Baseball – 1970

Baseball in 1970

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January


January 1Chub Feeney takes over as NL president‚ succeeding Warren Giles‚ who is retiring.
January 14Johnny Murphy‚ the Mets general manager who had seen his team rise from the NL cellar to the World Championship‚ dies of a heart attack at age 61. Murphy was a star relief pitcher for the Yankees in the 1930s and early 1940s.

The Reds swap P Jack Fischer to the Angels for Bill Harrelson and Dan Loomer.
January 15The Oakland Athletics trade C Phil Roof‚ OF Mike Hershberger and pitchers Lew Krausse and Ken Sanders to the Brewers for 1B Don Mincher and infielder Ron Clark. It is the Brewers’ first trade.
January 16Curt Flood‚ Cardinals Gold Glove outfielder‚ files a civil lawsuit challenging ML baseball’s reserve clause‚ a suit that will have historic implications. Flood refused to report to the Phillies after he was traded by the Cardinals 3 months ago‚ contending the baseball rule violates federal antitrust laws.
January 17Major league teams select a record 357 players in the January phase of the annual free-agent draft. Some notable choices: Cleveland spends the top pick on first baseman Chris Chambliss‚ and San Francisco chooses shortstop Chris Speier. Both Chambliss and Speier will star in the major leagues in 1971. Chambliss will win the A.L. Rookie of the Year Award; the rangey (4.85 chances per game) Speier will help to stablize the infield for the N.L. Western division champion San Francisco Giants. In the first round, the Yankees pick one of the gems of the draft but Fred Lynn decides not to sign with them.

The Sporting News names Willie Mays as Player of the Decade for the 1960s.

In the Puerto Rican League‚ Fred Beene of Santurce pitches a 6-0 no-hitter over Arecibo.
January 20Lou Boudreau achieves the Hall of Fame‚ receiving 232 of a possible 300 votes in the BBWAA election. Ralph Kiner finishes 2nd with 167‚ 58 votes short.
January 25Braves ace Phil Niekro undergoes an emergency appendectomy. Niekro won’t miss any playing time‚ but his record will dip from 23-13 to 12-18.
January 29Pitcher Mike Fuentes‚ 20‚ is shot and killed during a bar fight in Loiza Aldea‚ Puerto Rico. Against the A’s on October 2‚ 1969‚ Fuentes (1-3) pitched the last inning in the history of the Seattle Pilots.

February


February 1The Hall of Fame Special Committee on Veterans selects former commissioner Ford Frick and former players Earle Combs and Jesse Haines for enshrinement.
February 2The Pirates trade Bo Belinsky to the Reds for Dennis Ribant.
February 13White Sox pitcher Paul Edmundson‚ 27‚ dies in a auto accident in Santa Barbara‚ CA. Edmundson‚ who debuted with a 9-1 two-hitter over California this past season‚ was 1-6 for Chicago.

The NL offices begin their move from Cincinnati to San Francisco‚ which will be completed February 23rd.
February 19Commissioner Bowie Kuhn announces the suspension of Tigers ace Denny McLain‚ effective April 1st‚ for McLain’s alleged involvement in a bookmaking operation. The suspension will last 3 months.
February 27The FBI arrests Lawrence Bankhead in Chicago‚ charging him with making threatening phone calls to Cubs’ star Ernie Banks.
February 28Pete Rose becomes baseball’s first singles hitter to sign a 6-figure contract‚ coming to terms with Reds general manager Bob Howsam for an estimated $105‚000 per year.

March


March 11Experimental‚ lively X-5 baseballs are used in all spring training games played in Arizona and Florida. The results are inconclusive.
March 19In Arizona‚ the Indians lose slugger Ken Harrelson when he breaks his right ankle sliding into 2B. He will be sidelined until September.
March 24Commissioner Kuhn orders a halt to the use of X-5 balls.

April


April 1The Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club‚ headed by Bud Selig‚ purchases the Seattle Pilots for $10‚800‚000. Although negotiations were conducted over a period of months‚ it was not until March 13 when a federal bankruptcy referee declared the Pilots bankrupt. Brewers tickets go on sale tomorrow.
April 6In the last home opener at Crosley Field‚ the Reds top the Expos‚ 5-1‚ behind Jim Merritt. It is the first win for manager Sparky Anderson. The Reds have 3 homers in the 4th‚ when Lee May‚ Bernie Carbo‚ and Bobby Tolan connect. It is Carbo’s first ML hit. Joe Sparma takes the loss.

In the traditional opener in Washington DC‚ Detroit’s Mickey Lolich shuts out the Senators‚ 5-0. Dick Bosman is the losing pitcher.
April 7ML Baseball returns to Wisconsin as the Brewers play their first game in Milwaukee‚ losing to California 12-0 before a crowd of 37‚237.

OF Brant Alyea has 7 RBIs-a ML record for opening day-on 2 homers and 2 singles‚ to back Jim Perry as the Twins win their opener‚ 12-0‚ against the White Sox. Alyea will have 21 RBI in his first 12 games; in Perry’s first 4 starts Alyea will drive in 19 runs.

At Yankee Stadium‚ Mel Stottlemyre makes his 4th straight Opening Day start‚ joining Lefty Gomez and Jack Chesbro as the only Yankee hurlers to do so. The Red Sox counter with newly acquired Gary Peters‚ who allowed no earned runs in 32 spring training innings. Boston jumps out to a 4-0 lead in 5 innings‚ but the Yanks score 3 in the 6th to chase Peters. But that’s all the scoring as Boston wins‚ 4-3.

At LA‚ Gary Nolan of the Reds defeat the Dodgers‚ 4-0‚ on a 2-hitter. Both hits are by Willie Crawford‚ in the 4th and 9th.
April 8The Phillies acquire minor league 1B Willie Montanez as partial compensation for their loss in the October 7‚ 1969‚ deal in which Curt Flood refused to report.
April 9Baltimore OF Don Buford hits HRs from both sides of the plate during a 13-1 win over Cleveland. He’s the first O’s player to do it.

Cincinnati’s 21-year-old Wayne Simpson makes his ML debut‚ shutting out the Dodgers‚ 3-0 on 2 singles‚ one each in the 6th and 7th.
April 10The Cubs are down 1-0 with 2 out in 9th to Montreal when Ron Santo singles and Johnny Callison homers for the 2-1 win. The Cubs will lose tomorrow then win 11 straight to take over 1st place. During the streak‚ however‚ they will suffer the loss of Hundley when he is rammed at home by the Cards Carl Taylor. Hundley will tear his knee and will be out month‚ then 2 more‚ until July 10‚ with surgery.
April 11San Francisco beats Cincinnati‚ 2-1‚ dropping the Reds one-half game out of first place. This will be the only day all season out of first for the Reds‚ who will set an NL record of 178 days leading the league.
April 13Oakland uses gold-colored bases during the club’s home opener‚ but the Rules Committee subsequently bans this innovation. The Athletics win today‚ 2-1‚ over the Brewers. Reggie Jackson‘s 2-run single and the 3-hit pitching of Hunter and Segui is enough to beat Marty Pattin.
April 14San Francisco outslugs the Braves‚ 15-11‚ though Steve Whitaker doesn’t help much‚ striking out 5 times.

At Wrigley Field‚ Ken Holtzman pitches the Cubs to a 5-4 win over the Phillies. At the end of the game‚ hundreds of fans swarm the field‚ many of them climbing over the wall in right field. The melee prompts the Cubs management to install a restraint in RF‚ an 18-inch wire basket jutting out at an angle from the 11-foot high wall.
April 16Reds’ ace Jim Maloney suffers a severed Achilles tendon in his left leg while running the bases against the Dodgers in the 3rd inning. He is replaced by 19-year-old rookie Don Gullett‚ who earns his first ML victory‚ 12-2‚ with 5 innings of shutout ball. Lee May collects 4 hits including a grand slam. Maloney‚ 29‚ will never win another game in the majors.
April 17Down 5-4 to the Giants in the bottom of the 9th‚ the Reds tie when Hal McRae socks a pinch homer. Tony Perez ends the game with a 3-run homer in the same inning. Bench‚ May‚ and Rose also homer for Cincy.
April 18The Mets Nolan Ryan gives up a leadoff single to Denny Doyle‚ then shuts out the Phillies without another hit. Ryan fans 15 in the 7-0 triumph. For the light-hitting Doyle‚ it is the first of three one-hitters in which he has the lone hit.

The Reds score 7 runs in the 4th but the Giants roar back to win‚ 16-9‚ at Crosley Field. Ron Hunt has a grand slam for SF and Jim Johnson is the winner in his only ML decision. Ken Henderson has no hits but scores 4 runs: the last man to score 4 runs on no hits was Gilliam‚ in 1960.
April 19A first-inning double by Ken Henderson is the only hit off Wayne Simpson as the Reds beat the Giants‚ 6-0. This is Simpson’s 2nd shutout in 3 starts.
April 20Willie Stargell belts a tremendous home run‚ off Jim Bouton‚ over the RF roof at Forbes Field to lead the Pirates to a 3-1 win over Houston.
April 21The Reds clout 7 HRs by 6 different batters (Carbo (2)‚ Bench‚ Rose‚ Concepcion‚ Perez‚ and Tolan) while the Braves counter with 3 HRs of their own (Carty‚ Cepeda‚ Millan) in a night game slugfest won by Cincinnati‚ 13-8. The 10 HRs‚ the 6 different batters for one team and 9 different batters for two teams‚ all tie or set NL records.
April 22Tom Seaver strikes out 19 Padres‚ including the last 10 in succession in winning 2-1 for the Mets. Mike Corkin takes the loss. In this century‚ no one has ever struck out 10 in a row‚ a ML record. Counting the ten whiffs yesterday‚ the Pads have struck out 29 times in two games‚ a NL record that will be topped on June 14/15‚ 1998 when the Astros miss 32 times in two days. Jerry Grote adds one foul fly catch to his 19 putouts via K’s.

