1969 in baseball
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Expansion

Four
expansion teams An expansion team is a new team in a sports league, usually from a city that has not hosted a team in that league before, formed with the intention of satisfying the demand for a local team from a population in a new area. Sporting leagues also ...
joined
Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
for this season: the
San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
, the
Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
, the
Seattle Pilots The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball, professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington (state), Washington during the 1969 Major League Baseball season. During their single-season existence, the Pilots played their ho ...
, and the first MLB team in Canada, the
Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
. To accommodate the additional teams, the two leagues were split into two divisions of East and West. For the first time, extra post-season playoff series were added prior to the
World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
, at this juncture best-of-five series between the East and West division leaders in each league.


Champions


Major League Baseball

The most notable part of the 1969 season were the
Miracle Mets The 1969 New York Mets season was the team's eighth as a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise and culminated when they won the World Series over the Baltimore Orioles. They played their home games at Shea Stadium and were managed by Gil Hodges. ...
*
World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
:
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
over
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
(4–1);
Donn Clendenon Donn Alvin Clendenon (July 15, 1935 – September 17, 2005) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from to . He is most notable for his performance during the 1969 World Series when he ...
, MVP *
All-Star Game An all-star game is an exhibition game that purports to showcase the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or div ...
, July 23 at
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, commonly known as RFK Stadium and originally known as District of Columbia Stadium, is a defunct multi-purpose stadium in Washington, D.C. It is located about due east of the U.S. Capitol building, near the ...
: National League, 9–3;
Willie McCovey Willie Lee McCovey (January 10, 1938 – October 31, 2018), nicknamed "Stretch", "Mac" and "Willie Mac", was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1959 to 1980, most notably as a mem ...
, MVP


Other champions

*
College World Series The College World Series (CWS), officially the NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS), is an annual baseball tournament held in June in Omaha, Nebraska. The MCWS is the culmination of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Divisi ...
:
Arizona State Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...
*
Japan Series The Japan Series ( , officially the Japan Championship Series, ), also the Nippon Series, :File:2014_JS_logo.png is the annual championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan. It is a best-of-seven series ...
:
Yomiuri Giants The are a Japanese professional baseball team competing in Nippon Professional Baseball's Central League. Based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, they are one of two professional baseball teams based in Tokyo, the other being the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. They ...
over
Hankyu Braves The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team formed as a result of the 2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment by the merger of the Orix BlueWave of Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes of Osaka, Osaka Prefectur ...
(4–2) * Big League World Series: Mojave Desert LL, Barstow, California *
Little League World Series The Little League World Series is an annual baseball tournament for children—typically boys—aged 10 to 12 years old, held in the Eastern United States. Originally called the National Little League Tournament, it was later renamed for the Wor ...
:
Taipei Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the n ...
,
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
*
Senior League World Series The Senior League World Series is a baseball tournament for adolescence aged 13 to 16 years old that began in 1961. In 2017, the tournament was moved from Bangor, Maine to Easley, South Carolina. (Easley was the site of the Big League World Seri ...
:
Sacramento ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg , mapsize = 250x200px , map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
,
California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...


Awards and honors

*
Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
**
Roy Campanella Roy Campanella (November 19, 1921 – June 26, 1993), nicknamed "Campy", was an American baseball player, primarily as a catcher. The Philadelphia native played in the Negro leagues and Mexican League for nine years before entering the minor lea ...
**
Stan Coveleski Stanley Anthony Coveleski (born Stanislaus Kowalewski, July 13, 1889 – March 20, 1984) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for four American League (AL) teams between and , primarily the Cleveland Indians. ...
**
Waite Hoyt Waite Charles Hoyt (September 9, 1899 – August 25, 1984) was an American right-handed professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for seven different teams during 1918–1938. He was one of the dominant pitchers of the 19 ...
** Stan Musial *
Most Valuable Player In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...
**
Harmon Killebrew Harmon Clayton Killebrew Jr. (; June 29, 1936May 17, 2011), nicknamed "The Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon", was an American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. He was a prolific power hitter who spent most of hi ...
,
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
, 3B (AL) **
Willie McCovey Willie Lee McCovey (January 10, 1938 – October 31, 2018), nicknamed "Stretch", "Mac" and "Willie Mac", was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1959 to 1980, most notably as a mem ...
,
San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yor ...
, 1B (NL) *
Cy Young Award The Cy Young Award is given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), one each for the American League (AL) and National League (NL). The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall ...
**
Mike Cuellar Miguel Ángel Cuellar Santana (; May 8, 1937 – April 2, 2010) was a Cuban professional baseball player. He played for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher in 1959 and from 1964 through 1977, most prominently as a membe ...
,
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
and
Denny McLain Dennis Dale McLain (born March 29, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player. He played for ten seasons in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher, most prominently as a member of the Detroit Tigers. In 1968, McLain became ...
,
Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
(AL) **
Tom Seaver George Thomas Seaver (November 17, 1944 – August 31, 2020), nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "the Franchise", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the New York Mets, Cinc ...
,
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
(NL) * Rookie of the Year **
Lou Piniella Louis Victor Piniella ( usually ; born August 28, 1943) is a former professional baseball player and manager. An outfielder, he played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals and ...
,
Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
, OF (AL) **
Ted Sizemore Ted Crawford Sizemore (born April 15, 1945) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He was named the National League's Rookie of the Year in . Early life Sizemore was born in Gadsden, Alabama, but moved to Detroit, at the age of two y ...
,
Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
, 2B (NL) *
Gold Glove Award The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as simply the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in bo ...
**
Joe Pepitone Joseph Anthony Pepitone (born October 9, 1940) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played the bulk of his career for the New York Yankees. He also played several seasons with the Chicago Cubs and had short stints wi ...
(1B) (AL) **
Davey Johnson David Allen Johnson (born January 30, 1943) is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He played as a second baseman from through , most notably as a member of the Baltimore Orioles dynasty that won four American League ...
(2B) (AL) ** Brooks Robinson (3B) (AL) **
Mark Belanger Mark Henry Belanger (June 8, 1944 – October 6, 1998), nicknamed "The Blade," was an American professional baseball player and coach (baseball), coach. He played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from through , most notably as a ...
(SS) (AL) ** Paul Blair (OF) (AL) **
Mickey Stanley Mitchell Jack "Mickey" Stanley (born July 20, 1942) is an American former professional baseball player. A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Stanley signed with the Detroit Tigers organization in 1960. After four years in the Tigers' minor leagu ...
(OF) (AL) **
Carl Yastrzemski Carl Michael Yastrzemski ( ; nicknamed "Yaz"; born August 22, 1939) is an American former Major League Baseball player. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year Major League career with the Bost ...
(OF) (AL) **
Bill Freehan William Ashley Freehan (November 29, 1941 – August 19, 2021) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire 15-year career with the Detroit Tigers. The premier catcher in the American League for several years from the 19 ...
(C) (AL) **
Jim Kaat James Lee Kaat (; born November 7, 1938) is an American former professional baseball player and television sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a left-handed pitcher for the Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins (–), ...
(P) (AL)


MLB statistical leaders

The save is introduced as an official statistic this year.
Ron Perranoski Ronald Peter Perranoski (April 1, 1936 – October 2, 2020) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed relief pitcher from to , most prominently as a member of the Los Angeles Dodg ...
lead the majors with 31.Baseball Reference
/ref>


Major league baseball final standings


Events


January–March

*January 2 – In response to major-league owners' continued refusal to increase their contributions to the players' pension fund commensurately with their television broadcast revenues, the
Major League Baseball Players Association The Major League Baseball Players Association (or MLBPA) is the union representing all current Major League Baseball players. All players, managers, coaches, and athletic trainers who hold or have held a signed contract with a Major League club ...
urges players not to sign any new contracts. *January 21 – Stan Musial and
Roy Campanella Roy Campanella (November 19, 1921 – June 26, 1993), nicknamed "Campy", was an American baseball player, primarily as a catcher. The Philadelphia native played in the Negro leagues and Mexican League for nine years before entering the minor lea ...
are voted into the
Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...
by BBWAA members. *January 22 – The Expos trade
Donn Clendenon Donn Alvin Clendenon (July 15, 1935 – September 17, 2005) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from to . He is most notable for his performance during the 1969 World Series when he ...
and
Jesús Alou Jesús María Rojas Alou (born March 24, 1942) is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. During a 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he played for the San Francisco Giants (1963–68), Houston Astros (1969–73; 1978–79) ...
to the
Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
for
Rusty Staub Daniel Joseph "Rusty" Staub (April 1, 1944 – March 29, 2018) was an American professional baseball player and television color commentator. He played in Major League Baseball for 23 seasons as a right fielder, designated hitter, and first basem ...
. The Astros had recently hired Clendenon's former
Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
manager
Harry Walker Harry William Walker (October 22, 1918 – August 8, 1999) was an American professional baseball player, coach and manager. Known by the nickname "Harry the Hat", he played as a center fielder in Major League Baseball between 1940 and 1955, ...
, with whom Clendenon had a personality clash, to steer their club and Clendenon refused to report to his new team. The Expos and Astros worked out a new deal, and Clendenon joined the Expos on April 19. *February 2 – Pitchers
Stan Coveleski Stanley Anthony Coveleski (born Stanislaus Kowalewski, July 13, 1889 – March 20, 1984) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for four American League (AL) teams between and , primarily the Cleveland Indians. ...
and
Waite Hoyt Waite Charles Hoyt (September 9, 1899 – August 25, 1984) was an American right-handed professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for seven different teams during 1918–1938. He was one of the dominant pitchers of the 19 ...
are voted into the
Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...
by the Special Veterans Committee. *February 17 – Spring training opens without 400 players who have decided to boycott it over the pension-fund impasse. *February 26 – The boycott ends when owners accept most of the players' terms. *March 1 –
Mickey Mantle Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995), nicknamed "the Commerce Comet" and "the Mick", was an American professional baseball player. Mantle played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career (1951–1968) with the New York ...
announces his retirement. *March 16 – A
plane crash An aviation accident is defined by the Convention on International Civil Aviation Annex 13 as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft, which takes place from the time any person boards the aircraft with the ''intention of fl ...
in
Maracaibo, Venezuela ) , motto = "''Muy noble y leal''"(English: "Very noble and loyal") , anthem = , image_map = , mapsize = , map_alt = ...
kills 155 people including first baseman Carlos Santeliz, the Venezuelan League Rookie of the Year, on his way to the
Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
' spring training camp. Another fatality is pitcher Látigo Chávez, en route to the
Giants A giant is a being of human appearance, sometimes of prodigious size and strength, common in folklore. Giant(s) or The Giant(s) may also refer to: Mythology and religion *Giants (Greek mythology) *Jötunn, a Germanic term often translated as 'gi ...
' camp. Chávez (1–0) was 12–5 with Double-A Waterbury in the Eastern League ( 1967), including seven shutouts. Pitcher
Pablo Torrealba Pablo Arnoldo Torrealba or-ray-ahl'-bah/small> (born April 28, 1948) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1975 through 1979 for the Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago Wh ...
was also scheduled to take the flight, but missed it and took a later one.


