June 9

2009 - The Washington Nationals select San Diego State right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. The third pick, taken by the San Diego Padres is outfielder Donavan Tate, son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Lars Tate.

2008 - Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Reds hits his 600th career home run in their 9–4 road win over the Marlins, connecting off Mark Hendrickson in the first inning. He becomes only the sixth member of the 600 home run club, joining Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds.

2008 - Nick Swisher hits home runs from both sides of the plate as the White Sox beat the Twins 7–5.

1999 - New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine is ejected in the 12th inning of a 14 inning marathon with the Toronto Blue Jays when Mike Piazza is called for catcher's interference on Craig Grebeck. An inning later, Valentine returns to the dug out in a disguise. Unamused, Major League Baseball fines Valentine $10,000 and suspends him three games. The Mets went on to win the game 4-3.

Born
Michael Eugene "Mike" Fontenot (born June 9, 1980 in Slidell, Louisiana) is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Chicago Cubs.

Died
George Lewis McCarty (November 17, 1888 in Milton, Pennsylvania - June 9, 1930 in Reading, Pennsylvania), is a former professional baseball player who played catcher from 1913-1921. He appeared in the 1917 World Series as a member of the New York Giants.

Harry Claud Patton, (born: June 29, 1884, died: June 9, 1930), was a baseball pitcher. He played one game for the St. Louis Cardinals on August 22, 1910, pitching four innings.

Odell Hale (August 10, 1908 – June 9, 1980) was a Major League Baseball infielder in the 1930s and early 1940s, primarily for the Cleveland Indians. Though he was born Arvel Odell Hale, baseball encyclopedias listed him simply as Odell Hale, which stuck with him as well as the nickname "Bad News". He had a good career, with many seasons hitting a batting average over .300. He finished his career with a .289 batting average. He is often referred as being one of Cleveland's best second basemen of all-time.

William "Bill" Beverly Lillard (January 10, 1918 – June 9, 2009) started his career in the minors in 1938 with the San Francisco Seals and after hitting .335 that season moved up to Major League Baseball playing shortstop from 1939 through 1940 for the Philadelphia Athletics of the American League. Listed at 5' 10", 170 lb., Lillard batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Goleta, California. His older brother, Gene Lillard, also played in the majors.

Raymond Bernard Hamrick [Handsome Ray] (August 1, 1921 - June 9, 2009) was an infielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1943 through 1944 for the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League. Listed at 5' 11", 165 lb., Hamrick batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jack Napier Littrell (January 22, 1929 – June 9, 2009) was a Major League Baseball shortstop in the 1950's. Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1929, Littrell played with the Philadelphia and Kansas City Athletics and the Chicago Cubs. Littrell died on June 9, 2009 after a battle with heart disease.

Thornton Starr Lee (September 13, 1906 - June 9, 1997), also nicknamed "Lefty", was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians (1933-36), Chicago White Sox (1937-47) and New York Giants (1948). Lee batted and threw left-handed. He is the father of pitcher Don Lee, a former big leaguer.