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4/29/1977 – In a game in San Diego, the Mets batted out of order through the whole game. The lineup featured Roy Staiger batting sixth, John Stearns seventh and Bud Harrelson eighth. This was a change from recent games when Stearns was sixth and Staiger seventh and the two batted this way four times in a row. In the first inning, Stearns hit into an inning-ending double play. Staiger made an out and Harrelson singled in the second (both batting out of turn). Stearns led off the fourth with a home run but the Padres said nothing. Both Staiger and Harrelson made outs, again out of order. In the fifth, Stearns and Staiger were both out but Harrelson started the sixth by reaching on an infield error. With two out in the seventh, Stearns walked and Staiger singled him to third. However, the Padres finally spoke up and the umpires incorrectly declared Staiger out instead of Harrelson, who led off the eighth inning. Even with all the batting changes, the Mets won the game, 9-2.

ByTom

4/29/1977 – In a game in San Diego, the Mets batted out of order through the whole game. The lineup featured Roy Staiger batting sixth, John Stearns seventh and Bud Harrelson eighth. This was a change from recent games when Stearns was sixth and Staiger seventh and the two batted this way four times in a row. In the first inning, Stearns hit into an inning-ending double play. Staiger made an out and Harrelson singled in the second (both batting out of turn). Stearns led off the fourth with a home run but the Padres said nothing. Both Staiger and Harrelson made outs, again out of order. In the fifth, Stearns and Staiger were both out but Harrelson started the sixth by reaching on an infield error. With two out in the seventh, Stearns walked and Staiger singled him to third. However, the Padres finally spoke up and the umpires incorrectly declared Staiger out instead of Harrelson, who led off the eighth inning. Even with all the batting changes, the Mets won the game, 9-2.

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6/9/1975 – The Twins were playing the Indians in Cleveland and Minnesota manager Frank Quilici gave the wrong lineup to the Press Box and evidently to the players. Dan Ford, Danny Thompson and Glenn Borgmann were listed officially as batting seventh, eighth and ninth. However, Ford and Thompson batted in reverse order until the ninth inning. In the first, Thompson made the last out of the inning. Ford and Borgmann, who was also out of order now, both grounded out to start the second. In the fourth, Thompson singled but no runs scored in the inning. Thompson popped out to end the fifth. Ford tripled to start the sixth and eventually scored but Cleveland manager Frank Robinson did not object. In the seventh and eighth innings, all three batters made outs. In the ninth inning, the Twins finally batted in the proper order. Ford and Thompson both hit run-producing groundouts. The Twins won in the eleventh inning, 11-10, when Thompson drove in the game-winner with a single to center field. The Twins batted out of order four times and in the correct order twice in the game.

ByTom

6/9/1975 – The Twins were playing the Indians in Cleveland and Minnesota manager Frank Quilici gave the wrong lineup to the Press Box and evidently to the players. Dan Ford, Danny Thompson and Glenn Borgmann were listed officially as batting seventh, eighth and ninth. However, Ford and Thompson batted in reverse order until the ninth inning. In the first, Thompson made the last out of the inning. Ford and Borgmann, who was also out of order now, both grounded out to start the second. In the fourth, Thompson singled but no runs scored in the inning. Thompson popped out to end the fifth. Ford tripled to start the sixth and eventually scored but Cleveland manager Frank Robinson did not object. In the seventh and eighth innings, all three batters made outs. In the ninth inning, the Twins finally batted in the proper order. Ford and Thompson both hit run-producing groundouts. The Twins won in the eleventh inning, 11-10, when Thompson drove in the game-winner with a single to center field. The Twins batted out of order four times and in the correct order twice in the game.

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5/16/1975 – Royals manager Jack McKeon made out several lineup cards before the game. The official one he gave to the home plate umpire had George Brett hitting second and Amos Otis batting third. The one shown on the scoreboard and the one the Royals followed had Otis second, Hal McRae third, and Brett down in the sixth spot. The Royals followed that order the entire game because the Red Sox never checked the one they had been given when the lineup cards were exchanged. In the top of the third, they could have had at least two runs erased had they been paying attention. With runners on first and third and one out, Otis came up in the number two spot and hit a single to left that resulted in two runs after an error. At that point, the Red Sox could have protested and Brett would have been called out with Otis batting again, this time with two outs. The Royals scored three in the inning and won the game 5-2.

