| Date |
Event Description |
| 02-19-1946 |
Danny Gardella is the first player to leave the major leagues to join the Mexican League. |
| 04-18-1946 |
Jackie Robinson plays his first game in the International League. |
| 05-28-1946 |
The Senators beat the Yankees 2-1 in the first Yankee Stadium night game. |
| 05-30-1946 |
Bama Rowell is the first player at Ebbets Field to smash the Bulova clock, which becomes the inspiration for a scene in 'The Natural.' |
| 06-09-1946 |
Mel Ott is the first manager to be thrown out of both games of a doubleheader. |
| 07-14-1946 |
Lou Boudreau sets a major league mark and is the first player with five extra-base hits in one game. |
| 07-14-1946 |
Lou Boudreau is the first manager to shift his players to the right to combat Ted Williams. |
| 08-09-1946 |
For the first time in both leagues, all games are scheduled for play at night and each game is actually played (at night). |
| 1947 |
Bill Voiselle, from a town named Ninety-Six, is the first player to wear his hometown name as a uniform number. |
| 1947 |
Johnny Mize became the first player in history to hit 50 or more home runs and strikeout less than 50 times in a season. |
| 04-15-1947 |
Jackie Robinson plays in his first major league game and is the first black player this century. |
| 05-01-1947 |
Cleveland plays their first full season in Municipal Stadium. |
| 06-13-1947 |
The first night game is played at Fenway Park and the Red Sox beat the White Sox 5-3. |
| 07-05-1947 |
Larry Doby is the first black American League player. |
| 07-08-1947 |
Spec Shea is the first rookie pitcher to win an All-Star game. |
| 07-08-1947 |
Schoolboy Rowe is the first player in an All-Star game, once from each league. |
| 08-21-1947 |
The first Little League World Series is played. |
| 08-26-1947 |
Dan Bankhead is the first black pitcher in the major leagues. |
| 09-17-1947 |
Jackie Robinson is the first player named Rookie of the Year. |
| 10-02-1947 |
Yogi Berra hits the first World Series pinch homer. |
| 04-16-1948 |
The first televised game in Chicago occurs on WGN-TV. |
| 06-15-1948 |
The first night game in Tigers' Briggs Stadium is played. |
| 06-30-1948 |
Bob Lemon is the first American League pitcher to throw a no-hitter at night. |
| 07-26-1948 |
The first showing of The Babe Ruth Story in New York premiers - Babe Ruth attends premier. |
| 08-13-1948 |
Satchel Paige pitched his first major league game and simultaneously earned his first major league shutout. |
| 03-01-1949 |
The Cardinals are the first team evicted by their own stadium. |
| 07-08-1949 |
The first time a black hitter and pitcher are matched up in a game: Hank Thompson versus Don Newcombe. |
| 08-27-1949 |
The Boston Braves outfielder Jeff Heath became the first player in Major League history to hit a ninth inning game-tying pinch-hit home run and then later win that game with an extra-inning walk-off home run. |
| 04-18-1950 |
The first opening day night game is played and the Cardinals defeat the Pirates 4-2. |
| 04-18-1950 |
President Truman is the first President to throw two first pitches - one left handed and one right handed. |
| 07-11-1950 |
The first All-Star game is broadcast on television. |
| 08-11-1950 |
Joe DiMaggio is benched for the first time in his career after going four for thirty-eight. |
| 08-19-1951 |
Eddie Gaedel is the first midget to play in a major league game. |
| 10-01-1951 |
The first coast-to-coast televised game hits the airwaves and the Dodgers beat the Giants 3-1. |
| 10-03-1951 |
The first uttering of Shot Heard Round the World occurs when Bobby Thomson hits a pennant winning home run. |
| 10-09-1951 |
Gil McDougald is the first rookie to hit a grand slam in a World Series game. |
| 11-18-1951 |
Chuck Connors is the first player to oppose the major league draft. |
| 04-23-1952 |
Hoyt Wilhelm wins his first game and hits his first home run which will be the only home run he hits in 1,070 games. |
| 09-29-1952 |
Stan Musial makes his first and last pitching appearance in relief. |
| 01-21-1953 |
Joe DiMaggio is passed over by the Hall Of Fame in his first year of eligibility. |
| 03-18-1953 |
After seventy-seven years, the Braves move and play their first games in Milwaukee. |
| 04-14-1953 |
Bill Bruton hits the first home run at Milwaukee's County Stadium. |
