Baseball – 1978

Baseball in 1978

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January

January 19The BBWAA elects Eddie Mathews to the Hall of Fame. The former 3B is named on 301 of 379 ballots.
January 25The Padres trade P Dave Tomlin and an estimated $125‚000 in cash to the Rangers for aging P Gaylord Perry. Perry will win the NL Cy Young Award with San Diego in 1978. In March‚ the Rangers will sell Tomlin back to the Reds for a 2nd tour of duty‚ where he’ll post a 9-1 record this year.
January 30Commissioner Kuhn voids the Vida Blue deal (12/9/77) between the A’s and the Reds‚ suggesting a restructuring of the trade.

Former P Addie Joss and former executive Larry MacPhail are voted into the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee.

February

February 3F. J. “Steve” O’Neill becomes the principal owner of the Cleveland Indians under a reorganization of the club’s financial structure.
February 8The Brewers purchase OF Gorman Thomas from the Rangers.
February 25Abandoning the earlier Vida Blue deal‚ the Reds trade Dave Revering and cash to the A’s for P Doug Bair. Blue will go across the Bay next month.
February 28The Padres trade IF Mike Ivie to the Giants for IF-OF Derrell Thomas.

March

March 6The Reds trade P Jack Billingham to the Tigers for 2 minor league players.
March 15The A’s trade Vida Blue to the Giants for 7 players and an estimated $390‚000 in cash.
March 17For the St. Patrick’s Day exhibition game‚ the Reds don green uniforms‚ rather than their traditional red‚ starting an annual ritual that will last a few seasons. The good luck works and the Reds beat the Yankees‚ 9-2. The Cardinals will be the next to follow suit.
March 21The Padres fire manager Alvin Dark‚ replacing him with pitching coach Roger Craig. Dark becomes the only manager besides the Cubs Phil Cavarretta in 1954 to be fired during spring training.
March 27A’s owner Charley Finley cancels the deal that would have sent the A’s to Denver‚ under the sponsorship of oilman Marvin Davis. Objecting to some of the details‚ Finley decides to call off negotiations.
March 28The A’s release Dick Allen‚ ending his stormy 15-year career which produced 351 HRs‚ 1‚119 RBI‚ a .292 batting average‚ and a .534 slugging mark.
March 29The Orioles release reliever Ed Farmer‚ who will reemerge with the White Sox.
March 30The Red Sox trade C Bo Diaz‚ 3B Ted Cox‚ and pitchers Rick Wise and Mike Paxton to the Indians for C Fred Kendall and P Dennis Eckersley. Eckersley will win 20 for Boston this year.

April

April 1Starting off with a bang‚ Japanese star Sadaharu Oh hits a grand-slam HR on Opening Day. It is his 757th HR.
April 4The Royals send slugger John Mayberry to the Blue Jays for an eventual cash settlement.
April 6In a rain-delayed season opener in Cincinnati‚ Houston’s Terry Puhl leads off with a homer against Tom Seaver‚ who allows 5 runs in 3 innings. But led by Joe Morgan’s pair of two-run doubles and a homer‚ the Reds prevail‚ 11-9. In the bottom of the 7th‚ with Morgan on 3B and George Foster on 1B‚ Dan Driessen strikes out and Foster is caught stealing 2B‚ Ferguson to Roger Metzger. Morgan tries to score on the play and is thrown out on the return. According to Retrosheet‚ this is apparently the first triple play begun with a strikeout. In 1982‚ the Twins will start a triple play with a strikeout.
April 7Mark Fidrych scatters 5 hits in beating Toronto‚ 6-2. The Tigers get homers from Milt May‚ Phil Mankowski‚ and Jason Thompson. The Bird‚ trying to recover from tendinitis that limited him to 11 starts in 1977‚ will win only 3 more ML games.

At Comiskey Park‚ 50‚754 watch as the White Sox edge the Red Sox‚ 6-5‚ on Wayne Nordhagen‘s bloop double in the last of the 9th. Dick Drago‚ in relief of Mike Torrez‚ takes the loss‚ after allowing a game tying homer to Ron Blomberg and single to Chet Lemon. Larrin LeGrow is the winner. Red Sox icon Carl Yastrzemski has two singles‚ the 11th straight opener he has had a hit.

The U.S. Court of Appeals upholds an earlier court decision in support of Commissioner Kuhn’s voiding of attempted player sales by A’s owner Charlie Finley in June 1976. Finley’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court will be rejected on October 2nd.
April 8At the Opener in Arlington‚ the Rangers edge the Yankees 2-1 behind newcomers Richie Zisk and Jon Matlack. Matlack scatters 8 hits in winning‚ while Richie Zisk belts a 9th inning solo shot off Goose Gossage to break a tie. Guidry goes 7 innings for New York allowing six singles and after this no-decision‚ he will win 13 straight games.
April 9The Brewers complete a stunning season-opening‚ 3-game sweep of the Orioles by scores of 11-3‚ 16-3‚ and 13-5. Sixto Lezcano‚ Gorman Thomas‚ and Cecil Cooper provided the Brewers with a grand slam in each game to set a ML mark.
April 12Ranger P Rogelio Moret announces he is going home rather than pitch. In the locker room‚ the pitcher freezes in a catatonic state‚ his extended arm holding a bathroom slipper. He is taken to a psychiatric facility and will go on the disabled list for most of the season‚ appearing in just 6 more games. Texas loses‚ 3-2‚ to Detroit and Mark Fidrych (20). Oliver’s 2-run HR in the 1st is all the Texas scoring off the Bird.
April 13The Yankees defeat the White Sox 4-2 in their home opener on Reggie Candy Bar Day. Jackson slugs a 3-run HR in the first inning‚ and the field is showered with candy bars which were given out free to the fans at the game.

Joe Rudi beats the buzzer and hits a game-ending homerun in the 11 off Tom Johnson to give the Angels a 1-0 win over the Twins. A curfew law states that no inning can start after 3:50 pm.: Rudi hits his homer at 3:55. Nolan Ryan throws 10 shutout innings and strikes out 12 for no decision.

The Tigers take two from Texas‚ winning 6-2 behind Dave Rozema‚ and 3-2 behind the pitching of Mark Fidrych. The Bird gives up a 2-run homer in the first‚ but zeroes after that.
April 14In the Red Sox home opener‚ starter Dennis Eckersley pitches into the 10th inning before giving way to Dick Drago‚ Jim Rice‘s 395 foot single scores Butch Hobson with the winner in the bottom of the 10th‚ and Boston wins 5-4.

Darrell Jackson of Orlando (Southern League) makes his pro debut‚ no-hitting Jacksonville for 9 innings. Orlando wins 1-0 in the 12th.
April 16Cardinal Bob Forsch (3-0) hurls a no-hitter in beating the Phillies 5-0. Forsch walks 2 and strikes out 3 in pitching the first no-hitter in St. Louis by a Cardinal since Jesse Haines in 1924. Roger Freed‘s bases loaded pinch double drives in 3 runs to help beat Randy Lersch.
April 18The Royals win their 8th straight‚ beating the Blue Jays 5-0 behind Paul Splittorff‘s 5-hitter. Willie Wilson and Hal McRae open the game with singles‚ and pull off a double steal. Following a 2-out intentional walk‚ Amos Otis hits a grand slam to jump start the Royals scoring.
April 22Mark Fidrych‚ who had to leave his last game when his shoulder tightened‚ warms up but is unable to start against Texas. But the Tigers top the Rangers‚ 7-6‚ in 10 innings‚ on the strength of John Hiller nifty four innings of shutout relief.

