Baseball History Today: October 4th

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

As the Boston Red Sox begin their quest for another World Series win, we’ll reflect on one transaction the organization made on this date.

Only one year ago, Bobby Valentine was relieved of his duties as the Red Sox manager. It was a tumultuous season for Bobby V. Forget the fact Boston finished the season at the bottom of the American League East and their 69-93 record ,worst in 47 years. There was more.

There was the issue of Valentine accusing his coaches of undermining his authority and not being loyal.

Can’t forget the “run-in” with Kevin Youkilis. Last April, Valentine had told a local reporter that Youk wasn’t “physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason”. After Youkilis was traded, Valentine stated that Youkilis was the cause of their strained relationship, stating that Youkilis “he made a big issue out of, and I don’t think he ever wanted to get over it”.

Valentine did say that any thoughts of the fallout between the two occurring during spring training were untrue and were also “a joke”.

Oh, and remember when he threatened to punch a WEEI radio personality? The whole interview is 23+ minutes long, but the infamous quote is at the 3:00 mark.

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2009 – Alex Rodriguez sets an American League record by notching 7 RBI in one inning. During the 6th inning in a game against the Tamp Bay Rays, the New York Yankees scored 10 runs. In ARod’s first at-bat of the inning, he hit a three-run homer off Wade David. His second AB resulted in a grand slam off Andy Sonnanstine.

2001 – Barry Bonds ties Mark McGwire‘s record of 70 home runs on a season. A 1-1 pitch from Wilfredo Rodriguez left the playing field at then named Enron Field, now Minute Maid Park.

Also in that season, Rickey Henderson, then a member of the San Diego Padres, became baseball’s all-time leader in runs scored when he crossed the plate for his 2,246th time. Of course, Henderson also got a RBI as he hit a solo shot to achieve the feat.

1955 – The Brooklyn Dodgers would claim their only World Series title by winning Game 7. Johnny Podres would hurl a shout as Brooklyn defeated the New York Yankees by a score of 2-0.

Notable birthdays:

Tony LaRussa (1944)
Jared Weaver (1982)

More historical baseball information for this date can be found at the BR Bullpen.