The writers select A’s hurler Catfish Hunter as the recipient of the American League’s Cy Young Award. The 25-game winner, due to a contract dispute with owner Charlie Finley, will be declared one of baseball’s first free-agents and will become the game’s highest-paid pitcher in baseball at the end of December when he signs a five-year contract with the Yankees for $3.75 million.
1974 – Astros deal Bob Gallagher to the Mets for infielder Ken Boswell. Gallagher bats .230 as a reserve outfielder for two years in Houston. Boswell becomes a spot starter and pinch-hitter deluxe over the next three seasons.
History of the World Series – 1974 Jim (Catfish) Hunter was on record as saying he would attempt to declare himself a free agent after the Series — which would match the A’s against the Los Angeles Dodgers in baseball’s first all-West Coast classic — unless A’s Owner Charlie Finley paid Hunter the back salary…
On October 25, 1974, two future Hall of Famers are sent packing in major trades. The Chicago Cubs send 20-game winner Ferguson Jenkins to the Texas Rangers for infielders Bill Madlock and Vic Harris.
1974 – Astros purchase outfielder Jose Cruz from the Cardinals. Unable to crack the St. Louis lineup, the 27-year-old stars for the next 13 seasons in Houston. The best Astro player in the 1980s, Cruz has six seasons hitting over .300 and leads the team in RBIs seven times.
On October 23, 1974, the Chicago Cubs a fixture at Wrigley Field for 16 years Billy Williams to the Oakland A’s for infielder Manny Trillo and pitchers Bob Locker and Darold Knowles. Williams will finish his career as a designated hitter in Oakland before retiring after the 1976 season… [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you cool…
Baseball is the only game you can watch on the radio. Join the community today and listen to hundreds of broadcasts from baseball’s golden age! Sign Up or learn more On October 22, 1974, Considered to be the biggest one-for-one trade in baseball history, two very well-known outfielders are exchanged for one another, the…
1974 – The Oakland Athletics defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3 – 2, to win their third straight World Series. Joe Rudi’s 7th-inning home run provides the winning margin. The Athletics join the New York Yankees as the only franchises in major league history to win three straight titles.
1974 – Pitcher Ken Holtzman, who hasn’t batted in the regular season because of the designated hitter rule, belts a 3rd-inning home run off Andy Messersmith in Game 4 and gets the 5 – 2 victory. Rollie Fingers holds the Dodgers in relief and Oakland takes a 3-1 Series lead. Holtzman remains the last pitcher in American League history to hit a home run at home.
1974 – In Game 3 of the World Series, Al Downing is the surprise starter for the Dodgers, but Catfish Hunter pitches Oakland to a 3 – 2 win.
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