1/12/1988: Pirates slugger and notable neighbor Willie Stargell is elected to the Hall of Fame.

1/11/2005: Arizona trades 41 year-old Randy Johnson to the Yankees. In 2004 (his age 40 campaign) the Big Unit notched 35 starts. Since 2007, 25 major league franchises have not featured a pitcher (at any age) with at least 35 games started in a single season.

Born on this day in 1868 was pitcher/outfielder Charles Frederick King. In his 1888 campaign, Silver logged 584.2 innings of work and notched 45 wins. In 2025 the Colorado Rockies featured five pitchers with more than 12 starts, totaling 592.1 innings pitched and 20 victories.

1/6/2016: Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza are elected to the Hall of Fame. Griffey was drafted first overall — Piazza would wait until the 62nd round. The former was a baseball legacy; the latter lauded by Ted Williams. Both found their way to baseball immortality.

In the 1980s: • Just two batters recorded at least 75 stolen bases, 150 home runs and 300 doubles. • Just one pitcher notched 2000 or more strikeouts. On this day in 1999, all three got the call.

Hall of Fame hurler Tim Keefe was born on this day in 1857. In his 1883 campaign Sir Timothy made 68 starts…and completed all of them. Roger Clemens (1987) is the last major league pitcher to make at least 30 starts in a season and complete half of them (36 GS; 18 CG).

53 years ago today, Roberto Clemente departed Puerto Rico via airplane to deliver relief supplies following an earthquake in Nicaragua; tragically, they would never be received. Today, we continue to remember the Great One and his fervent humanitarianism.

Sandy Koufax recorded a league-leading 27 complete games in his 1966 (i.e. final) season. No major league team has more than 23 complete games since 2017. The Left Arm of God turns 90 today.

Born on this day in 1900 was Hall of Fame pitcher Ted Lyons. After the 1942 season (and shortly before turning 42 years of age), Lyons enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theatre. He would return to baseball for his final season in 1946 and make five starts — all complete games.

A paragon of durability at the most demanding of positions, Carlton Fisk suited up for 2226 games behind the plate. The 11-time All-Star and Hall of Fame catcher celebrates his 78th birthday today.

James Francis Galvin was born on this day in 1856. Over the course of his 15-year HOF career, Pud would record 646 complete games (a span of 688 starts). Since 1978, Baltimore leads all major league teams with 639 player complete games (a span of 7544 starts).

For 15 consecutive seasons (1950-1964), Nellie Fox played in at least 130 games and struck out 18 or fewer times. In 2025 alone, 212 major league batters recorded at least 19 games with multiple strikeouts. The Hall of Fame second baseman was born on this day in 1927.

Rickey Henderson recorded 29 stolen bases in his first professional season at the age of 17 (Boise A’s). Rickey Henderson recorded 37 stolen bases in his penultimate professional season at the age of 45 (Newark Bears). An ageless wonder. Happy Heavenly Birthday to the Man of Steal.

Hall of Fame southpaw Steve Carlton recorded six seasons with 17 or more complete games. In 2025, there were 14 complete games recorded among all National League pitchers. Lefty turns 81 years young today.

Just how good was Josh Gibson? Acclaim from renowned Hall of Famers tells you all you need to know. And when you are in fact that good, self-praise is warranted: “Man, when I (Gibson) come to the plate, I'm in scoring position”. The prodigious powerhouse was born on this day in 1911.

12/20/1990: The White Sox sign Charlie Hough as a free agent. At the age of 43, the knuckleballer racks up 199.1 innings in his 1991 campaign. In the 2025 season, only Garrett Crochet (205.1) threw for more innings among American League hurlers.

A seasonal lineup: C - Steve Christmas 1B - Jim Toy 2B - Dasher Troy 3B - Charlie Starr SS - Ed Holly LF - Jesús Sánchez CF - Ángel Pagán RF - Jhonkensy Noel SP - Dick Rudolph RP - Dave Jolly Manager - Felton Snow

12/16/2002: The Twins release a 27 year-old first baseman from the Dominican Republic. The lefty finds a new home in Boston, cranking out 483 dingers and 524 doubles over 14 seasons. 7 Silver Sluggers, 3 World Series titles, and a plaque in Cooperstown are also added to his baseball résumé.

