Baseball from 1980 to 1989 Chronology

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See also Baseball 1970-1979. 
See also Baseball 1990-1999. 
1966
Jun 10Indian hurler Sonny Siebert throws the only no-hitter of the season defeating the Senators, 2-0.Ref: 1
1980
Jan 24The New York Mets are sold to a group headed by Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon. The purchase price is estimated at $21.1 million - the highest amount ever paid for an American professional sports franchise.Ref: 86
Jan 31Astros sign free-agent second baseman Joe Morgan. Houston was the first major league team the two-time MVP played with before he was traded to the Reds and became a cog in the Big Red Machine .Ref: 1
Feb 09The late Yankee catcher Thurman Munson is inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame of Kent State UniversityRef: 1
Feb 12Charles Finley's plan to sell his A's to oil man Marv Davis is thwarted when the AL offers to buy out the Oakland Coliseum lease. Davis had hoped to move the franchise to Denver.Ref: 1
Feb 15Gaylord Perry is traded by the Padres to the Rangers for first baseman Willie Montanez.Ref: 1
Feb 20The era of 'Billy Ball' begins in Oakland as Billy Martin is hired as manager of the A's for $125,000.Ref: 1
Mar 12National League outfielder Chuck Klein and former Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey are elected into the Hall of Fame. Yawkey is the first person to be selected who was not first a player, manager or general manager.Ref: 1
Apr 01Baseball Players' Association votes to cancel 92 remaining exhibition games.Ref: 5
Apr 09Two days prior to the start of the season, the season the Durham Bulls uniforms are stolen. Atlanta's minor league director, Hank Aaron, sends the team a set of used Braves uniforms to wear on the road as the team decides to wear its road uniforms at home.Ref: 1
Apr 12Milwaukee beats Boston Red Sox, 18-1 (Cooper & Money hit grand slams).Ref: 5
Apr 25Oakland A's manager Billy Martin restrained by umps from attacking a fan.Ref: 5
Apr 26Defeating the Cardinals, 2-0, Phillie fireballer Steve Carlton pitches his sixth career one-hitter establishing a NL record.Ref: 1
Apr 29Bradford G. Corbett sells majority interest in the Texas Rangers to H.E. (Eddie) Chiles.Ref: 86
May 03Giants first baseman Willie McCovey hits his 521st & final homerun.Ref: 5
May 03Texas Ranger Fergie Jenkins joins Cy Young, Jim Bunning and Gaylord Perry as the fourth pitcher in history to win 100 games in each league when he downs Baltimore, 3-2, at Arlington Stadium.Ref: 86
May 04Dodgers bat out of order against Phillies in first inning.Ref: 5
May 04White Sox first baseman Mike Squires catches final inning of 11-1 loss to Brewers, becoming 1st lefty to catch since Dale Long in 1958.Ref: 5
May 05For pushing his glove in the face of umpire Gerry Crawford, Pirate Bill Madlock is suspended for 15 days and fined $5,000 by NL president Chub Feeney .Ref: 1
May 11Pete Rose, 39, steals second, third, & home in one inning for Phillies.Ref: 5
May 13Cincinnati Red Ray Knight hits 2 homeruns in 5th inning vs NY Mets.Ref: 5
May 14Bucky Dent hits an inside the park homerun, Royals walk 14 Yankees including 5 with bases loaded, Yankees win 16-3.Ref: 5
May 26Phillie Steve Carlton is first National League-er to record 6, 1-hitters.Ref: 5
May 282 Oakland A's steal home in first inning.Ref: 5
May 30Twins Ken Landreaux ends his hitting streak after 31 games.Ref: 5
May 30Tiger relief pitcher John Hiller, 37, (who had a 1971 heart attack), retires.Ref: 5
May 31Twin outfielder Ken Landreaux goes hittless in four at-bats and sees his 31-game hitting streak come to an end as the Orioles beat Minnesota, 11-1.Ref: 1
Jun 03The Mets select 18-year old Darryl Strawberry as the #1 pick in the June draft. The Blue Jays select shortstop Garry Harris as #2.Ref: 1
Jun 03ESPN begins televising college world series games.Ref: 5
Jun 07Tommy John wins his 200th, 3-0 on a 2-hitter.Ref: 5
Jun 08The St Louis Cardinals manager Ken Boyer is dismissed.Ref: 86
Jun 09Whitey Herzog becomes the St Louis Cardinal manager.Ref: 86
Jun 09Phillies & SF Giants end their game at 3:11 AM.Ref: 5
Jun 15Jorge Orta of Cleveland gets 6 hits in a baseball game.Ref: 5
Jun 20Five-foot five Fred Patek hits three HRs to help the Angels beat the Red Sox, 20-2.Ref: 1
Jun 27Facing only 28 batters, Dodger Jerry Reuss no-hits the Giants at the Stick, 8-0. Shortstop Bill Russell's errant first inning throw deprives Reuss a perfect game.Ref: 1
Jul 0373,096 in Cleveland watch Indians beat Yankees 7-0.Ref: 5
Jul 04Nolan Ryan fans Ceasar Geronimo to record his 3000th career strike out. In 1974, the Reds' outfielder was also Bob Gibson's 3000th victim.Ref: 1
Jul 04Reggie Smith belts the 7,000th home run in Dodgers' history and Don Sutton sets a team record with his 52nd career shutout in the Dodgers' 4-0 victory over the Giants.Ref: 1
Jul 06The Los Angeles Dodgers retire Duke Snider's uniform No. 4.Ref: 29
Jul 08NL beats AL 4-2 in 51st All Star Game (Dodger Stadium LA Calif).Ref: 5
Jul 11The Dodgers sell knuckleballer Charlie Hough to the Rangers.Ref: 1
Jul 15Johnny Bench hits his 314th HR as a catcher breaks Yogi Berra's record.Ref: 5
Jul 25Mike Schmidt becomes the all-time Phillie HR leader passing Del Ennis as he hits his 261st round tripper.Ref: 1
Jul 30Astro pitcher J.R. Richard suffers a stroke attempting to throw for the first time since being hospitalized for tests; he will never pitch in the major leagues again.Ref: 1
Aug 03Duke Snider & Al Kaline enter baseball's Hall of Fame.Ref: 5
Aug 04Maury Wills replaces Darrell Johnson as the Seattle Mariners manager.Ref: 86
Aug 05NY Met Doug Flynn ties record of 3 triples in a game.Ref: 5
Aug 11In the third inning of 3-1 Yankee victory over the White Sox, Reggie Jackson connects off of Britt Burns for his 400th career Home Run.Ref: 1
Aug 12At Tiger Stadium, 48,361 fans witness the return of Mark Fidrych. The 'Bird' loses to Red Sox, 5-2.Ref: 1
Aug 17The Detroit Tigers retire Al Kaline's uniform no. 6.Ref: 29
Aug 18John Claiborne fired as G.M. of the St Louis Cardinals.Ref: 86
Aug 18Kansas City Royals’ slugger George Brett saw his batting average reach the lofty .400 mark. A debate began as to whether Brett could keep up that pace through the end of the season. He didn’t.Ref: 4
Aug 20Bob Watson of the NY Yankees hit a baseball that bounced off the loudspeakers in Seattle’s Kingdome. He led the Yankees to a 5-4 victory over the Mariners. It was the second game in a row in which Watson hit a speaker-shot. He hit a double the first night and a triple this night, as the ball caromed off the loudspeakers.Ref: 4
Aug 24The Minnesota Twins coach Johnny Goryl succeeds Gene Mauch as the Twins' field manager.Ref: 86
Aug 26At Milwaukee's County Stadium, George Brett strokes four singles and a double in 5 at-bats as the Royals edge the Brewers, 7-6. The Kansas City third baseman's 5-for-5 performance raises his league-leading batting average to .407.Ref: 1
Aug 29Whitey Herzog is named G.M. of the St Louis Cardinals. Red Schoendienst serves as interim manager for balance of season.Ref: 86
Sep 02Mark ‘The Bird’ Fidrych won his first game in 2½ years for the Detroit Tigers. He gave up seven hits to the Chicago White Sox but led the Tigers to a 11-2 win.Ref: 4
Sep 05Brewer manager George Bamberger announces he will step down as skipper after tomorrow's game. 'Bambi' will be replaced by Buck Rodgers.Ref: 1
Sep 06Tim Wallach of the Montreal Canadians hits a home run in his first major league at bat.Ref: 12
Sep 08Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends Ferguson Jenkins as a result of the pitcher's drug arrest on August 25th.Ref: 1
Sep 10Bill Gullickson of the Montreal Expos fanned 18 batters, setting a major-league record for a rookie pitcher in a single game. The Expos beat the Chicago Cubs 4-2.Ref: 4
Sep 12The Toronto Blue Jays defeat Baltimore 7-5 to win their 60th game of the season and in doing so set a new club record for victories in a single season.Ref: 86
Sep 20In memory of Thurman Munson, a bronze plaque in Memorial Park is dedicated to the deceased Yankee catcher.Ref: 1
Sep 20Plaque dedicated in Thurman Munson's memory at Yankee Stadium.Ref: 5
Oct 01With much media and fan pressure Red Sox fire manager Don Zimmer.Ref: 1
Oct 05Yankees break the American League regular attendance season record held by 1948 Indians with 2,627,417 fans.Ref: 1
Oct 05Reaching first on a fielder's choice in the top of the seventh in the 4-0 win over the Twins, Royals' leadoff hitter Willie Wison establishes a major league record for the most at-bats in a season with 705. The Kansas City outfielder will collect 230 hits and score 133 runs for the division winning club.Ref: 1
Oct 06Frank Howard named manager of the San Diego Padres, as Jerry Coleman returns to the broadcast booth.Ref: 86
Oct 06In the 163rd game of the season, the Astros beat the Dodgers, 7-1, to capture the National League West division as Houston wins its first title in the franchise's 19-year history. The Dodgers had swept a season-ending three game series with the 'Stros (3-2, 2-1, and 4-3) making the one-game play-off necessaryRef: 1
Oct 10Yanks lose 4-2 & are swept by Royals in the AL Championship seriesRef: 5
Oct 15The Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Boston Red Sox, 4-1, to chalk up their 67th win of the season, 8 more victories than ever before.Ref: 86
Oct 21In Game 6 in front of 65,838 fans at Veterans Stadium, the Phillies win their first World Series ever in the 98-year history of the franchise by defeating the Royals, 4-1. Winning pitcher Steve Carlton limits Kansas City to 4 hits in seven innings and Tug McGraw hurls the last two frames to pick up the save.Ref: 1
Oct 24Whitey Herzog assumes the dual role of general manager and field manager of the St Louis Cardinals.Ref: 86
Nov 04Sadaharu Oh of the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants retires from professional baseball. The first baseman hit a record 868 home runs in his 22-year playing career.Ref: 4
Nov 12Former Senator Don Zimmer is named as the Texas Rangers' eighth manager.Ref: 86
Nov 18After batting nearly .400 all season, Royal third baseman George Brett (.390, 24, 118) is named AL MVP.Ref: 1
Nov 20Billy Martin named AL Manager of the Year (Oakland A's).Ref: 5
Nov 21Gene Michaels replaces Dick Howser as Yankee's 25th manager.Ref: 5
Nov 25Gene Michael becomes 25th Yankee manager replacing a resigning Dick Howser.Ref: 1
Dec 08The first major trade ever made at the annual winter meeting takes place in Dallas when Padres' reliever Rollie Fingers and Cardinals' catcher Terry Kennedy are the key players involved in an eleven-player swap.Ref: 1
Dec 09The Cubs trade Bruce Stutter to the Cardinals for Leon Durham and Ken Reitz.Ref: 1
Dec 15Dave Winfield signed a ten-year contract with the NY Yankees for somewhere between $1.3 and $1.5 million. He become the wealthiest player in the history of U.S. team sports. The total package for the outfielder was said to be worth over $22 million.Ref: 4
Dec 20Brewers obtain future Cy Young winners Rollie Fingers [1981] and Pete Vuckovich [1982] in a deal with the Cardinals sending pitcher Lary Sorensen, outfielder Sixto Lezcano and minor league players Dave Green and Dave LaPointe to St. Louis.Ref: 1
Dec 20Unless contracts are tendered to certain veterans by a today's deadline, the Basic Agreement requires they be allowed to become free agents. The Red Sox will miss the deadline permitting All-Stars Fred Lynn and Carlton Fisk to be eligible for free agency.Ref: 1
Dec 22The Red Sox mail Fred Lynn and Carlton Fisk their new contracts two days after the Basic Agreement December 20 deadline. Boston's inaction make their All-Stars eligible for free agency.Ref: 1
Dec 22Cardinals release outfielder Bobby Bonds.Ref: 5
1981
Jan 08Reds become last team to sign a free agent (Larry Biitner).Ref: 5
Jan 12At the age of 42, Gaylord Perry signs a one-year contract with the Braves.Ref: 1
Jan 14Frank Robinson is named manager of the Giants.Ref: 1
Jan 15Bob Gibson, in his first year of eligibility, is the only player elected to Hall of Fame this year. Players falling short of the votes needed include Don Drysdale, Gil Hodges and Harmon Killebrew.Ref: 1
Jan 21Four-time gold glover Cesar Geronimo is traded by the Reds to the Royals for minor leaguer infielder German Barranca.Ref: 1
Jan 23Due to a front office mistake, the Red Sox are forced to trade Fred Lynn to the Angels. Boston had failed to mail a new contract by the deadline allowing the former rookie of the year to become a possible free agent.Ref: 1
Jan 29An ownership group headed by Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn purchased the Chicago White Sox from a group headed by Bill Veeck.Ref: 86
Feb 09At the age of thirty-seven, Joe Morgan inks a one-year deal with the GiantsRef: 1
Feb 12Arbitrator Goetz declares Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk a free agent.Ref: 5
Feb 21Four-time gold glover Cesar Geronimo is traded by the Reds to the Royals for minor leaguer infielder German Barranca.Ref: 1
Feb 25Executive Board of Baseball Players' Association votes unanimously to strike on May 29 if the issue of free-agent compensation remains unresolved.Ref: 5
Mar 11Johnny Mize & Rube Foster elected to baseball Hall of Fame.Ref: 5
Mar 26Phillies trade Bob Walk to the Braves for outfielder Gary Matthews.Ref: 1
Apr 09At Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles rookie Fernando Valenzuela makes his first major league hurling a five-hitter beating the Astros, 2-0.Ref: 1
Apr 10On Opening Day, White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, playing the first game of his career while not wearing a Red Sox uniform makes a dramatic return to Fenway hitting a three-run homer in the eighth to knot the score at 3-3. Chicago will tack on two more runs in the ninth, and will beat Boston, 5-3.Ref: 1
Apr 18Tom Seaver of the Cincinnati Reds became the fifth pitcher in the history of major-league baseball to earn 3,000 strikeouts in a career. Seaver struck out Keith Hernandez for the historic ‘K’. The Cardinals, however, beat Tom Terrific, 10-4.Ref: 4
Apr 18In International League action at McCoy Stadium, the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings begin the longest professional game ever played; the game is suspended at 4:07 a.m after playing to a 2-2 tie through 32 innings. The game will be completed later in the season with the Red Sox scoring the winning run in the 33rd inning.Ref: 1
Apr 19The first major-league baseball team to win 11 straight games at the beginning of a season was the Oakland A’s. Win number 11 came with a few fireworks, as a brawl or two became a part of a 6-1 victory over Seattle in the first game of a doubleheader. In the second game, however, Seattle ended the A’s win streak with a 3-2 win.Ref: 4
Apr 19With a 6-1 Opening Day victory over the Mariners, the A's establish a major league record by winning eleven consecutive season openers.Ref: 1
Apr 19Rochester Red Wings & Pawtucket Red Sox play to 2-2 tie in 32 innings, game suspended at 4:07 AM (Pawtucket later wins in 33rd).Ref: 5
Apr 22Dodgers rookie Fernando Valenzuela tosses his 3rd shutout in 4 starts.Ref: 5
Apr 25Seattle Mariners manager Maury Wills is suspended for 2 games after ordering Seattle's grounds crew to enlarge batter's boxes by one foot.Ref: 5
Apr 27Dodger rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela pitches his fourth shutout in five starts as he beats the Giants, 5-0.Ref: 1
Apr 29Phillie lefty Steve Carlton reaches the 3000 strikeout career mark when he K's Expo Tim Raines enroute to a 6-2 victory over Montreal.Ref: 1
Apr 30Texas Ranger Lefthander Rick Honeycutt sets a club record with his fourth consecutive shutout, a 7-0 five-hitter over the Royals at Arlington Stadium.Ref: 86
May 04Yankee Ron Davis strikes out 8 consecutive Angels, ran record of 13 strikeouts of last 14 faced, also saved Gene Nelsons first win, 4-2.Ref: 5
May 0516th & final Mayor's Trophy Game, Mets beat Yankees 4-1, hold 8-7-1 edge.Ref: 5
May 06Seattle Mariners manager Maury Wills is fired & replaced by Rene Lachemann.Ref: 5
May 08Fernando Valenzuela, the sensational crowd-pleasing pitcher of the Los Angeles Dodgers, won his fifth shutout of the young baseball season. Fernando went on to win eight games without a loss and posted an amazing ERA of just 0.50.Ref: 4
May 08Ron Davis pitches 10th consecutive strike out, 1 short of record.Ref: 2
May 10Expos' hurler Charlie Lea no-hits the Giants, 4-0, becoming the first French-born pitcher to accomplish the feat.Ref: 1
May 15Len Barker, the 25-year-old pitching sensation of the Cleveland Indians, became the tenth major-league hurler to toss a perfect game beating the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-0.Ref: 4
May 16Astro Craig Reynolds hits three triples in one game. He is only the seventh player to accomplish this feat.Ref: 1
May 19After giving up a single to leadoff hitter Terry Harper, Pirate hurler Jim Bibby retires the next 27 Braves en route to a 5-0 one-hitter.Ref: 1
May 22Billy Gardner, the Minnesota Twins original 1961 second baseman, succeeds Johnny Goryl as the Twins' field manager.Ref: 86
May 25Texas Ranger Bill Stein sets an A.L. record with his seventh consecutive pinch hit, breaking the mark of Baltimore's Bob Johnson.Ref: 86
May 27After Lenny Randle drops to his hands and knees in an attempt to 'encourage' Amos Otis' slow roller to go foul, umpire Larry McCoy accuses the Mariner third baseman of blowing the ball foul. Randle's explanation that he was merely yelling at the ball not to stay fair is initially convincing until Royals' manager Jim Frey complains.Ref: 1
May 29The Mets trade relief pitcher Jeff Reardon and outfielder Dan Norman, who was obtained from the Reds in the 1977 Tom Seaver trade, to the Expos for Ellis Valentine.Ref: 1
May 30Los Angeles Dodgers are quickest to get 1,000,000 attendence (22 games).Ref: 5
Jun 03Returning after two years as free agent, Royal catcher Jerry Grote hits his first HR since 1976. The former Astro and Met's backstop grand slam help Kansas City overcome Mariners, 12-9.Ref: 1
Jun 05Astro hurler Nolan Ryan passes Early Wynn as the all-time walk leader (1,777) issuing two walks in a 3-0 win over the Mets.Ref: 1
Jun 10Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies singled off of Houston pitcher Nolan Ryan to tie Stan Musial’s baseball career-hit total at 3,630. A looming baseball strike of 50 days thwarted ‘Charlie Hustle’s’ efforts to break the National League record.Ref: 4
Jun 11The Mariners' 8-2 victory over the Orioles played in the Kingdome the will be the last game played before the major league players go on strike. The work stoppage will last 50 days.Ref: 1
Jun 11Fergie Jenkins and the Texas Rangers blow a 3-1 sixth-inning lead as the Brewers rally for a 6-3 victory on the last day before the players' strike. Had Texas held on to win, it would have remained in first place and clinched a playoff spot.Ref: 86
Jun 12Major league baseball players began a 49-day strike over the issue of free-agent compensation. (The season did not resume until August tenth.)Ref: 1
Jun 15William Wrigley announces sale of club to Tribune Company for $20.5 million.Ref: 86
Jun 16The Chicago Tribune purchased the Chicago Cubs baseball team from the P.K. Wrigley Chewing Gum Company for $20.5 million. The Wrigley family had controlled the team for over 60 years. The sale ended the longest continuous ownership of a team that stayed put in its original city.Ref: 4
Jun 2333-inning game ends, Pawtucket 3, Rochester 2.Ref: 5
Jul 14The All-Star Game was postponed because of a 33-day-old baseball players strike. Still, some 15,000 fans showed up to boo the players and to see an imaginary game! The 52nd All-Star classic was not held until August 9th (in Cleveland Municipal Stadium).Ref: 4
Jul 30The seven-week baseball players’ strike came to an end as the players and owners agreed on the issue of free agent compensation.Ref: 4
Jul 31The fifty-day old baseball strike is settled as owners and players agreeing on a pooling systems for free-agents compensation. The All Star game will mark the end of baseball's first ever midseason work stoppage.Ref: 1
Aug 06The players approved a split-season format necessitated by seven-week strike . The Yankees, A's, Phillies and Dodgers are declared the first-half champions and will be automatically qualified for the divisional series.Ref: 1
Aug 09Major league baseball returns in a big way from its in-season strike as 72,086 fans attend the belated All-Star game in Cleveland. Vida Blue becomes the first pitcher to win an All-Star game for both leagues.Ref: 1
Aug 10Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies connected for career hit number 3,631, becoming the National League leader for hits, breaking the record set by Stan ‘The Man’ Musial. Rose had been one hit away from that record before a 50-day players’ strike kept the mark at bay. At the time, Rose was third on the all-time hit list -- behind Ty Cobb and Hank Aaron.Ref: 4
Aug 14George Foster hits his 8th HR into the red seats at Riverfront.Ref: 5
Aug 14Jeff Burroughs hits three home runs as the Mariners defeat the Twins, 13-3 in the second game of a doubleheader.Ref: 1
Aug 24In his first major league game, first baseman Kent Hrbek hits a twelfth-inning homer giving the Twins a 3-2 victory over the Yankees .Ref: 1
Sep 03Gerald P Remy of Boston gets 6 hits in a baseball game.Ref: 5