ByThis Day in Baseball

5/16/1975 – Royals manager Jack McKeon made out several lineup cards before the game. The official one he gave to the home plate umpire had George Brett hitting second and Amos Otis batting third. The one shown on the scoreboard and the one the Royals followed had Otis second, Hal McRae third, and Brett down in the sixth spot. The Royals followed that order the entire game because the Red Sox never checked the one they had been given when the lineup cards were exchanged. In the top of the third, they could have had at least two runs erased had they been paying attention. With runners on first and third and one out, Otis came up in the number two spot and hit a single to left that resulted in two runs after an error. At that point, the Red Sox could have protested and Brett would have been called out with Otis batting again, this time with two outs. The Royals scored three in the inning and won the game 5-2.

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5/15/1974 – The Giants skipped a batter in the eighth inning. In the sixth inning, Bobby Bonds pinch-hit for the pitcher. He stayed in the game in the ninth spot in the order and the new pitcher batted in the first spot. The next time around the order, Bonds homered and Tito Fuentes hit for the pitcher. Mike Phillips should have batted next but Garry Maddox, the number three hitter, came to the plate instead and made an out. The Reds said nothing in this case and eventually won the game, 4-3.

ByTom

5/15/1974 – The Giants skipped a batter in the eighth inning. In the sixth inning, Bobby Bonds pinch-hit for the pitcher. He stayed in the game in the ninth spot in the order and the new pitcher batted in the first spot. The next time around the order, Bonds homered and Tito Fuentes hit for the pitcher. Mike Phillips should have batted next but Garry Maddox, the number three hitter, came to the plate instead and made an out. The Reds said nothing in this case and eventually won the game, 4-3.

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9/16/1972 – Dwight Evans made his major league debut in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians when he pinch ran for Reggie Smith. The Red Sox were leading at the time, 9-0 and Cecil Cooper had already been placed in the game as a pinch runner for Carl Yastrzemski. Yaz was batting third and Smith fourth in the original lineup. In the top of the seventh, both Cooper and Evans stayed in the game and three other defensive replacements were made by manager Eddie Kasko. With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Evans batted in Cooper’s spot but flew out. No protest was made by the Indians. The next legal batter should have been Phil Gagliano but Cooper came to the plate and also made an out to end the inning and the Sox went on to win 10-0. Thus, Dwight Evans’ first major league plate appearance was out of order!

ByThis Day in Baseball

9/16/1972 – Dwight Evans made his major league debut in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians when he pinch ran for Reggie Smith. The Red Sox were leading at the time, 9-0 and Cecil Cooper had already been placed in the game as a pinch runner for Carl Yastrzemski. Yaz was batting third and Smith fourth in the original lineup. In the top of the seventh, both Cooper and Evans stayed in the game and three other defensive replacements were made by manager Eddie Kasko. With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Evans batted in Cooper’s spot but flew out. No protest was made by the Indians. The next legal batter should have been Phil Gagliano but Cooper came to the plate and also made an out to end the inning and the Sox went on to win 10-0. Thus, Dwight Evans’ first major league plate appearance was out of order!

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6/9/1972 – The Braves Marty Perez made the last out of the top of the sixth, but he came up to start the seventh. Phillies catcher Tim McCarver proved to be too clever as he pointed out the incorrect batter to the home plate umpire after the first pitch, which was a ball. He did not realize that until the incorrect batter’s plate appearance is over, the team can replace that batter with the proper one or a pinch hitter. The Braves sent up Jim Breazeale in place of Perez as a pinch hitter for the pitcher, who was the correct batter. Breazeale inherited a 1-0 count, but struck out. This was not the first time a team did not understand the rules in order to take advantage of them. If Perez had finished his at bat and made an out, the Phillies could have accepted the play. Most likely Breazeale would have come up as a pinch hitter, which would have been correct since the Perez play would have reset the lineup. The effect would have been to have Perez, a “good field, no hit” shortstop bat an extra time, which would have delayed the top of the order coming up by a batter. It turned out not to matter since the Braves did not score in the last three innings and the Phillies won the game 4-3 with a run in the bottom of the eighth.

