This Day in Braves History: Bobby Cox Signs One-Year Extension with Atlanta…
Braves Franchise History
– **1933**: The Phillies and Braves split a doubleheader, each winning 5-4. Chuck Klein collects three hits in both games, including his National League-leading 28th home run in the opener. Boston’s Wally Berger, who is second in homers with 26, does not play due to injury.
– **1948**: The Braves secure the National League title by beating the Giants 3-2, finishing 6.5 games ahead of the Dodgers. However, they lose outfielder Jeff Heath, their top hitter, to a broken ankle just two days before the season ends.
– **1950**: Braves pitcher Johnny Sain misses his chance to win his 20th game but hits his first major league home run in a 4-3 loss to the Giants. With two outs in the 10th, Sam Jethroe loses a fly ball in the sun, leading to a triple by Don Mueller. Hank Thompson’s single wins the game for Larry Jansen.
– **1951**: On Sal Maglie Day in New York, Maglie wins his 22nd game by beating the Braves 4-1 despite giving up 13 hits. It’s the most wins for a Giants pitcher since Carl Hubbell in 1937.
– **1957**: Hank Aaron’s 11th-inning home run helps the Braves defeat the Cardinals 4-2 and clinch the National League pennant, marking the first time since 1950 that a New York team hasn’t finished first.
– **1969**: The Braves move into first place after beating the Astros 10-2, with George Stone outpitching Jim Bouton.
– **1977**: George Foster hits his 50th home run as the Reds defeat the Braves 5-1, becoming the first Reds player to reach the milestone. Ted Kluszewski previously held the team record with 49 home runs in 1954.
– **1987**: Albert Hall becomes the first Braves player to hit for the cycle since 1910 in a 5-4 win over the Astros.
– **2000**: The Braves shut out the Expos 10-0, clinching their ninth consecutive playoff berth. Greg Maddux throws a complete-game shutout, extending his scoreless innings streak to 36 1/3.
– **2009**: Bobby Cox signs a one-year extension as Braves manager but announces it will be his final season. After 2010, he will transition to a consulting role with the front office. Cox began managing the Braves in 1990, leading them to a World Series championship and 14 postseason appearances, the most recent in 2005.
MLB History
– **1956**: Ozzie Virgil becomes the first Dominican player in Major League Baseball, debuting for the Giants as a third baseman. His son, Ozzie Virgil Jr., would also play in the majors as a catcher.
– **1984**: Sparky Anderson becomes the first manager to win 100 games in a season with two different teams as the Tigers beat the Yankees 4-1. Anderson previously led the Cincinnati Reds to 100-win seasons in 1970, 1975, and 1976.
– **1998**: Randy Johnson earns his 10th win as the Astros defeat the Cardinals 7-1. Mark McGwire goes homerless, and Craig Biggio steals his 50th base, joining Tris Speaker (1912) as the only players with 50 doubles and 50 steals in a season.
– **2000**: Ben Grieve hits a grand slam in the seventh inning, giving the Oakland A’s a record-breaking 13 grand slams in a season, surpassing the previous record set by the 1997 Braves and 1999 Indians.
– **2011**: *Moneyball* is released in theaters across the U.S. Starring Brad Pitt and based on Michael Lewis’s book, the film follows Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane and his stats-driven strategy that helped the team compete on a low budget in 2002. The movie will receive multiple Academy Award nominations.
