Baseball – 1976

Baseball in 1976

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January

January 4Executives of the International Amateur Baseball Association (IABA) meet in Mexico City to end a long-standing feud between delegations‚ creating in the process a new organization named the Asociacion Internacional de Beisbol Amateur (AINBA). With the United States returning to the IABA fold‚ after a several-year absence‚ the first AINBA World Championships are scheduled for Cartagena‚ Colombia. Manuel Gonzalez Guerra of Cuba is named the first AINBA president.
January 9Charles Ruppert‚ Giants VP and son-in-law of Horace Stoneham‚ announces the sale of the team to a Toronto group for $13.3 million. The fans’ outrage prompts San Francisco mayor George Moscone to get a preliminary injunction preventing the move.
January 14Ted Turner completes the purchase of 100 percent of the Atlanta Braves.
January 22Pitchers Robin Roberts and Bob Lemon are voted into the Hall of Fame.

February

February 1East Lansing police arrest Dodger reliever Mike Marshall for disobeying the orders set by the Michigan State University police prohibiting him from taking batting practice. MSU feared he would hit balls too far and injure students on an adjacent tennis court. Marshall protests that it is against his rights as an MSU instructor and files a lawsuit against the school.
February 2The Special Veterans Committee selects old-time players Roger Connor and Fred Lindstrom‚ and umpire Cal Hubbard‚ for Cooperstown. Hubbard becomes the first man elected to both the Football and Baseball Halls of Fame.
February 4Federal Judge John W. Oliver upholds Peter Seitz’s decision in the Andy Messersmith-Dave McNally free agency case.
February 9Oscar Charleston is selected for the Hall of Fame by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues.
February 17Mike Scott of Pepperdine pitches a 3-0 perfect game against California Lutheran University. He will be selected in the 2nd round of the June draft.
February 23ML owners announce that spring training will not open until a new labor contract is agreed upon.

March

March 1White Sox owner Bill Veeck opens training camp in Sarasota‚ Florida‚ but participation is limited to nonroster players.
March 2The Cards trade 2B Ted Sizemore to the Dodgers for OF Willie Crawford.
March 4In a last-minute deal‚ the Giants are bought for $8 million by Bob Lurie and Bud Herseth‚ assuring that team will stay in San Francisco.
March 17Commissioner Kuhn orders teams to open spring training camps as soon as possible. All teams will comply within 48 hours.
March 20Leo Durocher‚ hired to manage the Yokohama Taiyo Whales (Japanese League)‚ is sick with hepatitis and asks for a 5-week delay in reporting. The Lip receives a telegram from the Whales stating: Since the championship starts in 20 days‚ it’s better if you stay home and take care of yourself for the remainder of the season.”
March 26The AL approves the purchase of the new Toronto franchise by the LaBatt’s Brewing Company for $7 million.
March 28A nearly completed Mets-Dodgers trade‚ involving ace pitchers Tom Seaver and Don Sutton‚ is leaked by the New York press. The subsequent public furor causes the Mets to abandon the deal.

April

April 2The A’s trade prospective free agents Reggie Jackson and Ken Holtzman‚ together with a minor league pitcher‚ to the Orioles for OF Don Baylor and pitchers Mike Torrez and Paul Mitchell.
April 3Angels Bobby Bonds suffers a fractured finger during an exhibition game with the Dodgers. After 99 painful games‚ Bonds will have surgery on August 9th.
April 7At Aloha Stadium in Hawaii‚ a controversy arises about metal cleats prior to a PCL game with Tacoma. Despite the ban on the cleats in the stadium‚ Tacoma P Bill Butler insists on wearing them and stadium officials switch off the lights during warm-up. Thirty minutes to game‚ umpire Bill Lawton awards a forfeit to Tacoma since the home team is responsible for playing conditions. The PCL will uphold the forfeit‚ but minor league prexy Bobby Bragan will overrule it (according to historian Rich Marazzi).
April 8At County Stadium‚ the Brewers open against the Yankees with Hank Aaron driving in 3 runs to back Jim Slaton‘s 4-hit 5-0 win. Five days later‚ Slaton will shut out the Tigers. Catfish Hunter is the loser‚ allowing 5 runs in 7 innings. Later‚ both he and reliever Sparky Lyle‚ complain about the flatness of the mound.

Before a crowd of 52‚949‚ the Reds open at home with an 11-5 win over the Astros.
April 9In a classic Opening Day pitchers’ duel between the Orioles Jim Palmer and the Red Sox Ferguson Jenkins‚ who would combine for 552 ML wins‚ surrender one run between them. Palmer prevails 1-0.
April 10The Braves sign free agent Andy Messersmith to a “lifetime contract” worth $1 million.

The Brewers trail 9-6 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning at a full County Stadium. Because of crowd noise‚ Yankee relief P Dave Pagan does not hear the time-out called by 1B Chris Chambliss. Pagan pitches to Don Money‚ who hits a grand slam. Because of the time-out the HR is nullified. Money bats again‚ and hits a sacrifice fly. The final score is 9-7 and the Brewers protest the game.

In the Opening Day 5-4 win at Pittsburgh‚ Dave Parker scores the winning run in a violent collision at the plate with Phils’ C Johnny Oates. Oates will miss 2 months with a broken collar bone.
April 11Before the largest regular season crowd (53‚390) to date in Riverfront history‚ the Reds whip the Astros‚ 9-3.

