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
How Pickleball Grew From Backyard Game to Global Phenomenon
Imagine you’re a kid tagging along with your parents, they just finished a game
How the Super Bowl Became America’s Biggest Betting Event
The Super Bowl began as a relatively niche event. It didn’t attract the enormous
A Brief History of Predicting Sports Outcomes
Pick any bar during a big game and you’ll hear the same sound: confidence.
How Tragic Stadium Accidents Led to Nationwide Safety Protocols
Have you ever paused during a thrilling game to consider the unseen safeguards keeping
How New England’s History Is Influencing Patriots Super Bowl Odds in 2026
Sportsbooks don’t price New England like a typical market. They price the Patriots with
Laws, Lines, and Leaps: The Evolution of Sports Gambling Culture
It’s been a wild ride for sports gambling, from back-alley bets to billion-dollar industries,
Super Bowl LX: A History-Making Super Bowl?
Once the Super Bowl game is done and dusted, there will be plenty of
Larry Csonka and Larry Brown – They Took a Licking but Kept on Ticking
In the 1970s, John Cameron Swayze would advertise Timex wristwatches with the slogan, “They