The Yankees and Senators battle for 18 innings before the Nats win‚ 2-1. The winning run scores on a walk to Ed Stroud‚ a single by Hank Allen‚ and a sac fly by Mike Epstein. The run‚ off Ron Klimkowski‚ makes a winner of Joe Grzenda.

The Cubs defeat the Cards‚ 7-5‚ ending Mike Torrez‘s 11-game winning streak‚ going back to last year. Don Kessinger has 3 hits including an inside-the-park HR‚ and Billy Williams drives in 3 runs. Joe Torre homers for the Cards and Leron Lee hits his 1st ML homer.
April 25Tiger P Earl Wilson fans for the 3rd out in the 7th inning against the Twins. On the 3rd strike by Jim Kaat‚ Twins C Paul Ratliff traps the ball in the dirt‚ and must either throw to 1B or tag the batter. Instead he rolls the ball back to the mound‚ ignoring the fact that ump John Rice has not signaled a K. As the Twins head for their dugout‚ Wilson begins running the bases and is around 3B when OF Brant Alyea retrieves the ball and throws to SS Leo Cardenas‚ who is standing by home. Wilson turns back to 3B but Cardenas and Alyea run him down for a 7-6-7 out on a 3rd strike. Wilson pulls a hamstring on the play and leaves‚ trailing‚ 2-1‚ and Detroit ties it up 3-3 in the 9th. But Killebrew singles home Oliva in the bottom of the 9th for the win.

In Pittsburgh‚ Willie Stargell hits a homer over the RF roof‚ the 2nd time he’s done it in a week‚ to help the Pirates edge the Braves‚ 8-7. Eighteen balls have been hit over the RF roof at Forbes Field‚ 7 by Stargell.
April 26Don Buford hits a 3-run homer to give Baltimore a 10-9 victory over Kansas City. The Orioles take over first place and will not relinquish that position for the rest of the season.

Willie McCovey and Dick Dietz each hit grand slams as the Giants beat the Expos 11-1 in the first game of a doubleheader. This is a first in Giants history. McCovey adds another homer to back McCormick’s win. The Expos take the 2nd game‚ 3-2. Bobby Wine chips in by catching Willie Mays with the hidden ball trick (as noted by Bill Deane).

Bob Gibson strikes out 15 and allows 5 hits as the Cards beat the visiting Reds‚ 4-1.

The Cubs win their 10th straight‚ beating the Astros‚ 6-3‚ on 3 home runs. Williams and Hickman hit solos while Ron Santo belts a grand slam‚ off starter Larry Dierker. Fergy Jenkins (2-2) is the winner.
April 27The Cubs score an unearned run and beat Pittsburgh‚ 1-0‚ for their 11th straight win‚ their longest streak since 1945. Decker‚ with relief help in the 9th‚ is the winner. The Bucs will win tomorrow to stop the streak.
April 29Baltimore’s Paul Blair collects 3 homers and 6 RBIs in an 18-2 rout of the White Sox. Elrod Hendricks and Boog Powell also homer‚ each with 2 men on to back Jim Palmer.
April 30In a 9-2 loss to the Braves‚ the Cubs Billy Williams becomes the first player in NL history to play in 1‚000 consecutive games.

May


May 1At Cincinnati‚ the Reds lead the Pirates‚ 6-4‚ with 2 outs in the 9th and Willie Stargell comes to the plate. Sparky Anderson then moves pitcher Wayne Granger to LF‚ not wanting to remove him if Stargell reaches base‚ and brings in Don Gullett to face the Bucs slugger. Stargell‚ who accounted for all the Bucs runs with a grand slam‚ strikes out‚ and the Reds win‚ 6-4.
May 2During a 7-1 loss to the Giants‚ the Phillies lose both of their catchers‚ Tim McCarver and Mike Ryan‚ with broken hands in the 6th inning. McCarver breaks his hitting when a 2-1 foul catches him. Ryan breaks his when McCovey spikes him while being tagged out at home in the bottom of the 6th. The two will miss a combined total of 197 games with both coming back in early September. Jim Hutto is hastily brought in to pinch hit and catch. The Phillies will call up the likes of Del Bates and Mike Compton and even use bullpen coach Doc Edwards‚ who will bat .269 in 35 games. Gaylord Perry is the CG winner‚ allowing a homer to Don Money. Willie McCovey has a double and homer for SF.

Kansas City edges the Indians‚ 4-3 in 17 innings when Jackie Hernandez singles in Jim Rooker‚ who comes in as a pinchrunner and stays in as the left fielder for the only time in his career. The game lasts longer than Charlie Metro‚ tossed in the 12th and Lou Piniella‚ who gets thumbed in the 16th.
May 4Houston’s Jim Bouton posts the first complete-game victory of his NL career‚ yielding 6 hits in beating the Cubs‚ 7-2. Bouton (2-2) scores 2 runs.

Rico Carty sets an Atlanta club record hitting in his 23rd straight game as the Braves beat Pittsburgh‚ 5-3.
May 5The Indians and White Sox turn 9 double plays today‚ tying an AL mark. Tommy John wins the battle for Chicago over Dean Chance‚ 2-1.
May 7The Yankees Roy White homers from both sides of the plate in a 7-3 win over Oakland.

Wes Parker‘s 10th-inning triple is the game winner in a 7-4 win over the Mets. With the hit‚ Parker ends the day having hit for the cycle‚ the first Los Angeles Dodger to turn the trick.

The Expos loose their biggest scoring burst in their 2-year history‚ topping the Giants‚ 15-8‚ on 15 hits. Jim Fairey has a homer and 4 RBIs‚ while Willie Mays homers for the Giants. In the first inning‚ RF Rusty Staub throws out the Giants Ron Hunt‚ 9-3.
May 8A record 30 HRs are hit by NL players in 7 games‚ including 2 apiece by each of five players. The 20 MPH wind at Wrigley produces 9 homers as the Cubs defeat the Reds‚ 10-7‚ snapping the Reds win streak at 8 games. Hal McRae and Tony Perez have a pair for the Reds while Billy Williams has 2 for Chicago.
May 9The Dodgers explode for 5 runs in the 14th to beat the Phillies‚ 9-4.
May 10While losing 6-5 to St. Louis‚ the Braves Hoyt Wilhelm becomes the first pitcher ever to appear in 1‚000 games.

At Wrigley Field‚ Pete Rose clubs a 2-run homer off Fergie Jenkins in the 9th inning‚ as the Reds overcome the Cubs‚ 7-6.
May 11Ray Culp strikes out the first 6 Angel batters in Anaheim‚ but Boston loses 2-1 in 16 innings. Culp ties the AL mark for the start of a game.
May 12At Wrigley‚ Ernie Banks becomes the 8th member of the 500 HR club‚ connecting off Pat Jarvis during a 4-3 eleven-inning Cub win over the Braves. It his 1‚600th career RBI. Frank Secory‚ an ex-Cub‚ is umpiring this game‚ and he was one of the umpires in the 1953 game in which Banks hit is first homer. Billy Williams homer in the 9th ties the game and Ron Santo‘s RBI single in the 11th wins it. Atlanta’s Rico Carty‚ meanwhile‚ has 3 singles and has hit in 30 consecutive games.
May 13The Mets Gary Gentry stops the Cubs‚ 4-0‚ allowing just one hit. Bill Hands is the losing pitcher.
May 15After the Mets have a day off‚ ace Tom Seaver matches Gentry by allowing one hit in beating the Phillies and Woodie Fryman‚ 4-0. The two consecutive one-hitters ties a ML record.
May 16The Reds Jim McGlothlin shuts out the Braves 2-0‚ stopping Rico Carty‘s 31-game hitting streak in the process. Carty batted .451 (51-for-113) during the streak‚ which started April 8th.

Bill Mazeroski‘s 9th inning pinch single paves the way for a Pirate win‚ 4-3‚ over the Expos. It is Maz’s first pinch hit in his career.

During the Giants 5-4 win against the Dodgers in Los Angeles‚ Alan Fish‚ a young fan‚ is struck by a foul ball. He initially reports feeling fine‚ but after the game he becomes disoriented and starts walking in circles. He will be hospitalized and die in four days. The parents will bring a lawsuit against the team and the doctor‚ but it will be concluded in 1973 in favor of the team. Fish’s death is the only example of a fan at a ML game dying after being struck by a ball or bat. According to the Hall of Fame‚ the other 4 incidents of fan’s deaths are in the minors: a 13-year-old Wenatchee‚ WA boy‚ Jerry Highfill‚ killed by a batting practice line drive prior to a Northwest League game in 1964; Leonard Handel‚ sports editor of the Anaheim Bulletin‚ killed by a foul ball while watching a Connie Mack league game in 1965; In 1906 in Spring Valley‚ IL‚ during a between Peru and Spring Valley a spectator Patrick Cosgrove was killed when the first baseman tumbled into the stands chasing a foul ball and spiked Cosgrove unintentionally in the head; In 1928‚ fan Walter Lawson was killed by a ball thrown into the stands by Art Shires of Waco. Shires had no intention of hurting anyone.

