Mets clinch NL East with only 82 wins

ByThis Day in Baseball

1973 – In the first game of a scheduled make-up doubleheader at Wrigley Field, a day after the regular season ended, the New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs, 6 – 1, to capture the National League East flag. The Mets, who were 11 1/2 games behind and in last place on August 5th, by winning their 82nd game (the lowest number of victories ever to win a title), clinch the division, making the second game of the twin bill unnecessary.

New Yankee Stadium to be built

ByThis Day in Baseball

The day after the season finale at Yankee Stadium, Mayor John Lindsay, who had given his approval for the renovation of the Bronx ballpark, ceremonially begins the project by scooping a pile of dirt from right field with a bulldozer. The on-field ceremony at the empty stadium includes the widows of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, who are given home plate and first base, respectively.