Baseball – 1975

Baseball in 1975

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January


January 5Astros P Don Wilson is found in his garage in Houston, dead of monoxide poisoning at age 29. Police rule it an accidental death although rumors persist, all without evidence, that Wilson committed suicide. The Astros will retire his #40.
January 23Ralph Kiner earns Hall of Fame membership by a single vote.

February


February 3Billy Herman‚ Earl Averill‚ and Bucky Harris are selected for the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee.
February 10The Special Committee on the Negro Leagues picks William “Judy” Johnson for the Hall of Fame.
February 25The Orioles trade 1B Boog Powell and P Don Hood to the Indians for C Dave Duncan and a minor league OF.
February 28The Mets purchase 1B-OF Dave Kingman from the Giants.

March


March 5Tony Conigliaro signs a contract with Pawtucket (International League) in an attempt to make a comeback.
March 12In spring training‚ Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk suffers a broken arm.
March 15The Dodgers sign free-agent pitcher Juan Marichal. After two poor outings‚ Marichal will retire on April 17th‚ leaving a career record of 243-142‚ 52 shutouts‚ and a 2.89 ERA.
March 21Yes‚ in baseball. Georgia Tech shuts out Earlham 41-0‚ setting an NCAA record for scoring and for winning margin.

April


April 5The Phillies trade OF Bill Robinson to the Pirates for P Wayne Simpson.
April 6The Astros purchase P Joe Niekro from the Braves.
April 7The Big Red Machine opens against the Dodgers in Cincinnati and goes 14 innings before George Foster‘s infield hit scores Cesar Geronimo with the winner‚ 2-1. Pat Darcy is the winner over Charlie Hough.
April 8After Rachel Robinson‚ widow of Jackie‚ tosses out the first ball in Cleveland‚ Frank Robinson‚ the first black manager in ML history‚ adds a dramatic touch by homering in his first Cleveland at bat (as a DH) during a 5-3 win over the visiting Yankees. For player-manager Robinson‚ it is his 8th Opening Day HR‚ setting a ML record. Starter Doc Medich is the loser‚ going 5 innings and giving up all 5 runs. Gaylord goes all the way to win for the Tribe‚ while Boog Powell backs him‚ going 3-for-3 with a double and homer.

In a club house meeting‚ Boston captain Carl Yastrzemski criticizes his teammates for their poor attitude in spring training when they went 10-20. In the game‚ the Sox bomb Jim Slaton for 5 runs in 3 innings and defeat Milwaukee‚ 5-2. Hank Aaron is hitless in his AL debut‚ while teammate Robin Yount homers. Tony Conigliaro is the Sox DH and is 1-for-4 in his Boston return.
April 9Against Mike Marshall‚ the Reds score 2 runs in the 9th inning to beat the Dodgers‚ 4-3 at Cincinnati.
April 10Oakland’s Mike Norris shuts out Chicago‚ 9-0‚ in his ML debut.

The Reds come from behind again to beat the Dodgers‚ this time spotting LA a 5-0 lead before winning‚ 7-6. The Reds sweep the 3-game series.
April 11In Milwaukee‚ 48‚160 fans brave 37 degree weather to welcome home Hank Aaron. Hank drives in a run and the Brewers whip the Indians‚ 6-2.

At Wrigley Field‚ Ray Burris beats the Expos‚ 2-1‚ when the Cubs Rick Monday scores from 2B on deep fly to RF.
April 13In San Diego‚ the Reds roll over the Padres 10-0 behind Don Gullett‘s 2-hitter.
April 17During a 14-7 loss to the Mets‚ the Cardinals Ted Simmons homers from both sides of the plate‚ while teammate 2B Ted Sizemore ties a ML record with 3 errors in the 6th inning.

The Orioles ship slugger Earl Williams to the Braves for pitcher Jimmy Freeman and $75‚000.
April 19In Cincinnati‚ the Reds spot the Astros a 7-1 lead‚ then roar back to score 3 in the 9th to win‚ 9-8. Tony Perez hits a solo HR in the 9th and Concepcion knocks in 2 runs.
April 20In Cincinnati‚ Pete Rose belts a 2-run homer with 2 outs in the 9th to give the Reds a 5-3 win over the Astros. The Astros come back to edge the Reds in game 2‚ 7-6.
April 22The Reds again use a 9th inning rally to win‚ 5-4‚ over the Giants at Riverfront Stadium. Morgan scores the winner after cruising into 3rd on a wild pitch and deliberately drawing a throw from C Marc Hill. Hill heaves the ball over 3rd and Morgan scores.
April 23The Yankees Roy White again homers from both sides of the plate‚ this time in an 11-7 loss to the Red Sox. White last switch-hit HRs on August 13‚ 1973.
April 25The Dodgers Andy Messersmith beats the Giants 6-5 and ties a ML batting record for pitchers with 3 doubles in one game.

The Cubs edge the Cardinals‚ 4-3‚ behind Darryl Knowles 3 hitless innings of relief. Cubs starter Rick Reuschel pitches the first six innings and records 4 assists and 3 putouts. The 3 putouts come in the 3rd innings‚ setting a since-tied NL record. Jim Bagby was the first pitcher to do it‚ in 1940‚ with the Red Sox.
April 26Mike Schmidt wallops 2 HRs to help give the Phils a 10-9 win over Cincinnati. Schmidt has 11 HRs in April tying the ML record.
April 27During a 4-3 loss to the Giants‚ the Reds Johnny Bench suffers a shoulder injury in a home-plate collision with Gary Matthews. Bench will undergo surgery in November.

In the first of two games‚ Hank Aaron hits a left field double off Dick Tidrow of the Yankees‚ tying Babe Ruth‘s career RBI record (later revised) of 2‚209. The Brewers win 7-0. Aaron has no ribbies in game 2‚ as the Yankees win 10-1.
April 29In Houston’s 10-2 win over San Diego‚ the Astros use sacrifice bunts in 7th inning. This ties a ML record.