12/13/1930: George Sisler is released by the Boston Braves, and his major league career comes to a close. Sisler recorded four seasons with at least 25 stolen bases, 200 hits, and a batting average above .300 — a Live-Ball Era record that would be broken by Ichiro Suzuki (10 consecutive seasons).

12/13/1998: Rickey Henderson signs with the Mets. In 1999 the 40 year-old authors one of three seasons in MLB history where a player aged 33 or older records at least 30 doubles, 35 stolen bases and an OBP ≥ .420. The other two: • Dan Brouthers (1894) • Honus Wagner (1909)

58 - the number of wins recorded by Chicago White Sox starting pitching since 2024. 60 - the number of wins recorded by Charles Radbourn in his 1884 campaign. “Old Hoss” was born on this day in 1854.

12/7/1988: 41 year-old free agent Nolan Ryan signs a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers. At 42 years old, the Ryan Express racks up 301 strikeouts in 1989 — no other pitcher in major league history has recorded 300 or more strikeouts in their age 39 or older season.

12/6/1988: The Texas Rangers acquire 30 year-old Julio Franco from Cleveland. The stalwart infielder hangs around the league for 19 more seasons (1613 G) and records the most consecutive major league seasons with at least one home run in an age 40 or older season (7; his age-42 through 48 seasons).

12/3/1989: The Milwaukee Brewers sign 38 year-old free agent Dave Parker. In his 1990 season, Cobra becomes the oldest batter in franchise history to record 20 or more home runs in a single season.

On this day in 1927, a broadcasting legend was born. At the age of 25, Vin Scully became the youngest person to ever broadcast a World Series game. The beloved icon would call Dodgers baseball over a span of seven decades, capturing moments from Newcombe to Kershaw and everything in between.

Stan Musial and Ken Griffey Jr. share a birthday (today), along with a handful of noteworthy similarities: ☑️ both born in Donora, PA ☑️ both left-handed batters ☑️ both major league outfielders ☑️ both All-Stars for 10+ seasons ☑️ both MVP recipients ☑️ both HOF inductees

11/20/1990: Rickey Henderson takes home American League MVP honors. The 1990 season was one of 11 (most in MLB history) where the Man of Steal stole 40+ bases with an on-base percentage ≥ .400. There have been just four such seasons recorded in Major League Baseball since 2000.

11/15/1967: Carl Yastrzemski is named AL MVP. The first Triple Crown winner for Boston since Williams in 1947, Yaz belts 44 homers and drives in 121 while batting .326. Carl’s 12.5 bWAR in his ‘67 campaign is the fourth-highest single season mark by a position player; Babe Ruth owns the top three.

11/12/2001: Albert Pujols is named NL Rookie of the Year. The Machine becomes the second player in MLB history to slash 300/400/600 or better in their first season (min 600 PA) — Ted Williams did so in 1939. Pujols entered his 2001 rookie campaign with 544 professional plate appearances.

Seaman Second Class Lawrence Berra served onboard a rocket boat supporting the initial offensive waves of the Allied invasion of Normandy. Captain Ted Williams flew 39 missions in a F9F Panther jet during the Korean War. Countrymen first. Competitors second. A heartfelt thank you to all veterans.

10/11/1909: 35 year-old Honus Wagner steals three bases in Game 3 of the World Series. At the age of 40, Rickey Henderson is the oldest player to accomplish this feat in a postseason game (G2 1999 NLDS).

With Connelly Early (23y,182d) slated to start tomorrow, he’ll be the youngest pitcher to start a postseason game for the Red Sox since Babe Ruth (21y,246d) started game 2 of the 1916 World Series

9/30/1914: Giants hurler Christy Mathewson finishes his campaign with more wins (24) than walks (23). Clayton Kershaw (12 W/11 BB in 2016) is the last National League pitcher to record such a season (min 10 wins) and the only major league pitcher since 1885 to do so with 150 or more strikeouts.

