Baseball – 1971

Baseball in 1971

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January

January 7Reds OF Bobby Tolan suffers a ruptured Achilles tendon while playing basketball on the Reds off-season team and undergoes surgery. He’ll return to action but reinjure the heel May 7 and miss the entire 1971 season. The front office disbands the basketball team.
January 11Tigers P John Hiller‚ age 27‚ suffers a heart attack and will miss the 1971 season. Hiller will have seven feet of intestine removed to relieve a cholesterol problem before making a remarkable comeback.
January 21The BBWAA fails to elect anyone in the annual Hall of Fame election. With 270 votes required‚ the nearest finishers are Yogi Berra (242) and Early Wynn (240).
January 23Brewers owner Bud Selig hires Frank Lane to be GM‚ the fifth club that Lane was worked for in this capacity.
January 29The Pirates trade OF Matty Alou and P George Brunet to the Cardinals for OF Vic Davalillo and P Nelson Briles.
January 31The Hall of Fame Special Veterans Committee selects 7 men for enshrinement: former players Jake Beckley‚ Joe Kelley‚ Harry Hooper‚ Rube Marquard‚ Chick Hafey‚ Dave Bancroft‚ and executive George Weiss.

February

February 9Former Negro Leagues P Satchel Paige is nominated for the Hall of Fame. On June 10th the Hall’s new Special Committee on the Negro Leagues will formally select Paige for induction.
February 10Los Angeles trades OF Andy Kosco to Milwaukee for P Al Downing. Downing will go on to win 20 games for the Dodgers in 1971.
February 17Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski signs what is believed to be the richest player contract in baseball history: 3 years for a total of $500‚000.
February 20Ted Kluszewski hits a 500-foot 3-run single to lead the NL team to a 5-3 victory in the annual March of Dimes old-timers’ game.

March

March 1Willie Mays signs a 2-year contract with the Giants for $165‚000 per year.
March 6At Mesa‚ AZ‚ the A’s and Brewers test Charlie Finley’s idea of 3-ball walks. The A’s win 13-9 in a game featuring 19 free passes‚ essentially ending the experiment.
March 12Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley suffers a severely sprained right knee. Hundley had attained something of an iron man reputation by catching at least 149 games a season from 1966 to 1969. But the heavy work load began to extract a toll in 1970 when he played less than half the season. Hundley will appear in only nine games in 1971 before submitting to surgery.
March 15Bernice Gera‚ a 39-year-old New York housewife‚ files suit against baseball‚ claiming violation of her civil rights. Mrs. Gera had completed an umpire school and signed a contract to work in the New York-Pennsylvania League‚ but her contract had been voided 6 days later with no explanation.
March 21The Kansas City Royals new Baseball Academy is officially dedicated. Its stated purpose is “to provide youth with the dual opportunity to pursue an education and at the same time learn the skills of our national pastime.”
March 31The Mets trade 1969 hero OF Ron Swoboda and infielder Rich Hacker to Montreal for OF Don Hahn. Swoboda will go to the Yankees in June for OF Ron Woods.

April

April 4On the last day of spring training‚ Chicago White Sox pitcher Joel Horlen tears a cartilage while sliding into second base against the Chicago Cubs in Scottsdale. He returns to Chicago for treatment‚ while the Sox travel to California to open the season. Horlen is expected to be out eight weeks‚ but will pitch in only four. However, he will not notch his first win until June 15.
April 5With 45‚000 fans on hand at RFK Stadium‚ the Senators beat the Oakland A’s‚ 8-0‚ behind the pitching of Dick Bosman. The loser is Vida Blue‚ who allows 4 runs in less than 3 innings. This will be the last Opening Day in Washington.

In 45 degree weather‚ the Reds play their first opener at Riverfront Stadium‚ dropping a 7-4 decision to the Braves. The Reds make 6 errors‚ 3 by 3B Woody Woodward. The win goes to 6′ 6″ reliever Cecil Upshaw‚ who missed last season after almost losing the ring finger on his pitching hand. Upshaw was dunking a basketball and his hand got entangled in the net causing the injury.

Decked out in their new, predominantly orangeuniforms‚ the Houston Astros open at home with a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Larry Dierker is the winner over Bill Singer. Astro outfielders Cesar Geronimo and Jimmy Wynn make great throws to cut down LA rallies.
April 6Willie Mays‚ a month shy of his 40th birthday‚ homers (his 629th) on the first pitch he sees in a 4-0 Opening Day Giants win over the Padres. He also laces a double. Mays will go on to hit homers in each of the Giants first 4 games of the season‚ a ML record. Juan Marichal wins on a 5-hitter.

At Fenway Park‚ the Red Sox take their second straight Opener against the Yankees‚ winning 3-1. Boston’s Ray Culp allows 5 hits in 9 innings in winning over Stan Bahnsen‚ who gives up 2 runs in 7 innings. Reggie Smith has 3 hits and his throw to the plate in the 8th gets the last out.

Before 39‚712 chilled fans in Pittsburgh‚ the Pirates win their Opener‚ 4-2‚ over the Phils. Dock Ellis is the winner‚ laying down 3 sac bunts‚ and getting help with 4 Phillie errors.

Before 41‚121 at Chicago‚ Billy Williams clubs a 10th inning homer off Bob Gibson to give the Cubs a 2-1 win over the Cards. Joe Torre‘s homer‚ off Fergie Jenkins‚ is the only Cardinal score.

At Houston‚ Claude Osteen allows 4 hits and rookie Bill Buckner‘s homer accounts for all the scoring as the Dodgers beat the Astros‚ 2-0. Don Wilson takes the loss. Osteen was 6-0 last year against Houston.

The Mets win their first opener ever at Shea Stadium‚ beating the Expos‚ 4-2‚ in 5 innings. Heavy rain and wind cuts the contest short. Tom Seaver is the winner over Morton.
April 7The dismissal of Curt Flood‘s suit against baseball is upheld by a 3-judge U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
April 9The A’s trade OF/1B Felipe Alou to the Yankees for 2 pitchers‚ Rob Gardner and Ron Klimkowski. Klimkowski will come back to the Yankees next year and Gardner will return in 6 weeks.
April 10The Phillies debut in new $49.5 million Veterans Stadium‚ beating Montreal 4-1. Don Money connects for the park’s first HR.

The Pirates drop a 5-4 decision in Atlanta despite getting 3 HRs from Willie Stargell.
April 11The Twins Jim Kaat scatters 11 hits in shutting out the White Sox‚ 6-0.

