One of the biggest names in baseball history concluded his career on this day just four years ago with a pending Hall of Fame induction that is about as controversial as it gets. On a more positive note, the oldest pitcher to record a complete game shutout was finished off over 70 years ago today. All the events that took place on August 13th make it a significant day in the history of America’s pastime.

A-Rod Released

YEAR: 2016

SIGNIFICANCE: The New York Yankees released Alex Rodriguez, ultimately ending his career

Four years ago, in the afternoon of August 13th, the Yankees released 3B Alex Rodriguez, basically terminating his 22-year career. Rodriguez played his last game the night prior in front of a packed Yankee Stadium. It was a weird night at the ballpark for fans and Rodriguez, who over A-Rod’s 12 years with New York had developed a very strenuous relationship. Pre-game thunderstorms set a fitting scene to what was a stormy career to say the least. A career that was filled with glory, success, lies, steroids, and money. A lot of money.

In his final MLB game, A-Rod went 1-4 with an RBI double in his first AB. In the ninth inning, Yankees’ Manager Joe Girardi subbed Rodriguez off in order to give him a last goodbye in front of 46,000 plus. The next day, the Yankees officially released Rodriguez, which marked the start of a new era in the Bronx. The corresponding move? Aaron Judge was called up from Triple-A.

Satchel Makes History

#OTD in 1948, 42-year-old Satchel Paige of the @Indians fires his first big league shutout in a 5-0 win over the White Sox in front of 51,013 fans at Comiskey Park. Seven days later, Paige again shuts out the White Sox to lower his ERA to 1.33. https://t.co/ayEjSCEs5X pic.twitter.com/1LIiO2h7sI
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) August 13, 2018

YEAR: 1948

SIGNIFICANCE: Indians’ SP Satchel Paige, 42, became the oldest pitcher to record a complete game shutout at the time

Satchel Paige began his baseball career in the 1920s, becoming the most overpowering right-hander in the history of the Negro Leagues. On July 7, 1948, the Cleveland Indians offered a contract to the 42-year-old Paige to join the Major League rotation. 72 years ago today, Paige threw a complete game shutout in a 5-0 Indians win vs the Chicago White Sox. The game was played under the lights in Comesky Park and lasted just 1 hour and 54 minutes.

The Hall of Famer became the oldest player at the time to pitch a complete game shutout, a feat which he repeated his very next start against those same White Sox in a 1-0 victory. Four years later, at the age of 45, he would shutout the White Sox again as a member of the St. Louis Browns. In 2010, 47-year old Jamie Moyer became the oldest player to pitch a complete game shutout in a 7-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Sale Punches Out 2K

Chris Sale reached 2,000 career strikeouts in 1,626 IP.

The fastest in MLB history. pic.twitter.com/FaBwwLvDfe
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 14, 2019

YEAR: 2019

SIGNIFICANCE: Boston Red Sox SP Chris Sale became the fastest pitcher to ever rack up 2,000 career strikeouts

One year ago, Chris Sale made history by becoming the fastest pitcher ever to reach 2,000 career strikeouts (1,626 IP) since Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez (1,711.1 IP) did so in 2002. The 7x All-Star started out as a reliever with the White Sox and soon after, became one of the game’s elite starting pitchers, finishing as a top-5 Cy Young choice for six years in a row until last year. Since becoming a starter, Sale has quickly evolved from one of the game’s best to one of history’s most overpowering lefties of all time. As it stands, Sale owns the highest career K/9 in baseball history with 11.1 strikeouts per 9 IP, in addition to an all-time career best 5.37 strikeouts per walk.

Cards OF Record No Outs

1987 #todayinbaseball The Cardinals outfield sets a major league record, no putouts in a 4-2, 13-inning win over the Phillies.
— JEFF ROBERTS (@Jffrob) August 13, 2011

YEAR: 1987

SIGNIFICANCE: St. Louis Cardinals’ outfield became the 1st since 1905 to not record a single putout in a 13-inning game

Baseball is a weird sport. And 33 years ago was no exception when the Cardinals’ outfield did not manage to get a single putout in the game. What makes this even crazier is that it was a 13-inning affair vs the Philadelphia Phillies. Outfielders Vince Coleman, Willie McGee, and Jim Lindeman had just 8 balls hit their way. One was a Home Run by the Phillies’ Milt Thompson. The Cards’ outfield became the first trio to not record a single putout in at least 9 innings since 1905, the first to do so in a 13-inning game. It took until the third inning of the next game for a Cardinals outfielder to finally record a putout.

A Copycat's Sport

This day in sports history:

•1910 - Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates play to 8-8 tie, both have 38 at bats, 13 hits, 12 assists, two errors, five strikeouts, three walks, 1 passed ball,... https://t.co/dSUIe1tJcE
— RabunCoRecDept (@RabunCoRecDept) August 13, 2018

YEAR: 1910

SIGNIFICANCE: In a game that ended in an 8-8 tie, the Dodgers and Pirates had the same box score to a tee

13 hits, 38 at-bats, five strike outs, three walks, one hit batter, one passed ball, 13 assists, 27 putouts, two errors, and two pitchers used. In a day like today 110 years ago, the Brooklyn Superbas, as the Dodgers were formerly called, and Pittsburgh Pirates replicated everything the game had to offer. It’s fun when teams have similar line scores throughout the game, it shows how even the matchup is, but eventually one team pulls ahead and wins the game. Not here, as it also ended on a 8-8 tie due to darkness. These teams couldn’t have been more evenly matched.