MLB
Most Significant Sports History on September 6th
Learn about September 6th's most significant sports history including Ripken Jr.'s iconic record, a legend joining the 500-HR club, and more!
Baltimore Sun
The driving force behind the significance of sports history on September 6th is heavily influenced by America’s pastime. More specifically, the Baltimore Orioles have found this day to be the home of various accomplishments for its players. In 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig’s legendary streak. In addition, Eddie Murray became only the third player to achieve an astounding MLB milestone. Further events make this day an extravagant one in professional sports history.
YEAR: 1995
SIGNIFICANCE: Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig‘s longstanding MLB record with his 2,131st consecutive game played
A day after tying the all-time consecutive games record, Baltimore Orioles SS Cal Ripken Jr. played in 2,131st straight game, officially becoming Major League Baseball’s newest “Iron Man”. In the middle of the fifth inning, as he jogged back to the dugout it, the “2,130” displayed in the famous warehouse changed to “2,131”. The fans erupted and showered Ripken with cheers and applause while his teammates hugged him on the field, knowing he had just transcended Lou Gehrig’s seemingly unbreakable record. Ripken would eventually get the tally up to 2,632 consecutive games, until he decided to pull himself out of a game on September 20th, 1998. This currently stands as one of the most impressive records that will likely never be broken.
YEAR: 1996
SIGNIFICANCE: Eddie Murray hit his 500th career HR, becoming the 3rd player with 3,000 H and 500 HR
Baltimore Orioles 1B Eddie Murray hit his 500th career Home Run off SP Felipe Lira in a 5-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Just a year after the O’s celebrated Ripken, Murray became just the third player in MLB history to have at least 500 HR and 3,000 hits. Murray, was nicknamed “Steady Eddie” for his incredibly consistent 21-year career, in which he was considered an RBI machine.
In his prime, the 3x Silver Slugger was a 25 HR-100 RBI middle of the order bat. Murray also won the AL Rookie of the Year in 1977, three Gold Glove awards, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2003. As it stands, only four other players have ever recorded at least 3,000 hits and 500 HR in the history of the game: Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Rafael Palmeiro, and Alex Rodriguez.
YEAR: 2001
SIGNIFICANCE: Barry Bonds hit his 60th HR of the season, requiring the least number of games (141) ever
Back on September 6th, 2001, San Francisco Giants LF Barry Bonds became the fifth player ever to hit at least 60 HR in a single season. What also made this milestone special was that Bonds needed just 141 games to reach that mark, which is the least amount a player has ever required to get to 60. Bonds’ 2001 campaign is one of the greatest offensive season any hitter has ever put up, hitting .328/.515/1.379 and a ridiculous 259 OPS+. Bonds and Sammy Sosa both surpassed the 60 HR mark in 2001, but since then no one has. Giancarlo Stanton hit 59 HR in 2017 and is the most recent hitter to threaten to hit the historic milestone.
On this day in sports (1953). @Dodgers slugger Roy Campanella sets record for HRs by a catcher at 38. He would hit 41 total in 53', finishing with a 141 RBI's and the league MVP award as well. https://t.co/BFYGabClrf pic.twitter.com/mnQFdqVOmP
— COMC.com - Check Out My Cards (@CheckOutMyCards) September 6, 2018
YEAR: 1953
SIGNIFICANCE: Roy Campanella set a single-season record for catchers with his 38th HR
67 years ago, Brooklyn Dodgers backstop Roy Campanella hit his 38th HR of the season, setting a new single-season Home Run record for catchers. Campanella broke Chicago Cubs Cathcer Gabby Hartnett‘s 1930 record of 37 HR. In 1953, Campanella finished the season with 41 HR and a league-leading 142 RBI. Additionally, Campanella’s .611 SLG is the fourth greatest single-season slugging percentage for any catcher. Campanella’s record was eventually broken by Cincinnati Red Johnny Bench when he dropped 45 bombs in 1970.
YEAR: 2010
SIGNIFICANCE: Alex Rodriguez recorded 100 RBIs for a MLB record 14th season, including 13 straight
On this day in 2010, New York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez drove in his 100th run of the season, making him the record holder for most seasons with 100 RBIs or more. Rodriguez broke the record formerly held by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Foxx. A-Rod put up at least 100 RBIs for 13 consecutive years from 1998 to 2010, with his career-high (156) coming in his MVP-winning 2008 campaign. He also drove in 123 runs in 1996, his first All-Star season where he finished as the MVP runner-up.
During that 15-year span, Rodriguez hit .305/.390/.966, averaged 41 bombs and 121 RBI, won three MVP awards, and finished as a top-15 MVP candidate in all 15 of those years besides one. A-Rod finished his career as one of only five hitters to have over 2,000 career RBI. His 2,086 career RBI are good for fourth on the all-time list.
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