The Mets trip the Reds‚ 1-0‚ when Jerry Grote hits a game-ending homer in the 11th off Wayne Granger.
April 13A 2-run single by Lou Piniella in the 7th allows the Royals to beat the Twins 5-3 in a game that features a record 7 HBP. This ties the mark set by the Tigers and Senators on August 24‚ 1914. The plunkers include Tom Burgmeir (2)‚ York (1) and Abernathy (1) for KC‚ and Williams (1) and Perranoski (2) for the Twins.
April 17At Detroit‚ Willie Horton is 5-for-6 with 2 HRs and 6 RBI‚ and Detroit needs all of it as they win in 10 innings over Boston 10-9. Horton‚ with a grand slam and solo homer‚ singles in the 10th with the bases loaded. Trailing 7-1‚ the Tigers eventually tie the score in the 7th on successive homers by Northrop‚ Cash‚ and Horton. Timmerman‚ with 4 scoreless innings‚ is the winner.
April 19Longtime Giants announcer Russ Hodges dies at Mill Valley‚ California.
April 21In a 10-2 Pirates win over the Braves‚ Willie Stargell hits 3 HRs in a game for the 2nd time of the young season. Stargell turned the trick 11 days ago.
April 22In the Pirates 7-4 win over the Braves‚ Willie Stargell hits his 10th HR of the month to tie a ML record.
April 27Hank Aaron becomes the 3rd member of the 600-HR club‚ but one of the other 2 members-the Giants Willie Mays-hits a 10th-inning single to beat Aaron’s Braves.

Curt Flood jumps the Senators after 13 games and departs for Denmark‚ ending his playing career. He sends a telegram to Senators’ owner Bob Short‚ which says in part:

I tried. A year and a half is too much. Very severe personal problems are mounting every day. Thanks for your confidence and understanding. Flood batted .293 and won 7 Gold Glove Awards during his 15-year tenure in the major leagues. He will continue his antitrust suit which will eventually reach the Supreme Court.

The Pirates lose to the Dodgers 7-5‚ but Willie Stargell sets a ML record with his 11th HR in the month of April with a shot over the CF wall in Pittsburgh.
April 30Oakland dazzles the Indians with a color display as Dick Green‚ Vida Blue‚ and Larry Brown score the runs in a 3-1 victory.

May

May 1Against the Red Sox‚ starter Minnesota Jim Perry serves up home run balls to the first two batters‚ Luis Aparicio and Reggie Smith. This hasn’t happened in the AL since 1962‚ when Perry was on the mound for Cleveland against the Twins. Perry shakes off his start to win‚ 7-3‚ collecting 3 hits and scoring 3 runs himself.
May 2Sam McDowell is suddenly knocked out in the 1st inning at Oakland and charged with the 8-5 loss. Sam gives up 5 runs‚ 3 on a homer by Reggie Jackson. But McDowell comes back in game 2 to win in relief‚ 7-3‚ in 10 innings. Ted Ford‘s 3-run homer is the big blow.
May 3The Toei Flyers set a Japan League record of 5 HRs in one inning‚ tying the American record held by several teams‚ most recently the Minnesota Twins in 1966. The record will be tied in 1977 and 1980‚ and finally broken in 1986.
May 6Commissioner Bowie Kuhn signs ML baseball to a $72 million television contract with NBC.
May 8At Philadelphia‚ Joe Morgan has 4 hits steals 2 bases‚ and scores 3 runs to lead Houston to an 8-1 win over the Phils. Winning P Don Wilson knocks in 2 runs with a bunt double that rolls past SS Larry Bowa‚ who is breaking for 3B.

The A’s trade 1B Don Mincher‚ P Paul Lindblad‚ C Frank Fernandez‚ and cash to the Senators for 1B Mike Epstein and P Darold Knowles. The Nats will sell Fernandez back to the A’s in late June‚ and the A’s will trade Frank to the Cubs.

The Reds trade Kurt Bevacqua upstate to the Indians for OF Buddy Bradford.
May 9At San Francisco‚ the Braves and Giants split a pair. After the Giants win the opener‚ 5-2‚ the Braves take the nitecap‚ 6-5‚ in 11 innings. Cepeda connects for a grand slam and solo homer for Atlanta‚ while McCovey has a 3-run HR for SF. The Braves win it in the 10th when Ralph Garr scores after collecting his 4th hit.
May 10At New York‚ Ken Harrelson‘s 2-run single in the 7th beats Houston and Wade Blasingame‚ 2-1. It is Blasingame’s first loss to the Mets after 9 wins.
May 11Indian pitcher Steve Dunning connects for a grand slam‚ but doesn’t get the win‚ as Cleveland beats the A’s 7-5. Dunning‚ who came straight to the majors from Stanford‚ hits the last grand slam this century by an AL pitcher.
May 13The Reds swap OF Angel Bravo to the Padres for OF Al Ferrara‚ who (as noted by Reds historians Greg Rhodes and John Snyder) once played solo piano at Carnegie Hall at age 12. After Ferrara hits .182 for the season‚ he’ll pose the question: “what did you expect for Angel Bravo-Willie Mays?”
May 14Syracuse blows its 11-1 lead in an International League game as Winnipeg gets 9 HRs to tie the game at 13. Syracuse finally wins 15-13 in the 12th inning.

After pitching 7 straight complete game victories‚ Vida Blue leaves in the 7th‚ losing 2-0 to the Royals. The A’s rally for 5 runs in the 9th on 2 hits to win‚ 5-2. The 2 teams combine for 9 double plays‚ tying the AL mark. The A’s 6 DPs is one short of the record.
May 15Fergie Jenkins (7-2) pitches and bats the Cubs to a 6-4 win over San Diego. Jenkins hits a 2-run HR and finishes his 7th game in 8 starts. Billy Williams connects for his 300th HR.
May 16Doug Rader connects for a grand slam and a 2-run double to tie the Astros club franchise record of 6 RBIs. The Astros outhits the Cards 17-16 and outscore them 12-4. St. Louis strands 10.
May 17The Red Sox sign P Luis Tiant‚ who had been released by the Twins and Braves during the preceding 5 weeks‚ and assign him to Louisville. He will put together three 20-win seasons for the Red Sox in 5 years.

Atlanta’s Ralph Garr homers in the 10th and 12th innings of a game against the Mets‚ tying a ML record for most HRs in extra innings. He’s just the 4th to do it and the 2nd NLer. Art Shamsky last did it‚ in 1966. The Braves win 4-3.

Washington OF Tom McCraw “slugs” a 140-foot HR against the Cleveland Indians. SS Jack Heidemann‚ CF Vada Pinson‚ and LF John Lowenstein collide on his short pop ?y to left center‚ and McCraw circles the bases before the ball is retrieved.
May 18Jose Cardenal singles in the 9th to give the Cards a 6-5 win over the Dodgers. Cardenal‚ playing RF‚ also nabs Don Sutton in the 3rd inning on a 9-3 putout.
May 19Clete Boyer and Mike Lum hit 2 homers apiece to lead the Braves to a 10-4 win over the Expos. After Boyer homers in the 3rd‚ Lum follows with a solo shot. The red hot Boyer now has 5 homers in 5 games and 6 for the year‚ but this is his last ML homer.
May 23With 53‚337 on hand Mickey Lolich and Les Cain‚ with 3 innings from Joe Niekro‚ notch shutouts as the Tigers sweep a doubleheader from the Senators 5-0 and 11-0. The loser in the opener is Denny McLain‚ making his first appearance in Detroit since being traded. Kaline and Cash each hit 2-run homers off Denny‚ with Cash adding another pair‚ one with the sacks full‚ in the nitecap.
May 24In Philadelphia‚ the Reds Gary Nolan loses a one hitter to the Phils‚ 2-1. The only hit is Denny Doyle’s 2-run homer in the 2nd inning.
May 26The Padres Al “Iron Man” Santorini starts both ends of a doubleheader against the Astros. Santorini‚ facing a lineup of 7 lefties‚ retires one batter before manager Preston Gomez lifts him for lefty Roberts. It almost works‚ but Houston scores a run in the 9th to win‚ 2-1. In the nightcap‚ Santorini gives up 2 earned runs in 6 innings‚ but the Padres manage only one hit-a 2-out single in the 7th by Brown-off Larry Dierker. The Astros win‚ 8-0. Santorini is the first pitcher since 1950 to start 2 games in one day.

