Today in Baseball History: May 16th

1984 On May 16, 1984, Carlton Fisk of the Chicago White Sox hits for the cycle in a game against the Kansas City Royals. In spite of Fisk's history-making day, the White Sox lose the game, 7-6.

1984 On May 16, 1984, the Baltimore Orioles release longtime star Jim Palmer, who had struggled to a record of 0-3 with an ERA of 9.17. Palmer, who declines the Orioles' offer to retire and accept a job within the organization, will unsuccessfully attempt to latch on with another team.

1978 On May 16, 1978, the Chicago White Sox trade outfielder Bobby Bonds to the Texas Rangers for outfielders Claudell Washington and Rusty Torres. The well-traveled Bonds, who joins his fifth team in five seasons, will finish out the season in Texas before being traded to the Cleveland Indians during the winter.

1970 On May 16, 1970, the hitting streak of Atlanta Braves star Rico Carty comes to an end at 31 games. The Braves' outfielder is stopped by Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jim McGlothlin, who earns a 2-0 victory. Carty, who batted .451 during the streak, will go on to win the National League batting championship with a .366 mark.

1954 On May 16, 1954, Ted Williams returns to the Boston Red Sox' lineup after suffering a collarbone fracture and goes 8-for-9 with two home runs, a double, and seven RBIs in a doubleheader. Williams' offensive heroics, however, do not prevent the Red Sox from losing both games to the Detroit Tigers.

1953 On May 16, 1953, Chicago White Sox pitcher Tommy Byrne hits a game-winning grand slam in the ninth inning. Pinch-hitting for Vern Stephens, Byrne connects against Ewell Blackwell of the New York Yankees, giving the Sox a 5-3 victory.

1951 On May 16, 1951, future Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle hits his first Yankee Stadium home run. Mantle's blast against Dick Rozek of the Cleveland Indians helps the New York Yankees to an 11-3 victory.

1939 On May 16, 1939, the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Athletics play the first night game in American League history. A gathering of 15,109 fans watches the contest at Philadelphia's Shibe Park, which becomes the third major league park to feature lights. The Indians win the historic game, 8-3, in 10 innings.

1933 On May 16, 1933, Cecil Travis of the Washington Senators makes an incredible major league debut. Travis sets a modern day record by collecting five singles in his first five at-bats. Travis is retired in his final two at-bats, but his Senators still defeat the Cleveland Indians, 11-10, in 12 innings.

1902 On May 16, 1902, two deaf-mute players face each other for the first time in major league history. William "Dummy" Hoy, an outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds, leads off the game against Luther "Dummy" Taylor, a pitcher for the New York Giants. Hoy goes 2-for-4, but the Giants win the game, 5-3, scoring all of their runs with a dramatic rally in the ninth. Hoy will go on to hit .290 in 1902, the final season of his 14-year career. An accomplished batsman and basestealer, Hoy will finish his career with a .287 batting average and 594 stolen bases. Taylor, who started the 1902 season with Cleveland, will go on to pitch six more seasons for New York. He will win in double figures in five of those seasons, including a career high of 21 victories in 1904.