On April 6, 1973 at Wrigley Field on opening day Tony Larussa appeared in his only one game for the Chicago Cubs. He was used as a pinch runner for Ron Santo in the ninth inning after a Glenn Beckett walk, Mike Marshall will enter the game and walk 2 of next 4 batters the…
On April 6, 1973, the Pittsburgh Pirates retire Roberto Clemente’s uniform No. 21 in a moving pre-game ceremony before 51,695 fans at Three Rivers Stadium. The 38-year-old Clemente died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve, 1972.
On April 6, 1973, Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees becomes the first designated hitter in major league history. In his first plate appearance, Blomberg walks with the bases loaded. He will end up with one hit in three at-bats as the Yankees lose to the Boston Red Sox, 15-5.
At the Oakland Coliseum, Tony Oliva becomes the first designated hitter ever to homer. The Twins DH’s first inning two-run round-tripper off future Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter helps to defeat the A’s, 8-3.
At Baltimore‚ Dave McNally fires a three-hitter as the Orioles roll over the Brewers‚ 10 – 0. Don Baylor has three doubles‚ a homer‚ and 4 RBIs‚ while Brooks Robinson bangs two homers for 4 RBIs.
On March 29, 1973, The “Alert Orange Baseball” is used for the first time in major league history. The unique baseball, an invention of Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley, is used in an exhibition game between Oakland and the Cleveland Indians. The A’s lost 11-5 exhibition game. After Cleveland outfielder George Hendrick, who hit three…
On March 27, 1973, veteran pitcher Jim Perry of the Minnesota Twins becomes the first player to approve of being traded under the new “ten and five” rule. The Twins send Perry to the Detroit Tigers for pitcher Dan Fife and cash. Perry, a 24-game winner in 1970, will win 14 games for the Tigers…
On March 26, 1973, George Sisler dies in Richmond Heights, Missouri, at the age of 80. Sisler batted .340 with 2,812 hits over a 15-year major league career. In 1920, he set a major league record by collecting 257 hits, which will last into the next century. Sisler gained election to the Hall of Fame in 1939. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@
On March 24, 1973, the Cleveland Indians trade former All-Star catcher Ray Fosse to the Oakland A’s for outfielder George Hendrick and catcher Dave Duncan. Fosse was once considered an untouchable before a serious injury suffered during a 1970 All-Star Game collision with Pete Rose.
1973 – Hall of Fame member Frankie Frisch dies in Wilmington, Delaware, at the age of 74. Frisch batted .316 over a 19-year career. As player-manager for the St. Louis Cardinals, he led the team to the 1934 World Championship.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!