AUGUST 15, 1951
With one out in the top of the eighth inning and a runner on third base in a 1-1 tied game‚ Willie Mays, running a full speed, makes an incredible catch of Carl Furillo’s drive to deep centerfield. After grabbing the ball, the rookie outfielder turns counterclockwise and throws a perfect strike to home to nail a surprised Billy Cox at home to complete the double play, and some believe, the catch, in the eventual Giants’ 3-1 Polo Grounds victory over the Dodgers, is the impetus for the beginning of the team’s incredible comeback from an 11.5 game deficit to win the National League pennant. (Nationalpastime.com)

AUGUST 11, 1951
Brooklyn manager Chuck Dressen famously declared, “The Giants is dead!” with the Dodgers holding a 13 1⁄2-game lead over the Giants as late as August 11.

AUGUST 10, 1889
At the Seventh Street Park in Indianapolis, future 300 game winner Mickey Welch becomes the first pinch hitter in major league history. Although the Giants right-handed pitcher strikes out in his historic plate appearance, New York prevails beating the Hoosiers, 9-6.(Nationalpastime.com)

AUGUST 1, 1933
Giants’ hurler Carl Hubbell sets a National League record for consecutive scoreless innings with 45 1/3 breaking the 1908 mark of Ed Ruelbach.(Nationalpastime.com)

AUGUST 1, 1945
At the Polo Grounds, Mel Ott hits his historic 500th career home run off Braves’ hurler Johnny Hutchings in the Giants’ 9-2 victory over Boston. Joining Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx, ‘Master Melvin’ becomes the third major leaguer to accomplish this career milestone. (Nationalpastime.com)

July 29, 1911
With nine stolen bases at Robison Field in St. Louis, the Giants establish a franchise record. During the 8-0 rout of the Redbirds, eight different New York players contribute to the record and seven of the nine steals are off Cardinals backstop Jack Bliss. (Nationalpastime.com)

July 28, 1890
Beating Pittsburgh, 4-2, Giants hurler Mickey Welch joins Pud Galvin and Cy Young becoming baseball’s third hurler to record his 300th victory. The 31-year old Brooklyn native will win only seven more games before ending his 13-year career next season. (Nationalpastime.com)

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)