Today in Baseball History: June 26th

1993 On June 26, 1993, Hall of Famer Roy Campanella dies from a heart attack at the age of 71. Campanella won three MVP awards with the Brooklyn Dodgers over a 10-year career that was cut short by a paralyzing car accident.

1983 On June 26, 1983, Rusty Staub of the New York Mets ties a major league record by delivering his eighth consecutive pinch-hit. Staub's pinch-hit, which comes in the ninth inning of an 8-4 loss, matches the mark set by Dave Philley.

1979 On June 26, 1979, the New York Yankees re-acquire outfielder Bobby Murcer from the Chicago Cubs for minor league pitcher Paul Semall. The 33-year-old outfielder batted .258 in a part-time role for Chicago. The Yankees had traded the former All-Star and fan favorite to the San Francisco Giants after the 1974 season.

1971 On June 26, 1971, the California Angels suspend starting outfielder and defending American League batting champion Alex Johnson. Earlier in the season, Johnson had been benched five times and fined 29 times for failing to hustle.

1970 On June 26, 1970, Frank Robinson smacks two grand slams during a 12-2 rout of the Washington Senators. The Baltimore Orioles' right fielder connects on consecutive at-bats, scoring Dave McNally, Don Buford, and Paul Blair each time. Robinson becomes only the third major leaguer to hit grand slams in consecutive innings.

1968 On June 26, 1968, Bob Gibson threw his fifth consecutive shutout, beating Pittsburgh 5-0. Gibson would run his string of scoreless innings to 48 2/3 in his next start.

1962 On June 26, 1962, Earl Wilson of the Boston Red Sox becomes the first black pitcher in American League history to hurl a no-hitter. Wilson also hits a 400-foot home run in the 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Boston's Fenway Park.

1961 On June 26, 1961, minor league slugger Don Dichiara of Batavia hits four consecutive home runs in a game, setting a NY-Penn League record. In spite of DiChiaria's outburst, Batavia loses the game, 14-9, to Jamestown.

1938 On June 26, 1938, future Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell wins his 200th major league game, pushing the New York Giants to a two-game lead in the National League pennant race. Nicknamed "The King," Hubbell will finish his career with 253 victories and will earn election to the Hall of Fame in 1947.

1916 On June 26, 1916, the Cleveland Indians take the field wearing numbers on their uniform sleeves. The experiment with numerals marks the first time that a major league team features numbers that correspond to a scorecard.

1915 On June 26, 1915, one of the greatest hitters in the history of the Negro leagues is born. Willard Brown is born in Shreveport, Louisiana. Brown, given the nickname "Home Run" by Josh Gibson, won two triple crowns and batted over .400 twice in a career that spanned the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006.