At Philadelphia‚ the Pirates beat the Phillies and Steve Carlton‚ 8-3. Bob Moose‚ in relief of Bruce Kison‚ picks up a save‚ as does Doc Medich before the game. While walking in from the bullpen Medich Doc spots a man having a heart attack in the stands. He jumps over the railing and applies CPR. However‚ the man later dies in the hospital.
April 12The Dodgers-Braves game is rained out in Los Angeles‚ ending a streak of 724 straight games dating back to the team’s first rainout on April 21‚ 1967. The Braves games of September 11th and 12th will also be rained out.
April 13Milwaukee’s Jim Slaton throws his 2nd straight complete game shut out‚ beating Detroit 1-0. The Brewers’ only run was an unearned score in the top of the 9th.
April 14At Chicago‚ Mets Dave Kingman launches a HR estimated at 550 feet that plunks a house some 530 feet from home plate‚ but the Cubs survive to win‚ 6-5‚ and tie for 1st. Buddy Schultz cops his only victory of the year‚ and Hank Webb‚ in his only decision of the year‚ takes the loss. Capping the day is Randy Hundley‚ signed after the Padres release him‚ who ignites a 3-run rally in the 7th with a pinch double.
April 15Newly remodeled Yankee Stadium is jammed with 52‚613 fans for Opening Day ceremonies. The 1923 Yankee team is honored‚ and Bob Shawkey‚ winner of the 1923 Stadium opener‚ throws out the first ball. The Yankees beat the Twins 11-4 on 14 hits‚ but the only HR is hit by Minnesota’s Dan Ford.
April 17With the wind blowing out at Wrigley‚ Mike Schmidt leads a Phils’ assault with a single‚ four consecutive HRs‚ and 8 RBIs to overcome a 12-1 deficit after three innings and beat the Cubs in 10 innings‚ 18-16. Chicago had tied in the 9th after the Phils took a 15-13 lead. Schmidt hits one homer off Mike Garman‚ two off Rick Reuschel‚ and the last‚ a 2-run homer‚ off Rick’s brother‚ Paul in the 10th. He’s the first National Leaguer in modern times to hit 4 homers in a row. Tug McGraw‚ who departs for a pinch hitter after Schmidt’s last blow‚ is the winner‚ though two more pitchers are needed. The Phils use 7 pitchers‚ including starter Steve Carlton.

In Cincinnati‚ as the “Game of the Week” between the Reds and the Giants is about to be televised‚ a swarm of bees attacks the field between 3B and home‚ causing a 35-minute delay. Two fans‚ familiar with bees‚ coax the swarm into a cardboard box. Fred Norman then buzzes the Giants‚ 11-0‚ on 4 hits.
April 19The Mets outlast the Cards‚ 4-3‚ in a 17-inning contest. Bake McBride tallies 5 hits for St. Louis.

After trailing 7-1 in the 4th inning‚ the Reds rally to beat the Astros‚ 9-8. The Reds score 6 runs in the last 3 innings to win. In the 9th‚ Tony Perez homers and Davey Concepcion hits a 2-out‚ 2-run single to bring home the winner.
April 20Detroit C Milt May‚ acquired in December 1975‚ breaks his ankle when he crashes into the wall behind home plate chasing a foul. He is out of action for the 1976 season.
April 21In Chicago‚ Montreal’s Tim Foli hits for the cycle‚ but it takes him two days to do it. Foli has a single‚ double and triple against the Cubs today but‚ with the Expos ahead 11-3‚ the game is called on account of darkness. When play resumes tomorrow‚ Foli will add a homer in the 8th inning.

The Astros break up a scoreless duel with the Dodgers by scoring a run in the 16th.
April 23The Ranger’s Tom Grieve bangs a double and homer in the same inning‚ but it is not enough as Detroit wins‚ 7-6.
April 24Oakland’s Bert Campaneris steals 5 bases in an 8-7 win over Cleveland.
April 25Cubs OF Rick Monday snatches an American flag from 2 fans who are about to set it on fire in the outfield during a game at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers win 5-4 in 10 innings. The next day‚ the Illinois legislature unanimously approves May 4th as Rick Monday Day.

The Braves top the Phils‚ 3-2‚ as Darrell Evans draws a walk in his 13th consecutive game to set a new NL record‚ He’ll draw passes in 2 more games‚ till April 27‚ before being shut out. Evans has 19 walks in the 15 games.
April 26Milwaukee’s Don Money hits a leadoff homer off Frank Tanana for the only score of the game as the Brewers beat California‚ 1-0.
April 28The Cardinals Willie Crawford gets 5 hits in a 16-inning‚ 4-2‚ win over the Giants.

May

May 2Jose Cardenal goes 6-for-7‚ including a double and a HR‚ driving in 4 runs‚ as the Cubs edge the Giants 6-5 in the 14-inning first game of a doubleheader.
May 4At Wrigley‚ Rick Monday is honored before the Tuesday game‚ and he receives a copy of the proclamation and the flag he had rescued. Dodger VP and GM Al Campanis had to make special arrangements to get the flag out of the LAPD evidence room in time to present it to Rick. There are less than 5000 on hand as the Cubs lost to the Dodgers‚ 9-6. Rick has one hit and an RBI driving in the Davey Rosello.
May 5The wind is blowing out at Wrigley as the Dodgers crank out a team-record 7 HRs to outslug the Cubs 14-12.
May 7At Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium‚ in a PCL game between the Tacoma Twins and Hawaii‚ Twins P Bill Butler ignores the stadium ban against metal cleats and begins warming up. Stadium officials then turn the outfield lights off‚ and after 30 minutes of darkness‚ umpire Bill Lawson forfeits the game to Tacoma. PCL President Roy Jackson supports the umpire‚ but a few weeks later‚ Minor League head Bobby Bragan overrules Jackson and orders the game replayed.
May 8In a cold day at Wrigley‚ the Reds warm up with a 14-4 drubbing of the Cubs.
May 9The Reds score another 14 runs to beat the Cubs‚ 14-2. Ken Griffey hits a grand slam‚ one of 6 homers hit by the Reds. Tony Perez has a pair with Foster‚ Driessen‚ and Rose leaving the park as well.

White Sox P Wilbur Wood suffers a fractured kneecap in a 4-2 win over the Tigers. Wood will miss the rest of the season.
May 13The Royals beat the White Sox, 13–2, as George Brett sets an AL record by collecting 3 hits for the 6th consecutive game, breaking Rod Carew’s record. Brett had 3+ hits in games on May 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13th. The only other player this century to collect 3+ hits in six straight games was Brooklyn’s Jimmy Johnston, in 1920.

At Seattle Fred Lynn‚ out with an ankle injury since March 24th‚ poles the first pitch he sees from Dick Pole for a HR. He also homers on his 2nd at bat.
May 15Mark Fidrych wins his first ML start‚ a complete-game 2-hit 2-1 victory over the Indians. The Bird holds the Indians hitless for 6 innings‚ talks to the ball‚ and tamps down the mound before toeing the rubber each inning.