April–June

*April 8 **At
Shea Stadium Shea Stadium (), formally known as William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York City.Dan McGinn Daniel Michael McGinn (born November 29, 1943) is an American former professional baseball player, a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Early life and football Born in Omaha, Nebraska, McGinn was a multi-sport athlete at Omaha Cathed ...
hits the first
home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
in
Montréal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
history, a solo shot against
Tom Seaver George Thomas Seaver (November 17, 1944 – August 31, 2020), nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "the Franchise", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the New York Mets, Cinc ...
. **At
Anaheim Stadium Angel Stadium of Anaheim is a baseball stadium located in Anaheim, California. Since its opening in 1966, it has served as the home ballpark of the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB), and was also the home stadium to the Los Angel ...
,
Mike Hegan James Michael Hegan (July 21, 1942 – December 25, 2013) was an American professional baseball player, who later worked as a sports commentator. In Major League Baseball (MLB) he was a first baseman and outfielder, and played for three different ...
hits the first home run in
Seattle Pilots The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball, professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington (state), Washington during the 1969 Major League Baseball season. During their single-season existence, the Pilots played their ho ...
history, a two-run shot against
Jim McGlothlin James Milton McGlothlin (October 6, 1943 – December 23, 1975), nicknamed "Red", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. Born in Los Angeles, he graduated from Reseda High School in 1961 and was signed the following year by the Los Angel ...
. **At
San Diego Stadium San Diego Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium on the West Coast of the United States, west coast of the United States, in San Diego, California. The stadium opened in 1967 as San Diego Stadium and was known as Jack Murphy Stadium from 1981 to 199 ...
,
Ed Spiezio Edward Wayne Spiezio (born October 31, 1941) is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1964 to 1972 for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. Listed at and ...
hits the first
home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
in
San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
history, a solo shot against Don Wilson of the
Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
. **At Municipal Stadium, the
Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
, in their inaugural game, defeat the
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
4–3 in 12 innings. Two pitching stars on the
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
team that won the
1966 World Series The 1966 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1966 season. The 63rd edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champion Baltimore Orioles and National League ...
pitch for the Royals in this game:
Wally Bunker Wallace Edward Bunker (born January 25, 1945) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. A right-hander, Bunker pitched for the Baltimore Orioles from to and Kansas City Royals from to . Biography Bunker pitched for the Capuchino High School ...
throws the very first pitch, and
Moe Drabowsky Myron Walter Drabowsky (July 21, 1935 – June 10, 2006) was an American professional baseball pitcher, best-remembered for throwing scoreless innings of relief to win Game 1 of the 1966 World Series. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for ...
wins the game in relief. The Royals' first batter,
Lou Piniella Louis Victor Piniella ( usually ; born August 28, 1943) is a former professional baseball player and manager. An outfielder, he played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals and ...
, gets the first hit for the franchise, leading off the game with a double, and scoring their first run on Jerry Adair's single one batter later. **At
Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the Chicago Cubs, one of the city's two MLB franchises. It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghman's Chicago Wh ...
, the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
opened their wild 1969 season in dramatic fashion, as Willie Smith hit a pinch-hit, two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to defeat the
Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
7–6. *April 9 – Billy Williams hits 4 consecutive doubles to tie the Major League record during an 11–3 win over the Phillies at Wrigley Field. The Cubs scored seven runs in the seventh inning. *April 10 – At Shea Stadium,
Tommie Agee Tommie Lee Agee (August 9, 1942 – January 22, 2001) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from through , most notably as a member of the New York Mets team that became known as th ...
hits a tremendous home run halfway up in the left field upper deck, a feat that was never matched. *April 11 –
Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
successfully inaugurates Major League Baseball at Sick's Stadium‚ as pitcher
Gary Bell Gary Bell may refer to: * Gary Bell (baseball) (born 1936), American Major League Baseball pitcher * Gary Bell (footballer) (born 1947), English footballer * Gary Bell Jr. (born 1992), American basketball player {{hndis, Bell, Gary ...
defeats the
Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
7–0. The
Seattle Pilots The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball, professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington (state), Washington during the 1969 Major League Baseball season. During their single-season existence, the Pilots played their ho ...
attract 17‚850 today and will draw just 678‚000 for the season. U.S. Senator
Henry "Scoop" Jackson Henry Martin "Scoop" Jackson (May 31, 1912 – September 1, 1983) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. representative (1941–1953) and U.S. senator (1953–1983) from the state of Washington. A Cold War liberal and an ...
throws out the first ball and will do the same in the
Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...
opener‚ in
1977 Events January * January 8 – Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (now the Democratic R ...
. *April 12 – At Detroit, the
Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
'
Mel Stottlemyre Melvin Leon Stottlemyre Sr. (November 13, 1941 – January 13, 2019) was an American professional baseball pitcher and pitching coach. He played for 11 seasons in Major League Baseball, all for the New York Yankees, and coached for 23 seasons, ...
allows just one hit, a 4th-inning double to Jim Northrup, and beats
Denny McLain Dennis Dale McLain (born March 29, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player. He played for ten seasons in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher, most prominently as a member of the Detroit Tigers. In 1968, McLain became ...
and the
Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
4–0. For the 3rd time in two years, Northrup saves the Tigers from being the victims of a
no-hitter In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...
. *April 13 – At the
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Oakland Coliseum, currently naming rights, branded as RingCentral Coliseum, is a stadium in Oakland, California. It is part of the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Complex, with the adjacent Oakland Arena, near Interstate 880 (California), In ...
, Mike Fiore hits the first
home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
in
Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
history, a solo shot against
Blue Moon Odom Johnny Lee "Blue Moon" Odom (born May 29, 1945) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from through , most notably as a member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won t ...
. *April 14 – The
Montréal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
open at home with an 8–7 win over the
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
at
Parc Jarry Jarry Park (french: Parc Jarry) is an urban park in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Jarry Park has total area of 36 hectares. It is considered by the City of Montreal as one of its large park ...
. *April 17 – At
Connie Mack Stadium Shibe Park, known later as Connie Mack Stadium, was a ballpark located in Philadelphia. It was the home of the Philadelphia Athletics of the American League (AL) and the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League (NL). When it opened April 12, ...
,
Bill Stoneman William Hambly Stoneman III (born April 7, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player and executive who, during his eight-year (–) pitching career in Major League Baseball, threw two no-hitters; then, as general manager of the Ana ...
of the
Montréal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
no-hits the
Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
7–0. The game is only the ninth in Expos history, and only the fifth start in Stoneman's Major League career. *April 25 – The Cubs trade
Joe Niekro Joseph Franklin Niekro ( ; November 7, 1944 – October 27, 2006) was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of former Major League first baseman Lance Niekro. Niekr ...
,
Gary Ross Gary Ross (born November 3, 1956) is an American film director, writer, and producer. He is best known for writing and directing the fantasy comedy-drama film '' Pleasantville'' (1998), the sports drama film ''Seabiscuit'' (2003), the sci-fi acti ...
, and Francisco Libran to the San Diego Padres for
Dick Selma Richard Jay Selma (November 4, 1943 – August 29, 2001) was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1965 to 1974. He played for the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, Calif ...
. *May 1 – The
Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
, no-hit the day before by
Jim Maloney James William Maloney (born June 2, 1940) is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Cincinnati Reds and California Angels (1971). One of the hardest-throwing pitchers of the 1960s, Maloney boasted a fastball ...
of the
Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
, answer back as Don Wilson pitches a 4–0 no-hitter, with 13 strikeouts over the Reds. Houston ties a National League record with just one assist. In Wilson's previous start against Cincinnati, on April 22, he gave up six runs in five innings in a 14–0 loss. The back-to-back no-hitters are only the second in Major League history, the feat having been accomplished just the year before by
Gaylord Perry Gaylord Jackson Perry (September 15, 1938 – December 1, 2022) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a right-handed pitcher for eight different teams from 1962 to 1983. During a 22-year baseb ...
and
Ray Washburn Ray may refer to: Fish * Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea * Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin Science and mathematics * Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point * Ray (gra ...
. *May 4 – At
Anaheim Stadium Angel Stadium of Anaheim is a baseball stadium located in Anaheim, California. Since its opening in 1966, it has served as the home ballpark of the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB), and was also the home stadium to the Los Angel ...
, in only the 25th game in
Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
history,
Bob Oliver Robert Lee Oliver (February 8, 1943 – April 19, 2020) was an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1965), Kansas City Royals (1969–72), Califo ...
goes 6-for-6 with a home run and a double in the Royals' 15–1 drubbing of the
California Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...
. Oliver becomes the first player to collect six hits in one game since
Jesús Alou Jesús María Rojas Alou (born March 24, 1942) is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. During a 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he played for the San Francisco Giants (1963–68), Houston Astros (1969–73; 1978–79) ...
did so for the
San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yor ...
on July 10, , and the first American League player to do so since
Floyd Robinson Floyd Andrew Robinson (born May 9, 1936) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox (1960–1966), Cincinnati Reds (1967), and the Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox (1968). He batted left-handed and threw right ...
with the
Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
on July 22, . *May 12 –
Bob Gibson Robert Gibson (born Pack Robert Gibson; November 9, 1935October 2, 2020) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals (1959–1975). Nicknamed "Gibby" and "Hoot" ( ...
of the
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
becomes the seventh pitcher in National League history to strike out the side on nine pitches, his victims being Len Gabrielson, Paul Popovich and John Miller in the seventh inning of a game against the
Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
. Gibson enjoys his feat as part of a 6–2 victory for St. Louis. *May 13 –
Ernie Banks Ernest Banks (January 31, 1931 – January 23, 2015), nicknamed "Mr. Cub" and "Mr. Sunshine", was an American professional baseball player who starred in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs between ...
of the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
reaches the 1,500
runs batted in A run batted in (RBI; plural RBIs ) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if the bat ...
milestone while driving in seven runs in a 19–0 shellacking of the expansion
San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
. Hard-throwing right-hander
Dick Selma Richard Jay Selma (November 4, 1943 – August 29, 2001) was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1965 to 1974. He played for the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, Calif ...
earns the victory as the Cubs tie a modern-day record for the most one-sided
shutout In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball. Shutouts are usuall ...
in National League history. *May 18 – Tying a major league record, the
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
steal five bases in the third inning against the Detroit battery of
Mickey Lolich Michael Stephen Lolich (born September 12, 1940) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1963 until 1979, almost entirely for the Detroit Tigers. A three-time All-Star, ...
and
Bill Freehan William Ashley Freehan (November 29, 1941 – August 19, 2021) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire 15-year career with the Detroit Tigers. The premier catcher in the American League for several years from the 19 ...
. Four of the steals occur during a single
Harmon Killebrew Harmon Clayton Killebrew Jr. (; June 29, 1936May 17, 2011), nicknamed "The Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon", was an American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. He was a prolific power hitter who spent most of hi ...
at-bat, and two of the steals, by
César Tovar César Leonardo Tovar (July 3, 1940 – July 14, 1994), nicknamed "Pepito" and "Mr. Versatility", was a Venezuelan professional baseball player, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins (–), Philadelphia Phillies (), ...
and
Rod Carew Rodney Cline Carew (born October 1, 1945) is a Panamanian former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman, second baseman and designated hitter from 1967 to 1985 for the Minnesota Twins ...
, are of home plate. *June 15 – The
Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
deal
Donn Clendenon Donn Alvin Clendenon (July 15, 1935 – September 17, 2005) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from to . He is most notable for his performance during the 1969 World Series when he ...
to the
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
in exchange for
Steve Renko Steve Renko, Jr. (born December 10, 1944) is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Montreal Expos (1969–1976), Chicago Cubs (1976–1977), Chicago White Sox (1977), Oakland Athletics (1978), Boston Red S ...
, Kevin Collins and two minor leaguers. *June 19 – Chicago Cubs manager
Leo Durocher Leo Ernest Durocher (French spelling Léo Ernest Durocher) (; July 27, 1905 – October 7, 1991), nicknamed "Leo the Lip" and "Lippy", was an American professional baseball player, manager (baseball), manager and coach (baseball), coach. He playe ...
, 63, weds for the fourth time, marrying 40-year-old Lynne Walker Goldblatt. *June 21 – The
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
and
Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...
enter the tenth inning tied 3–3. Tying a
1928 Events January * January – British bacteriologist Frederick Griffith reports the results of Griffith's experiment, indirectly proving the existence of DNA. * January 1 – Eastern Bloc emigration and defection: Boris Bazhanov, J ...
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
record, the Twins score eleven runs in the top of the inning, and beat Oakland 14–4. *June 22 – The Cubs score four runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Montreal Expos 7–6 in the first game of a double-header at Wrigley Field. Jim Hickman hit a 2-run walk-off homer. *June 26 – Jim Hickman's home run in the 10th inning defeats the
Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
7–5 at Wrigley Field. On the spur of the moment Ron Santo leaped in the air and clicked his heels 3 times on the way to the clubhouse. The victory dance became a hit with euphoric Cub fans.