At Fenway Park‚ Carl Yastrzemski belts a Dean Chance pitch out of the park to the right of the flagpole. Only Jimmie Foxx (twice) and Bill Skowron have done it. Ray Culp is the 6-2 winner over Cleveland.
May 17At Crosley Field‚ Hank Aaron collects his 3‚000th hit‚ a first-inning infield single‚ and his 570th HR‚ off Wayne Granger‚ but the Reds beat Atlanta‚ 7-6 in 15 innings. Pete Rose‘s 9th inning homer knots the game at 3-3‚ and the Reds score another 3 in the 10th to tie the game at 6 apiece. The Reds score in the 10th on a double by Perez and homers by Bench (who starts the game in CF) and Lee May. Don Gullett pitches the last 2 innings and drives in the winner with a single. Perez is 5-for-7 in the contest. Aaron is collared in game 1‚ a 5-1 Reds victory. The DH draws 33‚217‚ the largest crowd at Crosley Field since 1947.
May 20Rod Carew hits for the cycle to lead the Twins to a 10-5 win over host Kansas City. Carew is the first Twin to cycle. Three other Twins homer as well.
May 21A generous Mel Stottlemyre hands out 11 walks to Washington in 8 1/3 innings‚ but the Senators are unable to score. Steve Hamilton gets the last 2 outs to preserve the 2-0 win. The 11 walks in a shutout ties Lefty Gomez‚ who did complete his 1941 shutout. Danny Cater‘s 2-run homer in the 5th accounts for the scoring off Dick Such‚ making his first ML start.

In Houston‚ Reds pitcher Jim McGlothlin fires a 2-hitter as Cincy wins‚ 3-0. Morgan and Jesus Alou have the only hits.

Cardinal Steve Carlton strikes out 16 Phillies in 8 innings‚ but the Cards lose‚ 4-3 in the 9th. In two days‚ teammate Bob Gibson will also fan 16 Phillies.
May 23Giants manager Clyde King is fired following a 15-inning 17-16 loss to San Diego in which they blow an 8-0 lead. Charlie Fox is named as the new skipper. A 15th inning HR by Huntz‚ one of 9 homers in the game‚ ends the 5 hr: 29 minute affair.

Dick Allen belts 2 homers to drive in all the runs as the Cardinals beat the Phillies‚ 3-1. Bob Gibson allows 4 hits and strikes out 16.
May 24With the wind blowing out at Wrigely‚ the Pirates come from 4 runs down to defeat the Cubs‚ 13-6. Willie Stargell has 3 homers and just misses a 4th when his drive bounces off the bleacher railing for a double. Willie adds a single for 15 total bases as he drives in 7 runs.

Cleveland’s Tony Horton hits 3 HRs versus New York‚ but the Yankees win anyway 8-7 in 11 innings.
May 25Three pitchers on the Nishitetsu Lions are suspended from Japanese baseball for life for participating in a game-fixing scandal in the 1969 season.
May 26Tony Taylor cracks an inside-the-park homer in the 9th inning with 2 men on to give the Phils a 3-2 win at Montreal. The batter before Taylor‚ pinch hitter Byron Browne singled and was called out for passing baserunner Tommy Hutton‚ who held up to see if RF Staub had trapped Browne’s hit. Taylor gets Browne off the hook with his drive‚ circling the bases after CF Phillips crashes into the wall.

Claude Osteen earns the win an has 4 hits‚ including a HR‚ scores 4 runs and knocks in 3 to lead the Dodgers to a 19-3 whooping of the Giants. Billy Grabarkewitz scores 5 runs.
May 29The Orioles Mike Cuellar strikes out 4 batters consecutively in the 4th inning of a 2-0 win over California. He allows 4 hits and Boog Powell supplies the offense with a 2-run HR.

The Reds strand 16 runners in the first 8 innings against the visiting Expos‚ but win‚ 6-4‚ on Bobby Tolan‘s 9th inning homer. The Expos have never won a game at Crosley Field.
May 30Detroit’s Les Cain walks the first 3 batters‚ gives up a single and then newly acquired Roberto Pena smacks an inside-the-park grand slam to help the Brewers beat Detroit‚ 9-7. Northrup and Kaline collide going after Pena’s ball.

While on a rehab assignment at Iowa prior to joining an umpire crew in Boston‚ Cal Drummond leaves the Iowa-Oklahoma City game in the 7th and collapses on the bench. He dies in the hospital 4 hours later. The 10-year AL veteran umpire was struck by a foul trip in an Orioles game last June 10‚ suffered a brain clot and needed 2 operations. He recovered sufficiently to try umpiring again.

All-Star voting is returned to the fans‚ as computerized punch-card ballots appear in stores and ballparks coast to coast. Since 1958 the All-Star squads had been selected by managers‚ coaches‚ and players.
May 31Chicago’s Luis Aparicio and Walt “No Neck” Williams each collect 5 hits in a slugfest with Boston. The White Sox win 22-13‚ with Williams scoring 5 runs. The 2 teams collect 40 hits‚ one short of the AL record set in 1950.

Paul Blair is hit by a pitch from California reliever Ken Tatum and carried off the field with a broken nose and fractures. His hitting is never the same following the injury. The O’s lose‚ 6-1.

June


June 1By reprimanding Astro Jim Bouton in a private meeting for writing the controversial book Ball Four‚ Commissioner Kuhn helps put the book on the bestseller list and make it a classic.
June 4In the June draft‚ the Padres select high school catcher Mike Ivie as the number-one pick and sign him in 3 days to a $100‚000 contract. He’ll play in the ML 11 years but catch only 9 games in the Bigs because of a phobia about throwing the ball back to the pitcher. Choosing next‚ the Indians take Stanford P Steve Dunning‚ who will debut in 10 days. He’s just the 2nd player drafted who will skip the minors. Catchers Barry Foote (Expos) and Darrell Porter (Brewers) go next. The Pirates wait till the 14th round to take Dave Parker. Rich Gossage goes in the 9th round to the White Sox; Rick Reuschel to the Cubs (3); pitcher Dale Murphy to the Braves (18th). The Giants took Randy Moffitt and Chris Speier on the first round in January and repeat the good first round picks today with John D’Acquisto and Dave Kingman. The Reds take prep SS Gary Polczynski in the first round‚ but have better luck in the 8th (Wayne McEnaney)‚ the 10th (Ray Knight) and the 19th (Pat Zachary). The Phillies‚ Royals‚ Dodgers‚ and Angels pick 5th‚ 8th‚ 9th and 10th on the first round and also come up with duds. Future seventeen-year major leaguer Frank White goes undrafted today while the Cards take Bake McBride on the 37th round.
June 5In a sign of things to come‚ Minnesota rookie Bert Blyleven gives up a homer to the first batter he faces in the majors‚ Lee Maye. Blyleven settles down and allows just 4 more hits in 7 innings and beats Washington‚ 2-1. Blyleven was brought up from Evansville (AA) to replace the injured Tiant.
June 7Pinch hitter Vic Davalillo of the Cardinals‚ in for Bob Gibson‚ gets a record-tying 2 hits in the 7th inning of a 10-7 win over the Padres. The Birds score 7 in the frame after the Padres had built a 7-1 lead against Gibson. Ron Herbel‚ the 2nd of 4 pitchers in the 7th‚ is the loser. Davilillo assumes he receives credit for 2 pinch hits‚ and that his 23rd pinch hit on August 31st ties the record of Dave Philley. He will finish the year with 24 pinch safeties but a rule difference between the AL and NL will cost him a pinch hit today.

The rampaging Reds move to 9 game ahead in the NL West with a 10-2 walloping of the Mets. Johnny Bench‚ with 5 RBIs‚ and Lee May crash homers to back Wayne Simpson‘s 8th win.
June 8Players and management end their labor dispute by agreeing to a new standard player contract. Among the players’ victories is a raise in the minimum salary from $10‚000 to $12‚000 per year.
June 9Detroit’s Willie Horton clubs 3 HRs‚ including a grand slam‚ knocking in 7 runs in an 8-3 win over Milwaukee.
June 12Pittsburgh’s Dock Ellis no-hits San Diego 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader. Ellis walks 8 and hits one and gets all his support on a pair of Willie Stargell HRs. The Padres take the nitecap‚ 5-2‚ behind Danny Coombs. Nate Colbert has a pair of triples and Ferrara homers.

Bob Gibson homers and doubles to lead to the Cards to a 4-1 win over the Giants. Gibson strikes out 8 while allowing 5 hits.
June 13In a 9-4 Yankee win over Kansas City‚ Yankee infielder Gene Michael successfully pulls the hidden ball trick on the Royals Joe Keough in 6th after Joe singles in tying run. Michael will pull it again next month.
June 19Despite Mike Epstein‘s 8 RBIs‚ the Senators bow to the Orioles 12-10 in the first game of a doubleheader. Epstein has two homers-one a grand slam-and a single. Boog Powell drives in 4 runs with 4 hits for the O’s. The O’s use pitching to take the nitecap‚ 3-2‚ in 13 innings. Hardin pitches 10 innings with Richert getting the win with 3 innings of relief.
June 20Brooks Robinson’s 2‚000th ML hit is a big one-a 3-run homer off Washington’s Joe Coleman in the 5th inning. The drive snaps a 2-2 tie‚ and the Orioles hang on for a 5-4 victory.

Behind the pitching of Bill Hands‚ the Cubs win 8-3 over St. Louis. But starting with a doubleheader loss tomorrow to the Birds‚ the Cubs will go on a 12-game losing streak‚ one short of the club mark set in 1944.
June 21Cleveland wins the first game against Detroit‚ 2-1‚ but Detroit’s Cesar Gutierrez then goes 7-for-7 with 6 singles and a triple to tie a record set in 1892‚ in a 12-inning 9-8 nitecap win. Mickey Stanley’s HR wins it for the Tigers. Gutierrez‚ wearing #7‚ started the game hitting .218‚ and was 0-for-18 before today. Gutierrez will collect just 7 hits in all of 1971‚ and 128 hits for his career.
June 22Rod Carew‚ batting .376 for the Twins‚ injures his right knee during an attempted double play when Milwaukee’s Mike Hegan slides into Carew. The injury will require surgery and sideline him until September. Harmon Killebrew‘s 5th inning homer with 2 on enables the Twins to beat the Brewers‚ 4-3 behind Jim Kaat.
June 24Before 28‚027‚ the Reds play their final game at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field‚ beating the Giants 5-4. Johnny Bench and Lee May hit back-to-back homers off Juan Marichal in the 8th for the win.

In a doubleheader with the Indians at Yankee Stadium‚ Bobby Murcer ties Lou Gehrig‘s club record of 4 straight homers. The Yanks lose the opener 7-2‚ despite Murcer’s 9th-inning HR off Sam McDowell. Murcer next connects off game 2’s starter Mike Paul‚ hitting a solo shot in the 1st inning. A walk in the 4th‚ then a 2-run homer off Paul in the 5th‚ and a game-tying homer in the 8th‚ off Fred Lasher. New York scores in the bottom of the 9th to salvage a 5-4 win. Cleveland 1B Tony Horton hears a hoo and literally crawls back to the dugout after fanning on two of Yankee hurler Steve Hamilton‘s “Folly floaters.” Sensitive to fans’ booing during the season‚ Horton will be hospitalized‚ and at 25‚ this is his last season.
June 25Behind the Red Sox 7-0 after 5 innings‚ the Orioles tie the game in the 9th on a Merv Rettenmund HR and a double by Andy Etchebarren. The Orioles finally win it when they score 6 runs in the 14th inning.
June 26Frank Robinson belts two successive grand slams during a 12-2 Oriole romp over the Senators‚ just the 7th major leaguer to ever accomplish the feat. Dave McNally‚ the winning pitcher‚ Don Buford‚ and Paul Blair trot home ahead of him on each blow. They will be Robby’s only grand slams for the O’s. The Orioles will lose C Clay Dalrymple tomorrow when he breaks his ankle in a home plate collision with the Nats Mike Epstein.

Trailing 2-1 in the 5th‚ the Angels Steve Kealey comes and induces Amos Otis to hit into a triple play (he had a double play in the 1st). Kealey is lifted for a PH in the Angels’ four-run 6th and is the winner in the Halos 5-4 victory. It’s his only win this year.
June 27The Twins’ teenage sensation Bert Blyleven fires a two-hitter in downing the White Sox‚ 9-1.
June 28The Pirates sweep the Cubs in a doubleheader 3-2 and 4-1 in the final games at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field.

For the third time in their careers‚ Pete Rose and Bobby Tolan combine to belt lead off homers for the Reds. This time Houston’s Don Wilson is the victim. Tony Perez hits his 27th homer‚ off Wilson‚ in the top of the 9th for a 3-2 Reds win.
June 30A sellout crowd of 51‚050 is on hand for the dedication of Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium‚ rushed to completion so the Reds can host the All-Star game. There is no electricity in the refreshments areas‚ and the scoreboard occasionally misfires. but Hank Aaron doesn’t misfire as he hits the park’s first home run. The Braves win‚ 8-2.

July


July 1The return of Denny McLain following his suspension is witnessed by a gathering of 53‚863 fans and 71 writers. Trailing 5-3‚ he is knocked out of the box in the 6th inning‚ but the Tigers rally to beat the Yankees in the 11th‚ 6-5.

The Cards trade Ted Abernathy‚ acquired May 29‚ to the Royals for P Chris Zachary. Abernathy will go 9-3 the rest of the year for KC.

The Angels Greg Garrett picks up a win without throwing a pitch. Garrett relieves with 2 out in the 6th with the Angels trailing the Brewers‚ 2-1. He promptly picks off Tommy Harper to end the inning‚ then watches as the Angels score 3 runs in the top of the 7th to take a 4-2 lead. Jack Fisher pitches the last 3 innings to preserve Garrett’s victory. Garrett’s win is similar to teammate Steve Kealey‘s win on June 26.

The Reds top the Braves‚ 9-2‚ as Tommy Helms becomes the first Red player to go deep at Riverfront Stadium. Helms’ homer‚ which hits the LF pole just above the wall‚ is his only homer of the year.
July 2Detroit’s Joe Niekro no-hits the Yankees until Horace Clarke singles in the 9th inning. The Tigers win 5-0. This is the 3rd time in the month that Clarke has broken up a no-hitter‚ having spoiled bids by KC’s Jim Rooker (June 4th) and Boston’s Sonny Siebert (June 19th).

The Reds hand the Braves their 9th loss in 10 games‚ as Cincy wins‚ 2-1. Jim Merritt becomes the NL’s first 13-game winner and his batterymate Johnny Bench drives in both runs.

Montreal’s John Bateman drives in a team-record 7 runs to pace the Expos to a 13-10 win over the Cards. Bateman’s first hit is a grand slam in the Expos’ six-run 1st inning.

At Connie Mack Stadium‚ the Phils break their scoreless streak of 53 innings and sweep two from the Mets‚ 6-1 and 3-2. With successive pinch hits by Tony Taylor‚ Ron Stone‚ and Byron Browne‚ the Phils score 6 in the 8th inning to win the opener for Jim Bunning‚ then again come from behind to win the nitecap for Chris Short. The opener is the 6‚000th game played at the ancient stadium.

Cleveland edges the Orioles‚ 10-9‚ helped by Tony Horton‚ who hits for the cycle. Dennis Higgins is the winning pitcher.
July 3In pregame ceremonies‚ California’s Clyde Wright is inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Hall of Fame for his pitching while at Carson-Newman College. He then hurls a no-hitter against Oakland‚ winning 4-0. Reggie Jackson‘s 400-foot shot to dead center in the 7th is caught.

Mike Lum hits 3 homers as the Braves beat the Padres‚ 8-1‚ in the first game of a doubleheader. The Braves continue hitting in game 2 to win‚ 9-4.

In Boston‚ a Yaz homer in game one and an unearned run in the nitecap provide the Red Sox with 2-1 and 5-4 wins over Cleveland. In game 2‚ Indians reliever Dean Chance is told to remove a tiny flag pin on his cap by umpire Ed Runge in compliance with a rule prohibiting glass buttons and metal objects on uniforms because of their glare.
July 4The Cards send 3 pinch hitters to the plate in the 8th inning and all 3 strike out. Steve Renko of the Expos fans 10 in the game‚ including Jim Beauchamp‚ Vic Davalillo‚ and Leron Lee in the 8th‚ to give Montreal an 8-0 win.

At Fenway‚ Tony & Billy Conigliaro homer for the Red Sox in a 5-1 win over the Indians. Sonny Siebert is the winner.
July 5At Fenway Park‚ Boston’s John Kennedy makes his first ML at bat a memorable one when he pinch hits an inside-the-park homer. Kennedy bats for P Mike Nagy in the 5th inning of the 8-4 Boston win over the Indians.

Reds rookie Wayne Simpson (13-1) win his 10th straight‚ beating the visiting Astros‚ 3-1.
July 6Felix Millan goes 6-for-6 with 4 RBI to help the Braves top the Giants 12-4.

At Wrigley Field‚ it’s all Ron Santo today. Ron’s 2-run homer in the opener gives the Cubs a 3-2 win over the Expos. In the nitecap‚ Santo drives in another 8 runs on two homers and a bases-loaded walk as the Cubs win‚ 14-2.

Tommy Agee hits for the cycle to pace the Mets to a 10-3 win over the Cardinals. Jim McAndrew is the WP.
July 7Brooks Robinson cracks a 10th inning grand slam off New York’s Lindy McDaniel to give the Orioles a 6-2 win.
July 8Jim Ray Hart ties a modern ML record with 6 RBIs in one inning (5th) with a 3-run homer and 3-run triple. The Giants score 11 in the frame. Hart also hits for the cycle as the Giants rout the Braves 13-0. Gaylord Perry is the easy winner‚ posting SF’s first shutout of the year. Perry will throw 4 more to lead the NL.

The Orioles again wait until the late innings to beat New York‚ this time striking in the 9th inning on a Frank Robinson HR and a two-out single by Don Buford. The O’s overcome an 8-6 deficit to win‚ 9-8.
July 9Dalton Jones of the Tigers loses a grand slam against the Red Sox when he passes teammate Don Wert on the base paths. Jones pinch hits for Jim Price and belts a 2-2 pitch from Vincente Romo into the RF upper deck for a grand slam. However‚ he passes Don Wert between first and second and is called out‚ ending up with a 3-RBI single.

In Atlanta‚ Chief-No-ka-homa is joined by his cousin Chief Round-the-Horn‚ but the duo fails to inspire the Braves‚ 7-6 losers to the Giants. Bernie Carbo‘s 8th inning HR breaks a 6-6 tie.
July 10The Padres launch 4 HRs in the 9th inning against LA but the power display comes too late and the Dodgers win‚ 9-7. Wes Parker has 2 doubles and a triple for LA. For the Padres‚ Murrell‚ Spiezio and Campbell hit solo homers off Bill Singer‚ and Gaston connects for a 2-run homer off Pena. The barrage is one short of the record.

Reds SS Woodie Woodward goes deep for his first and only ML homer‚ off Ron Reed in Atlanta. It comes in his 684th ML game (1672 AB). It is too little as the Braves top the Reds‚ 11-9. The Reds take the nitecap‚ 3-1‚ scoring 2 runs when Pat Corrales hits a long drive that glances off the glove of Hank Aaron and over the fence for a HR. Rose is 5-for-5‚ all singles.
July 14At Riverfront Stadium‚ the NL wins its 8th straight All-Star Game‚ a thrilling 12-inning 5-4 victory in Cincinnati. Pete Rose crashes into Cleveland catcher Ray Fosse to score the controversial winning run on Jim Hickman’s single. Fosse‚ who never had the ball‚ hurts his right shoulder and is taken to the hospital. The game is scoreless until the 6th‚ with the NL limited to 3 hits in the first 8 innings. In the 9th‚ the NL tees off on Catfish Hunter‚ driving in 3 runs to tie. Dick Dietz hits a leadoff HR in the inning. Claude Osteen pitches the 10th for the win.
July 16The Reds spoil the Pirates debut in Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium 3-2. Cincinnati’s Tony Perez hits the park’s first homer‚ offsetting a later one by hometown Willie Stargell. The Pirates parade their new uniforms of stretchable cotton and nylon.

Chicago’s Ken Holtzman gives up two hits and two Astro runs-both unearned-and drops a 2-1 decision at Houston. Billy Williams makes a bid for a game-tying homer in the 9th but his long fly hits a Dome speaker and drops foul.
July 17With the score tied at 5-5 and bases loaded in the 10th inning‚ and no outs‚ Brewers manager Dave Bristol inaugurates the “Bristol Shift‚” bringing OF Tommy Harper in between SS and 3B. Unperturbed‚ George Scott hits a sac fly to win the game.
July 18San Francisco’s Willie Mays‚ at the age of 39‚ strokes a single off Montreal’s Mike Wegener for his 3‚000th hit. Mays’ safety comes in his 2‚639th game and he joins Aaron‚ who stroked his 3‚000th a month earlier. Aaron’s was hit in his 2‚460th game. The Giants coast to a 10-1 victory.

Milwaukee’s Ted Kubiak has 7 RBIs-on a single‚ double and grand slam-to lead the Brewers to a 10-5 win over the Red Sox at Fenway. The Red Sox blow a 5-1 lead‚ reached when Yaz hits a 3-run homer and Reggie Smith solos. Sparky Lyle (0-4) is the loser allowing one run.
July 20The Dodgers Bill Singer‚ who a month earlier lost a no-hitter to Atlanta with 2 outs in the 9th‚ no-hits the Phillies 5-0‚ giving up no walks. He strikes out 10 and makes 2 miscues‚ one a controversial throwing error that pulls 1B Wes Parker off the base. The Phillies’ players argue‚ contending the soft chopper by Don Money should be a hit. Singer had spent 3 weeks in the hospital in June for hepatitis.

With the score tied 1-1 in the 9th‚ Chicago’s Ken Holtzman walks Hank Aaron before Tommy Aaron homers for a 3-1 Braves victory.

In St. Louis‚ the Reds Lee May breaks a scoreless tie with a 10th inning grand slam to account for all the scoring as the Reds win‚ 4-0 in game 2. The Reds take the opener‚ 4-3.
July 21Clay Kirby has a no-hitter going for 8 innings‚ but with 2 outs in the 8th and trailing 1-0‚ Padres manager Preston Gomez lifts him for a pinch hitter Cito Gaston. Gaston fails to get a hit off Mets’ starter Jim McAndrew‚ and reliever Jack Baldschun gives up 2 runs in the 9th. The Padres lose 3-0. Gomez will repeat the mistake on September 4‚ 1974.
July 23At Wrigley‚ Milt Pappas shuts out the Reds in a Cubs‚ 1-0 win. It is the only shutout of the year against the Reds‚ tying the NL record. Jim McGlothlin takes the loss.
July 24Chicago’s Bill Melton ties the ML record by striking out 7 times in a doubleheader split with Detroit. Melton will strike out his first 3 times up in his next game‚ in Baltimore on the 28th‚ before flying out in the 9th. The Sox win the opener today‚ 5-2 with 6 straight singles and 5 runs in the 9th. The Tigers win the nitecap‚ 5-4‚ in the 9th when Don Wert draws a walk from Wilbur Wood with the sacks full.

The Cubs pound the Braves for 16 hits and 11 runs and Ken Holtzman allows 6 hits as the Cubs roll‚ 11-1. Williams and Santo drive in 4 runs apiece and Beckert scores 4 times.

In a surprise move‚ the Mets Tommie Agee steals home with the bases loaded in the 10th to give the Mets a 2-1 win over the visiting Dodgers. Agee bunted and reached base on an error‚ stole 2B with 2 outs and went to 3B on the throw. After two walks he took home to pin the loss on Brewer.

At Pittsburgh‚ Clemente celebrates Roberto Clemente night with a pair of hits but leaves after suffering a cut left knee making a sliding catch on the gravel warning track. Dock Ellis goes all the way allowing 4 hits as the Pirates trounce the Astros‚ 11-0.
July 25For the 4th time in his career‚ Billy Williams has the only hit for the Cubs‚ as he connects safely twice against the Braves Phil Niekro. Each time previously‚ Williams also had multiple hit games to spoil no-hitters. Niekro coasts to a 9-0 victory over Fergie Jenkins.

Hall beats Hall as the Orioles reliever Dick Hall tops the Twins Tom Hall‚ 6-5. Dick singles in the 8th for his first hit of the year and Buford follows with a game-winning HR.
July 26Johnny Bench of the Reds and Orlando Cepeda of the Braves each collect 3 consecutive homers and 7 RBIs during respective games with the Cardinals and Cubs. Bench hits all 3 off Steve Carlton and adds a single in the Reds 12-5 win over the Cards. Bench now has 33 homers and 95 RBIs to lead the majors. Cepeda collects his 7 RBIs in the Braves 8-3 win over the Cubs in game 1. His first 2 are solo shots‚ and the 3rd follows an intentional walk to Aaron to load the bases. His last RBI comes on a single in the 9th. In the nitecap of the twinbill‚ Cepeda has 3 hits but the Cubs win‚ 7-6. Glenn Beckert‚ 2-for-3 in the opener‚ raps 5 straight hits in game 2 to lead Chicago.

Boog Powell drives in 6 runs to lead the Orioles to an 11-1 win over the Twins. Boog hits a single and homer‚ both with the sacks full‚ and takes over the AL lead in ribbies with 86. Dave McNally loses his shut out on a homer by P Jim Perry.
July 27The Yankees defeat California‚ 5-2‚ behind Mel Stottlemyre‚ who is helped by shortstop Gene Michael in the 9th. With the score tied‚ Michael pulls the hidden ball trick on Angel pinch-runner Jarvis Tatum. The Yanks score 3 in 10th to win.

The Expos beat the White Sox 10-6 in the annual Hall of Fame game‚ following the induction ceremonies for Lou Boudreau‚ Earle Combs‚ Ford Frick‚ and Jesse Haines.
July 28A bad day for Angels C Tom Egan: he is charged with 5 passed balls‚ all with different pitchers‚ and he drops a throw for an error to permit what proves to be the winning run in a 6-5 loss to the Yankees. Egan does get his name in the AL record book with the 5 passed balls.

Donn Clendenon sets a club record by driving in 7 runs as the Mets beat the Giants‚ 12-2. A sac fly and a pair of 3-run homers does it. Jim McAndrew is the winner.
July 29The Cubs purchase 1B/OF Joe Pepitone from the Astros. Pepitone will drive in 31 runs in his first 31 games for his new team.

Hank Aaron cracks 2 HRs and drives in 5 runs to lead the Braves to an 9-7 come-from-behind win over the visiting Cards. Hal King also homers to match 3 round trippers by St. Louis.
July 31At California‚ Boston’s Sonny Siebert beats the Angels‚ 2-0‚ on one hit‚ a 3rd inning ground single by Jay Johnstone. Mike Andrews and Carl Yastrzemski hit solo homers off Murphy for the scoring.

The Twins tie a ML mark with two pich homers‚ by Manual and Allison‚ but the Tigers prevail‚ 10-9‚ when 4 walks in the 9th score the tie breaker. Elliot Maddox receives a walk with the sacks full.

Behind the pitching of Dave McNally the Orioles beat the Royals‚ 3-1‚ for their 21st consecutive win over Kansas City. This ties an AL record.

The Reds lose a doubleheader to the visiting Cubs‚ 7-1 and 11-7‚ and lose rookie star Wayne Simpson (14-3)‚ who tears the rotary cuff in his pitching arm. Simpson will come back‚ but will never be the same‚ going 22-28 in the rest of his career.

August


August 1Pittsburgh’s Willie Stargell smashes 3 doubles and 2 homers‚ which ties the ML mark for extra-base hits in a game‚ and scores 5 runs while driving in 6. Teammate Bob Robertson also collects 5 hits as the Pirates outslug the Braves 20-10. In the 7th‚ Robertson and Stargell combine with Jose Pagan for three consecutive homers. Atlanta answers with a pair to tie the record for most homers by 2 teams in one inning.

Rusty Staub has 4 homers-2 in each game-to pace the Expos to a doubleheader sweep over the Dodgers‚ 11-6 and 6-5. Ron Fairly also homers in game 2.

The Orioles beat the Royals‚ 9-1‚ for a ML record 22nd straight win. The victory goes to Jim Palmer‚ wearing #22. The 22 consecutive wins tops the record of the 1883-84 Boston team over the Phils. Kansas City won the first game in 1969‚ then dropped 11 in a row that year. They lost the first 11 this year.

The Cardinals beat the Houston Astros‚ 14-7‚ with the help of 9 unearned runs. Richie Allen has a grand slam for the Birds.

After trailing 4-2‚ the Reds score 4 in the 8th to defeat the Cubs‚ 6-4. Johnny Bench and Ty Cline each drive in 2 runs in the 8th.
August 2Bobby Tolan celebrates his new son‚ born just before today’s game‚ by driving in the winning run in the 11th inning to beat the visiting Cubs‚ 4-3.

Oakland splits a pair with Washington‚ losing the opener‚ 6-2‚ but winning game 2‚ 1-0‚ in the 9th when Don Mincher hits a game-ending HR off Horacio Pena. Mudcat Grant‚ with one inning of relief‚ is the victor.