Sep 03The Red Sox and the Mariners play nineteen innings to a 7-7 tie. The game ends with the Mariners winning 8-7 in 20 innings when the suspended game is resumed the next day making it the longest game played in Fenway Park's history.Ref: 1
Sep 04Seattle Mariners beat Boston Red Sox, 8-7, in 20 inn (started 9/3).Ref: 5
Sep 06With his seventh blanking, Dodger lefty Fernando Valenzuela ties the major league rookie record for shutouts beating the Cardinal, 5-0.Ref: 1
Sep 06Bob Lemon becomes the Yankee manager for the second time, replacing Gene Michael.Ref: 1
Sep 17Dodger rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela sets the NL rookie mark with his eighth shutout of the season. The record had been shared by Irv Young (1905), Grover Alexander (1911) and Jerry Koosman (1968).Ref: 1
Sep 20Gary Gaetti of the Minnesota Twins hits a home run in his first major league at bat.Ref: 12
Sep 21Steve Carlton strikes out NL record 3,118th (Andre Dawson).Ref: 5
Sep 26At the Astrodome, Astro Nolan Ryan becomes the first pitcher to throw five no-hitters defeating the Dodgers, 5-0.Ref: 1
Sep 26Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves, plays the first of 740 consecutive games. ("The 1999 ESPN Sports Almanac") 
Sep 30Less than 16,000 watch the Kansas City Royals take a 5-2 decision over the Minnesota Twins in the final game at Metropolitan Stadium.Ref: 86
Oct 03In the final game of a strike-interrupted season, Montreal Expos' Wallace Johnson's 2-run triple off Mets' relief pitcher Neil Allen leads the Expos to the 1981 second-half NL East title.Ref: 86
Oct 04The Reds finish with the best record in the Major Leagues, but don't make the playoffs. Due to an unusual "split-season" format, the Reds do not qualify for post-season play.Ref: 86
Oct 07The Toronto Blue Jays' Bobby Mattick resigns as Field Manager to become Executive Co-Ordinator, Baseball Operations.Ref: 86
Oct 07In first Eastern Division championship Yanks beat Brewers 5-3.Ref: 5
Oct 10The Montreal Expos win their first National League East division title. Playing the first-half title-holding Phillies, Warren Cromartie grabs a line drive at first base at Philadelphia's Veterans' Stadium to clinch the best-of-five division series 3 games to 2.Ref: 86
Oct 11Expos Steve Rogers blank the Phillies, 3-0, to win the NL Eastern Division playoffs. Divisional playoffs were devised to salvage the strike-shorten season.Ref: 1
Oct 11Yanks beat Brewers 7-3 & win only Eastern Championship Series.Ref: 5
Oct 15With Dave Righetti, Ron Davis and Goose Gossage combining to shutout Oakland, 4-0, the Yankees sweep the A's to capture their thirty-third AL pennant.Ref: 1
Oct 15Bobby Cox, former Atlanta Braves Manager (1978-81), is named Toronto Blue Jays Manager for the 1982 season.Ref: 86
Oct 19The day that will simply be remembered as "Blue Monday" by Expos' fans comes when Dodgers' outfielder Rick Monday crushes the Expos' hopes of a trip to the World Series with a game-winning, ninth-inning home run off Steve Rogers in the fifth and deciding game of the NL Championship Series at Olympic Stadium.Ref: 86
Oct 25In Game 5, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager's back-to-back solo home runs give the Dodgers a 2-1 World Series victory.Ref: 1
Oct 26LA Dodgers beat NY Yankees, 4 games to 2 in 78th World Series.Ref: 5
Oct 28Game 6 of the World Series saw the Los Angeles Dodgers storm back, winning their forth straight game (9-2), and the championship, after having been down two games to none to the NY Yankees. Rookie pitcher Fernando Valenzuela started the Dodger comeback, and batters Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, Steve Garvey, and Steve Yeager took them the rest of the way. There had been genuine concern that snow might interfere with the Fall Classic since it was being played so late in the season in NY City.Ref: 4
Nov 11The first rookie baseball player to win the coveted Cy Young Award was honored. The 21-year-old honoree was LA Dodger Fernando Valenzuela.Ref: 4
Nov 12Billy Martin named AL Manager of the Year (Oakland A's).Ref: 5
Nov 18Dick Williams is named manager of the San Diego Padres, replacing Frank Howard.Ref: 86
Nov 25Brewer hurler Rollie Fingers becomes the first relief pitcher ever to win the AL MVP Award narrowly beating former A's teammate Rickey Henderson by 11 points.Ref: 1
Dec 02Fernando Valenzuela (Dodgers) wins National League Rookie of the Year.Ref: 5
Dec 10The Cardinals and Padres trade shortstops as Garry Templeton goes to San Diego along with and outfielder Sixto Lezcano to San Diego as Ozzie Smith and right-hander Steve Mura head for St. Louis. The trade, however, will not be finalized until Smith's salary with his new club is determined by an outside arbitrator over two months later.Ref: 1
Dec 15Free-agent Ron Guidry re-signs with the Yankees to a four-year $3.6 million pact.Ref: 1
Dec 18The Reds swap third baseman Ray Knight to the Astros for outfielder Cesar Cedeno.Ref: 1
Dec 24Reggie Jackson picked Christmas Eve to announce that he would join Gene Autry’s California Angels for the 1982 season.Ref: 4
1982
Jan 09While being driven to the airport by his brother Billy, Tony Conigliaro suffers a massive heart attack and lapses into a coma. The former Red Sox outfielder will remain hospitalized until March 2.Ref: 1
Jan 13Both Henry Aaron and Frank Robinson are elected to the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. 'Hammering Hank' falls just nine votes short of being the first player to be elected unanimously by the BBWAA.Ref: 1
Jan 22Free agent Reggie Jackson signs a four-year, nearly four-million dollar contract with the Angels ending his five-year roller coaster ride with the YankeesRef: 1
Jan 27Philadelphia trades Larry Bowa & Ryne Sandberg to Cubs for Ivan DeJesus.Ref: 5
Jan 28The Angels trade outfielder Dan Ford to the Orioles for third baseman Doug DeCinces and minor leaguer Jeff Schneider.Ref: 1
Jan 29Wayne Garland, baseball first millionaire free agent, waived by Indians.Ref: 5
Feb 03For the second time, minor league catcher Angel Rodriguez is suspended from organized baseball for tipping off opposing Latin American batters of the upcoming pitch about to be thrown.Ref: 1
Feb 08The longest-playing infield foursome is broken up as the Dodgers trade Davey Lopes to the A's for minor leaguer Lance Hudson. The second baseman had played with Steve Garvey, Ron Cey and Bill Russell since 1974.Ref: 1
Feb 10The Mets agree to a five-year deal with George Foster completing the trade with the Reds which sent Jim Kern, Greg Harris and Alex Trevino to Cincinnati.Ref: 1
Feb 11Two months after the trade was announced, the Ozzie Smith deal for Gary Templeton is finalized. An outside arbitrator will determine 'the Wizard of Oz's' Cardinal salary.Ref: 1
Mar 05Gaylord Perry (with 297 wins) signs with Seattle Mariners.Ref: 5
Mar 10Travis Jackson & Happy Chandler elected to Hall of Fame.Ref: 5
Mar 24The Dodgers automatically renew Fernando Valenzuela's contract when he ends his three week holdout, but the portly left handed refuses to sign it.Ref: 1
Mar 27Mariners sign 43-year old Gaylord Perry to a one-year contract. The ancient mariner needs only three victories to reach the 300 win mark.Ref: 1
Mar 31Rangers trade outfielder/first baseman Al Oliver to the Expos for outfielder/third baseman Larry Parrish and minor league first baseman Dave Hostetler.Ref: 1
Apr 01The Mets trade outfielder Lee Mazzilli to Texas for rookie pitchers Ron Darling and Walt Terrell.Ref: 1
Apr 02In exhibition game A's pitcher Steve McCatty comes to bat using a 15" toy bat (under Billy Martins orders), protesting disallowing of DH.Ref: 5
Apr 05Third baseman Ryne Sandberg makes his Cubs debut Opening Day in 3-2 win in Cincinnati.Ref: 86
Apr 05St Louis Cardinals' Jim Kaat pitches in record 24th consecutive season.Ref: 5
Apr 06A freak heavy spring snow storm brings subfreezing temperatures across the northeast and midwest and causes the postponement of home openers for the Yankees, Tigers, White Sox, Brewers, Indians, Phillies and Pirates.Ref: 1
Apr 06Largest crowd ever to see a baseball game in Minnesota 52,279.Ref: 5
Apr 10A crowd 62,443 fans show up with the game-time temperature 38ºs with a wind chill of 17 to see the Indians drop the season opener to the Rangers, 8-3. Five hundred tons of snow had to be removed from the Municipal Stadium field prior to the game.Ref: 1
Apr 18At the Astrodome, the Braves beat the Astros, 6-5, to setting a NL record by winning their 11th straight game to start the season.Ref: 1
Apr 20With a 4-2 win over the Reds, the Braves recorded their 12th consecutive victory and establish a major-league record for the most victories from the beginning of the season. The previous mark had been set a year earlier by the Oakland A's.Ref: 1
Apr 21Atlanta Braves win their 13th straight game.Ref: 5
Apr 22Atlanta Braves lose after winning first 13 games of season.Ref: 5
Apr 24St Louis Cardinals win 12th game in a row; 7-4 over Philadelphia Phillies.Ref: 5
Apr 25Yankees fire manager Bob Lemon & replaces him with Gene Michael.Ref: 5
Apr 26Gene Michael becomes New York Yankee manager for second time, replacing Bob Lemon.Ref: 86
Apr 30Atlanta Braves win record 12th straight from beginning of season.Ref: 5
May 04Twins rookie outfielder Jim Eisenreich, who suffers from Tourette's Syndrome, removes himself, due to taunts from Red Sox bleacher fans.Ref: 5
May 06Gaylord Perry of the Seattle Mariners became the 15th pitcher in the major leagues to win 300 career victories. Perry, known for his spitball as well as a variety of other pitches, led the Mariners past the NY Yankees 7-3.Ref: 4
May 13The Chicago Cubs became the first major-league baseball team to win 8,000 games. The Cubs beat the Houston Astros 5-0. Win number 8,000 came after playing 15,337 games in over 107 years.Ref: 4
May 18Detroit Tigers outfielder Larry Herndon is 14th to hit 4 consecutive homeruns.Ref: 5
May 25Chicago Cub Fergie Jenkins becomes seventh pitcher to eclipse 3,000 strikeouts, in 2-1 loss to Padres.Ref: 86
May 28During an argument with the umpires, Durham Bulls skipper Bobby Dews throws second base into the stands and then takes off his jersey and powders under his arms with the rosin bag before kicking it into the air.Ref: 1
May 29LaMarr Hoyt's 14-game winning streak ends as the Indians beat the White Sox, 5-2.Ref: 1
May 30Cal Ripken's consecutive game streak streak begins with the Oriole third baseman (position for the first 27 games during the streak) batting eighth against Blue Jays.Ref: 1
Jun 05In a game at Minnesota, Cal Ripken's record streak of 8,243 consecutive innings begins and will last for 904 games.Ref: 1
Jun 07Dodger first baseman Steve Garvey becomes only the fifth player in major league history to play in 1,000 consecutive games.Ref: 1
Jun 07NY Mets draft Dwight Gooden, Roger McDowell & Randy Myers.Ref: 5
Jun 15Pitching one scoreless inning to protect a 1-0 lead, Red Sox reliever Jeff Reardon breaks Rollie Fingers' career save mark of 341.Ref: 1
Jun 20Pete Rose becomes the fifth major leaguer to appear in 3000 games. It is also 'Charlie Hustle's' 523rd consecutive game.Ref: 1
Jun 22Phillie Pete Rose moves into second place for career hits passing Hank Aaron with his 3,772 hit. The historic hit is a third inning double off of Cardinal hurler John Stuper.Ref: 1
Jun 27The Braves tie a major league mark with seven double plays as the team defeats the Reds, 2-0.Ref: 1
Jul 01Considered a questionable decision, Cal Ripken is moved from third base to shortstop by Oriole manager Earl Weaver.Ref: 1
Jul 03Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies connected for hit #3,786. It moved Rose into second place in the career-hits column of the record books. Rose was second only to Ty Cobb whose major-league record was 4,191 hits. Rose was 41 years old at the time. Three years later he surpassed Cobb’s mark.Ref: 4
Jul 04(thru the 10th) Texas Ranger Larry Parrish ties a major league record with three grand slams in one week. In 10 games, Parrish collects 19 rbi and bats .514 (18-35).Ref: 86
Jul 10Larry Parrish hits his third grand slam in seven days, helping TX beat the Tigers, 6-5. The Ranger catcher hit his first bases full homer on Indepenence Day and second on July 7.Ref: 1
Jul 13The first All-Star Game played outside the United States was played this day in Montreal, Canada. The National League won for the 11th consecutive year, defeating the American League 4-1.Ref: 4
Jul 19In his major league debut, Tony Gwynn doubles of Philadelphia's Sid Monge for his first major league hit.Ref: 1
Jul 21The Reds (last place, 24 games below .500) fire manager John McNamara and replace him with third base coach, Russ Nixon.Ref: 1
Jul 21Pittsburgh Pirate Willie Stargell hits his club record 475th home run, an eighth-inning, game-winning, pinch-hit solo shot at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium.Ref: 86
Jul 28Don Zimmer is dismissed as the Texas Rangers' manager. Coach Darrell Johnson is named interim manager.Ref: 86
Jul 31Phillies' second baseman Manny Trillo boots a Bill Buckner's grounder ending his errorless streak at 479 chances setting a major league record.Ref: 1
Aug 01Hank Aaron, the holder of the career home run record (755) and RBI record (2,297); Frank Robinson, the first player to win the MVP in both leagues and the first black manager in the majors; Travis Jackson, an outstanding offensive and defensive shortstop for the Giants during 1920's, and former commissioner Happy Chandler, who provided leadership in breaking baseball's color line are inducted in the Hall of Fame.Ref: 1
Aug 03Clyde King is named New York Yankee manager, replacing Gene Michael.Ref: 86
Aug 03Royals' second baseman Frank White hits for the cycle in a 6-5 victory over the Tigers.Ref: 1
Aug 04After driving in the winning run in a Met 7-4 victory over the Cubs, Joel Youngblood is traded and later in the day flies to Philadelphia and singles for the Expos; he becomes the first player to have a hit for two different teams in the same day in different cities.Ref: 5
Aug 06The Yankees trade 1978 play-off hero Bucky Dent to the Rangers for outfielder /first baseman Lee Mazzilli. In spite of hitting just .169, the popular Yankee infielder nearly was elected to the All-Star game by the fans.Ref: 1
Aug 12Terry Felton of the Minnesota Twins set a major-league record for rookie pitchers. He had no wins and 14 losses. Guy Morton of the Cleveland Indians had lost 13 games, but wins his 14th, back in 1914.Ref: 4
Aug 13Dodger second baseman Steve Sax steals his 41st base to set a team record for rookies.Ref: 1
Aug 14With his 12,365th career at-bat, Phillies' Pete Rose passes Hank Aaron to become the all-time leader of plate appearances.Ref: 1
Aug 17LA Dodgers beat Chicago Cubs, 6-5, in 21 innings (game completed 8/18).Ref: 5
Aug 18The longest baseball game played at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL went 22 innings before the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cubs 2-1. The game had started the previous day and had been postponed, after 17 innings, because of darkness.Ref: 4
Aug 18Passing Hank Aaron, Pete Rose becomes the All-time leader in plate appearances when he steps up the plate for the 13,941st time.Ref: 1
Aug 21Brewers' reliever Rollie Fingers become the first player in major league history to record 300 career saves as Milwaukee defeat the Mariners, 3-2.Ref: 1
Aug 22Ernie Banks becomes the first Cub to have his uniform number (14) retired.Ref: 1
Aug 22With two outs and two strikes in the 12th inning, reserve catcher Glenn Brummer steals home giving the Cardinals an overtime victory over the Giants.Ref: 1
Aug 23Gaylord Perry of the Mariners is caught by the umpires applying a foreign substance to the ball. Although the righthander has been suspected for years of loaded up the baseball, it is the first time he has been ejected from a game.Ref: 1
Aug 24Royals' catcher John Wathan steals his 31st base breaking Ray Schalk's 1916 record for stolen bases by a catcher. The backstop will wind up with 36 for the season.Ref: 1
Aug 26Rickey Henderson tied Lou Brock’s 1974 record of 118 stolen bases in a season as the Milwaukee Brewers downed the Kansas City Royals, 10-3.Ref: 4
Aug 27In the 5-4 loss to the Brewers, A's Rickey Henderson breaks Lou Brock's 1974 single season record of 118 stolen bases. By stealing a total of four bases Rickey ends the day with 122 and will finish the season with 130.Ref: 1
Sep 01After a two-year absence from the major leagues (following a near-fatal stroke in June of 1980), pitcher J.R. Richard was called back to the Houston Astros.Ref: 4
Sep 05Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates saw his uniform, number 8, retired by the Bucs. It was the fourth Pirate player’s uniform to be so honored. The other three belonged to Roberto Clemente (#21), Honus Wagner (#33) and Pie Traynor (#20).Ref: 4
Sep 06Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates saw his uniform, number 8, retired by the Bucs. It was the fourth Pirate player’s uniform to be so honored. The other three belonged to Roberto Clemente (#21), Honus Wagner (#33) and Pie Traynor (#20).Ref: 4
Sep 10Pete Rose played in his 3,077th baseball game, breaking Hank Aarons’s record for the most games played in the National League.Ref: 4
Sep 13Joe Lefevre gets 6 hits in one baseball game.Ref: 5
Sep 19Mariner rookie Orlando Mercado becomes third player to hit a grand slam for his first major league hit. Bill Duggelby (1898 first at bat) and Bobby Bonds (1968 third at bat) were the other two players to accomplish the feat.Ref: 1
Sep 212,251 turn out to see the Expos play the NY Mets at Shea Stadium.Ref: 5
Sep 22Chris Speier collects 8 RBI against the San Francisco Giants, becoming the only Montreal Expos' player in history to have had both an 8-RBI game and to have hit for the cycle during his career.Ref: 86
Oct 02At San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, recording artist Vicki Carr and 43,077 fans sing an enthusiastic rendition of Happy Birthday prior to the Padres game with the Braves helping owner Ray Kroc celebrate his 80th birthday; as part of the fun the San Diego Chicken along with Ronald McDonald pop out of a giant cake.Ref: 1
Oct 03On the last day of the season, the Brewers celebrate their AL East title clinching victory on the field at Memorial Stadium after beating the Orioles,10-2 to edge Baltimore by one game in the final standings. The 51,642 hometown fans, although disappointed by the results, stay after the game and give retiring manager a heartfelt, tremendous 45-minute series of ovations for his 15-year tenure as the Birds' skipper.Ref: 1
Oct 10The Brewers become the first team to overcome an 0-2 start in a best of a five-game LCS and take the American League pennant by winning the remaining three games against Angels.Ref: 1
Oct 12In Game 1, Brewer Paul Molitor establishes a World Series record getting five hits as Milwaukee beats the Cardinals, 10-0, behind Mike Caldwell's three-hitter.Ref: 1
Oct 20In an exciting World Series labeled the -Suds Series-, the Brewers and Cardinals played the full seven games with St. Louis earning the title of -World Champions- with a 6-3 victory in the series finale.Ref: 86
Oct 20Billy Martin fired as manager of the Oakland A's.Ref: 5
Oct 26Phillie's thirty-seven year old 'Lefty' Steve Carlton (23-11, 3.10) wins the Cy Young Award for an unprecedented fourth time.Ref: 1
Nov 01National League owners block the re-election of Bowie Kuhn thus ending his fourteen year rein as commissioner.Ref: 1
Nov 01Doug Rader becomes the twelfth manager in the Rangers' twelve-year history. The 38-year old managed the Padres' Triple A club for the past three years.Ref: 1
Nov 09Brewer shortstop Robin Yount (.331, 29, 114) wins the AL MVP unanimously.Ref: 1
Nov 11The Orioles get their first new manager since 1968 as Joe Altobelli succeeds the retiring Baltimore skipper, Earl Weaver.Ref: 1
Nov 17Outfielder Dale Murphy (.281, 36, 113) becomes the first Brave to win the National League MVP since Hank Aaron won the award in 1957.Ref: 1
Nov 22Steve Sax (.282, 4, 47) becomes the fourth consecutive Dodger to win the National League Rookie of the Year award.Ref: 1
Nov 24Oriole Cal Ripken (.264, 28, 93) wins the AL Rookie the Year Award; the streak is in its infancy at 118 games.Ref: 1
Nov 26Clyde King named Yankee manager.Ref: 5
Nov 27Philadelphia trades Larry Bowa & Ryne Sandberg to Cubs for Ivan DeJesus.Ref: 5
Dec 16Tom Seaver's trade back to the NY from the Reds is completed when 'Tom Terrific' comes to contract terms with the Mets. Cincinnati obtains pitcher Charlie Puleo and two minor leaguers in exchange for the 'Franchise'.Ref: 1
Dec 22Lee Mazzilli is traded for the third time this season. The Yankees move the first baseman/outfielder to the Pirates for four minor leaguers including Tim Burke.Ref: 1
1983
Jan 10A preliminary injunction is issued by NY Supreme Court barring the Yankees from playing their opening games against the Tigers in Denver. The Bronx Bombers sought to move games fearing the renovations to the stadium would not be completed on time.Ref: 1
Jan 11Billy Martin becomes the Yankee manager for the third time. The fiery skipper replaces Clyde King who will move to the front office.Ref: 1
Jan 12Brooks Robinson becomes the 14th player elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility; the BBWAA also select Juan Marichal.Ref: 1
Jan 13Both Henry Aaron and Frank Robinson are elected to the Hall Of Fame in their first year of eligibility; Aaron falls just nine votes short of being the first player to be elected unanimously by the BBWAA.Ref: 1
