On Aug. 5, 1969, Willie Stargell hit a record-breaking home run at Dodger Stadium in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 11-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With the score tied in the top of the seventh inning, Stargell sent a pitch from Alan Foster over the right-field pavilion that traveled an estimated 506 feet and six inches.
The Hall of Famer became the first player to hit a home run completely out of Dodger Stadium. To this day, it is the longest home run hit in the Dodgers’ home ballpark.
Since Stargell’s majestic blast, Mike Piazza (1997), Mark McGwire (1999), Giancarlo Stanton (2015) and Fernando Tatis Jr. have joined him as the only players to hit a ball out of Dodger Stadium. Stargell has two home runs that carried out of Dodger Stadium as he repeated the feat in 1973.
Shohei Ohtani nearly added his name to the list on July 21 when he hit a home run against the Boston Red Sox that traveled 473 feet and just missed going out of Dodger Stadium.
New Dodgers all-time strikeouts leader
Also on this day in 1979, Don Sutton passed Don Drysdale on the Dodgers’ all-time strikeout list. Sutton struck out Greg Johnston for the 2,487th strikeout of his career in an 8-1 win over the San Francisco Giants.
After the record-setting strikeout, Sutton received a two-minute standing ovation that he acknowledged by tipping his cap to the fans in attendance at Dodger Stadium.
The home-plate umpire charged Sutton with an automatic ball due to running his fingers across his lips while thanking the crowd.
Sutton finished his Dodgers career with 2,696 strikeouts, which stood as the franchise’s record for over 42 years.
Clayton Kershaw passed Sutton for the most strikeouts in Dodgers history during a start against the Detroit Tigers on April 30, 2022.
Hack Wilson inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame
Also on this day in Dodgers history, and 1979 as well, Hack Wilson and Willie Mays were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Baseball administrator Warren Giles, who served as the president of the National League from 1951-1969, was elected to Cooperstown as well.
Wilson spent parts of three seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1932-1934, hitting .280/.370/.461 with 55 doubles, seven triples, 38 home runs and 204 RBI in 319 games.
Wilson finished 13th in NL MVP voting during the 1932 season when he batted .297/.366/.538 with 37 doubles, five triples, 23 home runs and 123 RBI across 135 games.
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