Baseball – 1968

Baseball in 1968

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January

January 8Jose Lizandro of Marlboro (Panama) pitches a 3-0 no-hitter against Novatos. It is the first no-hitter in Panama since 1948.
January 11Ewing Kauffman becomes owner of the new Kansas City club of the AL.

The Cardinals trade OF Alex Johnson to the Reds for OF Dick Simpson.
January 23Joe Medwick is voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
January 28Goose Goslin and Kiki Cuyler are admitted into the Hall of Fame by unanimous vote of the Special Veterans Committee.

February

February 6Voters in King County (Washington) approve by 62 percent a $40 million bond issue to build a domed‚ multipurpose stadium.
February 8The Reds trade C Johnny Edwards to the Cardinals for IF Jim Williams and C Pat Corrales.
February 13The White Sox trade SS Ron Hansen and pitchers Dennis Higgins and Steve Jones to Washington for pitchers Bob Priddy and Les Narum and IF Tim Cullen.

The Giants trade C Tom Haller and P Frank Kasheta to the Dodgers for infielders Ron Hunt and Nate Oliver. This is the first trade between the 2 clubs since 1956 when Jackie Robinson was sent to the Giants but retired instead.
February 21The first basic agreement between players and owners is ratified. The agreement runs from January 1‚ 1968 to December 31‚ 1969.

The minimum ML player’s salary is raised to $10‚000. Meal money during the season will be $15 a day (up from $12)‚ and players will get $40 a week for training-camp expenses (up from $25).
February 29Former major league player and manager Lena Blackburne dies. Blackburne has been the source for his eponymous rubbing mud‚ used by umpires in both leagues to rub down new balls. He leaves the mud business to his boyhood friend‚ John Haas.

March

March 21Royals is chosen as the name of the new Kansas City AL franchise.
March 23In a spring training game‚ Cubs P Jim Ellis creates the “Lip Pass” by going to his mouth on a 3-and-1 count to issue an intentional walk. Cubs manager Durocher‚ who was opposed to the new strict enforcement of the rule preventing pitchers from going to their mouth whle on the rubber‚ is warned not to repeat the Lip pass or he’ll be fined. He doesn’t‚ but the rule is relaxed.
March 31The name for Seattle’s AL club is the Pilots.

April

April 2Tony Conigliaro returns to Boston with vision trouble. He will miss the 1968 season.
April 9Opening Day is postponed because of the funeral today for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King‚ Jr.‚ assassinated on April 4th.
April 10In Washington‚ Hubert Humphrey throws out the first ball to start the Senators-Twins game‚ while soldiers patrol the streets around D.C. Stadium to prevent rioting in the wake of the King funeral.

In New York‚ just 15‚744 show up for the opener at the Stadium between the Yanks and California. Poet Marian Moore tosses out the first ball and rookie catcher Frank Fernandez catches it. Fernandez then belts a home run off George Brunet and Mel Stottlemyre wins‚ 1-0. Fernandez has one of three hits off Brunet‚ while Stottlemyre allows just four hits. This is one of four shutouts (out of ten games) pitched on Opening Day.

In Baltimore‚ the Orioles open against the Oakland Athletics with Tom Phoebus winning over Catfish Hunter‚ 3-1. Hunter‚ at age 20‚ is the youngest opening day starter ever. Reggie Jackson homers for the A’s only run‚ while Brooks Robinson homers for Baltimore.
April 14New York suffers a 4-3 loss to Minnesota and loses OF Joe Pepitone with a fractured left elbow.

Jim Bunning‘s first win with Pittsburgh‚ 3-0 at Los Angeles‚ is his 40th career shutout and includes his 1‚000th NL strikeout‚ making him the first pitcher since Cy Young with 1‚000 in each league.
April 15Three records are smashed when the Astros score an unearned run in the 24th inning to squeeze by the Mets 1-0 after 6 hours and 6 minutes. It is the longest NL game played to completion‚ the longest ML night game‚ and the first 23 innings are the longest ML scoreless game. Oddly‚ the records erased for longest night and scoreless games are less than a year old (June 12 and September 1‚ 1967). The game ties the AL’s longest complete game: A’s 4‚ Red Sox 1‚ on September 1‚ 1906.
April 17With a 13-1 rout of the Senators‚ the Twins are 6-0 and lead the AL.

The A’s debut at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum by losing 4-1 to Baltimore. Dave McNally fires a two-hitter to beat Lew Krausse. During the game‚ the dirt covering a shallow metal dome under the pitching mound‚ is kicked aside exposing the steel frame‚ so the mound is covered between innings.

At Boston‚ Carl Yastrzemski hits his 4th homer and Dick Ellsworth stops the White Sox‚ 2-0. After Yaz’s homer‚ Chicago pitchers give him 3 straight intentional walks.
April 19The NL owners approve expansion‚ pending unanimous approval of 2 new teams.

Nolan Ryan of the Mets becomes the 6th pitcher in NL history to strike out the side on 9 pitches. But Los Angeles wins 3-2 at Shea Stadium.
April 20In a match-up of future Hall of Famers‚ the Cubs Fergie Jenkins three-hits the Cardinals to beat Bob Gibson‚ 5-1.
April 21Behind complete-game wins by Earl Wilson and Denny McLain‚ the Tigers beat the White Sox‚ 4-1 and 2-1‚ to stretch their win victory streak to 9 games. The Sox have yet to win.

The Dodgers win a pair from the Mets behind reliever Phil Regan‚ who picks up both wins. It’ll earn him a trip to Chicago in two days.
April 23The Cubs make a canny trade acquiring P Phil Regan and OF Jim Hickman from the Dodgers for OF Ted Savage and P Jim Ellis.
April 25After losing their first ten games‚ the White Sox finally win‚ topping Minnesota in the Dome 3-2.

At Chicago‚ the Cubs are 5-2 winner over the Braves‚ with Ferguson Jenkins beating Ken Johnson. Felipe Alou homers for the Braves.
April 27Tom Phoebus‚ the Orioles’ top pitcher last year‚ throws a 6-0 no-hitter against the Red Sox. Brooks Robinson drives in 3 runs and makes a great stab to rob Rico Petrocelli of a hit in the 8th. Converted OF Curt Blefary catches the game.
April 29The Giants Jim Davenport plays his 97th consecutive errorless game at 3B in a 7-2 loss to the Braves. Ron Reed pitches a three-hitter for his first win of the year. The Braves score 7 runs and 12 hits against Marichal‚ who exits after giving up a leadoff homer in the 8th to Terry Francona‚ his 4th hit of the game.

In Houston‚ the Astros gets swamped by the Reds‚ 17-2. Led by Pete Rose‘s 4 hits and 4 runs‚ ever Cincy position player has at least 2 hits as they score in every inning except the 8th. Perez has a triple and homer to go with his 5 RBI. Jim Maloney is an easy winner and exits after 5 innings.