At Cincinnati‚ the Mets Tom Seaver loses‚ 2-0‚ to the Reds as Santo Alcala pitches a 4-hitter.
May 16The Yankees send P Larry Gura to Kansas City for C Fran Healy. Healy’s best moment will come in the radio booth‚ while Gura will help KC to the 1978 playoffs with a 16-4 record.
May 17The Cubs send Andre Thornton‚ hitting just .200‚ to Montreal for P Steve Renko and OF Larry Biittner.
May 18The White Sox trade OF Carlos May to the Yankees for pitcher Ken Brett and OF Rich Coggins.
May 19At Detroit‚ Carl Yastrzemski slugs 3 homers and goes 4-for-4 as Boston wins‚ 9-2. Yesterday‚ Yaz passed Williams as having played the most games for Boston.
May 20At New York‚ Carl Yastrzemski clubs 2 homers‚ giving him 5 in two games‚ to tie a ML mark. Boston wins‚ 8-2. Boston P Bill Lee injures his arm in a fight with Yankee players‚ ending up on the bottom of a pile of players. Lee never really recovers from the injury although he will win 16 games with the Expos in 1979. The fight starts when Lou Piniella‚ running on Dwight Evans‚ is gunned down at the plate and barrels into Fisk. Both come up swinging and both benches clear. Lee then blames Martin for espousing a fighting style that brought the brawl on. In 2006, Lee gives an interview to the Marin Independent Journal where he recounts how the Red Sox treated his injury “They’re going, ‘Here take this, take this, take this.’ Afterwards I’ve got sterazolidin, butazolidin, Clenerol, Indicin. I’ve got everything in me. I can pitch in the American League, but I couldn’t run in the Kentucky Derby. Holy cow, I’m glowing in the dark.”
May 22Reggie Smith slams 3 homers and drives in 5 runs to give the Cardinals a 7-6 win over the Phillies. Smith’s 3rd round tripper is a solo shot with 2 out in the 9th inning off Tug McGraw to give Al Hrabosky the win.

The Reds thrash the Padres‚ 11-0‚ as George Foster drives in 5 runs.
May 24Dennis Eckersley and Stan Thomas combine on a one-hitter as Cleveland stops the Orioles‚ 4-0.
May 25For the 2nd day in a row‚ George Foster drives in 5 runs as the Reds whip the Braves‚ 10-4. Foster also had 5 RBIs on the 22nd.
May 26In a scoreless game in Anaheim‚ Chicago’s Ken Brett has a no-hitter with 2 out in the 9th when California’s Jerry Remy tops a slow roller down the 3B line. 3B Jorge Orta lets the ball roll and‚ in a controversial ruling‚ it is scored a hit‚ though many thought it ought to be ruled an error. Brett gives up a hit in the 10th to ex-Sox Bill Melton but wins the game 1-0 in 11 innings.
May 28Yankees Ed Figueroa and Tippy Martinez beat the Tigers 9-5 and hold Ron LeFlore hitless for the first time since April 17th. LeFlore had hit safely in 30 straight games‚ tying the 3rd longest streak in club history.
May 29The only HR of Joe Niekro‘s 22-year career comes at the expense of brother Phil as the Astros tie the Braves in the 7th‚ then win 4-3.

The Reds score 3 runs in the 9th to edge the Dodgers‚ 6-5. Ken Griffey’s 2-run triple ties the game‚ and Joe Morgan’s single wins it.
May 30In the 2nd game of a twinbill‚ Houston amasses 25 hits in downing the Braves‚ 16-5.

At Riverfront‚ the Reds whip the Dodgers‚ 7-2‚ and take over 1st place in the NL West. They will sit atop the division for the rest of the season.

June

June 1Detroit reliever John Hiller wins both games 8-7‚ 7-5 against the Brewers‚ who blow 6-0 and 2-0 leads. Milwaukee reliever Eddie Rodriguez takes both losses.

The Twins trade P Bert Blyleven and SS Danny Thompson to the Rangers for P Bill Singer‚ SS Roy Smalley‚ 3B Mike Cubbage‚ and $250‚000. Thompson will die of leukemia on December 10.
June 3The Red Sox send Bernie Carbo to Milwaukee in exchange for P Tom Murphy and OF Bobby Darwin.
June 4Dave Kingman hits 3 HRs and knocks in 8 runs during a Mets 11-0 win over the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine.

Davey Concepcion has 5 hits as the Reds whip the host Cardinals‚ 11-2.

Pepe Mangual‘s 9th-inning single is the only hit against the Andy Messersmith‚ as the Braves down the Expos‚ 2-0.

At Baltimore‚ the Twins edge the O’s‚ 8-6‚ as Minnesota’s Larry Hisle hits for the cycle.
June 5Pittsburgh loses a 15 inning‚ 11-9 marathon at home to the Padres despite 3 HRs by Bucs’ OF Bill Robinson.
June 6Playing the OF‚ Expo Gary Carter breaks his thumb in a collision with Pepe Mangual during a 14-8 loss to the Braves‚ sidelining him for 40 games. The Expos will decide that Carter might be safer behind the plate.

Reds backup catcher Bill Plummer collects 7 RBIs in the Reds 13-2 win over the Cards. Plummer’s hits include a solo homer and a 3-run triple‚ the only three bagger of his career.
June 7In a 5-4 Pirates win over the Reds‚ the two teams combine for 7 solo homers. Morgan (2) and Rose homer for Cincy‚ while Oliver‚ Stargell‚ Zisk and Bill Robinson go deep for the host Pirates.
June 8The Houston Astros‚ picking first in the baseball draft‚ select Arizona State P Floyd Bannister‚ TSN’s College Player of the Year. Bannister is one of 12 eventual major leaguers from the ASU team‚ which finished 3rd in the College World Series. The Tigers take P Pat Underwood with the 2nd pick. OF Rickey Henderson lasts until the 4th round.

The Tigers send veteran Joe Coleman‚ 10-18 in 1975‚ to the Cubs for cash and a player to be named later.
June 11Leading 4-3 in the last of the 11th‚ White Sox reliever Terry Forster gives up a 2-run pinch homer to Cleveland player-manager Frank Robinson‚ as the Tribe wins 5-4. This is a turning point for the Sox‚ as they will go 37-75 for the rest of season and finish last.

The Cards score a 5-spot in the first inning against the Reds‚ and lead 7-2 going into the bottom of the 7th‚ only to lose 8-7. Tony Perez ends the game with a 3-run homer off Al Hrabosky.
June 13The Braves trade infielders Darrell Evans and Marty Perez to the Giants for 1B Willie Montanez‚ SS Craig Robinson‚ and 2 minor league infielders.
June 14Jerry Terrell’s 3rd-inning single is the Twins’ only hit as Rick Wise pitches the Red Sox to a 5-0 win. He’ll fire another one-hitter in 2 weeks.
June 15Rain out! The scheduled game at the Astrodome is canceled when heavy rains make it difficult for the visiting team and umpires to get through flooded streets to the stadium.

