iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

9/6/1912: In a battle of aces, Smoky Joe Wood out-duels Walter Johnson, blanking the Senators 1-0. Wood finished his 1912 campaign with 10 shutouts. There have been nine player shutouts recorded among major league pitchers in 2026.

Red Sox hurler Smoky Joe Wood, warming up. Circa 1912.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

8/23/1936: 17 year-old Bob Feller makes his first major league start, going the distance while notching 15 strikeouts. The Heater from Van Meter would record four complete games with 10 or more strikeouts before turning 18. In 2026, 23 MLB clubs do not feature a pitcher with a complete game.

17 year-old Cleveland hurler Bob Feller poses in the dugout.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

08/15/1916: Babe Ruth tosses a 13-inning shutout for the Boston Red Sox, with the contest concluding at a tidy 2 hours and 37 minutes. In 2026, 9-inning major league games have averaged 2 hours and 41 minutes (per Baseball Reference).

Box score for the August 15, 1916 game featuring the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Nationals.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

7/25/1968: Cardinals ace Bob Gibson records his 11th straight victory (dating back to June 2nd), blanking the Phillies in a complete game effort. In the 2026 major league season, just seven teams feature a pitcher with 11 or more wins.

Bob Gibson, donning a home uniform, enters his windup. Circa 1968.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

7/11/1985: 38 year-old Nolan Ryan records his 4000th major league strikeout — he’ll rack up another 1714 before calling it a career, a total that would rank 14th among active pitchers.

Nolan Ryan delivers a pitch for the Houston Astros. Circa 1985.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

"Paige was the best pitcher I ever saw." - Bob Feller “After I got that hit off Satchel, I knew I was ready for the big leagues." - Joe DiMaggio "Satch was the greatest pitcher in baseball." - Ted Williams Hall of Fame hurler Leroy “Satchel” Paige was born on this day in 1906.

Four photos of Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Most strikeouts recorded in a complete game shutout — Milwaukee Brewers franchise history: 15 - Jacob Misiorowski (6/12/2026) 12 - Yovani Gallardo (6/24/2010) 12 - Juan Nieves (7/13/1986) 11 - CC Sabathia (8/31/2008) 11 - Marty Pattin (4/29/1969)

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Dating back to August 27th of 2025, a span of 14 starts, Shohei Ohtani has posted an earned run average of 0.67 with 94 strikeouts. He is the first pitcher in Dodgers franchise history with 90 or more strikeouts and an ERA under 0.70 over a 14-game span.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

AL/NL pitchers, in a given month, to record at least 50 strikeouts with an earned run average below 0.30 — since 1913 (earned run official in both leagues): • Nolan Ryan (May, 1984) • Jacob Misiorowski (May, 2026) That’s it. That’s the list.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

5/31/1927: Jimmie Foxx hits his first major league home run; he’d belt 533 more before calling it a career. Double X set an Athletics franchise record for single season home runs with 58 in 1932; his 50 long balls in 1938 remain most for a right-handed Red Sox batter.

Jimmie Foxx with the Philadelphia Athletics. Circa 1932.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

5/23/1926: Hack Wilson blasts a home run off the Wrigley Field scoreboard en route to a Cubs victory. Wilson would be arrested that night for violating the Prohibition Act. From 1926 until the prohibition era ended in 1933, Wilson led the National League in home runs with 222.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

"They throw the ball, I hit it. They hit the ball, I catch it." "I don't compare 'em, I just catch 'em." The inimitable Willie Mays was born on this day in 1931.

Mays’ iconic basket catch in the 1954 World Series.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

416 - total extra-base hits recorded by Babe Ruth from 1921-1925. 416 - total extra-base hits recorded by Rogers Hornsby from 1921-1925. Over that span Hornsby posted a .402 batting average and bested the Bambino in RBI (598 to 585). Rajah was born on this day in 1896.

Rogers Hornsby shaking hands with Babe Ruth during the 1926 World Series.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

4/26/1990: Nolan Ryan one-hits the White Sox while striking out 16 batters. Less than two months later he’d no-hit Oakland, recording 14 strikeouts in his effort… at the age of 43.

Wrangler Jeans advertisement featuring Nolan Ryan with the caption “OK, so he’s 43 and he pitches no-hitters. He still puts his jeans on one leg at a time.”

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

4/23/1989: 42 year-old Nolan Ryan authors a complete game with 12 strikeouts against the Blue Jays. Since 1901, there have been 13 complete games with ten or more strikeouts recorded by a pitcher at the age of 42 or older — the Ryan Express accounts for all of them.

A hyper-focused Nolan Ryan rears back. Circa 1989.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Ted Williams was one of ten future Hall of Fame players to take the field at Yankee Stadium on this day in 1939 (his major league debut). The other nine: • Joe Cronin • Bill Dickey • Joe DiMaggio • Bobby Doerr • Jimmie Foxx • Lou Gehrig • Joe Gordon • Lefty Grove • Red Ruffing

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

4/18/1880: Hall of Famer Sam Crawford is born. Wahoo Sam belted an MLB-record 309 career triples — a player making their big league debut in 2026 could record 15 triples for 20 seasons and not eclipse Crawford’s mark. Corbin Carroll (17; 2025) is the only active player with at least one such season.