The Yankees swap 27-year-old Curt Blefary to Oakland for pitchers Darrell Osteen and Rob Gardner. Gardner had been traded to the A’s by New York last month.
May 28The Braves Clete Boyer‚ involved in a dispute with owner Paul Richards and manager Lum Harris over alleged silly rules and mismanagement‚ gets his release and retires (he’ll later play in Japan). Boyer had hit safely in the last 9 games of his career‚ including 5 HRs and 14 RBIs.

At Riverfront Stadium‚ Don Gullett (10 IP) and Clay Carroll combine to beat the Astros‚ 1-0‚ in 13 innings. Lee May hits a single to drive in the game-winner.
May 29The Mets feature firepower as Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver combine to strike out 26‚ tying Mets own ML record (Sept. 9‚ 1970) in a sweep of the Padres. Seaver wins the opener‚ 5-1‚ with 10 K’s and Ryan cops the nitecap‚ 2-1. Mets batters strike out 15 times: the 41 strikeouts ties the ML record.

In a great trade for Cincinnati‚ the Giants ship OF George Foster to the Reds for SS Frank Duffy and P Vern Geishert.
May 30Willie Mays hits his 638th career HR for the Giants‚ adding in the process his NL record 1‚950th run scored. Stan Musial had been the record holder with 1‚949 runs. The Giants beat Montreal‚ 5-4.

Willie Stargell clocks a Ken Holtzman pitch deep into the right field upper deck at Three Rivers Stadium‚ one of four he will park there‚ and the Corsairs coast to a 10-0 romp over the Cubs. Bob Moose is the victor over Ken Holtzman.
May 31The Giants beat the Mets 2-1 in 11 innings to raise their record to 37-14 and open a 10 1?2 game lead over the 2nd-place Dodgers.

The Cards nip the Braves‚ 3-2‚ but Lou Brock goes hitless‚ ending his consecutive game hitting streak at 26.

June

June 3At Cincinnati‚ Cub southpaw Ken Holtzman tosses the 2nd no-hitter of his career‚ victimizing the Reds 1-0. Holtzman scores the only run‚ unearned‚ in the 3rd inning to beat Gary Nolan.
June 4At Riverfront Stadium‚ the Reds recover from being no hit to roll over the Cards‚ 12-0. Ross Grimsley pitches his first ML shutout and is backed by a 17 hit attack. Foster and Perez each have 4 hits.

The Red Sox recall P Luis Tiant from Louisville.
June 6Willie Mays strokes a 12th-inning HR off Joe Hoerner of the Phillies in the 2nd game of a doubleheader‚ his 22nd-and last-career extra-inning belt‚ a ML mark. The Giants win‚ 4-3‚ after losing the opener to Rick Wise‚ 1-0. It’s the first shutout over the giants this year.

The Los Angeles Dodgers hold their first Old Timers game featuring Dodgers of the fifties against Dodgers of the sixties. Maury Wills‚ who is still on the active roster‚ plays in the game and swipes a couple of bases while the crowd chants “Go‚ Go‚ Go‚” as they had in the 1962-66 period before he was traded to Pittsburgh. Wills then plays in the regular game and helps the Dodgers beat the Mets‚ 4-3.
June 7The Brewers trade Danny Walton to the Yankees for prospects Bobby Mitchell and Frank Tepedino. Walton hit 17 HRs in 1970‚ but is hitting just .203 this year.
June 8Danny Goodwin is chosen as the first player in the June draft and turns down a reported $50‚000 offer from the White Sox to attend Southern University. He will be chosen number one again in 1975. The Sox fail to sign 10 of their 14 picks. The Padres select P Jay Franklin with the 2nd pick. The Expos use the 4th overall pick to take 17-year-old SS Condredge Holloway‚ who never does play pro baseball‚ opting after college to play 13 seasons in the CFL. Boston uses the 15th pick on the first round to take Jim Rice. Future MVP Keith Hernandez‚ who did not play baseball his senior year in HS‚ lasts until the 42nd round (Cards). The Senators pick Dartmouth’s Pete Broberg and he bypasses the minors to make his ML debut on June 20th. Other selections to jump right to the majors are the U of Texas Burt Hooton (Cubs‚ June 17) and MSU’s Rob Ellis (Brewers‚ June 18).

Ken Holtzman pitches 12 innings for the Cubs before Joe Pepitone hits a game-ending homer off Pittsburgh’s Mudcat Grant to win‚ 1-0. Pepi did it once before‚ in the AL‚ and is the first to do it in both leagues.
June 9Expo Steve Renko pitches the first of 2 one-hitters of the season. He beats the Giants 4-0 exactly a month before he will top the Phillies 3-0. Dick Dietz’s single is the only hit.
June 12Phillies 2B Terry Harmon accepts 18 chances during a 3-0 win over the Padres‚ setting a modern ML record. Meanwhile‚ the Phils deal another 2B‚ veteran Tony Taylor‚ to the Tigers for 2 minor leaguers.
June 13Chico Ruiz allegedly pulls a gun on Angels teammate Alex Johnson in a clubhouse incident. There are no witnesses to the episode‚ which Ruiz denies‚ and it is one of a series of problems involving Johnson in 1971. Both players are hitless pinch hitters in the 5-2 loss to Washington.
June 16First place Oakland’s 5 solo HRs account for all their scoring in a 5-1 win over Washington. Mike Epstein homers his first 2 times up to give him a record-tying 4 straight over 2 games. Vida Blue (14-2) picks up the win.
June 17Don Kessinger goes 6-for-6 as the Cubs beat the Cardinals 7-6 in 10 innings. He’s the first Cub with 6 hits since Frank Demaree on July 5‚ 1937. The Cards tie a ML record by using 5 pitchers in the 8th after the Cubs tie at 5-5.

After the White Sox score 3 in the top half of the 11th‚ the Twins score 4 in their half to win‚ 7-6. George Mitterwald drives in the winning run with his 4th hit.
June 19Indian leadoff batters Graig Nettles and Vada Pinson belt homers off Detroit’s Dean Chance in the first inning‚ but Detroit ties in the 5th‚ goes ahead on Rodriguez’s homer in the 7th‚ and wins‚ 5-3 after Norm Cash hits is 15th homer in the 8th.
June 20Four grand slams are hit in the ML‚ by the Braves Earl Williams‚ the Phillies Deron Johnson‚ the White Sox Rick Reichardt‚ and the Pirates Willie Stargell. Williams slam comes in a 5-4 loss‚ and the Braves drop a 2nd game‚ 2-0 to the Reds. The Pirates whip Montreal‚ 7-1‚ and the Sox pummel the Twins‚ 18-8. Deron Johnson’s slam‚ in the 11th‚ gives the Phils a split with the Mets.
June 21Behind Dock Ellis‘s 9th straight victory‚ the Pirates down the Mets‚ 4-0‚ and take a 4 1/2 game lead in the NL East. Willie Stargell has a 2-run HR to help Ellis. Three double plays help as does 1B Bob Robertson‚ who sets a ML record for most assists in a 9-inning game by a 1B with 8. the extra-inning mark is also 8‚ set by Buc 1B Bob Skinner in 1954.

