» August 27, 1948: Hank Majeski of the Athletics hits six doubles in a doubleheader against the Browns, pacing the dogged A's to wins of 6–0 and 9–1. He is the 3rd American League player to collect six long hits in an afternoon and just the 2nd to do it in two regulation length games. Hal McRae, on the same date in 1974, will do it next in the AL. » April 17, 1970: Down 5–4 to the Giants in the bottom of the 9th, the Reds tie when Hal McRae socks a pinch homer. Tony Perez ends the game with a 3-run homer in the same inning. Johnny Bench, Lee May, and Pete Rose also homer for Cincy.
» May 8, 1970: A record 30 home runs are hit by NL players in seven games, including two apiece by each of five players. The 20 MPH wind at Wrigley produces nine homers as the Cubs defeat the Reds, 10–7, snapping the Reds win streak at eight games. Hal McRae and Tony Perez have a pair for the Reds while Billy Williams has two for Chicago.
» July 27, 1971: Hal McRae collects a homer, three doubles and a single to lead the Reds to an 11–3 win over the Padres. His four long hits ties a club record.
» June 1, 1972: At Houston, Hal McRae pinch hits a 6th inning grand slam to spark the Reds to a win, 10–3. The Astros had taken a 3–0 lead on homers by Cesar Cedeno and Doug Rader. Johnny Bench hits his 4th homer in three games in the 7th, and Tony Perez adds a homer in the 9th.
» September 3, 1972:
Hal McRae's 2-run pinch homer in the 9th gives the Reds a 4–3 win over the visiting Expos.
» November 30, 1972: Twelve transactions, involving 36 players, take place. Among those sent to new clubs are OF Larry Hisle (to the Twins), 2B Dave Johnson (Braves), OF Del Unser (Phils), Oscar Gamble (Indians), Cesar Tovar (Phils) and OF Hal McRae and P Wayne Simpson (Royals).
» August 27, 1974:
Hal McRae ties the major-league record with six extra-base hits—5 doubles and a home run—as the Royals split a doubleheader with the Indians.
» October 3, 1976:
George Brett edges Royals teammate Hal McRae for
the AL batting title, .333 to .332, when his blooper
drops in front of Twins OF Steve Brye and skips over
his head for an inside-the-park HR. McRae believes
the misplay is deliberate, and charges the Twins with
racism.
» October 5, 1977:
In the opener of the American League Series, home runs by Hal McRae, John Mayberry, and Al Cowens lead the Royals to a 7–2 triumph over the Yankees.
» October 7, 1977:
Kansas City earns a 6–2 win over New York as Hal McRae doubles and scores twice and Dennis Leonard hurls a 4-hitter.
» April 18, 1978: The Royals win their 8th straight, beating the Blue Jays 5–0 behind Paul Splittorff's 5-hitter. Willie Wilson and Hal McRae open the game with singles, and pull off a double steal. Following a 2-out intentional walk, Amos Otis hits a grand slam to jump start the Royals scoring.
» August 18, 1983: In the continuation of the "Pine Tar Game," Hal McRae strikes out for the last KC out and Dan Quisenberry retires the Yankees in order in the bottom of the 9th to preserve the Royals' 5–4 victory. The conclusion takes just 12 minutes (and 16 pitches) and, as the only game scheduled at the Stadium, is witnessed by a crowd of 1,245. An odd feature of the game is lefty Don Mattingly playing 2B and pitcher Ron Guidry in CF, as the Yanks try to cover all the options.
» October 26, 1985: Aided by a blown call, a bungled pop-up, and a passed ball, Kansas City scores two runs in the bottom of the 9th to beat St. Louis 2–1 and even the World Series at three games apiece. The Cardinals are three outs away from the World Championship when Jorge Orta reaches base on a disputed infield single. The next batter, Steve Balboni, lofts a foul pop that Clark loses track of and lets fall untouched, then singles. After Darrell Porter's passed ball puts runners on 2B and 3B and Hal McRae is intentionally walked to load the bases, pinch hitter Dane Iorg singles home two runs to end the game.
» April 8, 1986:
The Royals are the first defending champions—besides the Yankees—in 61 years to open at Yankee Stadium, and they start the season on the wrong foot by losing, 4–2. New York scores all four runs off starter Bud Black, who gives up a three-run homer to Butch Wynegar in the 2nd. Hal McRae accounts for both KC runs with a two-run homer off starter Ron Guidry, one of two hits Guidry gives up in five innings. Guidry wins his first opener with relief help from Rod Scurry and Dave Righetti.
» May 22, 1991: Manager John Wathan is fired by the Royals. He will be replaced by Hal McRae.
» August 13, 1998: Baltimore's Harold Baines becomes the all–time leader in RBIs by a DH when he drives in his 824th in a 7–4 win over the Indians. Hal McRae was the previous record–holder.
» April 18, 2001:
After just 14 games, the Devil Rays fire manager Larry Rothschild and hire Hal McRae to take his place.
» September 30, 2002: The Devil Rays and Tigers both fire their managers, with Hal McRae leaving Tampa Bay and Luis Pujols exiting from Detroit.
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