Sam Crawford refines his tools of the trade in his basement during the off-season doldrums.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

4/18/1970: Nolan Ryan records his first of 61 career shutouts, striking out 15 in the process. The Ryan Express would notch a total of 43 shutouts with 10 or more strikeouts; since 1901, Randy Johnson (27) and Roger Clemens (22) are the only other pitchers with 20 or more.

Nolan Ryan poses for the camera. Circa 1970.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

4/17/1955: Roberto Clemente makes his major league debut against the Brooklyn Dodgers. He plays in both games of a doubleheader, recording the first three of his 3000 career hits.

Photo of Roberto Clemente, circa 1955. A quote attributed to the Great One is included: “I am convinced that God wanted me to be a baseball player. I was born to play baseball.”

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

4/15/1947: Jackie Robinson leaves Ebbets Field after debuting for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He would claim Rookie of the Year honors at season’s end; the beginning of a Hall of Fame career both on and off the field. Nearly 80 years later, we continue to honor his distinguished legacy.

Jackie Robinson in front of Ebbets Field on the day of his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Lowest WHIP among pitchers in major league history (min 2000 IP): • 0.968 - Addie Joss* • 1.000 - Ed Walsh • 1.018 - Clayton Kershaw • 1.043 - John Ward • 1.044 - Chris Sale+ • 1.054 - Pedro Martínez • 1.058 - Christy Mathewson • 1.061 - Walter Johnson * Born on this day in 1880 + Active

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

4/12/1975: Dennis Eckersley makes his major league debut in a relief effort against the Milwaukee Brewers, recording his first strikeout (against Robin Yount). Eck would notch 19 punchouts against Yount in his career — no batter struck out more against the Hall of Famer.

Dennis Eckersley (sans mustache) with the Cleveland Indians. Circa 1975.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

4/11/1961: A former basketball scholarship student from the University of Notre Dame makes his big league debut for the Boston Red Sox. Things work out.

Carl Yastrzemski at the University of Notre Dame. Late 1950s.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

4/11/1998: Pedro Martínez makes his Fenway Park debut, spinning a two-hit shutout against the Mariners while striking out 12. Martínez’s career 2.74 ERA, 0.985 WHIP, 10.91 K/9 and .212 BAA at Fenway rank lowest among all pitchers with 500 or more innings recorded at the park since 1920.

Hall of Fame hurler Pedro Martínez pitching for the Boston Red Sox. Circa 1998.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

MLB rankings since 2021: OPS+ (min 2000 PA) 1) Aaron Judge (195) 2) SHOHEI OHTANI (171) 3) Juan Soto (163) 4) Yordan Alvarez (163) ERA+ (min 475 IP) 1) SHOHEI OHTANI (154) 2) Max Fried (148) 3) Zack Wheeler (145) 4) Brandon Woodruff (145) Ohtani (236) trails only Judge (252) in home runs.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

4/6/1971: Juan Marichal goes the distance, recording one of six Opening Day complete games in his Hall of Fame career (tied for most among MLB pitchers since 1961). No major league pitcher has more than five complete games since 2023.

Juan Marichal showcasing his patented leg kick.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

4/6/1971: 30 days prior to his 40th birthday, Willie Mays becomes the oldest Giant since at least 1901 to hit a home run on Opening Day. In 2004 his godson comes close (39 years and 256 days) when he belts an Opening Day dinger.

Photo of Barry Bonds (an active player at the time) with his godfather, Willie Mays.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

4/6/1970: 36 year-old rookie manager Sparky Anderson picks up his first big league victory — 101 more will follow, along with a National League pennant. Pretty solid debut.

Reds manager Sparky Anderson in the dugout at Riverfront Stadium.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

4/5/1993: Greg Maddux makes his first start for the Atlanta Braves, one of 55 career scoreless games with at least eight innings pitched (a span of 740 starts). Since 2002, the Colorado Rockies have recorded 51 such player games (a span of 3795 starts).

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

A player making their MLB debut in 2026 could record 50 doubles over the next 15 seasons and still be 42 short of tying Tris Speaker’s record (792). No active player has more than one season with at least 50 doubles (there are 7 such seasons combined). The Grey Eagle was born on this day in 1888.

Tris Speaker takes a hack at the plate. Circa 1912.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Most complete games since 2022: 11 - Miami Marlins 11 - Philadelphia Phillies 10 - Sandy Alcantara* 10 - Houston Astros 8 - San Francisco Giants 8 - Boston Red Sox 8 - Framber Valdez *missed the 2024 season due to injury

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Most home runs through the first six games of a given season — Athletics franchise history: 5 - Shea Langeliers (2026)* 5 - Mark McGwire (1992) 4 - Khris Davis (2019) 4 - Jimmie Foxx (1932) * including today

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Born on this day was Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro. Knucksie would log 3490.1 innings and 145 complete games…from the age of 35 on. Consider: • No MLB pitcher has 3400 or more career innings pitched since 2007. • No MLB team features more than 140 complete games since 2000.