May


May 1Hank Aaron goes 4-for-4‚ driving in 2 runs in the Brewers 17-3 win over Detroit. This brings his career RBI total to 2‚211‚ breaking Babe Ruth‘s published record of 2‚209. His third inning single off Vern Ruhle drives in Lezcano with his 2‚210th RBI. On February 3‚ 1976‚ the Records Committee will revise Ruth’s total to 2‚204; so‚ in actuality‚ Aaron set the record on April 18‚ 1975.
May 2Cubs P Burt Hooton is traded to the Dodgers for pitchers Geoff Zahn and Eddie Solomon.
May 3The Reds switch Pete Rose from left field to 3B‚ opening a lineup spot for utility OF George Foster. Over the next 4 seasons‚ Foster will average 36 HRs‚ 117 RBI‚ and a .302 BA‚ helping the Reds to two World Championships. Gary Nolan‚ making a comeback after shoulder problems sidelined him in 1973-74‚ stops the Braves‚ 6-1. It is Nolan’s first win since October 1972.
May 4The Giants beat the Astros 8-6 in the first game of a doubleheader at Candlestick. In the 2nd inning‚ Houston’s Bob Watson scores what is calculated as ML baseball’s one-millionth run of all time (the Philadelphia Nationals Wes Fisler scored the first run on April 22‚ 1876) as Milt May hits John Montefusco‘s first pitch to drive him home. The Reds Davey Concepcion homers about the same moment and races around the bases‚ but Watson‚ on 2B‚ scores seconds ahead as the Reds lose to Atlanta‚ 3-2. On third base in the Twins game‚ Rod Carew also tried for the millionth run on a short fly to left. Not only is he thrown out‚ but he injures his leg.

Harmon Killebrew returns to the Met wearing the visitors Royals uniform. His #3 is retired before the game‚ and the Killer then brings the crowd to its feet when he unloads a homer in his first at bat. Minnesota wins 6-3‚ behind Jim Hughes.

In the first of 2‚ the Astros J.R Richards walks 11 Giants in 8-6 loss. Houston wins the nitecap‚ 12-8.

Mets outfielder Cleon Jones is arrested in St. Petersburg‚ Florida‚ after the police find him naked in a van with a teenage girl who is holding a stash of narcotics. Jones tells the cops that he is “C. Joseph Jones‚ a laborer.”
May 5Oakland releases pinch runner Herb Washington. Washington‚ who played in 104 ML games without batting‚ pitching‚ or fielding‚ stole 30 bases‚ and scored 33 runs.
May 7The Braves trade C Johnny Oates‚ along with the contract of Dick Allen‚ to the Phillies for 2 players and cash. Allen had refused to report to Atlanta following his trade from the White Sox on December 3‚ 1974‚ and announced his retirement.
May 10Will McEnany provides 3 1/3 innings of hitless relief to seal the Reds 7-1 win over the Mets. Clay Kirby gets the win.
May 12The Royals leave a record tying 15 men on base without scoring in a 5-0 loss to the Tigers. Tiger rookie Vern Ruhle allows 12 baserunners in his 7 1/3 innings‚ in picking up the win. The 15 runners in a shutout has been done 3 times before‚ the last on August 1‚ 1941. The mark will finally be eclipsed by the Cards in 1994.
May 16Baltimore takes game 1 against the Angels‚ 1-0‚ when Bobby Grich hits a game-ending homer in the 9th off Frank Tanana. The Halos take game 2‚ 3-2‚ and two homers by Tommy Harper.
May 17In Montreal‚ Johnny Bench and Ken Griffey hit homers in the 10th inning as the Reds beat the Expos‚ 5-3.
May 19San Diego’s Randy Jones hurls a 10-inning one-hitter in beating St. Louis 1-0. John Curtis takes the tough loss‚ giving up a game-ending homer to John Grubb‚ his 4th hit of the game‚ with one out in the 10th. Melendez has the one hit for the Cards‚ a leadoff single in the 7th.
May 20The Indians trade pitchers Dick Bosman and Jim Perry to the A’s for P Blue Moon Odom and cash.
May 21The Reds‚ entering the game with a 20-20 record‚ 5 games behind the first-place Dodgers‚ come from behind to beat the Tom Seaver and Mets‚ 11-4. Cincinnati will go on to win 41 of 50 games and run away with the National League West title.
May 25Cleveland’s Dennis Eckersley‚ in his first ML start‚ hurls a 3-hit shutout in beating Oakland 6-0.

Mickey Lolich‘s 200th career victory is a rain-shortened‚ 4-1 win over the White Sox. His catcher is Bill Freehan‚ who also caught him in his first ML start May 21‚ 1963.
May 26At Riverfront‚ Johnny Bench launches a 5th inning grand slam to help the Reds beat the Expos‚ 5-4.

In St. Louis‚ Lou Brock hits for the cycle to back Bob Forsch‘s 7-1 win over the Padres.
May 28The Reds stop the visiting Expos‚ 5-0‚ behind Gary Nolan‘s 2-hitter.
May 30Willie McCovey’s grand slam lifts the Padres over the Mets 6-2. It is McCovey’s 3rd career pinch slam‚ tying the ML record held by Ron Northey and Rich Reese. It is Stretch’s 16th lifetime bases-loaded homer‚ tying the NL record held by Aaron.
May 31Cesar Tovar gets the only hit for Texas‚ the 5th time in his career he has had his team’s lone hit in a game. The Yankees Catfish Hunter hurls the one-hit 6-0 victory.

Andy Messersmith gets a loss and a save for the Dodgers in Chicago. In a game continued from the previous day‚ he saves a 3-1 win for Don Sutton‚ then loses 2-1 to the Cubs on two solo HRs.

The Royals beat the Brewers 7-5 in a game bridging the generation gap. Home run leaders Henry Aaron and Harmon Killebrew are in their 22nd ML seasons and winning pitcher Lindy McDaniel is in his 21st. All three were playing in the majors before Brewers SS Robin Yount was born.

Don Gullett allows 4 hits as the Reds beat the Cards‚ 6-0.