Carl Taylor ends a slugfest by belting a game-ending grand slam in the 9th off Ron Herbel to give the Cards an 11-10 win over the Padres.
August 3In their last meeting of the year‚ Baltimore defeats Kansas City 10-8. It is the Orioles 23rd straight win over the Royals over a 2-year span‚ a ML mark.
August 4In San Diego‚ the Reds stomp the Padres‚ 12-1.
August 6For the second and last time in his career‚ Lou Brock steals home‚ teaming up with Joe Hague in a double steal in the 1st inning against the Mets in St. Louis. Nels Briles wins 3-0‚ stopping Tom Seaver‘s 9-game win streak.

At Minnesota‚ George Mitterwald leads off the bottom of the 14th with a HR to beat California‚ 2-1. Stan Williams (7-0) wins with 2 innings; Williams will be 10-1‚ all in relief.
August 8Milwaukee reliever Dave Baldwin intentionally walks Boog Powell to load the bases and pitch to Don Buford. The Baltimore infielder promptly smacks a grand slam to give the O’s a 7-4 victory over Milwaukee.

In LA‚ Tony Perez collects 6 RBIs on 2 homers and a single to lead the Reds to a 10-6 win over the Dodgers.

The Giants edge the Astros‚ 6-5‚ with the win going to reliever Don McMahon. Giants starter Skip Pitlock has his 1st and only ML homer (half his career hits)‚ an inside-the-park liner off Wade Blasingame.
August 9At Three Rivers Stadium‚ Willie Stargell hits an 8th inning homer into the 70-foot high right field upper deck‚ the first player to hit one up there. The pitch is served up by Mets reliever Ron Taylor. The next two hit up there will be by Stargell‚ who will hit four of the first 7; Bob Robertson‚ Phillie Greg Luzinski‚ and Bobby Bonilla‚ in 1987‚ will also reach the seats. The Pirates win‚ 8-3. Nolan Ryan is the loser‚ allowing 4 runs in 6 innings‚ allowing 3 hits‚ walking 7 and striking out 10.
August 11Jim Bunning notches his 100th NL victory‚ a 6-5 Phillies win over the Astros. Bunning is the first pitcher since Cy Young to win 100 games in each league.
August 12Curt Flood loses his $4.1 million antitrust suit against baseball‚ as Federal Judge Irving Ben Cooper upholds the legality of the sport’s reserve clause. Cooper does recommend changes in the reserve system‚ to be achieved through negotiation between players and owners. Less than 6 years later‚ this recommendation would become a reality.
August 13The Reds Jim Merritt strikes out 13 Mets en route to a 5-1 win in Cincinnati.

Cesar Tovar‘s singles to lead off the first inning‚ the only one off Dick Bosman as Washington beats Minnesota‚ 1-0. Jim Kaat is the loser. For Tovar‚ it is a ML record 5th game that he has had the only hit.
August 15In a 5-4 Reds win over the Phillies‚ Lee May drives in all the runs for Cincinnati. His 2nd homer in the bottom of the 9th ties the game and his single in the 14th wins it. Rose is 0-for-7 with 5 straight K’s. The Phils Billy Champion is the losing pitcher‚ but all is not lost. Champion picks up a PCL win today as Eugene completes a suspended game in which he is the victor.
August 16Down 3-0 in the 8th‚ the Brewers score 4 runs‚ three of the runs on a Danny Walton bases loaded double‚ to beat the Indians 4-3 win. Gus Gil’s single drives in the last run The biggest crowd of the season‚ 44‚387‚ is on hand for bat day‚ allowing Bernie Brewer to leave his perch in right field after 40 days. Bernie had vowed to stay there until the crowd topped 40‚000‚ and when the attendance was announced‚ Bernie slid down his slide.

In a 5-3 Montreal win over the Astros‚ Bob Bailey hits one of the longest HR in Astrodome history.
August 19The White Sox erupt for 11 runs on 10 hits in the 9th inning to defeat the Red Sox‚ 13-5.

Fergie Jenkins homers and his teammates add another 6 as Chicago coasts over San Diego‚ 12-2. Jim Hickman (2)‚ Glenn Beckert‚ John Callison‚ Joe Pepitone‚ and Billy Williams also round trip for Chicago. Six of the Cub homers are solo shots and San Diego adds a solo homer: the 7 solo homers by 2 teams sets a NL record and ties the ML mark set on April 29‚ 1962.
August 22In a 16-inning game‚ the Pirates edge the Dodgers 2-1. Roberto Clemente goes 5-for-7 with an RBI and run scored.

Hal Lanier‘s 8th inning single is the only hit Ken Holtzman allows in the Cubs‚ 15-0 mauling of the Giants. Gaylord Perry gives up 8 runs in 1 1/3 inning to seal the outcome for the Giants. Joe Pepitone and Billy Williams each have a double‚ homer‚ and score three runs.

Defensive replacement Chuck Hinton drives in the Indians winning run in the 10th as the Tribe tops the A’s‚ 6-5. The Indians hit 4 homers-one by Pinson in the 1st and three consecutive homers by Sims‚ Nettles‚ and Leon in the 6th.

Johnny Bench has a 2-out‚ 2-run double in the 9th to give the Reds a 3-2 win over the Mets at Shea Stadium.

At San Diego‚ Bob Gibson (18-5) stops the Padres on 2 hits as the Cardinals win‚ 7-0. Dal Maxvil and Gibson hit back-to-back triples in the 4th to help the 14-hit attack. For Maxvil‚ it is one of 7 extra base hits he’ll pick up this year as he will total the lowest slugging average ever for anyone in 150 games. He hits .201 in 399 at bats.
August 23Roberto Clemente compiles his 2nd straight 5-hit game during an 11-0 pasting of Los Angeles. He is the first major leaguer this century to collect 10 hits in 2 consecutive games.

How do you spell relief? Don Gullett strikes out 6 straight batters and pitches 4 innings with no runners reaching base in beating the host Mets‚ 7-5. Gullett strikes out 8 in the last 4 innings. The Reds win on Jimmy Stewart‘s 3-run pinch homer off Tom Seaver.
August 24Oakland tags Dave McNally for 10 hits but the Orioles ace still wins his 20th‚ 5-1‚ the 3rd straight year he’s reached the charmed circle.
August 25In Minnesota‚ a bomb scare delays the game with Boston for 43 minutes in the 4th‚ but the only bomb is an 8th inning homer by Tony Conigliaro to give the Sox a 1-0 win. The Sox end the game with a double play‚ a 1-6 force at 2B‚ then a throw home to nab Oliva trying to score. Ken Brett is the winner in relief over Hall.
August 26In the Reds‚ 6-5 win over the visiting Phillies‚ Jim Merritt notches his 20th win of the year. Jim Bunning takes the loss. Merritt is the first Reds lefty to win 20 since 1925‚ but will be 6-26 the rest of his career.
August 27Mike Cuellar wins his 20th game for Baltimore‚ defeating the A’s‚ 6-4. Dobson is the loser‚ giving up 4 runs in 2+ innings.
August 28The Giants Juan Marichal beats the Pirates 5-1 for his 200th ML win. Marichal joins Bunning as the only active pitchers with 200 wins.

Jerry Reuss allows 2 hits and the Cards beat the host Dodgers‚ 1-0‚ when Joe Torre belts a 9th inning HR off Don Sutton. It is Reuss’ 2nd 2 hitter this month‚ having beaten the Expos 4-0 on August 9.

Houston’s Wade Blasingame continues his mastery of the Mets‚ winning 2-1‚ his 2nd victory over New York since being recalled from the minors. His record against the Mets is 9-0. Tom Seaver takes the loss.

Cleveland and California split a pair‚ with the Angels taking the opener‚ 3-2 and the Tribe the nitecap‚ 5-1. Cleveland’s Tony Horton plays his last professional game. The 25-year-old budding star‚ despondent over a batting slump and fans’ booing‚ will be hospitalized for depression.
August 29The Reds trip the Expos‚ 4-3‚ as Pete Rose collects his 1‚500th career hit. Lee May‘s 2-run homer in the 11th snaps a 2-2 tie.

Mickey Mantle returns to the Yankees as first base coach.
August 30In the first of 2 at Chicago‚ the Red Sox roll to a 22-11 win over the White Sox. This is the 10th time in history that the Red Sox have score 20 or more runs. Ken Brett is the victor.

September


September 1The Red Sox take an 8-1 lead at Fenway‚ but Detroit rallies to win 10-9. The Sox take the lead on a Mike Andrews homer and a grand slam by Tony Conigliaro. The Tigers then use the long ball as well‚ collecting 4 homers‚ including a grand slam by Jim Price‚ to win. Patterson is the winner over Siebert.
September 2Detroit’s Gene Lamont homers in his first ML at bat‚ but the Red Sox this time hold the lead and beat the Tigers 10-1 in the nitecap. Cal Koonce is the CG winner‚ adding 2 RBIs with his 2nd hit of the year. The Tigers win the opener‚ 6-4‚ scoring 2 unearned runs in the 8th.

In the first six innings‚ Rangers starter Sam McDowell walks 6 Nats batters‚ 5 intentionally. Three of the intentional passes go to Frank Howard in his first 3 at bats‚ twice when he leads off the inning. McDowell moves to 1B in the 6th inning‚ with 2 on and no outs‚ and Dean Chance comes in allowing both runners to score. McDowell comes back to the mound to finish‚ losing 4-1 to Dick Bosman.

That old black magic works for Gary Nolan as he outpitches Juan Marichal to beat the Giants‚ 2-0. Before the game Reds teammate Angel Bravo gives Nolan a rubber ball to carry during the game‚ assuring him that he’ll pitch a low-hit game as a result. Nolan allows 3 hits.
September 3After an NL record 1‚117 consecutive games‚ Billy Williams asks to sit one out. Without Williams‚ the Cubs beat the Phillies 7-2.