July

*July 8 – With three runs in the 9th inning, the New York Mets beat the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
4–3, cutting Chicago's lead in the National League East to four games. Chicago's Ron Santo rips into center fielder
Don Young Donald Edwin Young (June 9, 1933 – March 18, 2022) was an American politician from the state of Alaska. At the time of his death, he was the longest-serving Republican in congressional history, having been the U.S. representative for for ...
for two misplays in the outfield; Santo apologizes the next day for criticizing Young, who had left early and didn't take the team bus. Santo is later booed in his first game back at
Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the Chicago Cubs, one of the city's two MLB franchises. It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghman's Chicago Wh ...
. *July 9 – With one out in the ninth inning, the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
'
Jim Qualls James Robert Qualls (born October 9, 1946) is an American former professional baseball player who appeared in 63 games in Major League Baseball as an outfielder and pinch-hitting specialist for the Chicago Cubs (), Montreal Expos () and Chicago ...
lines a
single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...
to left center to break up
Tom Seaver George Thomas Seaver (November 17, 1944 – August 31, 2020), nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "the Franchise", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the New York Mets, Cinc ...
's
perfect game Perfect game may refer to: Sports * Perfect game (baseball), a complete-game win by a pitcher allowing no baserunners * Perfect game (bowling), a 300 game, 12 consecutive strikes in the same game * Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, New York ...
bid. The
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
' 4–0 victory over the Cubs at
Shea Stadium Shea Stadium (), formally known as William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York City.San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
'
Joe Niekro Joseph Franklin Niekro ( ; November 7, 1944 – October 27, 2006) was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of former Major League first baseman Lance Niekro. Niekr ...
defeats his younger brother
Phil Niekro Philip Henry Niekro ( ; April 1, 1939 – December 26, 2020), nicknamed "Knucksie", was an American baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball, 20 of them with the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves. Niekro's 31 ...
of the
Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
1–0; Joe is 2–1 over Phil. *July 23 – At R.F.K. Memorial Stadium,
Willie McCovey Willie Lee McCovey (January 10, 1938 – October 31, 2018), nicknamed "Stretch", "Mac" and "Willie Mac", was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1959 to 1980, most notably as a mem ...
hits two home runs as the
National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...
beats the
American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
9–3, for its seventh straight
All-Star Game An all-star game is an exhibition game that purports to showcase the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or div ...
win. McCovey is named MVP, with his two homers tying an All-Star Game record set earlier by
Arky Vaughan Joseph Floyd "Arky" Vaughan (March 9, 1912 – August 30, 1952) was an American professional baseball player. He played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball, between 1932 and 1948, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Dodgers, primarily as a sh ...
(
1941 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January–August – 10,072 men, women and children with mental and physical disabilities are asphyxiated with carbon monoxide in a gas chamber, at Hadamar Eu ...
),
Ted Williams Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, primarily as a left fielder, for the Boston Red Sox from 1939 ...
(
1946 Events January * January 6 - The 1946 North Vietnamese parliamentary election, first general election ever in Vietnam is held. * January 7 – The Allies recognize the Austrian republic with its 1937 borders, and divide the country into f ...
) and
Al Rosen Albert Leonard Rosen (February 29, 1924 – March 13, 2015), nicknamed "Flip" and "The Hebrew Hammer", was an American baseball third baseman and right-handed slugger for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball for ten seasons in the 194 ...
(
1954 Events January * January 1 – The Soviet Union ceases to demand war reparations from West Germany. * January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting. * January 7 – Georgetown-IBM experiment: The fir ...
). The game was postponed by one day after heavy rains in the Washington, D.C. area. When the AL's
Don Mincher Donald Ray Mincher (June 24, 1938 – March 4, 2012) was an American Major League Baseball first baseman and longtime minor league executive. He played in the majors from 1960–1972 for the "original" Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins, Cal ...
pinch-hit in the fourth inning, he became a trivia answer: the only Seattle Pilot to appear in an All-Star game. *July 26 –
Randy Hundley Cecil Randolph Hundley Jr. (born June 1, 1942) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, and the San Diego Padres. H ...
drives in all three Cub runs, including a walk-off single in the 11th inning, to lead the Cubs to a 3–2 win over the
Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
at Wrigley Field. *July 27 - In the most dominant shutout in Orioles history, the Baltimore Orioles defeat the Chicago White Sox, 17–0 at Memorial Stadium.
Jim Hardin James Warren Hardin (August 6, 1943 – March 9, 1991) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from through , most notably as a member of the Baltimore Orioles dynasty that won ...
pitches a 2-hit shutout, walking none and hits a 3-run home run in the bottom of the fourth off of
Gary Bell Gary Bell may refer to: * Gary Bell (baseball) (born 1936), American Major League Baseball pitcher * Gary Bell (footballer) (born 1947), English footballer * Gary Bell Jr. (born 1992), American basketball player {{hndis, Bell, Gary ...
to make it 13–0, the Orioles would plate 4 more runs and belt out 20 hits, all Oriole starters hit safely. In Baltimore's 100th game of the season, they stand at 69–31 and have a 12.5-game lead over the
Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
in the newly formed American League East. *July 29 –
Willie McCovey Willie Lee McCovey (January 10, 1938 – October 31, 2018), nicknamed "Stretch", "Mac" and "Willie Mac", was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1959 to 1980, most notably as a mem ...
hits his 300th career home run helping the
San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yor ...
beat the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
, 4–2. *July 30 – After losing the first game of a doubleheader with the
Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
16–3, the
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
were down 7–0 in the third inning when Johnny Edwards hit a
double A double is a look-alike or doppelgänger; one person or being that resembles another. Double, The Double or Dubble may also refer to: Film and television * Double (filmmaking), someone who substitutes for the credited actor of a character * Th ...
to
Cleon Jones Cleon Joseph Jones (born June 24, 1942) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a left fielder. Jones played most of his career for the New York Mets and in 1969 caught the final out of the "Mira ...
in
left field In baseball, a left fielder, abbreviated LF, is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound. In the numbering system ...
to make the score 8–0. Mets manager
Gil Hodges Gilbert Ray Hodges (''né'' Hodge; April 4, 1924 – April 2, 1972) was an American first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played most of his 18-year career for the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers. He was widely regarded as t ...
emerged from the dugout, walked past
Nolan Ryan Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. (born January 31, 1947), nicknamed "the Ryan Express", is an American former professional baseball pitcher and sports executive. Over a record 27-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanning four decades, Ryan ...
on the mound, and walked all the way out to left field. A few minutes later, Hodges walked back to the dugout, with Jones a few paces behind him, and replaced Jones in left with
Ron Swoboda Ronald Alan Swoboda (born June 30, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player and television sports color commentator. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from through , most notably as a member of the New York Mets ...
. According to Jones, he pointed down to the water filled turf. Hodges then said that something must be wrong with Jones's ankle and pulled him for that reason (Jones was kept out of the line-up for the next two games, and used only as a
pinch hitter In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute Batting (baseball), batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the dead ball (baseball), ball is dead (not in active play); the manager (baseball), manager may use any player who has not yet ...
in the two after that). Newspapers report that Jones was removed for failure to hustle, and Hodges decided to do so publicly to show that he would not tolerate lack of effort on his team, even from its star player.


August

*August 1 - Willie Davis of the
Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
began his 31-game hit streak this day. Coming into this game Willie was batting .260 - by the time the streak ended on September 4 Willie was batting .318 - during the streak Willie hit .459 and broke the Dodgers franchise record of 29 games set by
Zack Wheat Zachariah Davis Wheat (May 23, 1888 – March 11, 1972), nicknamed "Buck", was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a left fielder from 1909 to 1927, most notably as a member of the Brooklyn Do ...
. Willie Davis' 31-game hit streak was the 3rd longest in N.L. history and as of 2017 is still the Dodgers record. *August 5 – The
Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
'
Willie Stargell Wilver Dornell Stargell (March 6, 1940 – April 9, 2001), nicknamed "Pops" later in his career, was an American professional baseball left fielder and first baseman who spent all of his 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) ( 1962– 1982 ...
hits the first home run hit completely out of
Dodger Stadium Dodger Stadium is a baseball stadium in the Elysian Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It is the home stadium of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers. Opened in 1962, it was constructed in less than three years at a cost of ( ...
.
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
pitcher Alan Foster surrenders the 506-foot blast—to date, the longest home run in Dodger Stadium history. (Stargell will hit another homer out of Dodger Stadium, off
Andy Messersmith John Alexander "Andy" Messersmith (born August 6, 1945) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 12-year baseball career, he pitched for the California Angels (1968–72), Los Angeles Dodgers (1973–75 and 1979), Atlanta B ...
in
1973 Events January * January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 15 – Vietnam War: Citing progress in peace negotiations, U.S. ...
.) The mammoth home run comes in the seventh inning and breaks a 3–3 tie, a three-run home run by
Andy Kosco Andrew John Kosco (born October 5, 1941) is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels, Boston Red Sox, and ...
having tied the game for the Dodgers in the bottom of the sixth; Pittsburgh scores seven more runs in the ninth inning and defeats Los Angeles 11–3. *August 10 **Citing damage to his right shoulder,
Don Drysdale Donald Scott Drysdale (July 23, 1936 – July 3, 1993) was an American professional baseball player and television sports commentator. A right-handed pitcher for the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers for his entire career in Major League Baseball, D ...
retires from the
Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
. He is the last player still playing for the Dodgers that had also played in Brooklyn. **At Baltimore, the
Orioles Oriole or Orioles may refer to: Animals * Old World oriole, colorful passerine birds in the family Oriolidae * New World oriole, a group of birds in the family Icteridae Music * The Orioles, an R&B and doo-wop group of the late 1940s and earl ...
'
Mike Cuellar Miguel Ángel Cuellar Santana (; May 8, 1937 – April 2, 2010) was a Cuban professional baseball player. He played for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher in 1959 and from 1964 through 1977, most prominently as a membe ...
allows just one hit, a top-of-the-ninth single to
César Tovar César Leonardo Tovar (July 3, 1940 – July 14, 1994), nicknamed "Pepito" and "Mr. Versatility", was a Venezuelan professional baseball player, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins (–), Philadelphia Phillies (), ...
, and beats the
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
2–0. For the second time this season, Tovar saves the Twins from being the victims of a
no-hitter In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...
. *August 13 **
Montréal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-p ...
reliever
Roy Face Elroy Leon Face (born February 20, 1928), nicknamed The Bullpen Baron, is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. During a 17-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he pitched primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates. A pioneer of ...
gives up the last of his record 21 extra-inning
home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
s, an 11th-inning
grand slam Grand Slam most often refers to: * Grand Slam (tennis), one player or pair winning all four major annual tournaments, or the tournaments themselves Grand Slam or Grand slam may also refer to: Games and sports * Grand slam, winning category te ...
to the
Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
'
Johnny Bench John Lee Bench (born December 7, 1947) is an American former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career, which lasted from through , with the Cincinnati Reds, primarily as a catcher. Bench was the leader of t ...
. Cincinnati wins 8–3 in Montréal. **Only four days after coming off the disabled list,
Jim Palmer James Alvin Palmer (born October 15, 1945) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 years in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1965–1967, 1969–1984). Palmer was the winningest MLB pitcher in the ...
of the
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
no-hits the
Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...
8–0 at Memorial Stadium. The home plate umpire is
Lou DiMuro Louis John DiMuro (April 24, 1931 – June 7, 1982) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1963 until his death. Career DiMuro was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Henry Snyder High School i ...
, whose son
Mike Mike may refer to: Animals * Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum * Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off * Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and docume ...
would call balls and strikes for
Roy Halladay's perfect game On May 29, 2010, Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched the twentieth perfect game in Major League Baseball history, against the Florida Marlins in Sun Life Stadium. He retired all 27 batters, striking out 11. This was the first time i ...
on May 29, . *August 14 – In the National League Eastern Division, the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
lead the St. Louis Cardinals by 8.5 games and the
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
by 9.5 games. *August 19 – At
Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the Chicago Cubs, one of the city's two MLB franchises. It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghman's Chicago Wh ...
,
Ken Holtzman Kenneth Dale Holtzman (born November 3, 1945) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from through , most notably as a member of the Chicago Cubs for whom he pitche ...
of the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
no-hits the
Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
3–0 without striking out a single batter the entire game. Only one other pitcher in Major League history,
Sad Sam Jones Samuel Pond "Sad Sam" Jones (July 26, 1892 – July 6, 1966) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators and the Chicago White Sox between 1914 ...
in , has hurled a no-hitter without the benefit of a strikeout. Holtzman survives a scare in the seventh as
Hank Aaron Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1954 through 1976. One of the gre ...
's fly ball to deep left field leading off the inning appears to be going over the wall for a home run; however, a stiff wind cuts into the ball and enables Billy Williams to catch it at the warning track. Aaron will ground out to Cubs' second baseman
Glenn Beckert Glenn Alfred Beckert (October 12, 1940 – April 12, 2020) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a second baseman for the Chicago Cubs for nine seasons from 1965 to 1973, before ending his ...
for the game's final out.


