On May 31, 1968, the shutout streak of Don Drysdale appears to end when he hits Dick Dietz with a bases-loaded pitch in the ninth inning. But umpire Harry Wendelstedt rules that Dietz made no effort to avoid the pitch, thus prolonging the at-bat. Drysdale then retires Dietz on a fly ball and and the…
The defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals continue to struggle, losing their 11th out of 13, 2 – 1, to Juan Marichal and the Giants. In the past two weeks, they have virtually traded places with today’s opponent, falling from 1st place on May 15th, 3 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco, to 3 games behind today (actually in 4th place behind Philly and Atlanta as well). From this point forward, however, the Cards will catch fire; by August 1st, a 2 – 1 win will give them 49 victories out of their last 64 games and leave them 15 games ahead of their nearest National League competitor.
American League owners agree to divide the circuit into two divisions and reduce its schedule to 156 games. The following divisional alignment is set for the 1969 season: Eastern Division: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Washington Senators. Western Division: California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Pilots.
1968 – San Diego and Montreal are awarded NL expansion teams for 1969 and Dallasites are quick to blame Houston’s Judge Roy Hofheinz for the snub. Montreal doesn’t even have a minor league team at the time. One Dallas paper prints a picture of the judge with a bullseye over it. The Astros celebrate by clubbing the Dodgers, 10-1. Dallas-Ft. Worth would get the old Washington Senators team in 1972. Elsewhere, Jeff Bagwell is born in Boston, MA. He owns many records for the Astros, including the career marks for home runs and runs batted in.
On May 27, 1968, two future Hall of Famers are born in different cities. Jeff Bagwell is born in Boston, Massachusetts, while Frank Thomas enters the world in Columbus, Georgia. Thomas will make his major league debut in 1990, and Bagwell will follow suit in 1991.
Major League Baseball expands outside the confines of the United States as the National League announces expansion for the first time in seven years, awarding franchises to Montreal as well as San Diego, to begin play next season.
1968 – Dave Giusti tosses a two-hitter in a nail-biting 1-0 shutout in Cincinnati. The first hit, with two out in the eighth, is questionable after Pete Rose’s bloop escapes Jim Wynn’s glove. Vada Pinson later gets a clean double. Rusty Staub singles home Ron Davisfor the only run.
With the wind blowing out at Wrigley Field‚ the Pirates come from 4 runs down to defeat the Cubs‚ 13 – 6. Willie Stargell has 3 homers and just misses a 4th when his drive bounces off the bleacher railing for a double. Willie adds a single for 15 total bases as he drives in 7 runs.
The Cards fall 2 – 0, to the Dodgers as Don Drysdale’s streak reaches three consecutive scoreless games.
The Cubs climb above the .500 mark the first time all season with a 6 – 5 win over the Phillies. Chicago’s Billy Williams sets a new record for outfielders by playing his 695th straight game.
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