84 years ago today, Ted Williams would become the last hitter to bat .400 in a season. He would start the day at .39955 and, insistent upon the veracity of the milestone, play both games of a doubleheader. After a 6-8 performance, the renowned .406 became part of baseball lore.

9/27/1973: Nolan Ryan punches out 16 batters in an 11-inning complete game victory against Minnesota. The Ryan Express finishes the season with 383 strikeouts, edging out Sandy Koufax (382; 1965) for most single-season strikeouts in the Modern Era.

9/27/1942: Ted Williams plays his last major league game before three years of military service during World War II. The Splendid Splinter takes home AL Triple Crown honors in ‘42 and leads the majors in runs scored, walks, OPS, and total bases — just to stay in shape.

Clayton Kershaw is the only major league pitcher in the Modern Era (since 1900) to record at least 200 wins with fewer than 100 losses. Expanding the list to those who have 100 or fewer losses (along with 200+ wins) adds Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez.

A complete list of AL/NL pitchers since 1901 — at home — with at least 100 wins, 1500 strikeouts, and an ERA below 2.50: • Walter Johnson • Clayton Kershaw Kershaw will make his final regular season start tonight at Dodger Stadium, where he owns a .736 win percentage over 227 starts.

9/7/1908: 20 year-old Walter Johnson blanks the Highlanders in a contest lasting just 100 minutes. It’s the Big Train’s third shutout…over a span of four days. There have been three shutouts recorded by American League pitchers in 2025.

9/6/1912: In a battle of aces, Smoky Joe Wood out-duels Walter Johnson, blanking the Senators 1-0. Wood finished his 1912 campaign with 10 shutouts. Among active MLB pitchers, only Clayton Kershaw (15) has more career shutouts.

9/4/1972: Luis Tiant records his fourth consecutive shutout, with the Red Sox blanking the Brewers 2-0. In 2025, no major league team has more than two player shutouts.

9/3/1894: Connie Mack records his first major league managerial win; he would notch 3730 more before calling it a career. For perspective, the Tall Tactician’s career as a manager began the year before Babe Ruth was born and ended when Dusty Baker was one year old.

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Ted Williams was born on this day in 1918. His prolific numbers would earn him a Hall of Fame nod, yet the most significant number cannot be found on Baseball Reference. 39: the number of combat missions flown in Korea. Ball player. Soldier. Hero. Ted was all of these things.

Greetings from the Friendly Confines!

8/15/1916: Squaring off against Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth blanks the Nationals — one of 16 shutouts he’ll record before turning 23. Since 1920, just four AL/NL pitchers have 16 or more such shutouts: * Bert Blyleven (18) * Bob Feller (16) * Fernando Valenzuela (16) * Dwight Gooden (16)

8/13/1901: Pitching in his twelfth season, Boston hurler Kid Nichols records the third of seven complete games with 10 or more innings pitched. 23 of the 30 major league teams have recorded seven or fewer complete (player) games since 2021.

8/11/1979: Jim Rice belts his 30th dinger and, by season’s end, will have recorded his third campaign with at least 30 HR, 100 RBI and 100 runs scored. Along with Ted Williams, Jim Ed is the only other batter in Red Sox franchise history to have three such seasons before turning 27.

8/10/1988: The Dodgers release pitcher Don Sutton, who finishes his career with 756 major league starts. A pitcher making their MLB debut in 2026 could record 30 starts every year through the 2050 season and not eclipse Sutton’s total. In 2024, five teams did not feature a pitcher with 30+ starts.

8/9/1916: Grover Cleveland Alexander blanks Cincinnati — one of 11 shutouts in Old Pete’s 1916 campaign without issuing a walk (most such shutouts in a single season in AL/NL history). For the 2025 major league season, there have been a total of 10 player shutouts (irrespective of walks).