September

*September 8 – The
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
open a crucial two game series against the
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
at
Shea Stadium Shea Stadium (), formally known as William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York City.Bill Hands William Alfred Hands, Jr. (May 6, 1940 – March 9, 2017) was an American professional baseball player who pitched in the major leagues from 1965 to 1975. His best season came in 1969 with the Chicago Cubs, when he won 20 games. Early life A ...
knocks down the Mets' leadoff batter
Tommie Agee Tommie Lee Agee (August 9, 1942 – January 22, 2001) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from through , most notably as a member of the New York Mets team that became known as th ...
in the first inning.
Jerry Koosman Jerome Martin Koosman (born December 23, 1942) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies between and . ...
hits the next Cubs batter he faces, Ron Santo, in the hand, breaking it. Agee hits a two-run
home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
in the third, and the Mets win 3–2. *September 9 – During the Mets' 7–1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Shea, a
black cat A black cat is a domestic cat with black fur that may be a mixed or specific breed, or a common domestic cat of no particular breed. The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) recognizes 22 cat breeds that can come with solid black coats. The Bombay b ...
jumps on the field and runs past Ron Santo in the on-deck circle. *September 10 – A loss by the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
, and a double header sweep by the
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
, gives the Mets their first lead of the
National League East Division The National League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. Along with the American League Central it is one of two divisions to have every member win at least one World Series title. The division was created when the National Leag ...
. The Mets will not relinquish their lead from this point, as the Cubs suffer through a legendary collapse. *September 15 – The
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
' Steve Carlton strikes out a record 19
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
in a losing effort, as the Mets defeat the Cards 4–3 at
Busch Stadium Busch Stadium (also referred to informally as "New Busch Stadium" or "Busch Stadium III") is a baseball stadium located in St. Louis, Missouri. The stadium serves as the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, the city's Major League Baseball (MLB) f ...
. *September 20 – At
Shea Stadium Shea Stadium (), formally known as William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York City.Bob Moose Robert Ralph Moose Jr. (October 9, 1947 – October 9, 1976) was an American professional baseball player. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates from through . Moose was a memb ...
of the
Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
no-hits the
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
4–0. *September 21 - At
Candlestick Park Candlestick Park was an outdoor stadium on the West Coast of the United States, located in San Francisco's Bayview Heights area. The stadium was originally the home of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants, who played there from 1960 un ...
, the
San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yor ...
defeat the
Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
4–3 in 10 innings as
Maury Wills Maurice Morning Wills (October 2, 1932 – September 19, 2022) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) primarily for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1959 through 1966 and the latter part of ...
commits an error on
Jim Davenport James Houston Davenport (August 17, 1933 – February 18, 2016) was an American Major League Baseball infielder, primarily a third baseman, who played his entire career—over 1,500 games—with the San Francisco Giants (1958–1970). He also ma ...
's ground ball, allowing
Willie McCovey Willie Lee McCovey (January 10, 1938 – October 31, 2018), nicknamed "Stretch", "Mac" and "Willie Mac", was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1959 to 1980, most notably as a mem ...
to score the winning run. Ironically, this game marks Dodger
Bill Buckner William Joseph Buckner (December 14, 1949 – May 27, 2019) was an American first baseman and left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for five teams from through , most notably the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red ...
's Major League debut; Buckner, who grounds out to second baseman
Ron Hunt Ronald Kenneth Hunt (born February 23, 1941) is a former professional baseball second baseman. He played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1974 for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos and ...
while pinch-hitting for pitcher
Jim Brewer Jim or JIM may refer to: * Jim (given name), a given name * Jim, a diminutive form of the given name James * Jim, a short form of the given name Jimmy * OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism * ''Jim'' (comics), a series by Jim Woodring * ''Jim ...
in the ninth inning, will become well known for
Mookie Wilson William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson (born February 9, 1956) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder and coach remembered as the Met who hit the ground ball that rolled through Bill Buckner's legs in the bottom of the 10th inning of ...
's ground ball going through his legs in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. *September 22 **
Willie Mays Willie Howard Mays Jr. (born May 6, 1931), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid" and "Buck", is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Regarded as one of the greatest players ever, Mays ranks second behind only Babe Ruth on most all-tim ...
hits his 600th career home run helping the
San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yor ...
beat the
San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
4–2. ** The Minnesota Twins survived a ninth inning scare as they beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 to clinch the American League West title on Harmon Killebrew's 47th home run and Cesar Tovar's two-run-scoring singles. *September 23 –
Carl Yastrzemski Carl Michael Yastrzemski ( ; nicknamed "Yaz"; born August 22, 1939) is an American former Major League Baseball player. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year Major League career with the Bost ...
hits his 200th career home run helping the
Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
beat the
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
8–3. *September 24 – After 7 uninspired losing seasons, the New York Mets clinch the
National League East Division The National League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. Along with the American League Central it is one of two divisions to have every member win at least one World Series title. The division was created when the National Leag ...
title as Donn Clendenon hit 2 home runs in a 6–0 Mets win over Steve Carlton and the
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
. The Mets have won 38 out of their 49 games dating from August 14. The Cubs will finish the season 8 games behind the Mets, and not win the division until exactly fifteen years from this day.


October–December

*October 2 – The
Seattle Pilots The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball, professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington (state), Washington during the 1969 Major League Baseball season. During their single-season existence, the Pilots played their ho ...
finish what would be their only season in the
Emerald City The Emerald City (sometimes called the City of Emeralds) is the capital city of the fictional Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's Oz books, first described in ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1900). Fictional description Located in the center of the La ...
with a 3–1 loss to the
Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...
at Sick's Stadium. The city of Seattle would not host another MLB team until the birth of the Mariners in . *October 4 – The
American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
and
National League Championship Series The National League Championship Series (NLCS) is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. It is contested by the winners of the two National ...
begin, the first such series to feature the respective leagues' division champions. The
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
would sweep the
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
in 3 games for the A.L. pennant; the
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
would do the same against the
Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
for the N.L. crown. *October 7 – The
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
trade
Curt Flood Curtis Charles Flood (January 18, 1938 – January 20, 1997) was an American professional baseball player and activist. He was a center fielder who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Redlegs, St. Louis Cardinals, ...
to the
Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
in a seven-player deal that also sends
Tim McCarver James Timothy McCarver (born October 16, 1941) is an American former professional baseball player and television sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from to , most prominently as a member of the St. Louis Cardinal ...
, Byron Browne and
Joe Hoerner Joseph Walter Hoerner (November 12, 1936 – October 4, 1996) was an American professional baseball relief pitcher, who played 14 years in Major League Baseball (MLB), for seven different teams. A native of Dubuque, Iowa he grew up in nearby Key ...
to the Phillies and
Dick Allen Richard Anthony Allen (March 8, 1942 – December 7, 2020) was an American professional baseball player. During his fifteen-year-long Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he played as a first baseman, third baseman, and outfielder, most notably ...
,
Cookie Rojas Octavio Víctor "Cookie" Rojas Rivas (born March 6, 1939), is a Cuban former professional baseball second baseman / outfielder, coach, and manager, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Lo ...
and Jerry Johnson to the Cardinals. Flood, however, refuses to report to the Phillies and instead
challenges Challenge may refer to: * Voter challenging or caging, a method of challenging the registration status of voters * Euphemism for disability * Peremptory challenge, a dismissal of potential jurors from jury duty Places Geography *Challenge, C ...
baseball's
reserve clause The reserve clause, in North American professional sports, was part of a player contract which stated that the rights to players were retained by the team upon the contract's expiration. Players under these contracts were not free to enter into ano ...
in a lawsuit that will eventually reach the
Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
. He will sit out the entire season. *October 8 - After firing
Dave Bristol James David Bristol (born June 23, 1933) is an American former manager in Major League Baseball in the 1960s and 1970s. He managed the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, and San Francisco Giants during this period. Success in th ...
as manager despite an 89–73 season, the
Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
hire
Sparky Anderson George Lee "Sparky" Anderson (February 22, 1934 – November 4, 2010) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) player, coach, and manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third t ...
to replace him. Over the next seven seasons, Anderson, who will be making his Major League managerial debut in , will guide the team known as the "Big Red Machine" to five
National League West The National League West is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was formed for the 1969 season when the National League expanded to 12 teams by adding the San Diego Padres and the Montreal Expos. For purpose of keeping a re ...
titles, four National League pennants, and back-to-back World Series titles in
1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 - Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...
and
1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phila ...
. *October 9 – The
Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
re-hire
Danny Murtaugh Daniel Edward Murtaugh (October 8, 1917 – December 2, 1976) was an American second baseman, manager, front-office executive, and coach in Major League Baseball ( MLB). Murtaugh is best known for his 29-year association with the Pittsburgh Pira ...
as their manager for what will be his third of four stints as Pirate skipper. This stint will see the Pirates win the
National League East The National League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. Along with the American League Central it is one of two divisions to have every member win at least one World Series title. The division was created when the National Leag ...
title for their first post-season berth since winning the
1960 World Series The 1960 World Series was played between the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates season, Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League (NL) and the 1960 New York Yankees season, New York Yankees of the American League (AL) from October 5–13, 1960. In Game 7, ...
(with Murtaugh at the helm), as well as winning the
1971 World Series The 1971 World Series was the championship round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1971 season and featured the first night game in its history. The 68th edition of the Fall Classic was a best-of-seven playoff between the defending World Series ...
. *October 13 - In the first of many firings in his career,
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
manager
Billy Martin Alfred Manuel Martin Jr. (May 16, 1928 – December 25, 1989), commonly called "Billy", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager who, in addition to leading other teams, was five times the manager of the New York Yan ...
was fired by owner Calvin Griffith after his Twins we're swept in the
American League Championship Series The American League Championship Series (ALCS) is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. It is contested by the two winners of the American ...
. *October 15 –
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
manager
Earl Weaver Earl Sidney Weaver (August 14, 1930 – January 19, 2013) was an American professional baseball manager, author, and television broadcaster. After playing in minor league baseball, he retired without playing in Major League Baseball (MLB). He be ...
is warned during Game 4 of the
1969 World Series The 1969 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1969 season. The 66th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champion Baltimore Orioles and the National L ...
by
umpire An umpire is an official in a variety of sports and competition, responsible for enforcing the rules of the sport, including sportsmanship decisions such as ejection. The term derives from the Old French nonper, ''non'', "not" and ''per'', ...
Shag Crawford Henry Charles "Shag" Crawford (August 30, 1916 – July 11, 2007) was an American professional umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1956 to 1975. During his twenty seasons in the National League, Crawford worke ...
not to argue balls and strikes. After receiving this warning, Weaver follows Crawford to home plate, and is immediately ejected from the game. The Mets would go on to win the game 2–1 in 10 innings to take a 3–1 lead in the World Series. *October 16 – The
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
are ahead 3–0 in Game five of the
1969 World Series The 1969 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1969 season. The 66th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champion Baltimore Orioles and the National L ...
at
Shea Stadium Shea Stadium (), formally known as William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York City.Dave McNally David Arthur McNally (October 31, 1942 – December 1, 2002) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1962 through 1975, most notably as a member of the Baltimore Orioles dyn ...
strikes
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
batter
Cleon Jones Cleon Joseph Jones (born June 24, 1942) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a left fielder. Jones played most of his career for the New York Mets and in 1969 caught the final out of the "Mira ...
in the foot with a pitch. However,
home plate A baseball field, also called a ball field or baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The term can also be used as a metonym for a baseball park. The term sandlot is sometimes used, although this usually refers ...
umpire An umpire is an official in a variety of sports and competition, responsible for enforcing the rules of the sport, including sportsmanship decisions such as ejection. The term derives from the Old French nonper, ''non'', "not" and ''per'', ...
Lou DiMuro Louis John DiMuro (April 24, 1931 – June 7, 1982) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1963 until his death. Career DiMuro was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Henry Snyder High School i ...
ruled that the ball missed Jones. Mets manager
Gil Hodges Gilbert Ray Hodges (''né'' Hodge; April 4, 1924 – April 2, 1972) was an American first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played most of his 18-year career for the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers. He was widely regarded as t ...
emerges from the dugout to argue, and showed DiMuro the shoe-polish smudged ball. DiMuro reversed his call, and awarded Jones first base. The following batter,
Donn Clendenon Donn Alvin Clendenon (July 15, 1935 – September 17, 2005) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from to . He is most notable for his performance during the 1969 World Series when he ...
, hit a two-run home run to pull the Mets within a run of Baltimore (his third home run of the Series). Following an
Al Weis Albert John Weis (born April 2, 1938) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an infielder from 1962 to 1971 for the Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets. A light-hitting batter with only seven ...
solo home run in the seventh to tie the game, the Mets score two in the eighth to take a 5–3 lead.
Jerry Koosman Jerome Martin Koosman (born December 23, 1942) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies between and . ...
pitches a complete game for the Mets, who win the
World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
in five games. Clendenon is named World Series MVP. *November 12 –
Harmon Killebrew Harmon Clayton Killebrew Jr. (; June 29, 1936May 17, 2011), nicknamed "The Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon", was an American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. He was a prolific power hitter who spent most of hi ...
of the
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
is voted Most Valuable Player by the BBWAA, after he led the American League with 49
home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
s, 140 RBI, and a .430
on-base percentage In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) measures how frequently a batter reaches base. An official Major League Baseball (MLB) statistic since 1984, it is sometimes referred to as on-base average (OBA), as it is rarely presented as a ...
. *November 25 – Outfielder
Lou Piniella Louis Victor Piniella ( usually ; born August 28, 1943) is a former professional baseball player and manager. An outfielder, he played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals and ...
, who hit .282 with 11 home runs and 68 RBI, is named American League Rookie of the Year over pitcher
Mike Nagy Michael Timothy Nagy (born March 25, 1948) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers and Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He batted and threw right-ha ...
(12–2, 3.11 ERA), outfielder
Carlos May Carlos May (born May 17, 1948) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder, first baseman and designated hitter from 1968 to 1977, most prominently for the Chicago White Sox where he was ...
(.281, 18, 62) and pitcher
Ken Tatum Kenneth Ray Tatum (born April 25, 1944) is an American retired professional baseball player. A right-handed relief pitcher, he appeared in 176 games pitched (all but two in a bullpen role) over six seasons (1969–74) for the California Angels ...
(7–2, 1.36). *November 28 – Second baseman
Ted Sizemore Ted Crawford Sizemore (born April 15, 1945) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He was named the National League's Rookie of the Year in . Early life Sizemore was born in Gadsden, Alabama, but moved to Detroit, at the age of two y ...
becomes the seventh
Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
player to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Sizemore joins
Jackie Robinson Jack Roosevelt Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line ...
(),
Don Newcombe Donald Newcombe (June 14, 1926 – February 19, 2019), nicknamed "Newk", was an American professional baseball pitcher in Negro league and Major League Baseball who played for the Newark Eagles (1944–45), Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1949–1 ...
(),
Joe Black Joseph Black (February 8, 1924 – May 17, 2002) was an American right-handed pitcher in Negro league and Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Redlegs, and Washington Senators who became the first black pitcher to win a Wor ...
(),
Junior Gilliam James William "Junior" Gilliam (October 17, 1928 – October 8, 1978) was an American second baseman, third baseman, and coach (baseball), coach in Negro league baseball, Negro league and Major League Baseball who spent his entire major league car ...
(), Frank Howard () and
Jim Lefebvre James Kenneth Lefebvre ( ; born January 7, 1942) is a former major league baseball player, coach, and manager. An infielder, he was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1962. Baseball career Playing career Lefebvre was th ...
().


