While each day on the calendar holds some sort of significance in sports history, today stands out. One of the most beautiful parts about professional sports are the moments that leave fans feeling privileged to have witnessed something happen. 31 years ago, just that happened as a HOFer recorded his 5,000th strikeout against a fellow Cooperstown member. More notable MLB events and milestones make up the most significant sports history on August 22nd.

Ryan Express' 5,000 Ks

YEAR: 1989

SIGNIFICANCE: Nolan Ryan struck out Rickey Henderson for his 5,000th career strikeout

31 years ago, Nolan Ryan became the first and only pitcher ever to reach 5,000 career strikeouts. The 42-year-old flamethrower blew one past a swinging Rickey Henderson for the milestone setting punch-out. Ryan finished his career with 5,714 strikeouts and recorded at least 200 in 15 of his 27 seasons in the bigs. The Ryan Express surprisingly never won a Cy Young award, but he did make eight All-Star games and achieved two ERA titles during his Hall of Fame career.

Orioles Set New Record

.@austin_meadows skies a solo homer! 🔭☄#RaysUp 1#Birdland 2

Watch @RaysBaseball LIVE on FOX Sports Sun 📺 l FOX Sports Go.📱 pic.twitter.com/fxslJM3c9R
— Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (@BallySportsFL) August 22, 2019

YEAR: 2019

SIGNIFICANCE: Orioles officially passed the 2016 Reds for most Home Runs allowed in a season

One day after tying the record, the Baltimore Orioles became the first team in Major League Baseball history to give up over 258 Home Runs in a single season. In a game against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Orioles pitching staff gave up their 259th and 260th HR of the season to Austin Meadows and Willy Adames, respectively. In 2019, three other teams broke the ’16 Reds record of 258 and one team tied it. The Colorado Rockies (270), Los Angeles Angels (267), and Seattle Mariners (260) surpassed it, while the Philadelphia Phillies (258) matched it, validating a new era of the long ball.

Rangers Plate 30

YEAR: 2007

SIGNIFICANCE: Rangers scored 30 runs against the Orioles, setting multiple records

It appears that August 22 is not so fond of the Baltimore Orioles. 13 years ago, the Texas Rangers scored an AL-record 30 runs in a game against the O’s. The Rangers scored in bunches, driving in five runs in the fourth inning, nine in the sixth, 10 in the eighth, and six in the ninth. David Murphy went 5 for 7, and both Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vazquez went 4 for 6 with 7 RBI, as the Rangers totaled a whopping 29 hits. Unfortunately for the Orioles, this was the first game of a single-admission doubleheader. The second game ended 9-7, also in favor of the Rangers. The 39 runs scored by the Rangers that day set an AL-record for most runs scored in a doubleheader.

Maris Reaches 50 HR

HR through 124 games played:

1927 Babe Ruth 44
1961 Roger Maris 50
1998 Mark McGwire 53
2001 Barry Bonds 56
2017 Giancarlo Stanton 49
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) August 26, 2017

YEAR: 1961

SIGNIFICANCE: Roger Maris reached 50 HR in the season, setting record for most HR through August

In one of the most historic seasons ever for a player, Roger Maris reached the 50-HR mark on this day 59 years ago. That Home Run meant that Maris had hit the most round-trippers ever through the month of August. Maris was in the midst of breaking Ruth’s single-season Home Run record of 60, which was set in 1927. Maris went 2 for 3 in this game against the Los Angeles Angels and hit the Home Run in the 6th inning off Ken McBride. At the end of the game, Maris was batting .283/.382/.1.034 with 50 HR and 116 RBI for the season as he marched towards his second consecutive MVP award.

22-inning Game

8/22/1917 Pittburghs Pirates play 4th straight extra inning game. Carson Bigbee has record 11 at-bats, they lose in 22 innings to Dodgers
— Yvette Grimes (@yvettegr) August 22, 2009

YEAR: 1917

SIGNIFICANCE: Pirates’ Carson Bigbee (11 ABs), RP Elmer Jacobs (16.2 IP) highlighted an absurd 22-inning affair

103 years ago, the Pittsburg Pirates faced off against the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) at Ebbets Field that lasted 22 innings. The game had some notable performances, including the Pirates’ Elmer Jacobs pitching 16.2 innings in relief, the Dodgers’ Larry Cheney pitching 13 scoreless innings in relief, and Carson Bigbee of the Pirates having 11 at bats, setting an NL single-game record. The Dodgers walked it off with an Otto Miller “5-4” fielder’s choice to win the game six to five. For the Pirates, this was their fourth extra-inning game in a row, of which they won one, lost two, and drew one.