On May 9, 1973, Cincinnati Reds catcher Johnny Bench wins a battle of future Hall of Famers. For the second time in his career, the All-Star catcher hits three home runs against left-hander Steve Carlton. Bench finishes with seven RBIs to lead the Reds over the Philadelphia Phillies, 9-7. Bench homers in the 1st, walks…
On a rainy night at Shea Stadium, the seventh-inning line drive off the bat of Atlanta’s Marty Perez strikes Jon Matlack’s forehead so hard that the ball ricochets into the Mets dugout. Fortunately, the 23 year-old southpaw sustains only a hairline fracture of his skull, and will return to the mound on May 19 to blank the Bucs for six innings at Pittsburgh.
On May 8, 1973, Chicago Cubs coach Ernie Banks becomes the first African American to manage during a major league game. When Cubs manager Whitey Lockman is ejected in the third inning, Banks takes over the reigns for the rest of the game. With Banks at the helm, the Cubs edge the San Diego Padres,…
For the second time in his career, Pirate Willie Stargell poles one out of Dodger Stadium. His blast off Andy Messersmith hits the right field pavilion roof 470 feet away. His first home run, a 506-foot shot, came off Alan Foster on August 5, 1969. No other player has hit a fair ball out of the stadium. Los Angeles wins, 7 – 4.
In a 9 – 7 losing effort against the Giants, Cardinals ace Bob Gibson makes his 242nd consecutive start. It is a new 20th century record, passing that of Red Ruffing, who never pitched in relief the last 10 years of his career.
The Giants, one out from defeat, score seven runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to stun the Pirates at Candlestick Park, 8-7. Three batters after Chris Arnold pinch-hits a two-out grand slam, Bobby Bonds delivers a walk-off three-run double to left field to complete San Francisco’s amazing come-from-behind victory.
1973 – Montreal’s Mike Marshall walks home the tying run in the bottom of the ninth before Tom Walker balks home Cesar Cedeno for a 4-3 Astros win. Bob Watson’s two solo homers plated the other two Houston runs.
1973 – Four months after his death, Pittsburgh Pirates great Roberto Clemente is inducted into the Hall of Fame in a special election. The Pirates outfielder was tragically killed when a cargo plane crashes during a relief effort to bring supplies to victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake on New Years Eve.
On April 10, 1973, the first game in the history of Royals Stadium is played. John Mayberry homers in Kansas City’s 12-1 rout of Texas. A crowd of 39,476 attend the chilly game at the state-of-the-art ballpark, which features water fountains beyond the outfield fence. The ballpark, which will be renamed Kauffman Stadium…
The Indians break their Opening Day American League attendance record when a crowd of 74,420 watches Gaylord Perry go the distance in the Tribe’s 2-1 victory over Detroit at Cleveland Stadium. The previous mark had been set by the team in 1948 in the season opener against St. Louis.
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