Today in Jewish baseball history
1910 — After witnessing Chicago Cubs pull off a double play against New York Giants, New York Evening Mail writer Franklin Pierce Adams publishes one of baseball’s most iconic poems. Its famous refrain — “These are the saddest of possible words: Tinker to Evers to Chance” — memorializes the fielding prowess of Chicago’s shortstop, second baseman and first baseman. The poem likely is inspired by New York’s 4-2 loss to Chicago a day earlier, a game that featured a double-play by the trio. Had the Giants won, they would have replaced the Cubs atop National League standings.
1938 — Dodgers leadoff hitter Goody Rosen raps a pair of triples in Brooklyn’s 13-5 victory over the New York Giants. Game summary
1950 — Herb Gorman hits for the cycle in the Hollywood Stars’ 6-3 loss to the Oakland Oaks in the Pacific Coast League.
1951 — Saul Rogovin of the Chicago White Sox pitches all 17 innings of a 5-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox in the first game of a doubleheader. Game summary
1954 — Hy Cohen allows no hits through 5 1/3 innings and finishes with a five-hitter as the Des Moines Bruins defeat the Omaha Cardinals 7-1 in the Western League. The victory is Cohen’s eighth straight.
1959 — Larry Sherry loses his second career start for the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Cincinnati Reds win 4-3. Sherry will not lose again this season, winning his next seven starts. Game summary
1962 — Sandy Koufax allows three hits over seven innings before injuring his throwing hand, and Larry Sherry pitches hitless ball over the final two innings as the Dodgers beat the New York Mets 3-0. The victory comes four days after Koufax and Don Drysdale combine on a three-hitter in a 2-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Game summary
1963 — Sandy Koufax pitches his third straight shutout, allowing three hits and striking out 13 as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Mets 6-0. He raises his season record to 15-3 with a 1.63 ERA. Game summary
1970 — Shelly Andrens hits an RBI double in the third inning, a home run in the fifth and a game-winning RBI single in the ninth as the Asheville Tourists defeat the Birmingham A’s 4-3 in the Southern League.
2005 — Cody Haerther hits a two-run homer and a three-run double as the Springfield Cardinals halt the Corpus Christi Hooks’ seven-game winning streak with a 6-3 Texas League victory.
2008 — Kevin Youkilis drives in six runs with a grand-slam homer, an infield single and a sacrifice fly as the Boston Red Sox defeat the Baltimore Orioles 12-1. Game summary
2009 — Robbie Widlansky of the Frederick (Md.) Keys wins the Carolina League Player of the Week award for the second time this season. He hits .478 (11-for-23) with two homers, three doubles and five RBIs.
2021 — High school pitcher Jacob Steinmetz becomes the first Orthodox Jewish player to be drafted by a major-league team when the Arizona Diamondbacks select him in the third round with the 77th overall pick. A day later, Elie Kligman is selected in the 20th round by the Washington Nationals.
2024 — Batting ninth, Harrison Bader hits two home runs and drives in three as the New York Mets hold off the Colorado Rockies 7-6. Game summary
Birthday
Sy Berger, 1923 — The “Father of the Modern Baseball Card” created the 1952 Topps set, whose basic design and content are still in use today. He worked for Topps for 50 years (1947–97) and served as a consultant for another five.
MLB debut
Sherwin Swartz, 1947 — Pitches top of ninth inning, allowing one hit and one walk in Browns’ 12-2 loss to Yankees.
Recent transactions (2025)
Boston Red Sox activated 3B Alex Bregman from the 10-day injured list.
Triple-A Buffalo Bisons sent LF RJ Schreck on a rehab assignment to the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays.
Texas Rangers signed free-agent 1B Rowdy Tellez to a minor-league contract and assigned him to the Triple-A Round Rock Express.