May

May 1Sudden Sam McDowell of Cleveland strikes out 16 batters and defeats Oakland 3-1.
May 2During a 3-0 loss to the Mets‚ Phillies reliever John Boozer is ejected in the 7th by umpire Ed Vargo at Shea Stadium for throwing spitballs during his warm-up pitches. After the first time he goes to his mouth‚ the umpire calls a ball‚ even though the batter was not in the box. Manager Gene Mauch comes out to argue and orders Boozer to go to his mouth on the next two pitches as well‚ earning both Boozer and Mauch ejections. Mauch protests the game. Boozer is only the 2nd ML pitcher to be ejected from a game for throwing spitballs. Dick Hall‚ who replaces Boozer with a 3-0 count on Bud Harrelson‚ gets him to ground out. Nolan Ryan notches his second career win. Tomorrow‚ National League President Warren Giles will rule that a pitcher shouldn’t be charged with a ball while warming up. If a pitcher touches his mouth while warming up‚ he would be required to dry his fingers before delivering a pitch to the batter.
May 5In Los Angeles‚ Johnny Bench hits an RBI double in the 16th inning as the Reds edge the Dodgers‚ 3-2.
May 6In a 10-2 loss to Houston‚ Giants reliever Lindy McDaniel sets a NL record with his 225th consecutive errorless game. The veteran hurler has handled 108 chances consecutively since June 16‚ 1964.

Baltimore’s Dave Leonard shuts out the Tigers‚ 4-0‚ as Detroit manages just 23 at bats in the 9-inning game. Jim Northrup‘s 2-out single in the 7th is the only safety‚ but Leonard walks 7 and hits 2 batters. The O’s pull of 3 double plays‚ 3 Tigers are caught stealing and one is caught in a rundown.
May 8Oakland’s Catfish Hunter pitches a perfect game against the Twins‚ winning 4-0. The 22-year old righthander hurls the first American League regular season perfecto in 46 years. He strikes out 11‚ including Harmon Killebrew three times‚ and drives in three of the A’s four runs‚ the other coming on a two-out‚ bases-loaded walk to 1B Danny Cater in the eighth inning.
May 10Denny McLain wins 12-1 at Washington‚ as the Tigers pass the first-place Orioles. Detroit will remain in the lead for the rest of the season.
May 12The Indians Luis Tiant shuts out Baltimore‚ 2-0‚ for his 4th straight shutout‚ a club record. Luis stopped Washington‚ 2-0‚ April 28; 2-0 vs. Minnesota‚ May 4; 8-0 vs. New York on May 7.
May 13University of Denver defeats the Air Force Academy 33-29‚ establishing a record for most runs by a losing team and the most total bases in a game (104).
May 14Dodger P Don Drysdale shuts out the Cubs‚ 1-0. It is the 5th game in a row that the Dodgers have scored but one run‚ tying a ML record held by 4 other teams. LA will score 3 tomorrow in a loss to the Cubs.
May 15The first AL game played in Milwaukee is a 4-2 California win against Chicago before 23‚403 fans. Rain shortens the game to five innings. This is the first of the 9 games the White Sox will play in Milwaukee in 1968.
May 16With his third 2-HR game in 4 games‚ Senators LF Frank Howard ties the AL record for most HRs (7) in 4 straight games (at least one in each). Washington wins 4-1 at Cleveland.

In Los Angeles‚ the Cubs Rich Nye tops Don Sutton‚ 1-0‚ starting the Dodgers on another one-run per game run‚ as they will score one run in 4 of their next 5 games.
May 17Joe Sparma takes a one-hitter into the 9th against the Senators‚ but Frank Howard homers to give the Nats a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the inning‚ Jim Northrup wins the game‚ 7-3‚ with a grand slam‚ one of five he will hit this season. Howard homers for the 5th straight game; it is his 8th and the most anyone has hit in a 5-game span.

The Phils Woodie Fryman strikes out 9 and allows 5 hits in 10 innings in beating Bob Gibson (3-3) and the Cardinals‚ 1-0. Fryman scores with 2 outs in the 10th after opening the frame with a single.
May 18Frank Howard ties the AL record with a HR in his 6th consecutive game to lead Washington to an 8-4 win over Detroit. His 10 HRs in the 6 games are the most of all the record holders. Howard’s 10 HRs (in 20 at bats) are also the most ever in one week (Sunday through Saturday). Earl Wilson will stop him tomorrow. For Detroit‚ Al Kaline belts a pinch-HR off Steve Jones It is Kaline’s 307th HR‚ surpassing Hank Greenberg‘s 306 in a Tiger uniform.

Don Drysdale posts his 2nd consecutive shutout‚ 1-0‚ over Houston.

Pirate Bill Mazeroski plays his 392nd straight game‚ a record for NL 2B‚ in an 8-3 loss to the Reds.
May 20in Anaheim‚ Angels SS Jim Fregosi joins a small group of players by hitting for the cycle a 2nd time. California beats Boston 5-4 in 11 innings.
May 21The Cubs climb above the .500 mark the first time all season with a 6-5 win over the Phillies. Chicago’s Billy Williams sets a record for outfielders by playing his 695th straight game.
May 22The Cards fall 2-0‚ as the Dodgers Don Drysdale‘s streak reaches 3 consecutive scoreless games. Bob Gibson is the loser.
May 25Detroit OF Al Kaline is hit by the A’s Lew Krausse’s pitch and suffers a broken arm. He will be out until June 30th. The Tigers win‚ 2-1‚ behind Denny McLain‚ who scores the game’s first run in the 8th. The A’s run in the 9th is unearned.
May 26Los Angeles downs Houston 5-0 behind Don Drysdale‘s 4th straight shutout‚ tying the NL record. It’s Drysdale’s 5th win of the year-all shutouts. Drysdale drives in the 1st run of the game with a single.

The Yankees sweep a pair from the White Sox‚ winning 5-1 behind Mel Stottlemyre and take game 2‚ 7-6‚ with Bill Monboquette the winner. In the opener‚ P Gary Peters bats 6th‚ but goes 0-for-2‚ as the Sox manage just 4 hits. Tresh and Cox hit HRs for the Yanks.

After a Jack Aker pitch hits Detroit’s Jim Northrup on the batting helmet‚ a 15-minute fight erupts in Oakland. Aker is injured in the brawl and leaves the game‚ but Oakland wins in 10 innings‚ 7-6.
May 27Montreal and San Diego are awarded NL franchises after a 10-hour meeting of league owners.
May 28The AL owners agree to the following divisional alignment for 1969: Eastern: Boston‚ New York‚ Cleveland‚ Baltimore‚ Washington‚ Detroit; Western: Chicago‚ Kansas City‚ Minnesota‚ Seattle‚ Oakland‚ California.

Suffering his 4th straight defeat‚ Cardinal Bob Gibson (3-5) drops a 3-1 decision to Gaylord Perry and the Giants.

Jim Maloney fires a one-hitter at the Dodgers‚ as the Reds win 7-0. A single in the 5th inning by Zoilo Versalles is the only LA hit.
May 29The Reds spot the Dodgers a 5-0 lead after three innings‚ then come back to win‚ 6-5.
May 30New York and Washington split‚ with the Yankees winning the opener‚ 13-4‚ and the Senators the nitecap‚ 6-2. In the first game‚ Mantle goes 5-for-5 with two home runs‚ and 5 RBIs for New York. He sits out the 2nd game. Mantle’s last 5-for-5 game was on May 24‚ 1956.
May 31Don Drysdale’s shutout streak apparently ends when Dick Dietz is hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and no outs in the 9th inning‚ but umpire Harry Wendelstedt rules Dietz did not try to avoid the pitch. Coach Herman Franks argues the call so long he is tossed by Wendelstedt. Dietz then pops out‚ and the next two batters make out. Los Angeles wins‚ 3-0‚ and Drysdale’s 5th straight shutout ties the ML record set in 1904 by Doc White.