Jan 19Cardinal infielder Ozzie Smith becomes the game's first $1 million shortstop as the 'Wizard of Ahs' inks a 3-year pact with St. Louis.Ref: 1
Jan 26The White Sox trade pitchers Steve Trout and Warren Brusstar to their cross-town rivals for pitchers Dick Tidrow and Randy Martz and infielders Pat Tabler and Scott Fletcher.Ref: 1
Jan 31Veteran first baseman Tony Perez signs a one-year contract with the Phillies.Ref: 1
Feb 07The Mariners select Reds minor leaguer Danny Tartabull as compensation for the loss of Floyd Bannister to the White Sox.Ref: 1
Feb 08Baseball orders Mickey Mantle to sever ties with Claridge Casino.Ref: 5
Feb 19Fernando Valenzuela wins his salary arbitration of $1 million.Ref: 5
Mar 10Walter Alston, Dodgers manager, elected to Hall of Fame.Ref: 5
Apr 04A MLB game at an indoor stadium is postponed due to weather for the second time when the roof of the Metrodome, in Minneapolis, collapses under the weight of heavy snow forcing the postponement of a game between the Twins and Angels.Ref: 86
Apr 05New York Mets' Tom Seaver's sets record 14th National League Opening Day assignment.Ref: 5
Apr 10Baltimore's Eddie Murray hits his 1,000 career hit.Ref: 5
Apr 16Setting a NL consecutive game-played record, Dodger first baseman Steve Garvey appears in his 1,118th straight game.Ref: 1
Apr 17Nolan Ryan strikes out his 3,500th batter.Ref: 5
Apr 27Astro Nolan Ryan breaks Walter Johnson's 56-year old record by whiffing Expo pinch-hitter Brad Mills on a 1-2 curveball in the eighth inning for his 3,509th career strikeout.Ref: 1
May 13Reggie Jackson is first major leaguer to strike out 2,000 times.Ref: 5
May 16In an 11-4 rout of the Padres, Met rookie Darryl Strawberry hit his first major league home run.Ref: 1
May 20By whiffing four batters in a 5-0 loss to the Padres, 'Lefty' Steve Carlton moves past Walter Johnson into second place (3,511) on the career all-time strikeout list .Ref: 1
May 22Toronto Blue Jay Cliff Johnson hits record 18th pinch hit homerun.Ref: 5
May 25Kirk Gibson (Tigers) & Jorge Orta (Blue Jays) hit inside park homeruns.Ref: 5
May 30American League president Lee MacPhail suspends Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for one week, for his public criticism of umpires.Ref: 5
Jun 07Phillies Steve 'Lefty' Carlton strikes out Card Lonnie Smith for his 3,522nd career strikeout to pass Nolan Ryan as the all-time strikeout leader.Ref: 1
Jun 10Johnny Bench, all-star catcher of the Cincinnati Reds (elected in 1989 to baseball Hall of Fame), announced his plans to retire from the game. Bench called his 16 years in the big leagues “a boy’s dream.” Bench went on to several endeavors, including restaurant ownership, commercial endorsements (“Rust-Oleum -- no runs, no drips, no errors...”) and as a baseball sportscaster for CBS radio.Ref: 4
Jun 12Hall of Famers Charlie Gehringer and Hank Greenberg have their uniform numbers retired by Detroit in a ballpark ceremony. The digits 2 and 5, respectively, will join Al Kaline's #6 (1980) as the only numbers retired by the Tigers.Ref: 1
Jun 13As a member of the Expos, Pete Rose slashes a double off Phillie hurler Jerry Koosman for his 4,000th career hit as Montreal beats Philadelphia in the Friday the 13th contest at Olympic Stadium, 5-1.Ref: 1
Jun 15The Cardinals trade former MVP and Gold Glover Keith Hernandez for Met pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey.Ref: 1
Jun 20Yankee outfieder Bobby Murcer retires as an active player.Ref: 1
Jun 24Milwaukee Brewer Don Sutton fanned Alan Bannister in the eighth inning of a contest vs Cleveland recording his 3,000th career strikeout. He became the eighth pitcher in Major League history to reach this feat.Ref: 86
Jun 29Pitcher Mark ‘The Bird’ Fidrych of the Detroit Tigers retired from baseball, after several unsuccessful attempts to return to the major leagues. Fidrych had his greatest year as a rookie in 1976, when he had a record of 19-9, with a 2.34 earned-run average. Fidrych, a crowd pleaser throughout the American League, was the All-Star Game starter in Philadelphia in 1976. He also earned Rookie of the Year honors that year.Ref: 4
Jul 03The Texas Rangers set a major league record by scoring 12 runs in an extra inning. Texas send 16 batters to the plate in the 15th inning at Oakland to post a 16-4 victory.Ref: 86
Jul 04Dave Righetti pitches only the sixth regular-season no-hitter in New York Yankee history and the first since 1951, a 4-0 win vs. the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.Ref: 86
Jul 04The Toronto Blue Jays lead the AL East at the All-Star break, a club first.Ref: 86
Jul 06On the 50th anniversary of the Mid-summer classic, Fred Lynn hits the first grand slam in All-Star competition in a record seven-run third inning as the American League also sets a one-game record for runs scored in a 13-3 victory at Chicago's Comiskey Park, the site of the first All-Star game in 1933. The victory ends the National League's 11-game winning streak.Ref: 1
Jul 18Although the Phillies are in first place, manager Pat Corrales is fired and is replaced by general manager Paul Owens.Ref: 1
Jul 22Angel outfielder Brian Downing's American League record consecutive errorless streak ends at 244 games when he misplays Chet Lemon's line drive in a 13-11 loss to the Tigers.Ref: 1
Jul 24The Yankees and Kansas City play the infamous "Pine Tar" game at Yankee Stadium as George Brett hits a two-out, ninth-inning home run off Goose Gossage to give the Royals an apparent 5-4 lead. The umpires nullify the homer because the pine tar on Brett's bat is above the allowable 18 inches and Brett is called out for using an illegal bat. The Yankees win 4-3 (see Aug 18, 1983).Ref: 86
Jul 28American League president Lee MacPhail decides George Brett's 'Pine Tar' home run should count. The remainder of the game will played on August 18 with the Royals beating the Yankees, 5-4.Ref: 1
Jul 29San Diego Padre Steve Garvey dislocates his left thumb in a home plate collision vs. Atlanta, snapping his National League record streak of 1,027 consecutive games played, 3rd-longest in major league history.Ref: 86
Jul 31Brooks Robinson, Juan Marichal, George Kell and Walter Alston are inducted into the Hall of Fame bringing the total of Hall of Famers to 184.Ref: 1
Aug 03Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn resigns after 14 years on the job. Initially, he had been asked to take the job for six months or so.Ref: 4
Aug 04New York Yankee outfielder Dave Winfield threw a baseball during warmups and accidentally killed a seagull! After the game, Toronto police surrounded the slugger and arrested him for “causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.”Ref: 4
Aug 05Vida Blue was released by the KS City Royals. Blue had spent 13 years in the big leagues. At his release by the Royals, the former Cy Young Award winner had gone 0-19 in pitching appearances.Ref: 4
Aug 07The Yankees honor Bobby Mercer by giving him a day at the Yankee Stadium.Ref: 1
Aug 11The City of Arlington and the Texas Rangers announce a new option contract giving the ballclub complete control of Arlington Stadium.Ref: 86
Aug 18Kansas City's protest is upheld and the "Pine Tar" game concludes with the Royals winning 5-4. When play is resumed, Yankee pitcher Ron Guidry is in center field for the final out of the top of the ninth while lefthanded first baseman Don Mattingly is at second. Royals' reliever Dan Quisenberry retires the Yankees in order in the bottom of the ninth.Ref: 86
Aug 21On the same day two minor leaguers, Vince Coleman & Donnell Nixon, break Rickey Henderson's single-season record by stealing their 131st base of the season.Ref: 1
Aug 22Carmelo Martinez of the Chicago Cubs hits a home run in his first major league at bat.Ref: 12
Aug 23Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, plays the last of 745 consecutive games. ("The 1999 ESPN Sports Almanac") 
Aug 24Orioles' southpaw Tippy Martinez picks off three runners in the 10th inning as the Blue Jays take long leads trying to take advantage of his new battery mate, Len Sakata, an infielder pressed into service behind the plate. The converted catcher gets revenge as his three-run homer in the bottom of the frame wins the game, 7-4.Ref: 1
Aug 25Triple A baseball's Louisville breaks 1 million fan mark.Ref: 5
Sep 13Met rookie backstop Mike Fritzgerald becomes the 48th major leaguer to hit a HR in his first big league at bat.Ref: 12
Sep 13Recording his 39th save, Royal Dan Quisenberry breaks the all-time single-season record held by John Hiller. He gets the last two outs in a 4-3 victory over the Angels.Ref: 1
Sep 17Slugger Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox breaks Hank Aaron’s major-league record for games played. ‘Yaz’ played in his 3,299th game.Ref: 4
Sep 17The Cincinnati Reds honored Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench as he ended his 16-year career as a catcher.Ref: 4
Sep 203,112 turn out to see the Pirates play the NY Mets at Shea Stadium.Ref: 5
Sep 23With a victory over the team which traded him, Phillies' southpaw Steve Carlton records his 300th career victory beating the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, 6-2.Ref: 1
Sep 25Bob Forsch pitches 2nd career no-hitter, Cards beat Expos 3-0.Ref: 5
Sep 26Cardinal Bob Forsch pitches his second career no-hitter beating the Expos, 3-0.Ref: 1
Sep 29Oakland A's Mike Warren no-hits Chicago White Sox, 3-0.Ref: 5
Oct 02Carl Yastrezemski's last at bat.Ref: 5
Oct 06In the second game of the ALCS, Oriole hurler Mike Boddicker throws a five-hitter and strikes out a playoff record 14 batters beating the White Sox, 4-0.Ref: 1
Oct 12At Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, the Orioles even the series at a game apiece as they defeat the Phillies, 4-1. In a battle between rookie pitchers, Mike Boddicker throws a three-hitter besting Charles Hudson as John Lowenstein paces the Birds' offense with three hits, including a fifth inning home run.Ref: 1
Oct 16The Baltimore Orioles beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 4 games to 1 in the World Series.The Phillies were led by a group of veterans nicknamed The Wheeze Kids: Pete Rose (age 42), Joe Morgan (40), Tony Perez (41) and Steve Carlton (38).Ref: 4
Nov 02John Denny wins the NL's Cy Young Award. The Prescott, Arizona native posted a 19-6 record with a 2.37 era for NL Champion Phillies.Ref: 1
Nov 08Dale Murphy (.302, 36,121) joins Ernie Banks, Joe Morgan and Mike Scmidt as a player who has won the MVP in consecutive years; the soft-spoken Brave outfielder receives 21 of the 24 votes cast.Ref: 1
Nov 09University of Alabama's first baseman Dave Magadan wins the Golden Spike Award as the United States top amateur player. The Tampa, Florida native hit .535 in NCAA play.Ref: 1
Nov 15Oriole Cal Ripken is named the AL's MVP becoming the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Award in consecutive years.Ref: 1
Nov 17Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens and Jerry Martin become the first active players ever to be sent to prison for drug violations; the judge hands downs a three months sentence to the three Royal players for attempting to purchase cocaine.Ref: 1
Nov 21Met outfielder Darryl Strawberry breaks the Los Angeles' stronghold on the Rookie of the Year Award when he becomes the first non-Dodger to win the honor since 1978.Ref: 1
Nov 22Free-swinger White Sox Ron Kittle (.254 ,35,100) wins the American League Rookie of the Year Award beating out Indian Julio Franco and Oriole Mike Boddicker. The Chicago outfielder struck out a league-leading 150 times.Ref: 1
Dec 05Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Steve Howe is suspended for 1 year for cocaine use.Ref: 5
Dec 153 Kansas City Royals suspended due to cocaine usage.Ref: 5
Dec 16Replacing Billy Martin (91-71, third place), Yogi Berra is hired for the second time to manage the Yankees.Ref: 1
Dec 28Warren Cromartie signs 3 year $2.5 million contract with Yomiuri Giants.Ref: 5
Dec 29Free agent Warren Cromartie signs a $2.5 million contract with the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants. The former Expo is the best American player to date to leave the majors to play in Japan.Ref: 1
1984
Jan 09In his native Dominican Republic, Pascual Perez is arrested for possession of cocaine and will remain in jail missing the start of the season. The Braves' pitcher maintains his innocence claiming he was given the package by an unknown woman.Ref: 1
Jan 10Luis Aparicio, Harmon Killebrew, & D Drysdale are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.Ref: 5
Jan 12The San Diego Padres sign reliever Rich 'Goose' Gossage.Ref: 1
Jan 20Met fans are shocked as the franchise loses future Hall of Famer Tom Seaver for the second time. The White Sox draft the unprotected 'Tom Terrific' as compensation for losing a Type A free agent.Ref: 1
Feb 04The Yankees obtain third baseman Toby Harrah and minor leaguer Rick Brown from the Indians for Dan Boitano, Otis Nixon and minor leaguer Guy Elston.Ref: 1
Feb 08A's take Yankees pitcher Tim Belcher as Type A free agent compensation.Ref: 5
Feb 09After refusing a trade to the A's, two-time all-star Dusty Baker is waived by the Dodgers.Ref: 1
Feb 09Braves pitcher Pascual Perez is arrested for cocaine possession.Ref: 5
Feb 20Pedro Guerrero becomes the highest paid Dodger when he signs a five-year, seven million dollar contract to play in Los Angeles.Ref: 1
Feb 27Giants trade pitcher Fred Breining and Max Venable to the Expos for first baseman Al Oliver.Ref: 1
Mar 03Los Angeles Olympic president Peter Ueberroth is elected baseball's sixth commissioner; he replaces Bowie Kuhn as MLB top executive.Ref: 1
Mar 04The Special Veterans Committee select two outstanding defensive players Pee Wee Reese (.269 16 seasons with Dodgers) and Rick Ferrell (.281 - 18 seasons w/Browns, Red Sox and Senators) to be members of Baseball's Hall of Fame.Ref: 1
Mar 19Pitcher Denny McLain, indicted on various charges of racketeering.Ref: 5
Mar 24The Tigers trade utility player John Wockenfuss and outfielder Glenn Wilson to the Phillies for relief pitcher Willie Hernandez and first baseman Dave Bergman.Ref: 1
Mar 30The Padres obtain Yankee veteran third baseman Graig Nettles for pitcher Dennis Rasmussen and prospect Darin Cloniger.Ref: 1
Apr 02For the first time in ten years, the Mets lose on Opening Day bowing to the Reds, 8-1.Ref: 1
Apr 07Jack Morris of the Detroit Tigers tied the record for the earliest no-hitter in a season when he whipped Chicago 4-0. A national television audience saw Morris strike out eight batters and walk six in the first no-hitter thrown in Comiskey Park, Chicago, in 17 years.Ref: 4
Apr 13On the same date he got his first major league hit 21-years earlier, Pete Rose, as a member of the Expos, doubles off Phillie hurler Jerry Koosman for his 4000th hit.Ref: 1
Apr 16In his first three at-bats, A¹s Dave Kingman hits three HRs, including a grand slam driving in eight runs against the Mariners in a 9-6 victory.Ref: 1
Apr 17Braves pitcher Pascual Perez suspended due to cocaine usage.Ref: 5
Apr 21David Palmer pitched only the fourth shortened, perfect game in major-league baseball history. Palmer was pitching the Montreal Expos to a 4-0 lead over the St. Louis Cardinals when the home plate umpire called the game in five innings when the rains came. Palmer had made 57 pitches.Ref: 4
Apr 27Cleveland Indians beat Detroit Tigers, 8-4, in 19 innings.Ref: 5
Apr 30Strong winds cause a 30 minute delay in Toronto Blue Jays game.Ref: 5
May 02Indians' Andre Thornton ties record for most walks (6 in 16 innings).Ref: 5
May 02Don Mattingly's 7th inning single breaks up LaMarr Hoyt's perfect game bid. The lone hit, an opposite field blooper, is followed up by a double play and the White Sox hurler faces the minimum 27 batters defeating the Yankees, 3-0.Ref: 1
May 04Dave Kingman's fly ball never comes down (stuck in Metrodome ceiling).Ref: 5
May 06Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken Jr hits for the cycle.Ref: 5
May 08The first eight-hour major league game comes to an end when Harold Baines homers with one out in the 25th inning giving the White Sox a 7-6 victory over the Brewers. The game had started the night before but was suspended in the 17th because of a curfew.Ref: 1
May 08Kirby Puckett joins the Minnesota Twins. He records four hits in his first game, played in California, helping Minnesota beat the Angels, 5-0.Ref: 1
May 09Detroit beat Kansas City, 3-1, to tie the record for the best start of any major-league baseball team. The Tigers went 25-4 in their first 29 games -- a record matched only by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955.Ref: 4
May 09It took the Chicago White Sox 25 innings, eight hours, six minutes -- and two days -- to finally defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-6. It was the longest game (in elapsed time) in major-league history. Tom Seaver pitched one inning of relief in the suspended game to notch the win. The game tied the record for the longest game played to a decision.Ref: 4
May 11The Detroit Tigers defeated the California Angels 8-2 and set a major-league record for victories at the beginning of a baseball season. The Tigers, under Sparky Anderson, won 26 of their first 30 games.Ref: 4
May 16Phillie pitcher Steve Carlton hits a grand slam homer.Ref: 5
May 16Mackay pays $218,718 for 44,166 tickets to keep Twins in Minnesota; Twins sell 51,863 tickets but only 6,346 fans show up for the game.Ref: 5
May 16Phillie pitcher Steve Carlton hits a grand slam homer.Ref: 5
May 17Mario Soto of the Cincinnati Reds threw four strikeouts in one inning. Soto was only pitcher number 15 since 1900 to do so. This was the first four-strikeout inning since.Ref: 4
May 20The St Louis Cardinals retire Ken Boyer's uniform no 14.Ref: 29
May 20Boston's Roger Clemens beats Twins, 5-4, for his first victory.Ref: 5
May 23Tying an American League record, the Tigers win their 16th consecutive road game defeating the Angels, 4-2.Ref: 1
May 24The Tigers tie a major league mark set by the 1916 Giants as Detroit defeat the Angels, 5-1 for their 17th consecutive road victory.Ref: 1
May 25Boston Red Sox trade pitcher Dennis Eckersley to Chicago Cubs for Bill Buckner.Ref: 5
May 25The Detroit Tigers tied the 1916 NY Giants as they won their 17th road game in a row, beating the CA Angels 5-1. That game broke the American League mark of 16 that was previously held by the Washington Senators -- dating back to 1912. The Seattle Mariners put a stop to that streak the following night, defeating Detroit 7-3.Ref: 4
May 29Boston Red Sox retires #9 (Ted Williams) & #4 (Joe Cronin).Ref: 5
May 30National League suspends Mario Soto 5 days for Reds-Cubs fight on May 27th.Ref: 5
Jun 02The Toronto Blue Jays win their 19th one-run game in a row.Ref: 86
Jun 13Rick Sutcliffe was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Chicago Cubs. Sutcliffe had been 4-5 for the Indians, but ended the season 16-1 with the Cubs. He led the Cubbies to the National League East Division title.Ref: 4
Jun 21Ray Miller replaces Billy Gardner as the Minnesota Twins' field manager.Ref: 86
Jun 22A prominent local businessman, Carl Pohlad, stepped forward and signed an agreement in principle to purchase the Minnesota Twins from Griffith and his sister, Mrs. Thelma Griffith Haynes, and keep the Twins in Minnesota.Ref: 86
Jun 23Chicago Cub Ryne Sandberg goes 5-for-6 and hits two late-inning game-tying home runs off St. Louis' Bruce Sutter in Cubs' 11-inning 12-11 win.Ref: 86
Jun 24Joe Morgan sets career HR mark for 2nd basemen with #265.Ref: 5
Jun 25Dodger infielder Bill Russell plays his 1,953rd game to become the team's leader in games played.Ref: 1
Jun 27Although he only stole one base all season, Dusty Baker is unstoppable on the base paths as he steals second, third and home in the Giants 12-9 victory over the Reds at Candlestick Park.Ref: 1
Jun 28Dwight Evans game-ending home run gives the Red Sox an 11-inning 9-6 victory over the Mariners. The three-run shot also completes the cycle for the Bosox outfielder.Ref: 1
Jun 29Andre David of the Minnesota Twins hits a home run in his first major league at bat (first game).Ref: 12
Jul 04Yankee hurler Phil Niekro strikes out Ranger Larry Parrish to become the ninth major league player to reach 3,000 strikeout milestone.Ref: 1
Jul 04In a 19 inning game, which goes until just before 4 a.m. the next day, the Mets beat the Braves, 16-13. After the game, the 10,000 fans left in Atlanta Fulton County Stadium are treated to pre-dawn fireworks.Ref: 1
Jul 10Dwight ‘Doc’ Gooden of the New York Mets became the youngest player to appear in an All-Star Game as a pitcher. Gooden was 19 years, 7 months and 24 days old. He led the National League to a 3-1 win at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CA.Ref: 4
Jul 10Dwight ‘Doc’ Gooden of the NY Mets became the youngest player to appear in an All-Star Game as a pitcher. Gooden was 19 years, 7 months and 24 days old. He led the National League to a 3-1 win at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CA.Ref: 4
Jul 11NL beats AL 3-1 in 55th All Star Game (Candlestick Park SF).Ref: 5
Jul 12Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies earned his 100th strikeout of the season and led the Phils to a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Carlton tied a record set by Walter Jonson by getting 100 or more strikeouts in 18 straight seasons. Carlton became baseball’s all-time strikeout leader with 3,813. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phillies, and briefly, for the Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins before retiring and becoming a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.Ref: 4
