Sept. 10, 2011; Phoenix AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks former pitcher Curt Schilling before the game against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field. Image: Jennifer Hilderbrand-US PRESSWIRE

Today marks the 68th anniversary of D-Day, one of the most famous days in our great country’s history. This was the day the Allies landed on the beach in Normandy, France to push German forces back across the European continent, one of the most important missions during World War II. Less than a year later, America and her allies were victorious over Germany ending one of the most evil reigns in history. Since I love the date of June 6th, I decided to see how the Arizona Diamondbacks fared on game day 10 years ago today. I found…..nothing. They were off. So I decided to do the next best thing: look up their game from June 6th, 2001.

On that date, the D-Backs defeated the Dodgers 4-1 behind Curt Schilling’s  complete game six-hitter in which he struck out eight and did not walk a batter. Schilling improved to 10-1 and Luis Gonzalez continued his amazing season going 2 for 4. Damien Miller and Jay Bell  contributed solo home runs and Mark Grace added an RBI double. The only Dodger run came courtesy of a Shawn Green home run. Luke Prokopec started and was the losing pitcher with Eric Gagne pitching the final two innings. The win increased Arizona’s lead in the NL West to two games over LA boosting their overall record to 35-24. It also snapped a minuscule two game losing streak. They finished their series against the Dodgers with a 13-9 victory the following afternoon before playing nine games against three American League teams. Click here for a look at the box score and play by play.

I have always enjoyed reading over old box scores and checking out names that and saying, “Oh yeah, I remember him”. Hopefully some of the D-Back names (and Dodger names for that matter) causes you to have one of those moments.

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Oct 13, 2011; St. Louis, MO, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder hits a double in the fourth inning of game four of the 2011 NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-US PRESSWIRE

First it was Albert Pujols.  Now, it’s Prince Fielder.  For the Arizona Diamondbacks part, they can now say goodbye to both, as both have spurned the National League for the American League.  With Pujols leaving for the Los Angeles Angels earlier in the off-season, now we have yesterday when Fielder left for the Detroit Tigers.  You remember Fielder, right?  He’s the one fans couldn’t give up the obsession of booing for leaving Justin Upton out of the Home Run Derby, at every at bat in the All-Star Game and subsequent visits to Chase Field with the Milwaukee Brewers, including the playoffs.  Both players had their moments against the Dbacks over the years.

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