St. Louis P Larry Jaster retires the first 23 Mets before Greg Goosen singles. The lefty settles for a 2-hitter‚ beating Tom Seaver‚ 2-0.

June

June 1The Cards edge the Mets‚ 6-5‚ with the win going to reliever Joe Hoerner. Hoerner ties the NL record for relievers with 6 consecutive strikeouts.

The Twins Dean Chance loses his no-hit bid against the White Sox when light hitting Bill Voss hits a one-out single in the 9th. Two singles follow and Chance loses the game‚ 1-0. Wilbur Wood is the winner‚ allowing 4 hits.
June 2Sweeping a doubleheader 6-3 and 3-2 at New York’s Shea Stadium‚ the Cardinals take first place. They will remain atop the NL the rest of the season.
June 4With his 6th consecutive shutout‚ 5-0 over the Pirates at Los Angeles‚ Don Drysdale establishes two new ML records. He tops Doc White‘s 64-year-old mark of 5 shutouts‚ and with 54 scoreless innings he breaks Carl Hubbell‘s NL string by 41?3 ‚ set in 1933.

At Wrigley‚ the Mets Jerry Koosman strikes out the leadoff Cub for his 7th straight strikeout‚ then wins 2-0.

Ewing Kauffman signs a 4-year lease for the Royals to play in Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium.

Fresco Thompson succeeds Buzzie Bavasi as general manager of the Dodgers. Bavasi will run the new NL club in San Diego.
June 6Tim Foli is the top choice in the regular phase of the free-agent draft. The A’s take Pete Broberg with the 2nd pick‚ but he opts to attend Dartmouth instead. Cecil Cooper lasts until the 27th round and Paul Splittorff till the 25th. The big winners are the Dodgers‚ who‚ in the January draft and the regular and secondary June drafts pick 71 players‚ 14 players of whom end up in the ML. Among them: Davey Lopes‚ Geoff Zahn‚ Bill Buckner (#25 overall in the 2nd round)‚ Joe Ferguson‚ Tom Paciorek‚ Bobby Valentine‚ Steve Garvey‚ and Ron Cey.

Behind Bob Gibson‘s 3-hitter‚ the Cards beat the Astros‚ 4-0‚ for their 9th straight win. The Reds will beat them tomorrow.

Blue Moon Odom walks 3 Oriole batters in the 1st but doesn’t allow a hit until‚ with 2 outs in the 9th‚ Davey Johnson singles for Baltimore. The Athletics beat Baltimore‚ 6-1. In game 2‚ Jim Nash shuts out the Birds‚ 6-0.
June 7The A’s Blue Moon Odom‘s bid for a no-hitter is spoiled by Davey Johnson‚ who singles with two outs in the 9th inning. Odom tops Baltimore‚ 6-1.

The 8th place Yankees split a doubleheader with the Angels. New York wins the opener and California takes the nitecap‚ 8-4. Tomorrow’s game will be postponed because of the memorial to the slain Bobby Kennedy.
June 8The Mets’ game at San Francisco is postponed at the demand of New York players in the aftermath of New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination. Commissioner William Eckert orders all games delayed until evening. He also orders games at New York and Washington postponed.

Don Drysdale works 4 scoreless innings against Philadelphia before finally allowing a run‚ after 58 2?3 shutout innings‚ on Howie Bedell’s sacrifice ?y. Bedell has no other RBI in 1968. Drysdale breaks the ML record of 56 consecutive scoreless innings set by Walter Johnson in 1913. The Dodgers win 5-3.
June 10AL games at Baltimore and Chicago are postponed‚ as mourning for Robert Kennedy continues. Astros Rusty Staub and Bob Aspromonte are fined for not playing. Pittsburgh’s Maury Wills also refuses to play and is reportedly punished.
June 11The Reds send P Milt Pappas‚ pitchers Ted Davidson‚ and IF Bob Johnson to the Braves for pitchers Tony Cloninger and Clay Carroll and IF Woody Woodward. Davidson‚ who made 54 relief appearances in 1966‚ has never been the same since his estranged wife shot him in the stomach prior to the 1967 season.
June 13The White Sox trade OF Russ Snyder to the Indians for OF Leon Wagner.
June 15Gene Mauch (27-27) is fired as manager of the Phillies. He will be replaced tomorrow by Bob Skinner‚ manager of the San Diego farm team.

Chicago’s Tommy John becomes the 9th AL pitcher to hit 4 batters in one game‚ as he nails 4 Tigers in a 7-4 White Sox win.

The Yankees sign outfielder Rocky Colavito after his release by the Dodgers. In another deal‚ New York sells P John Wyatt‚ acquired last month‚ to the Tigers. They also sell sore-armed Jim Bouton to the Seattle Pilots for next season: Bouton goes to the Seattle Angels (PCL) in the meanwhile.
June 18Grady Hatton (23-38) is fired as manager of the Astros. He will be replaced by Harry Walker.

Pete Rose has 5 hits-3 doubles and 2 singles-as the Reds top the Braves‚ 7-5‚ in Atlanta.
June 20Dodger rookie Jim Fairey makes his first ML homer a good one‚ a blast off Pittsburgh’s Elroy Face to give LA a 3-2 win. The loss snaps Pittsburgh’s 9-game win streak.

The Cubs lose to the Cardinals‚ 1-0‚ for their 5th shutout loss in a row. During the streak‚ Fergie Jenkins allows one run in 18 innings‚ and comes away with a loss and a no decision.
June 21It’s been a bad week for the Cubs‚ but they end their scoreless streak at 48 innings‚ tying a ML mark set in 1906‚ beating the Reds‚ 3-2‚ behind Joe Niekro. George Culver is the losing pitcher‚ allowing the Cubs 1st score in the 3rd inning when he gives up a walk with the sacks full. The five straight shutout losses also ties a league mark. The streak started on June 15‚ the final 8 innings of a loss to Atl; 1-0 loss to Phil Niekro in 11 inn; 1-0 loss to Cards Nels Briles; 4-0 one hitter to Steve Carlton; 1-0 loss to Bob Gibson. During drought‚ Fergie Jenkins allows 1 run in 18 inn and got loss and no decision
June 23Cleveland’s Luis Tiant tosses his 5th shutout in six games‚ topping the Tigers‚ 3-0 on 9 strikeouts.

At Crosley Field‚ the Reds tip the Cubs‚ 9-8‚ when Don Pavletich hits a 2-out‚ 2-run double in the 9th inning.
June 24Detroit RF Jim Northrup becomes the 6th AL player to hit 2 grand slams in one game‚ connecting in the 5th inning off Eddie Fisher and in the 6th off Billy Rohr‚ as the Tigers bomb Cleveland 14-3. Norhtrup misses a chance when strikes out in the 1st inning with the bases loaded. Denny McLain is the victor. First baseman Willie Smith pitches the last 3 innings‚ walking just one and allowing one hit and no runs. Detroit’s Don Wert is taken to the hospital following a 6th inning beaning which shatters his batting helmet. He will miss just a few games.
June 25San Francisco rookie Bobby Bonds becomes the 2nd player to debut with a grand slam‚ as Ray Sadecki blanks the Dodgers 9-0. Bonds does it on his 3rd at bat. The only other player to hit a grand slam in his first major league game was William Duggleby of the Philadelphia Nationals‚ who achieved the feat in 1898.
June 26The ML Executive Council decides that both the AL and NL will play 162-game schedules in 1969 and operate two 6-team divisions.