Before a crowd of 36‚005-4th largest in Fenway history-the Indians trounce the Red Sox‚ 13-4‚ ending Boston’s eight game win streak. Tomorrow’s crowd will be 36‚388 for a doubleheader split between the same two teams. Cleveland’s starter Rick Wise‚ traded to Cleveland in the final week of spring training‚ makes a triumphant return to Fenway‚ despite giving up a 3-run homer to George Scott. Cleveland is led by Andre Thornton‚ who clouts his 4th homer and hits for the cycle‚ all off different pitchers.
April 23Reds 2B Joe Morgan commits an error during a 2-1‚ 10-inning win over the Giants‚ ending his ML record streak of 91 consecutive errorless games since July 6‚ 1977. Three Reds pitchers combine on a 2-hitter‚ hand out 12 walks‚ and strand 14 runners.
April 24The Angels Nolan Ryan strikes out 15 Mariners-the 20th time he has had 15 K’s in a game-in 9 innings‚ but leaves without a decision. Seattle prevails 6-5 in the 12th frame.
April 25The Cardinals fire manager Vern Rapp. Ken Boyer will take over the reins 4 days later.

Cleveland’s Wayne Garland‚ who signed a $2.3 million 10-year contract a year earlier‚ earns his 2nd and final win of the season 6-5 over Toronto. Garland struggled to a 13-19 mark last year following an arm injury warming up his first day of spring training. He will undergo rotator cuff surgery on May 5th and win only 13 more ML games.
April 29Pete Rose crashes 3 HRs and 2 singles in a 14-7 Reds drubbing of the Mets at Shea‚ pushing his career hit total to 2‚996. Rose will hit just 7 homers this season.
April 30Dave Johnson’s pinch grand slam snaps a 5th inning tie with the Padres‚ and powers the Phils to an 11-4 win.

May

May 5Pete Rose singles off Montreal’s Steve Rogers for career hit 3‚000 and gets a hug at 1B from former teammate Tony Perez. The Expos beat the Reds 4-3.
May 6Red Sox rookie Jim Wright fires a 3-0 shut out over Chicago in his first ML start.

In a 9-5 loss to Texas‚ Yankee 2B Willie Randolph pulls the hidden ball trick on Texas Bump Wills in the first inning. In 1980‚ Randolph will have it pulled on him (as noted by Bill Deane) and he joins Cepeda as the only 2 players known to pull off and have pulled on them the HBT.
May 7At Riverfront‚ the Expos stomp the Reds‚ winning‚ 19-5‚ then lose the nitecap‚ 4-2. Pete Rose sits out game 2 because of stomach cramps‚ ending his consecutive games played at 678.
May 8After a Bernie Carbo walk and a ground out the Royals intentionally walk Jim Rice to pitch to Yaz‚ who clouts a 3-run homer. The Red Sox‚ down 5-4‚ beat the Royals‚ 8-4. Mike Stanley is the winner over Dennis Leonard.
May 11Jim Rice belts his 11th homer of the season to lead the Red Sox to a 5-4 win over Baltimore. Fred Lynn adds a single‚ double and triple to help Bill Lee (5-0) to his 5th win. Dennis Martinez takes the loss.
May 12In a 9-3 loss to the Rangers‚ Orioles outfielder Al Bumbry breaks his leg sliding into 2B. Except for 5 pinch hitting appearances in September‚ he is out for the year. Eddie Murray drives in all the O’s runs while Juan Beniquez has 4 hits and 3 RBIs for Texas.
May 13Behind Mike Torrez‘s 3rd straight win‚ the Red Sox top the Twins 4-2 and take over sole possession of first place. Fred Lynn hits his 5th homer of the year‚ a 420 shot to dead center. Jeff Zahn takes the loss.
May 14Happy Mother’s Day‚ Mrs. Kingman. Dave Kingman drives in 8 runs with a single and 3 HRs‚ including a 15th-inning 3-run shot that gives the Cubs a 10-7 win over the Dodgers. This is the 2nd time he has enjoyed a 3-HR‚ 8-RBI day at Dodger Stadium.

Bob Sykes‚ in his second start for the Tigers‚ tosses his 2nd straight shutout‚ beating the A’s‚ 15-0‚ on 4 hits. Pete Broberg retires just 5 batters in taking the loss.
May 16The White Sox trade OF Bobby Bonds to the Rangers for OF Claudell Washington and OF Rusty Torres.

The Tigers top Seattle‚ 4-2‚ in 16 innings‚ winning on a home run by Lance Parrish. Steve Foucault‚ who pitches the last 3 innings‚ gets the win. Relief ace John Hiller tosses 6 2/3 shut out innings. The M’s Ruppert Jones ties a ML record for CF by making 12 putouts.

David Clyde‚ who has not won since May‚ 1974‚ tosses a 4-hitter to lead the Indians to a 3-2 win over the A’s. The winning runs are unearned for Cleveland.

The Reds Tom Seaver strikes out 13 in beating the Expos‚ 7-1‚ in Montreal.
May 17Lee Lacy hits a pinch HR as the Dodgers beat the Pirates 10-1. It is Lacy’s 3rd consecutive HR in a pinch-hitting role‚ setting a ML record. His previous blasts were on May 2nd and 6th.

The Dodgers trade outfielders‚ sending Glenn Burke‚ 25‚ to Oakland for Billy North. Burke will later contend that he was traded from the Dodgers for dating Tommy Lasorda’s son.
May 18Lenny Randle is 3-for-3 with 3 walks and 5 runs scored to lead the Mets to an 8-7 win over the Braves. Randle walks in the 10th and comes around to score the winning run.
May 19Detroit’s Bob Sykes‚ after two straight shutouts‚ finally is scored upon‚ giving up 2 runs against the Red Sox in 8 innings. Hiller relieves in the 9th for a 7-5 Detroit win.

The Mets send Ken Henderson to the Reds for P Dale Murray.
May 23With Oakland leading the AL Western Division (24-15)‚ manager Bobby Winkles walks off the job. Jack McKeon takes over.

The AL approves the transfer of the Red Sox to a group headed by Jean Yawkey‚ Buddy LeRoux‚ and Haywood Sullivan. The purchase price is $15 million. Sullivan had a 7-year catching career for the Red Sox and Royals‚ while LeRoux was the Boston trainer for 8 years.
May 24The Cubs take over first with a 6-4 come-from-behind win over the Phillies. Rader’s 2-run triple ties the game in the 8th and Manny Trillo‘s 2-run HR in the 10th wins it.

In a Florida State League game‚ the Tampa Tarpons push 18 runs across the plate in the 4th inning of a 20-2 win over Daytona Beach. The bizarre frame‚ which lasts over an hour‚ features 9 hits‚ 6 walks‚ 3 errors‚ 3 wild pitches‚ 2 passed balls‚ and an obstruction call. Fifteen runs score before the inning’s first out is recorded.
May 26Silvio Martinez‚ making his last start for Springfield (American Association) before joining the Cardinals‚ no-hits Omaha 4-0.

The Cardinals trade P Eric Rasmussen to the Padres for slugger George Hendrick. Hendrick will have 6 outstanding years in St. Louis‚ hitting .300 three times and twice knocking in 100 runs.

At Fenway Dwight Evans hits a pair of homers and Jim Rice hits his 16th to lead Boston to a 6-3 win over Detroit. Bill Lee goes all the way for his 7th win‚ and his 91st as a Red Sox.

Tony Perez and Larry Parrish homer for Montreal and Dave Cash scores 5 runs as the Expos pummel Pittsburgh‚ 15-1. They collect 20 hits to make it easy for Dave May to pick up the win.
May 30In his first ML start for the Cardinals‚ Silvio Martinez hurls a one-hit 8-2 victory over the Mets. Steve Henderson homers in the 7th inning for the lone safety. Martinez will spin 2 one-hitters and two 2-hitters this season.

