4/21/2007

Baseball History -- April 21

Complete entry for April 21 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entries:
2003
Minor league pitcher Jae Kuk Ryu‚ 20‚ knocks an osprey from its perch at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach before a game in the Class A Florida State League. The bird‚ nicknamed "Ozzy'" by fans‚ is blinded in its right eye and dies six days later. Following public outcry over the mascot incident‚ the Cubs will demote Ryu to the Lansing Lugnuts of the lower-level Midwest League. He is later promoted to the Double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx. After the season Ryu will be sentenced to serve 100 hours of public service for his bird assault.

I did not know that the osprey had a nickname. Somehow, that makes this story even more odd.
2002
Tulsa Driller manager Tim Ireland is ejected in a Texas League game for arguing about organ music at Rich Winder Field in Little Rock‚ Arkansas. Against the Travelers Ireland becomes irate when organist Rich Pharris starts playing "I've Been Working on the Railroad" while Trent Durrington bats in the 6th. Twice‚ Durrington‚ distracted by the music‚ tries to call time‚ but umpire Jason Markley refuses. Durrington‚ an Australian‚ yesterday was greeted at the plate by "Tie Me Kangaroo Down‚ Boy.'' He asked Pharris to replace the song with "anything else.'' Ireland expresses his irritation to umpire Markley who tosses him‚ but orders Pharris to play only between innings. As Ireland leaves the field‚ Pharris plays "Happy Trails."

Never complain. It only gets worse.
1997
P Ryan Franklin of the Mariners' Double-A Memphis farm team hurls a 7-inning no-hitter in the 1st game of a doubleheader against Carolina. In Franklin's last game on April 13‚ he hurled the first 6 innings of a combined no-hitter against Chattanooga.

Ryan Franklin, Appleton Foxes 1994.

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