August 28, 1884 – Baseball pitcher “Smiling “Mickey Welsh made MLB history by setting a record for most consecutive batters struck out to begin a game. The hurler struck out the first 9 batters he faced. Welsh was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame for his spectacular talent displayed in how he played the game. During his 13 major league seasons, he posted 20 or more wins nine times, seven of them in consecutive seasons.
The pitcher success was attributed to his accuracy and timing with a wicked curveball, an excellent change-up, and a version of the screwball all thrown underhand. He is also known for becoming the third pitcher in history to win 300 MLB games and is credited as being the first pinch hitter in major league history when he batted for Hank O’Day and struck out in September of 1889.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
What Offense From the 1970s Would Best Fit In With Today’s Offenses?
Offensive football as we know it today employs a pass-first approach, and that is
(4 All-Time Weightlifting Greats) Paul Anderson, Tommy Kono, Ken Patera, and Naim Süleymanoğlu
Here’s a quick look at some of the accomplishments of four great weightlifters from
College Sports Betting Scandals in History
Today, over 30 states have legalized online sports betting, all with college sports teams,
Paddy Driscoll’s Almost Perfect Season
Back at the beginning of the National Football League in 1920, one of the
Historical Sporting Events That Helped Shape the Sports Betting Industry
The sports betting industry is massive. A multi-billion-dollar industry. So big, in fact, that
How Gambling Grew Closer To Sports in the USA — A Historical Overview
The intertwining of gambling and sports in the United States has a rich and
Top Five Matches in Table Tennis History
“Ping Pong” has a rich and fascinating history that is over a century old.
John Davis: An American Weightlifting Legend
When I first started competing in Olympic Weightlifting in 1981, I wanted to learn