Oakland pheenom Vida Blue strikes out 13 in winning his 15th‚ victory‚ beating the Twins‚ 3-2.

In his first ML start‚ Dodger rookie Bobby O’Brien shuts out the Cardinals‚ 4-0 and beats Bob Gibson.

Indians slugger Ken Harrelson announces his retirement from baseball to join the pro golf tour.

The Braves release vet knuckler Hoyt Wilhelm who will sign on with the Dodgers.
June 23In a singular performance‚ Phillie pitcher Rick Wise no-hits the Reds 4-0 and bangs 2 HRs in the game‚ a dinger each off Ross Grimsley and Clay Carroll. Wise gets Pete Rose for the last out. It is the 2nd no-hitter against the Reds this month.

Padres Bob Miller wins a pair from Houston‚ relieving in the 9th and pitching 4 innings in the opener‚ and then pitching two more innings in the nitecap. The Pads win 3-2 and 4-3.
June 24The Mets Tom Seaver smashes an 8th inning homer‚ off Montreal’s Bill Stoneman‚ to win his own game‚ 2-1.
June 25Cleon Jones ties an NL record by drawing 6 walks‚ helping the Mets to a doubleheader sweep of the Expos‚ 4-1 and 4-2. Jerry Grote has 3 doubles in the opener‚ and Ken Harrelson knocks in 3 runs in the nite cap. Nolan Ryan (7-4) and Danny Frisella (4-1) are winners.

Actor Kurt Russell makes his pro baseball debut for Bend (Northwest League)‚ getting a single‚ double‚ and 2 stolen bases. Russell’s baseball career would be ended by injury 2 years later.

The Expos trade Ron Swoboda back to New York-the Yankees‚ that is. The Expos receive OF Ron Woods.
June 26Last year’s AL batting king Alex Johnson is suspended by the Angels following a series of incidents (including 5 benchings and 29 fines) resulting from his failure to hustle.

The Brewers Marty Pattin gives up 11 hits to Minnesota‚ but still shuts them out‚ 5-0.
June 29At Montreal‚ the Reds roll over the Expos‚ 14-0‚ and Tony Cloninger pitches his first CG since 1969. The Reds collect 23 hits‚ led by Tommy Helms‘ four.

Tom Seaver strikes out 13 batters in a 3-0 Mets win over the Phillies.

July

July 1The Mets release 2B Al Weis‚ a WS hero less than 2 years earlier.
July 4Backed by a pair of homers‚ Mike Cuellar wins his 10th straight for the first-place O’s‚ beating Detroit’s Joe Coleman‚ 3-2.
July 5The Yankees and Red Sox each collect 16 hits‚ but for the 2nd day in a row the Red Sox hit 4 homers to win‚ 12-7. The Sox score 6 in the 6th when Petrocelli hits a bases loaded triple and Scott and Lahoud follow with homers.
July 6Norm Cash belts a pair of 3-run homers to power the Tigers to a 12-7 win over the Yanks. Mickey Lolich goes all the way for the win.
July 7Commissioner Kuhn announces that players from the Negro Leagues elected to the Hall of Fame will be given full membership in the museum. It had been previously announced that they would be honored in a separate wing.

At Anaheim‚ the Red Sox beat the Angels‚ 5-3‚ in 10 innings despite the loss of manager Ed Kasko. Kasko gets tossed after feigning a faint over a call at home plate.
July 9The A’s beat the Angels 1-0 in the longest shutout in AL history-20 innings. Vida Blue strikes out 17 batters in 11 innings for the A’s‚ while the Angels Billy Cowan ties a ML record by fanning 6 times. Both teams combine for 43 strikeouts‚ a new ML record for incompetence.

Braves SS Leo Foster makes a memorable debut. Against the Pirates‚ he errs on his first chance‚ hits into a double play in the 5th‚ and a triple play in the 7th. Pittsburgh rolls by Atlanta‚ 11-2.

In the Royals‚ 6-3 win over the Twins‚ Freddie Patek hits for the cycle.
July 10The Pirates again top the Braves‚ 5-4‚ behind Stargell’s 30th HR of the season and his 10th off Braves’ pitching.
July 11Tony Conigliaro‚ who had gone 0-for-8 with 5 strikeouts for the Angels during their 20-inning loss 2 days earlier‚ calls a 5 A.M. press conference to announce his retirement. Later tests will show that the sight in his left eye‚ injured in a 1967 beaning‚ has deteriorated.

Deron Johnson hits 3 HRs‚ giving him 4 straight over 2 games‚ helping the Phils beat the Expos 11-5.

The Reds win game 1 against the Mets‚ 5-2‚ then complete the sweep as Tony Perez drives in all 5 runs to defeat the Mets‚ 5-3. Perez puts the Reds ahead with a 3-run homer off Tom Seaver in the 8th. Jim McGlothlin strikes out 12 in the game 2 win.
July 13In an All-Star Game featuring HRs by Johnny Bench‚ Hank Aaron‚ Roberto Clemente‚ Reggie Jackson‚ Frank Robinson‚ and Harmon Killebrew‚ the AL triumphs at Detroit 6-4. It is the only AL All-Star victory between 1962 and 1983. Jackson’s HR goes 520 feet.
July 15The Pirates beat the Padres 4-3 in a marathon thriller. Pittsburgh ties the game in the bottom of the 9th‚ 13th‚ and 16th innings before winning it on a Roberto Clemente HR in the 17th.
July 16Vida Blue boosts his record to 18-3 with a one-hit 4-0 victory over Detroit. Taylor’s single in the 4th is the only hit.

Until today‚ only 3 balls have been hit into the 70-foot high RF upper deck at Three Rivers Stadium‚ and Willie Stargell hit all of them (he’ll hit another on May 31‚ 1973). Today Bob Robertson joins Stargell when he connects with a cannon shot off Padres P Steve Arlin in a Bucs victory.
July 17Dock Ellis wins his 13th straight as Pittsburgh whips the Padres 9-2.

Juan Marichal allows just one hit through 8 innings‚ but the Reds score 3 in the bottom of the 9th to win‚ 3-2. Tony Perez hits a 2-run single to win it.
July 18The Pirates sweep a doubleheader from the Dodgers 3-2 and 7-1 to extend their winning streak to 11 games. In the 2nd game‚ Luke Walker has a no-hitter until Joe Ferguson homers in the 9th inning for Los Angeles. Pittsburgh is now in front by 11 1/2 games‚ their largest lead of the year.
July 23Pat Dobson (13-4) wins his 10th straight for the Orioles‚ beating California‚ 4-3.

Catfish Hunter is knocked out in the 7th inning‚ but before he exits he drives in 4 runs as Oakland beats Detroit and Mickey Lolich‚ 9-7. Sal Bando has 2 homers‚ while the Tigers hit 4.
July 27Hal McRae collects a homer‚ three doubles and a single to lead the Reds to an 11-3 win over the Padres. His 4 long hits ties a club record.

