April 28 in Baseball History — Milestones, Debuts, Births & Deaths | Sports History Archive

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This day in baseball ● On this day

April 28

The record for April 28 in baseball history — 5 milestones, 28 debuts, 9 final games, 52 births, 31 deaths and 1,147 games played.

Featured event · 1961

Warren Spahn's No-Hitter

Warren Spahn threw a no-hitter for the Milwaukee Braves against the San Francisco Giants on April 28, 1961, winning 1–0.

Apr 28, 1961San Francisco Giants @ Milwaukee Braves

Milestones · April 28

1930

The Independence Producers host the first night game in the history of Organized Baseball in Independence, Kansas.

The Independence Producers host the first night game in the history of Organized Baseball in Independence, Kansas.

1961

Warren Spahn's No-Hitter

Warren Spahn threw a no-hitter for the Milwaukee Braves against the San Francisco Giants on April 28, 1961, winning 1–0.

1999

Larry Walker's Three-Home-Run Game, 1999

Larry Walker hit three home runs for the Colorado Rockies against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 28, 1999.

2001

Geoff Jenkins's Three-Home-Run Game, 2001

Geoff Jenkins hit three home runs for the Milwaukee Brewers against the Montreal Expos on April 28, 2001.

2004

Steve Finley's Three-Home-Run Game, 2004

Steve Finley hit three home runs for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Chicago Cubs on April 28, 2004.

Major-league debuts · April 28

1873

John Farrow

John Farrow made a major-league debut on April 28, 1873.

1891

Theodore Breitenstein

Theodore Breitenstein made a major-league debut on April 28, 1891.

1911

Les Nunamaker

Les Nunamaker made a major-league debut on April 28, 1911.

1915

Leon Cadore

Leon Cadore made a major-league debut on April 28, 1915.

1927

Dick Coffman

Dick Coffman made a major-league debut on April 28, 1927.

1931

Dixie Walker

Dixie Walker made a major-league debut on April 28, 1931.

1934

Lew Riggs

Lew Riggs made a major-league debut on April 28, 1934.

1940

Clyde McCullough

Clyde McCullough made a major-league debut on April 28, 1940.

1946

Del Ennis

Del Ennis made a major-league debut on April 28, 1946.

1948

Ned Garver

Ned Garver made a major-league debut on April 28, 1948.

1950

Ernie Johnson

Ernie Johnson made a major-league debut on April 28, 1950.

1951

Bob Friend

Bob Friend made a major-league debut on April 28, 1951.

1953

Bob Oldis

Bob Oldis made a major-league debut on April 28, 1953.

1961

Jack Baldschun

Jack Baldschun made a major-league debut on April 28, 1961.

1984

Franklin Stubbs

Franklin Stubbs made a major-league debut on April 28, 1984.

1995

Mark Grudzielanek

Mark Grudzielanek made a major-league debut on April 28, 1995.

1995

Jason Schmidt

Jason Schmidt made a major-league debut on April 28, 1995.

1995

Steve Sparks

Steve Sparks made a major-league debut on April 28, 1995.

1995

Ron Villone

Ron Villone made a major-league debut on April 28, 1995.

1997

Derrek Lee

Derrek Lee made a major-league debut on April 28, 1997.

2002

Ryan Langerhans

Ryan Langerhans made a major-league debut on April 28, 2002.

2006

Kevin Frandsen

Kevin Frandsen made a major-league debut on April 28, 2006.

2007

Hunter Pence

Hunter Pence made a major-league debut on April 28, 2007.

2008

Bobby Wilson

Bobby Wilson made a major-league debut on April 28, 2008.

2012

Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper made a major-league debut on April 28, 2012.

2013

Nolan Arenado

Nolan Arenado made a major-league debut on April 28, 2013.

2014

Randal Grichuk

Randal Grichuk made a major-league debut on April 28, 2014.

2017

Mark Leiter

Mark Leiter made a major-league debut on April 28, 2017.

Final major-league games · April 28

1901

Bert Cunningham

Bert Cunningham played a final major-league game on April 28, 1901.

1905

George LaChance

George LaChance played a final major-league game on April 28, 1905.

1927

William Marriott

William Marriott played a final major-league game on April 28, 1927.

1946

Curt Davis

Curt Davis played a final major-league game on April 28, 1946.

1962

Reno Bertoia

Reno Bertoia played a final major-league game on April 28, 1962.

1971

George Brunet

George Brunet played a final major-league game on April 28, 1971.

1995

Bryan Harvey

Bryan Harvey played a final major-league game on April 28, 1995.

2010

Kris Benson

Kris Benson played a final major-league game on April 28, 2010.

2016

John Danks

John Danks played a final major-league game on April 28, 2016.

1,147 regular-season games played on April 28

2024

Los Angeles Dodgers at Toronto Blue Jays

Los Angeles Dodgers 1, Toronto Blue Jays 3.

2024

Cincinnati Reds at Texas Rangers

Cincinnati Reds 3, Texas Rangers 4.

2024

Arizona Diamondbacks at Seattle Mariners

Arizona Diamondbacks 3, Seattle Mariners 2.

2024

Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers

Kansas City Royals 1, Detroit Tigers 4.

2025

Athletics at Texas Rangers

Athletics 2, Texas Rangers 1.