The Twins Leo Cardenas hits a Wally Bunker pitch in the 8th inning off the foul pole‚ but the umps rule it a foul ball. Manager Bill Rigney and Bob Allison argue that is should be a homer and get tossed for their efforts. Cardenas then strikes out. Phil Roof and Roberto Pena homer to lead the Brewers‚ to an 8-3 victory.
September 6Blue Moon Odom yields 2 hits and smashes a HR as the Athletics beat the Royals‚ 7-1. Jackson and Tenace also homer for the A’s
September 7The White Sox use a ML record 41 players in a doubleheader with Oakland‚ but lose both games 7-4 and 7-5.

Houston sweeps a doubleheader from San Diego 10-5 and 9-4. In the first game Astro Bob Watson and Padre Ramon Webster each hit grand slams.

Brant Alyea drives in all 7 Twins runs on 2 homers in game 1‚ then drives in 2 more in the nitecap as the Twins sweep the Brewers‚ 7-6‚ and 8-3. Stan Williams (9-0) wins his 9th straight to set a Twins record. In game 2‚ Hal Haydel makes his first ML appearance a good one‚ pitching 5 innings of relief to win‚ and also hitting his first ML HR.
September 9Bowie Kuhn hands Denny McLain his third suspension of the year‚ this one is for carrying a gun‚ plus other unspecified charges‚ and ends McLain’s season with a 3-5 record.

California’s Alex Johnson becomes the 3rd player in history to put one into the CF bleachers at Comiskey when he connects in the 6th against Chicago’s Billy Wynne in a 2-1 loss in 8 innings. The Sox also win the opener‚ 11-4‚ to break their 8 game losing streak. Bill Melton leads to 5-homer offense with a pair and 5 RBIs.

Pitching in his 2nd ML game‚ Reds rookie Milt Wilcox pitches a 5-0 shutout over the Dodgers in LA.
September 10Cleveland whips the Senators‚ 13-4. Frank Howard‚ with no walks today‚ hits 2 homers for Washington. Cleveland pitchers will walk Howard 30 times this season‚ 12 intentionally.

Lee May hits a 1st inning grand slam‚ off Joe Moeller‚ and the Reds roll to a 13-4 win over the host Dodgers.
September 11Twenty-one-year-old Vida Blue‚ recalled from the minors just 8 days earlier‚ hurls a one-hit shutout as the A’s beat the Royals 3-0. Pat Kelly’s 8th-inning single is the only hit off the fireballing lefty.

Sonny Siebert and Jim Palmer each pitch 12 innings‚ but Eddie Watt gets the win for Baltimore by pitching the 13th in the 3-2 win. Boston’s Sparky Lyle is the loser giving up hits to the 2 batters he faces.
September 13At Wrigley‚ the Pirates lead the Cubs‚ 2-1 with 2 outs and no on in the 9th when Willie Smith hits a routine fly to Matty Alou. Alou drops it and three singles later the Cubs have a 3-2 win. The victory puts the Cubs a game behind the Buc and a half-game behind the Mets.

Kansas City sweeps a pair from Oakland‚ winning both by 8-7 scores. In the 11-inning opener‚ A’s SS Bert Campanaris sets an AL record by participating in 6 DPs. It will be tied in the NL.
September 15The White Sox hire manager Chuck Tanner from the Pacific Coast League. He replaces Don Gutteridge‚ who had been fired on September 3rd. Coach Bill Adair ran the team in the interim.

Ken Holtzman wins his 15th‚ and the Cubs top the Cardinals‚ 5-3. Chicago moves into 3rd place‚ just a game behind the first-place Mets and Pirates.
September 16Clyde Wright joins Dean Chance (1964) as the Angels 2nd twenty-game winner as he beats the Twins‚ 5-1. Bert Blyleven‚ 19-year old rookie‚ ties an AL record by striking out the first 6 batters. He strikes out 10 in 6 2/3 innings.
September 17Sudden Sam McDowell wins his 20th game as the Indians beat the Tigers‚ 6-2. Niekro (21-13) is the loser.

With the Yankees losing to Boston‚ the Orioles clinch the AL East despite losing to Washington‚ 2-0. Bosman is the winner‚ allowing 5 hits.

The Dodgers lose to the Astros‚ 10-5‚ clinching the NL West for the idle Reds.
September 18The Cubs sweep a pair from Montreal‚ winning 3-2 and 5-4. Fergie Jenkins wins his 20th in game 1‚ helped by Billy Williams 40th homer of the year. Phil Regan is the victor in game 2.
September 19Syracuse (International League) beats Omaha (American Association) 5-3 in 11 innings‚ thereby winning the Junior World Series.

Boston’s Billy Conigliaro connects for a 4th inning HR off Washington’s Jim Hannan‚ and in the 7th frame‚ brother Tony wallops a solo shot off Joe Grzenda. The Red Sox win 11-3 after taking the first game‚ 7-3. The brothers also homered in the same game on July 4. Billy will end the year with 18 home runs‚ while Tony will connect for 36. Frank Howard is frustrated with 5 strikeouts in game 1.

The Giants Gaylord Perry retires the first 19 batters and settles for 3-hitter in beating the Padres‚ 3-0. It is Perry’s 4th straight shut out.
September 20Jim Palmer wins his 20th game‚ defeating the Indians‚ 7-0. The Orioles are the first club since 1956 to have three 20-game winners.

Bill Melton sets a White Sox club record with his 30th HR (Eddie Robinson had the mark with 29) leading Chicago to an 8-4 win over the Royals in game 1. Kansas City’s Jim York makes his ML debut in the nitecap‚ pitching 4 2/3 innings of relief in winning his first game‚ 8-2. Paid attendance at Comiskey is 672.
September 21The A’s Vida Blue no-hits the Twins 6-0‚ becoming the youngest pitcher to perform the feat since Paul Dean‚ 36 years ago to the day. The only base runner against Blue is Harmon Killebrew‚ who walks in the 4th inning. Bert Campaneris‚ who helps Blue with a leaping catch on Mitterwald in the 5th‚ adds a triple and HR. An Oakland crowd of only 4‚284 watches Blue’s 2nd ML start.

The Braves trade veteran Hoyt Wilhelm to the Cubs. In December the Cubs will trade him back to Atlanta.
September 22Tommy Harper hits his 30th HR to lead the Brewers to a 4-2 win over the Angels. Harper has 33 stolen bases and becomes the 5th major leaguer to go 30-30 in the same season. It is Milwaukee’s 60th win of the year.

The Twins clinch their 2nd straight AL West title‚ beating the A’s 5-3. Oliva starts the scoring with a 2-run HR in the 1st.

The Reds score 6 runs in the 8th to beat Houston‚ 6-5. Tommy Helms drives in the last 2 runs with a single.
September 23The Dodgers knock out starter Gaylord Perry with 5 runs in 4 innings‚ but the Giants come back to win 14-10. SF scores 9 in the 6th‚ featuring a 2-run HR by Hart and a grand slam by Dietz. The Dodgers tie the game at 10-10 in the 8th‚ but the Giants score 4 in the 9th to clinch. Henderson belts a 3-run HR.

The Cardinals dent the pennant aspirations of the Cubs‚ stopping them twice by identical 2-1 scores. Bob Gibson and Jerry Reuss are the hurlers for the Birds.
September 24The Cubs stop the Cards‚ 7-1‚ behind Ken Holtzman‘s 7-hitter‚ and stay 2 1/2 games in back of the Pirates. Chicago will lose its next two games and Pittsburgh will clinch the divisional title on the 27th.
September 25In the White Sox 5-1 win over the Brewers in game 1‚ Luis Aparicio sets a ML record for most games at shortstop‚ 2‚219. Ed Herrmann hits a 3-run HR for the Sox. The Brewers win game 2‚ 3-2.

At Pittsburgh‚ Willie Stargell throws out a runner in the 8th and singles home the winner in the 9th to give the Pirates a 4-3 win over the Mets. The Bucs increase their NL East lead to 3 1/2 games over the Mets and Cubs‚ losers to the Phils.
September 27The Red Sox smash 4 homers to reach a club-record 201 homers in handing the Senators their 10th straight loss‚ 10-1. Winning pitcher Gary Peters its a 3-run homer‚ Conigliaro‚ and George Scott with 2 homers and 5 RBIs are the leaders. The previous Sox high for homers was 197 last season.

The Orioles rally for 2 runs in the 8th inning to beat the Indians Sam McDowell‚ 4-3. Dick Hall wins his 10th game with 3 innings of hitless relief. He also walks no one and ends the year with more wins than walks-10 wins and only 6 walks in 61 innings. Not since Slim Sallee‘s 21 wins in 1919 when he walked 20 has a pitcher accomplished this. Bret Saberhagen in 1994 will be the next‚ winning 14 and walking 13. Before Sallee‚ Christy Mathewson had 2 seasons of more wins than walks.

The Pirates clinch the NL East with a 2-1 win over the Mets. A record crowd of 50‚469 cheer on the Bucs. Boswell‚ who had played a record 85 games at 2B without an error‚ boots a grounder in the 5th for his first E in 389 chances.
September 28In his first big league start‚ Mets’ outfielder Leroy Stanton leads off the first with a triple‚ his first ML hit‚ but is knocked on the head by the relay throw‚ and is forced to leave the game. His pinch runner scores and the Mets go on to win‚ 6-3‚ on 2-run homers in the 9th and 10th by Clendenon and Garrett. Hoyt Wilhelm is the loser in his only Cub decision.

