This day in Baseball History.....July 22

[Mickey Mental]

1923; Senators legend Walter Johnson fans Stan Coveleski to become the first pitcher in major league history to strike out 3,000 batters. The milestone will not be reached again until Bob Gibson accomplishes the feat in 1974.

1941; Dick Wakefield becomes baseball's first 'bonus baby' when he signs with the Tigers for $52,000 and a new car. The University of Michigan standout will get one hit in seven at-bats (.143) this season.

1962: During a twin bill with the Reds at Crosley Field, the Mets manage to have four runners thrown out trying to score at home plate. The new National League expansion team from New York loses both games, 11-4 and 4-3, en route to a record-setting 120 defeats this season.

1966: The Mets left fielder learns he is a new dad when the Dodger Stadium scoreboard relays the message, "Congratulations, Ron Swoboda. Your new son is born tomorrow morning". Cecilia Swoboda gave birth to Chipper, the couple's first child, at 1:05 a.m. eastern standard time making it the next day on the West Coast.

2002: Over 20,000 Red Sox fans gather at Fenway for a tribute entitled, "Ted Williams: A Celebration of an American Hero," The two hour salute of the man many consider to be the greatest hitter in baseball history, a vet of World War II and the Korean War and a generous supporter of the Jimmy Fund, in addition to moving music and video, includes comments from present and former Red Sox players and broadcasters, historian Ken Burns, and former U.S. Senator John Glenn, who was Ted's wing man during the Korean War.

2007: Tulsa Drillers’ first base coach Mike Coolbaugh is killed instantly when struck in the head by a line drive in the top of the ninth inning at Dickey-Stephens Field in North Little Rock, home of the minor league Arkansas Travelers. The 35-year old dad, who leaves behind a pregnant wife and two small sons, becomes the second on-the-field fatality in professional baseball history.

[BobH]

1941; Dick Wakefield becomes baseball's first 'bonus baby' when he signs with the Tigers for $52,000 and a new car. The University of Michigan standout will get one hit in seven at-bats (.143) this season.

What they don't tell you is that in his first full year with the Tigers in 1943 Dick lead the league with 200 base hits and doubles(38). He compiled a .316 BA that year. Not a bad start for the 'Bonus Baby'. Pop thought he was a heckuva good young player but Dad always talked well of his teammates.-BH