June


June 1The Angels Nolan Ryan pitches his 4th career no-hitter‚ winning 1-0 over the Orioles‚ to tie the record set by Sandy Koufax. Ryan strikes out 9‚ including Bobby Grich on a change-up for the last out‚ and runs his record to 9-3. Ryan has now struck out 96 in 96 innings. Today’s win is his 100th.

In the 2nd game of a Kansas City-Milwaukee twinbill‚ Johnny Briggs pinch hits for Hank Aaron. The Royals win‚ 11-5 after taking the opener‚ 13-6.

The Phils edge the Astros‚ 5-4‚ on Jay Johnstone’s 5th inning homer off Larry Dierker. The homer is the only hit for the Phils after the first inning in which they score 4.
June 4Danny Goodwin‚ picked first in the June‚ 1971 free-agent draft‚ is picked first again‚ this time by the Angels. The next 4 picks‚ including the Padres number 2 pick of pitcher Mike Lentz‚ fail to make the major leagues. Picking 10th‚ Montreal takes SS Art Miles‚ who will break his neck diving into shallow water while celebrating West Palm’s FSL win in 1977. The Expos finally pick right‚ taking Andre Dawson on the 10th round‚ the Dodgers picking pitcher Dave Stewart in the 16th‚ and the Braves take Glenn Hubbard in the 20th.

Lee Mazzilli of the Visalia Oaks (California) ties the minor league record when he steals 7 bases. He will end the year with 49.
June 6California’s Nolan Ryan‘s bid for a 2nd no-hitter in a row is foiled by Hank Aaron‘s single in the 6th inning. Ryan gives up one other hit in overpowering the Brewers 6-0.

Cleveland Manager Frank Robinson shows his players how to hit as he connects for two 3-run homers in a 7-5 win over the Rangers.
June 7In Cincinnati‚ the Reds beat the Cubs‚ 7-1‚ and take over first place in the NL West.
June 8Detroit’s Tom Veryzer doubles with two out in the 9th to stop Oakland’s Ken Holtzman‘s no-hitter. Outfielder Bill North misjudges Veryzer’s hit‚ but is not charged with an error. Holtzman retires the last hitter for a 4-0 victory.

The Brewers catcher Darrell Porter drives in all 4 runs as Milwaukee tops the Angels‚ 4-3. Jim Colborn wins his first of the year.

Johnny Bench belts a 2-run homer in the 7th and the Reds beat Rick Reuschel and the Cubs‚ 2-1.

Montreal P Dave McNally‚ 3-6‚ announces his retirement.
June 9The Dodgers beat the Expos 4-0 and go over the one million mark in home attendance in only their 27th date. This breaks the ML record of 28 days set by the 1948 Indians.

In a 12-4 loss to Texas at Fenway‚ Yaz hits his 500th double. Jackie Brown is the wining pitcher.
June 10The Yankees sponsor Army Day at their temporary home‚ Shea Stadium (Yankee Stadium is being refurbished). During a ceremonial 21-gun salute‚ glass is splintered‚ the park is filled with smoke‚ part of the fence is blown away‚ and another part is set afire.
June 12Milwaukee defeats Oakland 9-7 to move within 4 games of first. Oakland’s Billy Williams’s 400th career HR is matched by Hank Aaron‘s first HR in Milwaukee since 1965.

In Cincinnati‚ the Reds score 7 in the 6th inning to clip the Cardinals‚ 10-1.
June 13The Indians trade P Gaylord Perry to the Rangers for hurlers Jim Bibby‚ Jackie Brown‚ Rick Waits‚ and an estimated $100‚000.

The Yankees Elliott Maddox‚ hitting .305‚ is sidelined for the remainder of the season with torn cartilage in his knee. The injury occurs in a fall on the wet Shea Stadium turf during a 2-1 win over the White Sox.

The wind is blowing out at Wrigley as the Reds collect 24 hits to outslug the Cubs‚ 18-11. Cesar Geronimo has 5 of the hits as the Reds score 12 runs in the last 2 innings.
June 14Milwaukee defeats the Angels and Nolan Ryan‚ 6-4 at County Stadium. Aaron has two hits‚ including his 7th homer of the year.

The Reds keep hitting Chicago pitching‚ beating the Cubs like a rented mule to win‚ 11-3. Johnny Bench has 2 doubles and 3 singles.
June 15The Tigers give up on 1B Nate Colbert and sell the slugger to Montreal.

The White Sox make one of their better trades when they swap Stan Bahnsen and a minor leaguer to Oakland for reliever Dave Hamilton and 20-year-old minor league 3B Chet Lemon.
June 16Coasting to a 9-2 win with 2 outs in the 9th inning‚ Reds P Don Gullett is struck on the pitching hand by a line drive off the bat of Atlanta’s Larvell Blanks. The liner breaks his thumb and Gullett will be out of action for 2 months.
June 18Boston’s stellar rookie Fred Lynn drives in 10 runs with 3 HRs‚ a triple‚ and a single during a 15-1 drubbing of Detroit. Lynn’s 16 total bases ties an AL record. He is hitting .340 with 14 HRs.

Marty Pattin shuts out the California Angels‚ 13-0‚ while his Kansas City teammate Tony Solaita hits 2 homeruns and scores 5 runs. Nolan Ryan lasts just 2 innings in taking the loss.
June 21In the opener of a doubleheader‚ the Angels Frank Tanana strikes out 17 Rangers without a walk during a 4-2 win. Texas cops the nitecap‚ 6-5.
June 24In Atlanta‚ Joe Morgan lofts a 3-run homer off Phil Niekro to account for all the scoring as the Reds beat the Braves‚ 3-0.
June 25George Scott booms two solo HRs to lead the Brewers to a 7-6 win over the Tigers. Pete Broberg wins his 8th of the year.

Boston C Carlton Fisk‚ injured last June 23rd‚ returns to action for the first time in a year in an 8-5 loss to Cleveland.

