Historically Speaking: Home Run Derby Monday, 2009

Top of the Monday morning to everyone. Not really sure what to expect in terms of posting this week. We'll be in and out of the office pretty sporadically as there's a laziness-skills conference going on down the block from our headquarters early in the week, and courses on napping -- that we're required to take -- going on in the mid-afternoons beyond hump day. So hopefully, if you do stop by the House and see something new, it'll be well worth the read.

Beyond the jump, some historical news of minimal excitement. Honest. Enjoy that, as well as your All-Star festivities.

* We'll go back multiple centuries to start things off, and we'll do so with Philadelphia's Ed Delahanty, who, today in 1896, became the second Major League Baseball hitter to crank four homers in a single game.

* Today in 1919, Chicago White Sock pitcher Carl Mays walked off the mound blaming his teammates for lack of support in the field.

* The first World Cup got underway today in 1930. Thirteen teams began the competition in Uruguay.

* More All-Star Game history: The American League won 5-3 in Philadelphia in 1943; and again in St. Louis (5-2) five years later; and again in '554 (11-9) in Cleveland; in 1960, the National League blanked the A.L.ers 6-0 at Yankee Stadium; they also won 6-5 in '65 in Minneapolis; in 1971 the A.L. was at it again with a 6-4 win in Detroit; five years later the N.L. took it 7-1 in Philly; they also won 4-1 in Montreal, 1982; and the A.L. celebrated a 9-3 victory in Baltimore today in 1993 where Rush's Geddy Lee sang the Canadian National Anthem; the American League won again in 1999 by a 4-1 margin in Boston; one more time: A.L. 9, N.L. 4, Houston, 2004.

* The year was 1972 when Baltimore Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom and Los Angeles Rams owner Robert Irsay traded teams.

And your Sports Illustrated quote of the day came from the mouth of...



...one-time Boston Celtic Antoine Walker, who, in 2005, was asked why he puts up so many shots from beyond the three-point line. His response: "Because there are no fours."