ByTom

6/9/1972 – The Braves Marty Perez made the last out of the top of the sixth, but he came up to start the seventh. Phillies catcher Tim McCarver proved to be too clever as he pointed out the incorrect batter to the home plate umpire after the first pitch, which was a ball. He did not realize that until the incorrect batter’s plate appearance is over, the team can replace that batter with the proper one or a pinch hitter. The Braves sent up Jim Breazeale in place of Perez as a pinch hitter for the pitcher, who was the correct batter. Breazeale inherited a 1-0 count, but struck out. This was not the first time a team did not understand the rules in order to take advantage of them. If Perez had finished his at bat and made an out, the Phillies could have accepted the play. Most likely Breazeale would have come up as a pinch hitter, which would have been correct since the Perez play would have reset the lineup. The effect would have been to have Perez, a “good field, no hit” shortstop bat an extra time, which would have delayed the top of the order coming up by a batter. It turned out not to matter since the Braves did not score in the last three innings and the Phillies won the game 4-3 with a run in the bottom of the eighth.

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5/22/1972 – The Texas Rangers batted out of order in the bottom of the 10th inning against Chicago. Texas had made a double switch an inning earlier when Paul Lindblad entered the game as the new pitcher and Don Mincher went to first base. Evidently Rangers manager Ted Williams did not notify the umpire, who therefore recorded the substitutions in the same batting order slot as the previous players at the same defensive position. This is usually referred to as ‘straight up.’  Thus when Mincher batted in the ninth spot in the 10th inning he was out of order. Lindblad was called out with Toby Harrah as the runner on first and then Elliott Maddox struck out to end the game, with the White Sox winning 7-6.

ByTom

5/22/1972 – The Texas Rangers batted out of order in the bottom of the 10th inning against Chicago. Texas had made a double switch an inning earlier when Paul Lindblad entered the game as the new pitcher and Don Mincher went to first base. Evidently Rangers manager Ted Williams did not notify the umpire, who therefore recorded the substitutions in the same batting order slot as the previous players at the same defensive position. This is usually referred to as ‘straight up.’  Thus when Mincher batted in the ninth spot in the 10th inning he was out of order. Lindblad was called out with Toby Harrah as the runner on first and then Elliott Maddox struck out to end the game, with the White Sox winning 7-6.

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5/28/1969 – For the second time in their new life, the Seattle Pilots were involved in a batting out of order situation. This time, the Pilots were the ones that were confused. The Orioles were in town and Pilots’ skipper Joe Schultz changed the lineup after submitting it to the umpires. The revised lineup had differences in the second through sixth spots, including one player substitution. When Dick Simpson went to center field in the top of the first inning, he was considered an unannounced substitution for Don Mincher according to Rule 3.08(a)(3) and legally in the game. Therefore, Simpson was placed into the fourth spot in the batting order (the umpire does not care about fielding positions). The Pilots batted in the revised, incorrect order into the fifth inning. In the bottom of the first, Dick Simpson walked and stole second but was left stranded there by Wayne Comer and Tommy Davis. In the second inning, Gus Gil struck out and Mike Hegan grounded out. Jerry McNertney singled and scored when Ray Oyler homered. McNertney was out of order but Oyler was not so the homer could not be protested and the score was now 4-2 Orioles. In the third, after Tommy Harper walked, the next three batters all made outs. In the fourth inning, the only damage was another single by McNertney. In the fifth, the Pilots had runners on first and second and no one out. It was time for the second place hitter to bat. Simpson (out of order) struck out and then Comer flew out (in the correct spot after Simpson). Davis, the third-place hitter now batting in the sixth spot following Comer, doubled in both runners and Earl Weaver protested that Davis was out of order. Baltimore was ahead 9-2 at the time. Gil was the proper batter at the time but the umpires declared Simpson the proper batter and called him out for the second time in the inning and the second time in three batters. The official order was followed to the end of the game, which was won by the Orioles, 9-5.

ByThis Day in Baseball

5/28/1969 – For the second time in their new life, the Seattle Pilots were involved in a batting out of order situation. This time, the Pilots were the ones that were confused. The Orioles were in town and Pilots’ skipper Joe Schultz changed the lineup after submitting it to the umpires. The revised lineup had differences in the second through sixth spots, including one player substitution. When Dick Simpson went to center field in the top of the first inning, he was considered an unannounced substitution for Don Mincher according to Rule 3.08(a)(3) and legally in the game. Therefore, Simpson was placed into the fourth spot in the batting order (the umpire does not care about fielding positions). The Pilots batted in the revised, incorrect order into the fifth inning. In the bottom of the first, Dick Simpson walked and stole second but was left stranded there by Wayne Comer and Tommy Davis. In the second inning, Gus Gil struck out and Mike Hegan grounded out. Jerry McNertney singled and scored when Ray Oyler homered. McNertney was out of order but Oyler was not so the homer could not be protested and the score was now 4-2 Orioles. In the third, after Tommy Harper walked, the next three batters all made outs. In the fourth inning, the only damage was another single by McNertney. In the fifth, the Pilots had runners on first and second and no one out. It was time for the second place hitter to bat. Simpson (out of order) struck out and then Comer flew out (in the correct spot after Simpson). Davis, the third-place hitter now batting in the sixth spot following Comer, doubled in both runners and Earl Weaver protested that Davis was out of order. Baltimore was ahead 9-2 at the time. Gil was the proper batter at the time but the umpires declared Simpson the proper batter and called him out for the second time in the inning and the second time in three batters. The official order was followed to the end of the game, which was won by the Orioles, 9-5.

