Important Dates in Major League Baseball for the Month of May

Photo by Daiji Umemoto on Unsplash

By now every fan knows that Major League Baseball has postponed the start of its 2020 season due to the corona virus.  Whether we'll see baseball in May waits to be seen. I know for certain that a whole lot of people will be sorting out the fallout for this decision. When players with contracts in the mega-millions are sitting idle, and tickets aren't being sold, I'm curious what kinds of contracts have been created to address this force majeure. And do season ticket holders get refunds?

In the meantime, this here is a continuation of February 25 blog post highlighting important dates in baseball history for April.

 * * * *

IMPORTANT DATES -- MAY

* * * *

May 1, 1920
Joe Oeschger of the Braves and Leon Cadre of Brooklyn pitch 26 innings in a 1-1 tie. Longest game ever.

May 2, 1939
Lou Gehrig did not play against the Tigers at Briggs Stadium, ending his streak of 2,130 consecutive games played. (EdNote: This "Iron Man" record was surpassed 56 years later by Cal Ripken, Jr. who went on to set the current record by playing in 2,632 consecutive games.)

May 3, 1936
Joe DiMaggio plays his first game.

May 3, 1963
Pete Rose hits his first Home Run.

May 3, 1964
Tommy John pitches his first victory.

May 4, 1904
Cy Young (Red Sox) hurls a Perfect Game against the A's, besting Rube Waddell 3-0.

May 7, 1917
Babe Ruth (Red Sox) allows two hits in a 1-0 victory over Walter Johnson. Ruth knocks in the lone run with a sacrifice fly.

May 11, 1917
Pete Schneider of Vernon, CA (Pacific Coast League) hits five homers and a double, driving in 14 runs.

May 12, 1955
Sam Jones of the Cubs pitches no hitter after walking three Pirates in the ninth and striking out three to get the win.

May 14, 1920
Walter Johnson wins his 300th game with a 9-8 win over the Tigers.

May 14, 1988
Jose Oquendo (Cards) becomes the first non-pitcher in 20 years to get a decision, a 7-5 loss to the Braves, when Ken Griffey knocked in two runs with two outs in the 19th inning.

May 17, 1979
Phillies beat the Cubs 23-22 in ten innings at Chicago when Mike Schmidt hits his second home run of the game.

May 30, 1904
Frank Chance, first baseman for the Cubs, is hit five times by Cincinnati pitchers in a double header, a record. The two teams split.

Related Links
Some Things Have Changed, Some Haven't
Reflections on The Natural
Important dates in baseball history for April.