Today in Baseball History: July 8th

1988 On July 8, 1988, Bud Black of the Cleveland Indians epitomizes the phrase "wild left-hander" when he hits three California Angels batters with pitches in one inning, tying a major league record. Black hits Jack Howell, Devon White, and Johnny Ray in the fourth inning of a 10-6 loss to the Angels.

1982 On July 8, 1982, Oakland A's manager Billy Martin notches his 1,000th career win, ironically enough against one of his former teams, the New York Yankees. Martin, who will lead the A's to only 68 wins that year, will be fired after the season.

1976 On July 8, 1976, Randy Jones of the San Diego Padres sets a National League record for most wins by the All-Star break when he posts his 16th victory of the season. The soft-tossing left-hander, who defeats the Chicago Cubs, 6-3, will finish the season with a record of 22-14.

1974 On July 8, 1974, journeyman shortstop Jim Mason of the New York Yankees ties a major league record by swatting four doubles in a game against the Texas Rangers. Usually a light hitter, Mason will finish the season with only 18 doubles and a mediocre .250 batting average.

1972 On July 8, 1972, Detroit Tigers pitcher John Hiller makes his first appearance after suffering a heart attack in 1971. Hiller's heart condition had sidelined him for the entire 1971 season. Hiller will post a 2.03 ERA in '72 and will win the "Comeback Player of the Year" Award in 1973.

1970 On July 8, 1970, Jim Ray Hart of the San Francisco Giants hits for the cycle and becomes the first National League player since Fred Merkle in 1911 to drive in six runs in one inning. Hart accounts for nearly half of San Francisco's runs in a 13-0 rout of the Atlanta Braves.

1962 On July 8, 1962, 41-year-old Stan Musial becomes the oldest man to hit three home runs in a game when he victimizes the New York Mets. The longtime star, who had homered in his last at-bat the previous game, helps the St. Louis Cardinals to a 15-1 win.

1951 On July 8, 1951, in the second game of a doubleheader at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, future Hall of Fame second baseman Red Schoendienst hits home runs from both the left and right side of the plate.

1949 On July 8, 1949, Monte Irvin and Hank Thompson become the first black players for the New York Giants. Irvin walks in a pinch-hitting appearance while Thompson goes hitless in a 4-3 loss to Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The game marks the first time in major league history that a black hitter faces a black pitcher.

1941 On July 8, 1941, Boston Red Sox star Ted Williams hits a dramatic two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the American League a 7-5 win in the All-Star Game. Williams' clout overshadows a two-homer game for National League star Arky Vaughan.