Bill Buckner hits his 1st grand slam as the Dodgers score 6 in the 7th inning to beat Pittsburgh‚ 8-5. Dock Ellis takes his first loss after 12 straight wins.
July 30The Indians‚ with a 42-61 record‚ fire manager Alvin Dark. Johnny Lipon takes over‚ but the team goes 18-41 the rest of the season.

In Baltimore‚ Frank Robinson‘s home run spoils a no-hit bid by the Royals Dick Drago‚ who loses‚ 1-0‚ in a rain-shortened game. Drago faces just 13 batters-the minimum needed to lose a game-as play is stopped with one out in the 5th. Robby’s homer is the 493rd‚ tying him with Gehrig for 11th place on the homer list. Jim Palmer pitches a 5-inning 2-hitter.
July 31The Orioles Pat Dobson shuts out the Royals 4-0 for his 8th victory of the month. Since June 16th‚ Dobson has won 12 straight games.

August

August 1After homering yesterday off Dave Giusti‚ rookie Dave Kingman‚ in his 2nd ML game‚ clouts 2 homers for the Giants to help sweep a pair from the first-place Pirates‚ 11-7 and 8-3. McCovey adds a 3-run homer and Mays a bases-loaded double. Stargell has a pair of homers for the Pirates to go over the 100 RBI mark.

With have 2 runners on base after scoring 3 times in the 12th‚ the Cards file a protest against the Phillies for failing to get the field in playing condition after 2 rain delays‚ one 31 minutes and the other 49 minutes. The Phils say their Zamboni broke down and the score reverts a 3-3‚ 11 inning tie.

The Cards protest will be upheld and the game replayed on September 7.

Hitless in his first 6 at bats‚ Jim Northrup homers in the 16th to give the Tigers a 4-3 win over the Angels. Joe Niekro is the winner in relief.
August 2Houston’s Don Wilson allows just two hits in beat the Cubs and Fergie Jenkins‚ 2-1.

Bill Lee pitches tremendous relief‚ allowing just 2 hits in 8 1/3 innings‚ and the 2nd-place Red Sox come back to beat the AL East first place Orioles‚ 7-4. The Birds get all their runs off Tiant in the 1st.
August 4Bob Gibson wins his 200th game‚ a 7-2 victory over the Giants at St. Louis‚

Tom Walker of Fort Worth (Texas League) pitches a 15-inning‚ 1-0 no-hit win over Albuquerque‚ the 2nd longest no-hitter in baseball history. The Dukes Tom Haller matches Walker‚ scattering 9 hits in 14 innings before exiting. Enos Cabell‘s run-scoring double ends it. Only Fred Toney‘s 17-inning no-hitter in 1909 is longer.
August 5The Pirates power to a 7-2 win at Montreal‚ but lose 3B Jose Pagan when his arm is fractured by a pitch in the 5th by Strohmeyer. He will return to be a World Series hero. Pagan‚ Stargell and Oliver homer for the Bucs and Gene Alley adds 2 triples.
August 6The Yankees kayo Pat Dobson in the 4th‚ beating the Orioles 12-3. The loss ends Dobson’s win streak of 12 games‚ his 9 consecutive complete games‚ and his consecutive scoreless inning streak of 23.
August 7Vida Blue becomes the first 20-game winner in the major leagues this season with a 1-0‚ 3-hit gem over the White Sox. Joel Horlen balks in the game’s only run.
August 8Behind Lee May‘s 2 homers and 5 RBIs‚ the Reds beat the visiting Montreal Expos‚ 6-3. His 2nd homer is a 3-run shot in the 9th.
August 9The Indians score 8 runs in the 5th inning to beat the Cubs 13-5 in the annual Hall of Fame game. Earlier‚ the Hall had inducted Satchel Paige and the 7 others selected in January.

Despite belting 6 home runs-3 by Bill Freehan‚ 2 by Horton‚ one by Rodriguez-at Fenway Park‚ the Tigers lose to the Red Sox‚ 12-11. The Sox have only one homer‚ a grand slam by Bob Montgomery. Rico Petrocelli‘s pinch single with 2 outs in the 9th drives home the winner.
August 10Harmon Killebrew becomes the 10th player to amass 500 HRs‚ and adds his 501st‚ but the Orioles beat the Twins 4-3. Mike Cuellar picks up the win.

The Giants Juan Marichal pitches the 50th shutout of his career‚ a 1-0 squeaker over Montreal. He leads all active hurlers in this category.

Sixteen baseball researchers at Cooperstown form the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR)‚ with founder Robert Davids as president.
August 11It’s not my fault. Skip Lockwood accounts for the only Brewer tally when he homers off Detroit’s Joe Niekro. Each starter goes 7 innings in Detroit’s 2-1 victory. The next homer by a Brewer pitcher will come when Milwaukee is in the NL.
August 13Reds pitchers Don Gullett and Wayne Granger combine on a one-hitter‚ beating the visiting Cubs‚ 8-2. The lone Cub safety is a 2-out double by Cleon Jones in the 8th inning. Granger pitches a hitless 9th.
August 14Before 30‚678 Pittsburgh fans‚ Cardinals ace Bob Gibson‚ 35‚ hurls the first no-hitter of his career‚ an 11-0 shellacking of the Pirates. The Cards make it easy for Gibson by scoring 5 runs in the top of the first inning. Gibson walks 3 and strikes out 10‚ and paces the offensive with 3 RBIs. Gibson said after the game‚ “This was the greatest game I’ve ever pitched anywhere.” The win‚ Gibson’s 48th career shutout‚ improves his record to 11-10 and moves St. Louis to just 5 games behind the first-place Pirates.

The Braves purchase infielder Tony LaRussa from the Oakland A’s.
August 15Vida Blue raises his record to 22-4 as the A’s beat the Yankees‚ 6-4. Blue scatters 10 hits and scores the tie breaking run on a wild pitch.
August 16Harmon Killebrew‚ who has a higher percentage of his hits (28.6%) go for home runs than any other player‚ collects his annual triple in a 11-2 win over the Indians. It marks his 8th season when he will hit exactly one three bagger.
August 17Houston tops the Pirates‚ 6-5‚ as Bucs 2B Bill Mazeroski records his 2‚000th career hit.

At Tacoma‚ Tacoma’s Burt Hooton ties a PCL record when he strikes out 19 in a 5-1 win over Eugene.
August 20Ferguson Jenkins wins his 20th‚ beating Houston 3-2. The win pulls the Cubs to 4 1/2 behind Pittsburgh. But following 2 losses to Houston‚ Leo Durocher and the players will square off in a clubhouse meeting on the 23rd. Durocher accuses Santo of demanding that the team give him a day‚ and the third sacker has to be restrained from going after Leo. Leo will finally lip an “I quit‚” but stay on through the season in a frosty relationship with the team.
August 21Mickey Lolich allows 6 hits as Detroit beats the Brewers 7-2. It is Lolich’s 20th win of the year.

