Wednesday, April 30, 2014

April Baseball

Baseball and glove in the grass
Source: Pixabay

Baseball fans love the month of April. It's a magical time which includes Opening Day of a brand new baseball season with all its promise of a successful winning season and the possibility of making and breaking records.



"Hammerin' Hank Aaron


Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron with the Braves 1960
One of the most famous 'broken records' occurred 40 years ago on April 8, 1974, when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's 'unbreakable' home run record by hitting home run number 715. “Hammerin' Hank” would go on to have a career high of 755 home runs (a record broken by Barry Bonds in 2007, as baseball records are wont to do). Carolan Ross (Crosscreations) has included Hank Aaron in her HubPages article about the top ten baseball players Best in Baseball - MLB Heroes - worthy of April Baseball recognition.



Jackie Robinson Day


Jackie RobinsonAnd the most special moment of April Baseball is celebrated every April 15th – the day in 1947 that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. On that day, every baseball player on every team honors Jackie by wearing his number 42. Ellen Brundige (mythphile) tells us how this Baseball Player Changed the World.



Back in 1947, the father of Hank Aaron told his son that no black man would ever be allowed to play on a Major League team. Jackie Robinson changed that forever.



April Baseball Moments...


A few other 'April' moments in baseball...


  • On April 4, 2003, Sammy Sosa became the 18th member of the 500 Home Run Club 
  • On April 22, 2014, Albert Pujols became the very latest member of the 500 Home Run Club, an 'unofficial' honor held by only 26 players in the history of baseball.
  • On Sunday, April 8, 2012, first baseman Prince Fielder recorded his 1,000th hit while playing for the Detroit Tigers.
  • On April 29, 1986, Roger Clemens made MLB history by striking out 20 Seattle Mariners in a 3-1 Red Sox win. He would go on to win the Cy Young Award later that year and lead his team to the 1986 World Series. 
  • There have only been 23 'Perfect Games' by pitchers in the entire history of Major League Baseball.  Two occurred in April - Charlie Robertson (#5) on 4/20/1922 and Philip Humber (#21) on 4/21/2012 - BOTH for the Chicago White Sox!



April baseball

My favorite time of the year when it all begins again!



Baseball reviews from Baseball Fan Wednesday-Elf.



Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


13 comments:

  1. I had no idea that so many things happened in April. That puts a new light on the excitement surrounding opening day. Fun post, Elf.

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  2. Amazing facts here. Oh yes, April may be the start of a new season, but it also represents some real excitement in the history of baseball. Baseball fans certainly have a great way to share their own excitement on Squidoo.

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    Replies
    1. Us 'baseball fans' love to write about baseball on Squidoo, for sure, Susan.

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  3. You don't even have to be a huge baseball nut to recognize these legendary names in baseball. I look forward to visiting the articles you have featured and reacquainting myself with their stories and accomplishments.

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    1. These Squidoo articles are wonderful examples of how Squidoo gives us the opportunity to write about... and read about... baseball legends, Mouse. :)

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  4. April sure has served up many ultimate baseball moments. Such an exciting time to be in the stands. Just imagine how the game would be vastly different today had the color barrier remained. Love how your writing game brings us these electrifying moments. You are in a league of your own.

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    1. 'A League of Their Own' is one of my favorite baseball movies, Renaissance Woman. It was a special story needing to be told that I imagine few people knew about before the movie came out. Professional baseball had teams of women during WWII when so many of the men were off to war and are honored today in the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame.

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  5. I too love April baseball! It is always an exciting month. Thanks for bringing all these great April stories to light.

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    1. Thanks, Mary Beth. I look forward to April Baseball all winter long! LOL.

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  6. You've reminded me I need to get to reading my Babe Ruth book for kids! And you have me wishing I were a kid again in the ball field after school playing baseball with the boys. Yes, I was the only girl who played, the rest were busy doing girlie things!

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    1. I used to play catch with my little brother all the time growing up, Ruthi. Today we live near each other and both enjoy the game of baseball (watching games, talking about players, etc.). In our whole family, he & I are the only ones who are really 'crazy about baseball'. :)

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    2. As children, my now grown daughters were taken to springtime baseball games with their father. He always bought them ice cream in plastic baseball cap cups. Today, my grandsons are treated to the same past-time. A wonderful game that all can enjoy.

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