Today in Baseball History: September 16th

2007 On September 16, 2007, Jim Thome hit his 500th career homer, becoming the 23rd member of that club. Thome reached the milestone in dramatic fashion - belting a walk-off- two-run homer to give the White Sox a victory over the Angels in Chicago.

1996 On September 16, 1996, 40-year-old Paul Molitor of the Minnesota Twins collects the 3,000th hit of his career. Molitor, the 21st player to reach the exclusive hit club, becomes the first player to achieve the milestone with a triple.

1993 On September 16, 1993, Dave Winfield of the Minnesota Twins reaches the 3,000-hit circle. Winfield singles against Oakland's Dennis Eckersley to become only the fifth player to pick up his 3,000th hit after the age of 40…

1988 On September 16, 1988, Tom Browning of the Cincinnati Reds pitches the 14th perfect game in major league history. In a game delayed by rain, Browning strikes out seven Los Angeles Dodgers and wins a 1-0 decision.

1975 On September 16, 1975, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Rennie Stennett goes 7-for-7 in a 22-0 shellacking of the Chicago Cubs. Stennett establishes a new modern day record for most hits in a nine-inning game. Stennett also ties Wilbert Robinson's 19th century record. In 1892, Robinson collected seven hits in one game...

1972 On September 16, 1972, three unusual occurrences highlight the Chicago Cubs' 18-5 demolition of the New York Mets. Chicago's Glenn Beckert sets a major league record by leaving 12 runners on base

1965 On September 16, 1965, the American League hires Emmett Ashford, a 46-year-old umpire from the Pacific Coast League, as the first black manager in major league history. Ashford will make his AL debut on April 11, 1966, in an Opening Day game between the Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians…

1924 On September 16, 1924, Jim Bottomley of the St. Louis Cardinals raps out six hits in six at-bats during a 17-3 annihilation of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bottomley hits two home runs and drives in a major league record 12 runs…

1914 On September 16, 1914, 23-year-old Roger Peckinpaugh becomes the youngest manager in major league history. The New York Yankees name Peckinpaugh, their starting shortstop, as manager for the final 17 games of the season…

1909 On September 16, 1909, William Howard Taft becomes the first U.S. President to attend a major league game. President Taft watches Christy Mathewson and the New York Giants defeat the Cubs in Chicago, 2-1. Mathewson outduels another Hall of Famer, Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown.