1976 – The California Angels’ groundskeeper finds hundreds of marijuana plants growing in the outfield at Anaheim Stadium. The culprits? Most likely rock fans who attended a recent performance at the stadium by The Who.
On June 10, 1974, Mike Schmidt hits what may be the longest single in major league history. The Philadelphia Phillies’ third baseman slams a ball off Astros hurler Claude Osteentoward center field, with enough distance to clear the fence at the Houston Astrodome. The ball suddenly hits a caroms of the public address speaker that…
The day after the season finale at Yankee Stadium, Mayor John Lindsay, who had given his approval for the renovation of the Bronx ballpark, ceremonially begins the project by scooping a pile of dirt from right field with a bulldozer. The on-field ceremony at the empty stadium includes the widows of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, who are given home plate and first base, respectively.
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…
Ted Williams manages his final game as the Texas Rangers lose to the Kansas City Royals, 4 – 0, in the last game played at Municipal Stadium. Williams will be replaced by Whitey Herzog.
From 1972… Tommy Helms, Jimmy Stewart, Johnny Edwards and the Astros Bullpen Buggy.
On April 21, 1972, the Texas Rangers play the first home game in franchise history. Veteran slugger Frank Howard hits the first home run at Arlington Stadium, as the Rangers post a 7-6 win over California. The Rangers, formerly the Washington Senators, had moved to Texas after the 1971 season.
Detroit Tigers owner John Fetzer announces that the Tigers have signed a lease to build a $126 million domed stadium along the river in downtown Detroit. The complex will seat 52,000 for baseball, and 60,000 for football. Lawsuits, a failed bond issue, and the construction of the Silverdome in nearby Pontiac will eventually kill the idea.
1971 – Joe Morgan raps four hits, steals two bases, scores three times and drives in two to lead the Astros over the Phillies, 8-1, in their first game at Veterans Stadium. Don Wilson strikes the key blow off Jim Bunning, a bunt that found a hole in the artificial turf between third and the pitcher and rolled until two runs were in.
1971 – The Phillies debut in their new $49.5 million Veterans Stadium by beating Montreal, 4 – 1. Don Money of the Phillies connects for the park’s first home run.
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