Today in Baseball History: May 12th

2003 On May 12, 2003, A.J. Burnett of the Dodgers does not allow a hit in his 3-0 victory over the Padres in San Diego. It is the first no-hitter against San Diego in 10 years.

1971 On May 12, 1971, Hall of Fame outfielder Heinie Manush dies at the age of 69 in Sarasota, Florida. Manush won the American League batting championship in 1926, and twice led the league in hits. Manush, a lifetime .330 hitter, gained induction to the Hall of Fame in 1964.

1970 On May 12, 1970, Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs becomes the ninth player to join the 500-home run club. The future Hall of Famer connects against Atlanta Braves right-hander Pat Jarvis, driving a pitch into the left field bleachers at Wrigley Field. Banks' blast helps Chicago to a 4-3 win.

1969 On May 12, 1969, St. Louis Cardinals fireballer Bob Gibson becomes the seventh pitcher in National League history to strike out the side on nine pitches. Gibson does the trick against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as part of a 6-2 win for the Redbirds.

1966 On May 12, 1966, the St. Louis Cardinals play the first game in the history of the new Busch Memorial Stadium. St. Louis wins the game in 12 innings - a 4-3 decision over the Atlanta Braves. Felipe Alou hits two home runs for the Braves, but future Hall of Famer Lou Brock ends the game with a single in the bottom of the 12th inning.

1962 On May 12, 1962, New York Mets reliever Craig Anderson wins both ends of a doubleheader. Success will soon turn to failure. Anderson will lose his next 16 decisions on the season and 19 decisions overall. In fact, he will never win another game in the major leagues.

1958 On May 12, 1958, future Hall of Famer Willie Mays hits the first grand slam in the brief history of the San Francisco Giants. Mays also belts another home run in a 12-3 victory over the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants had moved to San Francisco prior to the 1958 season.

1956 On May 12, 1956, Carl Erskine of the Brooklyn Dodgers hurls a no-hitter against the New York Giants. Erskine strikes out three and walks two. Erskine's 3-0 masterpiece at Ebbets Field is the second no-hitter of his career. His first came in 1952 against the Chicago Cubs.

1955 On May 12, 1955, Sam "Toothpick" Jones of the Chicago Cubs pitches a 4-0 no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jones becomes the first black pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the major leagues. It's also the first no-hitter at Wrigley Field in 38 years.

1926 On May 12, 1926, Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators wins his 400th career game. The "Big Train" defeats the St. Louis Browns, 7-4, to reach the rarely-achieved milestone.