No field goals today as Tom Poquette leads the Royals to a 21-7 win over the Tigers. Poquette scores 5 runs on a 2 singles‚ 2 doubles and a HR.

The Cardinals send veteran Reggie Smith‚ an All-Star the past two seasons‚ to the Dodgers in exchange for C/outfielder Joe Ferguson‚ and two minor leaguers. Smith‚ a native Californian‚ will continue his fine play for the Dodgers‚ while Ferguson‚ who spent the 2nd half of 1975 on the DL‚ will be dealt to Houston at the end of the year. Whether or not it’s because they got the short end of the deal‚ the Cards will not make another trade with the Dodgers for more than a decade.

In what stands as one of the O’s best trades ever‚ Baltimore obtains pitchers Rudy May‚ Tippy Martinez‚ Dave Pagan‚ Scott McGregor and C Rick Dempsey from the Yankees for veteran pitchers Doyle Alexander‚ Ken Holtzman‚ Grant Jackson and C Elrod Hendricks. The veterans will help the Yankees win a 1976 and then fade.
June 17At Shea‚ Dave Kingman hits a game-ending homer in the 14th inning off reliever Charlie Hough to give the Mets a 1-0 victory over the Dodgers.
June 18Commissioner Kuhn voids the A’s sales‚ totaling $3.5 million‚ of Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers to the Red Sox‚ and Vida Blue to the Yankees‚ saying they are “not in the best interest of baseball.” A’s owner Charlie Finley files a $10 million damage suit against Kuhn‚ and will refuse to use any of the 3 players until June 27th.

Henry Aaron hits his 750th career HR in the top of the 9th to give the Brewers a 3-2 win over Oakland. It is Aaron’s 3rd HR in 3 games.
June 19Nolan Ryan notches 15 strikeouts as the Angels top the Red Sox‚ 5-3. Vietnam vet Bob Jones belts his first ML homer‚ off Boston’s Rick Wise.
June 22Randy Jones pitches the Padres to a 4-2 win over the Giants‚ and ties Christy Mathewson‘s 63-year-old NL record by going 68 innings without a base on balls. He receives a standing ovation from the home crowd after striking out Darrell Evans to end the 7th. His streak ends when he walks C Marc Hill leading off the 8th. It is Jones’s 13th win of the year.

Fred Norman pitches a 4-hitter as the Reds beat the visiting Dodgers‚ 6-0.
June 23The Dodgers trade P Mike Marshall to the Braves for P Elias Sosa and IF Lee Lacy.
June 24The Braves top the Expos‚ 2-1‚ but Rowland Office is collared after hitting safely in 29 straight games. Office hit .408 during the streak‚ which began on May 23rd.
June 25Ranger Toby Harrah becomes the only SS in ML history to go through an entire doubleheader without a fielding chance. At the plate‚ Harrah makes up for the inactivity‚ collecting 6 hits‚ including a grand slam in the opener and another round-tripper in game 2. The Rangers beat the White Sox in the first game 8-4‚ but lose the nightcap 14-9.

In the Mets 7-4 win over the Cubs‚ Mike Phillips hits for the cycle to back Jon Matlack‘s pitching. Rick Monday starts the Cubs scoring with a leadoff homer; he’ll do the same tomorrow.
June 26Marty Pattin and Steve Mingori combine on a one-hit shutout as the Royals beat the Angels‚ 3-0.
June 28With a national television audience looking on‚ Mark “The Bird” Fidrych beats the Yankees 5-1 in Detroit.

Boston’s Butch Hobson debuts at Fenway Park with a double off the CF wall and a rare inside-the-park homer‚ both off the O’s Rudy May. Boston wins‚ 12-8.
June 29At Fenway‚ Rick Wise tosses his 2nd one-hitter this month as the Red Sox top the Orioles‚ 2-0. Paul Blair‘s 6th inning single is the only hit.

In San Diego‚ the Reds drop 7 runs on the Padres in the top of the 14th to win‚ 12-5. Mike Lum starts the scoring with a pinch homer. The 7 runs in the 14th is one shy of the NL mark‚ and has never been topped in the AL.
June 30Nolan Ryan makes a one-batter start‚ the shortest start of his career‚ after his name is mistakingly put on the lineup. He retires Chet Lemon‚ then gives way to Gary Ross‚ who gives up a run in 7 2/3 innings. California pushes across a run in the 9th to win‚ 2-1‚ over Chicago.

July

July 1The Indians paste the Toledo Mud Hens 13-1 in an exhibition game in Toledo. Manager Frank Robinson‚ hitting as the DH‚ flies out to CF and‚ while returning to the dugout‚ exchanges angry words with Hens P Bob Reynolds. Suddenly‚ Robby flattens Reynolds with a right-left combination and is quickly ejected from the game.
July 2The Astros outslug the Reds‚ 10-9‚ in 14 innings‚ collecting 25 hits for the 2nd time in 5 weeks. Pete Rose has 5 hits for the Reds.
July 3The Tigers rookie sensation Mark Fidrych shuts out the Orioles 4-0 for his 8th straight victory.
July 4On the nation’s bicentennial anniversary‚ Philadelphia splits a doubleheader with Pittsburgh‚ 10-5 and 7-1. In the first game‚ the Phils Tim McCarver loses a grand slam when he passes teammate Garry Maddox on the bases. McCarver gets three RBI with his single.
July 6Houston’s J.R. Richards allows 10 walks but no runs in shutting out the Mets‚ 1-0‚ in 10 innings. Starter Jon Matlack is the losing pitcher.
July 7The Reds come back from a 3-run deficit to beat the Expos‚ 4-3. Cincy scores 3 in the 9th‚ with 2 scoring on Cesar Geronimo‘s triple.
July 8At Wrigley Field‚ Randy Jones wins his 16th game of the year for the Padres‚ an NL record for wins at the All-Star break. He beats the Cubs 6-3. In the 2nd half of the season‚ the Padres lefty will lose 7 games by one run‚ 2 of them by 1-0 scores.

At Fenway‚ the Red Sox beat the Twins‚ 8-4‚ as their attendance reaches 1‚007‚491. It’s the earliest date in club history they’ve topped the million mark.
July 9In Montreal‚ the Astros Larry Dierker no-hits the Expos 6-0 and evens his record at 8-8. Dierker had previously thrown 2 one-hitters. Dierker strikes out 8‚ including the 1st 2 in the 9th. Houston is 4th in the West while Montreal is last in the East.