Pitching in relief‚ the Reds Jim Merritt (1-11) records his only win of the year. A 20-game winner last season‚ Merritt‚ started the year with 11 straight losses‚ one short of the NL record.
August 22Oakland book ends solo homers to defeat the Red Sox‚ 2-1. Bert Campaneris leads off the game with a shot and‚ with 2 out in the 9th inning‚‚ Reggie Jackson ends the game with a homer.

Lou Brock has 2 hits and 3 walks and scores 5 runs in the Cardinals‚ 13-4‚ win over the Braves.
August 24Padre Ed Acosta makes his ML pitching debut and shuts out the Phillies 2-0. He’s the first Padre to debut with a shutout.

Braves OF Rico Carty announces he has suffered permanent damage to his right eye from an altercation with 3 policemen in Atlanta.

At Wrigley Field‚ Ernie Banks hits his 512th and final home run‚ connecting off the Reds Jim McGlothin in the 4th inning. Ernie moves past Mel Ott into an 8th place tie with Eddie Mathews on the all-time list. Chicago beats Cincy‚ 5-4. The Cubs will lose 10 of their next 12‚ however‚ to drop out of contention.
August 27Detroit’s Willie Horton is struck in the eye by a pitch from Chicago’s Rich Hinton‚ sidelining him for 28 games. Hinton‚ in his first ML start‚ last 2 2/3 innings in taking the loss. Joe Coleman wins.

Pinch hitter Jimmy Stewart leads the Reds to a win as he hits a 9th inning bases loaded triple against the Cardinals‚ then scores on Pete Rose‘s sac fly. The Reds score 5 in the 9th to win‚ 8-7.
August 28Phillies hurler Rick Wise hits 2 HRs‚ including a grand slam off Don McMahon‚‚ in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. Wise beats the Giants 7-3. Wise also hit 2 HRs in his June no-hitter.

With 34‚988 looking on‚ the Braves spoil “Ron Santo Day” at Wrigley Field by beating Ferguson Jenkins and the Cubs‚ 4-3. Santo is 1-for-3 with a run scored.
August 31The A’s trade Frank Fernandez and Adrian Garrett to the Cubs for Bill McNulty. Fernandez will drive in 4 runs for the Cubs in September, all on solo homers, but will end his career leading the list of players with more lifetime walks than hits (164/145).

September

September 1The Pirates start what is believed to be the first all-black lineup (including several Latinos) in ML history‚ in a 10-7 win over the Phillies. The lineup: Rennie Stennett‚ 2B; Gene Clines‚ CF; Roberto Clemente‚ RF; Willie Stargell‚ LF; Manny Sanguillen‚ C; Dave Cash‚ 3B; Al Oliver‚ 1B; Jackie Hernandez‚ SS; and Dock Ellis‚ P. Another black‚ Bob Veale‚ was one of 3 relievers in the game.

At Wrigley‚ pitcher Fergie Jenkins leads the Cubs to a 5-2 win over Montreal by clouting two home runs and driving in 3 runs. Bill Stoneman takes the loss.
September 2Cesar Cedeno’s 200-foot ?y ball falls for a grand slam‚ following a collision of Dodgers 2B and RF. The Astros win 9-3.

Sonny Siebert hits and pitches the Red Sox to a 3-0 win over the Orioles. Siebert hits 2 HRs‚ the last AL pitcher to do so.

Royals P Ron Theobold pitches a one-hitter against the Brewers but still loses 1-0‚ as Milwaukee scores a 2nd inning run without a hit. Marty Pattin pitches his 5th shutout of the season.
September 3Owner Phil Wrigley takes out newspaper ads criticizing the Cubs players who want to dump manager Leo Durocher. A postscript adds‚ “If we could only find more team players like Ernie Banks.” Banks will play his last game on September 26th.
September 4In Los Angeles‚ the Reds lose to the Dodgers‚ 2-1‚ and almost lose SS Woody Woodward. A 10-pound sack of flour dropped from a passing airplane‚ explodes 15 feet from where Woodward is positioned in the 9th inning.
September 5Astros pitcher J. R. Richard makes his ML debut‚ striking out 15 Giants in a 5-3 win.

The Tigers tie a ML record by using 6 pinch hitters in the 7th inning‚ but lose 6-5 to the Yankees anyway.

Cardinal pitcher Jerry Reuss is a winner‚ 12-5‚ in a duel with Chicago’s Fergie Jenkins. Jenkins gives up HR to Matty Alou in the contest and now all 3 Alou brothers have hit dingers off him.
September 6Boston uses 2 entirely different 10-man lineups in a doubleheader with New York‚ but neither succeeds. The Yankees prevail 5-3 and 3-0.

The Cards tip the Phillies‚ 2-1‚ as Lou Brock steals 4 bases. It is the 2nd time that Brock has swiped 4 in one game: he’ll do it once more.
September 7Kansas City’s Amos Otis collects 4 hits and 5 SBs in a 4-3 win over Milwaukee. Darrell Porter’s wild throw on a steal allows Otis to score the winning run.

Jim Northrup goes 5-for-5 with 2 HRs in a 3-2‚ 11-inning Tiger win over Washington.

In the resumption of the August 1 protested game‚ the Cards and Phils resume play with the Cards leading in the 12th‚ 6-3‚ with 2 runners. Stranding the runners‚ the Phils then rally for 3 runs to tie‚ but St. Louis scores another 3 in the 13th to win‚ 9-6. Stan Williams wins his 1st NL game since 1962. The Cards then take the regularly scheduled game‚ 7-5‚ in 10 innings.
September 10Houston’s Jack Billingham scores his 2nd straight 1-0 victory‚ beating Cincinnati 5 days after victimizing San Francisco.
September 11At Wrigley Field‚ Juan Pizarro beats the visiting Cardinals‚ 7-0‚ with help from Paul Popovich‚ who clubs his first ML grand slam
September 13Frank Robinson of the Orioles homers in each game of a doubleheader split with Detroit‚ becoming the 11th member of the 500-HR club with his 2nd shot. The O’s win the opener‚ 9-1‚ behind Dave McNally‘s 13th consecutive win. The Tigers use 17 hits to win the nitecap‚ 10-5‚ for Scherman‚ who pitches 8 2/3 innings in relief of Joe Niekro.
September 14The Dodgers beat the first-place Giants 6-5 to climb within one game of first place in the NL Western Division. Bobby Bonds has 2 homers for SF‚ but Manny Mota‘s pinch hit double in the 9th drives in 3 runs.
September 15At Shea Stadium‚ Mike Jorgenson hits a 2-out single in the 7th to break Burt Hooton‘s no hit bid‚ and Ken Singleton follows with a homer to tie the match at 2-2. But Billy Williams clocks a pinch homer in the 9th and Hooton finishes the 3-2 victory with 15 strikeouts‚ notching his first ML win. In opener of the twi-night DH‚ Bill Hands beats Jerry Koosman‚ 6-2. Hands starts the Cubs’ scoring with a 2-run single in the 2nd.

At Houston‚ the Braves win‚ 4-2‚ as Aaron belts his 44th homer of the year. The RBI is his 1‚954th‚ tying him with Ty Cobb for 3rd place on the all-time list. In the 9th inning‚ Larry Yount is announced as the new pitcher for Houston. While taking his warm-up pitches‚ Yount injures his arm and must be replaced in what proves to be his only ML appearance. Larry’s brother Robin will begin a more successful ML career in 1974.

