1980 – The Yankees‚ with no picks in rounds one and two‚ select 18-year-old Billy Cannon Jr. with their 3rd round pick in the draft. After protests from at least two other teams‚ Bowie Kuhn rules that all the teams but the Yankees had been misled by a telegram sent by Bill Cannon‚ Sr.‚ saying his son was going to play football. A special draft (excluding the Yanks) in August is won by the Indians‚ who offer the young gun $275‚000. But Cannon elects to play football at Texas A&M. Following in the footsteps of his Heisman dad‚ Cannon will be the number 1 pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1984‚ but a neck injury curtails his career.

1980 – The Yankees‚ with no picks in rounds one and two‚ select 18-year-old Billy Cannon Jr. with their 3rd round pick in the draft. After protests from at least two other teams‚ Bowie Kuhn rules that all the teams but the Yankees had been misled by a telegram sent by Bill Cannon‚ Sr.‚ saying his son was going to play football. A special draft (excluding the Yanks) in August is won by the Indians‚ who offer the young gun $275‚000. But Cannon elects to play football at Texas A&M. Following in the footsteps of his Heisman dad‚ Cannon will be the number 1 pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1984‚ but a neck injury curtails his career.

At Shea Stadium, Jim Kaat, recently traded from the Yankees, goes the distance when the Cardinal left-hander blanks the Mets in 10 innings, 1-0. The 41 year-old hurler, who didn’t start a game last season, gets the victory thanks to third baseman Ken Reitz’s extra inning solo home run.

At Shea Stadium, Jim Kaat, recently traded from the Yankees, goes the distance when the Cardinal left-hander blanks the Mets in 10 innings, 1-0. The 41 year-old hurler, who didn’t start a game last season, gets the victory thanks to third baseman Ken Reitz’s extra inning solo home run.

The Expos’ first-round selection in the amateur draft is University of Arizona standout Terry Francona, who will be signed by the team’s general manager John McHale for $100,000. In 1958, McHale, then the GM of the Tigers, had refused to give a $1000 raise to their top pick’s dad, Tito, who had asked for a salary increase to help support a new addition to his family, a son named Terry.

The Expos’ first-round selection in the amateur draft is University of Arizona standout Terry Francona, who will be signed by the team’s general manager John McHale for $100,000. In 1958, McHale, then the GM of the Tigers, had refused to give a $1000 raise to their top pick’s dad, Tito, who had asked for a salary increase to help support a new addition to his family, a son named Terry.

Dodger Bob Welch faces the minimum 27 batters in a 3 – 0 one-hitter against the Braves. The lone Atlanta baserunner is Larvell Blanks‚ who singles in the 4th inning and is erased on a double play.

Dodger Bob Welch faces the minimum 27 batters in a 3 – 0 one-hitter against the Braves. The lone Atlanta baserunner is Larvell Blanks‚ who singles in the 4th inning and is erased on a double play.

Johnny Bench hits 3 home runs off Randy Jones in Cincinnati’s 5 – 3 win over San Diego. It is the third three-homer game of his career.

Johnny Bench hits 3 home runs off Randy Jones in Cincinnati’s 5 – 3 win over San Diego. It is the third three-homer game of his career.

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1980 – Enos Cabell singles home Jose Cruz in the second inning and Nolan Ryan makes it stand up for a 1-0 shutout over San Diego. Ryan fires a two-hitter, striking out seven. 

1980 – Enos Cabell singles home Jose Cruz in the second inning and Nolan Ryan makes it stand up for a 1-0 shutout over San Diego. Ryan fires a two-hitter, striking out seven. 

Five hours after the midnight deadline, Major League players and owners avert a strike by announcing a new four-year basic agreement. The new deal raises the minimum salary from $21,000 to $30,000 and increases the clubs’ contributions to the players’ pension fund, but the major issue of free agent compensation remains unresolved.

Five hours after the midnight deadline, Major League players and owners avert a strike by announcing a new four-year basic agreement. The new deal raises the minimum salary from $21,000 to $30,000 and increases the clubs’ contributions to the players’ pension fund, but the major issue of free agent compensation remains unresolved.