Cardinal Bob Gibson pitches his 5th straight shutout in the first game of a doubleheader with Pittsburgh‚ winning 3-0. Pittsburgh wins the 2nd game 3-1‚ although the Cardinals stop Maury Wills‘ 24-game hitting streak.
June 28After reacquiring Lou Johnson seven months ago‚ the Cubs trade him to Cleveland for pitcher Willie Smith.
June 29Jim Northrup’s 3rd grand slam ties the ML record for slams in a month (Rudy York‚ May 1938)‚ and sets a ML record for slams in a week. The Tigers win 5-2 over Chicago‚ as Denny McLain tallies his 14th victory.

The Red Sox finally score on Luis Tiant‚ but Cleveland tops Boston 8-1. Tiant strikes out 13 in the win.

In the first game of a doubleheader at the Stadium‚ Mantle ties the score with a 2-run homer in the 6th‚ but rookie Reggie Jackson breaks the tie in the 8th with his 9th homer of the year. The A’s win‚ 5-2.

In San Francisco‚ Reds pitcher Gary Nolan hurls a 4-hit shutout and hits a 3-run homer as the Reds win‚ 4-0. “Only” Nolan’s homer‚ off Ray Sadecki‚ is the only one of his big league career.

July

July 1A first inning wild pitch that eludes backup catcher Johnny Edwards allows a run to break Bob Gibson‘s streak of 472?3 innings of scoreless pitching (in which he allows just 21 hits) The Cards beat the Don Drysdale and the Dodgers in Los Angeles 8-1. Gibson will pitch 23 innings before giving up another run.
July 3Luis Tiant registers 19 K’s in 10 innings‚ as Cleveland beats Minnesota 1-0. Tiant sets two modern ML records-most strikeouts in a 10-inning game; 32 strikeouts in consecutive games-and ties the modern ML record of 41 strikeouts in 3 successive appearances. He will top the AL in ERA with 1.60.
July 4Ed Stroud pounds two doubles and two triples and his fellow Senators add 2 singles to beat the Yankees‚ 4-2. Jim Hannan is the winning pitcher

In Detroit‚ it is home run derby as the Tigers score 9 runs in the 2nd and hold on for a 13-10 victory over the California Angels. Andy Messersmith makes his ML debut to stop the Tigers in the third‚ but Norm Cash Willie Horton and Bill Freehan all homer in the frame. Jim Northrup‚ who triples in the 3rd‚ adds 2 homers and 5 RBIs‚ while Cash hits a 2nd homer. Don Mincher‚ with 2‚ and Jim Fregosi‚ homer for the Angels.
July 5Bill Freehan has 2 homers and 6 RBI to lead Detroit to an 8-5 victory over Oakland. Catfish Hunter is driven out in the 4th inning and take the loss.
July 7Denny McLain‚ the major leagues’ winningest pitcher with 16‚ helps Detroit take a 9 1?2 game lead in the A.L. at the All-Star break‚ as the Tigers sweep the A’s 5-4 and 7-6. McLain wins the opener when Willie Horton clubs a 3-run homer‚ and Al Kaline matches that in the nitecap.

Phil Regan picks up two wins in relief for the second time this season as the Cubs sweep the Pirates‚ 5-4 and 4-3‚ edging Bob Veale and Elroy Face. Regan won a pair on April 21st for the Dodgers‚ and no reliever has ever won a pair twice in a season. The Vulture will the top the NL with 12 relief wins and 25 saves.

Completing a 7-game West Coast winning streak‚ the Cardinals take a 10-game lead into the All-Star break.
July 9Appropriately‚ pitching dominates the All-Star Game. Willie Mays‚ playing in place of injured Pete Rose‚ tallies an unearned run in the first inning against AL starter Luis Tiant to complete the scoring for the day-the first All-Star effort to end 1-0. Don Drysdale‚ Juan Marichal‚ Steve Carlton‚ Tom Seaver‚ Ron Reed‚ and Jerry Koosman hold the AL to 3 hits.
July 10Hank Bauer is fired as manager of the Orioles‚ but the Birds win today‚ beating the Detroit‚ 5-3. Pitcher Dave McNally has his 1st hit in 42 at bats‚ a 2-run homer that is the difference in the 5-3 win.

The NL breaks down its 2 divisions for 1969 thus: Eastern: New York‚ Philadelphia‚ Pittsburgh‚ Montreal‚ Chicago‚ St. Louis; Western: Los Angeles‚ San Francisco‚ Houston‚ Cincinnati‚ San Diego‚ Atlanta.
July 11Groundbreaking takes place for Kansas City’s $43 million Jackson County Sports Complex.

Earl Weaver‚ who never played in the majors‚ replaces Hank Bauer as manager of the Orioles. The O’s win will 11 of the first 15 games under Weaver.

Minnesota rookie Rick Renick is the 16th AL player to hit a HR in his first ML at bat. The Twins beat the Tigers 5-4.

Chicago Cubs P Bill Hands strikes out for the 14th straight at bat in the 2-0 Cubs win in the nightcap at New York. The 14 strikeouts in consecutive at bats (as opposed to plate appearances) are a ML record.
July 12Eddie Stanky is fired as manager of the White Sox and replaced by Al Lopez.

The Giants trade P Lindy McDaniel to the Yankees for P Bill Monbouquette.

The Cardinals beat the Astros‚ 8-1‚ but Houston scores a run on Bob Gibson‚ who wins his 9th straight. Denis Menke‘s bloop double‚ fair by inches‚ drives home the lone run. Houston reliever Tom Dukes ties the ML record with his 9th straight relief appearance for the Astros. Curt Flood has 4 hits for the Birds.
July 13At Pittsburgh‚ the Phils take their 4th straight from the Bucs‚ winning 3-2 in 16 innings. It’s the 8th straight loss the Pirates.

The Cubs win 2-1 over the Mets when Glenn Beckert‚ stretching his hit streak to 18 games‚ singles in the 11th. Santo homers in the 4th for the Cubs other run. Koonce takes the loss‚ relieving Seaver who throws 10 innings. Phil Regan (7-2) is the winner.
July 14Houston’s Don Wilson fans 18 batters in a 6-1 win at Cincinnati‚ tying the ML record set by Bob Feller. Wilson (6-11) fans Johnny Bench to end the game. He also ties the ML record with 8 strikeouts in a row‚ striking out the side in the first three innings. A one-out walk to Alex Johnson in the 1st is the only interruption. Wilson also fans the side in the 5th. The Astros win the opener‚ 5-4.

In front of 57‚011 at bat day at Shea‚ the Phils take 2 to stretch their win streak to 6. Rick Wise wins‚ 5-3‚ and then Grant Jackson fans 13 to win‚ 9-2‚ in his first complete game ever. Richie Allen knocks in 3 runs in each game with a pair of homers. John Briggs belts a pair in the nitecap.

The 2nd place Braves win 4-2 behind Hank Aaron‘s 500th career homer‚ off the Giants Moose McCormick. Aaron is the 8th player to reach 500. Reed (9-4) is the winner.
July 15The Yankees sign veteran Rocky Colavito‚ just released by the Dodgers.
July 16Cleveland CF Jose Cardenal becomes the 4th OF in ML history with 2 unassisted DPs in one season as he helps the Tribe to a 2-1 win over the Angels. He also pulled one off on June 8th versus the Tigers.

