On May 27, 1981, Lenny Randle of the Seattle Mariners tries to blow a ground ball into foul territory. After initially calling the ball foul, home plate umpire Larry McCoy reverses his call and awards Amos Otis of the Kansas City Royals with a controversial infield single. Randle’s explanation that he was merely yelling at…
On April 23, 1978, Joe Morgan of the Cincinnati Reds makes an error at second base, bringing his major league record of 91 consecutive errorless games to an end. Morgan had begun the streak on July 6, 1977.
April 17, 1975 – During a 14-7 loss to the New York Mets‚ the Cardinals Ted Simmons homers from both sides of the plate‚ while teammate 2B Ted Sizemore ties a ML record with 3 errors in the 6th inning. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Play by Play, Box Scores, News Paper Reports and other links Other Resources…
1973 – With a runner aboard and the Braves already trailing, 2- 0, Dusty Baker makes what The Sporting News will call “the greatest catch in Atlanta Stadium history,” literally climbing the center field fence to prevent Pittsburgh’s Richie Hebner from doubling Atlanta’s deficit with one swing of the bat. Though coming in the fourth inning, the play will later prove pivotal when, thanks to Baker, the three runs finally pushed across by game’s end gives Atlanta a 3 – 2, walk-off win.
In the top of the 11th inning in San Francisco’s 4-3 victory over Atlanta at Candlestick Park, Dave Rader completes an unusual unassisted double play for a catcher. After catching an attempted sacrifice bunt which is popped up with Braves runners on first and second base, the Giants’ backstop races to second base and steps on the bag before Sonny Jackson, who had headed toward third on contact, can get back.
On July 28, 1971, perennial Gold Glove winner Brooks Robinson commits three errors in one game for the first time in his career. The Baltimore Orioles’ third baseman commits all of his miscues in the sixth inning against the Oakland A’s, leading to two unearned runs. The Orioles rally to win the game, 3-2, on…
1971 – “If they ever want to rate the 10 greatest catches of all time,” maintains The Sporting News’s correspondent and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports editor Charley Feeney, “Roberto Clemente’s fantastic catch of Bob Watson’s line drive in Houston’s Astrodome will have to be among them.” Most of the 16,307 fans give Clemente a standing ovation for his feat, which deprives Watson of a home run in the 8th inning. It would have put the Astros ahead, 2 – 1. Instead, Steve Blass holds on to a 1 – 0 lead and the Bucs will score twice more for a 3 – 0 win. Joe Morgan is on first base with two out when Watson hits his vicious liner toward the right field corner. Clemente, going full speed, races toward the wall and, in one sudden move, makes a twisting leap for a one-handed grab, back to the plate, just before the ball would have hit above the yellow line on the wall, in home run territory. When Clemente comes down, his body hits the wall and he suffers a bruised left ankle and his left elbow also is swollen. Blood spills from a gash on the left knee. Clemente slumps on both knees, back to the infield. The Houston fans stand up and cheer. A second standing ovation will precede Clemente’s at-bat in the top of the 9th. On the preceding play, Clemente made a skidding shoestring catch of Cesar Cedeno’s Texas Leaguer, then threw perfectly to second base while on his knees to prevent Morgan from advancing.
With three runs in the 9th inning, the Mets beat the Cubs, 4 – 3, cutting Chicago’s lead in the National League East to four games. Ron Santo rips into CF Don Young for two misplays in the outfield. Santo will apologize tomorrow for criticizing Young, who left early and doesn’t take the team bus. Santo will get booed in his first game back at Wrigley Field.
1968 – Cesar Tovar plays one inning at each position for the Minnesota Twins, becoming only the second major leaguer in history to do it. Bert Campaneris of the Oakland Athletics was the first, earlier this season.
On July 29, 1968, Washington Senators shortstop Ron Hansen turns an unassisted triple play – the eighth in the game’s history and the first in 41 years. With runners on first and second, Cleveland’s Joe Azcue hits a line drive to Hansen, who makes the catch before retiring the two runners. Three days later, the…