RIP Stan "The Man" Musial

This Day in Sports History - 12/31/1972

Roberto Clemente dies when the chartered DC-& on which he is traveling crashes into the Atlantic Ocean one mile from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is 38. The plane is carrying relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. During his stellar 18-year career, all with the Pirates, Clemente batted .317 and collected exactly 3,000 hits. He won four betting titles, led the NL in hits twice, was named to 12 All-Star teams, and won 12 Gold Gloves. He was also the NL MVP in 1966 and the World Series MVP in 1971. He will be elected posthumously to the Hall of Fame in 1973.

Happy Birthday Ozzie Smith

Happy Birthday Dennis Eckersley

This Day in Sports History - 4/23/1952

In his first major league at-bat, New York Giants pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm hits a home run to help his club to a 9-5 win over the Boston Braves at the Polo Grounds. It is struck in the fourth inning off Dick Hoover. On the mound, Wilhelm pitches 5.1 innings of relief and allows two runs. He is a 29 year old rookie who finally reaches the majors after bouncing around the minors since 1942. During the 1952 season, Wilhelm will compile a 15-3 record and a league-leading 2.43 ERA in 71 games, all in relief, and 159.1 innings. With a knuckleball as his primary pitch, Wilhelm lasts in the majors until 1972 and plays his last game two weeks shy of his 50th birthday. He pitches in 1,070 career games and holds the all-time record in the category from 1968 through 1998. However, Wilhelm will never hit another home run in the majors in 432 at bats. His career batting average is .088. Wilhelm will be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985.

RIP Gary Carter

Gary Carter passed away on Thursday at the age of 57. He was an 11-time All-Star and a great teammate. Here is his HOF biography:

Happy Birthday Hank Greenberg

RIP Harmon Killebrew