June

June 1The Angels fire manager Dave Garcia. Pirates IF Jim Fregosi is named to replace him.
June 2At Riverfront Stadium‚ Johnny Bench comes off the bench to pinch hit with 2 outs in the 9th and the Reds trailing the Pirates‚ 2-1. With a runner on‚ Bench presses his first ever pinch home run and the Reds win‚ 3-2.
June 3The Phils Davey Johnson breaks up a 1-1‚ 9th-inning tie with Los Angeles by hitting his 2nd pinch grand slam of the year. His first came on April 30th when he broke up a 5th-inning tie in San Diego. Johnson is the first ML player to accomplish this feat‚ but Mike Ivie will duplicate it later this month.
June 8Bob Horner‚ the College Player of the Year‚ is selected first in the free-agent draft by the Braves. Horner will skip the minors and debut on June 16 with a homer in his first game‚ off Blyleven. The Blue Jays make Lloyd Moseby the 2nd selection. The Yankees‚ with 3 first-round selections awarded as compensation in player signings‚ pick Rex Hudler‚ Matt Winters‚ and Brian Ryder. On the 23rd round they take a Clearwater RHP named Howard Johnson‚ who will make the ML as an infielder. MSU’s Kirk Gibson‚ who most teams assume will play football‚ lasts until the 12th overall pick when his hometown Tigers take him. He signs for $200‚000 and promises to drop football. Kent Hrbek lasts until the 17th round‚ and on the 20th round the Phillies gamble on prep all-American QB Ryne Sandberg. Besides Horner‚ 3 other draft picks‚ all high schoolers‚ will jump directly to the majors after signing: the A’s Mike Morgan (June 11); Blue Jays Brian Milner (June 23) and the A’s Tim Conroy (June 23). Morgan is taken in the 1st round by the A’s. Second round picks include Jesse Orosco (Twins)‚ and Cal Ripken (O’s).
June 10The Orioles score in the 9th inning against the A’s to give Jim Palmer his 3rd 1-0 victory in 18 days. The Baltimore ace shut down Detroit on May 24th and New York on June 1st.

The Yankees send former ace Ken Holtzman back to the Cubs‚ his first team‚ in exchange for minor leaguer Ron Davis. Holtzman proved a disappointment in New York‚ and he will not recapture his form in Chicago. Davis will blossom in 1979 when his 14-2 mark sets a record for most wins by a rookie reliever. The previous mark was 13 wins by Yankee Wilcy Moore.
June 12Jesus Alou‚ signed by Houston after being out of ML baseball for 2 seasons‚ goes 4-for-4 to help the Astros to a 6-5 win over Pittsburgh. Alou is now hitting .343. Cesar Cedeno also helps‚ driving in 3 runs with a single. The runners take off with 2 outs and a 3-2 count.
June 13For the 3rd time in his career‚ Roy White homers from both sides of the plate in a 5-3 Yankee win over the A’s.

The Reds Pete Rose is held hitless during a 1-0 win over Cubs. A 5-for-44 slump has dropped Rose’s average to .267. But he would not be collared again until August.
June 14Bob Horner signs with the Braves for an estimated $175‚000 bonus. Two days later he will celebrate his ML debut with a HR off Bert Blyleven of the Pirates.

The Yankees acquire OF Jay Johnstone from the Phillies in exchange for P Rawly Eastwick‚ who was a disappointment after New York signed him for more than $1 million.

Pete Rose starts his 44-game hit streak by collecting 2 hits in the Reds 3-1 win over the Cubs.
June 15In a swap of pitchers‚ the Phillies send Gene Garber to the Braves for Dick Ruthven.

At Fenway‚ Jim Rice knocks in 4 runs with his 21st homer and a triple to power the Red Sox to a 7-3 win over the A’s. Yaz adds his 5th homer of the year. Mike Torrez (10-2) is the winner over Lacey. Oakland has now lost 8 in a row‚ while Boston runs their home record to 26-4.

Hours after the game‚ the Red Sox sell popular OF Bernie Carbo to the Indians‚ the last of what the press dubbed as “The Outlaws.” Others reportedly out of favor with manager Don Zimmer and dealt off include Fergie Jenkins‚ Jim Willoughby‚ Rick Wise‚ and Reggie Cleveland. Sam Bowen is called up to take Carbo’s place.
June 16In the 12th ML season of a career speckled with near-misses‚ Cincinnati Tom Seaver finally hurls a no-hitter. The Cardinals are the 4-0 victims as Seaver strikes out 3.

After doing a morning cooking demonstration at a Boston department store‚ Bill Lee (7-3) storms out of the Red Sox clubhouse saying he is retiring from baseball. Lee has had arm problems in addition to the Sox allowing 10 unearned runs in Lee’s last two starts. The Spaceman is also upset that yesterday the Sox sold his good friend Bernie Carbo to the Indians‚ reportedly saying‚ “Today just cost us the pennant.” Lee’s walkout will last one day. Despite Lee’s takeoff‚ the Red Sox top Seattle‚ 6-3‚ as Carlton Fisk bangs two doubles‚ his 4th multi-hit game in a row. He has 11 doubles in his last 6 games.
June 17Ron Guidry strikes out 18 batters-15 in 6 innings-in a 4-hit 4-0 shutout of the Angels‚ setting an AL record for lefthanders. The victory raises the Yankee southpaw’s record to 11-0.

The Red Sox win their 9th straight‚ handing the Mariners their 10th straight loss‚ 5-4. The Sox score two in the 9th‚ including a game winning single by Yaz. Dwight Evans had earlier parked his 15th homer. Bill Lee‚ wearing a “friendship first‚ competition second” t-shirt returns to the Sox and is fined a day’s pay.
June 20Toronto is defeated for the 3rd consecutive game by a Canadian-born pitcher. The Blue Jays lose to John Hiller of Detroit‚ after having previously tasted defeat at the hands of Ferguson Jenkins and Reggie Cleveland of the Texas Rangers.
June 21The Angels Dave Machemer homers in his first ML at bat during a 5-2 win over the Twins. Machemer never hits another.
June 22Mookie Wilson‚ of the Jackson Generals‚ and his wife Rosa are married at home plate in Jackson‚ Mississippi.
June 23Rubio Malone of Elizabethton (Appalachian League) no-hits Johnson City 8-1. Twenty-six days later‚ Malone will no-hit Bluefield 6-0.

At Veterans Stadium‚ the Phils whip Cubs twice by 6-1 scores to take over 1st place in the NL East‚ a spot they will hold for the rest of the season.

In Cleveland’s 8-3 win over visiting Toronto‚ the Jays C Brian Milner‚ 18‚ is 1-for-4 in his ML debut‚ He is the youngest player to start in the AL since Ed Kirkpatrick‚ 17‚ in 1962: Alex Rodriguez‚ in 1994‚ will be next youngest.
June 24The Red Sox lose the first of two games with Minnesota‚ 5-4‚ to stretch their losing streak to five games. Rod Carew‘s 2-run double in the 6th inning‚ off Dick Drago‚ gives the Twins the 5-3 lead. In the nitecap‚ the Red Sox score 4 runs in the 6th inning to win‚ 4-2‚ overcoming the loss of starter Mike Torrez‚ who was tossed in the 1st inning for protesting a balk call. Yaz drives home a run‚ collecting his 1500th career RBI‚ and Fisk hits his 15th homer of the year.
June 26Toronto’s Dave McKay and Otto Velez each hit 2 doubles in one inning during a 24-10 rout of Baltimore. With the score 19-6 following a homer by Lee May‚ Earl Weaver tosses OF Larry Harlow at the Blue Jays. Harlow gets 2 batters out in the 5th‚ then walks 3 in a row and hurls a wild pitch. He then allows a single‚ a walk‚ and a three-run HR by John Mayberry to make the score 24-6. Mayberry comes off the bench to hit a 3-run homer‚ a 2-run homer and a 2-run double good for 7 RBIs. The last non-starter to have 7 RBI was Roy Siever in June 1961. Bullpen catcher Ellie Hendricks then relieves Harlow and gives up just a walk and no runs in 2-1/3 innings. Closer Don Stanhouse takes over in the 8th.
June 27New York’s Graig Nettles belts a two-run homer in the 14th to give the Yankees a 6-4 win over the Red Sox. Dick Drago serves up Nettles’ 13th homer of the year. Sparky Lyle (6-1) wins in relief. Ron Guidry (13-0) starts for NY and gives up 8 hits in 6 innings.
June 28At Yankee Stadium, Ron Guidry (24-3) allows four hits and strikes out nine in stopping the Blue Jays, 3–1. In the win, the Bronx Bombers manage just four hits off Balor Moore and Tom Buskey. The win keeps the Yankees in first place by a game. When news of the death of Pope John Paul I reaches the press box, New York announcer Phil Rizzuto observes, “That’ll put a damper on even a Yankee win.”
June 30In the first game of a 10-9‚ 10-5 doubleheader loss to the Braves‚ Giant Willie McCovey hits his 500th career HR‚ off Jamie Easterly. McCovey becomes the 12th member of the 500-HR club. Mike Ivie adds his 2nd pinch grand slam of the year in the opener. Jack Clark has 3 HRs in the 2 games.