Jul 20Baseball great Hank Aaron broke Ty Cobb’s record, as he appeared in game number 3,034 of his career. Aaron, age 40, was playing in his 20th season of major-league baseball.Ref: 4
Jul 26In a 5-4 win over the Pirates, Expo Pete Rose singles for the 3,052nd time tying him Ty Cobb on the all-time career single list.Ref: 1
Jul 27Pete Rose passes Ty Cobb as the all-time single leader as he collects his 3,053rd off Steve Carlton in a 6-1 Expo victory over the Phillies.Ref: 1
Jul 30Reggie Jackson hit the 494th home run of his career, passing the Yankees’ Lou Gehrig and taking over 13th place on the all-time home run list. Larry Sorenson was the victim who gave up Reggie’s milestone homer.Ref: 4
Aug 04Cliff Johnson sets a record with his 19th pinch hit HR.Ref: 5
Aug 05Toronto’s Cliff Johnson set a major-league baseball record by hitting the 19th pinch-hit home run in his career as he led the Blue Jays to a 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles. The Blue Jays also steal 7 bases.Ref: 4
Aug 05Lou Pinella day at Yankee Stadium.Ref: 5
Aug 07Jim Deshales becomes 1,000th playing Yankee.Ref: 5
Aug 11The Cincinnati Reds honored All-Star and Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench by retiring his uniform (#5) this day.Ref: 4
Aug 12Luis Aparicio and Don Drysdale, who began their playing careers on the same day (in 1956), were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Also inducted were Pee Wee Reese, Harmon Killebrew and Rick Ferrell.Ref: 4
Aug 14The Chicago White Sox retire Luis Aparicio's uniform #11.Ref: 29
Aug 15Pete Rose returned to become player and manager of the Cincinnati Reds after being away from his hometown for six years. Rose had been in Philadelphia and Montreal.Ref: 4
Aug 17Pete Rose returns to Cin Reds as player-manager (gets 2 hits).Ref: 5
Aug 21Victoria Roche was the first girl to compete in a Little League World Series game. The reserve outfielder from Belgium played in the annual event held in Williamsport, PA with her brother, starting outfielder Jeremy Roche.Ref: 4
Aug 22By striking out nine Padres, Met phenom 19-year old Dwight Gooden becomes the 11th rookie to strike out 200 batters in a season.Ref: 1
Aug 30Jim Rice grounds into his 33rd double play of the season establishing a new major league mark. The Red Sox outfielder breaks 1954 record set by another Boston flycatcher, Jackie Jensen.Ref: 1
Sep 03Bruce Sutter of the St. Louis Cardinals set a National League record by earning his 38th save of the season. Three hurlers had previously held the record, Clay Carroll, Rollie Fingers and Sutter, with 37 saves. The Cardinals defeated the NY Mets, 7-3.Ref: 4
Sep 07On his way to hurling a one-hitter, Doc Gooden fans Cub Ron Cey for his 228th strikeout setting a NL rookie record. The Met phenom passes Grover Cleveland Alexander, who established the mark in 1911 with 227.Ref: 1
Sep 07The sale of the Minnesota Twins to Carl Pohlad from the Griffith family are finalized.Ref: 86
Sep 09CA Angel Michael Witt is 11th to pitch a perfect baseball game.Ref: 5
Sep 12Striking out Marvell Wynne in the sixth inning, Dwight Gooden breaks the season strikeout record for a rookie. By whiffing 16 Pirates, Doc's total of 251 is six more than Herb Score¹s 1955 mark.Ref: 1
Sep 17Seventeen years to the day after his first major-league home run, Reggie Jackson of the CA Angels hit his 500th career homer -- in a game against the KS City Royals.Ref: 4
Sep 17Dwight Gooden ties a major league record with 32 strikeouts in two consecutive games striking out 16 Phillies in a 2-1 loss at Veterans Stadium.Ref: 1
Sep 18Tigers become 4th team to stay in first place from opening day.Ref: 5
Sep 20A 5-4 win over San Francisco gives the San Diego Padres their first division crown.Ref: 86
Sep 23Sparky Anderson becomes the first manager ever to win more than 100 games in a season in each league when the Tigers defeat the Yankees, 4-1.Ref: 1
Sep 24The Cubs clinch the NL East flag, their first title since 1945, as Rick Suttcliffe two-hits the Pirates, 4-2.Ref: 1
Sep 25Mets' Rusty Staub becomes only the second player to hit home run as a teenager and one after his 40th birthday. Ty Cobb was the first major leaguer to accomplish the feat.Ref: 1
Sep 265,251 turn out to see the Phillies play the NY Mets at Shea Stadium.Ref: 5
Sep 30On the final day of the season, Angel Mike Witt uses only 97 pitches to retire 27 consecutive hitters as he throws a perfect game against the Texas Rangers and beats Charlie Hough, 1-0 on an unearned run.Ref: 1
Sep 30Yankee Don Mattingly wins the American League batting title with .343 average.Ref: 1
Oct 01Peter Ueberroth replaces Bowie Kuhn as 6th commissioner of baseball.Ref: 5
Oct 02The Chicago Cubs crush the Padres 13-0 in the North Sider's first postseason game since 1945.Ref: 86
Oct 04Yanks clinch AL East.Ref: 5
Oct 04“There it goes! It could be, it might be, it’s...” A sad day for long-suffering Chicago Cubs fans. Chicago lost to the Padres 7-1 in the National League Championship Series.Ref: 4
Oct 07The Padres win the NLCS as Tony Gwynn's seventh inning two-run double breaks a 3-3 tie. The Cubs had a 2-0 game advantage as well as 3-0 lead in the deciding Game 5, but were unable to end the thirty-nine year World Series appearance drought.Ref: 1
Oct 14George ‘Sparky’ Anderson’s Detroit Tigers walloped the Padres 8-4 in the Motor City and Anderson became the first baseball manager to win 100 games and a World Series in both leagues. Not since 1927 had a team won the World Series after leading its division since the first day of the season. The Tigers beat the Padres 4 games to 1.Ref: 4
Nov 06Willie Hernandez joins Rollie Fingers as the only other reliever to win the MVP award and Cy Young Award in the same season. The Tiger closer had edged out fellow relief pitcher Dan Quisenberry for the top pitching prize a week ago.Ref: 1
Nov 13Ryne Sandberg (314, 19, 84) becomes the first Cub to win the National MVP Award since Ernie Banks did it in 1959 .Ref: 1
Nov 1920-year-old Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets became the youngest major-league pitcher to be named Rookie of the Year in the National League. The Mets pitcher led the majors with 276 strikeouts.Ref: 4
Nov 20Mariner first baseman Alvin Davis (.284, 27,116) wins the AL Rookie of the Year Award.Ref: 1
Nov 22Mariner first baseman/DH Alvin Davis wins the American League Rookie of the Year Award easily outdistancing his teammate pitcher Mark Langston and Twins' outfielder Kirby Puckett.Ref: 1
Dec 05It's a busy day for the Yankees as the Bronx Bombers obtain base-stealing outfielder Rickey Henderson and pitcher Bert Bradley from the A¹s in exchange for pitchers Jay Howell and Jose Rijo, outfielder Stan Javier, and minor leaguers Tim Birtsas and Eric Plunk and also trade catcher Rick Cerone to the Braves for pitcher Brian Fisher.Ref: 1
Dec 27Free agent Ed Whitson, 14-8 with Padres, signs a five-year $4.4 million contract with the Yankees. The deal becomes a nightmare for both the pitcher and the team.Ref: 1
Dec 28Free agent Ed Whitson, 14-8 with Padres, signs a five-year $4.4 million contract with the Yankees. The deal becomes a nightmare for both the pitcher and the team.Ref: 1
1985
Jan 07Lou Brock & Hoyt Wilhelm are elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame.Ref: 5
Feb 01The Giants trade Jack Clark to the Cardinals for David Green, Jose Uribe, Dave LaPoint and Gary Rajsich.Ref: 1
Feb 11Kent Hrbek became the first player in the history of the Minnesota Twins to sign a contract for $1 million. The first baseman signed a five-year, $6-million pact at the same time that the Twins celebrated their 24th year as an American League franchise.Ref: 4
Feb 21Tim Raines is awarded a $12 million salary for 1985 by arbitrator.Ref: 5
Feb 27Infielder Toby Harrah, an original Ranger, is traded by the Yankees to Texas for outfielder Billy Sample and a player to be named later.Ref: 1
Feb 27Dale Berra started his first day as a New York Yankee. It marked the first significant father-son combination in major-league baseball.Ref: 4
Feb 28Rick Reuschel signs as a free-agent with the Pirates and spends the first two months in the minors. After being called up in May, he wins 14 games and the Comeback Player of the Year Award.Ref: 1
Mar 06Enos Slaughter & Arky Vaughan are elected to baseball Hall of Fame.Ref: 5
Mar 16Denny McLain, pitcher; convicted of racketeering, sentenced to 25 yrs.Ref: 5
Mar 18Commissioner Ueberroth reinstates Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays; they had been banned from associating with MLB due to their employment with Atlantic City casinos.Ref: 5
Mar 25It's bad news for the Cubs as a judge rules laws banning night games are constitutional. The Cubs brought suit after having to give up a home playoff game last season due to the lack of lights at Wrigley.Ref: 1
Apr 01George Plimpton played an April Fool’s joke on readers of Sports Illustrated this day by introducing the entire nation to Sidd Finch, a 28-year-old aspiring monk, who could throw a 168 MPH fastball! Plimpton later admitted that Finch was the figment of a most active imagination.Ref: 4
Apr 03The owners' proposal of expanding the 1985 League Championship Series from the best-of-five games to best-of-seven is agreed to by the Players' Association .Ref: 1
Apr 08White Sox Opening Day starter Tom Seaver establishes a big league record with his 15th Opening Day assignment. The previous record of 14 was held by Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators.Ref: 1
Apr 09White Sox hurler Tom Seaver makes his 15th opening-day start breaking Christy Mathewson's record.Ref: 1
Apr 10Cal Ripken sprains his left ankle during a pickoff play in the third inning of a game (444 of the streak) against the Rangers. The 'Iron man' does not leave the game and X-rays taken later on reveal no fractures.Ref: 1
Apr 10Relief pitcher, Dan Quisenberry was signed by the Kansas City Royals to a contract that promised he would “...never wear another uniform.” The lifetime pact was worth $43 million, after taxes, over a 40-year period. Quisenberry became known as the ‘Fireman’, for putting out late-inning fires and saving games for the Royals. The contract made him the game’s highest-paid reliever.Ref: 4
Apr 11Nursing a sprained left ankle suffered during a pickoff play in yesterday's game against the Rangers, Cal Ripken does not play in an exhibition game against the midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.Ref: 1
Apr 15Ozzie Smith was awarded a $2-million annual contract by the St. Louis Cardinals. Smith became the richest infielder in baseball with the contract.Ref: 4
Apr 16Mickey Mantle, banned from baseball in 1983 because of his association with an Atlantic City casino, was reinstated on this day. He threw out the first pitch to a standing ovation as the New York Yankees played their home opener against the Chicago White Sox.Ref: 4
Apr 19A Central Regional High School student, Al Leiter, used a blazing 85-mph fastball to strike out 32 batters on the way to a 0-0 tie! The game, played in Berkeley Township, NJ, was called after 13 innings. Leiter’s effort was just five short of the record set in 1971.Ref: 4
Apr 20In South Meriden, Connecticut Little League action, Matt Panetta's timely hitting and outstanding defensive play helps Katz defeat MIC, 6-2. The 11-year old is awarded the game ball as a result of his efforts.Ref: 1
Apr 25Los Angeles Dodger Fernando Valenzuela set the major league record for consecutive innings at the start of the season without allowing an earned run with 41 before the Padres ended the streak.Ref: 86
Apr 28For the fourth time, Billy Martin is named manager of the Yankees, this time replacing Yogi Berra.Ref: 1
Apr 28Fernando Valenzuela sets record of 41 scoreless innings to start season.Ref: 5
Apr 29Texas Ranger Larry Parrish hits three homers as Texas beats the Yankees, 7-5, at Arlington Stadium. It is the fourth time in his career for Parrish to accomplish the feat and he becomes the fifth player in major league history to do it in both leagues.Ref: 86
Apr 29George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, fired manager Yogi Berra. Berra was canned after only 16 games into the young baseball season. In his place, Steinbrenner brought Billy Martin back ... for the fourth time.Ref: 4
Apr 30Dale Murphy drives in record tying 28th & 29th runs of April.Ref: 5
May 01Jimmy Key becomes the first left-handed starter in 614 games to win a game for Blue Jays.Ref: 1
May 11Dave Concepcion becomes 4th Cincinnati Red teammate to get 2,000 hits, the others include Pete Rose, Tony Perez & Cesar Cedeno.Ref: 5
May 12After establishing a record 458 games being played before the first rain out a season, the Brewer-Indian game is washed out in Cleveland.Ref: 1
May 13Carlton Fisk becomes the 5th catcher to steal 100 bases.Ref: 5
May 13Tony Perez became the oldest major-league baseball player to hit a grand slam home run. Perez hit the grand slam for the Cincinnati Reds -- helping the Reds to a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros. Perez was just a month shy of his 43rd birthday when he connected for the big dinger.Ref: 4
May 13Trailing 8-0, the Yankees rally to beat the Twins 9-8 thanks to Don Mattingly's ninth inning two-out three-run HR.Ref: 1
May 17The Rangers fire manger Doug Rader and replace him with Mets' third base coach Bobby Valentine.Ref: 1
May 20The Toronto Blue Jays gain sole possession of 1st place, a position they would not relinquish for the remainder of the season.Ref: 86
May 20Indians-Brewers game at Cleveland Stadium is first rain-out of 1985, ends record string of 458 ML games since Opening Day without a rain-out.Ref: 5
May 22Pete Rose 2,108th run passes Hank Aaron as National League run scoring leader.Ref: 5
May 25CBS radio began network baseball coverage for the first time in 25 years as Brent Musberger called the play-by-play for the Los Angeles Dodgers-NY Mets game. The Mutual Broadcasting System was the last radio network to have offered regular coverage of baseball back in 1960.Ref: 4
May 29The Philadelphia Phillies moved Golden Glove third baseman Mike Schmidt to first base. He was replaced at third base with rookie Rick Schu.Ref: 4
May 30ABC-TV announced that every game of the World Series would be played under the lights for the biggest baseball audience possible.Ref: 4
Jun 02Tommy Sandt had one of those days. Sandt, a major-league baseball player, became one of the few people to be told, “Yer, outta here!” by a home plate umpire -- before the national anthem was played! Sandt got the heave-ho while turning in his team’s lineup card and taking just a moment to complain about an umpire’s call against his team the night before.Ref: 4
Jun 07Kevin Koch quit as the Pirate Parrot, the mascot of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He felt his feathers had been ruffled enough, since 1970.Ref: 4
Jun 08Pirates score 10 in top of first, but lose 15-11 to Phillies, as Steve becomes 1st Phillie to switch hit HRs in the same game.Ref: 5
Jun 11Von Hayes of the Philadelphia Phillies became the 21st player in major-league baseball history to hit a pair of home runs in one inning as he led the Phillies to a 26-7 cakewalk over the NY Mets.Ref: 4
Jun 14Earl Weaver returned to manage the American League Baltimore Orioles, after a 2-1/2-year retirement. Weaver is said to have turned down 11 managing offers, but said “Yes” to Attorney Edward Bennett Williams, the owner of the Orioles, when asked to return to take over the reins of the team.Ref: 4
Jun 15The Chicago Cubs, in professional baseball since 1876, celebrated their 16,000th game by losing to the St. Louis Cardinals, 2-0.Ref: 4
Jun 19Reggie Jackson hits his 513th HR to move into 10th place.Ref: 5
Jun 21Ray Miller replaced Billy Gardner as manager of the Minnesota Twins. Miller became the fourth new manager to unpack his suitcase in the American League since the season started, two months previous.Ref: 4
Jun 25Due to bat boy Butch Wynegar being hit by a line drive foul ball, Yankees officials enact a new rule mandating the team¹s bat boys wear protective helmets during all games.Ref: 1
Jun 26At Clearwater¹s Jack Russell Stadium, Wilbur Snapp, the organist, is ejected by umpire Keith O¹Connor from a Class A Florida League game for playing Three Blind Mice following a close call.Ref: 1
Jun 30Dodger Pedro Guerrero ties major league record hitting 15 home runs in the month of June.Ref: 1
Jul 01Robin Yount of the Milwaukee Brewers got hit #1,800 of his career, leading the "Brew Crew" past the Boston Red Sox 5-1.Ref: 4
Jul 02Joe Niekro earned win #200 in his career by leading the Houston Astros to a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres in the Astrodome. Joe, famous for the knuckle ball, has a brother, Phil, who also threw the wacky pitch.Ref: 4
Jul 05Baseball history was made when the NY Mets finally beat the Atlanta Braves (by a 16-13 score) in Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium. A five-run rally for the Mets in the 19th inning sealed the win at 3:55 a.m. The line score of the game: 46 hits, 29 runs, 19 innings, two rain delays and the game length was 6 hours and 10 minutes. A Fourth of July fireworks show followed the game (at 4 a.m.).Ref: 4
Jul 08Mrs. Marge Schott is named club President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cincinnati Reds.Ref: 86
Jul 11Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros became the first major-league pitcher to earn 4,000 strikeouts in a career as he led the Astros to a 4-3 win over the NY Mets. Danny Heep, formerly of the Astros, gave Ryan his milestone by fanning on three straight pitches.Ref: 4
Jul 13The Yankees retire uniform numbers for Roger Maris (9) and Elston Howard (32).Ref: 30
Jul 15Baseball players voted to strike on August 6th if no contract was reached with baseball owners. The strike action turned out to be just a one-day interruption.Ref: 4
Jul 16The largest crowd to see a baseball game in Minnesota came out to see Darryl Strawberry of the New York Mets score two runs to lead the National League to a 6-1 victory over the American League. The All-Star Game crowd numbered 54,960. It was the 12th win in 13 games for the National League.Ref: 4
Jul 16The All-Star Game, televised this day, was the first program broadcast in stereo by a TV network. The NBC milestone soon led to sound enhancement of other network shows.Ref: 4
Jul 23Oddibe McDowell becomes the first Texas Ranger ever to hit for the cycle with a 5-for-5 effort against the Cleveland Indians at Arlington Stadium. His eight consecutive hits (three the previous game) tie a team record.Ref: 86
Jul 28Lou Brock, Enos Slaughter, Hoyt Wilhelm and Arky Vaughn were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, NY. Wilhelm of the Chicago White Sox was the first relief pitcher to make the Hall of Fame.Ref: 4
Aug 04Angel Rod Carew singles off of Twin Frank Viola in the third inning to become the 16th major leaguer to amass 3000 hits.Ref: 5
Aug 04At the Yankee Stadium, White Sox Tom Seaver becomes the 17th player in major league history to win 300 games as he six-hits the Bronx Bombers, 4-1. All of the Yankees' hits are singles.Ref: 1
Aug 04Phil Rizzuto Day, his uniform number 10 is retired.Ref: 30
Aug 05Baseball players go on strike for 2 days.Ref: 5
Aug 05White Sox Tom Seaver becomes the 17th player in MLB history to win his 300th game when he six-hits the Yankees 6-2 at Yankee Stadium.Ref: 1
Aug 05Darryl Strawberry belts three HRs helping to beat the Cubs, 7-2, and puts the Mets into first place in the NL East.Ref: 1
Aug 07Baseball players end a 2 day strike.Ref: 5
Aug 08Major League Baseball's new basic agreement permits the National League to expand by two teams to match the American League's 14.Ref: 86
Aug 11Oakland A's Dave Kingman becomes the 21st to hit 400 HR.Ref: 5
Aug 17Dave Kingman hits his 400th HR.Ref: 5
Aug 20Mets' phenom Doc Gooden strikes out 16 Giants in a 3-0 victory over San Francisco to become the first NL pitcher to strike out 200 or more batters in each of his first two seasons.Ref: 1
Aug 24Yankee Don Baylor ties a Major League record when he hit by a pitch for the 189th time in his career.Ref: 1
Aug 25Met Dwight Gooden becomes the youngest (20 years, 9 months. & 9 days) pitcher to win 20 games in a season. Bob Feller was a month older when he accomplished the feat in 1939.Ref: 1
Aug 26Baltimore Oriole Eddie Murray knocks in 9 RBIs in a game vs Calif Angels.Ref: 5
Aug 29Yankee Don Baylor is hit by a pitch for the 190th time breaking the AL record established by Minnie Minoso.Ref: 1
Sep 02A's Jose Canseco strikes out in his first major league at-bat.Ref: 1
Sep 03NY Met Gary Carter hits 3 consecutive HRs in a game.Ref: 5
Sep 04Following a three-homer game last night, Gary Carter ties a major league record by hitting two solo homers to become the 11th player in major league history to hit five home runs in two games.Ref: 1
Sep 08At Wrigley Field off Cubs' hurler Reggie Patterson, Pete Rose gets two hits, including a historic single to tie Ty Cobb's career record of 4,191 hits. The game will be suspended due to darkness which will enable the Reds' player-manager to break the record at home.Ref: 1
Sep 11Cincinnati Red Pete Rose breaks Ty Cobb's all-time career hits record by ripping a single off the Padres' Eric Show at Riverfront Stadium for career hit number 4,192. The single came in the first inning of the game.Ref: 86
Sep 15Houston Astro Cruz reaches the 2,000 hit plateau. 
