» April 8, 1969:
In a move to resolve the aborted Rusty Staub–Donn Clendenon trade, Montreal keeps Clendenon and completes the deal by sending pitchers Jack Billingham and Skip Guinn, and an estimated $100,000 to compensate the Astros. Montreal will finally peddle Clendenon on the trade deadline date. » July 18, 1969:
At Crosley Field, the Astros take a 9–0 lead after batting in the 6th, only to lose, 10–9. The Reds score a run in the 6th, two in the 7th, and tie it with six in the 8th. Cincy wins it in the 11th when Ted Savage drives in a run off Jack Billingham.
» September 10, 1971: Houston's Jack Billingham scores his 2nd straight 1–0 victory, beating Cincinnati five days after victimizing San Francisco.
» November 29, 1971: In three blockbuster deals, the Cubs trade P Ken Holtzman to the A's for OF Rick Monday; the Giants trade P Gaylord Perry and SS Frank Duffy to the Indians for P Sam McDowell; and the Reds trade 1B Lee May, 2B Tommy Helms, and OF Jimmy Stewart to the Astros for 2B Joe Morgan, OF Cesar Geronimo, and P Jack Billingham. This trade, criticized in the Cincinnati press, is one of the best in Reds history, and puts the wheels on the big Red Machine, as future Hall of Famer Morgan will win two MVPs.
» May 3, 1972: For the second straight day, the Cubs whomp the Braves, 12–1. Jose Cardenal leads the attack with a triple, double, and two singles. Fergie Jenkins is the easy winner as Jack Billingham loses his 4th straight.
» October 18, 1972: With the rainout yesterday, game five is quickly re-scheduled for this afternoon. With runners at 2B and 3B and a 3-2 count, the A's fake an intentional walk and strike out Johnny Bench looking. Blue Moon Odom strikes out 11, but Cincinnati's Jack Billingham is the winner 1–0.
» July 13, 1973:
Jack Billingham outduels Tom Seaver to give the Reds a 2–1 win over the Mets. Billingham allows just two hits in winning his 13th, the victory coming on Friday, the 13th.
» August 15, 1973: In Pittsburgh, Reds ace Jack Billingham wins, 1–0, notching his 7th shutout of the year. This ties the club record set by Hod Eller back in 1919.
» September 12, 1973: Pitcher Jack Billingham hits a bases-loaded double to help his cause as the Reds beat the Dodgers, 7–3.
» April 4, 1974: At Riverfront Stadium, in his first swing of the season, Hank Aaron hits a 3-run home run off Jack Billingham as the Braves lose to the Reds 7–6 in 11 innings. It comes on a 3–1 pitch. It is home run 714 for Aaron to tie him with the Babe and Hank is greeted by Bowie Kuhn and Vice-president Gerald Ford. The Reds, trailing 6–2 in the 8th, get a 3-run homer from Tony Perez, tie in the 9th on an RBI-double from Rose, and win it in the 11th when Rose scampers home from 2B on a wild pitch by Buzz Capra.
» April 24, 1974: A scoreless dual between the Cubs Bill Bonham and the Reds Jack Billingham ends with a bases-loaded 9th inning walk to George Foster. The Reds beat the Cubs, 1–0.
» July 14, 1974: The Reds and Pirates split a doubleheader marked by a free-for-all which is later credited with inspiring Pittsburgh and turning its season around. The fight starts after a 4th inning beanball when Jack Billingham plunks P Bruce Kison, bringing both teams onto the field. When Sparky Anderson accidentally steps on Ed Kirkpatrick's foot, the Buc catcher shoves the Reds manager, earning him a punch from the Reds Andy Kosco. Pedro Borbon pins Daryl Patterson, pulling his hair out and a piece of flesh.
» September 4, 1974: Don Wilson has a no-hitter through eight innings, but is lifted for a pinch-hitter by Houston manager Preston Gomez. Reliever Mike Cosgrove gives up a leadoff single to Tony Perez, and the Astros lose to the Reds 2–1. Jack Billingham, who has a sac bunt in the 2-run 5th, is the winner. Gomez made the same mistake in San Diego on July 21, 1970. The Reds score both runs in the 5th inning on two walks, a sac bunt and a 2-base throwing error by Roger Metzger.
» August 3, 1976: At Candlestick, Jack Billingham's 3-hitter gives the Reds a 9–0 win over the Giants.
» September 28, 1976: Cincy's Big Red Machine notches its 100th win, a 5–4 victory over the San Diego Padres. Jack Billingham (12–10) is the winner. Randy Jones takes the loss but sets a National League record with 112 errorless chances. The major-league record is held Frank Owen of the 1904 White Sox, who did not commit an error in 151 chances (121 assists, 30 PO). Jones finishes the year with 12 DPs, tying the NL record. He also finishes with the NL lead in wins (22), games started (40) and completed (25), IP (315.1) and hits allowed.
» July 28, 1977: In a wild one at Wrigley, the first-place Cubs (6) and Reds (5) combine for 11 home runs to tie the ML record. The first-place Cubs come back four times to win 16–15 in 13 innings in a contest that goes four hours and 50 minutes. Dave Rosello's RBI single wins it. The Reds lead 6–0 to start, beginning with Rose's leadoff home run, and lead 15–14 near the finish, but Dave Rosello's RBI single off Jack Billingham wins the game. Reuschel wins his 15th and 2nd in two days, pitching just 2/3 of an inning. Going deep are Buckner (2), Murcer, Mitterwald (2, including one in the 12 inning), and Morales for Chicago: Rose, Bench, Griffey, Lum and Geronimo homer for the Reds. Rick Reuschel (15–3), who shut out the Reds two days earlier, is the winner with 2/3 of an inning.
» March 6, 1978: The Reds trade P Jack Billingham to the Tigers for two minor league players.
» June 5, 1979: In Seattle, Willie Horton hits an apparent home run, his 300th, but the drive off John Hiller strikes a speaker in left centerfield and all Willie gets is a single. Butch Hobson hit the same speaker on April 25, but got a triple out of it. Jack Billingham and Hiller combine on a 4-hitter to beat Seattle, 3–1. Tomorrow, Horton belts his 300th, off Jack Morris, in Seattle's 4–3 win.
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