Baseball – 1974

Baseball in 1974

<< Previous Year | Next Year >>

January

January 1Lee MacPhail takes over as AL president‚ succeeding Joe Cronin‚ who retires.
January 3Unable to pry Oakland A’s skipper Dick Williams away from Finley‚ the Yankees sign Bill Virdon as manager.
January 9Picking first in the January amateur draft‚ the Rangers select SS Roy Smalley‚ Jr‚ son of 10-year ML vet SS and nephew of manager Gene Mauch. Smalley‚ who dropped out of USC in the fall to make himself eligible‚ will sign for $100‚000.
January 16The BBWAA elects former Yankee teammates Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to the Hall of Fame. Mantle becomes only the 7th player to make it in his first try.
January 25Ray Kroc‚ fast-food entrepreneur (McDonalds)‚ buys the Padres for $12 million.
January 28The Hall of Fame Special Veterans Committee selects Sam Thompson‚ Jim Bottomley‚ and umpire Jocko Conlan.

February

February 11Forty-eight ML players invoke the new arbitration procedure established to settle contract differences. The first is P Dick Woodson (seeking a contract for $29‚000) and his team‚ the Twins (offering $23‚000)‚ who present their respective cases to Detroit lawyer and labor arbitrator Harry H. Platt‚ who must decide on one of the monetary amounts presented. Woodson wins.
February 13Speedster James “Cool Papa” Bell is named for Hall of Fame honors by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues.
February 18The Astros trade Pat Darcy to the Reds for Denis Menke. Playing in Houston for the second time‚ Menke will hang it up after hitting .103 in 30 games.
February 21Today in Charles Schulz’s syndicated cartoon strip “Peanuts” Snoopy declares‚ ” I have a trivia question that will drive Woodstock up the wall.” In the next frame: ” Who played shortstop for St. Paul when the won the American Association pennant in 1938?” After Woodstock answers‚ Snoopy shakes his head in amazement: “How did he ever hear of Ollie Bejma?” Bejma‚ who played for Schultz’ home town team‚ was the co-MVP with teammate Whitlow Wyatt in 1938 (beating out Triple Crown winner Ted Williams) before playing for the White Sox.
February 23The Angels send veteran Vada Pinson to Kansas City for minor leaguer Barry Raziano and cash. Pinson will call it quits at the end of the 1975 season‚ having rung up 2757 hits‚ the most ever for a player not in the Hall of Fame.

March

March 11With Hank Aaron needing only one HR to tie Babe Ruth‘s career record (714)‚ Atlanta plans to save the event for a home audience by benching him on the road. Commissioner Kuhn plans otherwise‚ ordering the Braves to start Aaron in at least 2 of the team’s 3 season-opening games in Cincinnati.
March 15Giants 24-game winner Ron Bryant is injured in a swimming pool accident in Yuma‚ AZ. His record will drop to 3-15 and he will never again be a consistent winner.
March 18At Pompano Beach‚ singer Charlie Pride plays for the Texas Rangers against Jim Palmer and the Orioles. The former Negro Leaguer grounds out and singles in 2 at-bats‚ as the O’s coast‚ 14-2.
March 19In a 3-team deal involving the Indians‚ Tigers‚ and Yankees‚ P Jim Perry joins his pitching brother‚ Gaylord‚ in Cleveland. P Ed Farmer and OF No Neck Williams end up on the Yankees‚ while C Gerry Moses goes to the Motor City.
March 23The Yankees purchase OF Elliot Maddox from the Rangers for $60‚000. Maddox proved to be a great defensive outfielder as well as hitting .303 in 1974.

The Cubs send OF Jim Hickman to the Cardinals for P Scipio Spinks.
March 26Boston releases future Hall of Famer SS Luis Aparicio‚ who retires‚ and DH Orlando Cepeda‚ who will sign with the Royals.

April

April 3The Dodgers trade P Bruce Ellingsen to the Indians for 17-year-old minor league IF Pedro Guerrero.
April 4At Riverfront Stadium‚ in his first swing of the season‚ Hank Aaron hits a 3-run HR off Jack Billingham as the Braves lose to the Reds 7-6 in 11 innings. It comes on a 3-1 pitch. It is HR 714 for Aaron to tie him with the Babe and Hank is greeted by Bowie Kuhn and Vice-president Gerald Ford. The Reds‚ trailing 6-2 in the 8th‚ get a 3-run homer from Tony Perez‚ tie in the 9th on Pete Rose‘s RBI-double‚ and win it in the 11th when Rose scampers home from second on Buzz Capra‘s wild pitch.
April 5Streakers and strippers highlight the Opening Day game at Chicago’s Comiskey Park. The Angels beat the White Sox 8-2. Despite handing out 10 walks‚ Nolan Ryan is the winner over Wilbur Wood‚ with help from Leron Stanton‚ who homers. For Wood‚ it is the first of his AL high 42 starts‚ the 3rd of 4 years in a row the knuckler will lead in that category.
April 6The Yankees open their two-year stay at Shea Stadium before a crowd of 20‚744. 12-year-old Teddy Kennedy‚ Jr.‚ flanked by his father and Mayor Abe Beame‚ tosses out the first ball. Missing from the ceremony is George Steinbrenner‚ indicted two days ago for illegal campaign contributions. Greg Nettle’s two-run homer in the 4th off the Indians Gaylord Perry opens the scoring and the Yanks score 4 more times to win‚ 6-1. Charlie Spikes scores the only Cleveland run in the 9th following a triple off starter and winner Mel Stottlemyre. Perry‚ who is warned once for an illegal pitch‚ is the loser today‚ but he will win his next 15 decisions.

The Twins set a team record for runs‚ rolling over the Royals‚ 23-6. Twenty of the runs are earned.
April 8In the 4th inning‚ of the Braves home opener 7-4 win against the Dodgers‚ Henry Aaron parks an Al Downing pitch in the left-centerfield stands for career home run number 715‚ breaking Ruth’s once thought to be unapproachable record. Looking on is Braves manager Eddie Mathews, who homered in the same game as Aaron 75 times, a major league record for duos. After Downing walks the next 2 batters‚ Mike Marshall makes his first appearance as a Dodger‚ and the first of a record 106 appearances this year. The Dodgers are wearing black arm-bands this game (and for the next few) in memory of Ken McMullen‘s wife‚ who died just before the season started.
April 9New Padres owner Ray Kroc‚ watching his team losing their 4th straight‚ 9-2‚ in their home opener‚ takes to the public address system in the 8th inning: “Ladies and gentlemen‚ I suffer with you. . . . I’ve never seen such stupid baseball playing in my life.” While he is speaking a streaker runs across the field. San Diego scores 3 but loses to Houston 9-5. Hearing of the incident‚ Commissioner Kuhn will make Kroc apologize to the fans.
April 12Robin Yount‚ 18‚ collects his first ML hit for the Brewers during a 5-3 loss to the Orioles. Tomorrow‚ Yount will get his 2nd hit against the O’s-a game-winning home run.

