On this day in sports history, one of the longest work stoppages officially began and put great uncertainty in the future of the National Pastime. Also, a trade that Braves’ fans will forever cherish, and “Stan the Man” announces he will hang up his cleats at season’s end. These are some of the most notable events in a day like today in sports.

1994 MLB Strike Commences

YEAR: 1994

SIGNIFICANCE: 7th work stoppage in MLB history officially began, lasting 232 days, & the World Series was ultimately cancelled

26 years ago today the baseball world was shaken to the core, with operations halted and setting the table for an ugly battle between the league and its players. The 1994 MLB strike is seen by many as one of the most embarrassing and unfortunate moments in the sport’s 151-year history. It ended the 74-40 Montreal Expos‘ season; which eventually led to the death of the franchise a decade later.

The strike stopped Tony Gwynn from hitting .400 for the first time since Ted Williams did so in 1941. It also forced the cancellation of the World Series (only World Series that hasn’t occurred since its inception in 1903), and ultimately ended many Major League and Minor League careers. It took over 230 days for the sport to return to the field, forever changing the course of baseball history.

Mantle Breaks Record

Today in 1960s Baseball: Yankees beat White Sox 7-3; Mickey Mantle hits home runs from both sides of plate a record 10th time (1964) https://t.co/i5ezm3ogrA #Yankees pic.twitter.com/jl34H66jBG
— 1960s Baseball (@Baseball1960s) August 12, 2019

YEAR: 1964

SIGNIFICANCE: HOF OF Mickey Mantle hit HRs from both sides of the plate for the 10th time, setting a new MLB record

Mickey Mantle, one of the most iconic players in MLB history, is considered to be one of, if not the best, switch-hitter of all time. 56 years ago, Mantle homered from each side of the plate in a 7-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Those two Home Runs made “The Mick” the only player at the time to hit a bomb from the left and right side of the plate in the same game at least 10 times in his career.

It was the last time in his career Mantle accomplished such feat. Mantle hit 392 career Home Runs from the left side and 162 as a righty. As it stands today, former Yankees Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher are tied for the MLB record with 14 games homering from both sides of the plate.

Braves Acquire John Smoltz

This day in #Braves history in 1987: the #Braves trade Doyle Alexander to the #Tigers in exchange for John Smoltz. pic.twitter.com/ZHDWbukl7k
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 12, 2015

YEAR: 1987

SIGNIFICANCE: Atlanta Braves acquired minor league RHP John Smoltz from the Detroit Tigers for SP Doyle Alexander

In a mid-season trade with the Tigers 33 years ago, Braves’ General Manager, Bobby Cox, acquired 20-year old John Smoltz in exchange of 36-year-old Doyle Alexander. Smoltz went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Braves, becoming one third of Atlanta’s big three alongside Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine.

Smoltz spent 20 seasons with Atlanta, posting a 3.26 ERA in over 3,300 IP. The Michigan native also racked up 154 saves, making him the only pitcher ever to have at least 150 saves and 200 wins in his career. Alexander did go 9-0 with a 1.53 ERA in his 11 starts with Detroit down the stretch in ’87. However in the ALCS vs the Minnesota Twins, the eventual world champions, Alexander allowed 10 runs and 14 hits in 9 IP.

Gleyber Goes Bird Hunting

YEAR: 2019

SIGNIFICANCE: NYY SS Gleyber Torres set a record with 13 HRs in a season against an opponent (Baltimore Orioles) in the Divisional Era

Gleyber Torres vs the ’19 Baltimore Orioles was an unfair matchup. It seemed that every time he went up to the plate he did damage, making fans wonder “why are they even pitching to him?”. In 18 games, Torres hit a ridiculous .394/.467/1.512 with 13 HR against Orioles pitchers, which accounted for 34% of his Home Runs in 2019. Torres hit 38 total bombs in 2019, meaning he really took advantage of the historically bad Orioles staff in 2019 that also allowed the most HR by any team in MLB history. The only player with more Home Runs vs one team in a single season is Lou Gehrig vs the Cleveland Indians in 1936, who hit 14.

Stan Musial Retires

Stan Musial:

24X All Star
4X World Series Champ (1 as GM)
3X MVP
7 Batting titles
MLB HOF
MLB All-Century team
.331/.417/.559
3630 Hits/475 HR/1951 RBI

WW2 Veteran
Presidential Medal of Freedom

At time of retirement, held 17 MLB + 29 NL Records.

Greatest Cardinal of all time. pic.twitter.com/TalVZ8gskS
— Gateway Grinders (@gatewaygrinders) May 20, 2020

YEAR: 1963

SIGNIFICANCE: Hall of Fame OF Stan Musial officially announced his retirement, effective at the end of the ’63 campaign

Stan Musial, regarded as one of the greatest hitters of all-time, announced that the 1963 season was going to be his last. Musial is fourth all-time in career hits with 3,630 and eighth in RBIs with 1,951. He’s a career .331/.417/.976 hitter and accumulated a 128.3 career bWAR, the eighth-highest of all time. A 3x MVP, 24x All-Star, 7x Batting Champion, and 3x World Champion, “Stan the Man” was considered the greatest Cardinal ever, at least until Albert Pujols burst onto the scene in 2001. In Musial’s last season, his age-42 season, he still managed to hit .255/.325/.728.