Sep 20Curtis Strong is convicted for selling cocaine to pro baseball players.Ref: 5
Sep 22St Louis Cardinals set an unusual streak record by winning 9 of 10 games, each pitched by a different man.Ref: 5
Sep 24Andre Dawson hits two homers in the same inning for the second time in his career becoming the second major leaguer to accomplish the feat. The Expo outfielder also went yard twice in the same frame on July 30, 1978.Ref: 1
Oct 02The Galbreath family and Warner Communications sell the Pirates to the Pittsburgh Associates which is a group of private investors committed to keeping the team in Pittsburgh.Ref: 1
Oct 05The Toronto Blue Jays win the A.L. East when Doyle Alexander beat the Yankees 5-1. The Jays finished with 99 wins and went on to play the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS, losing a tight seven-game series.Ref: 86
Oct 06Yankee Phil Niekro becomes the 18th pitcher to win 300 games & also at 46 becomes the oldest to pitch a shut-out beating Toronto 8-0.Ref: 5
Oct 11In Game 3 of the ALCS, Royals beat the Blue Jays, 6-5 as George Brett contributes to the victory going 4-for-4, driving in three runs and scoring four times.Ref: 1
Oct 14Ozzie Smith provides one of the most memorable moments in Cardinals history by hitting a dramatic homer to win Game 5 of the NLCS. The round-tripper was the first lefthanded home run of the Wizard's career (3009 at-bats) .Ref: 1
Oct 16In Game 6 of the NLCS, Cardinal first baseman Jack Clark's dramatic come-from-behind ninth inning HR with two outs and two on stuns a sold-out Dodger Stadium. St. Louis wins the game, 7-5 and captures the National League flag.Ref: 1
Oct 17Lou Pinella is named Yankee manager replacing Billy Martin.Ref: 1
Oct 25Jimy Williams succeeds Bobby Cox as the Toronto Blue Jays manager.Ref: 86
Oct 26Umpire Don Denkinger's controversial first base call helps the Royals to beat their cross-state rivals, 2-1 in Game 6 of the World Series. Jorge Orta was called safe even though it appeared Cardinal first baseman Jack Clark's throw to Todd Worrell covering the bag had beat him.Ref: 1
Oct 27The Kansas City Royals become the sixth team to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win the Fall Classic as series MVP Bret Saberhagen blanks the Cardinals on four hits,11-0; Joaquin Andujar is thrown out of the game for arguing ball and strikes calls.Ref: 1
Oct 29Cardinal pitcher Joaquin Andujar is suspended for the first ten games of next season as a result of bumping Don Denkinger twice during his Game 7 dispute with the home plate ump over ball and strikes calls.Ref: 1
Nov 13Dwight Gooden, youngest 20 game winner, wins Cy Young award.Ref: 5
Nov 14The all-time major league save leader with 341, Rollie Fingers, is released by the Brewers at the age of 39.Ref: 1
Nov 20Jim Leyland replaces Chuck Tanner as manager of the Pirates. The Bucs (57-104) finished in last place in 1984.Ref: 1
Nov 20Yankee Don Mattingly named AL MVP.Ref: 5
Dec 18The Giants trade Rob Deer to the Brewers for farmhands Eric Pilkington and Dean Freeland.Ref: 1
1986
Jan 08Willie McCovey is 16th elected to Hall of Fame in his first year.Ref: 5
Jan 21Former major-league player Randy Bass signs to become the highest-paid baseball player in Japanese history. Bass signed a deal for three years at $3.25 million. He played for the Hanshin Tigers.Ref: 4
Jan 28The Rangers sign free-agent catcher Darrell Porter to a one-year contract.Ref: 1
Feb 02After returning from a three year absence due to a knee injury, Dennis Leonard announces his retirement. The former three-time twenty game winner was 8-13 with an ERA of 4.44 in his comeback attempt with the Royals.Ref: 1
Feb 06The Yankees sign free-agent Al Holland. Holland saved five games for three different teams last season.Ref: 1
Feb 12Recently acquired by the White Sox from the Yankees, catcher Ron Hassey is traded back to the Bronx Bombers along with three minor-leaguers for Neil Allen, Scott Bradley and a minor leaguerRef: 1
Feb 13Recently acquired by the White Sox from the Yankees, catcher Ron Hassey is traded back to the Bronx Bombers along with three minor-leaguers for Neil Allen, Scott Bradley and a minor leaguerRef: 1
Feb 16American and National League stars play a slow-pitch softball game. The American League wins, 20-5. (XDG, p 4A, 2/16/01)Ref: 83
Feb 20Los Angeles Dodger’s pitching ace Orel Hershiser became the first player to receive a one million dollar salary by arbitration. He was a 19-game winner in 1985 at the age of 27. By 1996, Hershiser was pitching for the Cleveland Indians.Ref: 4
Feb 21In defiance of the Red's policy, Rollie Fingers refuses to cut off his trademark handlebar mustache and will retire from baseball.Ref: 1
Feb 23Although he loses his arbitration case, Red Sox Wade Boggs receives the largest amount (1.35 million) ever awarded by this process.Ref: 1
Feb 24Padre manager Dick Williams resigns and will be replaced by Steve Boros.Ref: 1
Feb 28Peter Uberroth suspends 7 baseball players for 1 year, after they admitted in Curtis Strong's trial in September, they used drugs.Ref: 5
Mar 10Ernie Lombardi, National League MVP in 1938, & Bobby Doerr, elected to Hall of Fame.Ref: 5
Mar 13In a Royal pre-season game, Hal McRae (age 39) and his son Brian (age 18) play together against the Phillies. Kansas City manager Dick Howser refers to the event as the 'Big Mac Attack'.Ref: 1
Mar 21Pittsburgh Associates buy Pittsburgh Pirates for $218 million.Ref: 5
Mar 22Yankee pitcher Britt Burns, an 18-game winner with the White Sox last season, will miss the entire season due to a degenerative hip condition.Ref: 1
Mar 28The Red Sox trade designated hitter Mike Easler to the Yankees for designated hitter Don BaylorRef: 1
Apr 07Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans becomes the first player to hit the first pitch on Opening Day for a home run. Jack Morris throws the gopher ball but gets the win as the Tigers edges Boston, 6-5.Ref: 1
Apr 08Facing Nolan Ryan of the Astros, Giant rookie Will Clark homers in his first major league at-batRef: 1
Apr 08The Mariners' Jim Presley hits two home runs in the ninth and tenth innings helping Seattle to beat the Angels, 8-4 in a dramatic comeback victory on Opening Day.Ref: 1
Apr 08It took 18 years of singing the U.S. national anthem, but on this day, at long last, baritone Robert Merrill of the Metropolitan Opera became the first person to both sing the anthem and throw out the first ball at Yankee Stadium for the Yanks home opener.Ref: 4
Apr 08The Atlanta Braves unveil their newest mascot "Rally", who replaces "Noc-A-Homa", the Braves mascot since 1969. (Walburn, Lee, "The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution" p D1, 4/08/1986) (Courtesy Scott Sutton)Ref: 5
Apr 26Baseball game between California Angels & Minnesota Twins delayed for 9 minutes by strong winds.Ref: 5
Apr 29Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens breaks the major league record by striking out 20 Mariners in nine innings, including tying a AL mark with eight consecutive K's.Ref: 1
Apr 30Seattle Mariners strike out 16 times, set record of 36 in 2 consecutive games.Ref: 5
May 03Cubs 3rd baseman Ron Cey hits his 300th & 301 homerun.Ref: 5
May 03Don Mattingly connects for three sacafrice flies in a 9-4 win over the Rangers. The Yankee first baseman is only the sixth player to accomplish this feat.Ref: 1
May 14Cardinal Jose Oquendo becomes the first non-pitcher to get a major league decision losing to the Braves in nineteen innings, 7-5.Ref: 1
May 14Angel Reggie Jackson homers off Red Sox hurler Roger Clemens to surpass Mickey Mantle on the all-time HR list with 537 and moves into 6th place on the all-time list.Ref: 1
May 21Rafael Ramirez doubles four times in seven at-bats in Braves' 13-inning victory over the Cubs, 9-8.Ref: 1
May 25Kansas City Royal George Brett gets his 2,000th hit.Ref: 5
May 28White Sox Joe Cowley sets record striking out first 7 Rangers he faces.Ref: 5
Jun 04Barry Bonds hits is first home run, in Atlanta, off of Criag McCurtry. (USA Today, p. 8C, 10/08/2001)Ref: 13
Jun 06Before the game against the Braves, Padre skipper Steve Boros tries to give ump Charlie Williams a videotape of a disputed play from the previous night and is ejected prior to the first pitch of the game.Ref: 1
Jun 07Amos Otis and Steve Busby are honored during a pre-game ceremony as they become the first inductees into the newly created Royals Hall of Fame.Ref: 1
Jun 08In the longest nine inning game in AL history, the Orioles beat the Yankees 18-9 in four hours and sixteen minutes.Ref: 1
Jun 09Angel Don Sutton (298 wins) beats White Sox Tom Seaver (306 wins) 3-0.Ref: 5
Jun 10A Bartlett Giamatti becomes president of baseball's NL.Ref: 5
Jun 13Steve Garvey first ejection from a game, after Atlanta's triple-play.Ref: 5
Jun 16Angel hurler Don Sutton three-hits the Rangers for his 300th career victory.Ref: 1
Jun 18Don Sutton of the CA Angels pitched his 301st career win to lead Gene Autry’s ball club to a 6-4 win over the TX Rangers. Sutton, formerly of the LA Dodgers, had earned his 300th win five days previously -- also over the Rangers.Ref: 4
Jun 18Giant Robby Thompson sets a major league record when he is thrown out four times trying to steal in the 12-inning 7-6 victory over the Reds.Ref: 1
Jun 20Toronto Blue Jay Cliff Johnson homers vs. Detroit for his major league leading 20th career pinch-hit home run.Ref: 86
Jun 27Robby Thompson (SF) sets record, caught stealing 4 times in 1 game.Ref: 5
Jun 27Toronto Blue Jay Damaso Garcia ties a major league record with four doubles vs. New York.Ref: 86
Jun 29Boston Red Sox trade for Tom Seaver.Ref: 5
Jun 29Sparky Anderson is first to win 600 games as manager in both leagues.Ref: 5
Jun 30Going 1-for-4, football star Bo Jackson makes his pro baseball debut with the Memphis Chicks.Ref: 1
Jul 02The Blue Jays scores three runs in the eighth inning to beat the Red Sox and Roger Clemens, 4-2. The loss prevents the 'Rocket' from getting a record-tying 15th consecutive winning decision.Ref: 1
Jul 06Atlanta Braves' Bob Horner hits four homers in an 11-8 loss to the Montreal Expos.Ref: 86
Jul 08Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves, plays the last of 740 consecutive games. ("The 1999 ESPN Sports Almanac") 
Jul 09Dale Murphy's consecutive-game streak comes to an end at 740 games. The Braves' outfielder hadn't missed a game since September of 1981.Ref: 1
Jul 10Toronto Blue Jay Damaso Garcia becomes the first player to register 1000 hits in a Blue Jays uniform.Ref: 86
Jul 13Kent Tekulve of the Philadelphia Phillies broke the National League record for relief appearances by notching his 820th performance. He helped the Phils with an 11-inning victory over the Houston Astros (5-4). Elroy Face of Pittsburgh had been the previous record holder in the National League.Ref: 4
Jul 15AL beats NL for 2nd time in 15 yrs, winning 57th All-Star Game 3-2.Ref: 5
Jul 18Royals announce manager Dick Howser, who led the team World Championship last season, will miss the rest of the season to undergo treatment for a brain tumor.Ref: 1
Jul 19Indian pitcher Phil Niekro wins his 307th game tying him with Mickey Welch for 14th place on all time win list.Ref: 5
Jul 28Jim Clancy becomes the first pitcher to record 100 wins in a Blue Jays uniform.Ref: 86
Jul 29Sparky Anderson, the first skipper to win the World Series in each league, also becomes the first manager to win 600 games in the NL and AL when the Tigers beat the Brewers, 9-5.Ref: 1
Aug 01Twin Bert Blyleven becomes the tenth major leaguer to record 3,000 strikeouts as he two-hits the A's, 10-1.Ref: 1
Aug 05At Candlestick Park, Reds' center fielder Eric Davis becomes the 4000th strike out victim of Giants' southpaw Steve Carlton. The historic whiff occurs in the third inning with two runners on base and no outs in the eventual Reds' 11-6 victory.Ref: 1
Aug 06Ranger infielder Toby Harrah hits a second inning grand slam and Larry Sheets and Jim Dwyer both go deep for grand slams in the Orioles' nine-run fourth as Texas beats Baltimore, 13-11 establishing a new record for bases-full homers in one game.Ref: 1
Aug 08Record 3 grandslams in a game-(Harrah-Tex, Sheets & Dwyer-Orioles).Ref: 5
Aug 10Billy Martin’s uniform number 1 was retired by the New York Yankees. He was the 13th Yankee great to receive the honor.Ref: 4
Aug 11Breaking Max Carey's mark, Cincinnati Reds' Pete Rose sets a National League record with his tenth five-hit game of his career. 'Charlie Hustle' singles four times and doubles in the 13-4 loss to the Giants.Ref: 1
Aug 12Rod Carew became the first player in the history of the CA Angels franchise to have his uniform retired. Number 29 played for the Angels for seven years.Ref: 4
Aug 12Don Baylor gets hits by a pitch for a record 25th time in a season.Ref: 5
Aug 12Red Sox pitcher Tim Lollar gets a pinch-hit single.Ref: 5
Aug 13After 22 seasons, Tony Perez of the Cincinnati Reds announced his plan to retire at the end of the 1986 season. That would leave Pete Rose and George Foster as the only remaining, active players from the original Big Red Machine of the 1970s.Ref: 4
Aug 14Reds' player-manager Pete Rose collects his 4,256th and final hit of off Giant reliever Greg Minton. (Thanks to Danny O'Brien for tracking down Greg Minton and Pete Rose to verify this fact)Ref: 1
Aug 14Phillies & Pirates play a 6 game series in 4 days.Ref: 5
Aug 20Phils Don Carmen perfect game bid is broken in the 9th.Ref: 5
Aug 21The Boston Red Sox made history against the Cleveland Indians. The Red Sox whipped the Indians 24-5 in the worst loss in the Tribe’s 85-year history. Greg Swindell made his major-league debut on the mound for the Indians. Dennis ‘Oil Can’ Boyd got a 17-run lead for Boston and, luckily, held on for the win. Spike Owens becomes the first major leaguer in 40 years to score six runs in a game.Ref: 1
Aug 25At Tiger Stadium, A's rookie Mark McGwire hits his first major league home run off of Walt Terrell.Ref: 1
Aug 26Coming off the Oriole bench, Vic Roznovsky and Boog Powell hit consecutive pinch-hit homers tying the game in the ninth in an eventual 12-inning, 3-2 victory over the Red Sox. It's only the third time in major league history there have been back-to-back pinch-hit home runs.Ref: 1
Aug 27Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros notched career win #250, by leading the Astros to a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.Ref: 4
Aug 27With a most unusual game-ending double play, the Mets beat Padres in the 11th, 6-5. Knocked on his back tagging out Gary Templeton trying to score on Tim Flannery's single to center, John Gibbons, from a prone position, throws a strike to Howard Johnson who tags out Flannery trying to get to third completing the twin killing (8-2-5).Ref: 1
Aug 30Yankee hurlers Tommy John (43) and Joe Niekro (41) becomes the first 40+ pitchers to start both ends of a doubleheader since 1933, John loses 1-0 and Niekro pitches five innings for a 3-0 victory over the Mariners.Ref: 1
Aug 30Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox became the first 20-game winner of the year. Clemens was the first Red Sox pitcher to achieve that feat since 1978.Ref: 4
Sep 02The Astros and Cubs play 14 innings and use a major league record 53 players in the game.Ref: 1
Sep 02Pitcher Steve Carlton earned career win #322. ‘Lefty’ gave up seven hits in leading the Chicago White Sox to a 3-0 win over the KS City Royals. Former Heisman Trophy winner, Bo Jackson, making his first major-league at-bat, got one of the hits.Ref: 4
Sep 03Mike Scott, Houston Astros, strikes out 4 batters in the 4th inning. (Sporting News Complete Baseball Record Book, 2002, ISBN 0-89204-668-0) 
Sep 03After using a record 53 players in a 14-inning affair yesterday, the Astros edge the Cubs in the 18th inning, 8-7 thanks to Billy Hatcher's home run .Ref: 1
Sep 06Milwaukee Brewer Robin Yount collects his 2,000th career hit vs Cleveland.Ref: 86
Sep 09Phillie Mike Maddux and Cub Greg Maddux become the first rookie brothers to start a game against one another.Ref: 1
Sep 12Terry Steinbach of the Oakland Athletics hits a home run in his first major league at bat.Ref: 12
Sep 12Tom Kelly replaces Ray Miller as the Minnesota Twins' field manager, he third Twins manager in two years.Ref: 86
Sep 13Bert Blyleven gives up a record 44 HRs in a season.Ref: 5
Sep 14Giant third baseman Bob Brenly, usually a catcher, ties a major league record by making four errors in one inning, but makes amends by hitting two home runs, including the game-winner, as San Francisco beats the Braves, 7-6.Ref: 1
Sep 17The NY Mets clinched their first divisional title since 1973 by defeating the Chicago Cubs 4-2. The Mets later won the World Series as well.Ref: 4
Sep 17Angel star Reggie Jackson became the 13th player to reach the coveted and exclusive milestone of hitting 500 career home runs.Ref: 86
Sep 17The New York Mets are sold to a group headed by Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon. The purchase price is estimated at $21.1 million - the highest amount ever paid for an American professional sports franchiseRef: 86
Sep 19Joe Cowley's final win in the majors is a no-hitter as the White Sox beat the Angels, 7-1. The Henryville, TN native will finish his career with the Phillies the following year with 0-4 record.Ref: 1
Sep 21San Diego Padre Jimmy Jones tosses a one-hitter in his major league debut to defeat Houston.Ref: 86
Sep 22Tony Fernandez becomes the first Blue Jays player to reach the 200 hit mark in one season, while he and Jesse Barfield become the first Blue Jays to win a Rawlings Gold Glove for defensive excellence.Ref: 86
Sep 22LA Dodger Fernando Valenzuela is first Mexican to win 20 games.Ref: 5
Sep 23Houston Astro Jim Deshales sets record of striking out first 8 men starting a ball game, beating the LA Dodgers 4-0.Ref: 5
Sep 24Astro rookie starter Jim Deshaies sets a major league record by striking out the first eight batters he faces. The young left-hander will finish with a two-hitter and 10 strikeouts beating the Dodgers, 4-0.Ref: 1
Sep 25Houston Astro Mike Scott no-hits SF Giants, 2-0.Ref: 5
Sep 28Jay Bell of the Cleveland Indians hits a home run in his first major league at bat on the first pitch.Ref: 12
Sep 29Mike and Greg Maddux become the first siblings to start a game against one another. In the rookie match-up, Cubs' righty Greg beats his older brother and the Phillies, 6-3.Ref: 1