In Atlanta‚ the Reds roll over the Braves‚ 14-2. Merv Rettenmund hits a 2nd inning grand slam off vet Jack Aker.
April 14Yankee Graig Nettles blasts 4 Hrs-2 in each game-during a doubleheader split with his former team‚ the Indians. The Yanks win 9-5‚ then lose 6-9. Murcer has a homer in each game while Duncan hits a pair in game 2. Nettles will go on to tie the ML record with 11 HRs in the month of April.

In the 8th inning of Detroit’s 7-5 win over the Red Sox‚ Willie Horton mortally wounds a pigeon with a foul fly directly over home plate in Fenway Park. The pigeon lands at the feet of C Bob Montgomery. On the next pitch Horton grounds a single to LF.
April 17Cubs C George Mitterwald hits a double and 3 HRs‚ including a grand slam‚ driving in 8 runs in an 18-9 win over the Pirates at Wrigley Field. The 14 total bases is a club record. Bill Madlock scores 5 runs.

Cleveland’s Gaylord Perry pitches 15 strong innings against Milwaukee and departs with the game tied 4–4. Perry is the last pitcher this century to pitch 15 innings in a game. Former Brewer Ken Sanders comes on and gives up a homerun in the 16th to the Brewer’s Bobby Coluccio.
April 19The Yankees obtain Walt ‘No Neck’ Williams and pitchers Ed Farmer and Rick Sawyer from the Tigers for C Gerry Moses. Moses had come to New York in the Graig Nettles trade.
April 20At Riverfront Stadium‚ the Big Red Machine rolls over the Padres‚ 11-0. The Reds will win the opener tomorrow over the Giants 10-1‚ before losing the nitecap.
April 24A scoreless dual between the Cubs Bill Bonham and the Reds Jack Billingham ends with a bases-loaded 9th inning walk to George Foster. The Reds beat the Cubs‚ 1-0.
April 26Colorado defeats Nebraska 2-1 in an NCAA-record 22-inning game. James Smith has 10 at bats.

In what is dubbed the Friday Night Massacre, the Yankees trade four pitchers, including Fritz Peterson and Steve Kline, to the Indians for 1B Chris Chambliss and hurlers Dick Tidrow and .Cecil Upshaw.
April 27Randy Jones and the Padres beat the Phillies‚ 5-2‚ despite giving up an inside-the-park homer to Mike Schmidt‚ the first of 3 in the future Hall of Famer’s career.
April 29Lee May goes 5-for-5‚ including 2 homers in the 6th inning‚ as Houston destroys Chicago‚ 18-2.

May

May 1Tom Seaver allows only 3 hits and 2 walks‚ striking out 16 Dodgers in 12 innings‚ but the Mets lose in the 14th 2-1.

Dock Ellis of the Pirates hits 3 consecutive batters with pitches in the first inning‚ setting a ML record‚ and walks another in the frame before being lifted. Dock later reveals that he was high on pep pills at the time. The Bucs lose 5-3 to the Reds.
May 6Oakland P Paul Lindblad makes an errant throw in the first inning of a 6-3 loss to Baltimore. This ends Lindblad’s ML-record streak of 385 consecutive errorless games‚ dating back to August 27‚ 1966. Lee Smith will later top Lindblad’s mark in the NL.
May 7At Riverfront Stadium‚ the Reds Fred Norman strikes out 13 Cardinals‚ but loses‚ 1-0. The Birds score their only run in the 9th on Norman’s throwing error.
May 12In Cincinnati‚ Clay Kirby twirls a 2-hitter to give the Reds a 4-2 win over the Astros.
May 15At Riverfront Stadium‚ Reds pitcher Roger Nelson has his no-hitter broken up by Bobby Bonds‚ who clubs a 2-run homer in the 8th. Chris Speier homers in the 9th for the other Giants hit and Nelson finishes with a 4-3 win.
May 21The Phils Ed Farmer‚ making his 2nd NL start‚ strongarms the Cardinals‚ 4-2. Both teams make 4 hits‚ but the visiting Phils do all their scoring in the 1st off John Curtis. Philadelphia now leads the NL East by 1 1/2 games.
May 24With the game scoreless in the 9th‚ the Cards put runners on 1B and 3B with one out. Tim McCarver grounds to Cubs 1B Billy Williams who fires home to C Lundstedt to snag Ted Simmons in a rundown. But as soon as Lundstedt throws to 3B Matt Alexander‚ Simmons races home to an uncovered plate. Cards win‚ 1-0.
May 25The Yankees send C Duke Sims to the Rangers for P Larry Gura. Gura will go 5-1 with New York but because of reported differences with Billy Martin‚ Gura will be peddled to KC.
May 27The Pirates Ken Brett no-hits the Padres until the 9th inning‚ settling for a 2-hit 6-0 shutout in the first game of the doubleheader. In the 2nd game‚ Brett’s 2-run pinch triple gives the Bucs an 8-7 win.
May 29The visiting Mets lose to the Reds‚ 3-2‚ when Tony Perez clubs a 10th inning homer off John Matlack.
May 30Sadaharu Oh becomes the first player in Japanese baseball to hit 600 HRs. Only Babe Ruth‚ Hank Aaron‚ and Willie Mays are ahead of Oh-and he will surpass them all.

June

June 1At Wrigley Field‚ Ron Cey drives in 7 runs as the Dodgers romp over Chicago 10-0. Dodgers 3B coach Tommy Lasorda is hooked up to a “Game of the Week” microphone and predicts a Cey HR in the 2nd inning.
June 4On Ten-Cent Beer Night at Cleveland‚ unruly fans stumble onto the field and cause the Indians to forfeit the game to the Rangers with the score tied 5-5 in the 9th inning. A rally by the Tribe ties the score in the 9th‚ before fans pour on the field and surround OF Jeff Burroughs and try and take his hat and glove. Players from both sides then ran to his aid and the forfeit is called by Nestor Chylak. The Indians decide to cancel the three 10 cent beer nights remaining on the schedule.
June 5Oakland’s Reggie Jackson and Bill North engage in a clubhouse fight at Detroit. Jackson injures his shoulder‚ and Ray Fosse‚ attempting to separate the combatants‚ suffers a crushed disk in his neck He’ll spend 12 weeks on the DL‚ virtually ending his season.

Cleveland has 9 baserunners against the Rangers‚ and all 9 score. It won’t happen again this century. The Indians win‚ 9-3.

