July 24, 1951
At cavernous Forbes Field, Giants’ outfielder Willie Mays, unable to reach across his body to make a catch with his glove of Rocky Nelson’s sinking 457-foot blast to deep center, sticks out his bare right hand and grabs the ball on a full gallop to make the incredible final out of the inning. Venerable Branch Rickey, Pittsburgh’s general manager, sends a note to the New York dugout during the game to tell the 20-year rookie, “That was the finest catch I have ever seen, and the finest I ever expect to see”. (Nationalpastime.com)

July 21, 1947
Frankie Frisch (.316) becomes the first switch-hitter inducted into the Hall of Fame. The ‘Fordham Flash’ is joined by Carl Hubbell, Mickey Cochrane, and Lefty Grove as the newest members to be enshrined at Cooperstown. (Nationalpastime.com)

July 20, 1951
In a game against the Reds with all-star hurler Ewell Blackwell on the mound, the Giants, for the first time, employ their infamous scheme for stealing catcher’s signs using a telescope positioned in the centerfield clubhouse. The ‘Jints’ beat Cincinnati, 11-6, and New York will win 22 of the remaining 27 games at the Polo Grounds overtaking the Dodgers to win National League pennant.
(Nationalpastime.com)

July 17, 1936
Carl Hubbell’s 24-game winning streak (spanning two seasons) begins with a 6-0 victory over the Pirates. ‘King Karl’ will not be defeated until Memorial Day next season. (Nationalpastime.com)

July 16, 1902
At Cincinnati’s Palace of the Fans, John McGraw begins his 30-year tenure as manager of the New York Giants. ‘Little Napoleon’, the team’s third skipper of the season, loses his debut to the Reds, 7-2. (Nationalpastime.com)

July 16, 1948
Former Dodger manager Leo Durocher becomes the Giants’ manager replacing the popular Mel Ott. Burt Shotton takes ‘The Lip’s’ place in Brooklyn. (Nationalpastime.com)

July 15, 1901
Christy Mathewson becomes the first rookie to throw a no-hitter in baseball history in the modern era. The 20-year old right-hander holds the Cardinals hitless in the Giants 5-0 victory at Robison Field in St. Louis.(Nationalpastime.com)

July 15, 1939
National League president Ford Frick orders two-foot screens affixed inside all foul poles after Billy Jurges of the Giants and umpire George Magerkurth spit at each other after a foul ball call down the left field line is disputed at the Polo Grounds. The American League will soon follow the Senior Circuit lead and will also install foul ball screens.(Nationalpastime.com)

July 10, 1934
At the All-Star Game played in New York’s Polo Grounds, Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell faces a starting lineup comprised of nine eventual Hall of Famers. ‘King Carl’ is up to the unique occurrence in baseball history when he fans Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin, in a row.(Nationalpastime.com)