For the second consecutive season, Jim Palmer (22-13, 2.51) is the recipient of the American League Cy Young Award. The Orioles’ right-hander garners first-place votes on 19 of 24 ballots cast by the BBWAA, with the remaining five top spots going to rookie sensation Mark Fidrych of the Tigers.
The Mariners and Blue Jays each select thirty players in the expansion draft. Seattle picks Royals’ outfielder Ruppert Jones, and Toronto selects Orioles’ shortstop Bob Bailor as their team’s respective first picks.
The Oakland Athletics make an unusual trade by sending manager Chuck Tanner to the Pittsburgh Pirates for catcher Manny Sanguillen and $100,000. Sanguillen will play only one season in Oakland before returning to Pittsburgh. Tanner will lead the Pirates to the World Championship in 1979.
1976 – The first mass-market free agent re-entry draft is held at the New York Plaza Hotel. Among those available are Reggie Jackson, Willie McCovey, Joe Rudi, Don Gullett, Gene Tenace, Nate Colbert, Rollie Fingers, Don Baylor and Bobby Grich. McCovey and Colbert are the only two players not selected, but McCovey will catch on with the Giants in spring training and have a banner year at his old first base position.
San Diego left-hander Randy Jones (22-14, 2.74) captures the National League’s Cy Young Award, capturing 15 of the 24 first-place votes cast by the writers. Two seasons ago, the 26 year-old southpaw had lost 22 games for the last-place Padres.
The Cincinnati Reds take a commanding 3-0 lead over the New York Yankees in the World Series with a 6 – 2 victory at Yankee Stadium. Cincinnati’s designated hitter, Dan Driessen, has a single, double, home run and a walk to lead the attack. Jim Mason has a solo homer in the 7th inning for the only home run by the Yankees in the Series.
1976 – On a cold Sunday night, the Cincinnati Reds gang up on pitcher Catfish Hunter for three runs, but the Yankees battle back to tie it up. With two outs in the 9th inning, Yankees shortstop Fred Stanley throws Ken Griffey’s easy grounder into the dugout. A walk and a Tony Perez single follow and Cincinnati wins Game 2 of the World Series, 4 – 3.
In Game 1 of the World Series against the Yankees, Dan Driessen, batting fifth in the Reds lineup, becomes the first National League player to be used as a designated hitter. The DH was not employed before this year’s Fall Classic, although the concept had been adopted and used in the American League since 1973.
The Yankees dramatically win their 30th pennant on Chris Chambliss’ home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. The first baseman’s walk-off solo shot beats the Royals in Game Five and the deciding contest of the ALCS, 7-6.
The Royals gain their first postseason victory in franchise history when they beat the Yankees, 7-3, in Game 2 of the ALCS. Kansas City southpaw Paul Splittorff, pitching 5.2 innings in relief, is credited with the victory.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!