Glenn Beckert runs his hit streak to 21 games when he hits a 12th inning double to drive in the winning run in a 4-3 victory over the Phils. REgan is the w9inner in relief of Holtzman.
July 17Led by Ernie Banks‚ who drives in 6 runs on 2 homers and a single‚ the Cubs take the opener from Philadelphia‚ 8-4. White hits his 200th homer for Philley in game 1.The Phils come back in the nitecap to win‚ 8-0‚ behind James’ 1st ML shutout. Beckert hits in both games to run his streak to 23 games. Bill Hands is the winning pitcher in the opener‚ and is 1-for-3 at the plate.

The Cards win their 13th in 14 games behind Briles and Brock‚ beating the Giants‚ 6-1. Briles allows 3 hits while Brock has 3 hits and 3 stolen bases.
July 20At San Francisco‚ aging speedster Willie Mays scores from 1B on a Jim Ray Hart single. It’s the only tally as the Giants beat Houston‚ 1-0.
July 22At St. Louis‚ the Mets and the league-leading Cardinals exchange shutouts‚ with St. Louis winning the opener 2-0‚ behind Bob Gibson‘s 7th whitewash of the year. It is Gibson’s 32nd‚ tying the franchise mark set by Spittin’ Bill Doak. Gibson (13-5) strikes out 13 in recording his 10th straight win. He has allowed 2 runs in 88 innings. Koosman (13-5) bests Nels Briles in the nitecap‚ 1-0‚ on Martin’s RBI single.
July 23Al Lopez undergoes an emergency appendectomy. Les Moss will serve as White Sox manager during his 36-game absence.
July 24Hoyt Wilhelm’s 907th game breaks Cy Young‘s record for ML pitching appearances‚ but he loses a 2-1 decision to Oakland.

Don Drysdale walks 2 batters in the 5th‚ hits Brand with a pitch and then plunks opposing pitcher Don Wilson with an offspeed pitch to force in a run. Houston wins‚ 1-0.
July 25Reds pitchers George Culver and Clay Carroll allow 13 hits between them but still shut out the Pirates‚ 2-0. Culver allows 8 hits in 6 innings and Carroll gives up 5 hits in 3 innings.
July 26Leaving with a strained knee after 5 innings of pitching Earl Wilson of the Tigers earns a 4-1 win in the opener of three games with the Orioles. Rookie Daryl Patterson provides spectacular relief coming in with the bases loaded in the 6th and striking out the side. Powell’s homer in the 8th is the only tally for the O’s. The win increases the Tigers lead over the O’s to 6 1/2 games.
July 27In Baltimore‚ Denny McLain (20-3) shuts out the Orioles 9-0 for his 20th win of the season for the first-place Tigers. McLain is only the 3rd pitcher in history to win his 20th this early: Rube Marquard on July 19‚ 1912 and Lefty Grove on July 25‚ 1931 were the others.
July 28Dave McNally outduels Mickey Lolich to give Baltimore a much-need win over the Tigers‚ 5-1.

Ken Holtzman and the Cubs beat the Dodgers Don Sutton‚ 1-0. It is Sutton’s 2nd straight 1-0 loss to Chicago; he is now 0-10 against the Cubs‚ and Holtzman will top him the next three times they face each other.

At Shea Stadium‚ Reds pitchers Jim Maloney and Clay Carroll combine on a one hit‚ 5-3‚ victory. Maloney gives up a run-scoring double to Cleon Jones in the first inning and then is lifted in the 6th after walking 3 batters. Carroll gives up two run-scoring grounders‚ but pitches 4 hitless frames.
July 29The Reds George Culver overcomes an upset stomach and an ingrown toenail to pitch a no-hitter against the Phillies‚ winning 6-1. A 2-base error‚ ground out and sac fly give the Phils a run in the 2nd.
July 30In the first inning‚ Washington SS Ron Hansen turns the 8th unassisted triple play in ML history and the first in 41 years. Cleveland’s Joe Azcue hits a liner to Hansen‚ who steps on 2B to double Dave Nelson‚ and tags Russ Snyder sliding into 2B for the 3rd out. Hansen’s effort is not enough‚ as Washington loses 10-1.
July 31Chicago’s Billy Williams‚ Ernie Banks‚ and Jim Hickman hit 4th-inning HRs as Fergie Jenkins (12-10) beats the Astros 6-1 at Wrigley Field.

August

August 1Against the Red Sox‚ Stan Bahnsen strikes out 12 batters‚ the most ever by a Yankee rookie‚ in posting his first ML shutout‚ 1-0. His mark will last 30 years until “El Duque” Hernandez K’s 13 batters. A safe bunt by Tresh‚ a steal‚ and a single by Robinson accounts for the only run off Morehead.
August 2A day after he hit a grand slam against the Tigers‚ the Senators trade SS Ron Hansen to the White Sox for IF Tim Cullen
August 4In pre-game ceremonies at Busch Stadium honoring him‚ Stan Musial is joined by his 1941 Cardinal teammates. a 10-foot bronze statue of Musial at is unveiled at one of the Stadium entrances. The crowd of 47‚445 then watch as Bob Gibson battles the Cubs for 12 innings before Chicago P Lee Elia singles home the winning run in the 13th. Cubs win 6-5.

The Red Sox top the Angels‚ 5-1‚ on the strength of Ken Harrelson‘s grand slam.
August 7Oakland’s Joe Keough makes his ML debut with a pinch hit HR in a 2nd-game 4-3 win over the Yankees. New York wins the opener 3-0.
August 8Jarry Park is grudgingly approved by Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau for interim use by the Expos. Montreal officials tell NL President Warren Giles that a new stadium will be ready by 1972.

The Cubs trip the Braves‚ 4-0‚ behind Bill Hands‚ with relief help from Phil Regan. Ump Chris Pelakoudas goes the mound to inspect cap and glove of Cubs Phil Regan. When game continues ‚Pelakoudas accuses Regan of 3 illegal pitches nullifying a fly out‚ a K‚ and changing a strike to a ball. Wrigley fans toss garbage on field. Durocher‚ Hundley‚ and Al Spangler get tossed as well. NL prexy Giles after a special hearing‚ says umps should have better evidence before calling pitches illegal.
August 9California pitchers plunk Baltimore batters 3 times in the 7th inning at Memorial Stadium‚ tying the AL record for hit batsmen in one inning. Baltimore wins 3-0.
August 10On Old Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium‚ the Twins stop the Yankees‚ 3-2. New York’s only scores are two solo shots by Mickey Mantle off Jim Merritt. It is the Mick’s 46th 2-homer game.
August 11Satchel Paige‚ 62 years or so old‚ and needing 158 days on a ML payroll to qualify for a pension‚ is signed by the Braves. He will not pitch a regular-season game for Atlanta and will become a coach on September 30th and stay for another year.

Gates Brown wins the opener for the Tigers by poling a pinch homer-one of two pinch homers the Tigers hit-in the 14th to beat the Red Sox‚ 5-4. In the nightcap‚ he singles home the winning run as the Tigers score 4 in the 9th to win‚ 6-5.
August 13Pitching 7 2/3 innings‚ Tom Hall gains his first ML win as the Twins beat the Senators‚ 8-4. Washington’s Jim Hannan (7-3) takes the loss and doesn’t help himself at bat‚ striking out for the 13th straight time since July 24.
August 14Montreal officially becomes a member of the NL.
August 15At Oakland‚ the Yanks edge the A’s‚ 4-3. Blue Moon Odom gives up a triple to Tom Tresh‚ a walk‚ then serves up a three-run homer to Mantle for the difference.
August 16Detroit’s Denny McLain is 16-0 on the road after blanking the Red Sox 4-0 in Boston. Tigers C Bill Freehan is hit by a pitch in 3 consecutive at bats‚ painfully tying a ML record. He will be hit a record tying 24 times this season.

