April 17th marks this day in Braves history.
In 1904, the Boston Beaneaters suffered a 9-0 loss against the Brooklyn Superbas. This is Brooklyn’s first Sunday home game. To avoid the Sunday Blue Laws, there is no admission fee, but fans must purchase scorecards to enter the grandstands and box seats. In Casey Stengel’s managerial debut in 1934, the Boston Braves defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 8-7. 1947: The Boston Braves lose 12-6 to the Dodgers at Ebbets Field. Jackie Robinson scores his first major league hit in the victory.
1971 – The Braves win 6-2 in Philadelphia thanks to rookie Earl Williams’ double and his first two major league home runs. 1988 – The Atlanta Braves defeated the Dodgers 3-1, ending a 10-game losing streak to begin the season. Zane Smith won for Atlanta. Sean Kazmar makes his first major league appearance since September 2008, pinch-hitting for the Braves. This is the longest period between appearances since Ralph Winegarner in 1949.
In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings defeated the Cincinnati Amateurs 24-15 in the first-ever professional baseball game. In 1892, the Cincinnati Reds defeated the St. Louis Browns 5-1 in the National League’s inaugural Sunday game. Mickey Mantle launches a home ball over the bleachers at Griffith Stadium in 1953. The blast went an estimated 565 feet.
1955 – The Pirates’ 20-year-old rookie Roberto Clemente makes his major league debut at Forbes Field. 1964 – Willie Stargell homered in the Pirates’ 4-3 victory over the Mets. This was New York’s first loss at Shea Stadium. 1976 – Mike Schmidt homered in four straight at-bats to help the Phillies overcome a 12-1 hole and win 18-16. 1983 – Nolan Ryan strikes out seven in a 6-3 victory over the Expos, becoming the second player in big league history to reach 3,500 career strikeouts.
In 2001, Barry Bonds became the 17th big league player and fourth Giant to reach 500 home runs. Gary Sheffield hits a pinch-hit home run at Citi Field in 2009, becoming the 25th member of the 500-home run club.