October 1 is always a significant day for Major League Baseball. At the top of the list is that it signifies that playoff baseball is either already being played or is very near. For die-hard baseball fans, October is generally the best month of the year.
It also just so happens that there is a ton of history on October 1. Regular readers know we sometimes do "Happy Anniversary" posts in this very space. On this date, there are too many significant things to narrow it down to one. Let's run down several of the best moments that have happened on October 1 in baseball in chronlogical order.
1903 - The first ever World Series game was played. The Pirates took down Cy Young and his Pilgrims (soon to be the Red Sox).
1932 - Babe Ruth called his shot in Game 3 of the World Series in Wrigley Field. Or he didn't. Whatever one chooses to believe, the game in question happened on this date.
1949 - The Yankees honor Joe DiMaggio and he famously says "I want to thank the good lord for making me a Yankee."
1961 - Roger Maris hits his 61st homer of the season, breaking Babe Ruth's hallowed record of 60.
1967 - Roberto Clemente's managerial career happened. Yes, he filled in as manager. He homered and tripled in a victory.
1978 - Gaylord Perry joined Walter Johnson and Bob Gibson as the only pitchers in MLB history with at least 3,000 strikeouts.
1995 - The Rockies clinched the first NL wild card spot and became the first MLB team to reach the postseason before its seventh season.
2004 - Ichiro Suzuki collects his 258th hit of the season, breaking George Sisler's 84 year old record for hits in a single season.
Quite a fun date, huh?
Maybe someone will hit four homers tonight or something.
