August 25 – Dwight Gooden youngest to win 20 - This Day in Baseball - The Daily Rewind

Vintage Baseball Reflections

• August 25, 1985, Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets becomes the youngest pitcher to win 20 games in a season. At 20 years, nine months, and nine days - one month younger than Bob Feller was when he won 20 games in 1939 - Gooden defeats the San Diego Padres, 9-3. Gooden will not follow Feller into the Hall of Fame but had 194 career wins and was part of two world champions, even though in 12 post season appereances he never won a game.

Holy Cow!

• August 25, 1956, the New York Yankees release longtime shortstop Phil Rizzuto, ending his playing career. The Yankees cut Rizzuto in order to make room for another Hall of Famer - outfielder Enos Slaughter. In 1957, the Yankees will add Rizzuto to their broadcasting crew. Four years earlier on this date Rizzuto was involved in controversional play, In a 1-0 win over the Yankees, Virgil Trucks of the Tigers pitches his second no-hitter of the season. The no-hitter is in doubt for three innings when a play made by shortstop Johnny Pesky in the third inning is under debate. Rizzuto's grounder is ruled an error, then a hit, before it is switched back to an error.

A pair of dazzling rookies:

• 1997 - Boston's Nomar Garciaparra singles twice to extend his hitting streak to 27 games, breaking the American League rookie record set by Guy Curtright of the Chicago White Sox in 1943. The Red Sox come back to beat the Mariners 9-8. Garciaparra's streak will extend to thirty games.
• 1986 - Oakland A's third baseman Mark McGwire hits his first major league home run, a 450-foot blast to center field off Walt Terrell, as Oakland beats Detroit 8-4 at Tiger Stadium.

Born on this day:

• Future Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers is born in Steubenville, Ohio. After a brilliant amateur career that includes American Legion “Player of the Year” honors, Fingers will make his major league debut with the Oakland A’s in 1968 and will become one of baseball's top relievers.

Historical Recap performed by:

Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says

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