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1980 – Cold, damp Olympic Stadium is where the Astros must wait through a rain delay of three hours and 50 minutes to complete an 8-4 victory. Jose Cruz has four RBIs to lead the Astros while Joe Niekro survives the weather and the Expos for a complete-game win. 

ByTom

1980 – Cold, damp Olympic Stadium is where the Astros must wait through a rain delay of three hours and 50 minutes to complete an 8-4 victory. Jose Cruz has four RBIs to lead the Astros while Joe Niekro survives the weather and the Expos for a complete-game win. 

National League president Chub Feeney suspends Pittsburgh’s Bill Madlock for 15 days and fines him $5,000 for shoving his glove in the face of home plate umpire Jerry Crawford, after being called out on strikes with the bases loaded in a game a few days earlier.

ByBaseball

National League president Chub Feeney suspends Pittsburgh’s Bill Madlock for 15 days and fines him $5,000 for shoving his glove in the face of home plate umpire Jerry Crawford, after being called out on strikes with the bases loaded in a game a few days earlier.

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5/4/1980 – The Dodgers were visiting Philadelphia and the top of the first inning was not Dallas Green’s best day on the way to the World Series championship. Davey Lopes singled and Rudy Law reached on an infield error. After Reggie Smith popped out, Law stole second base. Steve Garvey reached on an infield single, scoring the first run of the game. Dusty Baker then hit into a force out leaving runners on first and third but had batted out of turn. Green came out and pointed out the fact that the proper batter had not hit. Thus Ron Cey was called out, the runners restored to their previous bases and Baker batted again. This time he hit a three-run homer to left. Green now was very upset saying that Baker should not have batted believing according to newspaper accounts that Baker’s force out should count and Cey should be ruled out . He was ejected from the game and protested the game. The protest was denied as the rules were followed correctly. The incorrect decision was Green’s when he did not take the out on Baker’s first trip to the plate. The Dodgers eventually won the game 12-10.

ByThis Day in Baseball

5/4/1980 – The Dodgers were visiting Philadelphia and the top of the first inning was not Dallas Green’s best day on the way to the World Series championship. Davey Lopes singled and Rudy Law reached on an infield error. After Reggie Smith popped out, Law stole second base. Steve Garvey reached on an infield single, scoring the first run of the game. Dusty Baker then hit into a force out leaving runners on first and third but had batted out of turn. Green came out and pointed out the fact that the proper batter had not hit. Thus Ron Cey was called out, the runners restored to their previous bases and Baker batted again. This time he hit a three-run homer to left. Green now was very upset saying that Baker should not have batted believing according to newspaper accounts that Baker’s force out should count and Cey should be ruled out . He was ejected from the game and protested the game. The protest was denied as the rules were followed correctly. The incorrect decision was Green’s when he did not take the out on Baker’s first trip to the plate. The Dodgers eventually won the game 12-10.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Mike Squires catches the final inning of an 11 – 1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the first left-handed catcher to play in major league baseball since Dale Long in 1958.

ByBaseball

Chicago White Sox first baseman Mike Squires catches the final inning of an 11 – 1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the first left-handed catcher to play in major league baseball since Dale Long in 1958.

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Otto Vélez hits four home runs in a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians at Exhibition Stadium. In the first game, he hits a grand slamin the 1st inning, followed by a two-run homer in the 8th, and a game-winning solo shot in the 10th. In the following contest, he clubs a three-run home run in the 1st inning. Overall, he has 10 RBI for the day.

ByBaseball

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Otto Vélez hits four home runs in a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians at Exhibition Stadium. In the first game, he hits a grand slamin the 1st inning, followed by a two-run homer in the 8th, and a game-winning solo shot in the 10th. In the following contest, he clubs a three-run home run in the 1st inning. Overall, he has 10 RBI for the day.

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1980 – Bill Virdon picks up his 356th win as a Houston manager, setting a team record, as the Astros edge St. Louis, 4-2. Vern Ruhle is the hero, going 8-2/3rds innings for the win, producing two hits and driving in a run. Terry Puhl and Jose Cruz supply two hits apiece. Joe Sambito nails the final out for the save. 

ByTom

1980 – Bill Virdon picks up his 356th win as a Houston manager, setting a team record, as the Astros edge St. Louis, 4-2. Vern Ruhle is the hero, going 8-2/3rds innings for the win, producing two hits and driving in a run. Terry Puhl and Jose Cruz supply two hits apiece. Joe Sambito nails the final out for the save. 

The Mets are fined by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn as the result of disparaging remarks made against the Yankees by Jerry Della Femina, the president of the team’s advertising agency. The high-powered ad man, who is being paid $400,000 to develop a campaign to bolster the sagging attendance at Shea Stadium, made sarcastic comments about cross-town rival players Reggie Jackson and Bucky Dent, and was quoted to say their Bronx ballpark was in an unsafe neighborhood.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Mets are fined by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn as the result of disparaging remarks made against the Yankees by Jerry Della Femina, the president of the team’s advertising agency. The high-powered ad man, who is being paid $400,000 to develop a campaign to bolster the sagging attendance at Shea Stadium, made sarcastic comments about cross-town rival players Reggie Jackson and Bucky Dent, and was quoted to say their Bronx ballpark was in an unsafe neighborhood.

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4/28/1980: Two players lost homers due to rain. Yankee Reggie Jackson hit a two run home run in the top of the third inning off Jim Palmer while Baltimore’s Ken Singleton led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run off Mike Griffin. The game was called with the Yankees ahead 4-1 after four innings.

ByTom

4/28/1980: Two players lost homers due to rain. Yankee Reggie Jackson hit a two run home run in the top of the third inning off Jim Palmer while Baltimore’s Ken Singleton led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run off Mike Griffin. The game was called with the Yankees ahead 4-1 after four innings.

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4/27/1980 – In the top of the first at Milwaukee’s County Stadium, there were two out and a runner on first when Roy Howell walked. However, Otto Velez had been the scheduled batter and when the Brewers objected, Velez was called out to end the inning. Toronto won the game, 8-2.

ByTom

4/27/1980 – In the top of the first at Milwaukee’s County Stadium, there were two out and a runner on first when Roy Howell walked. However, Otto Velez had been the scheduled batter and when the Brewers objected, Velez was called out to end the inning. Toronto won the game, 8-2.