The June draft produces just 725 picks‚ the fewest in history‚ and only 300 of these are from the college ranks‚ with the low number blamed on the introduction of aluminum bats this past season. The Padres‚ with their 3rd number-one free-agent pick in 5 years‚ select Brown University SS Bill Almon‚ the TSN College Player of the Year. They had selected him 3 years earlier out of high school‚ but he attended college instead. The Rangers take P Tommy Boggs with the 2nd pick and the Phils follow with prep OF Lonnie Smith. With the 5th pick‚ the Braves select Dale Murphy; the Angels‚ picking 10th take the ill-fated Mike Miley‚ who quarterbacked LSU to a win in the Orange Bowl. the Tigers take Lance Parrish with the 16th pick‚ the Royals pick prep football star Willie Wilson with the 18th‚ and the Red Sox‚ picking 20th‚ take SS Eddie Ford‚ son of Whitey Ford. Picking next‚ the Dodgers get Rick Sutcliffe. The Orioles‚ with the 24th pick in round 1 pick Rich Dauer‚ the top player for USC’s championship team; 4 of their other picks will end up in the NFL (QB’s Andy Johnson‚ Steve Bartkowski‚ and John Sciarra‚ and Anthony Davis). The Cards use a pick on the NFL Giants Brad Van Pelt‚ the 5th time he’s been selected. The Twins pick up prep C Butch Wynegar‚ who will make the AL All-star team at age 20.
June 7The Giants top Pittsburgh 6-2‚ dropping the last-place Pirates’ record to 18-32‚ nine games out of first place.

At Comiskey Park‚ a popcorn machine catches fire in RF stands‚ delaying the game 70 minutes and sending fans fleeing for safety. The Sox then pop Boston‚ 8-6.
June 9Ritchie Zisk of Pittsburgh hits for the cycle and the Pirates roll over the Giants‚ 14-1. Jerry Reuss is the winner.
June 10During a 12-0 win over the Astros‚ Phillie 3B Mike Schmidt hits a ball off the public address speaker hanging from the Astrodome roof‚ 117 feet up and 300 feet from the plate. Schmidt must settle for a titanic single. Jim Lonborg is the winner.
June 11Mel Stottlemyre makes his 272nd consecutive start‚ with no relief appearances‚ to set an AL record but he loses to California‚ 5-4. In the 4th inning‚ Stottelmyre feels a pop in his right shoulder after throwing a curve ball to Frank Robinson. It is a tear in his rotator cuff: he’ll throw just 2 more innings‚ his career over at 32. Dick Lange is the winning pitcher.
June 13Henry Aaron addresses the House of Representatives in a special Flag Day ceremony. In the chamber is Representative Wilmer Mizell of North Carolina‚ who‚ as a southpaw hurler for the Cardinals‚ served up HR #61 in 1956 and #161 in 1959.
June 14Nolan Ryan strikes out 19 Red Sox in 13 innings‚ including Cecil Cooper 6 times in a row. In an unusual double-double‚ he also walks 10 batters for the 2nd time this year. Ryan throws 235 pitches. The Angels finally win in 15 innings 4-3‚ with the win going to Barry Raziano over Luis Tiant.
June 15The Angels sell Rudy May (0-1) to the Yankees where he will post an 8-4 record this year.

Baltimore beats the White Sox‚ 4-3‚ in 11 innings. Don Baylor enters the game in the 9th as a pinch runner and makes the record books with a steal and twice getting caught stealing‚ thanks to misplays by the Sox. Bobby Grich opens with a single and Tommy Davis singles him to 3B. Davis is then picked off‚ but an error by Dick Allen at 1B allows both runners to move up. After an out‚ Ellie Hendricks singles Davis home and Baylor pinch runs. Baylor gets caught stealing second but 2B Ron Santo drops the throw from Herrmann. Baylor then swipes 3B and‚ following a intentional walk to Brooks Robinson‚ he is caught stealing home‚ Herrmann unassisted. Etchebarren strikes out to end the unique frame. Baylor’s mark is a ML record‚ but will be matched four times in the NL between 1987 and 1992.
June 16Reds reliever Clay Carroll makes a rare start (3 this year) and pitches 8 shutout innings in beating the Phillies‚ 5-0.
June 18Orioles 2B Bobby Grich makes Ross Grimsley‘s home win over the Twins a little easier by belting three consecutive homers. The O’s win 10-1.
June 19George Scott‚ who walks to lead off the 2nd inning‚ is the Brewers’ only base runner as the Royals Steve Busby hurls a 2-0 no-hitter. Busby is the first ML pitcher to throw no-hitters in his first 2 seasons.

Runners are passed in 2 different games tonight‚ depriving Giant Ed Goodson of a HR in a Cardinals-Giants match‚ and creating confusion in a Pirates-Dodgers match. Goodson clocks a 3rd inning pitch from Bob Gibson‚ then passes teammate Garry Maddox between 1B and 2B. Instead of a HR‚ he gets one RBI and a single. The Giants win‚ 5-4‚ outhitting the Cards‚ 14-5. In the latter‚ Joe Ferguson apparently strikes out with the sacks full‚ and walks away‚ while Pirate C Manny Sanguillen agrees and rolls the ball to the mound. Lee Lacy‚ the LA runner on 3rd jogs to the dugout. The runner from 2B‚ Jimmy Wynn comes around but is tagged out sliding at home. Lee Lacy scurries from the dugout‚ slides home‚ and is also tagged out. Lacy‚ though tagged‚ is ruled safe according to the rules which gives him home automatically when a base on balls is called with the sacks full. The confusion is deemed moot as the Pirates prevail‚ 7-3.
June 20In a Pacific Coast League at Honolulu‚ Hawaii tops Spokane‚ 7-4‚ behind Ralph Garcia. He ties a PCL record striking out 19 Indian batters.
June 21The Braves fire manager Eddie Mathews‚ the only man to play for the Braves in Boston‚ Milwaukee‚ and Atlanta. Clyde King is hired to replace him.
June 23Los Angeles Dodger closer Mike Marshall completes a sweep of the Giants‚ winning today‚ 4-3. Marshall was the winner in yesterday’s 3-2 win‚ and also on the 21st in another 4-3 victory. Not till California’s Chuck McElroy‚ in 1996‚ will another pitcher sweep a series.
June 24Steve Busby retires the first 9 White Sox to set an AL record with 33 consecutive batsmen retired. The Royals lose‚ however‚ 3-1.
June 27The Angels fire manager Bobby Winkles. Whitey Herzog will serve as interim boss for 4 games before Dick Williams assumes the reins.
June 28At Cleveland‚ Indians OF Leron Lee crashes into Boston C Carlton Fisk‚ knocking him out of the game. Fisk’s left knee injury is so serious he will not return to action this year‚ and‚ with a broken arm sustained in next year’s spring training‚ will not play until June of 1975.

The Cubs and Expos play 18 innings before the Cubs emerge with a 8-7 win on Jerry Morales RBI triple. Morales is 1-for-9. The Expos take a game 2 laugher 15-0 behind Dennis Blair. Ron Hunt has 5 RBIs.

After the Reds win game 1‚ 6-5‚ over the Braves‚ Atlanta takes the nitecap 1-0 on Dusty Baker‘s game-ending HR in the 10th off Don Gullett. Buzz Capra (9-2) is the winner.

July

July 3Pitching in his ML-record 13th consecutive game for the Dodgers‚ Mike Marshall saves Tommy John’s 4-1 win over the Reds in the first game of a doubleheader.
July 4Mike Marshall makes his 14th straight appearance and picks up a 3-2 win over Reds. Over the past 30 days‚ Marshall is 9-0 with 3 saves and a 1.82 ERA in 20 appearances.