Larry Doby becomes the 2nd black ML manager‚ replacing Bob Lemon as skipper of the White Sox. Chicago has a 34-40 record at the time‚ and would go 37-50 the rest of the way.

July

July 1The Astros trade C Joe Ferguson to the Dodgers for 2 players to be named later (IF Rafael Landestoy and OF Jeff Leonard).
July 2Ron Guidry wins his 13th consecutive game‚ the best start in Yankee history‚ in beating Detroit‚ 3-2. With the Yankees down 2-0‚ Mickey Rivers long drive to right is caught by a fan reaching down to take it away from Detroit’s Mickey Stanley. The fan drops the ball and Stanley‚ waiting for an interference call‚ fails to retrieve. River motors for an inside-the-park homer and New York ties the game 2-2‚ eventually winning it.
July 3At Fenway‚ Carl Yastrzemski strokes a run-scoring double in the 3rd‚ his 2‚800th career hit‚ as the Sox pummel the Yankees‚ 9-5. Yaz adds two singles in Boston’s 12-hit attack‚ as Dennis Eckersley (9-2) tops Ed Figueroa. The win moves Boston ahead of 2nd place Milwaukee by 7 1/2 games with New York now trailing by 8 games.
July 6Carl Yastrzemski’s 3-run homer in the first gives Boston a lead at Comiskey Park‚ but the White Sox eventually tie at 6-6. In the 10th inning‚ former Bosox Jim Willoughby serves up a home run to Fred Lynn‚ his 13th‚ and Boston wins‚ 7-6. Bill Campbell picks up the victory.
July 7The Brewers Mike Caldwell beats the Yankees Ron Guidry 6-0. For Guidry (13-1)‚ it is his first loss of the season. Caldwell shut out the Yankees 9 days earlier‚ and will shut them out again on September 19th.
July 8Omar Moreno’s first-inning single is the Pirates’ only hit as the Cardinals Silvio Martinez hurls a 4-0 shutout.
July 11At San Diego‚ the NL wins another All-Star Game 7-3. Steve Garvey singles and triples to earn the game’s MVP trophy. Vida Blue starts for the NL‚ the first pitcher to start for both leagues. Blue also started in 1971 and 1975 for the AL.
July 14Umpire Doug Harvey ejects a shocked Dodger P Don Sutton in the 7th after discovering 3 scuffed balls. Sutton takes the loss‚ 4-1‚ against the Cardinals with John Vuckovich getting the win.

Houston’s Ken Forsch defeats the Expos twice in extra innings. He pitches 2 innings in the first game‚ winning 4-3 in the 13th‚ and comes back for 2 in the second‚ winning 5-4 in the 10th.

Texas P Fergie Jenkins allows 3 solo homers-one to Lynn and 2 to Evans-in beating Boston‚ 4-3. Campaneris homers off Mike Torrez (11-5)..
July 15Pete Rose collects a hit in his 28th straight game‚ setting a Reds club record (post-1900) as the Reds beat the Mets‚ 7-5. His hit comes off Craig Swann. On the 18th‚ he’ll hit in his 31st straight game to top the Reds record set by Elmer Smith in 1898.

Seattle’s Larry Milbourne homers from both sides of the plate in a 7-6 win over Cleveland. These will be Milbourne’s only HRs all season‚ spanning 93 games and 234 at bats.
July 16After the Mariners tie the game at 3 apiece in top of the 8th‚ Fred Lynn hits a 2-out double to drive in 2 runs and the Red Sox hold on for a 6-3 win‚ their 8th in a row at Fenway and 27-4 in their last 31 games. The M’s lose their 9th in a row with the loss going to former Hubman Dick Pole.

Tulsa’s Dave Righetti strikes out 21 Midland batters in 9 innings to set a Texas League record. A Tulsa reliever loses the game 4-2 in extra innings.
July 17In the latest incident in his feud with manager Billy Martin‚ the Yankees Reggie Jackson ignores instructions and attempts to bunt in the 10th inning of a tie game with the Royals. Jackson pops up‚ the Yanks lose‚ 9-7‚ in the 11th‚ and Martin serves Jackson with a 5-day suspension without pay. The Royals’ 3-game sweep at Yankee Stadium leaves New York in 4th place‚ 14 games behind the Red Sox.
July 19The Red Sox beat the Brewers 8-2‚ scoring 4 in the 7th and 4 in the 8th‚ to increase their lead in the AL Eastern Division to 9 games over Milwaukee‚ 12 1?2 over Baltimore‚ and 14 games over the 4th-place Yankees. In the 7th‚ the Sox have George Scott on 2B and Butch Hobson‚ playing his first game in weeks because of muscle spasms‚ on 1B. On a Frank Duffy single‚ Scott scores on a close play‚ prompting an argument by Brews’ catcher Charlie Moore. No time is called‚ however‚ and Hobson strolls around the bases to score from first‚ while Duffy is finally thrown out trying for 3B. Fisk accounts for the other 3 runs in the inning with his 13th homer of the year.

Against the Phils‚ Pete Rose beats out a 9th inning bunt to keep his hit streak alive. It looked dead when Pete was retired in the 8th inning‚ but the Reds scored 4 runs to give Rose the chance to hit again. Mike Schmidt can’t handle Rose’s bunt. The Reds win‚ 7-2.
July 20After coming upon Expos GM Charlie Fox arguing with the slumping Chris Speier‚ pitcher Steve Rogers‚ a player rep‚ intervenes and gets punched in the mouth for his troubles. Fox will get fired at the end of the year but the fireworks seems to punch up Speier’s efforts today. He hits for the cycle and drives in 6 runs to lead Montreal to a 7-3 win over Atlanta.

Yankee ace Ron Guidry‚ who lost his first game July 7‚ goes to 14-1 with a 4-hit shutout over the Twins. New York wins‚ 4-0.

The Giants edge the Cubs‚ 9-8‚ in a game suspended with 2 outs in the top of the 8th. Jack Clark drills his 17th homer. The game will be completed July 28.
July 21The Indians Mike Paxton strikes out 4 batters in the 5th inning of an 11-0 win over the Mariners.
July 23Reggie Jackson returns to the team and the Yankees win their 5th straight, 3-1, over the White Sox. At the Chicago airport, Martin, reacting to reporters’ questions about Jackson and Steinbrenner, replies, “The two deserve each other. One’s a born liar; the other’s convicted.” The remarks will cost Billy his job.
July 24Pete Rose singles twice‚ the first time off Pat Zachry‚ during the Reds’ 5-3 win over the Mets‚ extending his hitting streak to 37 games to tie the modern NL record held by Tommy Holmes. When lifted‚ Zachry kicks the dugout steps in anger‚ breaking his toe and ending his season.

In Kansas City‚ a sobbing Billy Martin reads a prepared statement in which he resigns as the Yankee manager. Dick Howser will fill in that night as the Yanks lose 5-2.

Out on a force play: In Kansas City, a sobbing Billy Martin preempts a firing by reading a prepared statement in which he resigns as the Yankee manager. Martin’s resignation comes shortly after he was quoted about Reggie Jackson and George Steinbrenner saying, one’s a born liar; the other’s convicted. Bob Lemon, a good friend of Yankee president Al Rosen, is named as manager.
July 25The Reds lose to the Mets 9-2‚ but Rose collects 3 hits to break Tommy Holmes’ record. Holmes is in attendance at Shea and shakes Rose’s hand after his 3rd inning single off Craig Swann.