Rick Reuschel is the hard-luck loser to Dennis Blair in the Cubs 12-2 loss to the Expos. Montreal scores 10 unearned runs.
June 28At Riverfront Stadium‚ George Foster hits a 2-out 2-run homer in the 10th inning to give the Reds a 6-4 win over the Padres.
June 30After losing to Boston‚ 5-2‚ in game 1‚ Baltimore C Dave Duncan ties the ML record with 4 consecutive doubles (he’ll total just 7 doubles for the year) during an 8-2 win over first-place Boston in game 2. Compounding the loss‚ Boston P Dick Pole suffers a broken cheek when he is hit by a line drive off the bat of 1B Tony Muser.

The Brewers whip the Yanks‚ 5-4‚ by scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th. Bobby Darwin‘s 8th homer of the year is the big blow. Bill Travers (4-0) takes the win. Milwaukee‚ winners of 15 out of their last 21‚ is in 3rd place in the East.

For the 3rd time in 4 days‚ the Reds win on an extra-inning home run. This time‚ Johnny Bench belts a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 12th and the Reds whip the Astros‚ 9-6. Clay Kirby gets the decision.

July


July 1The Reds win the 4th extra inning game in 5 days‚ beating the Astros 8-7 in 15 innings. The Reds score 3 in the 9th to tie it at 7 apiece. Pat Darcy is the winner. It is the second consecutive game that the Reds trail by 4 runs and comeback to win; no NL team will match that the rest of the century.
July 2In a 13-5 win over Detroit‚ Baltimore’s Don Baylor homers his first 3 times up‚ giving him 4 consecutive HRs over 2 games to tie the ML record.

Jim Rice‚ installed today as the Red Sox regular LF‚ belts 2 homers in the first game‚ including one that is the longest ever hit at County Stadium. In game 2‚ Fred Lynn is kept off the bases‚ ending his streak of 38 straight games. Boston’s Rick Wise wins the opener‚ 6-3‚ not giving up a hit until 2 are out in the 9th. George Scott then clouts a 2-run homer‚ and Danny Darwin follows with another dinger.
July 3Fred Lynn’s 2nd error of the game allows the Brewers to score in the 10th. The 3-2 win lifts the Brewers into a tie with Boston in the AL East. But Milwaukee will fall flat in August and slide to a 5th place finish.
July 6For the 2nd time this season against the Braves‚ a team uses 3 sacs (no flies) in an inning. Houston does it in the 9th in a 6-2 win behind J.R. Richard.
July 7In an 8-6 loss to the Cardinals‚ Giants catcher Marc Hill-as well as the Cards-ties a mark last accomplished in 1905 when he tags out three Cards runners at home on throws from the outfield. The three Cards dealt out are: Ken Reitz‚ in the first inning. on a throw from LF Gary Thomasson. Reitz tries scoring from 2B on a Mike Tyson single; Ron Fairly in the 6th inning thrown out by RF Bobby Murcer on a Tyson fly ball; Bake McBride in the 7th thrown out by LF Chris Arnold when he tries to score on a Willie Davis fly.
July 8The Royals jump on Milwaukee starter Bill Travers for 5 runs in a third of an inning and flatten the Brewers‚ 9-1. The Brewers lone run is George Scott’s 16th homer of the year. Mike Hegan pinch hits for Hank Aaron‚ the 6th time in his career that’s occurred. All the pinch hitters have been lefties.
July 12in a 10-4 loss to Texas‚ Luis Tiant hits and flies out. He is the 1st Boston pitcher to hit since DH was put into effect.
July 13The Reds score 4 runs in the 8th inning to defeat Tom Seaver and the Mets‚ 5-3. The Reds have won 41 of their last 50 games.
July 15The NL rallies for 3 runs in the 9th inning to win the All-Star Game at Milwaukee 6-3. The Cubs Bill Madlock and the Mets Jon Matlack share the game’s MVP award.
July 16Commissioner Bowie Kuhn is reelected for a 7-year term.
July 17For the second consecutive White Sox game‚ Wilbur Wood is the starter‚ and he tosses his 2nd straight shutout‚ beating Detroit‚ 5-0. The two starts were broken up by the All-Star game.
July 18In a 9-3 win over the Kansas City Royals‚ Boston’s Jim Rice clouts a tremendous homer over the CF wall at Fenway‚ to the right of the flag pole‚ just the 6th player to accomplish this feat. Owner Tom Yawkey calls it the longest shot he’s ever seen at Fenway. The others: Detroit’s Hank Greenberg‚ May 22‚ 1937; Boston’s Jimmie Foxx‚ August 12‚ 1937; Yankees Bill Skowron‚ April 20‚ 1957; Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski‚ May 16‚ 1970; Brewers Bob Mitchell‚ September 29‚ 1973.
July 19Yankee C Thurman Munson‘s first-inning single and RBI against the Twins are nullified because the tar on his bat handle exceeds the 18-inch limit. Catcher Glenn Borgmann gets the putout. The Yankees lose‚ 2-1.

The Red Sox win their 10th straight‚ defeating the Rangers‚ 8-0.
July 21The Mets Felix Millan has 4 straight singles but is wiped out each time when Joe Torre grounds into 4 straight DPs‚ setting a NL record. New York loses 6-2 to the Astros.

Ted Simmons has a 4th-inning HR erased because his grooved bat is illegal. The Cardinals play the game under protest but beat the Padres anyway as rookie Eric Rasmussen wins his ML debut‚ 4-0.
July 23Willie Crawford and Lee Lacy connect for 9th-inning back-to-back pinch HRs off Bob Forsch‚ but the Dodgers lose anyway 5-4 to the Cardinals. They are the 2nd pair of Dodgers to pinch hit back-to-back homers.
July 24The Royals fire manager Jack McKeon‚ hiring Whitey Herzog to replace him.
July 25The Cards trade OF Jim Dwyer to Montreal for INF Larry Lintz.
July 26Bill Madlock goes 6-for-6 during the Cubs 10-inning 9-8 loss to the Mets.
July 27The Mets release OF Cleon Jones‚ following a suspension for insubordination. He will not be picked up by another team this year‚ but will play for the White Sox in 1976.