| 04-14-1953 |
Cleveland Indians righty Bob Lemon, versus the Chicago White Sox, became the first pitcher in Major League history to toss a shutout and and hit a home run in an Opening Day game (first in NL click here / see 2013). |
| 04-29-1953 |
Joe Adcock is the first player to homer in the Polo Grounds over the centerfield wall. |
| 08-23-1953 |
Phil Paine is the first ex-major league player to ever play in Japan. |
| 09-06-1953 |
Roy Campanella sets the major league record by becoming the first catcher with thirty-eight single season home runs. |
| 09-07-1953 |
Roy Campanella sets the major league record by becoming the first catcher with one-hundred twenty-five single season runs batted in. |
| 11-17-1953 |
The Browns change their name and the first appearance of the modern Baltimore Orioles occurs. |
| 03-29-1954 |
Phil Cavarretta is the first manager fired during spring training. |
| 04-15-1954 |
Clint Courtney hits the first home run in Memorial Stadium |
| 04-23-1954 |
Hank Aaron, the future all-time home run king, hits his first Major League home run. |
| 05-02-1954 |
Stan Musial is the first player to hit five home runs on the same day in a doubleheader. |
| 07-31-1954 |
Joe Adcock is the first and only player with eighteen total bases in one game. |
| 1954 |
The first rule not permitting opposing teams to leave their gloves on the playing field is instituted. |
| 04-12-1955 |
The Athletics play their first season in Kansas City. |
| 04-14-1955 |
Elston Howard is the first black New York Yankee player. |
| 09-05-1955 |
Sandy Koufax pitches his first game which is his first start, first win, and first shutout. |
| 10-04-1955 |
Brooklyn Dodgers win their first World Championship and Sandy Amoros makes one of the most memorable defensive catches in World Series history. |
| 04-28-1956 |
Frank Robinson, a 500 Home Runs Club member, hits his first major league home run. |
| 1956 |
The first season in the major leagues without a single player-manager. |
| 1956 |
Robin Roberts is the first pitcher to give up forty-six home runs in a single season. |
| 04-18-1956 |
Ed Rommell is the first umpire to wear glasses in a regular season game. |
| 05-30-1956 |
Mickey Mantle is almost the first player to hit a home run out of Yankee Stadium, missing by eighteen inches. |
| 10-08-1956 |
Don Larsen is the first pitcher to throw a perfect game in a World Series. |
| 11-21-1956 |
The first Cy Young Award is given to Don Newcombe. |
| 11-21-1956 |
Don Newcombe is the first player to win the Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards in the same season. |
| 1957 |
Warren Spahn is the first southpaw to win a Cy Young Award. |
| 01-04-1957 |
The Dodgers are the first team to purchase their own team airplane. |
| 06-13-1957 |
Ted Williams is the first American League player to have two three-home run games in a single season. |
| 08-17-1957 |
Richie Ashburn is the first batter to hit the same fan twice in the same at-bat with foul balls. |
| 03-11-1958 |
The first rule requiring American League players to wear batting helmets appears |
| 04-15-1958 |
The first game is played at Seals Stadium and the Giants defeat the Dodgers 8-0. |
| 06-02-1958 |
Brooks Robinson hits into his first triple play and will eventually set the major league record with four in a career. |
| 09-13-1958 |
Warren Spahn is the first left-handed pitcher with nine twenty win seasons. |
| 09-20-1958 |
The Orioles get their first no hitter in a rare start by Hoyt Wilhelm. |
| 05-26-1959 |
Harvey Haddix is the first pitcher to throw twelve perfect innings then lose the game in the thirteenth. |
| 07-21-1959 |
Pumpsie Green is the first black player on the Red Sox. |
| 1960 |
The first official crediting for a pitcher's saves is adopted. |
| 1960 |
Bill Veeck is the first owner to put a player names on the back of their uniforms. |
| 05-15-1960 |
Don Cardwell is the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in his first start after being traded. |
| 05-27-1960 |
Clint Courtney is the first catcher to use the knuckleball "big mitt". |
| Date |
Event Description |
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Famous Firsts in the Postwar Era
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