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July: All-Stars and Hall of Famers Milestone home runs and a quartet of three-homer nights provided some July fireworks, but the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and an exciting All-Star Game provided the highlights. Here's a look at the on- and off-field events that heated up baseball in July:		Team Stories & Headlines Select a team :: Anaheim Arizona Atlanta Baltimore Boston Chi Cubs Chi White Sox Cincinnati Cleveland Colorado Detroit Florida Houston Kansas City Los Angeles Milwaukee Minnesota Montreal NY Mets NY Yankees Oakland Philadelphia Pittsburgh San Diego San Francisco Seattle St. Louis Tampa Bay Texas Toronto

By Ken Mandel / MLB.com

July 1
Marlins third baseman Mike Lowell is no longer a Fish out of water, as the team declares that the All-Star won't be traded. Hours later he goes 3-for-3 in a 20-1 win over the Braves, as the Marlins set team records for runs and hits. The Marlins climb over the .500 mark (43-42) for the first time since April 24. Meanwhile, Baltimore snaps a five-game losing streak while ending the Yankees' eight-game winning streak.

July 2
The Braves exact some revenge on Florida after the 20-1 drubbing the night before, winning in 13 innings.

July 3
Texas Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock continues his emergence with a two-homer night against the Angels.

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July 4
Boston celebrates the nation's birthday with a breathtaking holiday display, slugging seven homers -- the most ever hit against the Yankees. Moises Alou sets off his own fireworks, belting three homers against St. Louis at Wrigley Field. The Cubs lose Alou's first career three-homer game, 11-8.

July 5
The Devil Rays beat the White Sox for their third straight win, prompting manager Lou Piniella to make good on a promise of dyeing his hair. His new look includes blond streaks and highlights.

July 7
Continuing a powerful trend, Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Shea Hillenbrand clubs a trio of home runs against the Rockies in a 14-6 win. His first three-homer game at any level -- high school, college, minor league, even Little League -- was the sixth time in Major League history that a player homered in three straight innings.

July 8
Cleveland rookie Billy Traber dazzles the Yankees, firing a one-hit shutout for his first career complete game. The Indians win, 4-0. Philadelphia's Marlon Byrd has a banner day in his first game as a leadoff hitter. He goes 3-for-5, with three RBIs and four runs scored. He also homers and doubles.

July 9
Atlanta's Russ Ortiz beats the Mets to become the National League's first 12-game winner. He also helps the Braves complete their eighth sweep of the year.

July 10
In a Coors Field special, the Giants get solo home runs from Barry Bonds, Rich Aurilia and Marquis Grissom, but lose, 11-3, to the Rockies. Preston Wilson smacks home runs and drives in a career-high six runs to establish a club record with 89 RBIs before the All-Star Break, and pitcher Darren Oliver adds one of his own.

July 11
In a trade that gives Florida a serious boost, the Marlins acquire closer Ugueth Urbina from Texas.

July 12
Albert Pujols downs the Padres with his first career walk-off shot.

July 15
Blalock smacks a pinch-hit two-run, two-out homer in the bottom of the eighth inning off Dodgers closer Eric Gagne to give the American League a 7-6 victory in the 2003 All-Star Game at U.S. Celllular Field. Gagne's only blown save of the season awards the AL home-field advantage in the World Series.

July 16
The Twins acquire Shannon Stewart from the Blue Jays for Bobby Kielty. Stewart hit .322 in 65 games for the Twins.

July 17-18
Gagne saves the first two games of a four-game series against St. Louis, giving him 33. He records six saves in July, his lowest total of any month during season.

July 19
Cubs right-hander Kerry Wood throws a two-hitter against the Marlins in Miami, leading Chicago to a 1-0 win.

July 20
Houston's Jeff Bagwell joins the 400-homer club by swatting two in a win over the Reds. His second longball, a sixth-inning solo shot off Danny Graves, gives the first baseman sole possession of 35th place on Major League Baseball's all-time list. Though he didn't join the 400-homer club, Kansas City's Carlos Beltran beats Seattle with a 10th-inning walk-off homer.


July 21
Montreal's Vladimir Guerrero returns after a six-week absence because of a back injury. He collects two hits, but the Expos fall to the Marlins.

July 22
The Cubs acquire Kenny Lofton and Aramis Ramirez, two important pieces to the team's NL Central championship run.

July 25
Colorado's Chin-hui Tsao becomes the first pitcher from Taiwan to appear in a Major League game, and wins his debut. Continuing a remarkable comeback season, White Sox designated hitter Frank Thomas joins the 400-homer club, the 36th player to accomplish that feat.

July 27 Toronto's Roy Halladay gets his 15th straight win, beating the Orioles, 10-1. On the flip side, Detroit's Mike Maroth picks up loss No. 15 -- his third defeat this month -- on his way to becoming the Major League's first 20-game loser since Oakland's Brian Kingman in 1980. While Halladay and Maroth are achieving different levels of greatness, there's no questioning the accomplishments of Carter and Murray. Both are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

July 29 Boston's Bill Mueller has his own Hall of Fame performance, becoming the first Major Leaguer to hit grand slams from each side of the plate, in a 14-7 win over the Rangers. He hit a total of three homers for the day. That same day, the Red Sox solidify their bullpen by acquiring Scott Williamson from the Reds.

July 30
Florida's Dontrelle Willis wins his 10th game, derailing Arizona's Randy Johnson. The largest crowd of the season to date comes to watch Willis give up a run on four hits in seven innings. D-Train improved to 10-2 and lowered his ERA to 2.50. The A's get Jose Guillen, improving their outfield for a playoff push.

July 31
White Sox shortstop Jose Valentin smacks three homers in a win over the Royals. The arrival of the annual trading deadline produces the usual dose of deals. The Giants secure Sidney Ponson for three pitchers, then the Yankees and Red Sox continue their storied rivalry with deals of their own.

Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.