Toby Harrah‘s 3rd inning homer is the only hit for Texas‚ as Bert Blyleven and Twins win‚ 3-1.
July 7In the opener of a doubleheader‚ Don Money sets a ML record for consecutive errorless games at 3B with 78. The Brewers beat the Twins 8-5‚ then lose 5-3. Money will end the season with just 5 errors‚ breaking George Kell’s record set in 1950. Money also holds the NL record with just 10 errors‚ set with the Phils in 1972.

In an 11-2 win over the Cards‚ Reds pitcher Darrell Chaney hits a grand slam home run. Chaney will hit 14 homers in the ML‚ but the radio call on the slam will end up as his front door bell chime.
July 8Yankee SS Jim Mason ties the ML record with 4 doubles in a 12-5 win over the Rangers. Off the field‚ the Yankees purchase infielder Sandy Alomar from the Angels.

Cleveland’s Gaylord Perry loses to Oakland in 10 innings‚ 4-3. Vida Blue is the winner.
July 11The Padres release OF Matty Alou. Matty’s brother‚ Felipe‚ was released by the Brewers on April 29th. Younger brother Jesus keeps the Alou name alive in ML baseball‚ playing for the A’s.
July 12In Japan‚ pitcher Naoki Takahashi of Nippon Ham gets a win and save in the same game. (as noted by Gary Garland). Takahashi has a 2-0 count to Clarence Jones with 2 out in the 6th and a man on 1B. He then goes to 3B and lefty reliever Nakahara gets Jones to end the inning. In the 7th‚ Takahashi takes the mound again and finishes the game‚ which Nippon Ham wins 2-1‚ thus fulfilling the criteria for a save. The rules are later changed so that this could not happen again.
July 14The Reds and Pirates split a doubleheader at Three Rivers Stadium marked by a free-for-all which is later credited with inspiring Pittsburgh and turning its season around. The fight starts in game 2 after a 4th inning beanball when Jack Billingham plunks P Bruce Kison‚ bringing both teams onto the field. When Sparky Anderson accidentally steps on Ed Kirkpatrick‘s foot‚ the Buc catcher shoves the Reds manager‚ earning him a punch from the Reds Andy Kosko. Pedro Borbon pins Daryl Patterson‚ pulling his hair out and a piece of flesh‚ and biting him. The Pirates win the nitecap‚ 2-1‚ after losing 3-2.

In a split with the Brewers‚ the Rangers Billy Martin is the first AL manager to be removed by umpires from 2 games in one day. Milwaukee wins 9-2 in game 1‚ with the Rangers winning the nitecap‚ 5-4.
July 17Cardinals pitching great Bob Gibson fans the Reds Cesar Geronimo to become the 2nd hurler to strike out 3‚000 batters. Geronimo will become Nolan Ryan‘s 3‚000th K victim 6 years later. The Reds shrug it off‚ scoring 6 runs in the first inning and 3 in the 2nd on their way to a 12-7 win.

Milwaukee 3B Don Money commits a first-inning error in a 10-5 loss to Minnesota‚ ending his perfect defensive season after 86 games and 257 chances. Money holds both the NL and AL records for most consecutive chances without an error in a season.

In Los Angeles‚ during a 5-4 loss to the Expos‚ Dodger pitcher Tommy John blows his elbow out while pitching to Montreal 1B Hal Breeden. Dodger doctor Frank Jobe will suggest a ligament replacement for the torn ulnar collateral ligament‚ a first for a professional athlete. Given one chance in a hundred of ever pitching again‚ John will return after the surgery to post a 10-10 record in 1976‚ with a .340 ERA in 207 innings. He will gain 164 wins after the surgery‚ pitching until age 46.
July 19Cleveland’s Dick Bosman no-hits Oakland 4-0. He has no one but himself to blame for not picking up a rare perfect game. His throwing error in the 4th puts the only A’s runner on base. The 2 clubs combine to set an AL record with 2 runners left on base.
July 23The NL triumphs in the All-Star Game at Pittsburgh‚ winning 7-2. Write-in choice Dodger 1B Steve Garvey is the game’s MVP. Atlanta’s Ralph Garr goes into the All star break with 149 hits‚ the most this century (starting in 1933) before the break. He’ll end with 214 hits.
July 24Cubs manager Whitey Lockman steps aside to become director of player development and is replaced by 3B coach Jim Marshall. The Cubs will still finish last.
July 25At Riverfront Stadium‚ Tony Perez caps a 5-run Reds rally in the 9th by hitting a two out‚ two strike home run. The Reds rally to top the Giants‚ 14-13. Fred Norman wins the nitecap‚ 5-0‚ for the Reds.
July 28The Reds whip the Padres‚ 14-1‚ at Riverfront Stadium.

At Fenway‚ the Red Sox break a 3-3 tie with the Yankees to win‚ 8-3. It is their 10th straight win over the Yankees at Fenway and their 19th in 20 games with the Bronx Bombers.

In a doubleheader split‚ the Twins edge the Angels‚ 5-3 in the opener to hand California its 15th straight home loss. The Haloes come back in game 2 to win‚ 12-9. Starter Frank Tanana gives up a pair of 3-run homers to Bobby Darwin‚ then watches as reliever Nolan Ryan gives up a pair of pinch homers to Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew. But Ryan gets his 13th win. Leroy Stanton has a steal of home in the 5th and catcher Phil Roof hits the roof on the call and is ejected‚ challenging a fan in the process.
July 29Detroit hits 4 HRs in the first inning in an 8-2 win over the Indians. Al Kaline‚ Bill Freehan‚ and Mickey Stanley hit consecutive HRs off Fritz Peterson‚ and Ed Brinkman adds another‚ though not consecutive‚ off Steve Kline.
July 31During a 7-4 loss to the Expos‚ the Cubs Bill Bonham strikes out 4 batters in the 2nd inning‚ tying the ML record.

Ron Cey drives in 8 runs with a 3-run single (one on error) and three-run homers in the 8th and 9th to lead the host Dodgers to a 15-4 victory over the Padres.

At Houston‚ the Reds Don Gullett twirls a 2-hit‚ 4-0‚ shutout over the Astros. Roger Metzger has both Astro hits.

August

August 1Detroit’s Woodie Fryman stops Milwaukee 2-0‚ giving up just one hit‚ a 7th-inning single to Bobby Mitchell.

With the Cards (54-50) toppling the Pirates‚ 5-2‚ in 11 innings‚ the Phils beat the visiting Expos to remain tied for 1st in the East. Del Unser’s 3-run homer is the big blow in support of Wayne Twichell’s 6th win in 9 decisions. Ron Fairly has a homer‚ his 11th‚ for the Expos.