Before 53‚328 in Cincinnati‚ the Pirates score 2 runs in the 10th on a Richie Zisk homer and take an 11-9 lead‚ only to lose to the Reds‚ 12-11. George Foster‘s single scores the tying and winning runs.

Boston Red Sox owner and president Tom Yawkey dies.
July 11Hank Aaron’s 10th-inning homer‚ his 9th‚ in game 2 gives the Brewers a doubleheader sweep over the Texas Rangers and a sweep of the 4-game series. Milwaukee wins 6-3 and 5-4 with the W’s going to Jim Slaton and Bill Castro‚

In a pre-game promotion at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium‚ 34 couples are married at home plate. The nuptials are then followed by Championship Wrestling in an evening billed as “Headlocks and Wedlocks.” The Braves then pin a 9-8 loss on the Mets.

At Fenway‚ the Red Sox win over the Twins‚ 6-4 when the Twins CF drops a long fly ball for a double after a bucket of popcorn falls in his eyes.
July 12A tentative agreement between the players and owners on labor contracts is reached. The formal agreement will be announced August 9th.
July 13The NL emerges victorious in the annual All-Star Game by a score of 7-1. George Foster‚ one of 7 Reds position players on the squad‚ homers‚ drives in 3 runs‚ is named the game’s MVP. Rookie Mark Fidrych gives up 2 runs and takes the loss. It is the NL’s 13th win in the last 14 games.
July 16Bobby Murcer hits a game-ending homerun off Jim Katt in the 9th inning to give the Giants a 1-0 win over Philadelphia.
July 18Houston’s Ed Herrmann goes 5-for-5‚ including a homer‚ and knocks in 4 runs in a 10-inning‚ 7-6‚ win over the Expos.
July 19The Mets Dave Kingman tears ligaments in his thumb diving for a ball in a 4-2 loss to the Braves. Kingman‚ who already has 32 HRs for the season‚ will hit only 5 more after being sidelined for 6 weeks.
July 20Hank Aaron hits the 755th‚ and last‚ HR of his career‚ connecting off Dick Drago of the California Angels. Jerry Augustine wins for the Brewers‚ 6-2.
July 21The Mets lose to the Reds 4-0 on Fred Norman‘s 4-hitter.

Montreal trades Jim Dwyer and Pepe Mangual to the New York Mets for Del Unser and Wayne Garrett.
July 23The Angels fire manager Dick Williams. Norm Sherry takes over the reins.

In a game against the Taiyo Whales‚ Sadaharu Oh of the Yomiuri Giants hits his 700th HR‚ the only player in Japanese baseball to do so.
July 24At Comiskey‚ the Twins roll over the White Sox‚ 17-2. Lymon Bostock is 4-for-4‚ hitting for the cycle.
July 26For the 2nd consecutive game‚ Cincy’s Pete Rose hits a leadoff homer‚ this one his club-record 693rd extra base hit. Rose jump starts the Reds to a 9-3 win over the visiting Giants.
July 28Blue Moon Odom and Francisco Barrios combine on a no-hitter as the White Sox top the A’s 2-1. Odom walks 9 in 5 innings and is lifted after throwing a ball in the 6th‚ and Barrios adds another 2 passes. For Odom (2-0)‚ this is his last ML victory.
July 30The Reds do all their scoring in the first 3 innings to beat Houston‚ 13-8 in the 1st of 2. Cincy adds a 4-2 win in the nitecap to sweep as Bench hits his 250th homer.

In a Southern Association game in Memphis‚ the Chick’s Art Gardner hits a 3rd inning shot off the CF wall and‚ while Syracuse OF Rick Bladt searches for the ball‚ Gardner circles the bases for an inside-the-park HR. When Bladt can’t find the ball‚ the umpires rule the hit is only a double.
July 31Reds reserve outfielder Ed Armbrister collects 4 hits‚ including 2 homers‚ as the Reds pummel the Astros‚ 12-1. Armbrister’s 2 homers are half his career total and his only 2 for the year.

August

August 3At Candlestick‚ Jack Billingham‘s 3-hitter gives the Reds a 9-0 win over the Giants.
August 8Padres rookie Butch Metzger (10-0) is credited with a 4-3 victory over the Astros‚ his 10th win without a defeat. With a victory in each of the past 2 seasons‚ Metzger’s mark of 12-0 to start a career matches Hooks Wiltse‚ in 1904. Metzger will lose his last 4 decisions this year.

The White Sox suit up in shorts for the first game of a doubleheader with the Royals-the idea of maverick owner Bill Veeck. The shorts split‚ the Sox taking the opener 5-2 and losing the nightcap 7-1.
August 9Twenty-two-year-old John Candelaria survives a bases-loaded situation in the 3rd inning to hurl a no-hit game to beat the Dodgers 2-0. Candelaria improves his record to 11-4 for the 2nd-place Pirates.

In Houston’s 13-4 win over the Cardinals‚ Cesar Cedeno hits for the cycle.

In the Hall of Fame game following the inductions of Roberts‚ Lemon and others‚ the Brewers beat the Mets‚ 9-3.
August 10Jim Palmer one-hits the Twins‚ as the O’s win‚ 2-0. Mike Cubbage‘s single in the 2nd is the only hit.
August 11At Wrigley‚ the Cubs take a 10-1 lead after 3 innings‚ only to lose to the Reds‚ 13-10. Cincy scores 2 runs in the 6th‚ 4 in the 7th helped by a Johnny Bench 3-run homer‚ one in the 8th and 2 runs in the 9th. Ken Griffey’s 2-run homer in the 9th ties the game. The Reds continue scoring with 3 in the 10th off Bill Bonham to hand the win to Pat Zachry.
August 12At Philadelphia‚ the Braves edge the Phils‚ 4-3‚ pinning the loss on Jim Lonborg. Atlanta pitcher Frank LaCorte wins his first ML game after 9 losses.