The Lodi Dodgers (California League) pull off 2 triple plays during an 11-6 win over Fresno. Bob Brenly is a victimized base runner each time. It is the first time a pro team has had 2 triple plays in one game since 1904.
July 26Johnny Bench hits his 300th career HR‚ off Nino Espinoza‚ and Rose hits in his 39th straight game‚ but the Reds bow to the Mets‚ 12-3.

The Giants Jack Clark has his hitting streak stopped at 26 games during a 2-1 loss to the Cardinals.
July 27The Yankees win the first game of a doubleheader 11-0‚ but the Indians rebound to win the 2nd‚ 17-5. Duane Kuiper ties the ML record with 2 bases-loaded triples in the nightcap‚ only the 3rd player (after Bill Bruton and Elmer Valo) to do so in the 20th century. He hits one in the 1st and another in the 5th inning.

Mike Cubbage is 4-for-4‚ hitting for the cycle‚ to lead the Twins to a 6-3 win over Toronto.
July 28The Orioles Rich Dauer has his 10th straight game with at least two hits in each. In his streak‚ which began on July 18‚ Dauer hit .583 (28-for-48). Dauer’s mark is a club record.
July 29At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees pummel the Twins, 7-3 before 46,711 fans on hand for Oldtimers Day. Announcer Bob Sheppard tells the crowd that Bob Lemon will be the manager through 1979, then become GM.”…and,” Sheppard intones, “the manager in 1980 and hopefully for many seasons to come after that will be number one. . . Billy Martin.” As it happens, it won’t take that long. Martin will again take the helm of the Yankees during the 1979 season only to get fired again.
July 30The Expos crush the Braves 19-0‚ collecting 28 hits and an NL-record-tying 8 HRs. Andre Dawson‚ Larry Parrish‚ Dave Cash‚ and Dawson again homer in the 4th inning; Parrish has a single and 3 consecutive HRs in the game‚ only the 4th major leaguer to do it. Pat Seerey‚ in 1948‚ was the last: Not till Andres Galarraga in 1995 will a hitter bang homers in 3 consecutive innings. The 58 bases breaks an 85-year-old record held by the Reds. Woodie Fryman conducts the win over Mickey Mahler.
July 31Pete Rose singles off Phil Niekro to extend his streak to 44 games‚ as the Reds edge the Braves 3-2. Rose ties Willie Keeler‘s 81-year-old NL record‚ achieved when foul balls didn’t count as strikes.

After scoring just 5 runs in their last 6 games‚ the Red Sox break out with a 9-2 win over the visiting White Sox. It is just the 3rd win for Boston in its last 13 games. Dennis Eckersley (12-4) earns the win‚ scattering 6 hits‚ while Rick Burleson has 3 hits including a bases loaded double.

The Yankees stop Texas‚ 6-1‚ to move to 7 1/2 games behind Boston in the AL East‚

August

August 1The Braves trounce the Reds 16-4 and stop Pete Rose‘s record hitting streak at 44 games. Larry McWilliams and Gene Garber are the Atlanta pitchers. Rose goes 0-for-4. Rose’s streak is the 2nd longest in ML history. He goes 70-for-182 during the skein‚ an average of .385. Rose grumbles about using a relief ace with an 11-run lead‚ “You would have thought it was the seventh game of the World Series‚” after Garber uses his best stuff to strike him out to end the game.
August 2The Yankees take a 5-0 lead over the Red Sox‚ but Boston ties it in the 8th on 3 wild pitches‚ two bases-loaded walks‚ and a collection of bloop hits. The game ends in a 14-inning tie at 5 apiece.

A day after his streak ends‚ Pete rose collects 2 singles‚ a double and home run in the Reds 6-2 win over Atlanta.
August 3Boston and New York pick up where they left off last night‚ and the Red Sox score 2 runs in the 17th to win‚ 7-5‚ on RBIs by Rick Burleson and Jim Rice. Ex-Yankee Mike Torrez then stops New York‚ 8-1‚ in a rain-shortened game. Jim Rice‚ with only one homer in his last 33 games‚ hits a 3-run shot off Jim Beattie. Fred Lynn cracks a 3 run homer in the 7th and Bob Bailey follows with a shot off the upper deck facade in LF. Boston now leads Milwaukee by 6 games and the Yankees by 8 1/2 games.
August 4Baltimore and Mike Flanagan hand Ron Guidry his 2nd loss of the year‚ stopping the Yankees‚ 2-1.
August 6With a 3-1 win over the visiting Padres‚ the Reds move into first place.
August 7Eddie Mathews‚ Addie Joss‚ and Larry MacPhail are inducted at Cooperstown.
August 10The Angels whip the A’s 16-5 behind Frank Tanana‘s 7 innings of work. A’s 2B Mike Edwards ties the ML record with 2 unassisted DPs during a 16-5 loss to the Angels; Claude Richey of Louisville was the first to accomplish it on July 9‚ 1899. The Angels’ Willie Horton has an eventful 4 innings‚ when he replaces Wallis in LF in the 5th. The veteran homers in the bottom of the 5th‚ hits a 2-run double in the 6th‚ then makes an error in the 7th and 8th innings. He leaves after his E in the 8th‚ his last appearance as an outfielder.

The Yankees Ron Guidry (16-2) tosses a 3-hitter to beat the Brewers‚ 9-0.

In just his 2nd start‚ Dodger P Bob Welch beats the Giants and Vida Blue‚ 12-2‚ to put the Los Angeles into a tie for first place.

The Red Sox trip the Indians‚ 6-5‚ in 13 innings as Butch Hobson scores the tying run on a bizarre play: He lofts a pop fly behind second base and races around to 2B as 2B Duane Kuiper loses the ball in the sun. Kuiper picks up the ball but bumps into 1B Andre Thornton and the ball rolls towards first base and C Bo Diaz. With Hobson motoring towards 3B‚ Diaz overthrows the base. Hobson‚ having slid into the third‚ picks himself up and races home. The throw from the outfield is in time to Diaz‚ but he can’t get the ball out of his glove and a sliding Hobson is home free. A George Scott double and Rick Burleson single then wins the game. Mike Stanley (8-1) picks up the victory.
August 12Peninsula’s Marty Bystrom hurls a perfect game over Winston-Salem 3-0 in a Carolina League contest.
August 13The Yankees erupt for 5 runs in the 7th inning to take a 5-3 lead over the Orioles before heavy rains force a delay of the game. Thanks to stalling tactics of Earl Weaver and some slow-moving Baltimore groundskeepers‚ the game is called‚ and the score reverts to the last complete inning. The Orioles win 3-0‚ with Scott McGregor the winner.
August 15The Blue Jays trade DH Rico Carty to the A’s for DH Willie Horton and a minor league pitcher.

The Phils drop their 4th in a row‚ losing to the Dodgers‚ 5-2. The loss cuts the Phil’s lead to 2 games as the Cubs beat the Reds and Tom Seaver in an afternoon contest. After Reggie Smith had driven in the game-winner the previous two nights‚ it is Steve Garvey‘s turn. His triple in the 8th off Tug McGraw‚ with the bases loaded breaks a 2-2 tie.
August 16Boston’s Luis Tiant wins his 200th ML game‚ beating Nolan Ryan and the Angels‚ 4-2. Jim Rice‘s 2-run HR is the difference.
August 20Los Angeles beats New York 5-4 at Shea Stadium‚ but the real hitting occurs before the game when Dodgers Don Sutton and Steve Garvey engage in a clubhouse wrestling match. The two had been feuding for a long time‚ but newspaper remarks by Sutton about Garvey’s All-American image sparked the brawl.

California and Baltimore battle for 14 innings before the Angels push over the game’s first score to win‚ 1-0. Don Baylor’s pop up falls in front of CF Carlos Lopez and gets by him for a run-scoring double. Dennis Martinez pitches 11 scoreless innings while Nolan Ryan throws 7. Dave LaRoche has 5 scoreless innings and Tom Griffin is the winner with 2 innings.

