This Day in Braves History: Atlanta fires Billy Hitchcock
Braves Franchise History
1914: The Robins stop Grover Cleveland Alexander’s win streak at nine games, defeating the Phillies 2-1, behind Jeff Pfeffer. Alexander is done in by three Phillies errors. In front of a handful of fans, the pennant-winning Braves top the Giants, 7-1 in the first of two. Boston then beats Christy Mathewson for six runs in three innings, but the game ends in a 7-7 tie. For the second year in a row Matty (24-13) will finish with more victories than walks (23).
1916: In the opener of a doubleheader, Giants pitcher Rube Benton takes a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Braves 1B Ed Konetchy repeats his performance of two days ago by lacing a hit, the only Boston safety. Benton wins the one-hitter, 4-0, for New York’s record 26th win in a row. Boston then wins the second game, 8-3, behind Lefty Tyler to snap the historic streak. Jeff Tesreau, in relief of Slim Sallee, is ineffective.
1933: With the visiting Phillies leading 1-0 in the fourth, Boston’s Wally Berger clouts a grand slam and the Braves hold on to win, clinching a fourth place finish. It is Boston’s highest finish in 14 years.
1956: Red Schoendienst of the NY Giants gets the 2,000th hit of his career, but the Giants lose 4-2 to the Braves.
1967: The Braves fire manager Billy Hitchcock after a 77-82 finish.
1969: With a 3-2 win over the Reds, the Braves clinch the first ever National League West division title.
1979: The Niekro brothers each win their 21st game and tie for the National League lead in wins. Phil Niekro wins for the Braves, 7-2, over the Reds, while Houston’s Joe Niekro tops the Dodgers, 3-2.
1983: The Dodgers beat the Giants, 4-3, and the Padres beat the Braves, 3-2, giving Los Angeles the National League West title. Orel Hershiser pitched the final two innings in relief of Fernando Valenzuela to record his first career save.
1997: Atlanta scores single runs in the first and second innings and Greg Maddux makes them stand up as the Braves hold off the Astros, 2-1, to take a 1-0 lead in their playoff series.
1998: In the first game of their NLDS series, the Braves defeat the Cubs, 7-1, as Michael Tucker and Ryan Klesko homer to back a good performance by John
2012: Kris Medlen sets a new major league record as, for the 23rd consecutive time, the Braves are
winners in a game he has started. The Braves defeat the Mets, 6-2, and Medlen improves to 10-1 on the season, his only defeat having come in relief. The previous record of 22 was shared by Hall of Famers Carl Hubbell and Whitey Ford
2020: In the National League, for the first time a game remains scoreless for 11 or more innings as the only run in the opening game between the Reds and the Braves comes in the bottom of the 13th inning. Freddie Freeman drives in Cristian Pache with a single off Amir Garrett, long after a thrilling early duel between starting pitchers Max Fried and Trevor Bauer.