Births


January–March

*January 1 – Roberto Rivera *January 3 – Cris Colón *January 6 –
Alvin Morman Alvin Morman (born January 6, 1969) is an American former Major League Baseball player. A pitcher, Morman played for the Houston Astros in 1996, Cleveland Indians in 1997 and 1998, San Francisco Giants also in 1998, and Kansas City Royals in 1999. ...
*January 7 – Chris Hatcher *January 8 –
Brian Boehringer Brian Edward Boehringer (born January 8, 1969) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He won the 1996 World Series with the New York Yankees over the Atlanta Braves. Early life and career He is a 1987 graduate of Northwest High School in Ho ...
*January 9 – Domingo Jean *January 10 –
Takahito Nomura Takahito Nomura (野村 貴仁, born January 10, 1969) is a former Japanese professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Orix BlueWave, Yomiuri Giants, and Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the Milwaukee Brewers of Ma ...
*January 11 –
Manny Acta Manuel Elias Acta (born January 11, 1969) is a Dominican former professional baseball manager (baseball), manager who is currently the Third Base coach for the Seattle Mariners, and formerly a broadcast analyst for ESPN and ESPN Deportes. He has ...
*January 13 – Kevin Foster *January 13 – Orlando Miller *January 15 –
Delino DeShields Delino Lamont DeShields (born January 15, 1969), also nicknamed "Bop", is an American former professional baseball second baseman and current first base coach for the Cincinnati Reds. He played for 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for ...
*January 16 – Kevin McGehee *January 19 –
Orlando Palmeiro Orlando Palmeiro (born January 19, 1969) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He attended high school at Miami Southridge High School and played college baseball at the University of Miami. Palmeiro, a star high school player in Miami, ...
*January 21 –
Rusty Greer Thurman Clyde "Rusty" Greer III (born January 21, 1969) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder for the Texas Rangers. He most recently worked for Texas Wesleyan University serving as the Assistant Head Coach under former teammate ...
*January 22 –
Keith Gordon Keith Gordon (born February 3, 1961) is an American actor and film director. Early life Gordon was born in New York City, the son of Mark, an actor and stage director, and Barbara Gordon. He grew up in an atheist Jewish family. Gordon was insp ...
*January 27 –
Phil Plantier Phillip Alan Plantier (born January 27, 1969) is an American former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) primarily as an outfielder from 1990 to 1997. Listed at and , he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. ...


February

*February 3 –
Terry Bradshaw Terry Paxton Bradshaw (born September 2, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL). Since 1994, he has been a television sports analyst an ...
*February 4 –
Brad Cornett Brad Byron Cornett (born February 4, 1969) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Cornett played for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB) for parts of the 1994 and 1995 seasons. Signed by the Blue Jays as an undraft ...
*February 5 –
David Holdridge David Holdridge (born February 5, 1969) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in seven games for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB) in . He also played in the California Angels and Philadelphia Phillies ...
*February 6 –
Bob Wickman Robert Joe Wickman (born February 6, 1969) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wickman played for the New York Yankees (–), Milwaukee Brewers (1996–), Cleveland Indians (2000–), Atlanta Braves (2006–), and Arizona Diamondback ...
*February 10 –
Jayhawk Owens Claude Jayhawk Owens IIHarding, Thomas.Where Have You Gone, Jayhawk Owens?, MLB.com, April 24, 2002.Bryan Eversgerd Bryan David Eversgerd (born February 11, 1969) is an American professional baseball coach and former pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos, and Texas Rangers, and was the bullpen coach for ...
*February 11 – Kevin King *February 13 –
Mike Mimbs Michael Randall Mimbs (born February 13, 1969), is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, from to . He threw and batted left-handed. During his playing days, Mimb ...
*February 14 –
Craig Bjornson Craig Michael Bjornson (born February 14, 1969) is an American former professional baseball player and coach who was most recently the bullpen coach for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). Bjornson previously coached for the Houst ...
*February 15 –
Brian Williams Brian Douglas Williams (born May 5, 1959) is an American retired journalist and television news anchor. He was a reporter for ''NBC Nightly News'' starting in 1993, before his promotion to anchor and managing editor of the broadcast in 2004. ...
*February 16 – Tim Costo *February 23 – Frank Charles *February 25 –
Huck Flener Gregory Alan Flener (born February 25, 1969) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played parts of three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB) Career Flener attended Armijo High School (Fairfield, Ca ...
*February 25 – Les Forman *February 27 –
Willie Banks William Augustus Banks III (born March 11, 1956) is an American athlete. Born at Travis Air Force Base, California, he grew up in San Diego County and went to Oceanside High School. Banks is an Eagle Scout. Track and Field Banks was a track & ...


March

*March 1 –
Doug Creek Paul Douglas Creek (born March 1, 1969) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher with a nine-year career from 1995 to 1997, 1999 to 2003, and 2005. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs of the National Leagu ...
*March 4 – Ed Giovanola *March 4 –
Lee Tinsley Lee Owen Tinsley (March 4, 1969 – January 12, 2023) was an American professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1993 to 1997 for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. He later serv ...
*March 14 – Jalal Leach *March 17 – Scott Brow *March 23 – Chris Turner *March 25 –
Travis Fryman David Travis Fryman (born March 25, 1969) is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman shortstop, and a hitting instructor for the Cleveland Indians farm system. He also managed the Mahoning Valley Scrappers from 2008 to 2010 and in ...
*March 25 – Eric Helfand *March 25 –
Paul Menhart Paul Gerard Menhart (born March 25, 1969) is an American baseball pitching coach for the West Virginia Power of the Atlantic League and former Major League Baseball player. He attended Western Carolina University and was a pitcher for three tea ...
*March 25 – Scott Sanders *March 25 –
Erik Schullstrom Erik Paul Schullstrom (born March 25, 1969) is a former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Minnesota Twins in its 1994 and 1995 seasons. Listed at , 220 pounds, Schullstrom threw and batted right-handed. He was born in San Diego, Ca ...
*March 25 – Dan Wilson *March 28 – Craig Paquette *March 30 –
Chris Gardner Christopher Paul Gardner (born February 9, 1954) is an American businessman and motivational speaker. During the early 1980s, Gardner struggled with homelessness while raising a toddler son. He became a stockbroker and eventually founded his ow ...


April

*April 1 –
Frank Castillo Frank Anthony Castillo (April 1, 1969 – July 28, 2013) was an American Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Castillo played for the Chicago Cubs (1991–1997), Colorado Rockies (1997), Detroit Tigers (1998), Toronto Blue Jays (2000), Bo ...
*April 2 –
Steve Hosey Steven Bernard Hosey (born April 2, 1969) is a small business owner and former right fielder in Major League Baseball. Originally from Oakland, California Steve has lived in Fresno, California for more than 30 years and is where he has built a s ...
*April 4 – Carlos Reyes *April 4 –
Mark Strittmatter Mark Arthur Strittmatter (born April 4, 1969) is an American former professional baseball player and current coach for the Colorado Rockies. College Strittmatter played baseball at the County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey, for two ...
*April 6 –
Bret Boone Bret Robert Boone (born April 6, 1969) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. During his career Boone was a three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He is a third generation professio ...
*April 7 –
Ricky Bones Ricardo Bones (; born April 7, 1969) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball pitcher and bullpen coach for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played from 1991 to 2001 for three National League teams – the San Di ...
*April 8 –
Kirk Dressendorfer Kirk Richard Dressendorfer (born April 8, 1969) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1991. Dressendorfer attended and played college baseball at The Universit ...
*April 8 – Pete Walker *April 14 –
Brad Ausmus Bradley David Ausmus (; born April 14, 1969) is an American former professional baseball manager and catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). In his 18-year MLB playing career, Ausmus played for the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Houston Ast ...
*April 14 – Brad Pennington *April 15 –
Jeromy Burnitz Jeromy Neal Burnitz (born April 15, 1969) is an American former professional baseball player. Burnitz was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the New York Mets (1993–94, 2002–03), Cleveland Indians (1995–96), Milwaukee B ...
*April 16 –
Ken Takahashi is a Japanese former professional baseball player. He played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in – and the New York Mets in . He returned to the Carp in 2010. Takahashi was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. On February 6, 2009, Takahashi declared ...
*April 16 –
Fernando Viña Fernando Viña (''VEEN-ya'') (born April 16, 1969) is a Cuban-American former Major League Baseball second baseman and former MLB analyst for ESPN. His parents Andres and Olga emigrated from Cuba in 1968. From through , Viña played for the Se ...
*April 17 – Jeff Ball *April 18 –
Angelo Encarnación Eleutero Benjamin "Angelo" Encarnación (born April 18, 1969) is a former professional baseball player who played three seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Anaheim Angels of Major League Baseball. Career During a game against the Los Angeles ...
*April 20 – Dan Smith *April 22 – George Williams *April 26 –
Ricky Trlicek Richard Alan Trlicek ( ; born April 26, 1969, in Houston, Texas) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was selected in the 4th round by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1987 MLB draft. Career Philadelphia Phillies Trlice ...
*April 28 – Jimmy Myers


