Back in Time: July 30

In his major league debut, Willie McCovey collects four hits in four at-bats, including two triples. The Giant freshman first baseman, who will be selected the league's Rookie of the Year despite his late call-up, will hit 13 home runs in just 52 games.

During a workout at the Astrodome, Houston hurler J.R.. Richard (pictured here with Nolan Ryan) suffers a stroke attempting to throw for the first time since being hospitalized for tests. Emergency surgery is performed to remove a blood clot behind his right collarbone, but the fireballer will never pitch in the major leagues again.

George Steinbrenner is forced by Commissioner Fay Vincent to resign as principal partner of the New York Yankees.

Lance Armstrong becomes the first American to win three consecutive Tours de France.

The New York Mets trade top pitching prospect Scott Kazmir and minor league pitcher Jose Diaz for Victor Zambrano and minor league pitcher Bartolome Fortunato.

The Yankees trade four minor leaguers, shortstop C.J. Henry, southpaw reliever Matt Smith, catcher Jesus Sanchez and right-hander Carlos Monasterios, to the Phillies in exchange for All-Star outfielder Bobby Abreu and veteran pitcher Cory Lidle.

Ripken and Gwynn are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Joining the ballplayers on the dais are Denny Matthews, the longtime radio voice of the Royals, the recipient Ford C. Frick Award given to outstanding broadcasters, and Rick Hummel, beat writer for the Post-Dispatch.

Ichiro Suzuki gets his 3,000th hit as a professional baseball player. The 34-year-old Mariners outfielder had collected 1,278 hits with the Orix Blue Wave in the Japan's Pacific League, and his first-inning single in Texas was his 1,722nd hit with Seattle during eight seasons the team.

Casey Stengel (1890, pictured) Bud Selig (1934) Bill Cartwright (1957) Reggie Roby (1961) Tom Pagnozzi (1962) Chris Mullin (1963) Terry Crews (1968) Tom McManus (1970) Ed Hawthorne (1970) Jim McIlvaine (1972) Markus Naslund (1973) Carlos Arroyo (1979)Justin Rose (1980)Kevin Pittsnogle (1984)