Interrupting Board Chairman M. Donald Grant’s pep talk during a team meeting, Mets reliever Tug McGraw shouts out the words, “Ya Gotta Believe,” which will become the rallying cry for the club, climbing out of the cellar en route to the NL pennant. Although New York beats Houston, 2-1, in 12 innings, their closer’s words of encouragement will not immediately light a fire under the team, as they will continue to struggle until the middle of August.

ByTom

Interrupting Board Chairman M. Donald Grant’s pep talk during a team meeting, Mets reliever Tug McGraw shouts out the words, “Ya Gotta Believe,” which will become the rallying cry for the club, climbing out of the cellar en route to the NL pennant. Although New York beats Houston, 2-1, in 12 innings, their closer’s words of encouragement will not immediately light a fire under the team, as they will continue to struggle until the middle of August.

In a record-setting walkathon between the Reds and Expos, 25 bases on balls are handed out as Montreal strolls to an 11 – 6 win. Well off the American League’s two-team mark of 30, this tops the National Leaguerecord of 23, last reached on July 7, 1911. Six Montreal pitchers walk 16, one short of the record for an NL team, while Reds pitchers Clay Carroll and Tom Hall walk 9. Hal King pinch hits a grand slam for the Reds in the 6th inning, his second pinch dinger in nine days.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In a record-setting walkathon between the Reds and Expos, 25 bases on balls are handed out as Montreal strolls to an 11 – 6 win. Well off the American League’s two-team mark of 30, this tops the National Leaguerecord of 23, last reached on July 7, 1911. Six Montreal pitchers walk 16, one short of the record for an NL team, while Reds pitchers Clay Carroll and Tom Hall walk 9. Hal King pinch hits a grand slam for the Reds in the 6th inning, his second pinch dinger in nine days.