The Giants suffer their 3rd straight loss and their 10th in 11 games‚ losing to the Reds‚ 4-2. The Giants maintain their 1-game lead in the West.
September 16At New York‚ lefty Juan Pizarro shuts out the Mets and Tom Seaver‚ 1-0. Pizarro does it all‚ clubbing a solo homer to win his own game. It’s Pizarro’s 2nd shutout in a row and Seaver’s first loss after 7 straight wins. Tom’s last loss was August 1‚ also to Pizarro.

At Candlestick‚ George Foster hits an 8th inning grand slam to pace the Reds to an 8-1 win over the Giants.
September 17The White Sox defeat the Angels 9-4 with each Chicago player in the lineup driving in one run.
September 18San Diego’s Clay Kirby allows just one hit-a wind-blown homer in the 8th by Willie McCovey-in beating the Giants‚ 2-1. Despite the loss‚ the Giants retain their 2-game edge over the Dodgers. The Padres score their first run on a triple by Barton in the 3rd and a squeeze by Enzio Hernandez‚ and score the winner on an unearned run in the 8th off Perry. For Hernandez‚ his bunt gives him 12 RBIs: his 12 RBIs in 549 at bats is the fewest in history by anyone with 500 at bats. Kirby lost a no-hitter 5 days ago when Houston’s Johnny Edwards doubled in the 8th with one out. He then lost the game ‚ 3-2‚ on an unearned run in the 9th.
September 19Dodgers Al Downing and Don Sutton hurl shutouts during a 12-0‚ 4-0 doubleheader triumph over the Braves. The Dodgers have 19 hits in the opener‚ including 4 by Davis. LA now trails the Giants by 1 1/2 games.

After leaving one runner on base yesterday in a 5-1 win‚ the formula comes up short today as the White Sox lose‚ 2-0‚ to California’s Andy Messersmith‚ who bests Wilbur Wood. The two runners left on base in two consecutive games ties the ML and AL records.
September 20The Senators beat the Indians 8-6 in 20 innings‚ thus completing a suspended game begun 6 days earlier in Cleveland. The two teams finish the 20 frames with 30 walks issued‚ an AL record for an extra-inning game. Washington pitchers hand out 19 walks. The two teams combine on another AL record as they strand 25 base runners‚ and the teams combine for record 4 runs in the 20th inning. In the nitecap‚ the Indians win‚ 3-1‚ handing Denny McLain his 21st defeat. Meanwhile‚ Senators owner Bob Short is given permission to move his team to Texas‚ where they will become the Rangers‚ a nickname adopted on November 23rd.
September 21Dave McNally shuts out the Yankees 5-0 for his 20th win. It is the 4th straight 20-win year for the Oriole ace.
September 22The Phillies leave 14 men on base without scoring in a 2-0 loss to the Expos. Bill Stoneman is the winner over Rick Wise.

Rochester (International League) beats Denver (American Association) 9-6 to win the Junior WS‚ 4 games to 3.
September 24Wasting a heroic pitching effort by starter Clay Kirby‚ the Padres lose to the Astros 2-1 in 21 innings. Kirby hurls 15 innings and strikes out 15 men.

The Orioles clinch their division as Mike Cuellar wins his 20th game 9-2 over the Indians. In game 2 of the doubleheader‚ Pat Dobson cards his 20th win‚ a 7-0 shutout.

Al Downing becomes a 20-game winner for the first time in his career‚ as the Dodgers whip the Braves‚ 2-0. Davis has 3 hits‚ one a homer‚ and scores both runs. LA trails the Giants by 2 games.

The Phils Randy Lersch snaps an 11-game losing streak‚ beating the Cubs‚ 6-1.
September 25With rookie C Tim Hosley hitting 2 homers and driving in 5 runs‚ the Tigers trip the Yankees‚ 10-7. Les Cain pitches 6 innings for the win. Cain finishes with a 10-9 record with 145 innings‚ but contends he is forced to pitch by Manager Billy Martin while Cain has a sore arm. Cain later claims that it did permanent damage to his arm and he sues the Tigers. In a landmark decision‚ the Michigan Bureau of Workman’s Compensation will order the Tigers to pay Cain $111 a month for the rest of his life. A lump sum payment was later agreed upon.
September 26Jim Palmer becomes the 4th member of the Orioles 1971 pitching staff to notch his 20th victory‚ shutting out the host Indians‚ 5-0. Only one other team in ML history-the 1920 White Sox-boasted four 20-game winners.

Washington P Denny McLain loses his 22nd game of the season‚ dropping a 6-3 decision to the Red Sox.

Ernie Banks gets his 2‚583rd hit‚ a first-inning single off the Phils Ken Reynolds‚ but the Cubs lose 5-1. It is the last hit of his 19-year ML career.
September 28Arbitrator Lewis Gill rules that Alex Johnson was “emotionally incapacitated” during events leading to his June suspension‚ and that he should be treated the same as a physically disabled player. Johnson wins nearly $30‚000 in back salary from the Angels.

Baltimore achieves 108 wins for the season with doubleheader victories at Boston 10-2 and 5-4. The Orioles become only the 3rd team to win 100 games in 3 straight seasons.
September 29In the 6th inning of the Expos 6-5 win over the Cubs‚ Ron Hunt is hit by a Milt Pappas pitch. It is the 50th HBP for Hunt in 1971‚ setting a ML record.

The Astros light up Al Downing and the Dodgers‚ 11-0 as Forsch scatter 10 hits. LA doesn’t lose ground on the Giants and the Padres win‚ 4-1‚ in 10 innings. Nate Colbert‘s 3-run homer is the winner.
September 30The Giants win the Western division title by one game over the Dodgers‚ beating the Pirates‚ 5-1. Marichal allow 5 hits in the win. The Dodgers 2-1 win over the Padres leaves them short.

The Senators draw 14‚000 for their final game in Washington‚ with another 4‚000 crashing. Dick Bosman gives up homers to Bobby Murcer‚ Roy White‚ and Rusty Torres and the Nats are down 5-1 in the 6th. Mike Kekich then grooves a fastball for Frank Howard‚ who parks his 26th homer‚ and thanks Munson as he crosses the plate. The Senators take a 7-5 lead‚ and after Murcer makes the 2nd out in the 9th‚ fans swarm onto the field‚ causing the game to be forfeited to the Yanks‚ 9-0. All records stand but reliever Paul Lindblad losses the W by not recording the 3rd out‚ batter Horace Clarke. Of the Senators‚ Jeff Burroughs will be the last to retire‚ finishing up in 1985.

Chicago finishes the season by edging the last-place Brewers‚ 2-1‚ on Bill Melton‘s 33rd HR of the year. Melton is the first AL HR leader in Sox history.

October

October 2The Giants win the first game of the NL Championship Series 5-4 over the Pirates‚ behind 2-run HRs by Tito Fuentes and Willie McCovey.
October 3Baltimore downs Oakland 5-3 in the ALCS opener‚ as the Orioles score 4 runs in the 7th inning. OF Paul Blair caps the big inning with a 2-run double.