Oct 02Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly establishes a new team record collecting his 232nd hit of the season breaking 1927 mark set by Earl Comb.Ref: 1
Oct 02In an 8-2 victory over the Pirates including seven Ks, Met Dwight Gooden becomes the first pitcher in baseball history to strike out 200 batters in each of his first three seasons.Ref: 1
Oct 04Yankee closer Dave Righetti saves both ends of a doubleheader bringing his major league record total to 46.Ref: 1
Oct 08Astro Mike Scott throws a five-hitter and ties a playoff record with 14 strikeouts as Houston beats the Mets, 1-0 in Game 1 of the NLCS. A Glenn Davis home run off Dwight Gooden accounts for the only run.Ref: 1
Oct 12The Angels are one strike away from the World Series, when Dave Henderson, who had earlier watched Bobby Grich's fly ball bounce off the heel of his glove and over the center field fence to give California the lead, hits a two-run homer off of Donnie Moore on a 2-2 count putting the Red Sox ahead, 6-5; California will tie game in the bottom of the frame, but Boston will prevail scoring the deciding run in the 11th inning on a Henderson sac fly.Ref: 1
Oct 1325th NY, NL appearance in World Series (Mets vs A's) (World Series #83).Ref: 5
Oct 15In the longest postseason game played, the Mets clinch their third National League crown ever beating Houston in the sixteen innings at the Astrodome, 7-6. Trailing 3-0, Lenny Dykstra and Ray Knight spark a ninth rally to send the game into extra inning.Ref: 1
Oct 15After being down three games to one in the ALCS, the Red Sox pull off one the greatest comebacks in playoff history by defeating the CA Angels 8-1 to win the American League pennant.Ref: 1
Oct 21After losing the first two World Series games at home, the Mets beat the Red Sox at Fenway Park, 7-1. Lenny Dykstra's first inning home run marks the third time in history in which the Mets lead off hitter has homered in the initial inning of Game 3 of the Fall Classic. The feat was also accomplished by Tommy Agee (1969) and Wayne Garrett (1973).Ref: 1
Oct 25Michael Sergio parachutes into Shea Stadium during game 6 of WS.Ref: 5
Oct 25In Game six of the World Series, the New York Mets complete a miracle, two-out comeback from 2 runs down in the bottom of the 10th, when Mookie Wilson dribbles a ground ball through Boston first baseman Bill Buckner's legs to score Ray Knight for a 6-5 victory.Ref: 86
Oct 27In another comeback win, the Mets defeat the Red Sox, 8-5 to win game seven of the World Series; Ray Knight makes amends for an earlier error by hitting a HR which puts the Mets ahead for good in the seventh inning.Ref: 1
Oct 30The Orioles trade Storm Davis to the Padres for catcher Terry Kennedy and minor leaguer Mark Williamson.Ref: 1
Nov 12Red Sox Roger Clemens becomes only the second pitcher to unanimously win the Cy Young Award; Denny McLain was the first to accomplish the feat in 1968.Ref: 1
Nov 14Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon buy the World Champion Mets from the Doubleday Publishing Company for $80.75 million. In 1980, the company had bought the franchise for a then-record $21.1 million.Ref: 1
Nov 18Roger Clemens was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player. He was the first American League starter to be so named in 15 years.Ref: 4
Nov 19Phillies' third baseman Mike Schmidt (.290, 37,119) joins Roy Campanella and Stan Musial becoming only the third player in NL history to win the MVP three times.Ref: 1
Nov 24The Yankees trade prospects including Doug Drabek to the Pirates (a future Cy Young winner) for veterans Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante and Pat Clements.Ref: 1
Nov 24Andy MacPhail was promoted to Executive Vice-President/General Manager of the Minnesota Twins.Ref: 86
Nov 24The Twins announce interim manager Tom Kelly will be the club's skipper next season.Ref: 1
Nov 25Jose Canseco wins the AL's Rookie of the Year Award. The Cuban-American is the first A's player to win the honor since Harry Byrd accomplish the feat for KS City in 1952.Ref: 1
Nov 26In a swap of pitchers, the Pirates send Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante and Pat Clements to the Yankees for Doug Drabek, Brian Fisher and Logan Easley.Ref: 1
Dec 11A Bartlett Giamatti becomes president of baseball's National League.Ref: 5
Dec 19Michael Sergio, who parachuted into Shea Stadium during game 6 of the World Series, sentenced to 100 hours of community service & fined $500.Ref: 5
Dec 19Jack Morris agrees to salary arbitration with former team Tigers & accuses owners of collusion against free agency.Ref: 5
1987
Jan 14The BBWAA elects Catfish Hunter and Billy Williams to the Hall of Fame.Ref: 1
Jan 21Free agent Vida Blue comes to terms with the A's, but will surprise the team next month by announcing his retirement.Ref: 1
Jan 30The Cubs trade veteran third baseman Ron Cey for the A's infielder Luis Quinones.Ref: 1
Feb 02The Braves trade Craig McMurty to the Blue Jays for second baseman Damaso Garcia and pitcher Luis Leal.Ref: 1
Feb 02Dennis Leonard, after four knee operations, decided to retire from professional baseball. Leonard, 35, was a three-time 20-game winner.Ref: 4
Feb 03The Expos trade top reliever Jeff Reardon and catcher Ton Nieto to the Twins for pitcher Neal Heaton, catcher Jeff Reed and two minor leaguers.Ref: 1
Feb 07For only the second time, a player is forced to take a pay cut due to salary arbitration. Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser signs for $800,000 which is a twenty percent reduction.Ref: 1
Feb 11After refusing the Mets $800,000 one-year offer, World Series MVP Ray Knight signs with the Orioles for $475,000 plus incentives and an option for an additional year.Ref: 1
Feb 12The highest arbitration award to date is won by pitcher Jack Morris. The Tigers will pay him 1.85 million for his services next season.Ref: 1
Feb 13The highest arbitration award to date is won by pitcher Jack Morris. The Tigers will pay him 1.85 million for his services next season.Ref: 1
Feb 17Don Mattingly won the highest award in the 13-year history of salary arbitration when a judge ruled that the New York Yankee first baseman deserved a salary of $1,975,000.Ref: 4
Feb 19After signing a contract as a free agent with the A's less than a month ago, Vida Blue unexpectedly retires from baseball.Ref: 1
Feb 21Free agent Vida Blue comes to terms with the A's, but will surprise the team next month by announcing his retirement.Ref: 1
Feb 23After three days of spring training, Billy Gardner replaces Dick Howser as Royals' manager. The frail-looking skipper had tried to comeback from brain tumor surgery.Ref: 1
Feb 25Commissioner Ueberroth bans LaMarr Hoyt from Major League Baseball during the 1987 season due to multiple drug-related incidents during the past year; it will be reduced to 60 days and the Padres will be ordered to reinstated him by an arbitrator.Ref: 1
Mar 03Ray Dandridge, 3rd baseman in Negro Leagues, is elected to Hall of Fame.Ref: 5
Mar 13Jack Morris, pitcher with Sparky Anderson’s Detroit Tigers, received the largest arbitration settlement in professional baseball. He was awarded $1.85 million to play for the Tigers in 1988.Ref: 4
Mar 14New York Met Darryl Strawberry charges Red Sox pitcher Al Nipper during spring training exhibition game, causes bench clearing brawl.Ref: 5
Mar 23Baltimore Orioles’ manager, Cal Ripken, Sr., cut one of the birds from the nest. His own son, Cal Ripken, Jr., was sent down to the minors for a short stay before returning to capture the ‘Most Consecutive Games Played’ honor in 1995.Ref: 4
Mar 27The Mets trade catcher Ed Hearn, pitcher Rick A. Anderson and pitching prospect Mauro Gozzo to the Royals for David Cone and minor leaguer Chris Jelic.Ref: 1
Apr 01The Cardinals deal three youngsters, outfielder Andy VanSlyke, catcher Mike LaValliere and pitcher Mike Dunne, to get Pirate backstop, Tony Pena.Ref: 1
Apr 01Mets phenom pitcher Doc Gooden avoids suspension for substance abuse by agreeing to enter a drug rehab facility.Ref: 1
Apr 03The Cubs trade starter Dennis Eckersley and minor leaguer Dan Rohn to the A's for three minor leaguers. The 'Eck' will become one of the game¹s top relievers in Oakland.Ref: 1
Apr 06Los Angeles Dodgers executive Al Campanis said on ABC's "Nightline" that blacks "may not have some of the necessities" to hold managerial jobs in major-league baseball.Ref: 70
Apr 07Braves Rick Mahler hurls his third Opening Day shutout tying a NL record.Ref: 1
Apr 07The Atlanta Braves unveil their newest mascot "Homer the Brave", who replaces "Rally", who lasted only about a year. (Blount, Rachael, "The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution" p E4, 4/08/1987) (Courtesy Scott Sutton) 
Apr 08Indian hurlers Phil Niekro and Steve Carlton combine to beat the Blue Jays, 14-3, making it the first time in major league history that two 300-game winners pitched for the same team in the same game. Niekro goes six innings to get his 312th career win and 'Lefty' blanks Toronto for four innings.Ref: 1
Apr 08Los Angeles Dodgers executive Al Campanis resigned after saying on ABC's "Nightline" that blacks may lack some of the "necessities" for becoming baseball managers.Ref: 70
Apr 11Yankees score 12 runs in 7th inning vs Kansas City Royals.Ref: 5
Apr 13In San Diego¹s home opener, the Padres waste no time making up a two-run first inning deficit as the each of the first three Padres up in the bottom of the first home off of Giant starter Roger Mason; Marvell Wynn, Tony Gwynn, and John Kruk all go deep to establish a major league record.Ref: 1
Apr 15Juan Nieves recorded the Milwaukee Brewers first no-hitter at Baltimore, making him the first Puerto Rican born pitcher to accomplish this feat in the Majors.Ref: 86
Apr 18At Three Rivers Stadium, Mike Schmidt becomes the 14th player in major league history to hit 500 career HRs.The Phillies' third baseman's three-run ninth inning shot is cheered by the Pittsburgh fans although it leads to an 8-6 Philadelphia come-from-behind victory.Ref: 1
Apr 19Thanks to Rob Deer's three-run homer to tie the score and Dale Sveum's two-run winning shot, the Brewers rallied for five runs in the ninth inning beating the Rangers, 6-4. The Milwaukee victory sets an AL record as they win their 12th straight game to start the season.Ref: 1
Apr 21Milwaukee Brewers lose, ending American League season-opening winning streak at 13 games.Ref: 5
Apr 29In an 8-4 win over Giants, Cub outfielder Andre Dawson provides much of the offense as he hits for the cycle.Ref: 1
May 0146 homeruns hit in 13 baseball games.Ref: 5
May 05Detroit Tigers are 11 games back in American League, but go on to win the American League East.Ref: 5
May 09At Comiskey Park, Oriole Eddie Murray becomes the first major leaguer to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in consecutive games.Ref: 1
May 20In a season of streaks, the Brewers end a 12-game losing streak by beating the Chicago White Sox, 5-1. The Brew Crew had opened the season winning 13 consecutive games.Ref: 1
May 27Yankee Phil Niekro is 3rd pitcher to make 700th start (Young & Sutton).Ref: 5
May 28Baltimore Oriole Mike Young hits 2 homeruns in extra innings.Ref: 5
May 28Bob Milacki sets Southern league pitching record 11 1/3 no hit innings.Ref: 5
May 29Robin Ventura set a college baseball record with hits in 57 games.Ref: 5
May 30Eric Davis becomes the first National League player to hit three grand slams in a month. His 19th homer of the season proves to be the difference in the Reds 6-2 victory over the Pirates.Ref: 1
Jun 01Thanks to Indian hurler Phil Niekro's 9-6 win over the Tigers, the Niekro brothers (Phil and Joe) pass the Perrys (Gaylord and Jim) with 530 combined victories.Ref: 1
Jun 02The Toronto Blue Jays embark on a club record 11-game win streak.Ref: 86
Jun 03Three grand slams are hit at Wrigley (K. Moreland, B. Dayett and B. Hatcher) as Cubs drub Astros, 22-7.Ref: 1
Jun 06NY Yankees play their 13,000th game.Ref: 5
Jun 10Charles S. (Chub) Feeney, former N.L. president, is named president of the San Diego Padres.Ref: 86
Jun 22Tom Seaver retires after 3rd try with NY Mets.Ref: 5
Jun 26Although the Red Sox have 9-0 second inning lead over the Yankees, Roger Clemens is unable to hold the lead with the Yankees winning 12-11 in ten innings. Boston's third baseman Wade Boggs sees his 25-game hitting streak come to an end.Ref: 1
Jun 27A's rookie Mark McGwire hits three HRs and drives in five runs helping to defeat the Indians, 13-3.Ref: 1
Jun 28American League baseball hitters put their batting faces on as the league combined to hit a record 28 home runs in a seven-game day.Ref: 4
Jun 28Don Baylor sets career hit-by-pitch mark at 244 (Pitcher Rick Rhoden)Ref: 5
Jun 29Yanks blow 11-4 lead but trailing 14-11 Dave Winfield's 8th inning grand slammer beats Toronto 15-14; Mattingly also grand slams.Ref: 5
Jul 03The Kansas City Royals retire Dick Howser's uniform No. 10.Ref: 29
Jul 03NY Met Darryl Strawberry threatens teammates Wally Backman & Lee Mazzilli for criticizing his play.Ref: 5
Jul 04Giants and Padres complete a seven-player trade, including Kevin Mitchell who will be the 1989 MVP for the Giants and Mark Davis who will win the 1989 National League Cy Young Award for the Padres.Ref: 1
Jul 04With Phillies' 9-6 win over the Tigers, the Niekro brothers pass the Perrys (Gaylord and Jim) with 530 combined victories.Ref: 1
Jul 05The A's first baseman Mark McGwire becomes the first rookie to hit 30 homers before the All-Star Game as Oakland defeats the Red Sox, 6-2.Ref: 1
Jul 07Yanks trailing by 7 score 7 in 7th on 7/7 & 5 in 8th-Beat Twins 12-7.Ref: 5
Jul 11Bo Jackson signed a $7.4 million contract to play football for the LA Raiders for five years. Jackson became a two-sport player as he continued to play baseball with the KS City Royals.Ref: 4
Jul 12Phillies Kent Tekulve pitches his 900th game in relief.Ref: 5
Jul 14The second-longest game in All-Star Game history was played as the National League defeated the American League in a 2-0 shutout in 13 innings. The game was played in Oakland, CA and lasted 3 hours, 39 minutes.Ref: 4
Jul 16Don Mattingly hits his 4th grand slam of the season & ties AL record of homers in 6 straight games (on way to tie major league record of 8).Ref: 5
Jul 17Yankee Don Mattingly becomes the first American League player to hit a home run in seven consecutive games.Ref: 1
Jul 18Yankee Don Mattingly ties Dale Long's major league record of hitting a homer in 8 consecutive games.Ref: 1
Jul 19The Minnesota Twins retire Rod Carew's uniform no. 29.Ref: 29
Jul 19Don Mattingly sets AL record of extra base hits in 10 cons games.Ref: 5
Jul 19Don Mattingly of the NY Yankees tied the major-league record of Dale Long (set in 1956) by failing to get a home run after hitting round-trippers in eight consecutive games.Ref: 4
Jul 20Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly ties a major league mark as he is credited with 22 putouts in one game matching Hal Chase's feat of 1906.Ref: 1
Jul 23Billy Williams, Catfish Hunter and Ray Dandridge were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Joining the trio, St. Louis Cardinals/CBS radio announcer Jack Buck, who became the 11th person to receive the Ford Frick Award for broadcasters.Ref: 4
Jul 25The Salt Lake City Trappers set a professional baseball record as the team won its 29th game in a row. The Class ‘A’ team beat Pocatello (Idaho) 13-3.Ref: 4
Aug 02Royals' rookie third baseman Kevin Seitzer goes 6-for-6, including 2 home runs and 7 RBIs, in a 13-5 victory over the Red Sox.Ref: 1
Aug 02Cincinnati Red Eric Davis becomes 7th & earliest 30 HR 30 steal man.Ref: 5
Aug 03Joe Niekro is suspended for 10 days for throwing scuffed baseballs. He first denied the charge made by the home plate umpire, but an emery board fell right out of his pocket during an inspection!Ref: 4
Aug 07Bill Mazerowski's uniform jersey #9 is officially retired from active service by the Pittsburgh Pirates.Ref: 1
Aug 08Brewers' Rob Deer struck-out 5 times in a game.Ref: 5
Aug 13The Cubs retire Hall of Famer Billy Williams' uniform number (26).Ref: 1
Aug 14A's Mark McGwire hits his 39th round-tripper breaking the major league record for home runs by rookies surpassing Wally Berger and Frank Robinson. The freshman first baseman will finish the season with 49 homers to lead the American League.Ref: 1
Aug 15US beats Cuba in the Pan-Am baseball.Ref: 5
Aug 26Paul Molitor's 39-game hit streak comes to an end waiting in the on-deck circle as he watches pinch hitter Rick Manning single home the winning run in a 1-0 ten inning victory over the Indians.Ref: 1
Sep 02In a game in which the Astros beat the Cubs 10-1, Kevin Bass becomes the first National Leaguer to homer from both sides of the plate twice in one season.Ref: 1
Sep 09Striking out 12 of the final 13 hitters and a total of 16, Nolan Ryan beats the Giants, 4-2. The 'Ryan Express' whiffs Mike Aldrette to end the seventh inning notching his 4,500th career strikeout.Ref: 1
Sep 12Vince Coleman steals his 100th base for 3rd straight year.Ref: 5
Sep 14In an 18-3 Blue Jay blowout which features Toronto hitting a major league record ten home runs, Orioles' manager Cal Ripken Sr., in the bottom of the eighth inning, puts Ron Washington at shortstop ending Cal Ripken's record consecutive-innings streak of 8,243, spanning 904 games.Ref: 1
Sep 14Oriole Cal Ripken Jr sets record of playing 8,243 inn in 910 games.Ref: 5
Sep 16Stealing his 30th base, a career-high, Indian Joe Carter becomes the ninth major leaguer to hit 30 home runs and to swipe 30 bases in the same season.Ref: 1
Sep 18Detroit Tiger Darrell Evans is first 40 year old to hit 30 HRs.Ref: 5
Sep 21With two stolen bases against the Cubs, Darryl Strawberry joins teammate Howard Johnson as a member of the 30-30 club. It is the first time in major league history players on the same team have hit 30 homers and have stolen 30 bases in the same year.Ref: 1
Sep 23In a 5-4 victory over the Astros, Albert Hall becomes the first Brave to hit for the cycle since 1910.Ref: 1
Sep 25In a 5-3 loss to the Dodgers, Padres' catcher Benito Santiago sets a major league record for rookies by hitting safely in his 27th consecutive game.Ref: 1
Sep 28Royals' Kevin Seitzer becomes the first rookie in 23 years to collect 200 hits in a season. Dick Allen and Tony Oliva both accomplished the feat in 1964.Ref: 1
Sep 29Don Mattingly hits a grand slam off Boston's Bruce Hurst, setting a Major-League record with six grand slams in a season.Ref: 86