May

*May 1 –
Phil Hiatt Phillip Farrell Hiatt (; born May 1, 1969) is a retired Major League Baseball utility player. Hiatt played college baseball at Louisiana Tech University. Hiatt played for three different major league ball clubs during his career: the Kansas City ...
*May 3 –
Dan Iassogna Daniel Ralph Iassogna (born May 3, 1969) is an American umpire in Major League Baseball. He joined the major league staff in . In 2012, Iassogna worked his first World Series. He was promoted to crew chief for the 2020 season. Umpiring career His ...
*May 5 – John Mallee *May 9 –
Desi Wilson Desi Bernard Wilson (born May 9, 1969) is an American former professional baseball player. He played part of one season in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants in 1996, primarily as a first baseman. He also played one season in Japan ...
*May 10 – John Cummings *May 10 – Pete Schourek *May 13 –
Lyle Mouton Lyle Joseph Mouton (born May 13, 1969) is a former professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1995 to 2001. He also played part of 1998 in Japan for the Yakult Swallows. Mouton attended St. Thomas More School in ...
*May 15 –
Hideki Irabu was a Japanese professional baseball player of American and Japanese mixed ancestry. He played professionally in both Japan and the United States. Irabu played for the Lotte Orions / Chiba Lotte Marines and Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professiona ...
*May 16 –
Mike Heathcott Michael Joseph Heathcott (born May 16, 1969) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played during one season at the Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox. He was drafted by the White Sox in the 13th round of the 1991 Ma ...
*May 17 –
Rick Huisman Richard Allen Huisman (born May 17, 1969) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for the Kansas City Royals in 1995 and 1996. Amateur career Huisman attended Timothy Christian High School in Elmhurst, Illinois and g ...
*May 18 – Kerry Woodson *May 19 –
Phil Leftwich Phillip Dale Leftwich (born May 19, 1969) is an American former professional baseball player who played three seasons for the California Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He also played two seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for th ...
*May 22 –
Vaughn Eshelman Vaughn Michael Eshelman (May 22, 1969 – July 24, 2018) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1995 through 1997 for the Boston Red Sox. Listed at , 205 lb., he batted and threw left-handed. Eshelman was born at the ...
*May 23 – Ramón Caraballo *May 24 –
Rob Drake Robert Paul Drake (born May 24, 1969) is an American umpire in Major League Baseball. He was named to the Major League staff in 2010, and wears uniform number 30. Umpiring career Drake was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and has worked in both Ma ...
*May 26 – John O'Donoghue *May 27 –
Todd Hundley Todd Randolph Hundley (born May 27, 1969) is a former Major League Baseball catcher and outfielder. He was a two-time All-Star who played for 14 seasons with the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs. Early life Hundley was born ...
*May 28 – Mike DiFelice *May 29 –
Toby Borland Toby Shawn Borland (born May 29, 1969) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) between and for the Philadelphia Phillies (1994-, ), New York Mets (), Boston Red Sox (1997), Anaheim ...
*May 31 – Rikkert Faneyte *May 31 – Tim Van Egmond


June

*June 2 –
Kurt Abbott Kurt Thomas Abbott (born June 2, 1969) is an American former professional baseball player who played primarily as a shortstop and second baseman from to . Career Abbott was born in Zanesville, Ohio and graduated from Dixie M. Hollins High Scho ...
*June 4 – Robert Pérez *June 7 – Jeff Pierce *June 10 – Kevin Flora *June 11 – Brian Koelling *June 16 – Kevin Young *June 21 –
Donovan Osborne Donovan Alan Osborne (born June 21, 1969) is a former Major League Baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from -. Career Osborne attended Carson High School in Carson City, Nevada before he was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 198 ...
*June 25 –
Brad Woodall David Bradley Woodall (born June 25, 1969) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played parts of five seasons in Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professi ...
*June 26 –
Mike Myers Michael John Myers OC (born May 25, 1963) is a Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. His accolades include seven MTV Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2002, he was awarded a star on the Hollyw ...
*June 26 –
Rodney Myers Rodney Luther Myers (born June 26, 1969) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Dodgers, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for ...
*June 28 – Todd Revenig *June 29 – José Alberro *June 29 – George Glinatsis *June 29 – Pablo Martínez


July

*July 2 –
So Taguchi is a Japanese former outfielder. After ten seasons with the Orix BlueWave of Nippon Professional Baseball, he played eight years in Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs, followed by a final ...
*July 6 – Jeff Darwin *July 8 –
Bobby Ayala Robert Joseph Ayala (born July 8, 1969) is an American former professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and Montreal Expos. Career Ayala went to high school at Rio Mesa in Oxnard, California. He was bro ...
*July 8 – Rosario Rodríguez *July 8 –
Ernie Young Ernest Wesley Young (born July 8, 1969) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and current coach for the United States national baseball team. He played in parts of eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for five different ...
*July 10 –
Marty Cordova Martin Kevin Cordova (born July 10, 1969) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians, and Baltimore Orioles. He was born in La ...
*July 11 – Mark Carlson *July 14 – José Hernández *July 21 –
Denny Harriger Dennis Scott Harriger (born July 21, 1969) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball in . Harriger attended Ford City High School in Ford City, Pennsylvania where he played fo ...
*July 23 –
Francisco Matos Francisco Aguirre Matos Mancebo (born April 8, 1970) is a Dominican former professional baseball player and current professional baseball coach. Signed as a free agent from his home region of Azua, Matos entered the world of Major League Baseba ...
*July 23 – Henry Mercedes *July 24 –
Jim Wolf James Michael Wolf (born July 24, 1969) is an American Major League Baseball umpire. He joined the major league staff in 1999 after working in the Arizona Rookie League, the South Atlantic League, the California League, the Texas League and the ...
*July 26 –
Greg Colbrunn Gregory Joseph Colbrunn (born July 26, 1969) is an American former Major League baseball player and hitting coach. Primarily a first baseman during his active career, the Fontana, California, native played in the Major Leagues for 13 seasons (1 ...
*July 29 – Mike Williams


August

*August 1 –
Kevin Jarvis Kevin Thomas Jarvis (born August 1, 1969) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played professionally for many teams including the Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padr ...
*August 1 –
Brent Knackert Brent Bradley Knackert (born August 1, 1969) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Seattle Mariners (1990) and Boston Red Sox (1996). Listed at 6' 3", 185 lb., he batted and threw right-handed. In a two-season caree ...
*August 2 – Dae-Sung Koo *August 3 – Steve Dixon *August 4 – Troy O'Leary *August 5 – Marcos Armas *August 6 –
Keith Mitchell Keith Claudius Mitchell (born 12 November 1946) is a Grenadian politician who served as Prime Minister of Grenada from 1995 to 2008 and from 2013 to 2022. He is the longest-serving Prime Minister in Grenadian history, holding the office for more ...
*August 7 – Brian Kowitz *August 7 – Stan Spencer *August 8 – Ray Montgomery *August 9 –
Troy Percival Troy Eugene Percival (born August 9, 1969) is an American baseball coach and former professional baseball pitcher. He gained fame as a closer. During a 14-year baseball career spanning from 1995 to 2009, he pitched for four Major League Baseball ...
*August 13 – Alex Fernández *August 19 –
Matt Franco Matthew Neil Franco (born August 19, 1969 in Santa Monica, California) is an American former professional baseball player who played first base in the major leagues from 1995 to 2003, and in Nippon Professional Baseball from 2004 to 2006. Early ...
*August 19 – Miguel Jimenez *August 20 – Mark Holzemer *August 21 –
Andújar Cedeño Andújar Cedeño Donastorg (August 21, 1969 – October 28, 2000) was a Major League Baseball (MLB) shortstop who played from 1990 to 1996. Born in La Romana, Dominican Republic, he played for the Houston Astros from 1990 to 1994, the San Diego P ...
*August 22 –
Hipólito Pichardo Hipólito Antonio Pichardo Balbina (born August 22, 1969) is a Dominican former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three teams between and . He batted and threw right-handed. Pichardo filled various pitching roles, as ...
*August 26 –
Ricky Bottalico Ricky Paul Bottalico (; born August 26, 1969) is an American former professional baseball right-handed relief pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Arizona Dia ...
*August 26 – Ken Grundt *August 31 –
Nate Minchey Nathan Derek Minchey (born August 31, 1969) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1993 through 1997 for the Boston Red Sox (1993–94, 1996) and Colorado Rockies (1997). He also played seven seasons in Japan, from 1998 unt ...


September

*September 2 – Mike Thomas *September 3 – Tom Thobe *September 7 –
Darren Bragg Darren William Bragg (born September 7, 1969) is an American former baseball outfielder who played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Seattle Mariners (–), Boston Red Sox (1996–), St. Louis Cardinals (1999), Colorado ...
*September 7 – Brent Cookson *September 7 – Rafael Quirico *September 11 – Shannon Penn *September 11 –
Eduardo Pérez Eduardo Atanasio Pérez Pérez (born September 11, 1969) is an American former professional baseball player, coach, and current television sports color commentator. He played in Major League Baseball and the Nippon Professional Baseball league a ...
*September 12 – Hilly Hathaway *September 13 –
Russ Davis Russell Stuart Davis (born September 13, 1969) is an American professional baseball third baseman who played in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and San Francisco Giants from 1994 to 2001. Career Davis attended ...
*September 14 –
Mike Durant Michael J. Durant (born July 23, 1961) is an American veteran, former pilot, businessman, author, and political candidate. He was involved in the "Black Hawk Down" incident while serving as a U.S. Army pilot, and ran unsuccessfully in the Repub ...
*September 15 – Herbert Perry *September 19 – Marc Ronan *September 21 –
Jason Christiansen Jason Samuel Christiansen (born September 21, 1969) is a former Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher. Biography Christiansen was born in Omaha, Nebraska and attended Elkhorn High School. He is an alumnus of Cameron University. He was ...
*September 21 – Ben Shelton *September 22 –
Jeff Barry Jeff Barry (born Joel Adelberg; April 3, 1938) is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer. Among the most successful songs that he has co-written in his career are " Do Wah Diddy Diddy", " Da Doo Ron Ron", " Then He Kiss ...
*September 22 – César Devarez *September 23 –
Jeff Cirillo Jeffrey Howard Cirillo (born September 23, 1969) is an American former third baseman in Major League Baseball. In a 14-season career, Cirillo was a .296 hitter with 112 home runs and 727 RBI in 1617 games. He was named an All-Star in and . He ...
*September 25 – Oscar Múñoz *September 25 – David Weathers *September 25 – Tony Womack *September 26 – Brian Looney


October

*October 2 – Alan Newman (baseball), Alan Newman *October 2 – Matt Walbeck *October 6 – Robert Person *October 9 – Kevin Jordan (baseball), Kevin Jordan *October 11 – Larry Luebbers *October 12 – José Valentín *October 12 – Derrick White (baseball), Derrick White *October 13 – Tim Crabtree *October 13 – Damian Miller *October 14 – Héctor Ortiz (baseball), Héctor Ortiz *October 16 – Matt Ruebel *October 17 – Chris Tremie *October 18 – Jeff McNeely *October 19 – Lance Dickson *October 20 – Juan González (baseball), Juan González *October 21 – Chuck Smith (baseball), Chuck Smith *October 22 – Héctor Carrasco *October 22 – Ariel Prieto *October 24 – Arthur Rhodes *October 25 – Keith Garagozzo *October 25 – Larry Thomas (baseball), Larry Thomas *October 26 – Mark Sweeney *October 28 – Kirk Bullinger *October 31 – Oreste Marrero *October 31 – Damon Mashore


