In the 163rd game of the season Joe Niekro defeats the Dodgers, 7-1, in the winner-take-all contest for the NL West

In the 163rd game of the season Joe Niekro defeats the Dodgers, 7-1, in the winner-take-all contest for the NL West

ByBaseball

In the 163rd game of the season, 35 year-old knuckleballer Joe Niekro earns his 20th victory, going the distance to defeat the Dodgers, 7-1, in the winner-take-all contest for the NL West. With the win, the Astros hold on to capture their first title in the 19-year history of the franchise after losing a season-ending three game series to LA, (3-2, 2-1, and 4-3) that forced the one-game playoff.

1980 – Capping an improbable comeback, the Dodgers beat Houston for the third day in a row to force a one-game playoff for the NL West title. The Dodgers trailed Houston by three games with three games left in the season, and won each game by a single run.

ByBaseball

1980 – Capping an improbable comeback, the Dodgers beat Houston for the third day in a row to force a one-game playoff for the NL West title. The Dodgers trailed Houston by three games with three games left in the season, and won each game by a single run.

In a duel between two 19-game winners on the last day of the season, Scott McGregor enters the 20-win circle for the first and only time when he bests Len Barker in the Orioles’ 7-1 victory over the Indians. The Cleveland right-hander, who gives up six runs in five innings to finish the campaign with a 19-12 record, will never again come close to being a 20-game winner.

ByBaseball

In a duel between two 19-game winners on the last day of the season, Scott McGregor enters the 20-win circle for the first and only time when he bests Len Barker in the Orioles’ 7-1 victory over the Indians. The Cleveland right-hander, who gives up six runs in five innings to finish the campaign with a 19-12 record, will never again come close to being a 20-game winner.

Brewers’ outfielder Ben Ogilvie becomes the first non-American born player to lead the American League in home runs. On the last day of the season, the 31 year-old Panamanian goes deep off Oakland’s Rick Langford for his 41st homer, which ties Reggie Jackson for the most round-trippers in the Junior Circuit.

ByBaseball

Brewers’ outfielder Ben Ogilvie becomes the first non-American born player to lead the American League in home runs. On the last day of the season, the 31 year-old Panamanian goes deep off Oakland’s Rick Langford for his 41st homer, which ties Reggie Jackson for the most round-trippers in the Junior Circuit.

Reaching first on a fielder’s choice in the top of the seventh in the 4-0 win over the Twins, Royals’ leadoff hitter Willie Wilson establishes a major league record for the most at-bats in a season with 705. The Kansas City outfielder will collect 230 hits and score 133 runs for the division-winning club.

ByBaseball

Reaching first on a fielder’s choice in the top of the seventh in the 4-0 win over the Twins, Royals’ leadoff hitter Willie Wilson establishes a major league record for the most at-bats in a season with 705. The Kansas City outfielder will collect 230 hits and score 133 runs for the division-winning club.

The Yankees break the American League regular season attendance record when 35,879 fans watch the team beat the Tigers, 2-1, in the season finale, bringing the final total 2,627,417. The 1948 Indians previously set the mark when 2,620,627 fans turned turnstiles to watch their Tribe capture the Junior Circuit’s pennant.

ByBaseball

The Yankees break the American League regular season attendance record when 35,879 fans watch the team beat the Tigers, 2-1, in the season finale, bringing the final total 2,627,417. The 1948 Indians previously set the mark when 2,620,627 fans turned turnstiles to watch their Tribe capture the Junior Circuit’s pennant.

Boston collects 22 hits but still loses to visiting Toronto‚ 7-6 in 17 innings

Boston collects 22 hits but still loses to visiting Toronto‚ 7-6 in 17 innings

ByThis Day in Baseball

    October 4, 1980 – At Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox collects 22 hits but still loses to visiting Toronto‚ 7-6 in 17 innings. The Jays have 17 hits‚ including a game-tying 9th inning 2-run Homerun by Lloyd Moseby‚ off Bob Stanley. Stanley also gives up the game-winning hit to Dane Iorg in the…

minnie minoso

Minnie Minoso of the Chicago White Sox becomes the second player to play in five decades

ByThis Day in Baseball

On October 4, 1980, Minnie Minoso of the Chicago White Sox becomes the second player to play in five decades. Appearing in his first game since 1976, the 57-year-old Minoso comes to bat as a pinch-hitter. The former Negro Leagues star made his major league debut in 1949.

The New York Yankees clinch their fourth AL East title in five seasons, beating Detroit, 5 – 2, in the first game of a doubleheader. Reggie Jackson hits his 41st home run of the season and will share the league home run crown with Ben Oglivie of the Milwaukee Brewers.

ByBaseball

The New York Yankees clinch their fourth AL East title in five seasons, beating Detroit, 5 – 2, in the first game of a doubleheader. Reggie Jackson hits his 41st home run of the season and will share the league home run crown with Ben Oglivie of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Mike Schmidt’s two-run home run off Stan Bahnsen in the top of the 11th inning gives Philadelphia a 6 – 4 win over Montreal and the NL East title. The home run is Schmidt’s 48th of the season, breaking Eddie Mathews’ single-season record for third basemen set in 1953.

ByBaseball

Mike Schmidt’s two-run home run off Stan Bahnsen in the top of the 11th inning gives Philadelphia a 6 – 4 win over Montreal and the NL East title. The home run is Schmidt’s 48th of the season, breaking Eddie Mathews’ single-season record for third basemen set in 1953.