Key milestones

• 1939: Lou Gehrig's Farewell Speech
  On July 4, 1939, Lou Gehrig, a beloved New York Yankees first baseman, delivered his iconic “Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth” speech at Yankee Stadium after being diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a disease now often referred to as “Lou Gehrig's Disease.”
• 1947: Jackie Robinson breaks the color barrier
  Jackie Robinson made history on April 15, 1947, by becoming the first African American player in Major League Baseball, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers. This event marked the beginning of the end of racial segregation in professional baseball.
• 1961: Roger Maris breaks the single-season home run record
  Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit 61 home runs in 1961, breaking Babe Ruth's long-standing record of 60 home runs in a single season, set in 1927.
• 1974: Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth's career home run record
  On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe Ruth's record of 714 and becoming MLB's all-time home run leader.
• 1989: Pete Rose banned for life
  Pete Rose, MLB's all-time hits leader, was banned from baseball for life on August 24, 1989, due to accusations that he bet on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds.
• 1995: Cal Ripken Jr. breaks the consecutive games played record
  On September 6, 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles broke Lou Gehrig's record by playing in his 2,131st consecutive game, a streak that eventually extended to 2,632 games.
• 1998: Home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa
  Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs captivated the nation with their race to break Roger Maris' single-season home run record. McGwire finished with 70 home runs, while Sosa hit 66.
• 2001: Barry Bonds sets new single-season home run record
  Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants set a new single-season home run record by hitting 73 home runs in 2001, surpassing the record set by Mark McGwire in 1998.
• 2004: Boston Red Sox break the “Curse of the Bambino”
  The Boston Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years on October 27, 2004, breaking the “Curse of the Bambino” that allegedly began after trading Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1919.
• 2007: Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron's career home run record
  On August 7, 2007, Barry Bonds hit his 756th career home run, surpassing Hank Aaron's record of 755. Bonds ended his career with 762 home runs, though his achievements were overshadowed by steroid allegations.
• 2014: Instant replay expanded
  In 2014, MLB significantly expanded the use of instant replay, allowing managers to challenge certain plays, marking a major shift in how the game is officiated.
• 2016: Chicago Cubs win the World Series
  The Chicago Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years on November 2, 2016, ending the longest championship drought in North American professional sports history.
• 2020: COVID-19 pandemic shortens season
  The 2020 MLB season was shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with games played in empty stadiums and new rules implemented, including seven-inning doubleheaders and a universal designated hitter.
• 2021: Shohei Ohtani's historic season
  Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels made history as the first player to be an All-Star as both a pitcher and a hitter in 2021, showcasing unprecedented two-way skills not seen since Babe Ruth.
• 2023: MLB introduces pitch clock
  In 2023, MLB introduced a pitch clock to speed up the pace of play, along with other rule changes like larger bases and restrictions on defensive shifts, marking one of the most significant modern rule overhauls in the sport's history.