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1980 – Cold, damp Olympic Stadium is where the Astros must wait through a rain delay of three hours and 50 minutes to complete an 8-4 victory. Jose Cruz has four RBIs to lead the Astros while Joe Niekro survives the weather and the Expos for a complete-game win. 

1980 – Cold, damp Olympic Stadium is where the Astros must wait through a rain delay of three hours and 50 minutes to complete an 8-4 victory. Jose Cruz has four RBIs to lead the Astros while Joe Niekro survives the weather and the Expos for a complete-game win. 

National League president Chub Feeney suspends Pittsburgh’s Bill Madlock for 15 days and fines him $5,000 for shoving his glove in the face of home plate umpire Jerry Crawford, after being called out on strikes with the bases loaded in a game a few days earlier.

National League president Chub Feeney suspends Pittsburgh’s Bill Madlock for 15 days and fines him $5,000 for shoving his glove in the face of home plate umpire Jerry Crawford, after being called out on strikes with the bases loaded in a game a few days earlier.

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5/4/1980 – The Dodgers were visiting Philadelphia and the top of the first inning was not Dallas Green’s best day on the way to the World Series championship. Davey Lopes singled and Rudy Law reached on an infield error. After Reggie Smith popped out, Law stole second base. Steve Garvey reached on an infield single, scoring the first run of the game. Dusty Baker then hit into a force out leaving runners on first and third but had batted out of turn. Green came out and pointed out the fact that the proper batter had not hit. Thus Ron Cey was called out, the runners restored to their previous bases and Baker batted again. This time he hit a three-run homer to left. Green now was very upset saying that Baker should not have batted believing according to newspaper accounts that Baker’s force out should count and Cey should be ruled out . He was ejected from the game and protested the game. The protest was denied as the rules were followed correctly. The incorrect decision was Green’s when he did not take the out on Baker’s first trip to the plate. The Dodgers eventually won the game 12-10.

5/4/1980 – The Dodgers were visiting Philadelphia and the top of the first inning was not Dallas Green’s best day on the way to the World Series championship. Davey Lopes singled and Rudy Law reached on an infield error. After Reggie Smith popped out, Law stole second base. Steve Garvey reached on an infield single, scoring the first run of the game. Dusty Baker then hit into a force out leaving runners on first and third but had batted out of turn. Green came out and pointed out the fact that the proper batter had not hit. Thus Ron Cey was called out, the runners restored to their previous bases and Baker batted again. This time he hit a three-run homer to left. Green now was very upset saying that Baker should not have batted believing according to newspaper accounts that Baker’s force out should count and Cey should be ruled out . He was ejected from the game and protested the game. The protest was denied as the rules were followed correctly. The incorrect decision was Green’s when he did not take the out on Baker’s first trip to the plate. The Dodgers eventually won the game 12-10.

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Otto Vélez hits four home runs in a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians at Exhibition Stadium. In the first game, he hits a grand slamin the 1st inning, followed by a two-run homer in the 8th, and a game-winning solo shot in the 10th. In the following contest, he clubs a three-run home run in the 1st inning. Overall, he has 10 RBI for the day.

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Otto Vélez hits four home runs in a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians at Exhibition Stadium. In the first game, he hits a grand slamin the 1st inning, followed by a two-run homer in the 8th, and a game-winning solo shot in the 10th. In the following contest, he clubs a three-run home run in the 1st inning. Overall, he has 10 RBI for the day.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Mike Squires catches the final inning of an 11 – 1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the first left-handed catcher to play in major league baseball since Dale Long in 1958.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Mike Squires catches the final inning of an 11 – 1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the first left-handed catcher to play in major league baseball since Dale Long in 1958.

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1980 – Bill Virdon picks up his 356th win as a Houston manager, setting a team record, as the Astros edge St. Louis, 4-2. Vern Ruhle is the hero, going 8-2/3rds innings for the win, producing two hits and driving in a run. Terry Puhl and Jose Cruz supply two hits apiece. Joe Sambito nails the final out for the save. 

1980 – Bill Virdon picks up his 356th win as a Houston manager, setting a team record, as the Astros edge St. Louis, 4-2. Vern Ruhle is the hero, going 8-2/3rds innings for the win, producing two hits and driving in a run. Terry Puhl and Jose Cruz supply two hits apiece. Joe Sambito nails the final out for the save. 

Ferguson Jenkins of the Texas Rangers becomes the fourth pitcher in history to record 100 wins in each league
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Ferguson Jenkins of the Texas Rangers becomes the fourth pitcher in history to record 100 wins in each league

  On May 3, 1980, Ferguson Jenkins of the Texas Rangers becomes the fourth pitcher in history to record 100 wins in each major league. He joins fellow Hall of Famers Jim Bunning, Gaylord Perry, and Cy Young in the exclusive club. Jenkins defeats the Baltimore Orioles, 3-2 at Arlington Stadium, for his 100th American League…

Mets starter Pete Falcone sets a franchise record when he strikes out the first six batters he faces

Mets starter Pete Falcone sets a franchise record when he strikes out the first six batters he faces

Mets starter Pete Falcone sets a franchise record when he strikes out the first six batters he faces, a group that include Pete Rose and Mike Schmidt among the the half dozen batters, in the team’s 2-1 loss to the Phillies at Shea Stadium. The southpaw’s mark will not be broken until Jacob DeGrom, who will become the National League’s Rookie of the Year, fans eight Miami batters from the start of a 2014 game to tie Jim Deshaies’ major league record.