1973 – Siding with the A’s, American League president Joe Cronin rules the Yankees cannot sign manager Dick Williams. The Yankees had announced a deal with the Oakland skipper two days earlier.
New York Yankees announce the signing of Dick Williams as manager
On June 15, 1973, former Atlanta Braves outfielder Tommie Aaron becomes the first black manager of a team located in the deep South. Aaron is named skipper of Savannah, which becomes the first Double-A team to employ an African-American manager. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Game ticket & learn more about the players, teams, stadiums and dates in history…
On May 8, 1973, Chicago Cubs coach Ernie Banks becomes the first African American to manage during a major league game. When Cubs manager Whitey Lockman is ejected in the third inning, Banks takes over the reigns for the rest of the game. With Banks at the helm, the Cubs edge the San Diego Padres,…
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.
On August 13, 1972, Detroit Tigers manager Billy Martin picks his team’s lineup out of a hat. The slow-footed Norm Cash is picked to bat leadoff while the weak-hitting Eddie Brinkman ends up batting cleanup. The new lineup produces a 3-2 win in the first game of a doubleheader. Later, Martin will use the unconventional…
1972 – Eddie Mathews gets his first managerial win, 8-4, over Houston behind the pitching of Denny McLain. It’s Harry Walker, however, that acts like a rookie manager, listing Johnny Edwards twice in the batting order and leaving out Jesus Alou.
Cubs general manager John Holland announces Whitey Lockman will manage the Cubs, replacing Leo Durocher, who ‘stepped down’ as the team’s skipper after posting a 535-526 (.504) record during his seven years at the helm. ‘Leo the Lip’ will be hired by the Astros to replace Harry Walker at the end of next month.
Don Zimmer replaces Preston Gomez as manager
On April 2, 1972, New York Mets manager Gil Hodges collapses just minutes after completing a round of golf in West Palm Beach, Florida, and dies of a heart attack. The popular Hodges dies just two days before his 48th birthday. Hodges had guided the Mets to their “miraculous” World Series championship in 1969.
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