Bob Robertson crashes 3 HRs and a double‚ scoring 4 runs and driving home 5‚ to lead Pittsburgh to a 9-4 triumph.
October 4Baltimore wins its 2nd straight game in the ALCS‚ beating Oakland 5-1 on HRs by Boog Powell (2)‚ Brooks Robinson‚ and Ellie Hendricks. Four of Baltimore’s 7 hits against Catfish Hunter are homers.
October 5The Orioles overcome 2 Reggie Jackson HRs to complete a sweep of Oakland in the LCS with a 5-3 victory.

Richie Hebner‘s homer off Juan Marichal in the 8th inning gives Pittsburgh a 2-1 victory‚ and a 2-1 lead in the series.

The Angels trade moody OF Alex Johnson and C Gerry Moses to the Indians for outfielders Vada Pinson and Frank Baker‚ and P Alan Foster.
October 6The Pirates outslug the Giants 9-5 to win the LCS 3 games to one‚ as Richie Hebner‘s bat takes Pittsburgh into the WS. Hebner has 3 hits and 3 RBI‚ including a homer.
October 7The Angels fire manager Lefty Phillips following a stormy season. Del Rice takes over in 1972.
October 9The Orioles win game one of the WS over the Pirates 5-3 behind Dave McNally‘s 3-hitter and Merv Rettenmund‘s 3-run homer. Frank Robinson also homers‚ off Dock Ellis‚ who he homered off of in the All-Star game-a first.
October 10Rain washes out game 2 of the WS‚ the first Series postponement since 1962.
October 11Brooks Robinson ties a Series record by reaching base 5 straight times on 3 hits and 2 walks as Baltimore rolls over Pittsburgh 11-3 to take a 2-0 Series advantage. Pitcher Jim Palmer gets walked in the 4th and 5th innings‚ both times with the bases loaded.

The Red Sox and the Brewers engineer a 10-player trade that sees P Jim Lonborg‚ P Ken Brett‚ OF Joe Lahoud‚ OF Billy Conigliaro and 1B George Scott go to Milwaukee‚ and P Marty Pattin‚ P Lew Krausse and OF Tommy Harper head to Boston.
October 12As the Series moves to Pittsburgh‚ Steve Blass 3-hits the Orioles 5-1 to give the Pirates their first win.
October 13Pittsburgh comes back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Baltimore 4-3‚ as Milt May drives in the winning run in the 8th with a pinch-hit single. It is the first WS game to be played entirely under the lights.

The White Sox trade P Rich Hinton to the Yankees for Jim Lyttle.
October 14Nelson Briles hurls a 2-hit shutout and Robertson slugs his 6th post-season HR as the Pirates win the 5th game 4-0 and take a 3-2 Series advantage. Roberto Clemente hits safely in his 12th straight WS game. This is the last weekday day game in the World Series.
October 16Brooks Robinson drives in Frank Robinson in the 10th inning to give Baltimore a Series-tying 3-2 win.
October 17Steve Blass hurls a 4-hitter and Clemente homers as the Pirates win game 7 of the WS 2-1‚ becoming World Champions for the first time since 1960. After the game‚ 40‚000 people riot in downtown Pittsburgh; at least 100 are injured‚ some seriously.
October 26Vida Blue wins the AL Cy Young Award by a 98-85 margin over the Tigers Mickey Lolich. Blue was 24-8 for the A’s‚ posting 301 strikeouts‚ 8 shutouts‚ and a 1.82 ERA. Ferguson Jenkins won the Cy Young Award in the NL.

November

November 2The Orioles Pat Dobson pitches a no-hitter against the Yomiuri Giants‚ winning 2-0. It is the first no-hitter in Japanese-American exhibition history. The Orioles compile a record of 12-2-4 on the tour.
November 10Joe Torre‚ who hit 24 HRs for the Cardinals and led the NL in RBI (137) and batting (.363)‚ wins the MVP Award over Willie Stargell (48‚ 125‚ .295). Torre receives 318 points to Stargell’s 222.

Vida Blue adds the AL MVP to his list of awards for 1971‚ easily outpointing teammate Sal Bando 268-182. He is the last switch hitter this century to win the MVP.
November 20TSN announces the Gold Glove fielding teams. Among newcomers are OFs Amos Otis in the AL and Bobby Bonds in the NL.
November 22Indians 1B Chris Chambliss outpolls 4 other vote-getters to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award. Chambliss‚ who batted .275 in 111 games‚ receives 11 of 24 votes.
November 23Danny Murtaugh‚ manager of the World Champion Pirates‚ announces his retirement for health reasons. Bill Virdon is named to replace him.
November 24C-INF Earl Williams‚ who belted 33 HRs and knocked in 87 runs for the Braves‚ wins the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Williams gets 18 of 24 votes‚ with the others going to the Phillies Willie Montanez.
November 28In a blockbuster interstate trade good for both teams‚ the Dodgers send Frank Robinson‚ Bill Singer‚ Mike Strahler‚ Bobby Valentine and Billy Grabarkewitz to the Angels in exchange for Andy Messersmith‚ and Ken McMullen‚ who returns to the team that signed him. The 37-year-old Robinson will play 147 games‚ hitting 30 homers and driving in 97 runs in ’73‚ and Singer will combine with Nolan Ryan in 1973 to strike out 674 batters‚ a 20th Century ML record for 2 teammates. Messersmith will win 39 games in the next 2 seasons for the Dodgers and finish 2nd in the Cy Young voting in 1974.
November 29In 3 blockbuster deals‚ the Cubs trade P Ken Holtzman to the A’s for OF Rick Monday; the Giants trade P Gaylord Perry and SS Frank Duffy to the Indians for P Sam McDowell; and the Reds trade 1B Lee May‚ 2B Tommy Helms‚ and OF Jimmy Stewart to the Astros for 2B Joe Morgan‚ OF Cesar Geronimo‚ and P Jack Billingham. This trade‚ criticized in the Cincinnati press‚ is one of the best in Reds history‚ and puts the wheels on the big Red Machine‚ as future Hall of Famer Morgan will win 2 MVPs.
November 30The Twins trade SS Leo Cardenas to the Angels for P Dave LaRoche.

December

December 1The Cubs release Ernie Banks and sign him as a coach. Mr. Cub finishes his playing career with 512 HRs and 1‚636 RBI.
December 2The teams keep trading. Among those changing teams are Doyle Alexander (Baltimore)‚ Dick Allen (White Sox)‚ Tommy John (LA)‚ and John Mayberry (KC).

The Yankees send P Stan Bahnsen to the White Sox for INF Rich McKinney. Bahnsen will win 21 games for the White Sox in 1972‚ while McKinney will fail to win the 3B job in NY. The Yanks also get Bernie Allen from Texas in a trade for lefties Terry Ley and Gary Jones.
December 3The Brewers trade OF Jose Cardenal to the Cubs for P Jim Colborn and 2 other players.

You mean he’s not the singer? The Reds get P Tom Hall from the Twins for P Wayne Granger.
December 6The Reds trade P Milt Wilcox to the Indians for OF Ted Uhlaender. Uhlaender had 13 homers the past 2 seasons‚ and all but one came in Cleveland. He’ll hit none in Cincinnati.
December 10The Angels trade SS Jim Fregosi to the Mets for 4 players‚ including OF Leroy Stanton and P Nolan Ryan. This will probably rank as the Angels best trade.