearance in the game, except when the opposing starting pitcher is removed before his first time at bat.
September 11, 1958: Before Weaver, the Orioles had another thinking man’s manager in Paul Richards. On this day at Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium, he listed three starting pitchers in his starting lineup. Jack Harshman was listed in center field, batting fifth. Milt Pappas was penciled in at second base, hitting seventh. The starting pitcher, Billy O’Dell, hit ninth. Richards never intended for either Harshman or Pappas to bat or take the field. He was anticipating a big first inning against pitcher Ned Garver and wanted to keep his options open. Baltimore got two men on in the top of the first, and Richards sent Gene Woodling to the plate to hit for Harshman. The ploy backfired when Woodling made the third out on a fly ball to right field. In the bottom of the first, Richards sent Jim Busby to center field and Billy Gardner to second base. It was the Athletics who put together the big inning, scoring five in the eighth to win, 7-1.
Games Canceled as Baseball Becomes Meaningless
September 11, 2001: MLB canceled all 15 scheduled games in the wake of what we now refer to as the 9/11 tragedy. Like the Kennedy assassination, nobody who was alive then will ever forget that day. I was working in downtown Pittsburgh on the 10th floor of the Grant Building. There was no radio reception up there, and we could access only “approved” websites on our computers. Thus, no news of the attacks came our way. When my client called and said he’d better cancel our appointment, I noticed from my window people leaving work in droves. Soon we found out what was going on. Were large buildings being targeted? We were just down the street from the 64-story USX Tower. Could the Grant Building be mistaken for the USX Tower? I caught a bus, already stuffed with passengers. Of course, I’m sitting here typing away, so you know the story ends with me getting home safely, as did my family. It was only the third time MLB canceled a complete slate of games. The other two occasions were D-Day and the death of President Warren G. Harding.
Where is the Love?
September 11, 2010: We had become so desensitized to home run milestones being reached on a seemingly daily basis that Jim Thome and his 612 career blasts don’t seem to get the love they deserve. On this date, Thome hit career homer number 587, vaulting him past Frank Robinson and into eighth place on the all-time list. The 12th-inning home run off Justin Germano was the difference, as Thome’s Minnesota Twins defeated Cleveland, 1-0, at Progressive Field in the city where his career started.
September 12, 1962: Similarly, nobody talks about Washington Senators right-hander Tom Cheney, who on this date set the major league record for strikeouts in a game when he pitched all 16 innings and struck out 21 Orioles at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium. Bud Zipfel’s home run in the top of the 16th off Dick Hall won the game for Washington, 2-1. After Boog Powell singled with one out in the eighth inning, Cheney didn’t allow another hit until the 16th. Cheney baffled Baltimore with fastballs, curveballs, sliders, knuckleballs, and screwballs. After the game, UPI staff writer Joe Donnelly found Cheney getting his stiff arm rubbed down while he enjoyed a beer and a cigarette. Cheney explained the high strikeout total by saying, “I got my curveball over consistently for the first time all year.”
