This Day in Baseball History

1989 - Phillies' Schmidt retires at age 39

Philadelphia Phillies icon Mike Schmidt unexpectedly announces his retirement less than two months into the 1989 campaign after stumbling to a .203/.297/.372 line through his first 42 games of the season.

The 39-year-old third baseman finished his illustrious career with 548 home runs, the 15th-most in history, along with 12 All-Star appearances and three National League Most Valuable Player awards.

Schmidt, who spent his entire 18-year career with the Phillies, was renowned for his stoic demeanor on the field, but the Hall-of-Famer was overcome with emotion as he announced his retirement from baseball.

A second-round selection in the 1971 draft, Schmidt has his No. 20 retired by the Phillies shortly after his retirement.

1993 - Rangers' Canseco hurls ill-fated frame in Boston

Beset by a 14-run deficit against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Texas Rangers manager Kevin Kennedy summons outfielder Jose Canseco to throw the eighth inning in an effort to spare his weary bullpen.

“I’d told my guys in bullpen that if the situation came up like it did today, I’d use Jose,” Kennedy told the Boston Globe. “Why not? He’s got a good arm. He was a pitcher in high school.”

Kennedy's decision proved disastrous, as Canseco suffered an elbow injury in his lone inning of work - he also yielded three runs on two hits and three walks - precipitating season-ending Tommy John surgery.

“I don’t feel good about it,” Kennedy said of his decision. “I’ll take any heat you want to throw my way.”

Birthdays

1962 - Eric Davis
1976 - Jerry Hairston Jr.
1990 - Trevor Rosenthal