In the first of a twinbill at Shea Stadium‚ Red Sox CF Fred Lynn makes a great running catch to save the game for pitcher Bill Lee. Lee wins‚ 1-0‚ and then Roger Moret completes the whitewash with a 6-0 nitecap win. The losses seem to finish the Yanks pennant hopes and Bill Virdon’s managing job.
July 29Milwaukee’s first two hitters-Don Money and Darrell Porter-crack homers off Red Sox pitcher Diego Segui. That’s enough for Jim Colborn‚ who wins‚ 4-0.
July 30P Jose Sosa homers in his first ML at bat as the Astros beat the Padres 8-4. It will be Sosa’s only HR in the majors.

Pat Darcy pitches a complete game win‚ 6-1‚ over the visiting Giants. It’s the first CG by a Reds pitcher in 45 games.
July 31Giants pitcher John Montefusco predicts he’ll shut out the Reds and strike out Johnny Bench 4 times. The Count’s a little off as the Reds score 7 runs in 1 1/3 innings off Montefusco‚ 3 of the runs coming on a Bench homer. The Reds win‚ 11-6.

August


August 2Billy Martin becomes the new Yankee manager‚ replacing Bill Virdon‚ named by TSN as last year’s Manager of the Year. He won’t be out of a job for long.

In Los Angeles‚ George Foster‘s HR off Andy Messersmith is the only score as the Reds win‚ 1-0. The unrelated Carrolls-Tom and Clay-combine for the Reds.

At game time at Fenway‚ the temperature is 103 degrees. The Red Sox then cook the Tigers‚ 7-2‚ behind Rick Wise.
August 4At Fenway‚ 35‚866 are on hand to watch the Orioles topple the Red Sox‚ 12-8. Alexander is the winner over Willoughby. Despite the offense‚ Boston’s Denny Doyle has his 22-game hit streak stopped.
August 5The first 7 Phillies hit safely-good for 15 bases-against Bill Bonham (10-8)and the Cubs‚ in setting a ML record. No pitcher has ever started a game by allowing 7 straight hits. Dave Cash leads off with a single‚ and Bowa matches it. Garry Maddox homers over the LF fence. Luzinski singles‚ and Jay Johnstone and Tommy Hutton follow with doubles to make it 5-0. Mike Schmidt then hits his 22nd homer to finally drive Bonham out of the game. His replacement‚ Ken Crosby making his ML debut‚ gives up a single to Johnny Oates for the 8th straight hit. Dick Ruthven lays down a sac bunt for the first out‚ but 3 walks‚ 2 hits and a balk make it 10-0. As historian Lyle Spatz notes‚ the Phils last scored 10 runs in a frame on August 13‚ 1948. Schmidt adds a 2nd homer to help push the final to 135.

Red Sox pitcher Roger Moret‚ scheduled to pitch today‚ crashes his car in Connecticut at 4:30 a.m. He’s okay and starts‚ but his Red Sox lose to the Orioles and Jim Palmer‚ 3-0.
August 6The Mets fire manager Yogi Berra‚ promoting coach Roy McMillan as interim skipper.

The Reds amass 20 hits to beat the Giants‚ 12-5 at Candlestick.
August 9Davey Lopes steals his 32nd consecutive base for the Dodgers without being caught in a 2-0 win over the Mets. This breaks the ML record set by Max Carey in 1922.
August 11George Foster has 5 hits to lead the Reds to a 9-3 win over the visiting Cubs.
August 12Red Sox pitcher Rick Wise beats California‚ 8-2‚ for his 9th straight win.
August 13The A’s release P Jim Perry and purchase OF Tommy Harper from the Angels. Or Perry it is the end of his 17 year ML career.
August 14The Reds George Foster continues his hot hitting‚ collecting 5 RBIs in a 6-1 win over the visiting Pirates.
August 15Frank Tanana pitches an 8-0 shutout as the Angels hand the Tigers their 19th straight loss.
August 16In a 9-1 win over Cleveland‚ the Twins set a ML mark with 9 batters getting 2+ hits. Jim Hughes is the recipient of the largesse.
August 17During the Reds’ 3-1 win over the Pirates‚ Pete Rose singles off Bruce Kison for career hit number 2‚500.
August 19The Astros hire Bill Virdon to replace Preston Gomez as manager.

The Cardinals Lynn McGlothen strikes out 3 Reds on 9 pitches in the 2nd inning of a 2-1 victory. The loss snaps the Reds 9-game win streak.
August 21Pitching brothers Rick and Paul Reuschel combine to hurl the Cubs to a 7-0 victory over the Dodgers-the first time brothers have collaborated on a shutout. Paul takes over when Rick is forced to leave in the 7th because of a blister on his finger.
August 22The Twins Dave McKay homers in his first ML at bat during an 8-4 win over the Tigers.
August 23Champ Summers and Rick Monday hit pinch HRs for the Cubs‚ but the Astros win the game‚ 14-12.

The Reds score 8 times in the 5th inning to wipe out a 4-0 deficit and whip the Padres‚ 12-7.
August 24After New York wins the first game‚ 9-5 in San Francisco‚ the Giants Ed Halicki records a somewhat controversial no-hitter in beating the Mets 6-0 in the 2nd game. The 6’7″ righthander strikes out 10 Mets to improve his record to 8-10. Craig Swan takes the loss. The controversy arise when Rusty Staub hits a ball off Halecki’s leg‚ which caroms to the 2B Derrel Thomas‚ who picks it then drops it. Official scorer Joe Sargis rules it an E-4. NY columnist Dick Young‚ watching the game on TV‚ writes that it should be a hit and accuses Sargis of subscribing to the theory that the first hit of a starter should be a ‘good one.’ The no-hitter stands but UPI’s Sargis loses his job as a sometime scorer.

Lou Brock steals the 800th base of his career as the Cardinals beat the visiting Braves 6-2. Carl Morton is on the mound and Biff Pocaroba behind the plate when Lou swipes 2B.

