After sharing the news on the Today Show, Willie Mays officially announces his retirement at a press conference held at Shea Stadium’s Diamond Club. In five days, the Mets will honor the aging superstar with pre-game ceremony night at the ballpark.
The Pirates miss scoring in the top of the 13th inning when Dave Augustine’s ‘home run’ bounces off the top of the fence into the glove of left fielder Cleon Jones, who relays the ball to Wayne Garrett in time for the third baseman to nail Richie Zisk at the plate. In the bottom of the frame, Mets rookie catcher Ron Hodges ends the Shea Stadium contest, which will become known as the ‘Ball on the Wall Game’, with a one-out single off Bucs’ reliever Dave Giusti, plating John Milner for the 4-3 victory.
On September 19, 1973, Frank Robinson of the California Angels becomes the first major leaguer to hit a home run in 32 different ballparks. Robinson connects against the Texas Rangers at Arlington Stadium, which first opened in 1972. Pinterest Instagram Facebook Youtube {“dynamic”:true,”content”:”post_tags”,”settings”:{“before”:””,”after”:””,”link_to_term_page”:”on”,”separator”:” | “,”category_type”:”post_tag”}} [ngg src=”random_images” display=”basic_thumbnail” maximum_entity_count=”20″]
In San Francisco, Fred Norman pitches a two-hitter as the Reds beat the Giants, 5 – 1.
Chicago’s Ron Santo and Billy Williams celebrate their long association together by each hitting their 20th homer of the season in an 8 – 6 win over Montreal. It is number 325 for Santo and 376 for Williams in more than 2,000 games together.
Astros’ infielder Dave Campbell hits a first-inning two-run double against San Diego right-hander Clay Kirby to snap a 0-for-45 drought, tying a major league record set in 1909 by Bill Bergen, a catcher who played with Brooklyn. ‘Soup’, who will become a respected national baseball broadcaster, endured the futility while playing for three teams, combining a 17 at-bat hitless streak with the Padres and another 21 at-bats hitless streak for the Cardinals before hitting the two-bagger in his eighth at-bat with Houston.
On September 19, 1973, Dave Johnson of the Atlanta Braves sets a single-season record for most home runs by a second baseman. Playing in a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Johnson hits his 43rd of the year, (42nd as a second baseman) tying the record held by Rogers Hornsby…
Rick Waits makes his major league debut when he pitches the ninth inning of the Rangers’ 10-3 victory over Chicago at Arlington Stadium. Although the 21 year-old right-hander starts the frame with an eight-run lead, he inexplicably gets credit for a save.
1973 – The Pirates wallop the Mets, 10 – 3, to lead the National League East by 1 1/2 games. Willie Stargell collects four extra-base hits including his 40th home run of the season.
1973 – With a runner aboard and the Braves already trailing, 2- 0, Dusty Baker makes what The Sporting News will call “the greatest catch in Atlanta Stadium history,” literally climbing the center field fence to prevent Pittsburgh’s Richie Hebner from doubling Atlanta’s deficit with one swing of the bat. Though coming in the fourth inning, the play will later prove pivotal when, thanks to Baker, the three runs finally pushed across by game’s end gives Atlanta a 3 – 2, walk-off win.
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