Dennis Eckersley (14-5) pitches the Red Sox to a 4-2 win over the A’s Marty Keough. Carlton Fisk has a solo homer and Jerry Remy a 3-run homer‚ the last of his career. He’ll go to the plate another 2‚321 times without a four-bagger.
August 21Ken Griffey drives in 6 runs‚ on 2 homers and a single‚ but it is not enough as his Reds lose‚ 14-9 to St. Louis.
August 22Ron LeFlore swipes his 27th consecutive base as Detroit beats the Twins 7-3. He began the streak on July 16th.
August 25ML umpires stage a one-day strike in defiance of their union contract. Semipro and amateur umps are pressed into service until a restraining order forces the strikers to return.

At Toronto‚ the Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twin‚ 7-3‚ with 2 amateur umpires and 2 coaches officiating: Toronto coach Don Leppert and Twins coach Jerry Zimmerman umpire. As noted by historian Wayne McElreavy‚ since 1910 this is just the 5th time this century‚ and the first time since 1941‚ that active players or coaches have umpired.

With 4 amateur umps officiating‚ Ron Guidry posts his 18th win‚ beating the A’s 7-1. Reggie Jackson‘s HR drives in his 1‚001st career RBI. The win keeps the Yankees 7 1?2 games behind the Red Sox.

Dennis Eckersley (15-5) shuts out the Angels‚ 6-0‚ on 4 hits to run his Fenway record to 8-0. Jim Rice belts his 32nd homer‚ off former teammate Don Aase‚ one of 3 hits he garners.
August 27The Reds Joe Morgan belts his 200th homer and becomes the first player in history to have 200 homers and 500 stolen bases.
August 28The Mariners and Red Sox combine for 16 extra base hits in the Red Sox‚ 10-9 victory. The Sox‚ down 9-7 in the 9th‚ start a rally when Fred Lynn lines his 5th hit of the game. Lynn scores on an error and Butch Hobson drives home the winner with a 2-run double. Jim Rice hits his 34th homer‚ Jack Brohamer adds 4 hits‚ and Bob Stanley wins his 12th against one loss. The Sox lose Dwight Evans in the 7th when he is beaned by a Mike Parrott pitch‚ but X-Rays show no fracture however.
August 29Against the Angels‚ the Yankees go into the record books by receiving 5 intentional passes in the 11-inning contest.
August 30The Reds are rained out at Riverfront Stadium for the first time since the Stadium opened in 1970. The 2nd half of a twinbill was rained out on July 18‚ 1971‚ but no rain checks were issued.

Sadaharu Oh hits his 34th season HR and the 800th of his career. The ball lands in the shoe of a fan who had removed it to feel more comfortable.

September

September 1Making his ML debut‚ Oriole Sammy Stewart fans 7 consecutive batters en route to a 9-3 win over the White Sox.
September 2Ken Henderson’s 3-run pinch homer in the 12th paces the Reds to a 6-3 win over the Cardinals.
September 3Lee Mazzilli homers from both sides of the plate as the Mets down the Dodgers 8-5.
September 4The Pirates Dorian Boyland has a 1-2 count in his first ML AB when the Mets make a pitching change. Rennie Stennett pinch-hits‚ taking the 3rd strike. The strikeout is charged to Boyland‚ watching the completion of his historic AB from the bench. The Pirates sweep the doubleheader from the Mets to move within a game of the 1st place Phils. The Bucs take the 1st game 7-4 and then win 7-0 behind Jim Bibby.

At Baltimore‚ the Orioles top the Red Sox‚ 4-1‚ behind Jim Palmer. Rookie Bob Sprowl pitches credibly in his ML debut‚ but takes the loss.

Behind Ron Guidry‘s 20th win‚ the Yankees take the first game against Detroit 9-1. New York scores 8 in the 7th. Detroit wins the 2nd 5-4 to keep New York 5 games behind Boston.
September 5The Twins Dan Ford costs his team a run during a 4-3 loss to the White Sox. On 3B when a teammate singles‚ Ford backpedals homeward‚ signaling Jose Morales to follow him home. Morales arrives there ahead of Ford‚ who is out for being passed on the bases.

The Expos beat the Cubs 10-8 in a 9-inning game that sees a ML record 45 players participate.
September 7The Yankees‚ 4 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East‚ arrive in Boston for a crucial 4-game series. The Yanks begin the “Boston Massacre” with a 15-3 route as Willie Randolph drives in 5 of the runs. The Yanks collect 21 hits off 4 Sox pitchers‚ including 3 hits apiece by Randolph‚ Munson and White. Mike Torrez‚ with one inning of work‚ takes the loss. Ken Clay‚ in relief of Catfish Hunter‚ is the winner.
September 8New York continues its rampage of Boston by scoring 2 runs in the 1st inning and 6 more in the 2nd inning. Boston makes 7 errors to ease the Yankees to a 13-2 romp. Reggie Jackson hits a 3-run homer and Lou Piniella adds a double‚ triple and homer to back Jim Beattie’s pitching. Dwight Evans and Carlton Fisk both make a pair of errors. New York is now 2 games in back.

Mitchell Page hits a grand slam and drives in 5 runs while Mike Edwards scores 5 runs in Oakland’s 11-4 win over Texas.

Greg Pryor drives in all 3 White Sox runs with a pair of homers as Chicago edges Seattle‚ 3-2

In a 5-3 win at Wrigley Field‚ Phillies RF Bake McBride handles 11 chances‚ tying the NL mark for right fielders. It was last matched by the Cubs Swish Nicholson‚ in 1945‚ in the same park.
September 9Ron Guidry (21-2) gives up two singles in the 1st inning and that’s it. New York sends 12 runners to the plate and scores 7 runs in the 4th inning to win 7-0 against Dennis Eckersley and cut the Boston lead to a single game. For Guidry‚ it is his 7th shutout of the year‚ and the first lefty shutout in Fenway since 1974 (Ken Holtzman‚ August 5th). With the Brewers’ victory over the Twins‚ Milwaukee trails by just 4 1/2 games.
September 10The Red Sox throw 22-year-old Bobby Sprowl at the Yankees and the lefty last just two-thirds of an inning walking 3 and allowing one hit. The Yankees take the lead and top the Red Sox 7-4 behind Ed Figueroa and Rich Gossage. Boston collects just 5 hits‚ including Fred Lynn‘s 21st homer. The Yankees outhit the Red Sox 67-21‚ and outscore them 42-9‚ in a sweep that leaves the teams in a tie for first place‚ and caps a remarkable march to the top from 4th place‚ 14 games out.
September 12The Pirates break their 5 game losing streak by beating the Phils‚ 5-1‚ to split the 2-game series with their cross-state rivals. The Phils are now 4 games ahead of Pittsburgh in the NL East.
September 14Jim Bouton‚ 38‚ after retiring from pro baseball‚ earns a 4-1 win for the Braves over the Giants. It is Bouton’s first ML victory since 1970‚ and the last of his career. The Bulldog gives up just 3 hits in 6 innings.

The Angels score 13 unearned runs in the 9th inning to cap a 16-1 win over the Rangers.
September 15The Dodgers become the first ML team ever to draw 3 million fans. Jay Blood is the historic 3 millionth spectator as the Dodgers shut out the Braves 5-0. The victory is dampened when coach Jim Gilliam suffers a brain hemorrhage.

Phil Garner hits his 2nd grand slam in 2 days as the Pirates beat the Expos 6-1. Garner is the first NL player to have slams in consecutive games since Jimmy Sheckard (9/23‚ 24/01) and the first major leaguer since Brooks Robinson‚ in 1962. Garner will end the season with 12 dingers.

The Sox score five runs in the 10th inning to top the Mariners‚ 8-3‚ and win their first extra inning game of the year. The Sox had lost their previous eight. With the victory‚ Chicago avoids becoming the first team in history not to win an extra inning game.

