July 19, 1982, 22-year-old Tony Gwynn makes his major league debut for the San Diego Padres. In a harbinger of things to come, the future National League batting champion collects two hits against the Philadelphia Phillies. Gwynn, a seven-time batting champion, will play his entire career with the Padres before announcing his retirement in 2001.
The original Pine Tar bat - July 19, 1975, New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson is ruled out for using an illegal bat that has too much pine tar. The umpire’s ruling, which is based on the pine tar exceeding the 18-inch limit, negates Munson’s first inning RBI single against the Minnesota Twins.
July 19, 1960, future Hall of Famer Juan Marichal makes his major league debut for the San Francisco Giants. Marichal pitches a no-hitter until the seventh and winds up with a one-hit, 2-0 victory over the Phillies. Marichal will enjoy a 16-year career with the Giants, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
July 19, 1910, Cy Young of the Cleveland Spiders wins the 500th game of his career. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer defeats Washington, 5-4, in 11 innings. Young will finish with an all-time record of 511 victories. A ball from that game is in the Hall of Fame collections.
July 19, 1897, Honus Wagner made his big league debut with the Louisville Colonels. The Flying Dutchman won eight batting titles in his career, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1936. He still is considered the games best shortstop.
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