At Candlestick‚ Johnny Bench breaks a 7-7 tie with a 2-run homer to give the Reds a 9-7 victory over the Giants.
August 5At the top of the 9th inning at Dodger Stadium‚ during an ABC Monday Night telecast of the Reds-Dodger game‚ Alex Stein‚ 19‚ and his tiny Whippet‚ Ashley‚ dash onto the field and begin lofting spectacular Frisbee tosses. The crowd roars and the two are caught on NBC cameras‚ initiating a Frisbee craze. Stein‚ who snuck his dog into the stadium‚ is arrested when he leaves the field.
August 6In Los Angeles‚ Johnny Bench snaps a 3-3 tie with a 2-run homer in the 10th to lead the Reds to a 6-3 win over the Dodgers. It is Bench’s 200th career HR.
August 7As part of a youth movement‚ the Tigers release 1B Norm Cash and sell OF Jim Northrup to Montreal.

At Chicago‚ Nolan Ryan strikes out 13 and doesn’t allow a hit until a one-out‚ 9th inning single by Dick Allen. The Sox have 3 hits in the 9th to score 2 runs‚ one earned‚ and beat the Angels‚ 2-1. Jim Kaat is the winner. Ryan K’s the side in the 1st and 7th. This is the first of 5 times that Ryan will take a no-hitter into the 9th‚ only to lose it.

A red-hot Johnny Bench hits his 3rd game-winning homer in a week‚ this time accounting for all the scoring with a 2-run homer against the Dodgers. Jack Billingham is the CG-winner for the Reds.
August 8The Royals-Twins game is briefly interrupted by President Nixon’s resignation speech. The speech is broadcast after it begins and the next inning is delayed until the conclusion of the speech. The Twins prevail over the host Royals‚ 3-2 in 14 innings when Tony Oliva‘s sac fly drives home Rod Carew. Bill Campbell pitches 7 innings of relief for the win.
August 12Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford head a group of 6 inductees at Cooperstown.

Nolan Ryan strikes out 19 and walks only 2 as the Angels top the Red Sox 4-2.
August 17Cleveland purchases former NL batting champ Rico Carty from Cordoba of the Mexican League. He will hit .363 for the rest of the season.
August 19Reds’ 2B Joe Morgan drives in 7 runs as Cincinnati rolls over Philadelphia 15-2. Morgan has a grand slam and a 3-run homer‚ then leaves after 3 innings when the Reds build a 14-0 lead.
August 20Nolan Ryan strikes out 19 in 11 innings‚ but loses to the Tigers 1-0 at Anaheim Stadium. Mickey Lolich goes the distance for the win.

Davey Lopes sets an LA Dodger record when he totals 15 bases against the Cubs in an 18-8 drubbing of the Cubs at Wrigley. Lopes has 3 HRs‚ a double and single in the Dodgers’ 24-hit attack. The Dodgers totaled 48 bases in the game‚ a team record.
August 21Red Sox pitcher Roger Moret earns a new contract from Tom Yawkey today by tossing a one-hitter against the visiting White Sox‚ to win‚ 4-0. Dick Allen‘s 7th inning single is the lone hit as Moret strikes out 12.
August 22Before a crowd of 35‚866‚ the largest in 18 years at Fenway‚ the Red Sox turn back the A’s. 3-0. Luis Tiant wins his 20th for Boston this year. Boston (70-54) now leads the AL by 7 games.

Salem (Carolina League) OF Alfredo Edmead is killed in a collision with a teammate during a game with Rocky Mount. The cause of death is given as a massive skull fracture.
August 24Davey Lopes steals 5 bases as the Dodgers top the Cardinals 3-0. He is thrown out on his 6th attempt. Don Sutton is the shutout winner.

The Red Sox‚ leading the AL By 8 games. lose today‚ 4-1 to Oakland’s Catfish Hunter‚ to start their slide. They will finish in 3rd place‚ 7 games in back.
August 27New York’s Benny Ayala homers in his first ML at bat as the Mets top the Astros 4-2. He’s the first NL rookie in 13 years to go deep on his 1st at bat.

Hal McRae ties the ML record with 6 extra-base hits-5 doubles and a HR-as the Royals split a doubleheader with the Indians. Kansas City loses the opener, 12-8 and wins the second game, 13-3. McRae has a HR and 3 doubles in game one to drive in 6 runs. He adds 2 doubles in the nitecap. Rico Carty has 4 hits for Cleveland in the first game while teammate Joe Lis homers in each game. George Brett records an unusual strikeout in the 3rd inning of game one when he fouls a ball off his foot and Catcher Dave Duncan throws to 1B. Umpire Odom calls Brett out and when Brett argues too vehemently, he is ejected. The umps confer and then decide to reverse the call at first base, ruling it a foul ball. But the ejection stands. It is Odom’s second ejection of the game: he had earlier tossed Kansas City coach Bob Aspromonte for protesting that McRae interfered with Duncan on a throw home. Umpire Phillips had ejected Cleveland coach Larry Doby from the dugout on the same play. John Mayberry pinch hits for Brett and strikes out.
August 28The Orioles lose to Rangers 4-2‚ dropping their record to 65-65‚ 8 games behind the front-running Red Sox.

The Pirates move 1 1/2 games in front of the Cardinals by winning their 6th straight game‚ a 3-1 win at San Francisco. Ed Kirkpatrick‘s 2-out double in the 11th wins it.
August 29The Orioles beat Texas‚ 6-2‚ as Tommy Davis drives in 3 runs with a single.
August 30The Rangers Dave Nelson steals 2B‚ 3B‚ and home in the first inning‚ only the 3rd such performance in the major leagues since 1928‚ but it’s not enough as Texas loses to Cleveland 7-3.
August 31Johnny Bench drives in 7 runs with a bases loaded double and grand slam to lead the Reds to a 10-3 win over Montreal.

The Yankees rack up 25 hits against the White Sox enroute to an 18-6 victory. Roy White has 5 hits‚ while Thurman Munson and Gene Michael have 4 apiece. Munson has 5 RBI.

Portland Mavericks manager Frank Peters rotates his players so that each man plays one inning at each position‚ each playing all 9 positions. It works: Portland beats Tri-Cities (Northwest League) 8-7.

September

September 1During a 5-3 win over the Tigers‚ the A’s 1B Gene Tenace goes through the entire game without a fielding chance-only the 4th time this century that has occurred in that position. In the same game‚ Detroit’s Reggie Sanders homers in his first ML AB.

Lou Brock steals 4 bases in an 8-1 win over the Giants. This gives him 98 steals for the year.

The Major League Scouting Bureau is instituted as a way to cut costs by centralizing scouting. Membership is not mandatory until 1984‚ and only 17 of 24 teams initially agree to the $118‚000 fee for joining. All AL clubs except the White Sox and Toronto join: in the NL‚ the Cubs‚ Montreal‚ Pirates‚ Braves‚ Houston and the Reds join. Brewers GM Jim Wilson is put in charge.

With Carlton Fisk out through the end of the season‚ the Red Sox purchase C Tim McCarver from the Cardinals. McCarver will play just 11 games this year and 12 next spring in Boston before being reunited with Steve Carlton in Philadelphia.
September 2Boston pitchers Luis Tiant and Bill Lee each allow just one run in a Labor Day doubleheader‚ yet both lose games to Baltimore. Ross Grimsley and Mike Cuellar toss twin 1-0 shutouts.

