[adrotate banner=”32″] On July 24, 1968, Hoyt Wilhelm of the Chicago White Sox appears in the 907th game of his career, breaking Cy Young’s record for most appearances. The future Hall of Famer pitches a scoreless inning of relief and picks up a no-decision in Chicago’s 1-0 loss to the Oakland A’s. he 45 year-old…
[adrotate banner=”41″] On July 22, 1968, at Busch Stadium the Atlanta Braves set a major league record by using five relief pitchers in the ninth inning of their game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Ken Johnson, Ramon Hernandez, Claude Raymond, Dick Kelley, and Cecil Upshaw all take part in the 3 run 9th that allows…
1968 – At San Francisco, aging speedster Willie Mays scores from first base on a Jim Ray Hart single. It’s the only tally as the Giants beat Houston, 1 – 0.
On July 14, 1968, Hank Aaron hits the 500th home run of his Hall of Fame career. The Atlanta Braves’ slugger connects against San Francisco Giants left-hander Mike McCormick, becoming the eighth player to reach the milestone. Aaron’s three-run homer over the left center field fence proves to be the difference as the Atlanta Braves beat the San…
July 14, 1968, Houston Astros righthander Don Wilson strikes out 18 Cincinnati Reds during a 5-4 win. Wilson whiffs Johnny Bench for his 18th strikeout to tie, what was then, the major-league record held by Bob Feller and Sandy Koufax . Wilson (6-11) also ties the major-league record with eight strikeouts in a row, striking…
In Kansas City, ground is broken for the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex, which will include separate side-by-side stadiums built specifically for baseball and football. Arrowhead Stadium, home of the NFL’s Chiefs, will open in 1972, followed by the debut a year later of Royals Stadium, the new home ballpark of the American League’s franchise in the City of Fountains.
July 11, 1968, the Baltimore Orioles name future Hall of Famer Earl Weaver their manager. Weaver, a lifetime minor league player who had been serving as the team’s first base coach, replaces the fired Hank Bauer. The Birds defeat the Washington Senators, 2 – 0, on Dave McNally’s two-hitter. Baltimore will win 11 of its…
Rick Renick becomes the first Twin player to homer in his first major league at-bat when he goes deep off Mickey Lolich in Minnesota’s 5-4 victory over Detroit at Metropolitan Stadium. The 24 year-old shortstop’s second-inning solo shot will be the first of 20 round-trippers he’ll hit during his five-year career, spent entirely with the Twin Cities team.
Appropriately, pitching dominates the All-Star Game in the first All-Star Game played indoors. Willie Mays, playing in place of the injured Pete Rose, tallies an unearned run in the 1st inning against American Leaguestarter Luis Tiant to complete the scoring for the day – the first All-Star effort to end 1 – 0. Don Drysdale, Juan Marichal, Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver, Ron Reed and Jerry Koosman hold the American League to three hits.
Bob Gibson’s scoreless inning streak ends abruptly at 47 with a questionable call when the official scorer rules a wild pitch, and not a passed ball, allowed Len Gabrielson to score in the first inning of the Cardinals’ 5-1 victory over the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine. Without the hometown decision, the Redbird right-hander, who will blank San Francisco in his next start, would have been within three innings of breaking the mark of 58 scoreless frames established in June by Don Drysdale, tonight’s losing pitcher.
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