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.
Amidst much media and fan pressure, the Red Sox fire their very unpopular manager Don Zimmer who compiled a very respectable 411-304 (.575) record during his five years in the Boston dugout. The Fenway Faithful never forgive ‘Popeye’ for the team’s collapse in 1978, when a 14-game lead slips away, ending in a one-game playoff for the American League pennant, a 5-4 loss to the Yankees, thanks to a legendary home run over the Green Monster hit by Bucky Dent.
The Padres become the first team in baseball history to have three players to steal more than 50 bases in a season when both Jerry Mumphrey and Ozzie Smith swipe their 50th sack in a 5-3 extra-inning loss to Cincinnati. Fellow Friar Gene Richard, who will lead the club with 61 stolen bases, reached the milestone at the end of last month.
On September 21, 1980, Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies sets a National League record by fanning his 3,118th batter, surpassing Bob Gibson on the all-time list. Andre Dawson becomes Carlton’s record-breaking victim in the third inning of the Phillies’ 1-0 loss to the Montreal Expos.
George Brett of the Kansas City Royals goes 0 for 4 in a 9 – 0 loss to the Oakland Athletics, to drop his average below .400. He is now hitting .396 and will finish the season at .390.
In the Royals’ 13-3 victory over the visiting A’s, George Brett goes 2-for-4. The third baseman’s two singles keep his batting average at .400, the latest date in the season the plateau has been reached since the feat was last accomplished in 1941 by Ted Williams.
Willie Wilson steals second and third base in the 2nd inning of Kansas City’s 5 – 2 win over the Angels, giving him an American League-record 28 consecutive stolen bases without being caught. Ron LeFlore had set the previous record in 1978.
The Reds’ Mario Soto stops Houston, 7 – 0, beating Joe Niekro, who gives up a grand slam to Ray Knight. Houston and Los Angeles are tied for 1st (82-62) with 17 games left on the schedule.
The Royals become the first team to clinch a division title, as Dennis Leonard shuts out the Angels, 5 – 0, in the first game of a doubleheader.
Mike Norris, en route to a 22-9 record with the second-place A’s, gets his 20th victory of the season when Oakland beats Texas at Arlington Stadium, 4-2. The 25 year-old right-hander will compile a 58-59 career mark during his ten years in the major leagues with Oakland.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!