Today in Baseball History: May 20th

2008 On May 20, 2008, Mike Piazza ended his 16-year major league career after failing to receive a free agent offer. Piazza played the 2007 season with Oakland, but gained most of his fame with his batting exploits for the Dodgers and Mets. He set a record with 396 home runs as a catcher and compiled a .308 lifetime average.

1991 On May 20, 1991, two-time American League batting champion Pete Runnels dies at the age of 63. The versatile Runnels batted .291 over a 14-year career with the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Colt .45s.

1985 On May 20, 1985, a game between the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers scheduled for Municipal Stadium is postponed due to rain, representing the first rainout of the 1985 season. The cancellation marks the latest point that the first rainout of a season has taken place. A record 458 games had been played prior to the initial rainout.

1983 On May 20, 1983, Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Steve Carlton passes Walter Johnson to move into second place on the all-time strikeout list. Carlton's four strikeouts put him at 3,511, just 10 behind Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros. Ryan had bettered Johnson's record earlier in the month.

1968 On May 20, 1968, California Angels shortstop Jim Fregosi hits for the cycle during a 5-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox. The cycle is the second of Fregosi's career, tying him with several other players for the major league record.

1953 On May 20, 1953, the Milwaukee Braves play their 13th home game and surpass the attendance total for the previous season, when the franchise played in Boston. The crowd at County Stadium raises Milwaukee's attendance to 281,278 for the current season.

1951 On May 20, 1951, Richie Ashburn of the Philadelphia Phillies collects four hits in each game of a doubleheader. The offensive barrage by the future Hall of Famer helps the Phillies sweep the rival Pittsburgh Pirates, 17-0 and 12-4, at Forbes Field.

1948 On May 20, 1948, Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees hits for the cycle and drives in six runs during a 13-2 wipeout of the Chicago White Sox. DiMaggio hits two home runs, a triple, a double and a single, and narrowly misses another extra-base hit when Chicago left fielder Ralph Hodgin makes a catch at the wall.

1945 On May 20, 1945, one-armed outfielder Pete Gray of the St. Louis Browns enjoys an incredible day against the New York Yankees. Gray makes three outstanding catches, collects four hits, drives in two runs, and scores the game-winning run during a doubleheader sweep of the Yankees.

1921 On May 20, 1921, future Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser is born in Detroit, Michigan. In 1939, Newhouser will make his major league debut for his hometown team-the Detroit Tigers. The hard-throwing left-hander will win 207 games over a 17-year career.