November

*November 3 – Kenny Robinson (baseball), Kenny Robinson *November 6 – Don Wengert *November 7 – Dave Fleming (baseball), Dave Fleming *November 8 – Shane Halter *November 9 – Ángel Miranda *November 11 – Damion Easley *November 13 – Rigo Beltrán *November 16 – Pete Rose Jr., Pete Rose (Jr.) *November 17 – Ben Weber (baseball), Ben Weber *November 19 – Steve Dreyer *November 21 – Ken Griffey Jr. *November 23 – Doug Brady *November 23 – David McCarty *November 26 – Sam Militello *November 27 – Chris Eddy *November 27 – Tim Laker *November 28 – Robb Nen *November 29 – Mariano Rivera *November 30 – Mark Lewis (baseball), Mark Lewis


December

*December 2 – Steve Sisco *December 3 – Kevin Morgan (baseball), Kevin Morgan *December 9 – Mike Fyhrie *December 9 – Ramón García (1990s pitcher), Ramón García *December 10 – Pat Ahearne *December 10 – Jon Zuber *December 13 – Doug Saunders (baseball), Doug Saunders *December 14 – Scott Hatteberg *December 14 – Dave Nilsson *December 16 – Jason Wood (baseball), Jason Wood *December 17 – Rudy Pemberton *December 18 – Joe Randa *December 29 – Scott Ruffcorn *December 30 – Steve Gajkowski


Deaths


January

*January 5 – Tiny Osborne, 75, , pitcher who worked in 142 games for the Chicago Cubs (1922–1924) and Brooklyn Robins (1924–1925); father of Bobo Osborne. *January 5 – Larry Pratt, 81, catcher for Boston (American League) in 1914, then Brooklyn and Newark (both of the "outlaw" Federal League) in 1915. *January 6 – Larry Cheney, 82, three-time 20-game winning pitcher for the Chicago Cubs (1911–1915), Brooklyn Robins (1915–1919), Boston Braves (1919) and Philadelphia Phillies (1919); led National League hurlers with 26 victories in 1912. *January 6 – Hank Olmsted, 89, pitcher for the 1905 Boston Americans. *January 6 – Clint Rogge, 79, pitcher who as a rookie won 17 games for the 1915 Pittsburgh Rebels of the Federal League; later, hurled in six contests for 1921 Cincinnati Reds. *January 6 – Jim Viox, 78, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman who played in 506 games from 1912 to 1916. *January 7 – Bill Lobe, 56, minor-league catcher who spent nine years (1951–1959) as bullpen coach of the Cleveland Indians. *January 18 – Ray Kennedy (baseball), Ray Kennedy, 73, second baseman turned executive and scout; general manager of Pittsburgh Pirates (1946), farm system director of Pirates (1947–1948) and Detroit Tigers (1949–1951), and player personnel director of Kansas City Athletics (1955); appeared in one MLB game as a player for the St. Louis Browns (1916). *January 21 – Dick Terwilliger, 62, pitcher who threw three scoreless innings of relief in his lone MLB appearance on August 18, 1932, as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. *January 23 – Al Bridwell, 85, shortstop whose apparent game-winning single for the New York Giants in a 1908 contest led to the controversial play in which baserunner Fred Merkle was eventually called out for not touching second base. *January 27 – Al Schweitzer, 86, reserve outfielder for 1908–1911 St. Louis Browns. *January 30 – Sam Bennett (baseball), Sam Bennett, 84, catcher/outfielder for Dayton and St. Louis of the Negro National League over five seasons spanning 1920 to 1925.


February

*February 2 – Ray Schmandt, 73, backup first- and second baseman for 1915 St. Louis Browns and 1918–1922 Brooklyn Robins; appeared in 1920 World Series. *February 13 – Shags Horan, 73, reserve outfielder who appeared in 22 games for 1924 New York Yankees. *February 16 – Mul Holland, 66, pitcher who had trials with three National League clubs during three seasons spanning 1926 to 1929. *February 18 – Jack Zeller, 85, executive and scout; general manager of the Detroit Tigers from 1938 to 1945; later, director of scouting of the Boston Braves. *February 19 – Doc White, 89, Chicago White Sox pitcher whose record of five consecutive shutouts was finally broken by
Don Drysdale Donald Scott Drysdale (July 23, 1936 – July 3, 1993) was an American professional baseball player and television sports commentator. A right-handed pitcher for the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers for his entire career in Major League Baseball, D ...
in 1968. *February 23 – Bubbles Hargrave, 76, catcher who hit .310 lifetime in 852 career games for the Chicago Cubs (1913–1915), Cincinnati Reds (1921–1928) and New York Yankees (1930); National League batting champion (.353) in 1926, first catcher to win a batting title in post-1901 era. *February 23 – Bill Swift (1930s pitcher), Bill Swift, 60, pitcher who posted a 95–82 (3.58) record in 336 MLB games for four clubs, principally the Pittsburgh Pirates, between 1932 and 1943. *February 25 – Russ Wrightstone, 75, versatile infielder/outfielder (primarily a third- and first baseman) who appeared in 929 games for 1920–1928 Philadelphia Phillies and 1928 New York Giants.


March

*March 10 – Max Rosenfeld, 66, outfielder who got into 42 games with Brooklyn of the National League between 1931 and 1933. *March 12 – Joe Engel, 76, left-handed pitcher in 102 games between 1912 and 1920, 99 of them for the Washington Senators, then longtime Washington scout and operator of Senators' top farm team, the Chattanooga Lookouts; namesake of Engel Stadium. *March 14 – Heinie Zimmerman, 82, third baseman who played 1,456 games for Chicago Cubs (1907–1916) and New York Giants (1916–1919) who won the NL triple crown in 1912; barred from baseball in 1919 for his role in fixing games. *March 16 – William Bell (baseball), William Bell, 71, All-Star pitcher of the Negro leagues who posted the highest career winning percentage (114–52, .687) in black baseball. *March 16 – Néstor Chávez, 21, pitcher who played for the 1967 San Francisco Giants. *March 16 – Andy Rush, 79, pitcher who made four appearances for 1925 Brooklyn Robins. *March 17 – Poindexter Williams, 71, catcher who played for six teams in the Negro National League, primarily the Birmingham Black Barons, between 1921 and 1933. *March 18 – Rafael Almeida, 81, Cuban third baseman who played in 102 games for the 1911–1913 Cincinnati Reds; one of first three Cuban-born players in MLB during its post-1901 era. *March 20 – Jim Clark (outfielder, born 1887), Jim Clark, 81, outfielder who played 16 games for 1911–1912 St. Louis Cardinals. *March 21 – Everett Booe, 77, outfielder who appeared in 125 games for Pittsburgh of the National League (1913) and Indianapolis and Buffalo of the Federal League (1914). *March 21 – Pinky Higgins, 59, third baseman for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers for 14 years between 1930 and 1946; held American League record for career games at that position; three-time All-Star; later manager (1955–1959 and 1960–1962) and general manager (1963–1965) of the Red Sox. *March 22 – Floyd Speer, 56, relief pitcher who worked in a total of three games for the wartime 1943–1944 Chicago White Sox. *March 23 – Oris Hockett, 59, outfielder for 1938–1939 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1941–1945 Cleveland Indians, appearing in 551 career games; 1944 American League All-Star.


April

*April 2 – Ben Cardoni, 48, pitcher who was winless in six decisions and 36 career games for the 1943–1945 Boston Braves. *April 2 – Bill Force, 73, pitcher who appeared in 186 games between 1921 and 1929 for the Detroit Stars and Baltimore Black Sox of the Negro leagues. *April 3 – Charley Stanceu, 53, pitcher who worked in 39 career games for the New York Yankees (1941 and 1946) and Philadelphia Phillies (1946). *April 4 – Les Wilson (baseball), Les Wilson, 83, outfielder who played for the 1911 Boston Red Sox. *April 4 – Chuck Ward, 74, shortstop for 1917 Pittsburgh Pirates and utility infielder for 1918–1922 Brooklyn Robins. *April 7 – Si Rosenthal, 65, outfielder who played for the Red Sox from 1925 to 1926. *April 8 – Win Noyes, 79, pitcher in 49 MLB games for the Boston Braves (1913), Philadelphia Athletics (1917, 1919) and Chicago White Sox (1919). *April 10 – Scotty Robb, 60, one of few mid-century umpires employed by both major leagues; worked in 662 National League games and two All-Star games between August 28, 1947 and May 4, 1952, when he resigned; then joined American League arbiter crew and officiated in 207 contests from May 13, 1952 to June 28, 1953. *April 11 – Al Kaiser, 82, outfielder in 155 games for Chicago and Boston of the National League (1911–1912) and Indianapolis of the Federal League (1914). *April 13 – William Walsingham Jr., 59, front-office executive; vice president of St. Louis Cardinals (1942–1955) and executive VP of Baltimore Orioles (1957–1958). *April 19 – Harry Cassady, 88, outfielder who played briefly for the 1904 Pittsburgh Pirates and 1905 Washington Senators. *April 19 – Rip Collins (catcher), Bob "Rip" Collins, 59, catcher who appeared in 50 career games for the Chicago Cubs (1940) and New York Yankees (1944). *April 21 – Clarence Palm, 61, catcher in the Negro leagues whose career spanned 1927 to 1946; member of champion 1928 St. Louis Stars. *April 23 – Freddie Moncewicz, 65, backup shortstop for the 1928 Boston Red Sox. *April 27 – Harry Taylor (1930s first baseman), Harry Taylor, 61, first baseman who played 10 games with the 1932 Chicago Cubs. *April 28 – Joe Burg, 86, third baseman/shortstop who appeared in 13 late-season games for the 1910 Boston Doves of the National League. *April 29 – Ed Monroe, 74, pitcher who made ten appearances for the 1917–1918 New York Yankees.


May

*May 1 – Gary Wilson (second baseman), Gary Wilson, 90, second baseman for the 1902 Boston Americans. *May 1 – Charley Wouldridge, 77, infielder who played in 35 games for Cleveland of the Negro National League in 1926 and 1928. *May 2 – Steve Larkin, 58, pitcher who appeared in two games during May 1934 for the Detroit Tigers. *May 5 – Eddie Cicotte, 84, pitcher who won 208 games for the Tigers, Red Sox and White Sox, but was thrown out of baseball as one of the eight "Black Sox" involved in fixing the 1919 World Series; he was the first of the eight to come forward, confessing his involvement and testifying before the grand jury. *May 7 – Ray Mack, 52, light-hitting second baseman for Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs who played in 791 games from 1938–1944 and 1946–1947. *May 15 – Frank Shaughnessy, Frank "Shag" Shaughnessy, 86, U.S.-born outfielder and Notre Dame graduate who played in nine American League games for Washington (1905) and Philadelphia (1908) and coached for the 1928 Detroit Tigers; pivotal figure in both the U.S. and Canada in minor league baseball (manager between 1909 and 1936, inventor of the Shaughnessy playoff system, "Shaughnessy playoffs" in 1936, and president of the International League from 1936–1960); also an influential gridiron football coach, and general manager of hockey's original Ottawa Senators; posthumously elected in 1983 to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. *May 17 – Pants Rowland, 90, manager of the 1917 World Series champion Chicago White Sox, later president of the Pacific Coast League from 1944 to 1954, then longtime vice president of Chicago Cubs. *May 19 – Jim Tobin, 56, good-hitting knuckleball pitcher who hurled in 287 career games for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Bees and Braves, and Detroit Tigers between 1937 and 1945; threw no-hitter against Brooklyn on April 27, 1944; batted .230 with 17 homers and 102 RBI in 796 career at bats; hit three homers in a game for Boston on May 13, 1942, and made 109 career appearances as a pinch hitter in addition to his mound duties. *May 20 – Lee Allen (baseball), Lee Allen, 54, historian at the Baseball Hall of Fame since 1959, former sportswriter. *May 21 – Dennis Burns, 70, pitcher who worked in 41 games for the 1923–1924 Philadelphia Athletics. *May 25 – James Riley (ice hockey), Jim Riley, 74, Canadian infielder who played in six total MLB games for the St. Louis Browns (1921) and Washington Senators (1923); the only athlete in sports history to play both Major League Baseball and in the National Hockey League. *May 26 – Harland Rowe, 73, third baseman who played 17 games for 1916 Philadelphia Athletics. *May 27 – Lou Jackson, 33, outfielder who played 34 total games for the 1958–1959 Chicago Cubs and 1964 Baltimore Orioles; achieved success in Nippon Professional Baseball, smashing 68 home runs over three seasons (1966–1968). *May 28 – Gus Getz, 79, infielder for five big league clubs, principally Boston and Brooklyn of the National League, over seven seasons between 1909 and 1918.


