What happened today in team history?
1980 – Nolan’s first Astros win
After signing with the Houston Astros to baseball’s first million-dollars-per-year contract, flamethrower Nolan Ryan gets his first win as an Astro, throwing seven shutout innings against the Cincinnati Reds en route to a 8-0 win. Ryan stuck out seven while walking another six, but still managed to walk away with a shutout.
2006 – Astros make it above .500
For the first time since early in the 1962 season, the Astros franchise record is above the .500 mark with a 3-0 shutout victory against the Pirates. Astros starter Taylor Buchholz also got the first win of his career after a complete game shutout.
What else happened on this day?
1906
A new rule change is issued that gives the home plate umpire total control of calling balls and strikes, taking power out of the hands of the home team’s manager, who previously had some say.
1914
Taking the mound in his major league debut, a 19-year-old Babe Ruth tossed a six-hit shutout against the Buffalo Bisons for the Baltimore Orioles, leading to a 6-0 win. The second batter of the game for the Bisons, Joe McCarthy, ended up coaching Ruth years later on the Yankees.
1937
18 black players, including Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson, make the jump from the Negro League to the Dominican League. This leaves them all as deserters in the eyes of the Dominican League, causing bans to be placed on them.
1966
Following their move to Atlanta, the new Atlanta Braves won the first game of the new franchise’s history, beating the New York Mets 8-4.
1976
Over the span of two days, thanks to a game against the Chicago Cubs and Montreal Expos getting suspended, Tim Foli becomes the first Expos player to hit for the cycle.
1982
The Atlanta Braves MLB record 13-0 start to the season is halted when they suffer their first loss of the season to the Cincinnati Reds, losing 2-1.
2010
Former manager and then-current broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Rays, Kevin Kennedy, is forced to intervene, being one of ten people on his plane to subdue a passenger who threatened to blow up the plane.
2015
A special appeals court reviewing Barry Bond’s 2011 case for obstruction of justice comes down to the verdict of not-guilty, overturning the original charge. Despite this, Bonds was still not able to reach the hearts of voters for the Hall of Fame.