Carlos Baerga was a rising star in 1992 and only in his second full season with the Indians when on this day in beisbol, October 2, he set an American League record as the first second baseman to hit .300 with 200 hits, 20 home runs and 100 RBI. The Santurce, Puerto Rico native, 23, led a young Cleveland team that would soon become an American League powerhouse in batting average. He hit .312 and was second in home runs (20) and RBI (105) behind slugger Albert Belle. Also on this day: In 1969, Roberto Clemente missed out on winning his fifth

A national TV audience got to witness what San Diego fans had been enjoying all year on this day in beisbol, October 1, 2020. Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. turned in a clutch postseason performance, hitting two home runs in an 11-9 victory in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card series against the Cardinals. Teammate Wil Myers also slugged two homers, with Padres third baseman Manny Machado hitting another. Down 0-1, San Diego was facing elimination in the two-out-of-three series created for an extended field of playoff contenders during the COVID-shortened season. Tatis and Myers, who together accounted for

Cal Raleigh’s historic 2025 season — 60 home runs and counting, only the seventh player to reach that hallowed milestone — would be phenomenal even without the Mariners slugger being a full-time catcher for a playoff-caliber team. But within Raleigh’s remarkable performance is his breaking the record for most homers in a season by a player in the lineup as a backstop. That was last set on this day in beisbol, September 27, 2003 by Braves catcher Javy Lopez, who hit his 42nd round-tripper in a game against the Phillies. That broke the record set in 1996 by Mets backstop

Highly regarded for his defense behind the plate throughout his 20-year career, Benito Santiago also proved to be a pretty good-hitting catcher too. On this day in beisbol, September 30, 1987, the Padres backstop, just 22 years old and playing in his first full season, extended his hitting streak to 28 games, breaking the MLB record for rookies. The previous record holder was the Pirates’ Jimmy Williams, who had a 27-game hot streak way back in 1899. Santiago would go on to win NL Rookie of the Year and Silver Slugger awards in 1987 for his 18-homer, 79-RBI and .300

After missing a month because of a fractured bone in his wrist, Jose Ramirez returned to the Cleveland lineup in grand fashion on this day in béisbol in 2019, belting a grand slam and a three-run homer in an 11-0 win over the White Sox. The star third baseman slugged the salami in the first inning batting lefty, then followed that up in his next at-bat with the three-run dinger from the right side. Ramirez fractured his hamate bone in his right wrist in late August after fouling off a pitch in a game against the Royals. He was expected to

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, not especially known for his bat, hit his 41st double of the season to break the record for doubles by a backstop on this day in béisbol, September 18, 2013. The Puerto Rico native broke the record set by fellow St. Louis star Ted Simmons in 1978. Molina was one of three brothers who played in the majors. Older brothers Bengie and Jose were also catchers and the trio were active simultaneously from 2004 to 2010. But Yadier, widely considered a borderline Hall of Famer, proved to be the best all-around player of the three as

In what turned out to be his best power year, Jose Bautista set a Blue Jays franchise record with his 48th home run on this day in béisbol, September 17, 2010. The Toronto right fielder slammed the homer in the sixth inning of an 11-9 thriller in Boston that saw the Red Sox battle back from a 10-2 score in the final innings but fall short. “Joey Bats,” of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic passed the club record of 47 set by slugger George Bell in 1987. Bautista ended the season with a MLB-leading 54 homers and 351 total bases. He

It was a Rockie start that ended well. Jorge de la Rosa, a middle-of-the-rotation starter at best for the Colorado Rockies, had a barely .500 lifetime record as the 2009 season got underway — and it went downhill from there for the Monterrey, Mexico, native after he lost his first six decisions. But not for long, as the struggling southpaw, 28, somehow turned his season around. On this day in béisbol, Sept. 16, 2009, de la Rosa pitched a beauty against the San Francisco Giants, tossing eight shutout innings in a must-win for the Rockies. De la Rosa gave up just