Sep 30The Toronto Blue Jays final home attendance reached 2,778,429, the most ever for an AL East team and the club led the AL in attendance for first time ever.Ref: 86
Oct 04Defeating the Blue Jays 1-0, the Tigers win the American League East title. Toronto loses their last seven games of the season, including three straight in the season-ending series at Tiger Stadium to complete one of the greatest collapses in baseball history.Ref: 1
Oct 12Minnesota Twins beat Detroit Tigers for AL pennant.Ref: 5
Oct 17First World Series game in a covered stadium (Minnesota Metrodome) (World Series #84).Ref: 5
Oct 19The Yankees name Billy Martin as manager for the fifth time. This time the fiery skipper will stay at the team's helm until June 23,1988.Ref: 1
Oct 24Amidst a deafening noise crowd of the hanky-waving fans in the Metrodome, the Twins staved off elimination when they score eight runs in the 5th and 6th innings of Game 6 beating the Cardinals, 11-5.Ref: 1
Oct 25In a series in which each team never lost a game in its home park, the Twins win the World Championship as they beat the Cards 4-2 in Game 7; the franchise's last championship came in 1924 as the Washington Senators.Ref: 1
Oct 31U.S. Senators from eight states announce they have formed a congressional task force to investigate baseball expansion.Ref: 86
Nov 03The Texas Rangers purchase Arlington Stadium from the City of Arlington.Ref: 86
Nov 06The Reds trade pitcher Ted Power and shortstop Kurt Stillwell to the Royals for pitcher Danny Jackson and shortstop Angel Salazar.Ref: 1
Nov 10Braves' Steve Bedrosian narrowly edges Cub Rick Sutcliffe by two points (57-55) to win the Cy Young Award. 'Bedrock' is the third reliever to win the award in the National League.Ref: 1
Nov 17George Bell (.287, 49, 137) becomes the first Blue Jay to win the American League's MVP Award.Ref: 1
Nov 18Bobby Witt, Texas Rangers, strikes out 4 batters in the 2nd inning. (Sporting News Complete Baseball Record Book, 2002, ISBN 0-89204-668-0) 
Nov 18Cub outfielder Andre Dawson (.287, 49, 137) becomes the first player to win the MVP award as a member of a last place club.Ref: 1
Nov 20Don Zimmer is hired by long time friend Jim Frey to manage the Cubs.Ref: 1
Dec 08Toronto Blue Jay Damaso George Bell George Bell is named the ML Player of the Year by The Sporting News.Ref: 86
Dec 09NY Yankees sign 12-year television contract with Madison Square Garden for $500 million.Ref: 5
Dec 11The A's obtain Jesse Orosco from the Mets and then trades the southpaw reliever along with shortstop Alfredo Griffin and right-hander Jay Howell to the Dodgers for pitchers Matt Young, Bob Welch and Jack Savage. New York gets Savage as well as right-hand hurlers Wally Whitehurst and Kevin Tapini from Oakland to complete the three-team, eight player deal.Ref: 1
1988
Jan 12Willie Stargell (Pittsburgh Pirates) is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.Ref: 5
Jan 13After hitting a meager .211 last season and not being offered a new contract by the Padres, first baseman Steve Garvey decides to retire.Ref: 1
Jan 22Arbitrator T. Roberts declares seven presently contracted players no-risk free agents as a result of the collusion suit against Major League baseball. The players, who include Kirk Gibson, Carlton Fisk and Joe Niekro, have until March 1 to make deals with other clubs.Ref: 1
Jan 29Kirk Gibson signs a three-year deal with the Dodgers. The former Tiger outfielder is the only one of the seven no-risk free agents to go to a new team.Ref: 1
Feb 09The A's sign a one year deal with free agent Don Baylor.Ref: 1
Feb 23Fearing the loss of the 1990 All-Star game and possible post-season games, a committee of Chicago Aldermen vote, 7-2, to allow the Cubs to play 18 night games at Wrigley Field.Ref: 1
Feb 25Chicago City Council passes ordinance permitting limited night baseball at Wrigley Field.Ref: 86
Mar 03Upset by a practical joke played by teammate Jesse Orosco, Dodger slugger Kirk Gibson walks out of camp for a day. The southpaw reliever had put eyeblack on Gibson's cap.Ref: 1
Mar 07Jim Abbott, 1-handed pitcher, wins 58th James E Sullivan Award.Ref: 5
Mar 28The Yankees waive pitcher Phil Niekro four days shy of his 47th birthday.Ref: 1
Apr 04Blue Jay designated hitter George Bell becomes the first player to hit three home runs on Opening Day helping Toronto defeat the Royals 5-3; all of the homers are off Bret Saberhagen.Ref: 1
Apr 04In a 10-6 victory over the Expos, Kevin McReynolds and Darryl Strawberry hit two HRs apiece helping the Mets to establish an Opening Day record with six homers; the 'Strawman's' second shot is estimated at 525 feet and is believed to be the longest dinger ever hit at Olympic Stadium.Ref: 4
Apr 04Largest crowd (55,438) at a season game at Riverfront (Cincinnati Reds vs St Louis Cardinals).Ref: 5
Apr 06The Blue Jays’ reluctant designated hitter, George Bell, follows up his three home run Opening Day performance going 5-for-5 (three singles and two doubles) leading Toronto over the Royals, 11-4. Considered a defensive liability, last year’s American League MVP will return to left field full time.Ref: 1
Apr 07Reds' rookie third baseman, Chris Sabo, ties a major league record with eleven assists in one game.Ref: 1
Apr 12Ranger Bobby Witt ties an American League record committing four balks in a 4-1 loss to Tigers.Ref: 1
Apr 12After an 0-6 start, Cal Ripken Sr. is replaced by Frank Robinson as the Oriole manager.Ref: 1
Apr 17After breaking National League record with 10 losses at the start of the season, Braves beat the Dodgers, 3-1.Ref: 1
Apr 20The Orioles set major league record for consecutive losses (14) at the start of a season losing to to the Brewers, 8-6; the 1904 Senators and 1920 Tigers had previously shared the mark with 13.Ref: 1
Apr 20New York Yankees homerun 9,999 (Dave Winfield) 10,000 (Claudell Washington) 10,001 (Jack Clark).Ref: 5
Apr 22The Cardinals trade second baseman Tommy Herr to the Twins for outfielder Tom Brunansky.Ref: 1
Apr 26Mets' first baseman Keith Hernandez hits two home runs and drives in seven runs to reach 1000 RBI milestone.Ref: 1
Apr 26New York Mets' Davey Johnson becomes 2nd manager to record 400 victory in first 4 years (Al Lopez did it 1st).Ref: 5
Apr 27With one out in the ninth, Phillies' third baseman Mike Schmidt breaks up Nolan Ryan's no-hitter.Ref: 1
Apr 28The Orioles establishes a new American League record with their 21st consecutive loss bowing to the Twins, 4-2. The Zero-O's are off to the worst start in baseball history.Ref: 1
Apr 29Thanks to a combined four-hitter by Mark Williamson and Dave Schmidt, the Orioles win their first game of season beating White Sox, 9-0. Baltimore's record is now 1-21Ref: 1
Apr 30With RBIs #28 & 29, Yankees Dave Winfield ties major league RBI record for month of April.Ref: 1
Apr 30Reds' manager Pete Rose is suspended for twenty days and is fined $10,000 for pushing David Pallone after the umpire made a delayed call at first base in a game in a 6-5 Mets win at Riverfront. The Cincinnati skipper shoved Pallone twice after the ump accidentally pokes him in the eye.Ref: 1
May 02Baltimore Orioles sign a 15 year lease to remain in Baltimore & get a new park.Ref: 5
May 02Pete Rose becomes the first manager to be suspended for an on-field incident as NL president Bart Giamatti issues a thirty day suspension for his shoving of umpire Dave Pallone.Ref: 1
May 09A's winning streak hits 14, ends tommorow.Ref: 5
May 14First non-pitcher (Jose Oquendo) in 20 years to get a decision in a baseball game, he & St Louis Cardinals lose to the Atlanta Braves 7-5 in 19 innings.Ref: 5
May 18In just Oakland's 39th game of the season, pitcher Dave Stewart breaks record with his 12th balk en route to 16.Ref: 5
May 19The Boston Red Sox retire Bobby Doerr's uniform #1.Ref: 5
May 20Mike Schmidt hits his 535th homerun, moving into 8th place.Ref: 5
May 28Jack McKeon is named manager of the San Diego Padres replacing Larry Bowa.Ref: 86
May 31Toronto Blue JayDave Stieb tosses his first career one-hitter, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 9-0.Ref: 86
Jun 03Margo Adams sues Red Sox 3rd baseman Wade Boggs for palimony.Ref: 5
Jun 04Longest game in Balt Memorial Stadium (5:46) 14 inn (beat NY 7-6).Ref: 5
Jun 11Yankee hurler Rick Rhoden becomes the first pitcher to ever start as the designated hitter.Ref: 1
Jun 12Robin Yount becomes only the third player in Milwaukee Brewers history to hit for the cycle as he accomplished the feat against Chicago in a 16-2 win.Ref: 86
Jun 13Boston Red Sox are 10 games back in AL, & go on to win the AL East.Ref: 5
Jun 16Boston Red Sox Barrett steals home.Ref: 5
Jun 23Billy Martin is replaced as manager of the Yankees for the fifth and final time. Lou Piniella is named manager for the second time.Ref: 86
Jun 24Cleve pitcher Doug Jones sets record of 14 consecutive savesRef: 5
Jun 25At Fenway Park, Oriole shortstop Cal Ripken reaches a major milestone playing in his 1,000th consecutive game.Ref: 1
Jul 04Charlie Hough, Texas Rangers, strikes out 4 batters in the 1st inning. (Sporting News Complete Baseball Record Book, 2002, ISBN 0-89204-668-0) 
Jul 12Terry Steinbach homers in his first at-bat as an All-Star. The A's catcher becomes the first major league to have homered in his first major league at-bat (9/12/86) and also in the mid-summer classic.Ref: 1
Jul 12Margo Adams alleges Red Sox Wade Bogg's "Delta Force" revenge plan.Ref: 5
Jul 13After replacing John McNamara as the Red Sox manager, Joe Morgan makes a good first impression as the team wins the first nineteen out of twenty with him at the helm.Ref: 1
Jul 14Mike Schmidt passes Mickey Mantle with his 537th HR into 7th place.Ref: 5
Jul 15For the second time this season, Red Sox Roger Clemens strikes out sixteen Royals. The doubleheader sweep over KS City marks Joe Morgan's Boston managerial debut.Ref: 1
Jul 16San Antonio (Texas League) beats Jackson 1-0 in 26 innings.Ref: 5
Jul 17Ricky Jordan of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run in his first major league at bat.Ref: 12
Jul 18In 2 1/3 innings, Mariner Gene Walter balks four times in a 12-3 loss to Detroit. He becomes the third AL pitcher to tie the major league record this season.Ref: 1
Jul 21The Red Sox suspend Jim Rice for three days for shoving manager Joe Morgan. The Boston outfielder became upset when the skipper pinch hit for him using the light-hitting shortstop Spike Owen.Ref: 1
Jul 26Mike Schmidt sets NL record appearing in 2,155 games at 3rd base, as Phillies & NY Mets end that game at 2:13 AM.Ref: 5
Jul 28Yanks' Tommy John makes 3 errors on 1 play yet beats Brewers 16-3.Ref: 5
Jul 29The Orioles trade pitcher Mike Boddicker to the Red Sox in return for Brady Anderson and Curt Schilling. Boddicker will have two successful years with Boston while Anderson will become a productive lead off man for Baltimore and Schilling will became one of baseball's most dominant pitchers of his era.Ref: 1
Jul 30Reds' reliever John Franco establishes the major league record for the most saves in the month. His 13th save bests the mark shared by Sparky Lyle, Bruce Sutter and Bob Stanley.Ref: 1
Jul 30Willie Stargell became 200th man inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Stargell had 475 career homers, twice leading the NL (48 in 1971, 44 in 1973). He drove in 1540 runs, scored 1195 and had 2232 hits with a lifetime batting average of .282.Ref: 4
Jul 31Willie Stargell became 200th man inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Stargell had 475 career homers, twice leading the NL (48 in 1971, 44 in 1973). He drove in 1540 runs, scored 1195 and had 2232 hits with a lifetime batting average of .282. His inspirational leadership contributed greatly to Pittsburgh Pirate world championships in 1971 and 1979, when he shared NL MVP honors. His #8 was retired by the Pirates in 1982.Ref: 4
Aug 06Pirate relief pitcher Jim Gott balks three times in the eighth inning bringing home to the winning run in a 5-3 loss to the Mets.Ref: 1
Aug 06Jose Canseco became the 11th player in major league history to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in a season. The A's outfielder, with 31 homers, joins the 30-30 club stealing second base with one out in the ninth inning for his 30th as Oakland beat the Mariners, 5-4.Ref: 1
Aug 06Cub reliever Goose Gossage becomes the second player in major league history to record 300 career saves as he retires one batter in a 7-4 victory over the Phillies.Ref: 1
Aug 07A record five sacrafice flies are hit by the Mariners (D. Coles, A. Davis, J. Presley, J. Buhner & R. Quinones) in a 12-7 victory over the A's.Ref: 1
Aug 08Jose Canseco becomes 11th to get 30 HRs & 30 steals in a season.Ref: 5
Aug 08The first night game in Wrigley Field history is rained out after three-and-a-half innings, with the Cubs leading the Phillies 3-1.Ref: 86
Aug 08Goose Gossage registers career save #300.Ref: 5
Aug 08Minn Twins pull 2nd triple-play of year & beat Cleve 6-2.Ref: 5
Aug 09The Cubs play its first ever night game at Wrigley Field defeating the Mets, 6-4.Ref: 1
Aug 11Gary Carter (NY Mets) became 59th player to hit 300 career HR.Ref: 5
Aug 12The Red Sox beat the Tigers 9-4 for their 23rd consecutive win at Fenway Park establishing a new major league record [the streak will end after one more home victory]. The 1931 Philadelphia Athletics had previously set the league mark with 22 straight home victories.Ref: 1
Aug 13Boston Red Sox win AL record 24 straight home games.Ref: 5
Sep 1310th time, 4 players hit baseball major-league record grand slams.Ref: 5
Sep 14In his first start against his former club, Mike Boddicker beat the Orioles, 4-1, as Red Sox outfielder Mike Greenly hits for the cycle.Ref: 1
Sep 16Reds' Tom Browning pitches a perfect game against the Dodgers striking out eight and allowing only eight balls to be hit out of the infield in his 1-0 victory. Over three starts including the perfect game he retires 40 consecutive batters one shy of a major league record.Ref: 1
Sep 17Pitching the ninth inning for his 40th save, Jeff Reardon becomes the first pitcher to save 40 games in both leagues as the Twins defeat the White Sox, 3-1. The Dalton, Massachusetts native also saved 42 games for the Expos in 1985.Ref: 1
Sep 20Red Sox Wade Boggs becomes first player in this century to get 200 hits in six consecutive years.Ref: 1
Sep 22The New York Mets clinch the National League East with a 3-1 victory ove the Phillies at Shea.Ref: 86
Sep 23Jose Canseco becomes baseball's first to steal 40 bases & hit 40 HRs.Ref: 5
Sep 24A's Jose Canseco becomes baseball's first 40-40 player as he swipes his 39th and 40th base in a 14 inning victory over the Brewers, 9-8.Ref: 1
Sep 28In his last start of the regular season, Dodger Orel Hershiser tosses 10 shutout frames to extend his streak to 59 breaking Don Drysdale record of 58 consecutive scoreless innings.Ref: 1
Sep 30Dave Stieb became the sixth modern ML pitcher to toss consecutive one hitters.Ref: 86
Sep 30LA Dodger Orel Herschiser breaks former Dodger Don Drysdale mark by pitching 59 consecutive scoreless innings.Ref: 5
Oct 02In St. Louis, Met outfielder Kevin McReynolds establishes a major league record swiping 21 bases without being caught stealing during the season. The A's Jimmy Sexton had set the record in with 16 stolen bases without being thrown out in 1982.Ref: 1
Oct 06Oakland A's sweep Boston Red Sox in 4 games for AL pennant.Ref: 5
Oct 07The Yankees replace manager Billy Martin with Dallas Green. 'Billy the Kid' will compile a 1253-1013 (.553) record piloting the Tigers, Twins, Yankees, A's and Rangers during his 19-year managerial career.Ref: 1
Oct 09Dennis Eckersley, first to save all 4 games in a championship series.Ref: 5
Oct 15Pinch hitting in the ninth with two outs in game one, a limping Kirk Gibson sends a 3-2 pitch from the A's relief ace Dennis Eckersley over the right field fence. It's the first time a World Series game is ever decided on a come-from-behind HR in the final inning.Ref: 1
Oct 16Orel Hirsheiser, first to pitch shutout in playoff & world series (World Series #85).Ref: 5
Oct 17Dallas Green replaces Lou Pinella as manager of the NY Yankees.Ref: 5
Oct 20The powerful Oakland Athletics had slugged their way to 104 regular season victories, then swept the Red Sox for the American League pennant. The Los Angeles Dodgers unexpectantly charged through the final months of the season, led by Orel Hershiser, who posted a record-breaking 59 consecutive scoreless innings. Unfortunately for Oakland, Hershiser’s pitching dominance continued through the World Series. With complete-game victories in Game Two and the deciding Game Five this day, Hershiser punctuated his remarkable season and pitched a four-hitter, giving the Dodgers a 5-2 victory over the A’s and the World Series title.Ref: 4
Oct 25The Chicago Cubs announce plans for $14 million renovation of park, including construction of 67 mezzanine suites and a new press box.Ref: 86
Oct 28Padres trade Keith Moreland and Chris Brown to the Tigers for pitcher Walt Terrell.Ref: 1
Nov 02Walt Weiss wins AL rookie of the year (3rd straight for Oakland A's).Ref: 5
Nov 05Japan beats MLB all stars 2-1 in Tokyo (Game 1 of 7).Ref: 5
Nov 06Japan & MLB all stars played to a 6-6 draw (Game 2 of 7).Ref: 5
Nov 09MLB All-Star team beat Japan 8-2 in Nishinomya, (Game 4 of 7).Ref: 5
Nov 10Dodger Orel Hershiser becomes the ninth pitcher in NL history to win the Cy Young award unanimously as he receives all twenty-four first place votes from the sportswriters.Ref: 1
Nov 10MLB All-Star team beats Japan 3-1 in Tokyo (Game 5 of 7).Ref: 5
Nov 12Japan beats MLB All-Star team 5-4 in Tokyo (Game 6 of 7).Ref: 5
Nov 14The Angels name Doug Rader as manager of the team. Rader had managed the Rangers in 1982-85.Ref: 1
Nov 15Dodger World Series hero Kirk Gibson edges out Met outfielders Darryl Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds for the NL MVP Award.Ref: 1
Nov 16Jose Canseco becomes the American League's first unanimous MVP since Reggie Jackson won the award with Oakland in 1973.Ref: 1
Nov 18Dick Williams replaces Frank Howard as manager of the last place Padres. Williams has won three pennants and two World Series in last 14 years as a major league skipper.Ref: 1
Nov 23Leaving the World Champion Dodgers, free-agent second baseman Steve Sax signs a three-year deal with the Yankees.Ref: 1
Nov 28Rich Gedman becomes the highest paid catcher in the AL when he signs a one-year contract with the Red Sox for $1.2 million; the Boston backstop will hit .212 for the season.Ref: 1
