IN THE NEWS: Mets manager Gil Hodges dies of a heart attack at West Palm Beach, Florida, two days shy of his 48th birthday. Yogi Berra is named manager.
IN THE NEWS: For the first time in history, the ML season fails to open due to a general player strike. The strike, announced April 1st, will erase 86 games from the ML schedules.
IN THE NEWS: President Richard Nixon recommends that both sides of the baseball dispute meet with J. Curtis Counts, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
IN THE NEWS: Reggie Jackson sports a mustache as the A's top the Twins 4–3 in 11 innings. Jackson is reported as the first ML player with facial hair since Wally Schang in 1914.
The Reds play their home opener 10 days after it was originally scheduled, and lose to the Dodgers, 3–1. Cincy's only run is a homer by Denis Menke in his first at bat as a Red.
IN THE NEWS: In Chicago, 22-year-old rookie Burt Hooton of the Cubs no-hits the Phillies 4–0. It is Hooton's 4th ML game over two seasons and he has allowed just eight hits in 30 innings. Throwing his knucklecurve, Hooton walks seven and fans 7.
With a rainout yesterday, the Orioles and Yankees decide to open the season in Baltimore with a doubleheader. But rain wipes out the nitecap and the O's win the rain-shortened opener before just 11,995 fans, 3–1. There is one out in the bottom of the 7th when the game is called. The O's score an unearned run in the 2nd and Brooks Robinson knocks in two more to back Pat Dobson's pitching. After a long rain delay, Doyle Alexander pitched the 7th for the O's.
Hitting for the cycle, Dave Kingman drives in six runs to lead the Giants to a 10–6 win over the Astros. The third sacker makes out in his final at bat after clouting a 3-run homer in the 7th. Sudden Sam McDowell, making his NL debut, pitches five 2/3 inning for the win despite allowing 3-run homers to Bob Watson and Tommy Helms.
IN THE NEWS: In Atlanta, Tommy John makes his NL debut and pitches the Dodgers to a 3–1 victory over the Braves. He scatters four hits in seven innings.
Giants slugger Willie McCovey breaks his right arm in a collision with John Jeter during a win over the Padres. He will be out until June 3rd.
IN THE NEWS: Steve Carlton, facing his former teammates for the first time, scatters three hits in outdueling Bob Gibson and the Cardinals, 1–0. The lone run comes on a Willie Montanez triple and a single by Johnson.
IN THE NEWS: The Rangers celebrate their first game in their new home, Arlington Stadium, halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, by outscoring the Angels, 7–6.
A pinch hit double by Jim Fairey allows the unbeaten Expos to defeat the Cardinals, 2–1. The Cardinals strand 15 runners, including three in the 9th. At the plate, losing pitcher Rick Wise, one of the best hitting pitchers in baseball, leaves a record-tying nine runners on base.
IN THE NEWS: The Braves smash five homers, including Aaron's first of the year and #640 of his career, in defeating the Reds, 11–7. Williams belts 2, and Brown and Rico Carty one apiece.
IN THE NEWS: Sending 14 men to the plate, the Astros erupt for 10 runs in the 9th to defeat the Giants, 13–7. Cesar Cedeno collects five hits, including two in the 9th when he drives in three runs. May has a 3-run homer in the 9th.
Greg Luzinski homers in the 9th to tie the score, then triples and scores in the 11th to give the Phils a 5–4 victory over the Pirates. Luzinski also doubles and scores in the 2nd.
IN THE NEWS: Phillies lefty Steve Carlton allows only a leadoff single to Chris Speier in beating the Giants, 3–0, for his 2nd shutout in a row. Carlton strikes out 14 to tie the club record for lefties. Juan Marichal (1-2) takes the loss.
IN THE NEWS: Cubs 1B Joe Pepitone, sidelined with a stomach ailment, returns to the lineup and smashes two three-run homers as the Cubs beat the Reds, 10-8. It's the Cubs first win in nine games and Fergie Jenkins 1st win of the year. Monday and Cardenal also homer for Chicago.
IN THE NEWS: Leading the Phillies 4–0, San Diego ace Steve Arlin loses a no hitter in 9th with two outs when manager Don Zimmer pulls his third baseman in close. Denny Doyle then bounces a ball over the third baseman's head. Arlin finishes with a one-hitter, beating Steve Carlton. Doyle also had the only hit to defeat the Reds Gary Nolan in 1971 and the only hit in a Nolan Ryan one-hitter in 1970.
BALLPLAYERS | TEAMS | CHRONOLOGY | TODAY | BOOKS | NEWSLETTER | ERRATA | FAQ
