Bat Day at Candlestick Park is postponed when the Mets refuse to play their scheduled game in San Francisco, out of respect for recently assassinated New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy, whose funeral is being held today. Prompted by baseball commissioner William Eckert’s edict to cancel games only taking place in New York and Washington, the team, led by first baseman Ed Kranepool, had voted to take this action, even under the threat of forfeiting the contest, a decision that is fully supported by manager Gil Hodges and the organization.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Bat Day at Candlestick Park is postponed when the Mets refuse to play their scheduled game in San Francisco, out of respect for recently assassinated New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy, whose funeral is being held today. Prompted by baseball commissioner William Eckert’s edict to cancel games only taking place in New York and Washington, the team, led by first baseman Ed Kranepool, had voted to take this action, even under the threat of forfeiting the contest, a decision that is fully supported by manager Gil Hodges and the organization.

Don Drysdale’s major league record streak of consecutive scoreless innings comes to an end
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Don Drysdale’s major league record streak of consecutive scoreless innings comes to an end

ByThis Day in Baseball

[adrotate banner=”32″] On June 8, 1968, Don Drysdale’s major league record streak of consecutive scoreless innings comes to an end. Howie Bedell of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a sacrifice fly against Drysdale, ending his streak at 58 2/3 innings. Drysdale’s Los Angeles Dodgers will go on to win the game, 5-3. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@

Major League baseball suspends play after New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated

Major League baseball suspends play after New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated

ByThis Day in Baseball

On June 8, 1968, three major league games in New York, San Francisco, and Washington are postponed after the assassination of New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy. New York Mets players had asked for postponement of their game in San Francisco. Commissioner Spike Eckert orders the other two postponements and instructs all other teams to…

1968 – A bid for a no-hitter by the Oakland Athletics’ Blue Moon Odom is spoiled by Davey Johnson, who singles with two outs in the 9th inning. Odom tops Baltimore, 6 – 1.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1968 – A bid for a no-hitter by the Oakland Athletics’ Blue Moon Odom is spoiled by Davey Johnson, who singles with two outs in the 9th inning. Odom tops Baltimore, 6 – 1.

Thurman Munson 1976 MVP

Houston pass on Thurman Munson and select catcher Martin Cott of Buffalo, NY in the first round of the June draft

ByThis Day in Baseball

1968 – Houston selects catcher Martin Cott of Buffalo, NY in the first round of the June draft, passing on a catcher from Canton, OH named Thurman Munson whom the Yankees grab with the next pick. Cott never reaches the big leagues. It’s not a good day on the field either as Cardinal ace Bob Gibson blanks Houston, 4-0. 

Don Drysdale pitches his sixth straight shutout-a major league record
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Don Drysdale pitches his sixth straight shutout-a major league record

ByThis Day in Baseball

On June 4, 1968, Los AngelesDodgers’ Don Drysdale pitches his sixth straight shutout, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 – 0, and establishes two new major league records. Drysdale tops Doc White’s 64-year-old mark of five shutouts, and with 54 scoreless innings, he breaks Carl Hubbell’s National League string, set in 1933, by one-third, en route…

Joe Hoerner ties NL strikeout record for relief pitcher
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Joe Hoerner ties NL strikeout record for relief pitcher

ByThis Day in Baseball

On June 1, 1968, Joe Hoerner of the St. Louis Cardinals ties the National League record for most consecutive strikeouts by a relief pitcher. The side-arming left-hander fans the final six batters he faces and earns the win in a extra innings 6-5 victory over the New York Mets at Shea. Hoerner who pitched 4…

Don Drysdale appears to end when he hits Dick Dietz with a bases-loaded pitch in the ninth inning
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Don Drysdale appears to end when he hits Dick Dietz with a bases-loaded pitch in the ninth inning

ByThis Day in Baseball

On May 31, 1968, the shutout streak of Don Drysdale appears to end when he hits Dick Dietz with a bases-loaded pitch in the ninth inning. But umpire Harry Wendelstedt rules that Dietz made no effort to avoid the pitch, thus prolonging the at-bat. Drysdale then retires Dietz on a fly ball and and the…

The defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals continue to struggle, losing their 11th out of 13, 2 – 1, to Juan Marichal and the Giants. In the past two weeks, they have virtually traded places with today’s opponent, falling from 1st place on May 15th, 3 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco, to 3 games behind today (actually in 4th place behind Philly and Atlanta as well). From this point forward, however, the Cards will catch fire; by August 1st, a 2 – 1 win will give them 49 victories out of their last 64 games and leave them 15 games ahead of their nearest National League competitor.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals continue to struggle, losing their 11th out of 13, 2 – 1, to Juan Marichal and the Giants. In the past two weeks, they have virtually traded places with today’s opponent, falling from 1st place on May 15th, 3 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco, to 3 games behind today (actually in 4th place behind Philly and Atlanta as well). From this point forward, however, the Cards will catch fire; by August 1st, a 2 – 1 win will give them 49 victories out of their last 64 games and leave them 15 games ahead of their nearest National League competitor.