The Reds go long at Wrigley Field‚ scoring 7 runs in the 8th and 9th to beat the Cubs‚ 8-3. George Foster hits back-to-back homers with Joe Morgan in the 8th and repeats it with Johnny Bench in the 9th.
August 14The Orioles sweep two from the White Sox‚ 8-6 and 6-5. The O’s are paced by grand slams off the bats of Reggie Jackson and Lee May.
August 15On Buddy Harrelson’s wedding day‚ he scores the only run as the Mets nip the Reds 1-0. He gets married a few hours after the game.
August 16With the help of three picked-off Oakland runners at 1B‚ the first such occurrence in the AL since 1910‚ the Brewers beat Oakland 4-3. Another oddity happens when Oakland’s Billy Williams is called out on strikes after refusing to enter the batter’s box. He is then thrown out of the game.

Lou Brock collects 5 hits in a losing cause as the Cardinals fall to the Padres‚ 11-7.
August 17George Brett steals home in the 10th to give the Royals a 4-3 win over the Indians.
August 18The Angels nip the Tigers 5-4 in 11 innings. Nolan Ryan works the first 10‚ fanning 17.

In the Yankees 8-6 win over the Rangers‚ Roy White homers from each side of the plate.
August 20Winning 8-1 over the Pirates‚ the Dodgers reach two million in attendance. The Phils will match that tomorrow and the Reds will hit the mark on the 22nd.
August 22Bert Campaneris collects 5 hits in leading the A’s to a 7-6 11-inning win over the Red Sox.
August 25The Yankees edge the Twins 5-4 in a 19-inning marathon. Grant Jackson is the winner over Pete Redfern.
August 28Davey Concepcion hits a 2-run single in the bottom of the 9th and the Reds tip the Phillies‚ 8-7.
August 29In 15 innings‚ the Reds beat the Phillies‚ 6-5. Cincy ties the game in the 9th when Pete Rose scores from 2B on a Bob Boone passed ball. Both teams score in the 13th before Ken Griffey drives home the winner in the 15th.
August 30At Fenway‚ Jim Rice clouts a 5th inning home run against Texas‚ the 100th homer this year for the Sox. They now have hit 100 homers or more for 31 straight years.

The A’s purchase veteran Willie McCovey from the Padres.

September

September 1Red Sox pitcher Fergie Jenkins rips his Achilles tendon covering 1B in the 5th inning against the Rangers. Jenkins (12-11) is through for the year. Murphy relieves and pitches 4.2 innings of hitless ball to earn the 3-0 victory at Fenway.
September 3The Brewers crush the Tigers and Mark Fidrych‚ 11-2‚ as Mike Hegan hits for the cycle and drives in 6 runs.

Rangers catcher Jim Sundberg records 3 assists in the 5th inning of a 4-1 win over the Royals. He becomes only the 7th perpetrator of this feat in ML history.
September 4The Reds Pat Zachary gives up a pair of singles in the 2nd in pitching a 5-1 two-hitter against the Braves.
September 5Phillies pitcher Larry Christenson belts two homers and pitches a 3-1 win over the Mets. Mickey Lolich is the losing pitcher.
September 6California’s Frank Tanana strikes out 15 batters in 10 innings but is not involved in a decision. Oakland wins in the 11th‚ 2-1.

The Reds take a comfortable 8-0 lead over the Astros‚ and then hang on to win‚ 9-8.

Dodger C Steve Yeager is seriously injured when he is struck in the neck by the loose end of a bat. Yeager is in the on-deck circle when the end of teammate Bill Russell‘s bat comes off when he is hitting. The Dodgers beat the Padres‚ 4-1.
September 8In a twinbill‚ the Expos Joe Kerrigan wins a pair from the Cardinals with two innings of relief work in both games. Montreal wins‚ 7-5 and 8-7.
September 9George Brett is 5-for-5 to lead the Royals to a 6-5 win over the Angels in 10 innings.

At Texas‚ Rod Carew hits a pinch grand slam in the 7th‚ off Hargan for the Twins‚ as Minnesota wins‚ 6-0. It is Carew’s 3rd grand slam of the year‚ Dave Goltz twirls the shutout.
September 10Nolan Ryan hurls a 3-hit 3-2 victory for California‚ fanning 18 White Sox batsmen. Bart Johnson is the losing pitcher.
September 11Minnie Minoso comes to bat for the White Sox after a 12-year hiatus. He goes hitless in his 3 at bats against Frank Tanana‚ but his appearance makes him one of a handful of ML players to play in 4 decades. His at bat in 1980 will match him with Nick Altrock as a 5-decade player. California wins‚ 7-3.
September 12DH Minnie Minoso singles for the White Sox against the Angels Sid Monge. At 53‚ Minoso is believed the oldest ever to collect a hit in the ML (although he says in his autobiography that he was born in 1925‚ not 1922 as listed in the record books). But research by historian Bill Carle will reveal that Jim O’Rourke‚ who hit safely on September 22‚ 1904 was 54 years and ten-months old. Minnie will make another appearance against Monge on September 30‚ going 0-for-2. Monge loses today‚ 2-1‚ with the victory going to Goose Gossage.
September 17At Milwaukee’s County Stadium‚ 40‚383 fans are on hand to celebrate “Hank Aaron Day.” Among those gathered are commissioner Bowie Kuhn and Jack Ford‚ representing his father Gerald. Hank goes hitless in 5 at-bats‚ and the first-place Yankees spoil the night by winning‚ 5-3‚ in 11 innings. Graig Nettles hits a solo homer in the 11th for the game winner‚ and an insurance run scores on a suicide bunt. Ed Figueroa tallies his 19th win‚ and the Yanks pad their lead to 11 games.

The Pirates top the Mets‚ 4-1‚ for their 18th win in 22 games. Doc Medich (7-11) picks up the victory. Since August 24th‚ the Bucs have shaved 12 1/2 games off the Phillies lead.

Shades of ’64. In Chicago‚ the faltering Phils lose to the Cubs‚ 4-3 when Champ Summers scores with 2 out in the 12th. Philley now leads by just 3 games.
September 18In the first of two‚ the Indians top the 2nd-place Orioles 5-1. In the nitecap‚ Cleveland manager Frank Robinson makes his final ML appearance as a player when he pinch-hits in the 8th and singles against the Orioles Rudy May. The O’s holds on to win‚ 3-2.

Tom Seaver cuts down the Pirates for the 2nd time in 6 days‚ this time winning 6-2 at Shea. Dave Kingman belts his 35th homer and Ed Kranepool adds another of the Mets.