After stealing 2B in the 7th to add to his ML-record of 38 consecutive steals‚ Davey Lopes is nabbed in the 12th by Montreal C Gary Carter. The Expos then score 3 in the 14th off Mike Marshall to beat the Dodgers‚ 5-2.
August 25Astro Cliff Johnson hits a 2-out HR in the top of the 11th off the Cards Bob Gibson for his 6th in 6 consecutive games‚ pushing his team to a 4-3 lead. Unfortunately‚ with 2 outs the game is called due to rain in the bottom half of the inning‚ and the score reverts to what it was in the 10th‚ thus erasing Johnson’s HR. It deprives Johnson of becoming only the 2nd NL player to hit 6 HRs in 6 consecutive games (he also had one in an exhibition game). For Bob Gibson‚ who pitches the 11th‚ his last career homer served up reverts to LaCock’s grand slam 11 days ago.
August 26The first 8 Pirates hit safely against the Braves‚ tying the ML record set just 3 weeks earlier by the Phillies. Pittsburgh wins‚ 8-2.
August 27The Twins Craig Kusick ties the ML record by being hit with pitches 3 times in a game‚ an 11-inning 1-0 win over the Brewers. He also got hit once yesterday; though records for consecutive games are not kept‚ this mark will be tied by Craig Biggio in 2000. Bert Blyleven goes the distance for the win.
August 29Chicago’s Ken Henderson homers from both sides of the plate during a 4-2 win over Baltimore.
August 30The Braves fire Clyde King‚ naming Connie Ryan as interim manager.

September


September 1Mets ace Tom Seaver shuts out the Pirates 3-0 and reaches 200 strikeouts for a ML-record 8th straight season.

It is “Bob Gibson Day” in St. Louis‚ as dignitaries‚ including August Busch and Bowie Kuhn‚ honor the 39-year-old pitcher. The Cards‚ led by Lou Brock‚ then drill the Cubs‚ 6-3. Brock has 3 singles‚ 3 stolen bases‚ and scores 3 times.
September 2Johnny LeMaster homers in his first ML at bat for the Giants during a 7-3 win over Dodgers. In 12 years and 3‚191 at bats‚ LeMaster will hit only 22 home runs‚ but this first hit is a ML record-an inside the park homer. Brian Downing two years ago was the first player to hit his first homer inside the park.
September 3After missing 2 games because of the flu, Dodger Steve Garvey returns to the lineup in a 13-2 loss to the Reds‚ launching a NL record streak of 1‚207 consecutive games. The Reds score 10 runs in the 4th inning to ice the game: on the 2nd‚ they scored 7 in the 5th to beat the Padres‚ 10-4.

Pitcher Bob Gibson (3-10) gives up the last hit of his career‚ a pinch grand slam to Pete LaCock of the Cubs. He then retires Don Kessinger before leaving (In his autobiography Gibson states incorrectly that he served up the slam to LaCock on his last pitch in the majors). Chicago beats the Cards‚ 11-6.
September 5Mets C Jerry Grote ties the modern ML record by reaching base on errors 3 times during a 5-2 win over the Cardinals.

Montreal and Pittsburgh use a ML record 15 pinch hitters in their doubleheader split. The Expos take the opener‚ 43 in 10 innings‚ and Pittsburgh wins the nitecap‚ 5-2‚ behind Jim Rooker.
September 6The Red Sox pound out 24 hits to beat Milwaukee‚ 20-6 to make Roger Moret the winner. The hits and runs are AL highs this season.

At Baltimore‚ the Orioles top the Yankees 7-6‚ in 13 innings though neither manager or Yankee catcher Thurman Munson are around at the end. All are tossed in the 9th inning.
September 7The Reds‚ leading by 20 1/2 games‚ clinch the NL West flag with an 8-4 win over the Giants. It is the earliest clinching date in league history.
September 8The Astros outslug the Braves‚ 9-6‚ with Jose Sosa picking up his only career win. The loss goes to Frank LaCorte‚ making his ML debut.

Johnny Bench belts a 2-run homer in the 8th as the Reds beat the Padres‚ 3-2.
September 9The Cubs Bill Madlock suffers an “incomplete fracture” of his right thumb when hit by a Bruce Kison pitch in a 6-5 win over the Pirates.
September 14The Red Sox top the Brewers 8-6 as Robin Yount breaks Mel Ott’s 47-year-old record by playing in his 242nd game as a teenager.
September 15Late-season call-up Mike Vail extends his hitting streak to a rookie-record 23 straight games as the Mets edge the Expos 3-2.

Braves rookie Al Autry goes 5 innings and gets the win in a 4-3 decision over the Astros. Willie Montanez‘s 3-run homer is the big blow for Atlanta as a crowd of just 970 watches. For Autry‚ this is his only big league decision: Earl Huckleberry‚ of the 1935 A’s‚ is the last pitcher to bow out with a 1-0 record.

Red Sox lefty Roger Moret holds on for a 9-7 win over the visiting Brewers. Jim Colborn takes the loss. For Moret‚ this is his last win as a Red Sox as he’ll go to Atlanta over the winter after a 14-3 season. For the years 1970-75 he finishes with an 18-7 record at Fenway‚ the 2nd best Red Sox lefty at home.
September 16Rennie Stennett ties Wilbert Robinson‘s ML record‚ set June 10‚ 1892‚ by going 7-for-7 in a 9-inning game. The Pirates 2B collects 2 hits each in the first and 5th innings‚ and scores 5 runs of his club’s runs in a 22-0 massacre of the Cubs‚ a ML record for the biggest score in a shutout game in the 20th century. John Candelaria pockets the easy win‚ while Rick Reuschel is the loser. His brother Paul‚ along with Tom Dettore‚ Oscar Zamora‚ and Buddy Schultz also pitch for Chicago.