A controversial call against the Reds helps the Astros win 4-3. Johnny Bench‘s single in the 7th scores one run and the 2nd base runner Joe Morgan is called out‚ negating the tying run‚ though replays seem to show him safe. The Cincinnati City Council will pass a resolution stating their shock and dismay at the “atrocious call.”
September 3The Giants John Montefusco makes his ML debut‚ homers in his first official time at bat‚ off Charlie Hough‚ and pitches 9 innings of relief to earn a 9-5 victory over the Dodgers.
September 4Don Wilson has a no-hitter through 8 innings‚ but is lifted for a PH by Houston manager Preston Gomez. Reliever Mike Cosgrove gives up a leadoff single to Tony Perez‚ and the Astros lose to the Reds 2-1. Jack Billingham‚ who has a sac bunt in the 2-run 5th‚ is the winner. Gomez made the same mistake in San Diego on July 21‚ 1970. The Reds score both runs in the 5th inning on 2 walks‚ a sac bunt and a 2-base throwing error by Roger Metzger.

The Orioles top the Red Sox‚ 6-0‚ for their 3rd straight shutout over Boston. The Sox manage just 8 hits in the 3 games.

California’s Andy Hassler hands out 10 walks but still shuts out the Red Sox‚ 6-0. It is the 3rd time this year a California pitcher has been this generous with bases on balls.
September 5Milwaukee hands Boston its 7th straight loss as rookie Gorman Thomas hits a 2-run shot in the 9th inning. It was Thomas’ first game of the year for Milwaukee after hitting 51 homers for Sacramento (PCL) this year. Billy Champion (10-3) picks up the win for the 5th-place Brewers.
September 6Baltimore sweeps a doubleheader from Cleveland 2-0 and 1-0. Dave McNally and Mike Cuellar notch the 4th and 5th consecutive shutouts for the Orioles‚ who set an AL record with 54 straight scoreless innings pitched.
September 7During a 3-1 win over the Chicago White Sox‚ California’s Nolan Ryan has a fastball clocked at 100.8 miles per hour-the fastest pitch ever recorded.

In a game with the Tigers‚ Graig Nettles loses a single when it is discovered he is using a corked bat. The Yankees win 1-0 on Nettles’s earlier HR.

Playing on a badly sprained ankle‚ Joe Morgan belts a 2-run homer off Mike Marshall to give the Reds a 7-5 win over the Dodgers. Before his homer‚ Morgan had missed a pitch and fallen down‚ prompting Sparky Anderson to try and remove him. The Reds win today after trailing 5-0.
September 8Andy Hassler of the A’s allows just one hit but loses to Jim Kaat and the White Sox‚ 1-0. Light-hitting Lee Richard hits a leadoff double in the 3rd and scores on an error.

Two pitchers each take their 20th loss of the season. Steve Rogers allows 3 runs in 7 innings as the Expos lose to the Pirates‚ 8-2. Dave Parker hits a grand slam in the 8th to put the game away for Jim Rooker. Randy Jones loses his 20th as Houston edges the Padres‚ 3-2. Larry Howard hits a solo HR in the 7th to break a 2-2 tie and give the win to Tom Griffin (13-8).
September 9At Fenway‚ the Yankees beat the Red Sox‚ 6-3‚ for their first win in Boston since July 31 of last year. The Yankees have won 2 of 24 games at Fenway since 1972.
September 10The Cardinals lose to the Phillies 8-2‚ but Lou Brock breaks Maury Wills‘ ML record by stealing his 104th and 105th bases of the season. It also gives him 740 career SBs‚ breaking Max Carey‘s NL record of 738.

Former batting champion Alex Johnson‚ purchased by the Yankees from the Texas Rangers yesterday‚ arrives in Boston during the Red Sox-Yankee game. With the score tied 1-1 in the 12th‚ Johnson socks a pinch-HR to win it for New York 2-1.

Cubs pinch hitters Carmen Fanzone and Jim Tyrone each clout homers against the Pirates‚ but the Bucs win 12-4.
September 11The Mets lose a marathon night game after 7 hours 4 minutes‚ and 25 innings‚ the longest game to a decision in ML history. Two Mets errors lead to the Cardinals’ winning run starting with an errant pickoff throw that allows Bake McBride to scamper all the way around from 1B. St. Louis wins‚ 4-3. The Mets go to the plate 103 times‚ the only time the century mark has been reached in a ML game; the Cards are not far behind with 99 plate appearances. All told‚ a record 175 official at-bats are recorded‚ with a ML record 45 runners stranded. Only a thousand fans are on hand when the game ends at 3:13 a.m.

The Phils top the Pirates 5-3 to cut Pittsburgh’s NL East lead to 2 1/2 games. A line drive by Willie Montanez fractures the hand of Pirate P Dock Ellis‚ who will miss the rest of the season. Ellis is 12-9.
September 12Detroit P John Hiller picks up his 17th win in relief‚ an AL record‚ as he beats Milwaukee‚ 9-7.

The Reds sweep a pair from the Braves and the 2 teams combine for a ML record 3 grand slams. Cesar Geronimo hits one in the 2nd inning of game 1‚ as does the Braves Darrell Evans. The Braves hang on for a 9-6 win‚ then take game 2 by a 6-2 score. Johnny Bench hits the 3rd grand slam of the day in game 2. Bench will finish the year with 129 RBIs to top the NL‚ and his 315 total bases will lead the league. He is the only catcher in ML history to lead a league in TB [Bench caught 137 games; 3B in 36 games; 1B in 5].
September 13The Phillies set an NL record by using 27 players during a 17-inning 7-3 loss to the Cardinals. The Cards had set the record 2 days earlier.

With 16 games remaining‚ the enigmatic Dick Allen of the White Sox announces he is quitting the team. His 32 HRs‚ the last of which was hit August 16th‚ will still be enough to lead the AL.

In Atlanta‚ Johnny Bench drives in all 6 runs as the Reds win‚ 6-2.
September 14Graig Nettles homers for the Yankees in the first inning‚ and brother Jim Nettles homers for the Tigers in the 2nd. This is the 2nd time that the 2 brothers have homered in the same game for different teams‚ having done it on June 11‚ 1972‚ when Graig was on Cleveland and Jim was with Minnesota. Graig’s team wins 10-7.

In LA‚ the Reds defeat the Dodgers‚ 4-2‚ to pull to within 1 1/2 games of the NL West lead. That’s as close as they come as they lose 6 of their next 8 games.
September 15Cleveland’s Gaylord Perry works hard for his 20th win‚ beating Baltimore’s Ross Grimsley‚ 1-0. Perry will go 21-13 and is the last Indian pitcher this century to win 20.
September 17St. Louis beats Pittsburgh 2-1 in 13 innings. It is the 6th straight win for the Cardinals and the 6th straight loss for the Pirates‚ turning the Bucs’ 3 1?2 game lead in the NL East to a 21?2 game margin for the Cards.
September 18Rick Reuschel is lifted after 3 scoreless inning and Steve Stone takes the 5-2 Cubs win over the Phillies. Jim Lonborg is the losing pitcher as Gene Garber and Erskine Thomason combine for 4 scoreless innings. Thomason’s 8-pitch one inning of work is his only ML appearance.
September 19The Pirates move a half game behind the Cardinals in the NL East‚ clipping the Birds‚ 8-6. Each team collects 15 hits. The Pirates score 5 runs in the 7th‚ 3 on Richie Hebner‘s home run‚ to win.
September 20The Cards beat the Cubs‚ 5-2‚ to stay ahead of the rampaging Pirates‚ winners over the Mets. Rick Monday hits a leadoff HR for the Cubs‚ off Bob Forsch‚ but it is all downhill after that. Ted Simmons has a double and 3-run HR off Bill Bonham to give him his 20th loss of the year.

