This Day in Baseball History

1912 - Tigers' Cobb suspended after brawl with fan

Detroit Tigers center fielder Ty Cobb charges into the stands at Hilltop Park during a contest with the New York Highlanders to attack Claude Lueker, a heckler who had recently lost a hand -- and several fingers on his other hand -- in an industrial accident.

Lueker, a Tammany Hall page, had verbally abused Cobb in the past, and was described in the Hall-of-Famer's memoirs as a “a character who had ridden me hard in past New York appearances.”

Lueker's assault grew increasingly vile as the game progressed, at one point accusing Cobb's mother of having relations with a black man, a decidedly loaded comment in segregated America. Finally, in the sixth inning, Cobb's patience exhausted and he leapt into the stands to attack Lueker, who was seated about 12 rows up.

Detroit's pugnacious star was merciless during his clash with Lueker, as Cobb began to kick and stomp the disabled fan amid protests from his fellow spectators.

“Cobb,” someone cried, “that man has no hands!”

“I don’t care if he has no feet!” he yelled.

Cobb was ejected from the game and suspended for 10 days by American League president Ban Johnson.

1989 - Cito takes charge for Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays fire manager Jimy Williams after a disappointing 12-24 start to the 1989 campaign, handing over managerial duties to hitting coach Cito Gaston, who only accepted the position at the behest of his players.

"When I was offered the job as manager, I didn't want it," Gaston told Ebony Magazine. "I was happy working as the team's hitting instructor. The only reason I took the job was because a lot of the players just came out and asked me to do it."

The Blue Jays thrived under Gaston's stewardship, compiling a 77-49 record throughout the remainder of the 1989 season to earn just the second postseason berth in franchise history. 

Though the Oakland Athletics ousted the Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series, the burgeoning dynasty would return to the postseason two seasons later before claiming consecutive World Series championships in 1992 and 1993.

Birthdays

1953 - George Brett
1967 - John Smoltz
1980 - Josh Beckett
1987 - Brian Dozier