At Fenway‚ Luis Tiant shuts out the Orioles‚ 2-0 for the Red Sox. It’s the Senor’s 1st shutout of the year after leading the AL in 1974.
September 20The A’s and Royals set an AL record by using 42 players in a 9-inning game. Oakland wins 16-4‚ with a AL record-tying 13 different players scoring. The Yankees were the last to do it‚ in 1949. Rookie Jamie Quirk belts his first ML homer‚ a pinch homer off Rollie Fingers. Quirk’s next pinch HR will come in 1990‚ an interim of 5‚486: this breaks a mark set by Hank Sauer‚ who hit pinch homers in 1942 and again in 1956‚ a spread of 5‚193 days.

The Reds coast to a 9-2 win over the Braves as Darell Evans helps with 4 errors. The third sacker has now made 35 errors. Dave Brain‚ who made 5 errors at 3B in a June 1906 game for the club record‚ made 48 errors that year.
September 21During a 6-5 win over Detroit‚ Boston rookie star Jim Rice breaks his arm‚ sidelining him for the rest of the year‚ including the WS. The Red Sox maintain their 31?2 game lead over the Orioles.
September 22Adrian Garrett cracks one-out 3-run pinch HR in the 16th inning against Goose Gossage to give the Angels a 3-0 victory over the White Sox. Don Kirkwood is the victor.

The Red Sox pick up vet Deron Johnson from the Chicago Whit Sox for minor leaguer Chuck Erickson and cash. A year ago on September 7‚ the Sox purchased Johnson from Brewers and then released him at the end of the year. This time‚ Deron will play 15 games in 1976 before being released.
September 24Tom Seaver’s bid for a no-hitter is again spoiled in the 9th by a little-known Cub batter. This time it is Joe Wallis who lines a 2-out single in the 9th for Chicago’s first hit. Seaver retires the next hitter‚ but the score through 9 innings is 0-0. The Cubs tally two more hits in the 10th‚ but fail to score. When Skip Lockwood relieves Seaver in the 11‚ Chicago finally scores to win‚ 1-0.
September 26Burt Hooton wins his 12th straight game‚ beating J.R. Richard and the Astros 3-2. Happy’s 12 in a row is a Dodger record for starting pitchers.

At Veteran’s Stadium‚ the Phils top the Mets 4-3 in 12 innings in a game delayed twice by rain. In the 2nd game the Mets are ahead in the third when the 3rd rain delay finally washes the game away. Only 200 fans are on hand when the game is called at 3:15 a.m.

Luis Tiant and Reggie Cleveland toss 4-0 shutouts at the Indians in both ends of doubleheader. This is the first back to back Red Sox shutouts since 1956 and the 2nd in 42 years. Aase and Cleveland will repeat the twinbill shutout on Sept. 5‚ 1977 beating the Blue Jays at Toronto‚ 8-0 and 6-0.

At Wrigley Field‚ the Expos edge the Cubs‚ 3-2‚ with Dale Murray picking up his 15th win‚ all in relief. His 15 victories is tops on the staff.
September 28In a ML first‚ 4 pitchers share in a no-hitter‚ as the A’s shut down the Angels 5-0. Vida Blue‚ Glenn Abbott‚ Paul Lindblad‚ and Rollie Fingers are the unique quartet. This is a tune up for the LCS opener against Boston the following Saturday.

Put me in‚ coach! Two hours before game time‚ Milwaukee fires manager Del Crandall. Harvey Kuenn fills in as the Brewers win their finale 7-0‚ behind Larry Anderson. Anderson is just the 3rd pitcher this century to throw a shutout in his only ML start. George Scott drives in 2 runs to give him the AL lead with 109.

October


October 1Montreal fires manager Gene Mauch. Karl Kuehl is named to succeed Mauch.
October 4The Reds Don Gullett hurls a complete game‚ and contributes a HR‚ a single‚ and 3 RBI to lead his team to an 8-3 win over Pittsburgh in the opening game of the NL Championship Series. Boston‚ behind Luis Tiant’s 3-hitter‚ beats Oakland 7-1 in the AL opener.
October 5Carl Yastrzemski’s 2-run HR is the big blow as the Red Sox win the 2nd LCS game 6-3.

The Reds also win for the 2nd time 6-1‚ as Tony Perez drives in 3 runs with a HR and single.
October 7Pittsburgh’s John Candelaria strikes out 14 Reds‚ but is knocked out of the box by Pete Rose‘s 8th-inning HR. The Reds complete their sweep of the LCS with a 5-3 win.

The Red Sox match Cincinnati with a 5-3 win and 3-game sweep over Oakland. Yastrzemski makes 2 great plays in the OF and has 2 hits to back Rick Wise‘s pitching.

