Template:Today in Baseball/April 20

December 20: Today's featured birthday is that of Bill Laskey, who turns 67.

1912 - Fenway Park opens and the Red Sox beat the Highlanders, 7-6, in 11 innings. Tris Speaker drives in the winner.
1939 - A year after trouncing the American Association, Ted Williams makes his major league debut. Williams hits a double against Red Ruffing. Other Hall of Famers in the historic game are Lou Gehrig (ten days before his final appearance in the majors), Joe DiMaggio, Lefty Grove, Jimmie Foxx, Joe Cronin, Bill Dickey and Bobby Doerr.
1944 - Elmer Gedeon becomes the first Major League player to die in World War II when his plane is shot down over France.
1980 - Tony Solaita becomes the first foreigner to homer four times in a Nippon Pro Baseball game. The Samoan slugger drives in ten for the Nippon Ham Fighters.
2006 - Julio Franco (pictured) breaks Jack Quinn's record in becoming the oldest player in major league history to hit a home run. The 47-year and 240-day old infielder hits a two-run pinch-hit shot off Scott Linebrink.

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