The Phillies finally win‚ topping the host Cubs‚ 4-1‚ as Jay Johnstone leads with 4 hits. It is the first-place Phillies 6th win in their 24 games.
September 19Catfish Hunter notches his 200th career victory as the Yankees stop Milwaukee 2-1. Since 1901‚ only Christy Mathewson and Pete Alexander have hit the 200 mark before their 31st birthday‚ but arm trouble will limit Catfish to 224 wins. He’ll win 17 this year‚ after 5 straight 20-win seasons.
September 20The Angels Nolan Ryan outduels Rangers Bert Blyleven‚ 1-0.
September 21In LA‚ the Reds clinch the NL West title with a 9-1 pasting of the Dodgers.
September 22Don Sutton wins his 20th game of the year for the Dodgers‚ beating the Giants 3-1 on a 6-hitter. Sutton will win 324 in his career‚ but this is the only year he will be a 20-game winner.
September 24Chicago Cub Bill Madlock suffers a bruises and a slight concussion when he is mugged in New York City. Chicago then gets mugged by the Mets 4-3.
September 26In the last big league games at Jarry Stadium‚ the Phillies beat the Expos‚ 4-1‚ in the first game of a doubleheader to clinch the NL East title. Philley takes the nitecap‚ 2-1. Following the 2nd game‚ Dick Allen jumps the team in protest of the fact that veteran Tony Taylor is not listed on the post-season roster.
September 28Cincy’s Big Red Machine notches its 100th win‚ a 5-4 victory over the San Diego Padres. Jack Billingham (12-10) is the winner. Randy Jones takes the loss but sets a NL record with 112 errorless chances. The ML record is held Frank Owen of the 1904 White Sox‚ who did not commit an error in 151 chances (121 assists‚ 30 PO). Jones finishes the year with 12 DPs‚ tying the NL record. He also finishes with the NL lead in wins (22)‚ games started (40) and completed (25)‚ IP (315.1) and hits allowed.
September 29John Montefusco walks only Jerry Royster in hurling a no-hitter as the Giants beat the Braves 9-0. Starter Jamie Easterly toils less than two innings to take the loss. Montefusco (16-14)‚ “The Mouth that Roared‚” proclaims in the locker room afterwards that‚ “The Count is back.”

The Dodgers Walter Alston‚ after 23 years and 2‚040 victories‚ steps down as manager. 3B coach Tommy Lasorda is promoted to the post.
September 30The Chicago White Sox try a different approach against California‚ using a lineup in numerical order by field position. As noted by historian Greg Beeson‚ the batting order is: Downing-2: L. Johnson-3: Stein-4: Bell-5: Dent-6: Bannister-7: Lemon-8: Hairston-9. Finishing off the lineup is 53-year-old DH Minnie Minoso. The Angels are unimpressed‚ winning‚ 7-3‚ behind Sid Monge. Facing Monge for the 2nd time this year‚ Minnie is 0-for-2. Minnie’s next appearance will be on October 4‚ 1980.

October

October 2Cesar Geronimo’s 9th inning double with one out is the only hit off Phil Niekro as the Braves shut out the Reds‚ 3-0.
October 3In a 5-3 Royals loss to the Twins Jim Hughes‚ George Brett edges Royals teammate Hal McRae for the AL batting title‚ .333 to .332‚ when his blooper drops in front of Twins OF Steve Brye and bounds over his head for an inside-the-park HR. McRae‚ who then grounds out‚ believes the misplay is deliberate‚ and initially charges the Twins with racism. Brett ends the day at 3-for-4‚ McRae had 2-for-4 as did Rod Carew‚ who ends the day at .331. Brett is also tops in plate appearances‚ and the last time an AL batting champ led in that category was George Sisler in 1920.

The Cubs Bill Madlock wrests the NL crown from the Reds Ken Griffey by going 4-for-4 in an 11-1 win over the Braves. The hits raise Madlock from .333 to .339‚ one point ahead of the idle Griffey‚ who initially sits‚ then belatedly joins the Reds 8-2 win over the Expos and goes 0-for-2‚ dipping his average to .336.

Hank Aaron singles in his last ML at bat and drives in his 2‚297th run as the 6th-place Brewers lose to the Tigers‚ 5-2.

Jim Rooker and Jerry Reuss each pitch one-hit‚ 1-0 shut outs as the Pirates sweep a season-ending doubleheader from the Cardinals.
October 7Judge Roy Hofheinz sells the Astros to General Electric and Ford Motor Credit Companies.
October 9Pete Rose has 3 hits and George Foster homers as the Reds top the Phillies 6-3 in the first game of the NL Championship Series. Don Gullett‚ after a shaky first inning‚ retires 21 of the last 22 batters before leaving in the 8th. The Phils score 2 runs on Rawly Eastwick in the 9th. Steve Carlton takes the loss.

The Yankees beat the Royals 4-1 in the ALCS opener. George Brett‘s 2 first-inning errors allow 2 unearned runs‚ and that is all Catfish Hunter needs as he goes the distance.

Pirates P Bob Moose dies in an auto accident en route to a party celebrating his 29th birthday.
October 10Kansas City evens the ALCS with a 7-3 win over New York behind Paul Splittorff‘s 52?3 innings of scoreless relief.

The Reds win their 2nd NL game 6-2‚ as Pedro Borbon saves it with 4 innings of scoreless relief. Pete Rose and Ken Griffey have 2 hits each. The Reds score 4 in the 6th off loser Jim Lonborg and reliever Gene Garber.
October 11In the last of the 8th‚ leading the Hanshin Tigers 4-1 with 2 out and a full count‚ Sadaharu Oh socks his 715th HR to pass Babe Ruth‘s mark. The on deck batter is Davey Johnson‚ who was on deck when Aaron socked his 715th. Oh will finish the season with 716 HRs and takes aim at Hank Aaron‘s record.
October 12The Reds score 7 times in the final 3 innings to secure a 7-6 win and complete a sweep of the LCS. Jim Katt holds the Reds scoreless for 6 innings‚ leaving with 2 on and no runs in. Johnny Bench and George Foster hit successive HRs in the 9th off Ron Reed to start the rally.