Nolan Ryan allows just 3 hits but absorbs his 20th loss of the season as the Twins beat the Angles‚ 3-2. Ryan walks 7. Joe Decker (16-12) is the winner.

The Yankees move into a tie with Baltimore in the AL East with a sweep of the Indians. The Yanks take the opener‚ 5-4‚ when Bobby Murcer‘s 3rd hit‚ a triple‚ scores the winning run in the bottom of the 9th. Gaylord Perry takes his 20th loss. Larry Gura (5-0) wins the nitecap‚ 3-0‚ on 6 hits.
September 21In St. Louis‚ the Cubs jump on the Cardinals‚ scoring 5 runs in the 6th and again in the 9th to win 19-4‚ their biggest scoring output of the year. Steve Swisher has a grand slam and Jose Cardenal homers for Chicago.
September 22Detroit beats the Brewers‚ 6-5‚ pinning the 20th defeat of the year on Clyde Wright.
September 23The Pirates move to within a half game of 1st place by defeating St. Louis 1-0 in 10 innings. Jim Rooker is the winner over Lynn McGlothlin.
September 24Al Kaline doubles off Dave McNally for his 3‚000th career hit‚ as the Tigers beat the Orioles 5-4.

Clarence Jones of the Kintetsu Buffaloes hits his 38th HR to become the first American to win a Japanese HR title‚ topping the Pacific League in roundtrippers. Sadaharu Oh will lead the Central League with 49 homers. Jones will lead the league again with 36 HRs in 1976.
September 25Pittsburgh regains 1st place by edging the Cardinals 13-12 in 11 innings at Busch Stadium. Pittsburgh scored 4 times in the 9th to take a 12-9 lead‚ but St. Louis scored 3 times to tie it.

In Los Angeles, Dr. Frank Jobe performs the first elbow ligament transplant on 30-year-old pitcher Tommy John. The surgical procedure, which uses a palmaris longus tendon in either forearm or a tendon from the ankle or hamstring, will become known as Tommy John surgery. The pitcher quipped later, “When they operated I told them to put in a Koufax fastball. They did, but it was Mrs. Koufax’s.”
September 27Baltimore breaks a scoreless tie with the Brewers in the 17th inning to pull out a 1-0 win. Grant Jackson wins the decision over Jim Colborn.
September 28In his last start of the year‚ Nolan Ryan pitches his 3rd career no-hitter‚ victimizing the Twins 4-0. In the process‚ the Angels hurler strikes out 15 batters for the 6th time this season. Ryan also walks 8 to run his season total to 202 base on balls‚ joining Bob Feller in 1938 as the only pitcher to walk more than 200 in a season. Ryan will top 200 in 1977.

Astro Don Wilson 2-hits the Braves. 5-0. It would be Wilson’s last ML game‚ followed barely 3 months later by his suicide.

The Pirates move a game ahead of 2nd place St. Louis by beating the Mets 7-3. Richie Zisk and Richie Hebner sock HRs.
September 29Lou Brock steals his 118th‚ and final‚ base of the season in the Cardinals 7-3 win over the Cubs.

Mets’ rookie P Bob Apodaca beats Pittsburgh 7-2 to drop the Bucs into a 1st place tie with the Cardinals.

October

October 1The Orioles beat the Tigers 7-6. When the Brewers beat the Yankees 3-2 in 10 innings‚ the O’s become the AL East champions.

The Bucs take the NL East by edging the Cubs 6-5. A 2-run pinch HR by Bob Robertson is the game winner. Meanwhile‚ the Cardinals lose‚ 3-2‚ to the Expos‚ as Bob Gibson takes the loss. Reliever Dale Murray is the winner.

The Dodgers clinch the NL West with am 8-5 victory over Houston. Don Sutton earns the win over J.R. Richard.
October 2In the Rangers’ season finale‚ Billy Martin allows Ferguson Jenkins to hit for himself rather than use the DH‚ the first such incident in the AL all season. Jenkins singles to break up the Twins Jim Hughes’s no-hitter‚ scores the Rangers’ first run‚ and goes on to win his 25th game of the season 2-1. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th‚ Harmon Killebrew pinch hits for Larry Hisle and strikes out. It is the Killer’s last ML at bat as a Twin. He’ll sign on as a DH for the Royals after declining the Twins offer to manage in the minors.

During a 13-0 win over Reds‚ the Braves Hank Aaron homers off Rawly Eastwick. It is Aaron’s 733rd career clout and comes in his last NL at bat.
October 3Frank Robinson becomes the first black manager in the major leagues‚ as the Indians name him to replace Ken Aspromonte for the 1975 season.
October 5Don Sutton notches a 4-hit shutout to give the Dodgers a 3-0 win over the Pirates in the NL Championship Series opener.

The Orioles beat the A’s 6-3 in the AL opener as Paul Blair‚ Bobby Grich‚ and Brooks Robinson blast homers.
October 6Ron Cey cracks a HR‚ 2 doubles‚ and a single‚ and the Dodgers win the 2nd LCS game 5-2.

The A’s even the AL series behind Ken Holtzman‘s 5-0 shutout and homers by Ray Fosse and Sal Bando.
October 8Sal Bando homers again and Vida Blue hurls a 2-hitter to give the A’s a 1-0 win and a 2-1 lead in the LCS. Blue fans 7 and walks none.

The Pirates stay alive with a 7-0 win in the NLCS game as Bruce Kison gets the win. Richie Hebner and Willie Stargell drive in 6 runs between them.
October 9Los Angeles advances to the WS with a 12-1 win over the Bucs. Steve Garvey has 2 singles and 2 doubles‚ and scores 4 runs as Don Sutton wins his 2nd LCS game and 11th in a row.

The A’s get just one hit‚ but draw 11 walks‚ 9 off loser Mike Cuellar‚ in beating the Orioles 2-1. Cuellar walks Gene Tenace in the 6th to force in a run‚ and Reggie Jackson doubles in the winning run in the 7th.
October 10Former Oakland 2B Mike Andrews files a $2.5 million lawsuit against Charlie Finley over his treatment during the 1973 WS.
October 11It is revealed that Oakland ace Hunter has charged owner Charlie Finley with a breach of contract.
October 12Oakland slugging star Reggie Jackson connects for a homer off Andy Messersmith to start the scoring‚ and pitcher Ken Holtzman scores the 2nd run in the 5th on a suicide squeeze. The A’s win the WS opener 3-2 as the Dodgers strand 12 base runners

Sadaharu Oh draws his 166th walk in a 130-game season‚ setting a Japanese record. At his retirement in 1980‚ Oh will hold the all-time world record for walks‚ 2‚504‚ topping Babe Ruth‘s record of 2‚056.
October 13Hall of Fame OF Sam Rice dies at Rossmor‚ Maryland‚ at age 84‚ leaving a letter-opened at Cooperstown-confirming his controversial catch in the 1925 WS. The letter‚ dated July 26‚ 1965‚ details the entire play and ends with Rice’s punchline‚ “at no time did I lose possession of the ball.”

