May 31, 1964: The Mets and Giants Play The Longest Game In National League History

On May 31, 1964, in the second game of a doubleheader at Shea Stadium, the Mets and Giants played the longest game in the history of the National League. It was the first time that an extra innings game would be played at the new stadium in Flushing, New York. The Giants prevailed 8-6 after picking up a pair of runs in the 23rd inning. The game took 7 hours and 23 minutes to decide the winner, which was just a little more than the 2 hours and 29 minutes it took for the Giants to beat the Mets 5-3 in the first game. Del Crandall picked up the game winning ribbie when he knocked in Jim Davenport in the top of the 23rd frame. Gaylord Perry picked up the win after pitching ten innings in relief, then Bob Hendley picked up the save by retiring the Mets batters in order in the bottom half of the 23rd.

If you would like to read a great rundown of the longest game in the history of the National League check this out: http://metwiki.com/wiki/May_31,_1964:_The_23-inning_Nightcap

Here's the box score for this one: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196405312.shtml

May 30, 1977: Eckersley tosses the 200th No Hitter in MLB History

On May 30, 1977, in front of a home crowd in Cleveland, Indians hurler Dennis Eckersley struck out 12 Angels batters on the way to tossing the 200th no hitter in the history of Major League Baseball. The Indians won the game 1-0 with the only run coming in the first inning after Duane Kiper tripled then he was squeezed in by Jim Morris. Only two batters reached base for the Angels, Tony Salaita reached with a walk in the first, then Bobby Bonds struck out to open the eighth but reached first after the third strike was also a wild pitch. While Eckersley is best known as one of the best closers of his time, he was a solid starter early in his career. Eck won more than 150 games as a starter, including 20 games in 1978 while he was with the Red Sox. As a member of the A's in 1987, Eckersley went from the starting rotation to the bullpen, it was a move that earned him a plaque in Cooperstown.

Here's the box score from the contest: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE197705300.shtml

May 29,1993: Gretky Lights the Lamp 3 Times In Game 7 Of The Campbell Conference Finals

On May 29, 1993, L.A. Kings superstar Wayne Gretzky lit the lamp 3 times in a 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the Campbell Conference Finals. The Great One's hat trick was the eighth time he scored 3 or more in a playoff game and it broke a playoff record. Not only did it break a record it punched a ticket to The Stanley Cup Finals  for L.A. They lost to Montreal in the Finals but the way they got there would not be forgotten. Before it was all said and done Gretzky recorded two more playoff hat tricks to set the mark at 10, it is a record that might never be touched. There was a reason he is known as The Great One.

Watch Gretzky's eighth career playoff hat trick here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kd_wAVpo3Ew

May 28, 1978: Al Unser Sr. Wins The Indy 500

On May 28, 1978, Al Unser Sr. went to the Winners Circle at the Indy 500, it was the third time he took the checker at the Brickyard. Even with the fact that Unser qualified fifth, he was considered a bit of a long shot by the talking heads, but that wasn't going to keep him from making a hard charge to the front of the pack. He took his first lead of the day on lap 75 and would get into a back and forth duel with his teammate Danny Ongais over the next 75 laps. Engine failure ended Ongais' day on lap 145, then Unser started to run away with it. At one point he held a 35 second lead over the second place driver and it looked like it might just be a cakewalk to victory lane, then came the final pit stop. During the pit stop the wing on his Lola chassis was bent in the process of changing the tires, it had a major impact on the handling and Unser had to do everything he could to hold onto it as Tom Sneva was making a run at him. Unser got the job done in an impressive manner, he took the checker by 9 seconds over Sneva and victory lane was reserved for him. It was quite the season for Al Unser, he would win the Pocono 500 and the California 500 to complete the Indy Car Triple Crown, he is the only driver to win all three races in the same season. In 1987, Unser won the Indy 500 for the fourth time, he along with A. J. Foyt and Rick Mears are the only drivers to win the famous race 4 times.

May 27, 1982: The Colorado Rockies Hockey Franchise Is Sold

On May 27, 1982, John McMullen, Brendan Byrne, and John Whitehead purchased the Colorado Rockies hockey club, then received permission from the NHL to move the team to New Jersey, where they would become known as the Devils. The Rockies had relocated from Kansas City in 1976 where they played just two seasons as the K.C. Scouts. The team lost money in Kansas City and continued to lose money in Denver. In 1978 Arthur Imperatore purchased the Rockies with the intentions of moving the team to New Jersey. Imperatore's efforts were held up by the lack of a place to play in New Jersey, the Brendan Byrne Arena was still under construction which is where they would eventually come to play. Finally in '82 the deal between Imperatore and McMullen's group of buyers came through and with the completion of the Arena the team moved onto East Rutherford. The Rockies struggled throughout their short time in Colorado, in fact they only made the playoffs one time and even then they were 21 games under .500, they made a quick first round exit  that season and it wouldn't be long until they were headed East. The team continued to struggle for a number of years until things turned around, they made their first playoff as the Devils in an appearance in 1988, and would turn into a perennial playoff contender. In 1995 the Devils brought the Stanley Cup to New Jersey, it is something they have accomplished 3 times since the move.

May 26, 1993: Canseco Hits a Home Run For The Other Team With His Head

On May 26, 1993, one of the funniest plays in the history of Major League Baseball happened in Cleveland, Ohio. The Texas Rangers were in town to take on the Indians and it looked like all was going well for the Texas squad as they held a 3-1 lead headed into the bottom of the fourth inning, then Jose Canseco's head got in the way. Carlos Martinez was the first batter for the Indians and he sent a long one into deep right, Canseco ran back to the wall, reached up to make the catch then the improbable happened, the ball barely caught Canseco's glove then hit him right square in the head and bounced over the wall for a home run. From there the wheels fell off the bus for the Rangers and by the end of the inning they were trailing 4-3.  By the end of the sixth the Indians were up 7-3. The Rangers would make it a game by scoring a run  in each of the last three innings but it wouldn't be enough and they lost the contest 7-6. In the end the box score didn't matter as much as the play off of Canseco's monster head.

Watch The Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLs0pjWnzTY

May 25, 1935: Babe Ruth Hits The Final 3 Home Runs of His Great Career

On May 25, 1935, as a member of the Boston Braves, Babe Ruth hit the last three home runs of his career. The Braves were wrapping up a three game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates when the legendary slugger went off at the plate one last time. Ruth's 714th long ball sailed up and over the 86 foot high upper deck in right field, it was the first home run to ever leave the yard at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Despite Ruth's monster day the Braves lost the contest 11-7, just 5 days later Ruth's playing days came to an end. Ruth spent 22 years in the big leagues, he retired as the all time home run king, the record would stand until Hank Aaron took the title in 1974.  The career of Babe Ruth almost defines the word remarkable, he was a 7 time World Series Champion, he carried a career .342 average, won the AL Home Run Crown 12 times and also led the league in ribbies 6 times, can't forget to mention his pitching record was 94-46.  When it comes down to it, that is just naming a few things that Ruth accomplished in his great career.

The artwork was done by Graig Kreindler, in my opinion he is one of the best artists out there. Check out his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GraigKreindler