2025

Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros

Detroit Tigers 5, Houston Astros 8.

2025

Minnesota Twins at Cleveland Guardians

Minnesota Twins 11, Cleveland Guardians 1.

2025

New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles

New York Yankees 3, Baltimore Orioles 4.

2025

New York Mets at Washington Nationals

New York Mets 19, Washington Nationals 5.

2025

Miami Marlins at Los Angeles Dodgers

Miami Marlins 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 7.

2025

Atlanta Braves at Colorado Rockies

Atlanta Braves 6, Colorado Rockies 3.

2025

St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds

St. Louis Cardinals 1, Cincinnati Reds 3.

These are the 12 most recent of 1,147 games played on this date. The sections above lead with what made the day matter.

Born on this day

b. April 28, 1861 · Catcher for the Washington Nationals, 1884 to 1884.

b. April 28, 1870 · Pitcher across two clubs, 1892 to 1894.

b. April 28, 1883 · Pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, 1909 to 1912.

b. April 28, 1886 · Right fielder for the Washington Senators, 1911 to 1911.

b. April 28, 1890 · Pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, 1909 to 1909.

b. April 28, 1899 · Second baseman who batted .263 across seven clubs, 1914 to 1932.

b. April 28, 1902 · Was the best-hitting pitcher of his time and held the record for pinch hits when he retired.

Fred Schemanske

b. April 28, 1903 · Pitcher for the Washington Senators, 1923 to 1923.

b. April 28, 1909 · Left fielder for the Montgomery Grey Sox, 1932 to 1932.

Cuddles Marshall

b. April 28, 1925 · Pitcher across two clubs, 1946 to 1950.

b. April 28, 1935 · Led the American League in losses four years running for Washington clubs that could not score.

b. April 28, 1935 · Pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, 1962 to 1962.

b. April 28, 1955 · Pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, 1979 to 1981.

b. April 28, 1964 · A Cincinnati native who gave all nineteen of his seasons to the Reds and was the first shortstop to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a year.

b. April 28, 1964 · Pitcher across two clubs, 1987 to 1991.

b. April 28, 1970 · Pitcher for the Florida Marlins, 1996 to 1996.

b. April 28, 1981 · First baseman for the San Francisco Giants, 2006 to 2006.

b. April 28, 1983 · Third baseman who batted .277 across four clubs, 2009 to 2019.

b. April 28, 1986 · Pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2011 to 2011.

b. April 28, 1986 · Pitcher across four clubs, 2010 to 2017.

b. April 28, 1994 · Pitcher for the Washington Nationals, 2020 to 2020.

b. April 28, 1995 · Pitcher for the Texas Rangers, 2019 to 2022.

b. April 28, 2000 · Center fielder who batted .234 for the Arizona Diamondbacks, 2022 to 2025.

b. April 28, 2001 · Shortstop who batted .222 for the New York Yankees, 2023 to 2025.

52 players were born on April 28; these are the 24 best known.

Died on this day

d. April 28, 1912 · Left fielder for the Hartford Dark Blues, 1877 to 1877.

d. April 28, 1919 · Catcher for the Troy Trojans, 1880 to 1880.

d. April 28, 1935 · Pitcher for the St. Louis Browns, 1895 to 1896.

d. April 28, 1940 · Catcher for the Louisville Colonels, 1894 to 1895.

d. April 28, 1943 · Left fielder for the Chicago White Sox, 1912 to 1912.

Clay Touchstone

d. April 28, 1949 · Made twelve relief appearances across three seasons spread from 1928 through 1945.

Felix Chouinard

d. April 28, 1955 · Center fielder across four clubs, 1910 to 1915.

d. April 28, 1961 · An English-born umpire who worked in both leagues from 1898 to 1929, and was one of the first two ever elected to the Hall of Fame.

d. April 28, 1962 · Right fielder who batted .311 across nine clubs, 1931 to 1944.

d. April 28, 1969 · Third baseman for the Boston Doves, 1910 to 1910.

d. April 28, 1973 · Pitcher for the St. Louis Browns, 1914 to 1914.

d. April 28, 1977 · Pitcher who batted .191 across three clubs, 1934 to 1945.

d. April 28, 1978 · Catcher across two clubs, 1935 to 1938.

Bob Porterfield

d. April 28, 1980 · Pitcher who batted .184 across five clubs, 1948 to 1959.

d. April 28, 1995 · Shortstop across three clubs, 1985 to 1993.

Al Hollingsworth

d. April 28, 1996 · Pitcher who batted .196 across six clubs, 1935 to 1946.

d. April 28, 1996 · Catcher across two clubs, 1948 to 1953.

d. April 28, 2000 · Second baseman across two clubs, 1951 to 1953.

d. April 28, 2004 · Pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, 1939 to 1941.

d. April 28, 2006 · Was Rookie of the Year at twenty-two, was suspended seven times for cocaine, and pitched until he was thirty-eight.

d. April 28, 2007 · Right fielder across three clubs, 1951 to 1952.

d. April 28, 2016 · Left fielder across two clubs, 1954 to 1959.

d. April 28, 2017 · Center fielder who batted .281 across two clubs, 1943 to 1951.

d. April 28, 2019 · Pitcher across five clubs, 1957 to 1967.

31 players died on April 28; these are the 24 best known.