Jack Billingham strikes out 12 and shuts out the Giants‚ 3-0. Billingham also throws a wild pitch‚ giving Houston a ML record 91 on the season. The record for a 154-game schedule is 70.
September 29Winning pitcher Ted Abernathy singles home a run in the 12th to give the Royals a 14-13 win over the Twins. The 2 teams use 49 players‚ 27 by Minnesota‚ to set a new ML record. The previous mark (48) in both leagues was set in 1956. The Twins lead 9-5 going into the 9th but the Royals score 6 runs. Leo Cardenas has 5 hits and 4 RBIs for the Twins.
September 30The Yankees Fritz Peterson wins his 20th‚ defeating the Red Sox‚ 4-3. Billy Conigliaro and Alvarado‚ with his first ML homer‚ go deep for Boston.

October


October 1In a 9-5 loss to Pittsburgh‚ Dal Maxvill of the Cardinals completes the most impotent offensive season (minimum 150 games) in NL history‚ setting records for fewest at bats (399)‚ hits (80)‚ doubles (5)‚ long hits (7)‚ and lowest batting (.201) and slugging (.223) averages.

The final game at Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium is played‚ the Phillies beating the Expos 2-1 in 10 innings and escape the cellar. A trickle of fans started running onto the field beginning in the 8th inning when the rosin bag was stolen in between innings. One fan grabbed the arm of left fielder Ron Stone just as he started after a ball hit by John Bateman. The ball falls safely‚ putting the tying run on. With the game’s end‚ the crowd of 31‚822 responds by swarming onto and destroying the field and stadium. A post-game ceremony with 67 prizes to be awarded‚ is canceled.

The Angels Alex Johnson grounds out and then hits 2 singles to edge Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski for the AL batting title‚ .3290 to .3286. Johnson leaves the game after his 2nd hit as the Angels go 13 innings to top the White Sox‚ 5-4. Yastrzemski goes 12-for-20 over his last 6 games. The Red Sox ended their season September 30th.

Fergie Jenkins allows two hits-two doubles by Ken Singleton‚ and Joe Pepitone hits a 2-run homer to beat the Mets‚ 4-1. The win puts the Cubs in 2nd place in the NL East‚ with the Mets in 3rd.

The Senators end the season with a 3-2 loss to the host Orioles‚ and finish the season with 14 straight losses. The O’s win their 11th straight‚ setting a club-record winning streak. Frank Robinson homers for the Orioles‚ his 475th homer‚ tying him for 12th on the all-time list with Musial.

Detroit P John Hiller ties an AL record by striking out 7 straight batters and allowing 2 hits as the Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians‚ 1-0. Throwing his first CG since June of last year‚ Hiller fans the side in the 3rd and 4th and strikes out the first batter in the 5th.
October 2Billy Martin is announced as the new Tiger manager‚ replacing Mayo Smith‚ who was fired a day earlier. The A’s Charlie Finley fires manager John McNamara and replaces him with Dick Williams.
October 3Pitcher Mike Cuellar contributes a grand slam as the Orioles explode for 7 runs in the 4th inning to rout the Twins 10-6 in the opening game of the AL Championship Series. This is the first homer hit by pitcher in the LCS and the only homer a pitcher will hit in the ALCS during this century .

Pete Rose‘s RBI single in the 10th inning breaks up a scoreless game as the Reds win the NLCS opener 3-0 over Pittsburgh. Gary Nolan gets the shutout victory for Cincinnati‚ as Dock Ellis takes the loss.
October 4ML umpires return after a one-day walkout in quest of higher wages. Minor league umps had been pressed into service for the opening LCS games the day before. There had been rumors of a strike for several days as negotiations between the umpires and ML baseball had reached an impasse.

Bobby Tolan leads the Reds to a 3-1 win as Cincinnati continues to roll over the Pirates in the NLCS. Tolan tallies 3 hits‚ including a HR‚ and scores all 3 of his team’s runs.

Dave McNally hurls Baltimore to a 2-0 ALCS lead as the Orioles blast the Twins 11-3. Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva hit home runs in a losing cause.
October 5Johnny Bench and Tony Perez homer as the Reds beat the Pirates 3-2‚ while Jim Palmer pitches Baltimore to a 6-1 win over Minnesota. Both teams thus complete sweeps of their respective LCS and advance to the World Series.

St. Louis trades controversial slugger Dick Allen to Los Angeles for 2B Ted Sizemore and C Bob Stinson.
October 9The Tigers trade Denny McLain to the Senators in an 8-player deal that also sees OF Elliott Maddox‚ 3B Aurelio Rodriguez‚ and P Joe Coleman change teams. This ranks as one of Detroit’s best trades ever.
October 10Baltimore overcomes a 3-0 deficit to beat the Reds 4-3 in the WS opener at Riverfront Stadium as Boog Powell‚ Ellie Hendricks‚ and Brooks Robinson contribute home runs to the winning effort. The Jackson Five sing the National Anthem.
October 11Boston’s Tony Conigliaro (OF) and California’s Doug Griffin (2B) switch clubs in a 6-player swap.

The Orioles again overcome a 3-0 deficit to win 6-5‚ as Powell hits his second WS round-tripper. Baltimore takes a 2-0 advantage in games.
October 13The Orioles win their 3rd straight over the Reds 9-3‚ with winning pitcher Dave McNally slugging a grand slam off Wayne Granger‚ the only one by a pitcher in WS history. Frank Robinson and Don Buford also contribute homers‚ and 3B Brooks Robinson continues his excellence with the glove‚ as he makes 2 spectacular grabs in the field.
October 14After Casey Stengel throws out the first pitch‚ Lee May‘s 8th-inning 3-run homer gives the Reds their first Series win 6-5. RF Pete Rose throws out Brooks Robinson at the plate and homers in the 5th. The loss ends the Orioles’ 17-game winning streak which started at the end of the regular season.
October 15For the 3rd time the Orioles overcome a 3-0 deficit to bury the Reds 9-3 and win the World Championship 4 games to one. Frank Robinson and Merv Rettenmund each homer and drive in 2 runs. Brooks Robinson‚ the “human vacuum cleaner‚” easily wins the WS MVP award.
October 18Sachio Kinugasa takes his place in the starting lineup of the Hiroshima Carp‚ playing 3B. Over the next 17 years he will play in 2‚215 consecutive games-the durability record of professional baseball‚ topping Lou Gehrig‘s 2‚130.

November


November 3The Phillies trade Curt Flood to the Senators for 3 minor league players.

Bob Gibson wins the NL Cy Young Award by a 118-51 margin over Giant Gaylord Perry. Gibson posted a 23-7 record for the Cardinals.
November 6The Twins Jim Perry wins the AL Cy Young Award in a close race. Perry‚ who won 24 games during the season‚ receives 55 points to edge out McNally (47)‚ McDowell (45)‚ and Cuellar (44).
November 11Boog Powell‚ who batted .297 with 35 homers and 114 RBI for Baltimore‚ is named AL MVP by a 234-157 margin over the Twins Tony Oliva.
November 18Johnny Bench wins the NL MVP Award with 326 points‚ 108 more than the Cubs Billy Williams. Bench had 45 homers‚ 148 RBI‚ and a .293 average for the Reds. His 355 total bases is a record for a C‚ one that will be tied by Mike Piazza in 1997.
November 21TSN announces the Gold Glove selections. White Sox SS Luis Aparicio wins the 9th and final honor of his career‚ while Mets OF Tommie Agee becomes the first non P to win it in each league. Aparicio has now won a gold glove in the 50s‚ 60s‚ and 70s.
November 25Yankees C Thurman Munson receives 23 of 24 votes in being named AL Rookie of the Year. Munson batted .302 in 132 games.
November 26Hey‚ Mom‚ guess what! The Cubs acquire infielder Hal Breeden from the Braves for knuckler Hoyt Wilhelm. They then trade OF Willie Smith to the Reds for C Danny Breeden. The Breeden brothers will play 48 games together as Cubs next year‚ before both move on.
November 27Carl Morton‚ who was 18-11 for the last-place Expos‚ receives the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Morton beats out Reds OF Bernie Carbo‚ 11 votes to 8. Both Rookies of the Year will be dead by 1983.
November 30The White Sox trade OF Ken Berry to the Angels for OF Jay Johnstone in a 6-player deal. The White Sox also make a rare trade with the Cubs when they send OF Jose Ortiz and INF Ossie Blanco to the North side for Ps Pat Jacquez and Dave Lemonds.

December


December 1Ps Tom Phoebus‚ Al Severinsen‚ and Fred Beene‚ and SS Enzo Hernandez‚ go from the Orioles to the Padres for Ps Pat Dobson and Tom Dukes. Dobson will win 20 games for the Orioles in 1971.

The Red Sox trade 2B Mike Andrews and SS Luis Alvarado to the White Sox for veteran SS Luis Aparicio.
December 2In a 6-player swap with the Pirates‚ the Royals acquire SS Freddie Patek. The Pirates pick up P Bob Johnson in the deal‚ but the righty will go just 17-16 in 3 years.
December 11The Braves Rico Carty‚ the leading active ML hitter at .322 lifetime‚ suffers a fractured knee and ligament damage in a Dominican League game. Carty will miss the entire 1971 season.
December 14St. Louis OF Herman Hill drowns in the Caribbean‚ near Valencia‚ Venezuela‚ at age 25. He had been traded from the Twins on October 20th.
December 15The Reds trade former ace Jim Maloney to the Angels for Greg Garrett. Maloney was just 0-1 this year and will do no better in California.
December 21Jimmy Wynn of the Astros is injured during a domestic quarrel. He will undergo abdominal surgery for a stab wound but will suffer no long-term effects.
December 30The Giants trade popular second baseman Ron Hunt to the Expos for 1B Dave McDonald. Hunt will be a solid starter for 3 seasons in Montreal‚ while McDonald will be sold back to the Expos on March 25‚ 1971.