The Yankees‚ now 1 1/2 games in front of Boston‚ open a 3-game series in the Bronx with the Red Sox. Guidry again gives up 2 Boston hits and wins a 4-0 shutout. Chris Chambliss and Graig Nettles hit successive homers‚ off Luis Tiant‚ in the 4-run 4th inning.

Tom Seaver pitches a 2-hitter to give the Reds a 6-1 win over the Giants at Candlestick. A single and a Darrell Evans homer are the only safeties.
September 16With 55‚091 looking on‚ the Yankees snap a 2-2 tie with a 9th inning triple by Willie Randolph and a sacrifice fly by Thurman Munson to beat the Red Sox‚ 3-2. New York now leads by 3 1/2 games. The Yanks first score on a Reggie Jackson 2-run blast in the 5th. Both starters‚ Catfish Hunter and Mike Torrez‚ go the distance.
September 17Boston finally wins against the Yankees‚ taking a 7-3 victory in Yankee Stadium as Dennis Eckersley and Andy Hassler combine to stop the Yankees on 4 hits. The Yanks score 2 unearned runs in 8th on Hobson’s 2nd error of the game (and his 42nd of the year). Yaz‚ playing CF in place of the inured Lynn‚ collects his 14th homer of the year in the 9th inning.
September 19During a 12-11 win over the Cubs‚ the Pirates’ 38-year-old‚ lead-footed Willie Stargell attempts to steal 2B. The Cubs’ SS waits with the ball as Stargell slides 10 feet short of the base‚ signaling “time-out.” The Pirates led 11-2 in the 7th‚ but the Cubs rally and tie it in the 9th. Dave Parker homers in 11th off Bruce Sutter to give the Bucs their 7th straight win and 30th in their last 38 since August 12. Besides his two homers‚ Parker adds two run scoring singles.

The Phils lose to Montreal‚ 5-2‚ and now lead the Pirates by one game with 12 to play. Rookie Scott Sanders stops the Quakers. The Phils are 19-18 since August 12.
September 20The Red Sox collect 6 hits-4 by Jerry Remy-off Dave Rozema but the Tigers clobber Boston‚ 12-2. Lou Whitaker and Rusty Staub both have 3-run homers to lead Detroit’s 15-hit attack. The Sox loss‚ combined with the Yankees split with Toronto‚ leaves New York two games in front with 10 games to go.

The Yanks split a pair with Toronto‚ with Ron Guidry losing his 3rd game of the year. Lefty Mike Willis wins the duel with Guidry‚ 8-1.
September 21The Cubs tie an NL record by using 27 players during a 14-inning 3-2 loss to the Pirates. Pittsburgh’s margin comes when Rennie Stennett walks in the 14th and pinch runner Matt Alexander steals 2nd. When C Doug Radar’s throw goes into CF‚ Alexander heads for 3rd where the center fielder’s throw hits him in the back‚ allowing him to score. The Pirates are now 1 1/2 games behind the Phils.
September 23The Angels 27-year-old OF Lyman Bostock‚ a .311 lifetime hitter‚ is killed by a shotgun blast while riding in a car in Gary‚ IN. The shot was meant for one of the other passengers in the car.

The Yankees lead over the Red Sox is trimmed to one game when Cleveland scalps New York 10-1.
September 24Ron Guidry (23-3) gains his 3rd 2-hit shutout of the month‚ 4-0 over the Indians. The two Indian hits are by Duane Kuiper‚ the 2nd time this year that he has recorded the only hits in a game. The Yankees ace also two-hit the Red Sox on September 9 (7-0) and 15 (4-0). It is Guidry’s 9th shut out of the year‚ a Yankee record‚ and ties the AL record for southpaws set by Boston lefty Babe Ruth in 1916. The Red Sox stay one game in back of New York by topping Toronto 7-6.
September 26New York District Court Judge Constance Baker Motley rules that women sportswriters cannot be banned from locker rooms in the state.

Baltimore’s Mike Flanagan has a no-hitter against Cleveland with 2 outs in the 9th inning when Gary Alexander homers and 2 singles follow. Don Stanhouse comes in to save the 3-1 Orioles win.

In a duel of aces‚ Dennis Eckersley tops Dave Rozema‚ scattering 7 Tiger hits to win‚ 4-1. Eck’s record at Fenway is now 10-1. The Sox have 14 hits‚ led by Jim Rice‘s 44th homer of the year. The Yankees top the Blue Jays‚ 4-1‚ to keep a one-game lead over Boston.
September 27At Fenway‚ Carlton Fisk lines a 2-run triple in the first inning and the Red Sox top the Tigers‚ 5-2. George Scott hits his 1st homer in a month and collects his 1000th RBI to back Luis Tiant’s win (his 203rd). New York maintains its lead by beating the Blue Jays‚ 5-1‚ at Yankee Stadium.
September 28Mike Torrez wins his 1st game in a month‚ stopping the Tigers on 3-hits to win‚ 1-0. There are only two putouts by the Sox outfield. Boston’s lone run comes on Jim Rice‘s 45th homer of the year‚ off Young. It is the most homers by a Red Sox player since Jimmie Foxx in 1938.
September 29Bob Stanley makes just his 3rd start of the year‚ shutting out the Blue Jays at Fenway‚ 11-0. Stanley has a one-hitter but Dick Drago takes over in the 7th as the two hurlers allow just 3 hits. Jim Rice‘s first inning double and 2nd inning single gives him 400 total bases for the year. He is the first player to reach that mark in the AL since Joe DiMaggio in 1937: Aaron had 400 in 1959. Lynn and Hobson both collect 3 hits.

The first-place Yankees‚ trailing Cleveland 1-0‚ score 3 runs in the 8th to win‚ 3-1.

Pittsburgh’s Kent Tekulve sinks the Phillies twice‚ winning both games in relief‚ 5-4 and 2-1. He pitches 2 innings in the opener and pitches 1 1/3 in the nitecap‚ winning in the 10th. Bruce Kison pitches 6 innings in the nitecap‚ allowing only Greg Luzinksi’s home run. Kison adds a homer of his own‚ off Steve Carlton‚ to end the year with 4 hits‚ all for a season cycle. He is the 2nd major leaguer to cycle with only 4 hits.
September 30Baltimore 2B Rich Dauer makes his only error of the season in the final game‚ a 5-4 loss to Detroit. Dauer’s 86 games and 425 chances without miscue are AL records.

The Phillies overcome a first-inning grand slam by Willie Stargell to beat the Pirates 10-8 and finally clinch the NL East title. Winning P Randy Lerch contributes 2 HRs to his cause. The loss snaps the Pirates’ streak of 24 straight wins at Three Rivers Stadium.

At Fenway‚ Dennis Eckersley notches his 20th win of the year as the Red Sox defeat the Blue Jays‚ 5-1. Eck allows just 4 hits‚ including Roy Howell‘s 8th homer‚ in completing his 16th start.

The Yankees top the Indians‚ 7-0‚ behind Ed Figueroa‘s 20th win of the year. The Yanks clinch a tie for the pennant.

October

October 1Rangers manager Billy Hunter is fired following a 9-4 victory over the Mariners. Seattle’s Kevin Pasley homers in what will be his last ML at bat. Pasley’s only career HR comes off Fergie Jenkins.

With the Yankees a game ahead and one to play‚ Cleveland’s Rick Waits stops New York on 5 hits to win 9-2. Meanwhile‚ Boston takes their finale‚ their 8th in a row‚ on Luis Tiant’s 5-0 shutout of the Blue Jays. Boston has two unearned runs in the 5th‚ a two-run homer by Rick Burleson in the 7th‚ and Jim Rice‘s 46th homer in the 8th for their scoring. Both teams end the season with identical 99-63 records‚ with a one-game playoff to determine the divisional champ.