In the AL game‚ Chris Chambliss contributes a HR and 3 RBI to the Yankees come-from-behind 5-3 victory. The Royals score 3 in the 1st off Dock Ellis‚ but the former Pirate faces just 22 batters in the next 7 innings.
October 13The Royals even the Series again with a 7-4 win‚ despite 2 Graig Nettles HRs. Freddie Patek is the big hitter with 3 RBI.
October 14In the final LCS game‚ the Yankees take the early lead only to see the Royals even it up on Brett’s 3-run homer in the 8th. Chambliss then connects on a dramatic 9th-inning HR off relief ace Mark Littell to win the game 7-6 and the pennant for the Yankees. By the time Chambliss reaches 2B‚ he is surrounded by screaming fans who escort him around the bases. After he reaches the dugout he returns with a police escort to make sure he touches 3B and home.
October 16Don Gullett and Pedro Borbon combine on a 5-hitter‚ as the Reds win game 1 of the WS 5-1 over the Yankees. Three hits by Perez‚ the first WS designated hitter‚ and a Joe Morgan homer supply the offense.
October 17On a cold Sunday night‚ the Reds gang up on Catfish Hunter for 3 runs‚ but the Yankees battle back to tie it up. With 2 outs in the 9th inning‚ Yanks SS Fred Stanley throws Griffey’s easy grounder into the dugout. A walk and a Tony Perez single follow and the Yanks lose the second WS game 4-3. Yankee SS Jim Mason hits a 7th inning HR off Pat Zachry. It will be Mason’s only Series at bat‚ and his is a singular accomplishment.
October 19At Yankee Stadium‚ DH Dan Driessen contributes 2 singles and a HR to Cincinnati’s 3rd straight WS triumph. The final score is 6-2.
October 20Rain cancels game 4 of the WS.
October 21The Reds take a 3-0 lead against Ed Figueroa‚ but the Yankees close it to 3-2. A 4-run splurge in the 9th‚ topped by Johnny Bench‘s 2nd HR of the game‚ ices the Reds 7-2 win‚ completing a 4-game sweep of the Yankees. WS MVP Johnny Bench has 2 HRs and 5 RBI‚ and demolishes the Yankees with .533 hitting. Opposing C Thurman Munson had 6 straight singles to tie a WS mark. The 1976 Reds become the first team ever to go through an entire LCS and WS without a defeat.

November

November 2Padre Randy Jones beats out Met Jerry Koosman for the NL Cy Young Award. Jones led the league with 315 innings‚ and posted a 22-14 record for the 5th-place Padres.
November 4The first mass-market free-agent reentry draft is held at New York’s Plaza Hotel. Among those available are Reggie Jackson‚ Joe Rudi‚ Don Gullett‚ Gene Tenace‚ Rollie Fingers‚ Don Baylor‚ Bobby Grich‚ and Willie McCovey. McCovey and Nate Colbert are the only two players not selected‚ but McCovey will catch on with the Giants in spring training and have a banner year at his old position.
November 5New AL franchises in Seattle and Toronto fill up their rosters by selecting 30 players apiece from unprotected players on other AL rosters. OF Ruppert Jones (Seattle) and IF-OF Bob Bailor (Toronto) are the first choices.

The Pirates trade C Manny Sanguillen and an estimated $100‚000 to the A’s for manager Chuck Tanner.

Baltimore’s Jim Palmer easily outpoints Detroit’s sensational rookie Mark Fidrych to win the AL Cy Young Award.
November 6Former Twins relief ace Bill Campbell becomes the first of the free-agent crop to sign with a new team‚ joining the Red Sox with a contract calling for $1 million over 4 years.
November 9Oakland releases Billy Williams‚ ending his Hall of Fame career with 2‚711 hits‚ 426 HRs‚ 1‚475 RBI‚ and a .290 average.
November 17Minnesota’s Rod Carew‚ who hit .331‚ wins the AL MVP Award. This is the first year in the past 5 that Carew did not win the batting title.
November 18The Yankees sign free agent P Don Gullett for $2 million. The oft-injured Gullett will go 14-4 in 1977‚ but spend most of the next three seasons on the injured list.
November 24The Reds Joe Morgan outpoints teammate George Foster to win his 2nd straight NL MVP Award. Morgan led with a .576 slugging average‚ and hit .320‚ scored 113 runs‚ knocked in 111‚ and stole a base.

Bob Kennedy is named head of baseball operations for the Cubs. His first move is to inform Jim Marshall he’s fired as manager and Salty Saltwell‚ after a year as GM‚ is named secretary and director of park operations. Herman Franks‚ briefly a Cubs coach under Leo Durocher‚ will be named the new manager. Ironically‚ Durocher turned down a Philip K. Wrigley offer to manage the Cubs for the 1977 season.
November 29Free agent Reggie Jackson signs with the New York Yankees for $3.5 million.

December

December 2Danny Murtaugh‚ who had retired 2 months earlier as Pirates manager‚ dies at Chester‚ Pennsylvania‚ of a heart attack at age 59.
December 4Aurelio Rodriguez becomes the first AL 3B since 1959 to beat out Brooks Robinson for the Gold Glove Award. Other Newcomers on TSN fielding team include 3B Mike Schmidt‚ OF Dwight Evans‚ and C Jim Sundberg‚ who would combine to win 24 awards.
December 6The Red Sox trade 1B Cecil Cooper to the Brewers for 1B George Scott and OF Bernie Carbo. This ranks as one of the Brew Crew’s best trades.
December 8The Indians trade OF George Hendrick to the Padres for 3 players.

The Cubs acquire Greg Gross from Kansas City for INF Julio Gonzalez. Then in a three-team deal‚ the Cubs also get OF Jim Dwyer from the Mets for Pete LaCock. LaCock then goes to KC for Sheldon Mallory who goes to New York.
December 9The Rangers trade Jeff Burroughs to the Braves for five players and an estimated $250‚000.
December 10Rangers SS Danny Thompson‚ a 7-year veteran‚ dies at Rochester‚ MN‚ two months short of his 30th birthday. He led all shortstops in hitting in 1972 with a .276 average‚ but was diagnosed with leukemia the following winter.

The Expos send Andre Thornton‚ whose average slumped 100 points to .194‚ to the Indians for P Jackie Brown. A great pickup for the Tribe‚ Thornton will lead the club in HRs seven times as a 1B/DH.
December 14Relief specialist Rollie Fingers signs with the San Diego Padres.
December 15Pirates free agent Richie Hebner signs with the Phillies.
December 16Court proceedings in Charles O. Finley‘s $10 million damage suit against Commissioner Kuhn begin in Chicago. At issue is Kuhn’s voiding of Finley’s attempted player sales in June. The proceedings will take 15 days‚ and the decision will take 3 months.

The Reds swap popular 1B Tony Perez and P Will McEnaney to the Expos for pitchers Woodie Fryman and Dale Murray.