Dick Moss‚ attorney for the Players’ Association‚ files a suit in behalf of Dodgers pitcher Andy Messersmith‚ contending that Messersmith‚ having completed his renewal year‚ now qualifies as a free agent. The All-Star pitcher will finally sign with the Braves after furious bidding.
October 11Boston’s Luis Tiant shuts down the Big Red Machine and scores the first run as the Red Sox win the opening game of the 1975 WS 6-0. The Sox score all their runs in the 7th. Ump Nick Colosi calls a balk on Tiant-for an illegal use of his leg.
October 12Down 2-1 in the 9th inning‚ the Reds rally to win the WS 2nd game 3-2. Concepcion’s 2-out single off Dick Drago scores Bench with the tying run‚ and Griffey’s double wins it.
October 14In a game featuring 6 HRs‚ 3 by each team‚ the Reds prevail 6-5 in the 10th inning. The game is marred by a controversial play involving Cincinnati’s Ed Armbrister and Boston’s Carlton Fisk. Armbrister lays down a sacrifice bunt in the 10th and seemingly hesitates breaking out of the batter’s box; Fisk’s subsequent throwing error leads to the Reds winning run. The Sox scream for an interference call from ump Barney Barnett‚ but to no avail.
October 15At Riverfront Stadium‚ Luis Tiant throws 163 pitches in winning his 2nd game 5-4‚ and evening the Series at 2 games apiece.
October 16Tony Perez breaks out of an 0-for-15 Series slump with 2 HRs and 4 RBI‚ as the Reds win the 5th game 6-2. Don Gullett goes 8 2?3 innings for the win.
October 17The A’s fire manager Alvin Dark.
October 19The Boston Globe uses aerial photography to measure the exact distance of the LF wall at Fenway from home plate. The distance: 304.779 feet. Art Keefe and writer George Sullivan measure it this month at 309 feet‚ 4 inches.
October 20For the 3rd consecutive day‚ rain postpones game 6 of the WS.
October 21Fred Lynn’s 3-run first-inning HR is matched by teammate Bernie Carbo‘s pinch 3-run HR in the 8th to tie the game at 6-all. The Sox then fill the bases with no outs in the 9th but fail to bring in a run. But Boston evens the Series again with a dramatic 7-6 victory‚ won by Fisk’s 12th-inning HR off the LF foul pole.
October 22At Boston‚ the Sox take a 3-0 lead in the 3rd off Don Gullett‚ but the Reds rally to tie it in the 7th. Perez hits a 2-run shot in the 6th off Bill Lee‚ golfing one of the Spaceman’s bloopers over the Green Monster. Jim Willoughby is relieved by Jim Burton and Joe Morgan’s single wins the deciding game 4-3. The Reds come from behind in all four of their victories. Rose is named the WS MVP.
October 24Club owners‚ through the Player Relations Committee‚ respond to the October 7th Andy Messersmith suit‚ contending that “claims made by the [Players’] Association are not within the scope of the arbitration panel.”
October 25The Reds swap P Joaquin Andujar to Houston for pitcher Carlos Alfonso and Luis Sanchez.
October 28New Cubs GM Salty Saltwell trades veteran SS Don Kessinger to the Cards for reliever Mike Garman and a minor leaguer.
October 29Boston’s Fred Lynn is the overwhelming choice as AL Rookie of the Year.
October 30Giants P John “the Count of” Montefusco outpoints Expos C Gary Carter to win NL Rookie of the Year honors.

November


November 4The Orioles Jim Palmer wins his 2nd Cy Young Award‚ after pacing the AL in wins (23)‚ shutouts (10)‚ and ERA (2.09).
November 10The Royals release slugger Harmon Killebrew‚ ending a 22-year career marked by 573 HRs‚ good for 5th on the all-time list.
November 12The Mets Tom Seaver wins his 3rd Cy Young Award. He led the NL with 22 wins‚ notched 243 strikeouts‚ and had a 2.38 ERA.
November 17The Dodgers trade OFs Jimmy Wynn and Tom Paciorek‚ and INFs Lee Lacy and Jerry Royster to the Braves for OF Dusty Baker and 1B Ed Goodson.

The Rangers trade 7-time 20-game winner Ferguson Jenkins to the Red Sox for OF Juan Beniquez‚ 2 Ps‚ and cash.
November 19By the most overwhelming margin ever‚ the Reds Joe Morgan is named NL MVP. Morgan batted .327‚ with 67 SBs‚ and a league-leading 132 walks.
November 20The Giants fire manager Wes Westrum‚ coaxing Bill Rigney out of retirement to replace him.
November 22The Yankees trade P Pat Dobson to the Indians for OF Oscar Gamble. Gamble will have a fine year in New York before the Yankees reluctantly trade him in 1977.
November 24Gene Mauch signs a 3-year contract to manage the Twins‚ replacing the fired Frank Quilici.
November 26Fred Lynn becomes the first rookie to win MVP honors‚ taking the AL award. Lynn batted .331 with 21 HRs‚ 105 RBI‚ and league-leading figures in runs (103)‚ doubles (47)‚ and slugging (.566).
November 29Two Orioles standouts‚ with a combined total of 24 Gold Glove Awards‚ are each honored for the last time. Brooks Robinson and Paul Blair are the two making swan songs on TSN’s fielding team‚ while outfielders Garry Maddox and Fred Lynn each win the award for the first time.

December


December 4Ted Turner enters a tentative purchase agreement to buy the Atlanta Braves.
December 9The colorful Bill Veeck returns. A group headed by him buys 80 percent of the White Sox from John Allyn.
December 10Bill Veeck and assistant Roland Hemonds set up shop in the hotel lobby at the winter meetings with a sign saying “open for business” and start dealing‚ making 7 trades in 2 days. First to go is pitcher Jim Kaat and SS Mike Buskey to the Phillies. The White Sox receive Ps Dick Ruthven and Roy Thomas along with OF/INF Alan Bannister.
December 11In two separate deals‚ the Yankees acquire Ps Dock Ellis and Ken Brett‚ and 2B Willie Randolph from the Pirates for P Doc Medich; OF Mickey Rivers and P Ed Figueroa from the Angels for OF Bobby Bonds. Randolph will hold down 2B for a decade while Rivers will provide fine CF. Medich will go 8-11 before being traded.

The White Sox send Bill Melton and Steve Dunning to the Angels for 1B Jim Spencer and OF Morris Nettles.
December 12The Mets trade OF Rusty Staub and P Bill Laxton to the Tigers for P Mickey Lolich and OF Billy Baldwin. Lolich leaves Detroit after 13 years and 207 wins and remains the teams career leader in games started‚ strikeouts‚ and shutouts.

After being a White Sox for 2 days‚ Dick Ruthven goes to Atlanta‚ along with Danny Osborn. Chicago receives Ralph Garr and Larvell Blanks. Blanks is then dealt to Cleveland for 2B Jack Brohamer. The Sox then trade P Rich Hinton and C Jeff Sovern to the Reds for P Clay Carroll‚ and finish the day by shipping Lee Richard to the Cards for Buddy Bradford and P Greg Terlecky.
December 17Bill Veeck fires Chuck Tanner and hires old friend Paul Richards‚ 67‚ to manage the White Sox. Chuck Tanner then accepts a 3-year contract to manage Oakland.
December 23Arbitrator Peter Seitz announces a landmark decision in favor of the Players’ Association‚ making pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally free agents. Seitz is immediately fired by John Gaherin‚ chairman of the owners’ Player Relations Committee. McNally‚ who retired June 8th‚ will not return to the ML‚ finishing with a 184-119 career record.