With an 8-3 lead over the Braves‚ Reds manager Sparky Anderson pulls Pete Rose in the 8th inning. Atlanta scores 5 runs in the 9th to tie and the Reds finally win in 14 innings‚ 10-8. Rose thus ends the season with 198 hits‚ and Sparky’s move deprives him of reaching his annual 200 hit total. Johnny Bench has a grand slam and the Braves hand out an NL record 16 walks in the game. Reds pitchers strike out 19.
October 2The Yankees and Red Sox‚ tied for first at the end of the regular season‚ play a dramatic one-game playoff at Fenway for the AL East title. New York prevails 5-4 behind Bucky Dent‘s 3-run HR off Mike Torrez and Guidry’s 25th win against just 3 losses. Guidry’s .893 percentage is a ML record for a 20-game winner. Goose Gossage saves the game‚ getting Yaz to pop out with 2 on and 2 out in the 9th. Manager Bob Lemon‚ who took over for Billy Martin‚ becomes the 1st manager to win a title after starting the season with another club.
October 3Reggie Jackson‚ “Mr. October‚” hits a 3-run HR‚ a single‚ and a double‚ to lead the Yankees to a 7-1 win over the Royals in the opening game of the AL Championship Series.
October 4Steve Garvey smashes 2 HRs and a triple to pace the Dodgers to a 9-5 win over the Phillies in the opener of the NLCS. Davey Lopes and Steve Yeager also homer at the Vet.

Kansas City notches 16 hits off 3 Yankee pitchers to even the AL series with a 10-4 win. Freddie Patek‘s surprise homer in the 6th with a man on seals the victory.
October 5Tommy John notches a 4-hit shutout to beat the Phils 4-0‚ as Davey Lopes drives in 3 runs. The Dodgers lead 2 games to none.
October 6Despite 3 HRs by George Brett‚ off Catfish Hunter‚ the Yankees pull out a 6-5 win in the 3rd game of the LCS. Thurman Munson‘s 2-run homer in the 8th gives the Yanks a 2-1 series lead. Reggie Jackson hits a 2nd inning homer to match a George Brett blast.

The Phillies stay alive with a 9-4 win in the NL game‚ led by the pitching and hitting (HR‚ single‚ 4 RBI) of Steve Carlton.
October 7The Dodgers win the NLCS 4-3 as Bill Russell‘s 10th-inning 2-out single scores Ron Cey. Dusty Baker collects 4 hits for Los Angeles. A walk to Cey and a routine liner that Garry Maddox muffs in CF sets up Russell’s game-winner.

Veteran Roy White leads the Yanks to victory‚ snapping a 1-1 tie with a HR in the 6th inning. New York gains its 3rd straight championship series over Kansas City. Greg Nettle’s homer accounts for the other run‚ as Ron Guidry shuts down the Royals.
October 8Dodgers coach Jim Gilliam dies at Inglewood‚ CA‚ aged 49.
October 10Davey Lopes collects 2 HRs and 5 RBI to lead the Dodgers to an 11-5 victory over the Yankees in game 1 of the WS.
October 11The Dodgers go two games up with a 4-3 win in game 2. Ron Cey drives in all the Dodger runs and Reggie Jackson does the same for the Yankees. Bob Welch saves Burt Hooton‘s win in dramatic fashion by striking out Jackson in the 9th inning.
October 13Graig Nettles’s spectacular defense at 3B highlights the Yankees’ first WS win 5-1. Ron Guidry goes 9 innings and gets the victory.
October 14Lou Piniella’s 10th-inning single scores Roy White with the winning run as New York evens the Series with a 4-3 win.
October 15The Yankees pummel the Dodgers with 18 hits to win the 5th game 12-2. Bucky Dent‚ Mickey Rivers‚ and Brian Doyle have 3 hits each.
October 17The Yanks win their 4th straight game 7-2 to clinch their 2nd consecutive WS over the Dodgers as Doyle and Series MVP Dent have 3 hits apiece.
October 19The White Sox fire Larry Doby‚ naming Don Kessinger as player-manager for the 1979 season.
October 24The Cincinnati Reds leave on an exhibition tour of Japan. They will play 17 games‚ finishing with a 14-2-1 record.
October 25The Padres Gaylord Perry becomes the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in each league. Perry copped the NL honors with a 21-6 record and a 2.72 ERA. This is the 13th straight season that Perry has won 15 or more games‚ second only to Cy Young‘s 15 straight 15+ seasons.

November

November 1Guidry is the unanimous choice for the AL Cy Young Award. The southpaw led the league in wins‚ percentage‚ shutouts (9)‚ and ERA (1.74).
November 4The 3rd annual reentry free-agent draft is held at the Plaza Hotel‚ New York City. Pete Rose‚ Tommy John‚ and Darrell Evans are the biggest names among the eligible players.
November 6The Yankees release Andy Messersmith who will sign with the Dodgers. Messersmith never really recovered from the separated shoulder suffered in spring training.
November 7Boston’s Jim Rice outpoints New York’s Ron Guidry‚ 353-291‚ to win the AL MVP Award. Rice led the league in hits (213)‚ triples (15)‚ HRs (46)‚ RBI (139)‚ and slugging (.600)‚ and became the first AL player to accumulate 400 total bases in a season since Joe DiMaggio in 1937.
November 10In a major trade‚ the Yankees send former Cy Young winner Sparky Lyle‚ along with pitchers Larry McCall and Dave Rajsich‚ C Mike Heath and infielder Domingo Ramos to the Rangers. The Rangers pack up outfielders Juan Beniquez and Greg Jamison‚ and pitchers Dave Righetti‚ Mike Griffin and Paul Mirabella. Righetti‚ considered the top lefty prospect in the minors‚ will win Rookie of the Year honors in 1981.

Billy Martin scuffles with sport writer Ray Hagar in Reno‚ Nevada. No decision for either pugilist.
November 13Luis Tiant Jr.‚ formerly of the Red Sox‚ becomes the first to sign with a new club following the reentry draft. The 38+-year-old pitching star joins the Yankees‚ and will go 13-8 next year.
November 15The Pirates Dave Parker wins the NL MVP Award‚ 320-194 over the Dodgers Steve Garvey. Parker had 30 HRs‚ 117 RBI‚ and league-leading figures in batting (.334)‚ slugging (.585)‚ and total bases (340).
November 21Braves INF Bob Horner edges Padre Ozzie Smith to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Horner batted .266 with 23 HRs in just 323 at bats.
November 222B Lou Whitaker‚ who batted .285 for the Tigers‚ wins the AL Rookie of the Year Award‚ receiving 21 of 28 votes.

The Yankees sign Tommy John‚ a reentry free agent formerly with the Dodgers. The sinkerballer will be a valuable addition to the Yankees‚ winning 43 games in the next two seasons.

The Ford Motor Credit Company purchases holdings of the General Electric Credit Company‚ thereby acquiring 100 percent interest in the Houston Astros.
November 28The Reds fire manager Sparky Anderson after 9 years‚ during which the club averaged 96 wins per season and won 5 divisional titles‚ 4 league pennants‚ and 2 World Series. The surprise move comes six days after the Reds return from a trip to Japan. Anderson has one year left on a contract and had no idea he’d be fired.

The Orioles sign pitcher Steve Stone‚ a reentry free agent formerly with the White Sox.

December

December 2TSN announces the Gold Glove winners. SS Mark Belanger wins for the 8th and final time‚ while 1B Keith Hernandez and C Bob Boone are each honored for the first time.
December 4The annual ML draft is held at Orlando‚ FL. Only 7 players are selected.
December 5A week after Sparky Anderson leaves the Reds‚ free agent Pete Rose signs a 4-year‚ $3.2 million contract with the Phillies‚ temporarily making him the highest-paid athlete in team sports.
December 7The Red Sox trade P Bill Lee to the Expos for IF Stan Papi.
December 8The Rangers trade 3B-SS Toby Harrah to the Indians for 3B Buddy Bell.
December 20Willard Mullin‚ 76‚ the nation’s top sports cartoonist and creator of the “Brooklyn Bum‚” dies at Corpus Christi‚ TX.

Don Blasingame is named manager of the Hanshin Tigers‚ the first American not of Japanese descent to lead a Japanese team.