Poza Rica Oilers hurler Ricardo Sandate works a Mexican League-record 19 innings but loses a 2 – 0 decision to the Puebla Angels.

At Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, the umpires walk off the field in the fourth inning to protest the Braves showing a controversial play on the ballpark’s massive instant replay screen that involves Houston’s Bob Watson scoring on a close play at the plate. Team executive Bill Lucas persuades the crew, which includes Terry Tata, Ed Sudol, Dick Stello, and Bruce Froemming, to return the field, after assuring the arbitrators the incident would not occur again.

Mike Pazik posts his first and last major league win when hurls eight innings in the Twins’ 10-2 victory over Oakland at Metropolitan Stadium. The 27 year-old former Yankees farmhand’s career will come to a sudden end on April 25 when his van is hit head-on by a car driving the wrong way on a freeway entrance, resulting in the southpaw fracturing both legs.

In a decision seen as one of the most influential and precedent-setting cases in the history of American jurisprudence in regards to professional sports, a federal court rules in favor of Bowie Kuhn’s decision to void the 1976 sale of A’s players by Charlie Finley. The Oakland owner sued the commissioner for illegal restraint of trade when his deals to send Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers to the Red Sox for $2 million and Vida Blue to the Yankees for $1.5 million were invalidated “in the best interests of baseball.”

Regulations force Oakland Athletics pitcher Vida Blue to discard his old, discolored lucky cap because it is no longer identical in color, trim and style to those of his teammates.

1977 – At Fenway Park, the Cleveland Indians (13) and the Boston Red Sox (6) establish a major league record for the most runs scored by both teams in one inning. The 8th-inning barrage proves to be too much for Boston as Cleveland beats the home team, 19 – 9.

“I have never seen such stupid ballplaying in my life.” – RAY KROC, the Padres owner, addressing the fans on the PA system during the home opener at San Diego Stadium.During the home opener against Houston at San Diego Stadium, Ray Kroc, the Padres’ new owner, uses the ballpark’s public address system to thank the fans and berate the players for their poor play. At the start of the fast-food tycoon’s eighth-inning tirade, a streaker jumps over the railing of the stands in left field and runs haphazardly across the field.

The Seattle Mariners record their first win by defeating the California Angels, 7 – 6, at the Kingdome. Bob Stinson and Larry Milbourneeach hit run-scoring doubles in the 9th inning to seal the victory. Bill Laxton is the winning pitcher.

1977 – For the second time in nine years, a new franchise makes its major league debut in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners lose their first regular season game at the Kingdome to Frank Tanana and the Angels, 7 – 0. Joe Rudi is 3 for 4 with a homer and 4 RBIs. The loser for the M’s is Diego Segui‚ who pitched in the Seattle Pilots’ Opener in 1969‚ a 4 – 3 loss at Anaheim. Segui is the only player to appear for both the Pilots and the Mariners.

Despite a snowfall of 4 inches this morning‚ the Reds open against the Padres‚ winning 5 – 3. The snow‚ which stops falling at 11:30 is cleared out of the stadium a half hour before the game’s start.