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
Did Ivan Abadjiev’s Bulgarian Weightlifting Team Really Beat The Soviets?
The Bulgarian Weightlifting team’s success began with the hiring of Ivan Abadjiev as head
The Chicago Cardinals Move to St. Louis!!! But Why? and When?
Any time a city loses a sports team franchise, it initiates years of debate
The Ultimate Recount of Super Bowl IX (Steelers vs. Vikings)
Today we have Super Bowl IX, which was held on January 12, 1975, at
Was Paddy Driscoll the First Superstar of the NFL?
As kids, we all looked up to our favorite athletic heroes. After all, they
The Ultimate Recount of Super Bowl VIII (Dolphins vs. Vikings)
Today we have Super Bowl VIII, between the defending Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins
The Amazing Search For Jackie Wallace (With Ted Jackson)
Jackie Wallace was an NFL star during the 1970s, playing for the Minnesota Vikings,
Was the Cowboys and Redskins’ Rivalry During the 1970s and 1980s One of the Best?
The Redskins-Cowboys rivalry of the 1970s and 1980s is etched in NFL history. The
What is the Longest Championship Drought in Professional Sports?
In honor of Super Bowl week, in this episode of “When Football Was Football,”