Back in Time: July 28

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jul 28, 2010

Back in Time: July 28

Pumpsie Green

After mysteriously disappearing off the team bus in New York two days ago with teammate Gene Conley to use the rest room, infielder Pumpsie Green (pictured here with Sharon Robinson, daughter of Jackie Robinson) returns to the Red Sox and is fined.

Olympic Games

The Olympic Games Opening Ceremony take place in Los Angeles.

Dennis Martinez

Expos' Dennis Martinez pitches a perfect game, defeating Los Angeles 2-0 at Dodger Stadium.

Vince Coleman

Vince Coleman's major league recording-setting consecutive stolen base streak ends at 50 as Expos' backstop Nelson Santovenia nails him trying to swipe second base. The Cardinal speedster surpassed the previous record of 38 established by Davey Lopes of the Dodgers in 1975.

Kenny Rogers

Beating the Angels, 4-0, Rangers' southpaw Kenny Rogers becomes the first American League lefty to pitch a perfect game.

1997

Mark Messier signs a three-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

Melvin Mora

Orioles outfielder Melvin Mora's wife, Gisel, gives birth to quintuplets (three boys and two girls).

Ozzie Smith

During his induction speech at the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Cooperstown, with the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow playing in the background and a copy of 'The Wizard of Oz' in his hands, Ozzie Smith compares his baseball career to Dorothy's away trip from Kansas. Citing the recipe for his success during his 19-year career with Cardinals and Padres, the 47-year-old tells the crowd he had the mind to dream, which the Scarecrow cherished, a heart to believe, which the Tin Man wanted, and courage, which the Lion lacked, in order to persevere.

Born on this Day

Bill Bradley (1943) Elena Novikova (1947) Vida Blue (1949) Bruce Wilkerson (1964) Garth Snow (1969) Frank Lickliter (1969) Corey Raymond (1969) Steve Staios (1973) Aki Berg (1977) Zach Parise (1984) DeMeco Ryans (1984)