June

*June 3 – Cobe Jones, 61, shortstop who got into 26 games for the 1929–1930 Pittsburgh Pirates; later, a scout. *June 10 – Charlie Fuchs, 55, World War II-era pitcher who hurled in 47 games for the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Browns and Brooklyn Dodgers between 1941 and 1944. *June 17 – Byron Houck, 77, pitched in 118 major league games; as a member of 1912–1913 Philadelphia Athletics, he went 14–6 for the 1913 World Series champs, then jumped to the "outlaw" Federal League, where he hurled for the 1914 Brooklyn Tip-Tops; returned to the American League in 1918 as a St. Louis Brown. *June 24 – John Perrin (American sportsman), John Perrin, 71, right fielder for 1921 Boston Red Sox; later a fullback/quarterback for the NFL Hartford Blues. *June 28 – Sammy Gee, 41, shortstop who appeared in 13 games for the 1948 New York Cubans of the Negro National League. *June 29 – Ted McGrew, 89, minor league player and manager, National League umpire (1930–1931, 1933–1934), then a longtime scout for numerous MLB teams. *June 30 – Milt Gray, 55, catcher who appeared in two May 1937 games for the Washington Senators.


July

*July 2 – Art Scharein, 64, infielder who played 205 games for the 1932–1934 St. Louis Browns. *July 3 – Harry Spratt, 80, infielder for Boston (National League) in 1911 and 1912. *July 4 – Lew Drill, 92, catcher/outfielder for Washington, Baltimore and Detroit of the American League (1902–1905), appearing in 293 games. *July 5 – Ed Hemingway, 76, reserve second- and third baseman for the 1914 St. Louis Browns, 1917 New York Giants and 1918 Philadelphia Phillies. *July 8 – Bill Carrigan, 85, manager and backup catcher for the Boston Red Sox' world champions in 1915 and 1916. *July 8 – Red Rolfe, 60, third baseman for New York Yankees (1931 and 1934–1942), and member of five World Series champions; three-time AL All-Star; manager of Detroit Tigers from 1949 to July 4, 1952; Ivy League baseball coach (Yale) and athletics director (Dartmouth). *July 19 – Otto Vogel, 69, outfielder who appeared in 111 games for 1923–1924 Chicago Cubs. *July 19 – Al Williams (1930s pitcher), Al Williams, 55, pitcher who appeared in 46 total games for 1937–1938 Philadelphia Athletics. *July 23 – Roy Mahaffey, 65, pitcher in 224 games—197 for the Athletics—for three MLB clubs over nine seasons between 1926 and 1936; member of Philadelphia's 1930 World Series champions. *July 27 – Glenn Elliott (baseball), Glenn Elliott, 49, southpaw reliever who pitched in 34 games for the 1947–1949 Boston Braves; scout for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1960 until his death. *July 29 – Douglas Sydnor, 49, World War II-era outfielder who appeared in 13 Negro National League games in 1943 and 1944. *July 30 – Flint Rhem, 68, pitcher who won 20 games (losing 7) for the 1926 world champion St. Louis Cardinals and went 105–97 over 12 National League seasons (1924–1928 and 1930–1936) with Cardinals, Boston Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.


August

*August 5 – Ralph Caldwell, 85, southpaw who pitched in 13 career games for the 1904–1905 Philadelphia Phillies. *August 5 – Verdo Elmore, 69, outfielder who played in seven games for the 1924 St. Louis Browns. *August 9 – Glenn Myatt, 72, lefty-swinging catcher who appeared in 1,004 games between 1920 and 1936 for four MLB clubs, principally the Cleveland Indians. *August 11 – William Marriott (baseball), William Marriott, 75, third baseman who played in 265 total games for the Chicago Cubs (1917, 1920–1921), Boston Braves (1925) and Brooklyn Robins (1926–1927). *August 15 – Howie Williamson, 64, minor-league outfielder who made ten pinch hitting appearances for 1928 St. Louis Cardinals. *August 17 – Frank Shellenback, 70, spitball pitcher who played for 1918–1919 Chicago White Sox and won 295 games in the Pacific Coast League; later a longtime pitching coach. *August 19 – Alex Carrasquel, Álejandro Carrasquel, 57, Venezuelan pitcher who posted a 50–39 (3.73) record in 258 games for the Washington Senators (1939–1945) and Chicago White Sox (1949). *August 30 – Stew Bolen, 66, left-hander who went 3–13 (6.09 ERA) in 41 career games with the 1926–1927 St. Louis Browns and 1931–1932 Philadelphia Phillies. *August 30 – Tim McKeithan, 62, pitcher who worked in a total of ten games over parts of three seasons (1932–1934) with Philadelphia Athletics.


September

*September 10 – Jap Barbeau, Billy "Jap" Barbeau, 87, third baseman who played 199 MLB games for the 1905–1906 Cleveland Naps, 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates and 1909–1910 St. Louis Cardinals. *September 11 – Dick Carter, 53, third-base coach of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1959 to May 30, 1960; previously, scouted for Phils and played and managed in their farm system. *September 14 – Jackie Tavener, 71, shortstop who played all or parts of six seasons between 1921 and 1929 for the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians. *September 18 – Joe Grace (baseball), Joe Grace, 55, outfielder who appeared in 484 games over six seasons between 1938 and 1947 with the St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators. *September 28 – Norm McMillan, 73, infielder for four MLB clubs in six seasons spanning 1922 to 1929; most notably, the regular third baseman for pennant-winning 1929 Chicago Cubs; started all five games of 1929 World Series, going two for 20 with two walks. *September 29 – Tommy Leach, 91, third baseman and center fielder, primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who led the NL in runs twice and home runs once. *September 30 – Jim Galvin (baseball), Jim Galvin, 62, minor league catcher who played briefly for the 1930 Boston Red Sox, seeing action in two pinch-hitting assignments. *September 30 – Hank Thompson (baseball), Hank Thompson, 43, third baseman who was the third black player in MLB history as a member of the 1947 St. Louis Browns, then played on the 1954 New York Giants World Series championship team.


October

*October 2 – Gordon Cobbledick, 70, sportswriter for the ''Cleveland Plain Dealer'' from 1928 to 1964. *October 2 – Danny O'Connell, 42, infielder who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Braves, New York/San Francisco Giants and Washington Senators across ten MLB seasons from 1950–1962. *October 6 – Roy Crumpler, 73, left-handed pitcher who appeared in five career games for the 1920 Detroit Tigers and 1925 Philadelphia Phillies. *October 9 – Don Hoak, 41, fiery third baseman on 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates World Series championship teams; played 11 seasons in National League for five clubs; selected to 1957 NL All-Star team. *October 9 – Ray Lucas (baseball), Ray Lucas, 61, pitcher who worked in 22 total games for the 1929–1931 New York Giants and 1933–1934 Brooklyn Dodgers. *October 16 – Larry Boerner, 64, pitcher who posted an 0–4 (5.02) record in 21 games for the 1932 Boston Red Sox. *October 23 – Monk Dubiel, 51, pitcher who appeared in 187 career games for 1944–1945 New York Yankees, 1948 Philadelphia Phillies and 1949–1952 Chicago Cubs. *October 24 – Jack Bentley (baseball), Jack Bentley, 74, left-handed pitcher and first baseman who posted a 46–33 (4.01) record on the mound and a .291 batting average in 584 at bats at the plate for the Washington Senators (1913–1916), New York Giants (1923–1926 and 1927), and Philadelphia Phillies (1926); had a brilliant minor-league career as a member of the Baltimore Orioles from 1919–1922. *October 26 – Jim Blackburn (baseball), Jim Blackburn, 45, World War II combat veteran and Prisoner of War who pitched for postwar Cincinnati Reds, making 18 career appearances during the 1948 and 1951 seasons. *October 27 – Charlie Jamieson, 76, standout outfielder for Cleveland Indians (1919–1932) and two other AL cubs; batted .303 lifetime in 1,779 games, eclipsing .300 mark ten times and leading Junior Circuit in hits (222) in 1923; member of Cleveland's 1920 World Series champions. *October 28 – Dave Callahan, 81, outfielder who played 19 MLB games for the 1910–1911 Cleveland Naps; stole 445 bases during his 17-year career in minor leagues. *October 28 – Joe Rullo, 53, second baseman who appeared in 51 total MLB games for wartime 1943–1944 Philadelphia Athletics.


November

*November 1 – George Winn, 72, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox (1919) and Cleveland Indians (1922–23). *November 7 – Chick Galloway, 73, shortstop who played 1,076 games for the 1919–1927 Philadelphia Athletics and 1928 Detroit Tigers. *November 12 – Eddie Hurley, 61, American League umpire from 1947 to 1965; officiated in 2,826 regular-season contests, four World Series and three All-Star games; was behind the plate in St. Louis on August 19, 1951, when Eddie Gaedel came to bat in Bill Veeck's famous stunt; led AL umpires in ejections three times over a 19-year career. *November 11 – Stump Edington, 78, outfielder who batted .302 in 53 at bats for the 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates in his lone MLB opportunity. *November 14 – Curt Roberts, 40, first black player in Pittsburgh Pirates history (debuting April 13, 1954); second baseman who played in 171 games over three seasons (1954–1956) with Bucs. *November 15 – Billy Southworth, 76, Hall of Fame manager who won 1,044 regular-season games as skipper of the St. Louis Cardinals (1929 and 1940–1945) and Boston Braves (1946–1951); captured World Series titles in 1942 and 1944 and National League pennants with St. Louis (1943) and Boston (1948); his .597 career winning percentage is second, all-time, to Joe McCarthy; in his playing days, an outfielder who appeared in 1,192 games in 13 seasons for five teams between 1913 and 1929, and batted .297. *November 16 – Vin Campbell, 81, outfielder who played 546 games during a career spent with the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and two Federal League clubs (Indianapolis and Newark) over six seasons between 1908 and 1915. *November 20 – Paddy Baumann, 83, second baseman and third baseman who got into 299 games for the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees between 1911 and 1917. *November 20 – Elmer Wilson, 74, second baseman for St. Louis (1925) and Dayton (1926) of the Negro National League. *November 24 – Phil Gallivan, 62, pitcher who appeared in 54 career games for the Brooklyn Robins (1931) and Chicago White Sox (1932, 1934). *November 24 – Pablo Morales Pérez, Pablo Morales, 64, Venezuelan professional baseball executive for more than three decades, and former owner of the Leones del Caracas club. *November 26 – Emil Kush, 53, pitcher who won 21 of 33 decisions for the Chicago Cubs (1941–1942 and 1946–1949). *November 29 – Bun Hayes, 66, pitcher for five Negro leagues clubs, primarily the Baltimore Black Sox, from 1928–1930 and 1932–1935, *November 30 – Eddie Eayrs, 79, outfielder/pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Braves and Brooklyn Robins in the early 20th century. *November – Billy Horne, 53, nicknamed "Little Grumbler", All-Star second baseman and shortstop who played for three Negro leagues clubs between 1938 and 1946.


December

*December 3 – Roy Wilson (baseball), Roy Wilson, 83, pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in the 1920s. *December 7 – Lefty O'Doul, 72, left fielder who batted .349 with 1,140 hits in his 970-game career and won two batting titles after being converted from a pitcher; winningest manager in Pacific Coast League history, and earned additional fame as the "father" of professional baseball in Japan. *December 10 – Jack Tobin, 77, diminutive — — but hard-hitting right fielder who batted .309 and amassed 1,906 hits over a 13-year career (1914–1916 and 1918–1927) spent mostly with St. Louis Browns; led American League in triples (18) in 1921; later a Browns' coach. *December 11 – Ollie Fuhrman, 83, catcher who hit .333 for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1922. *December 30 – Herman Howard, 59, left-handed pitcher in the Negro leagues from 1937–1940 and in 1946.


References

{{Year in baseball, this year=1969