Philadelphia’s Richie Allen ties an NL record by drawing 5 bases on balls in one game‚ but the Dodgers win 7-5.
August 18In the opener of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field‚ umpire Chris Pelekoudas calls 3 illegal pitches on Cubs P Phil Regan‚ twice allowing a retired batter to hit again. Pete Rose singles after a called 3rd strike. Pelekoudas can’t find any evidence on Regan and bases his calls on “the flight of the ball.” The Cubs‚ who lose both games‚ 2-1 and 6-3‚ protest the ump’s calls. The next day Warren Giles meets with Cubs’ officials and orders Pelekoudas to apologize to the church-going Regan‚ whom he calls a “fine Christian gentleman.” However‚ at the ML winter meetings‚ the Rules Committee will further amend the spitball rule to allow an ump to call an illegal pitch based on the flight of the ball.

Pitching for Hawaii (PCL) Bo Belinsky twirls a no-hitter‚ defeating Tacoma 1-0. Bo will fail next year in a comeback attempt with the Cardinals.
August 19Bob Gibson pitches the Cardinals to a 2-0 win over the Phillies. Gibson strikes out 11 batters including Dick Allen 4 times‚ the 7th time this season the Phils’ sluggers has K’ed 4 times. He will strike out a career-high 161 times this season. For Gibson‚ it is his club record 10th shutout of the year and his 15th straight win. His ERA is an even 1.00.

For the 2nd time this year‚ the Mets lose a marathon‚ 1-0‚ game‚ this time losing to the Giants‚ 1-0‚ in 17 innings. Ron Hunt‘s single‚ off Taylor‚ drives in Lanier with the lone run. Koosman and Bolin go 12 and 11 innings as starters‚ with the win going to Linzy. The Mets lost 1-0 in 24 innings on April 15.
August 21Minnesota’s Jim Merritt loses his shutout in the 9th when Mickey Mantle hits a pinch homer‚ but he wins 3-1. It is Mantle’s 534th HR‚ tying him with Jimmie Foxx for 3rd on the all-time list.

Monte Irvin is named special assistant to Commissioner William Eckert.
August 22Jim Merritt loses his shut out in the 9th inning when Mickey Mantle parks a pinch homer in Minneapolis. The Twins win‚ 3-1. Mick’s homer ties him with Jimmie Foxx for 3rd place on the all-time list.
August 23Stan Bahnsen outpitches Earl Wilson to give the host Yankees a 2-1 win over Detroit. The two teams then battle for 19 innings‚ before the 2nd game is suspended by curfew with the score 3-3. The game will be finished tomorrow. In the long tie‚ Lindy McDaniel retires 21 straight Tiger batters‚ six on strikeouts. In his last three relief appearances‚ he has retired 30 batters in a row.
August 24New York’s Mel Stottlemyre tops the Tigers ace Denny McLain‚ 2-1.
August 25The Tigers‚ ahead 5-0‚ fail to score with two on in the 4th inning when the Yanks bring in Rocky Colavito. The 35-year-old slugger retires Kaline and Horton and tosses 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. In Rocky’s only other appearance‚ in 1958‚ he also faced Kaline.‚ and the victory by a non-pitcher will be the last this century. Robinson and Cox crash successive homers to tie the score and‚ after a walk‚ Rocky comes around to score the winning run. In the 8th‚ Yankees reliever Lindy McDaniel ties the AL record for consecutive batters retired by setting down the first Tiger he faces‚ giving him 32 straight batters retired over 4 appearances. New York sweeps‚ winning 6-5 and then topping Lolich‚ 5-4. The four losses in New York leaves the Tigers just 5 ahead of the Orioles.

After 5 hours: 27 minutes‚ the Orioles defeat the Red Sox‚ 3-2‚ in 18 innings when Brooks Robinson drives in Boog Powell. Roger Nelson pitches the last 7 innings for the win over Stephenson.
August 26There is a record tying mark of 7 shutouts thrown today in the 16 games played. It’s the 5th times it’s happened‚ the mark will be topped in 1972.

Playing the last of 9 games in Milwaukee‚ the White Sox draw a crowd (42‚808) but lose to Earl Wilson and the first-place Tigers‚ 3-0. Wilson is hit by a pitch in the 2nd with the bases loaded to bring home the first run.

In their first of two straight doubleheaders‚ Dave McNally makes it easy in the opener by belting a first-inning grand slam‚ off the A’s Chuck Dobson. The O’s score 7 runs in the inning and beat the A’s. 8-2. The A’s come back in the nitecap‚ winning 2-0 behind Catfish Hunter and Segui.

The Phils take a 5-0 lead over the Reds‚ only to lose 6-5. Jim Beauchamp hits a run-scoring single in the 7th for the winner.
August 27Sweeping a doubleheader from Oakland 5-3 and 7-2 at Memorial Stadium‚ the Orioles stay 4 games in back of first-place Detroit.
August 30In the showdown in Detroit‚ 53‚575 fans cheer as P Earl Wilson pitches a 4-hit 9-1 victory over 2nd place Baltimore. Wilson adds 4 RBIs on 2 hits‚ including his 5th HR of the year.
August 31Steve Blass gets the first out against the Braves‚ and then moves to LF as Roy Face relieves. Face retires Felix Millan and ties Walter Johnson‘s ML record of 802 pitching appearances with one club. Blass comes back to pitch and the Pirates go on to win 8-0. Blass will not get credit for the shutout but will still lead the NL in shutouts with 7. Late in the game‚ the Pirates announce the sale of Elroy Face to the Detroit Tigers.

It is a tough month for Mets P Jim McAndrew‚ as he takes his NL-tying 5th shutout loss. Steve Carlton wins for the Cards 2-0. McAndrew gave up just 6 runs in the 4 losses‚ losing 2-0 to Bob Gibson on July 21‚ and to the Dodgers and Mike Kekich‚ 2-0 on August 4. On August 10th and 17th‚ he narrowed the margin to 1-0 losses‚ to the Giants and Houston respectively. The 4 losses are McAndrew’s first ML decisions.

Baltimore’s Dave McNally wins his 10th straight‚ topping the first-place Tigers‚ 5-1. Paul Blair homers and triples in the win.

September

September 1Denny McLain notches his 27th win of the season beating the Orioles 7-3. McLain helps the Tiger cause by starting a 3rd inning triple play.
September 2With Julian Javier hitting a homer in the 10th‚ the Cardinals defeat the Reds‚ 1-0. Bob Gibson picks up his 12th shutout and 20th win. Gary Nolan pitches the first 9 innings for the Reds‚ with Abernathy taking the loss in relief.