Los Angeles‚ behind Don Sutton‚ evens the Series with a 3-2 win. The Dodgers score in the 2nd off Vida Blue‚ and a 2-run HR by Joe Ferguson in the 6th provides the margin.

The Cardinals trade Joe Torre to the Mets for pitchers Ray Sadecki and Tommy Moore. Torre will not solve the Mets’ 3B problems but he will be named manager in 1977.
October 15In a Tuesday night game‚ the surprise starter for the Dodgers is Al Downing. But Catfish Hunter is too much for LA‚ and Oakland wins another 3-2 game.
October 16Ken Holtzman‚ who hadn’t hit all season‚ belts a 3rd-inning HR and gets the win 5-2 with Rollie Fingers in relief. Oakland scores 4 in the 6th to wrap up the 4th game 5-2.
October 17Vida Blue and Don Sutton are tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the 6th when Mike Marshall relieves and retires the side. In the 7th‚ a shower of debris halts the game for 15 minutes. When play is resumed‚ Joe Rudi hits Marshall’s first pitch for a homer to give the A’s a 3rd 3-2 win‚ clinching a 3rd straight World Championship for the team.
October 22The Giants and Yankees swap popular star outfielders: Bobby Bonds goes to the Yankees and Bobby Murcer heads to San Francisco. Bonds will play just one season in New York‚ hitting 32 HRs and stealing 32 bases‚ before leg injuries slowed him. Murcer swore he would never forgive the Yankees for trading him‚ but later he will relent when the Yanks reacquire him.
October 23The Cubs trade sweet-swinging Billy Williams‚ a fixture at Wrigley for 16 years‚ to the A’s for 2B Manny Trillo and pitchers Darold Knowles and Bob Locker.

Wally Yonamine‚ an American of Japanese descent‚ becomes the only non-Japanese manager ever to win the Japan Series when his Chunichi Dragons beat the Lotte Orions.
October 30Catfish Hunter is named the AL Cy Young Award winner. He led the league with 25 wins and a 2.49 ERA.

November

November 2The Braves trade Hank Aaron to the Brewers for OF Dave May and a minor league pitcher to be named later. Aaron will finish his ML career in Milwaukee‚ where he started it in 1954.

Meanwhile‚ Hank Aaron‚ the HR king of American baseball‚ and Sadaharu Oh‚ his Japanese counterpart‚ square off for a HR contest at Korakuen Stadium. Aaron wins 10-9.
November 6The Dodgers Mike Marshall becomes the first relief pitcher to win the Cy Young Award. Ironman Marshall set ML records with 106 appearances and 208 innings in relief.
November 13The Dodgers Steve Garvey wins the NL MVP Award with a .312 BA‚ 21 HRs‚ and 111 RBI.
November 18In a three-way deal‚ San Diego trades slugger Nate Colbert to Detroit for Ed Brinkman‚ Bob Strampe and Dick Sharon. Brinkman is then packaged with Danny Breeden and shipped to St. Louis‚ and the Cards send Ps Alan Foster‚ Rich Folkers‚ and Sonny Siebert to the Padres. None of the new Padres have a prayer‚ while the ailing Colbert‚ who set a record in 1972 by driving in 22.75% of his team’s runs‚ will prove that his 1974 average of .207 was no fluke. He and Brinkman will play for three teams in 1975.
November 20Jeff Burroughs‚ the Rangers OF who batted .301 with 25 HRs and a league-leading 118 RBI‚ wins the AL MVP Award.
November 25Mike Hargrove of the Rangers takes AL Rookie of the Year honors.
November 26Catfish Hunter meets with Charles O. Finley in the American Arbitration Association office in New York City for a hearing to determine the validity of Hunter’s breach-of-contract claim. Hunter contends that Finley failed to pay $50‚000‚ half of Hunter’s salary‚ to a life insurance fund. The case will go to arbitration.
November 27Cardinals OF Bake McBride wins the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

Bowie Kuhn suspends Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for 2 years as a result of Steinbrenner’s conviction for illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon and others.

December

December 2The Red Sox trade OF Tommy Harper to the Angels for IF Bob Heise.

At the Major League winter meetings in New Orleans‚ the Rules Committee institutes several changes: among the changes is one permitting the use of cowhide‚ rather than just horsehide‚ in the manufacture of baseballs.

After several rounds of bourbon are consumed by Phillies GM Paul Owens and Detroit GM Jim Campbell at the winter meetings‚ Owens agrees to trade promising C Bob Boone and P Larry Christenson to Detroit for veterans Bill Freehan and Jim Northrup. Tomorrow morning‚ Owens won’t recall the trade and the deal is never made. “How do you unshake a handshake?” says the disappointed Campbell.
December 3The Mets trade ace reliever and Shea Stadium favorite Tug McGraw to the Phillies in a 6-player swap. Don Hahn and Dave Schneck go to the Phils while New York receives OF Del Unser‚ C John Stearns‚ and P Mac Scarce.

The Astros trade 1B Lee May and Jay Schlueter to the Orioles for Enos Cabell and Rob Andrews.

The frustrated White Sox unload controversial Dick Allen to the Braves for a reported $5‚000. Allen never reports and retires instead. Richie Ashburn will help coax Allen out of retirement and he’ll play 2 disappointing seasons back in Philadelphia before going to Oakland as a free agent.
December 4In a dismal trade for Montreal‚ the Expos trade OF Ken Singleton and P Mike Torrez to the Orioles for P Dave McNally‚ OF Rich Coggins‚ and a minor league pitcher.
December 9Bobby Tolan traded by Cincinnati for P Clay Kirby on November 9‚ 1973‚ finally signs a 1974 contract with the Padres‚ leading to a withdrawal of the grievance initiated by the Players’ Association on his behalf.
December 13Catfish Hunter wins his claim against Charles O. Finley and is declared a free agent by arbitrator Peter Seitz.
December 19The race to sign Catfish Hunter begins in the law offices of Cherry‚ Cherry & Flythe in Ahoskie‚ North Carolina. Yankees and Red Sox representatives are the first arrivals.
December 26The Little League is officially open to girls as President Gerald Ford signs legislation amending the charter of the organization. Little League had sought changes in their charter after a series of lawsuits challenged its boys-only rule.
December 31Happy New Year. The Yankees sign Catfish Hunter to a 5-year contract worth a reported $3.75 million. This is triple the salary of any other ML player. Catfish will win 40 games over the next two seasons before suffering arm trouble.