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4/13/1969 – The White Sox were in Seattle playing the Pilots with the Pale Hose leading 11-1 after 3 ‘ innings. In the bottom of the fourth, the Pilots staged a rally, scoring four runs. During the inning, Sox manager Al Lopez replaced his battery but placed new hurler Wilbur Wood in the fifth spot in the order where the catcher had been and the new catcher, Duane Josephson, in the ninth spot. In the top of the fifth, the eighth-place hitter, Woody Held, reached second on an infield error. Then Wood mistakenly went to the plate instead of Josephson. Wood successfully sacrificed Held to third base and the lead-off hitter, Buddy Bradford, followed. The White Sox continued this error in the next inning when the fifth spot in the lineup came up. Josephson hit with a runner on first base and grounded into a double play. In the seventh, Josephson hit again in his proper ninth spot and they continued to bat in the correct order for the remainder of the game, which was won by the White Sox , 12-7.

ByTom

4/13/1969 – The White Sox were in Seattle playing the Pilots with the Pale Hose leading 11-1 after 3 ‘ innings. In the bottom of the fourth, the Pilots staged a rally, scoring four runs. During the inning, Sox manager Al Lopez replaced his battery but placed new hurler Wilbur Wood in the fifth spot in the order where the catcher had been and the new catcher, Duane Josephson, in the ninth spot. In the top of the fifth, the eighth-place hitter, Woody Held, reached second on an infield error. Then Wood mistakenly went to the plate instead of Josephson. Wood successfully sacrificed Held to third base and the lead-off hitter, Buddy Bradford, followed. The White Sox continued this error in the next inning when the fifth spot in the lineup came up. Josephson hit with a runner on first base and grounded into a double play. In the seventh, Josephson hit again in his proper ninth spot and they continued to bat in the correct order for the remainder of the game, which was won by the White Sox , 12-7.

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6/27/1967 – The Pirates were playing at Shea Stadium. In the top of the first, they sent six batters to the plate. Maury Wills and Manny Mota both singled and moved up on a wild pitch. Roberto Clemente grounded out, driving in Wills and Donn Clendenon also grounded with Mota remaining at third. After Bill Mazeroski walked, Gene Alley came to the plate and grounded out to the pitcher. Alley batted ahead of Jose Pagan, the proper batter, but since he made an out the Mets said nothing. In the third inning, Mota reached on his second bunt hit of the game and Clemente was called out on strikes. Both Clendenon and Mazeroski singled to left with Mota scoring on the latter’s safety. Alley again batted out of turn and hit into a force play at second moving Clendenon to third. After Pagan hit a 2-RBI double, the proper batter, Jim Pagliaroni, was called out. Pagan’s plate appearance was eliminated, along with the two runs. The Mets were leading at the time by the final score of 5-2.

ByTom

6/27/1967 – The Pirates were playing at Shea Stadium. In the top of the first, they sent six batters to the plate. Maury Wills and Manny Mota both singled and moved up on a wild pitch. Roberto Clemente grounded out, driving in Wills and Donn Clendenon also grounded with Mota remaining at third. After Bill Mazeroski walked, Gene Alley came to the plate and grounded out to the pitcher. Alley batted ahead of Jose Pagan, the proper batter, but since he made an out the Mets said nothing. In the third inning, Mota reached on his second bunt hit of the game and Clemente was called out on strikes. Both Clendenon and Mazeroski singled to left with Mota scoring on the latter’s safety. Alley again batted out of turn and hit into a force play at second moving Clendenon to third. After Pagan hit a 2-RBI double, the proper batter, Jim Pagliaroni, was called out. Pagan’s plate appearance was eliminated, along with the two runs. The Mets were leading at the time by the final score of 5-2.