In the last PCL game played in Seattle‚ Jim Bouton of the Seattle Angels (a combined PCL team of the Pilots and California Angels) tops Spokane‚ 4-1.
September 4The Dodgers Don Sutton allows just 3 hits and strikes out 12 to beat the Phils‚ 3-0.
September 5Gene Mauch is named manager of the new Montreal NL club‚ which is officially named the Expos.
September 6Denny McLain notches win number 28‚ beating the Twins‚ 8-3. The Tigers score 4 runs off Jim Kaat before the first out is recorded. Minnesota rookie Graig Nettles hits his first homer‚ off Denny.
September 9Joe Gordon is hired to manage the Royals.
September 10Billy Williams hits 3 HRs in a game for the first time in his career. It’s all the Cubs’ scoring‚ as they beat the Mets 3-1 behind Bill Hands. Added to two HRs on September 8th‚ Williams has a ML-record-tying 5 over two straight games.

Don Wilson‚ who struck out 18 Reds on July 14‚ fans 16 Reds today while pitching the Astros to a 3-2 win in game 1. The Reds win the nitecap‚ 4-3.
September 11New York’s Jim McAndrew finally wins one‚ beating the Cubs 1-0‚ on 2 hits. It is Fergie Jenkins’ (17-14) 5th 1-0 loss of the season‚ which ties a ML record. Despite the loss‚ Jenkins will win 20 for the 2nd straight year‚ using a club record-tying 40 starts to do it. Alexander‚ in 1920‚ had 40 starts.
September 14Denny McLain becomes the first 30-game winner since Dizzy Dean in 1934‚ as the Tigers beat the A’s 5-4. Reggie Jackson‘s homer in the 4th puts the A’ s ahead 2-0 but Norm Cash answers with a 3-run shot. Reggie hits another in the 6th‚ but the Tigers push across two in the 9th to win. Kaline‚ pinch hitting for McLain‚ walks and scores the tying run. Denny (30-5) gives up 6 hits and strikes out 10.

Pittsburgh’s Bob Veale shuts out the Mets‚ 6-0‚ on 8 hits and is backed by two home runs from Roberto Clemente.
September 15The Cardinals clinch the NL pennant with a 7-4 win at Houston. Roger Maris hits his 275th‚ and last‚ regular-season HR‚ off Don Wilson in the 3rd‚ and Curt Flood racks up 5 hits.
September 16AL President Joe Cronin fires umpires Al Salerno‚ an 8-year veteran‚ and Bill Valentine‚ with 7 years. They say they have been fired for activities related to starting an umpires union.
September 17Gaylord Perry hurls a no-hitter at Candlestick‚ as the Giants edge the Cards and Bob Gibson 1-0. Ron Hunt‘s solo HR backs Perry‚ who evens his record at 14-14.

Yankee SS Gene Michael polls a hidden ball trick on Tom Matchick in the 7th‚ but Detroit clinches the AL pennant with a 2-1 win. Detroit is ahead 1-0 when Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey phones Tiger GM Jim Campbell with the news that the Sox have beaten the Orioles‚ clinching the pennant for the Tigers. Campbell keeps the score off the radio and the scoreboard‚ fearing the news will send fans rampaging onto the field. Don Wert singles home the winner in the 9th and the fans tear down the left field screen.
September 18Sixteen hours after Perry’s feat‚ Ray Washburn of the Cards makes ML history by hurling a 2nd consecutive no-hitter in one park. Run-scoring hits by Mike Shannon and Curt Flood at Candlestick down the Giants‚ 2-0.
September 19Denny McLain’s 31st win is overshadowed by Mickey Mantle‘s 535th homer. McLain allegedly calls C Jim Price out and tells him to inform Mantle he’s throwing the slugger nothing but fastballs. The HR gives Mantle undisputed hold of 3rd place on the all-time HR list. Mantle tips his cap to Denny as he rounds 3B. Pepitone‚ the next batter‚ signals where he would like the ball‚ and McLain dusts him. The Tigers win the game‚ 6-2‚ the 12th straight complete game for the Tigers staff.
September 20At Yankee Stadium‚ Boston’s Jim Lonborg tosses just his 3rd complete game of the year to beat New York‚ 4-3. Yastrzemski has three hits‚ including a homer‚ to raise his average to .306. Mantle hits homer number 536‚ the last of his career‚ for New York.
September 21At Yankee Stadium‚ Red Sox pitcher Ray Culp fires his 3rd successive shutout‚ stopping the Yankees on one hit‚ 2-0. Roy White‘s single in the 7th is the only hit. It’s Culp’s 15th win of the year.

Pittsburgh’s Dock Ellis pitches a complete game win over the Cubs‚ winning 5-1. Phil Niekro allows 4 runs to take the loss. Cubs reliever Jophrey Brown goes 2 innings‚ allowing the other run‚ in his only ML appearance. His next appearance will be in the opening scene of the movie Jurrasic Park when he is eaten by a raptor. As noted by Scott Flatow‚ Brown tossed 2 no-hitters in the minors‚ losing them both.
September 22Cesar Tovar becomes the 2nd player to play every position in a game as Minnesota’s all-purpose star leads the Twins to a 2-1 win over the Oakland A’s. Bert Campaneris of the Kansas City A’s was the first to pull off this stunt in 1965. Tovar starts the game on the mound and the first batter he faces is Campaneris. Tovar strikes out Reggie Jackson in his one inning.

Behind the potching of Don Sutton (10-15) the Dodgers score 2 earned runs in beating Bob Gibson (21-9) and the Cardinals‚ 3-2. Their last run‚ in the 8th‚ scores on an error by RF Hague. It is Gibson’s 9th loss of the year‚ despite compiling a 2.14 ERA in the nine losses. He has not been knocked out of the box all year.
September 24Manager Gil Hodges suffers a heart attack during New York’s game with the Braves. He is hospitalized‚ and Rube Walker takes the helm for the rest of the season. The Aaron brothers‚ Tommie and Hank‚ pull off a double steal for the Braves‚ with Hank scoring. The pair combine for 5 hits in a 7-3 win over the Mets.

Steve Blass records his 3rd shutout in a row‚ defeating the Reds‚ 2-0‚ and beating Gary Nolan. For Nolan‚ it is his first defeat after 7 straight wins‚ while Blass wins his 9th straight for the Pirates.

The Giants beat the Astros‚ 5-4 with Willie Mays driving in 3 runs. Mays hits a solo homer in the 1st and drives in the tying and winning runs in the 8th with a perfect bunt. With runners on 2B and 3B‚ Mays bunts and Doug Rader attempts a barehand pickup but misses the ball.
September 25In Mantle’s last appearance at Yankee Stadium‚ he slices a two-out first inning single off Cleveland’s Luis Tiant‚ the only hit for the Yankees. Tiant tosses his 9th shutout of the year‚ tops in the AL‚ to win‚ 3-0. El Tiante’s ERA drops to 1.60; the previous low for an Indian pitcher was Stan Coveleski’s 1.87 in 1917.

The Red Sox beat Washington‚ 1-0‚ as Sox P Ray Culp throws his 4th straight shut out‚ a total of 39 scoreless innings.
September 27A 1-0 win and 11 strikeouts against the Astros enables the Cardinal Bob Gibson to lower his ERA to 1.12‚ a new NL season mark. His phenomenal campaign includes 28 complete games‚ 268 strikeouts‚ and 13 shutouts.

For the 2nd time in two years‚ the Cards sign free-agent P Barney Schultz to enable him to qualify for pension time. Schultz was released last October 8.

Facing Lee Stange at Fenway Park‚ Mantle flies out in his final plate appearance‚ before being replaced by Andy Kosko. Kosko’s homer ties the score in the 8th and Pepitone’s HR in the 9th gives New York a 4-3 win.