Hall of Fame knuckleballer Phil Niekro - from the windup - donning the powder blue for Atlanta.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

3/30/1966: Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax settle on financial terms for the 1966 season — the Hall of Fame duo combine for 81 starts and 596.2 innings. In 2025 the top five White Sox pitchers (in terms of games started) combined for *checks notes* 594 innings pitched.

Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax warm up at Dodger Stadium.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Shea Langeliers’ seven multi-home run games are most among catchers in Athletics franchise history, despite ranking 16th in games played at the position.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Youngest batters in Red Sox franchise history to record three or more hits on Opening Day: • Bobby Doerr (19 years 13 days) • Tony Conigliaro (20y 95d) • Roman Anthony (21y 317d)* • Milt Bolling (22y 250d) • Jose Iglesias (23y 86d) • Ted Williams (23y 227d) • Rico Petrocelli (23y 289d) * today

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Jacob Misiorowski (23 years 357 days) joins a distinguished list of pitchers — younger than 24 — to record 10 or more strikeouts on Opening Day (AL/NL history).

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

In his 2025 campaign Paul Skenes allowed three or fewer earned runs in the months of July (2) and September (3), amassing 47.2 innings pitched in those games.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

3/18/1953: National League owners vote unanimously to allow the Boston Braves to move to Milwaukee. County Stadium will draw 1.8M fans in its first year as home to the Braves (an NL best); Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field will rank a distant second with 1.1M through the turnstiles.

Interior look at Milwaukee County Stadium prior to opening day in 1953.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

3/16/1908: 34 year-old Honus Wagner announces his retirement. It doesn’t last, as the Flying Dutchman plays another 10 big league seasons — over that span Wagner tallies 113 triples (4843 AB). The Arizona Diamondbacks (119; 16438 AB) are the only MLB team with more three-baggers since 2023.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Red Sox batters in their age 28 through 31 seasons with at least 20 bWAR, 200 extra-base hits and an on-base percentage ≥ .400: • Jimmie Foxx • Ted Williams • Carl Yastrzemski • Wade Boggs • David Ortiz • Kevin Youkilis 🎂 🎂 Happy 47th Birthday!

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Reposted by Austin J. Eich

Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Gaylord Perry is the only pitcher in MLB history with exactly 314 wins. Reggie Smith is the only hitter in MLB history with exactly 314 home runs. In his career against Perry, Smith recorded: • 3 doubles • 1 home run • 4 RBI Happy Pi Day to those who observe.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Born on this day in 1942 was Hall of Famer Dick Allen. The Wampum Walloper was a perennial leader among major league players in both swagger and general badassery.

Hall of Famer Dick Allen juggling baseballs while smoking a cigarette in the White Sox dugout.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Infielders in major league history with at least 300 HR, 500 2B and 1500 RBI — fewer than 2800 career games played: • Lou Gehrig (2164 GP) • Rogers Hornsby (2259) • Jeff Kent (2298) 🎂 • Chipper Jones (2499) • George Brett (2707) • Tony Pérez (2777) 🎂 Happy 58th Birthday!

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

3/1/1954: Ted Williams fractures his collarbone during the first day of Spring Training. The undaunted slugger will make his first starts that season in a May 16th doubleheader, going 8 for 9 with 2 HR and 7 RBI. That season Ted would lead the league in walks, OBP, SLG + OPS…because Ted.

Ted Williams in a cast for his broken collarbone.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Player A/Player B: 2B - 208/203 3B - 90/50 HR - 38/77 RBI - 623/728 BA - .358/.350 OBP - .407/.434 SLG - .502/.524 Player A is Ty Cobb (first 911 games). Player B is Jud Wilson (911 career games). Both men served in World War I. Wilson was born on this day in 1894.

Hall of Famer Jud Wilson with the Homestead Grays.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Born in Elba, Nebraska on this day in 1887 was Hall of Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander. In his storied career Old Pete recorded 122 complete games with ZERO walks, most in AL/NL history. 92 complete games have been recorded among all MLB pitchers since 2023.

Hall of Fame hurler Grover Cleveland Alexander loosens up at Cubs spring training camp in California. Circa 1922.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Over a span of 12 starts from 6/2 - 7/30 of 1968, Bob Gibson recorded 12 complete games, 12 wins, and 8 shutouts. Since 2022, no major league team has more than 11 complete games or 6 shutouts. In 2025, 12 MLB teams did not feature a pitcher with 12 or more wins.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

2/21/1986: Rollie Fingers turns down a spring training invitation from the Reds, stating he will not part with his iconic mustache due to team policy. The audacity…

Rollie Fingers donning an Oakland Athletics cap and sporting his signature mustache.

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Austin J. Eich @austineich.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

2/21/1969: Hall of Fame outfielder Ted Williams signs on to manage the Washington Senators and suddenly there’s quite the cache of coaching star power in our nation’s capital.

Hall of Fame slugger Ted Williams and Redskins head coach Vince Lombardi pose for the camera.

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