1977 – The Philadelphia Phillies clinch their second consecutive National League East Division title with a 15 – 9 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Winning pitcher Larry Christenson hits a grand slam in the 7th inning.
1977 – In a 9 – 5 win at St. Louis, the Expos run in a record four pinch-runners in the 9th inning.
1977 – Detroit pounds out 18 hits against Boston’s Reggie Cleveland, but they still lose, 12 – 5. Carlton Fisk, Butch Hobson and Carl Yastrzemski all homer for Boston, giving the Sox a total of 210 for the season.
1977 – George Foster belts home run #50, off Buzz Capra, as the Reds beat the Braves, 5 – 1. Foster is the first Reds player to reach 50 homers; Ted Kluszewski held the Reds record with 49 homers in 1954.
Former catcher Paddy Livingston dies at age 97, in Cleveland, OH. He was the last surviving player from the American League’s first season (1901).
In front of a sell-out crowd of 51,798 at Memorial Stadium on ‘Thanks Brooks (Robinson) Day’, Red Sox designated hitter Ted Cox goes 4-for-4, tying the big league mark shared by Casey Stengel, Willie McCovey, Mack Jones, and Forest Jacobs for the most hits in a major league debut. The performance is also the start of a historic two-game hitting streak by the rookie DH, who will collect two hits in his first two at-bats in tomorrow’s contest to become the only player to begin a big league career with six consecutive hits.
After losing five of his last six decisions, Chicago’s Rick Reuschel notches his 20th victory, beating the Mets, 6 – 5. Reuschel leaves after six innings because of a blister, but racks up two hits and three ribbies at the plate.
1977 – The Pirates top Montreal, 6 – 3, as Frank Taveras steals his 64th base of the season to become the Bucs’ all-time single-season base stealer. Max Carey had been the Pirates’ theft leader. Omar Moreno will break Frank’s record.
1977 – Seattle and Doc Medich beat Kansas City, 4 – 1, to end the Royals’ winning streak at 16 games – the longest in the majors in 24 years.
The Orioles forfeit to the Blue Jays when manager Earl Weaver pulls his team off the field in the 5th inning citing a hazardous condition – a small tarpaulin held down by bricks on the bullpen mound. The Jays are ahead 4 – 0 when the forfeit is called. The O’s will end the season tied with the Red Sox at 97-64.
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