At Detroit‚ Frank Howard snaps a 1-1 tie with his 44th homer‚ and the Senators beat the Tigers‚ 3-1. Howard’s run is his 89th‚ and he’ll finish the year with that‚ compiling the most homers in history without scoring 90 runs.
September 28Seeking his 32nd win‚ Denny McLain pitches 7 scoreless innings against Washington and leaves with a 1-0 lead. But the Senators score 2 in the 9th off McMahon to win‚ 2-1.
September 29On the season’s last day‚ The Senators defeat the Series-bound Tigers‚ 3-2‚ behind Barry Moore. But the Tigers win the season series against all 9 league opponents‚ the first team to accomplish that since the 1955 Dodgers.

In a 3-0 loss to the Giants‚ the Reds Pete Rose goes 1-for-3 to take his first NL batting title with a .335 average. Rose was 5-for-5 yesterday against Gaylord Perry. Matty Alou goes 0-for-4 to finish at .332.

Carl Yastrzemski is 0-for-5 but maintains a .3005 BA‚ to win his 2nd straight batting crown with the lowest championship average ever. Yaz is the AL’s only .300 hitter: Oakland’s Danny Cater is 2nd with .290. The Red Sox lose to the Yankees‚ 4-3. Ray Culp‘s string of 39 scoreless innings is snapped by the Yankees with a score in the 1st

White Sox relief P Wilbur Wood ends his season with a 7-6 win at California and a ML record 88 appearances.

Phils OF Dick Allen ends the year with a bang‚ hitting 3 homers including a grand slam to drive in 7 runs at New York. Philadelphia wins 10-3.

Bob Kennedy is fired as Oakland manager.
September 30AL and NL umpires form a new Association of Major League Umpires. They will strike in the spring of 1969 unless Al Salerno and Bill Valentine are reinstated by the AL.

Cal Ermer is dismissed as manager of the Twins.

October

October 2or the first time in history‚ two soon-to-be-named MVPs oppose each other. St. Louis Bob Gibson is nearly untouchable with a WS-record 17 strikeouts and a 4-0 win over Denny McLain. Detroit manager Mayo Smith moves Gold Glove CF Mickey Stanley to SS‚ improving his offense by opening a spot for Al Kaline.
October 3Detroit’s Mickey Lolich evens the Series with a 6-hitter and his first ML HR to defeat St. Louis‚ 8-1.
October 5Tim McCarver’s 3-run HR off loser Earl Wilson and Orlando Cepeda‘s 3-run shot off Don McMahon power St. Louis to a 7-3 win and 2-1 WS lead.
October 6In Game 4 St. Louis dumps Detroit 10-1. Bob Gibson‚ fanning 10‚ earns his 7th straight Series victory. Denny McLain gives up 4 runs‚ and is relieved in the 3rd after a rain delay. Lou Brock shines with a double‚ triple‚ HR‚ 4 RBI‚ and a steal that gives him 7 in 4 games.
October 7Mickey Lolich saves Detroit‚ 5-3 with an unlikely assist from Lou Brock. On 2B in the 5th‚ Brock tries to score standing up on Julian Javier’s single and is gunned down by Willie Horton‘s throw. Al Kaline‘s bases-loaded single off Joe Hoerner in the 7th scores 2 for the winning margin. Jose Feliciano’s modern rendition of the National Anthem before the game stirs controversy.
October 9Denny McLain returns to form‚ scattering 9 singles‚ as Detroit evens the WS with a 10-run 3rd inning and 13-1 win at St. Louis.
October 10Mickey Lolich bests Bob Gibson and brings Detroit its first WS championship since 1945. The hefty lefty hurls a 5-hitter‚ giving Detroit a 4-1 win.
October 11Joe Schultz is named manager of the Seattle Pilots.

Clyde King is named Herman Franks‘ replacement as manager of the Giants.

Billy Martin is named manager of the Twins.

The Cards trade OF Bobby Tolan and P Wayne Granger to the Reds for OF Vada Pinson.
October 14In the NL expansion draft‚ the Expos choose 30 players‚ including Maury Wills‚ Jim Grant‚ Donn Clendenon‚ and Manny Mota. San Diego’s 30 selections include Dave Giusti‚ Nate Colbert‚ Zoilo Versalles‚ Al McBean‚ and Clarence Gaston.
October 15Roger Nelson is the initial choice of the Royals in the AL expansion draft. Don Mincher is the Pilots’ first choice. Other Seattle selections include Tommy Harper‚ Tommy Davis‚ Gary Bell‚ and Lou Piniella. Kansas City chooses Wally Bunker‚ Moe Drabowsky‚ Hoyt Wilhelm‚ and Joe Foy.
October 21The Expos purchase 3B Bob Bailey from the Dodgers.

Elston Howard‚ after 2 seasons with the Red Sox‚ announces his retirement.
October 28Bob Gibson wins his first Cy Young Award‚ receiving all 20 votes.

November

November 1Denny McLain is the unanimous AL winner of the Cy Young Award.
November 3Cardinal broadcaster Harry Caray is struck by a car while crossing a street in St. Louis‚ and he suffers two broken legs‚ a broken shoulder‚ and a broken nose.
November 5Denny McLain is the unanimous choice as AL MVP.
November 13Bob Gibson edges Pete Rose to win the NL MVP award. Fittingly in the year of the pitcher‚ it is the only year in which both MVPs are hurlers.
November 19Yankees P Stan Bahnsen‚ who was 17-12‚ is named AL Rookie of the Year.
November 21Cincinnati trades SS Leo Cardenas to the Twins for P Jim Merritt.
November 22Cincinnati C Johnny Bench is named NL Rookie of the Year‚ getting 10 1/2 votes to edge out New York’s Jerry Koosman who had 9 1/2. One voter splits his vote giving a half vote to each. Bench is the 3rd Reds’ player in 6 years to be named the top rookie.

December

December 3Robert E. Short‚ Democratic National Committee treasurer‚ buys the Senators for $10 million. Jim Lemon will retain 15-20 percent.

The Baseball Rules Committee moves to increase offense with new measures to lower the pitching mound‚ shrink the strike zone‚ and enforce rules against illegal pitches.
December 4The Dodgers trade P Mike Kekich (2-10) to the Yankees for OF Andy Kosco.

The Astros trade 3B Bob Aspromonte‚ who lost his job to Doug Rader‚ to the Braves for INF Marty Martinez. Aspro was the last original Colt 45 on Houston’s roster‚ and when he retires‚ he will be the last original Brooklyn Dodgers

Houston also swaps P Mike Cuellar‚ and INFs Elijah Johnson and Enzo Hernandez to the Orioles for OFs Curt Blefary and John Mason. Cuellar‚ 8-11 this past season‚ will average 20 wins a year for 5 years in Baltimore. Except for the Frank Robinson trade‚ this ranks as the best for the O’s.
December 6William Eckert resigns as commissioner.
December 12The Kansas City Royals complete their first trade‚ sending P Hoyt Wilhelm to the Angels for 2 outfielder/catchers‚ Ed Kirkpatrick and Dennis Paepke.
December 15The Dodgers send C Jim Campanis‚ son of Dodger executive Al‚ to the Royals for 2 minor leaguers.
December 17The owners announce they will increase contributions to the players’ pension fund by $1 million to $5.1 million per year. Players vote down the proposal 491-7.