August 15, 2011: Just short of his 41st birthday, the Minnesota Twins’ Jim Thome hits the 600th home run of his career in a 9-6 win at Detroit. The landmark homer was a three-run shot and was Thome’s second in as many at-bats.
The phrase “embarrassment of riches” is a dangerous one when looking at the Boise State depth chart. One injury can flip that script.
August 13, 2008: Kristin Armstrong becomes Boise’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist and only the second American ever to take a gold in women’s cycling when she wins the time trial in Beijing by 24 seconds over Britain’s Emma Pooley.
August 12, 1994, 30 years ago today: One of baseball’s darkest hours, as Major League Baseball players go on strike, ultimately wiping out the rest of the season and—for the first time—the World Series.
August 9, 1969: One of the most successful of former Boise Hawks, Troy Percival, is born. Percival played two seasons in Boise, the first as a catcher in 1990. His batting average was only .203, but there was a “wow’ factor in the way he fired throws back to the mound.
August 8, 1976: In a 5-2 victory over Kansas City, the Chicago White Sox make history by wearing shorts. Thank goodness Comiskey Park had natural turf.
Those who wondered if Marlene Tromp would be into athletics when she was hired as Boise State president just over five years ago can (in my opinion) put it to rest.
August 6, 1999, 25 years ago today: San Diego’s Tony Gwynn notches a four-hit game to reach the 3,000-hit plateau as the Padres beat the Expos, 12-10, at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.
August 5, 2001: Trailing 12-0 in the third inning and 14-2 in the seventh, the Cleveland Indians stage a stupendous rally and beat the Seattle Mariners, 15-14, in 11 innings at Jacobs Field.
August 2, 1979: Thurman Munson, at that time the heart and soul of the New York Yankees, dies in a private plane crash at the age of 32. Munson was the Yankees’ catcher and captain when they won the World Series in 1977 and 1978.
