IN THE NEWS: The Orioles beat the Tigers 7–6. When the Brewers beat the Yankees 3–2 in 10 innings, the O's become the American League East champions.
The Bucs take the National League East by edging the Cubs 6–5. A 2-run pinch home run by Bob Robertson is the game winner. Meanwhile, the Cardinals lose, 3–2, to the Expos, as Bob Gibson takes the loss. Reliever Dale Murray is the winner.
The Dodgers clinch the NL West with am 8–5 victory over Houston. Don Sutton earns the win over J.R. Richard.
IN THE NEWS: In the Rangers' season finale, Billy Martin allows Ferguson Jenkins to hit for himself rather than use the DH, the first such incident in the American League all season. Jenkins singles to break up the Twins Jim Hughes's no-hitter, scores the Rangers' first run, and goes on to win his 25th game of the season 2–1. With two outs in the bottom of the 9th, Harmon Killebrew pinch hits for Larry Hisle and strikes out. It is the Killer's last ML at bat as a Twin. He'll sign on as a DH for the Royals after declining the Twins offer to manage in the minors.
During a 13–0 win over Reds, the Braves Hank Aaron homers off Rawly Eastwick. It is Aaron's 733rd career clout and comes in his last National League at bat.
IN THE NEWS: Frank Robinson becomes the first black manager in the major leagues, as the Indians name him to replace Ken Aspromonte for the 1975 season.
IN THE NEWS: Sal Bando homers again and Vida Blue hurls a 2-hitter to give the A's a 1–0 win and a 2-1 lead in the LCS. Blue fans seven and walks none.
IN THE NEWS: Los Angeles advances to the World Series with a 12–1 win over the Bucs. Steve Garvey has two singles and two doubles, and scores four runs as Don Sutton wins his 2nd LCS game and 11th in a row.
The A's get just one hit, but draw 11 walks, nine off loser Mike Cuellar, in beating the Orioles 2–1. Cuellar walks Gene Tenace in the 6th to force in a run, and Reggie Jackson doubles in the winning run in the 7th.
IN THE NEWS: Oakland slugging star Reggie Jackson connects for a homer off Andy Messersmith to start the scoring, and pitcher Ken Holtzman scores the 2nd run in the 5th on a suicide squeeze. The A's win the World Series opener 3–2 as the Dodgers strand 12 base runners
Sadaharu Oh draws his 166th walk in a 130-game season, setting a Japanese record. At his retirement in 1980, Oh will hold the all-time world record for walks, 2,504, topping Babe Ruth's record of 2,056.
IN THE NEWS: Hall of Fame OF Sam Rice dies at Rossmor, Maryland, at age 84, leaving a letter—opened at Cooperstown—confirming his controversial catch in the 1925 World Series. The letter, dated July 26, 1965, details the entire play and ends with Rice's punchline, "at no time did I lose possession of the ball."
Los Angeles, behind Don Sutton, evens the Series with a 3–2 win. The Dodgers score in the 2nd off Vida Blue, and a 2-run home run by Joe Ferguson in the 6th provides the margin.
The Cardinals trade Joe Torre to the Mets for pitchers Ray Sadecki and Tommy Moore. Torre will not solve the Mets' 3B problems but he will be named manager in 1977.
IN THE NEWS: In a Tuesday night game, the surprise starter for the Dodgers is Al Downing. But Catfish Hunter is too much for LA, and Oakland wins another 3–2 game.
IN THE NEWS: Ken Holtzman, who hadn't hit all season, belts a 3rd-inning home run and gets the win 5–2 with Rollie Fingers in relief. Oakland scores four in the 6th to wrap up the 4th game 5–2.
IN THE NEWS: Vida Blue and Don Sutton are tied 2–2 going into the bottom of the 6th when Mike Marshall relieves and retires the side. In the 7th, a shower of debris halts the game for 15 minutes. When play is resumed, Joe Rudi hits Marshall's first pitch for a homer to give the A's a 3rd 3–2 win, clinching a 3rd straight World Championship for the team.
IN THE NEWS: The Giants and Yankees swap popular star outfielders: Bobby Bonds goes to the Yankees and Bobby Murcer heads to San Francisco. Bonds will play just one season in New York, hitting 32 home runs and stealing 32 bases, before leg injuries slowed him. Murcer swore he would never forgive the Yankees for trading him, but later he will relent when the Yanks reacquire him.
Wally Yonamine, an American of Japanese descent, becomes the only non-Japanese manager ever to win the Japan Series when his Chunichi Dragons beat the Lotte Orions.
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