Dec 04Baltimore Orioles trade veteran first baseman Eddie Murray to Los Angeles Dodgers.Ref: 5
Dec 06Agnes Neil Williams purchases Baltimore Orioles for $70 million; Eli Jacobs becomes CEO of Baltimore Orioles.Ref: 5
Dec 0741-year-old pitcher Nolan Ryan signs with the Texas Rangers as a free agent.Ref: 86
Dec 09New York Yankees sign 12-year television contract with Madison Square Garden for $500 million.Ref: 5
Dec 14CBS' $1.1 B bid wins exclusive 1990-94 major-league baseball rights.Ref: 5
Dec 18Seattle Seahawks win their first ever division title with 9-7 record.Ref: 5
1989
Jan 05Baseball signs $400M with ESPN, showing 175 games in 1990.Ref: 5
Jan 09Johnny Bench and Carl Yastrzemski are elected to the Hall of Fame. Bench is named on 96.4% of the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballots making Ty Cobb and Hank Aaron the only players to receive a higher percentage.Ref: 1
Jan 19President Reagan pardons George Steinbrenner for illegal funds for Nixon.Ref: 5
Jan 26The tougher balk rules initiated last season are rescinded and are replaced by the pre-1988 rules.Ref: 1
Jan 29Game-winning RBI, official statistic dropped after 9 years of use New York Mets Keith Hernandez is the all-time leader with 129.Ref: 5
Feb 02Yankee broadcaster Bill White is elected NL president making him the highest ranking black official in U.S. professional sports.Ref: 1
Feb 03Former first baseman Bill White was the first African American to head a major professional sports league in the United States. He became National League president this day.Ref: 4
Feb 09Johnny Bench & Carl Yastrzemski elected to Baseball Hall of Fame.Ref: 5
Feb 16Orel Hershiser becomes baseball's first three-million dollar man when he signs a three-year $7.9 million contract with the Dodgers. The 'Bulldog' will earn $3,166,167 in 1991.Ref: 1
Feb 16Roger Clemens, Red Sox pitcher signs record $7.5M-3 year contract.Ref: 5
Feb 17Former baseball player/manager Leo Durocher injured in a car crash.Ref: 5
Feb 17Orel Hershiser, Dodger pitcher signs record $7.9M-3 year contract.Ref: 5
Feb 18Steve Garvey marries Candace Thomas while at the same time being accused of fathering children by 2 other women.Ref: 5
Feb 20Pete Rose, the Cincinnati Reds' manager, is summoned to the commissioner's office to answer questions. One month later, baseball announces it is investigating "serious allegations against Rose". (XDG, p 12, 1/06/2004)Ref: 83
Feb 21Pete Rose meets with Commissioner Peter Ueberroth and Commissioner-elect Bart Giamatti to explain the allegations concerning his gambling habits.Ref: 1
Feb 26Margo Adams $12 million breach-of-contract suit against Red Sox third baseman Wade Boggs is thrown out by a California court. She claimed Boggs had promised her a salary and expenses during their four-year association.Ref: 1
Feb 26New York Yankees announce that Tom Seaver is their new TV sportscaster.Ref: 5
Feb 27John Olerud, a Blue Jay selection in the draft, undergoes brain surgery for the removal of an aneurysm. The Washington State University left-handed first baseman had collapsed on January 11 after a workout.Ref: 1
Feb 28Former Cardinal player and manager, Red Schoendienst, and 29-year veteran Major League umpire Al Barlick are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veteran Committee.Ref: 1
Mar 02At a photo session, Mets' outfielder Darryl Strawberry throws a punch at Keith Hernandez,the team's first baseman. The scuffle started over comments about salaries and results with the Straw walking out of camp. The incident causes Steve Wulf, a sportswriter for Sports Illustrated, to quip, "Darryl Strawberry finally hit his cut off man."Ref: 1
Mar 06Yankees beat Mets 6-4 in exhibition game (1st meeting since 1985).Ref: 5
Mar 18An investor group led by George W. Bush and Edward W. (Rusty) Rose purchases controlling interest in the Texas Rangers from Eddie Chiles.Ref: 86
Mar 19Hoping to replace the injured Dave Winfield, the Yankees trade catcher Joel Skinner and a minor leaguer to the Indians for outfielder Mel Hall. The future Hall of Fame outfielder will miss the entire season due to back surgery.Ref: 1
Mar 20Peter Ueberroth, the commissioner of baseball, announces MLB is conducting an inquiry into gambling allegations concerning Reds' manager, Pete Rose.Ref: 1
Mar 21Sports Illustrated reports on allegations tying Pete Rose to baseball betting. (XDG, p 12, 1/06/2004)Ref: 83
Mar 27Sports Illustrated exposes Pete Rose's gambling activities; the article alleges Charlie Hustle bet from the Riverfront dugout using hand gestures with an associate.Ref: 1
Mar 30The Cincinnati Enquirer, quoting former baseball security chief Henry Fitzgibbon, says baseball investigated gambling allegations against Pete Rose in the late 1970s. (XDG, p 12, 1/06/2004)Ref: 83
Apr 01First NY Met-NY Yankee game in NYC since 1983, Yanks win 4-3.Ref: 5
Apr 01Former Yale University and National League president Bart Giamatti becomes seventh commissioner of major league baseball, replacing Peter Ueberroth.Ref: 1
Apr 02Yankees beat Mets 4-0, sweeping 1989 mayor's trophy series in 2 games.Ref: 5
Apr 03In his first major league at bat, Ken Griffey Jr. doubles off of A's Dave Stewart.Ref: 1
Apr 03With an 8-4 victory over Cardinals, the Mets win their 11th consecutive home opener. The Amazins¹ now have won on Opening Day in 18 of the last 20 seasons.Ref: 1
Apr 04On Opening Day, Tommy John ties record by playing in 26 seasons. The Yankee veteran hurler beats the Twins, 4-2 for his 287th win putting him 19th overall in career wins.Ref: 1
Apr 06Dodger hurler Orel Hershiser's scoreless-inning streak ends at 59 in the first inning of a 4-3 loss to the Reds.Ref: 1
Apr 081-handed pitcher Jim Abbott debut but lasts only 4 2/3 innings.Ref: 5
Apr 09Rickey Henderson steals his 800th career base in New York's 4-3 loss to Cleveland.Ref: 5
Apr 10Blue Jay's Dave Stieb pitches his third one-hitter in his past four starts beating the Yankees, 8-0.Ref: 1
Apr 16Kelly Gruber becomes the first Toronto Blue Jay player to hit for the cycle against Kansas City at Exhibition Stadium.Ref: 86
Apr 19Kevin Elster (New York Mets), sets errorless shortstop mark at 73.Ref: 5
Apr 22Nolan Ryan strikesout his 5,000th batter (Rickey Henderson).Ref: 5
Apr 23Nolan Ryan blows a no hitter in 9th inning.Ref: 5
May 04Junior Felix becomes the 53rd player in major league history to hit a home run in his first at-bat. The Blue Jay rookie initial blast comes off CA's Kirk McCaskill's first pitch in a 10-inning loss to the Angels, 3-2.Ref: 1
May 09New York Mets Kevin Elster, errors after 88 errorless games at shortstop.Ref: 5
May 09New York Mets Rick Cerone, errors after 159 errorless games as catcher.Ref: 5
May 13Minnesota Twin Kirby Puckett becomes the 35th to hit 4 doubles in a game.Ref: 5
May 14First time since 1948 a player hit 6 consecutive doubles (Kirby Puckett).Ref: 5
May 15Jimy Williams is dismissed as Toronto Blue Jays manager, replaced on an interim basis by Cito Gaston. It was the club's first managerial change in franchise history to take place during a season.Ref: 86
May 23Cleveland loses & drop to 21-22, this is the latest a sub .500 team is in first place (American League East).Ref: 5
May 24NY Yankee hurler Lee Gutterman sets record of pitching 30-2/3 innings before giving up his first run of the season.Ref: 5
May 25Mariners trade Mark Langston to Montréal for Randy Johnson.Ref: 5
May 28The Toronto Blue Jays play their final game at Exhibition Stadium, defeating the Chicago White Sox 7-5.Ref: 86
May 29Phillies 3rd baseman Mike Schmidt, 39, retires.Ref: 5
May 31Cito Gaston is named as the fifth Toronto Blue Jays manager.Ref: 86
Jun 02Cincinatti Red Eric Davis hits for the cycle.Ref: 5
Jun 03It takes 22 innings and seven hours and 14-minutes for the Astros to beat the Dodgers, 5-4 making it the longest game in National League history.Ref: 1
Jun 03Nolan Ryan pitches his 11th career one-hitter beating the Mariners, 6-1. The Alvin, Texas native breaks Bob Feller's record of 15 low-hit game having now having pitched a combination of 16 no-hit and one-hit games.Ref: 1
Jun 04Red Sox lead Blue Jays 10-0 in 7th, but lose 12-11 in 12 for Blue Jays 12th consecutive victory at FenwayRef: 5
Jun 05SkyDome becomes the new home of the Blue Jays. The retractable roof stadium is considered the world's most advanced ballpark for its time and will be a big factor in Toronto's excellent attendance, however the Blue Jays lose 5-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers in the club's first game at their new stadium.Ref: 1
Jun 06Mets turn their first triple play in 7 years but lose to Cubs 8-4.Ref: 5
Jun 07For the first time in major league history, the same game is played partly outdoors and partly indoors as the Blue Jays beat the Brewers, 4-2 in a contest which features the closing of the SkyDome's retractable roof in the fifth inning due to inclement weather.Ref: 1
Jun 08After the Pirates take a 10-0 lead in Philadelphia by sending 16 batters to the plate in the first inning , Pirate broadcaster Jim Rooker announces if the Bucs lose the game he'll walk back to Pittsburgh. True to his word, the radio by-by-play man organizes a charity walk from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh after the season as a result of the Phillies comeback win over the Pirates, 15-11.Ref: 1
Jun 09Mets outfielder Darryl Strawberry hits his 200th career home run in a ten-inning, 4-3, loss to the Pirates.Ref: 1
Jun 14Nolan Ryan becomes 2nd pitcher to defeat all 26 teams.Ref: 5
Jun 15Baltimore Orioles pull their 9th triple play (vs Yankees).Ref: 5
Jun 15Baseball says it will announce a timetable for NL expansion within 90 days after the completion of a new Basic Agreement.Ref: 86
Jun 16Sammy Sosa becomes the youngest (20-years, seven months) Dominican to play in the majors. The Ranger rookie goes 2-for-4 with a double against the Yankees.Ref: 1
Jun 18Phillies trade infielder/outfielder Juan Samuel to the Mets for outfielder Lenny Dykstra, relief pitcher Roger McDowell and a player to be named later (minor league pitcher Tom Edens).Ref: 1
Jun 21White Sox Carlton Fisk surpasses Yogi Berra as AL leader for career home runs by a catcher as his 307th HR helps to beat the Yanks, 7-3.Ref: 1
Jun 29Boise manager Mal Finchman is suspended for one game for returning to field after being ejected disguised as the team's mascot Humphrey the Hawk.Ref: 1
Jul 01Yanks beat Milwaukee Brewers 4-1, score is changed to 5-1 after the game is over. Umpire rules Roberto Kelly scored before a doubleplay.Ref: 5
Jul 05Mark McGwire's gets his 100th career home run off of Royals' hurler Charlie Liebrandt, 2nd fastest (1400 at bats) (to Kiner).Ref: 5
Jul 05Toronto Blue Jays are 10 games back in AL, & go on to win the AL East.Ref: 5
Jul 05Pirate Barry Bonds homer makes him and his Dad, Bobby, the all-time father and son HR leader with 408. Previously the Bells (Gus & Buddy) and the Berras (Yogi & Dale) were tied with 407.Ref: 1
Jul 11AL beats NL 5-3, (3rd of last 4 All Star Games) in California.Ref: 5
Jul 11President Ronald Reagan sportscasts the All Star Game.Ref: 5
Jul 12NY Yankee pitching great Ron Guidry retires (170-91 .651, 3.29 ERA).Ref: 5
Jul 27Atlanta Brave Dale Murphy is 10th to get 6 RBIs in an inning (6th)Ref: 5
Jul 28Braves Dale Murphy, hits 2 3-run HRs in an inning, 14th man to hit 2 HRs in an inning. Also ties record of 6 RBIs in an inning.Ref: 5
Jul 29Phillies retire Steve Carltons # 32.Ref: 5
Jul 29Vince Coleman, record streak stopped at 50 straight stolen bases.Ref: 5
Aug 02Reds' outfielder Eric Davis becomes the seventh player to join the 30-30 club as he homers in the 5-4 victory over the Giants. No one had ever accomplished the feat with still nearly two months left to play in the season.Ref: 1
Aug 03Rickey Henderson sets AL mark of 50 steals in 9 seasons.Ref: 5
Aug 03Cincinnati Reds send record 20 men to bat with a record 16 hits in 1 inning as they score 14 runs in the first inning.Ref: 5
Aug 04Toronto Blue Jay Dave Stieb loses a perfect game after 8.2 innings when New York's Roberto Kelly doubles.Ref: 86
Aug 06Boston Red Sox retire Carl Yastrezemski's #8.Ref: 5
Aug 08In his major league debut, former Met farmhand Mauro Gozzo blanks the Rangers for eight innings helping the Blue Jays go over .500 for the first time since Opening Day. Toronto will eventually win the AL East.Ref: 1
Aug 10After 15 months of recovery from cancer surgery to his arm, Dave Dravecky pitches one-hit baseball blanking the Reds for seven innings to get the victory as the Giant bullpen holds on for 4-3 win at Candlestick Park.Ref: 1
Aug 15In his second start after coming back from cancer surgery, Giant Dave Dravecky suffers a broken arm beating Expos, 3-2. The Youngstown, Ohio native collapses to the ground and clutched his left arm in severe pain after throwing a wild pitch to Tim Raines.Ref: 1
Aug 18Oriole Cal Ripken passes Steve Garvey for the third-longest consecutive games streak by playing in his 1208th straight game.Ref: 1
Aug 18Bucky Dent replaces Dallas Green as Yankee manager.Ref: 86
Aug 20The Chicago White Sox retire Harold Baines' uniform #3.Ref: 29
Aug 20It's a busy day on the trading block for the Mets as they send popular outfielder Mookie Wilson to the Blue Jays for pitcher Jeff Musselman and minor leaguer Michael Brady after getting Frank Viola from the Twins for pitchers Rick Aguilera, David West, and Kevin Tapani and two minor leagers.Ref: 1
Aug 22On a 96 mph fastball, A's Rickey Henderson swing and misses to become Nolan Ryan's career 5000th strikeout. The 'Ryan Express' strikes out 13 and gives up only five hits, but the Texas Rangers lose the game to Oakland, 2-0 .Ref: 1
Aug 22Paul Assenmacher, Atlanta Braves, strikes out 4 batters in the 5th inning. (Sporting News Complete Baseball Record Book, 2002, ISBN 0-89204-668-0) 
Aug 23LA Dodgers beat Montreal Expos, 1-0, in 22 innings.Ref: 5
Aug 24Cincinnati hero Pete Rose is given a lifetime ban from baseball for conduct related to gambling. Terms of his suspension permit Rose to apply for reinstatement after one year. Commissioner A Bartlett Giamatti, answering questions, says he has concluded that Rose "bet on baseball".Ref: 86
Aug 26The Trumbull (Connecticut) All-stars become the first American team to win the Little League World Series since 1983.Ref: 1
Aug 31The Toronto Blue Jays defeat Chicago 5-1 to move into a first place tie with Baltimore. They would remain in first place for the remainder of the season.Ref: 86
Sep 01Baseball's new commissioner, Fay Vincent, says he has no intention of changing the terms of Pete Rose's lifetime suspension from baseball. (XDG, p 12, 1/06/2004)Ref: 83
Sep 13Fay Vincent becomes baseball's eighth commissioner when he succeeds the late Bart Giamatti.Ref: 1
Sep 18Bucky Dent replaces Dallas Green as Yankee manager.Ref: 1
Sep 25Wade Boggs extends his own modern major league record when he collects his 200th hit for the seventh consecutive season. The Red Sox third baseman goes 4-for-5 as Boston beats the Yankees, 7-4.Ref: 1
Sep 25Red Sox announce the team will not exercise its option on Jim Rice next season. Bob Stanley, the club's all-time save leader with 173, reports he will call it quits after this season.Ref: 1
Sep 26The Chicago Cubs clinch NL East title with 3-2 win in Montreal.Ref: 86
Sep 30The Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Baltimore Orioles, 4-3, to capture their second division title in five seasons.Ref: 86
Sep 30Nolan Ryan's perfect game is broken with 1 out in the 8th, but he strikes-out his 300th of the year.Ref: 5
Oct 07Rickey Henderson steals a record 8 bases in a play off (5 games).Ref: 5
Oct 17Millions were watching the third game of the World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics, when much to their horror, the seats at Candlestick Park began to rock, light towers swayed, and 58,000 fans became eerily quiet. An earthquake, measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale, had hit the San Francisco Bay area at 5:04 p.m. The World Series will resume 10 days later.Ref: 4
Oct 27After a ten day delay due to the earthquake, the World Series resumes with the Oakland A's beating the Giants in Game 3, 13-7; Oakland used the long ball hitting five HRs in securing the victory.Ref: 1
Oct 28The Oakland Athletics beat the San Francisco Giants 9-6 to complete a four-game sweep of the earthquake-interupted World Series, the first World Series sweep since 1976. The A’s scored first in every game and never lost the lead once. Oakland pitcher Dave Stewart pitched two games, won two games, struck out fourteen hitters in sixteen innings, had an earned run average of 1.69 and was named MVP. The Series will be remembered not not only for the A’s dominance, but but for the earthquake before game three that killed sixty- seven people in the San Francisco Bay area.Ref: 4
Nov 13After 16 years with the same team, Jim Rice is released by the Red Sox. Rice retires from the game with a career .298 avg. with 382 HRs.Ref: 1
Nov 16Astro outfielder Kevin Bass, who batted .300 last season, signs with National League champs Giants as a free agent.Ref: 1
Nov 17Bret Saberhagen signs record $2,966,667 per year Kansas City Royal contract.Ref: 5
Nov 22Kirby Puckett becomes the first major league player ever to sign a contract that calls for an average salary of $3 million per year when he inks a pact with the Twins for $9 million over three years.Ref: 1
Nov 28Rickey Henderson signs record $3,000,000 per year Oakland A's contract.Ref: 5
Dec 01Mark Langston signs record $3.2 million per year California Angels contract.Ref: 5
Dec 06Outfielder Joe Carter is traded by the Indians to the Padres for Chris James, Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga.Ref: 1
Dec 06Free-agent closer Jeff Reardon signs with the Red Sox.Ref: 1
Dec 06The Mets and Reds swap relievers Randy Myers goes to Cincinnati and fellow closer John Franco will finish games in New York.Ref: 1
Dec 11Mark Davis signs record $3.25 million per year KS City Royals contract.Ref: 5
Dec 17An era ends as the Toronto Blue Jays trade Ernie Whitt to the Atlanta Braves. He was the club's final link with the 1976 Expansion Draft.Ref: 86
1990
Sep 30The final game is played at old Comiskey Park with the White Sox edging the Mariners, 2-1; the final regular-season won-loss record at old ballpark is 3,024-2,926 (.508).Ref: 1
Last Update: October 27th, 2005
© 2000-2005   Kenneth Fussichen